Growth Analysis, Herbage and Seed Yield of Certain Forage Legume Species Under Rainfed Conditions

The need to increase forage production for the growing livestock population in the Mediterranean region necessitates the evaluation of various promising forage species with respect to maximum herbage yield, optimum time for harvest and seed yield. Seven forage legumes, woolly pod vetch ( Vicia villosa subsp. dasycarpa accession 683), narbon vetch (V. narbonensis accession 67), common vetch ( V. sativa selections 2541, 2037, 2020), common chickling ( Lathyrus sativus selection 439) and ochrus chickling ( L. ochrus selection 104) were compared over two years with contrasting rainfall. In both years the entries were sown in November and their primary growths sampled periodically during growth. For each sample, phenology, total dry matter, leaf area index (LAI) and, at maturity, total dry matter, seed yield and harvest index, were recorded.
In both seasons, narbon vetch attained the highest dry matter and seed yields, and there was very limited variability in the maximum dry matter yield of the other entries. In general, the maximum dry matter occurred at 20–50 % podding in woolly pod vetch, 100 % podding in common vetch selection 2541 (local), narbon vetch and common chickling and at maturity in common vetch selection 2037, selection 2020 and ochrus chickling.
Throughout the vegetative to early flowering stages, woolly pod vetch had the highest dry matter yield and LAI. Possible uses of each species as animal feed are discussed.     

Effect of Time of Harvest of Vetch (Vicia sativa L.) on Yields of Subsequent Barley in a Dry Mediterranean Environment

The introduction of annual feed legumes into the intensifying systems of barley monocropping in dry-area Mediterranean agriculture would reduce pest and disease risk and increase sustainable productivity. Potential modes of legume utilization by small ruminants — as green grazing, hay, or mature grain and straw — imply different times of harvest removal with possible consequences for the subsequent barley crop. In nine two-year trials, barley following green-grazed common vetch (Vicia sativa) always outyielded barley following vetch cut as hay or harvested at maturity, albeit in some years by small and non-significant margins; mean differences in barley grain and straw yields between green-graze and mature vetch treatments were around 20 %. The main mechanisms implicated are carryover to the barley of small amounts of soil water unused by early-harvested vetch and enhanced nitrogen availability where active vetch root systems were killed by removal of the above-ground crop.     

Narbon Vetch (Vicia narbonensis L.): A Potential Feed Legume Crop for Dry Areas in West Asia

Provision of feed supplies for the rapidly growing livestock population is essential in West Asia. Shortages can be alleviated by growing forage crops in the existing fallow lands.
Narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis L.) is a leguminous species with high yield potential, drought tolerance and cold resistance. It could be used for grain and straw production as source for animal feed in dry areas. It is good source of protein with seeds contain 28 % protein yielding 364 kg per hectare protein, whilst straw contains 9 % protein and yields a similar amounts of digestible protein per hectare.
Nine promising lines of Narbon vetch developed at ICARDA were tested at two sites over four years under rainfed conditions. Since climatic conditions were considered to be of considerable importance, each site in each year was treated as a separate environment to give eight environments with annual rainfall varied from 195 to 504 mm.
Narbon vetch possessed high seedling vigour with rapid winter growth and negligible cold damage. Grain yield varied form 0.47 to 1.90 t/ha, with a harvest index varying from 30 to 40 %. The data indicated that below 300 mm rainfall the grain yield varied from 0.47 t/ha when rain fall was 195 mm to 1.4 t/ha when rainfall was 245 mm. Most of the lines had wide adaptation to dry areas in terms of both grain yield and stability. Climate, except early spring rains had little effect on biological and grain yields.     

Underground Vetch (Vicia sativa ssp. amphicarpa): A Potential Pasture and Forage Legume for Dry Areas in West Asia

Subterranean vetch [Vicia sativa ssp. amphicarpa (Dorth.) Aschers & Graebn.] is native to disturbed grasslands of the Mediterranean basin where heavy grazing, seasonal drought and erosion act as strong selection forces. It produces two pod types, above‐ground and 5 cm below the soil surface. Unlike subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean L.), which buries its seeds after flowering above‐ground, subterranean vetch flowers and forms pods beneath the soil surface on underground stems. The aerial pods are produced after vegetative development ceases, while the underground pods are produced in ontogeny. The ability of this unusual vetch to survive in marginal areas with low rainfall (about 250 mm year^?1) and to produce nutritious herbage and pods is an important characteristic which helps address rehabilitation of degraded rangelands and increase feed production for small ruminants. Research at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) during the 1988–93 growing seasons has assessed the herbage and seed productivity of underground vetch, its ability to grow in rotation with barley in marginal low‐rainfall areas, and its capacity to regenerate after heavy grazing. Drier conditions in 1989 favoured earlier underground flowering; the number of underground pods was higher than that of aerial pods. Grain yield of barley (var. Atlas) was around 2.0 t ha^?1 after underground vetch and only 1.2 t ha^?1 after barley. Grazing underground vetch had no effect on the productivity of the succeeding barley crop. The aerial and underground pods serve two distinct functions; aerial pods increase dissemination within suitable habitats, while underground pods increase the probability of plant survival under adverse conditions such as drought and heavy grazing. Underground vetch has two potential uses, namely the rehabilitation of marginal areas and production in rotation with barley.     

行距及间作对箭筈豌豆与燕麦青干草产量和品质的影响

在我国西北地区,普遍应用燕麦与箭筈豌豆间作生产饲草。为了研究不同间作模式的增产效果,2009—2010年在吉林省白城市采用两因子完全随机区组设计,研究了2种行距(A1：33 cm;A2：16.5 cm)和3种种植方式(B1：燕麦单作;B2：箭筈豌豆单作;B3：燕麦箭筈豌豆1∶1间作)对饲草产量、品质的影响。结果表明,行距减小播量增大时,作物单株重量减小,饲草总产量提高13%;行距减小播量不变,燕麦单株重量增大,饲草总产量提高29%;B3饲草产量比B1提高24%,比B2提高30%;B3粗蛋白产量比B1高1倍,比B2低20%;间作使燕麦的株高、单株重和粗蛋白质含量提高,使箭筈豌豆的株高增加,单株重、含氮量降低,节数减少,分枝减少。采用行距16.5 cm、燕麦播量87.5 kg hm^–2、箭筈豌豆播量75 kg hm^–2的燕麦与箭筈豌豆间作处理,全年两茬饲草产量为19.8 t hm^–2,粗蛋白产量为2.43 t hm^–2,可作为白城及气候相似地区饲草生产的基本模式。     

三种野豌豆属牧草种子萌发期抗旱性的研究

以毛叶苕子、箭筈豌豆及光叶苕子种子为材料,用不同浓度（0、5%、10%、15%、20%）的聚乙二醇（PEG-6000）模拟干旱进行发芽试验。对供试牧草种子的生物学特性及干旱胁迫下种子萌发期的相对发芽势、相对发芽率、相对发芽指数、相对活力指数、相对芽长、抗旱指数等指标进行研究,并采用隶属函数法对三种牧草种子萌发期的抗旱性进行综合评价。结果表明：（1）箭筈豌豆种子吸水率大于光叶苕子、毛叶苕子种子,光叶苕子种子含水量、种子活力大于其他两种牧草种子。（2）随着PEG浓度的升高,三种牧草种子相对发芽势、相对发芽率、相对发芽指数、相对活力指数与抗旱指数总体呈下降趋势。（3）5% PEG能促进毛叶苕子种子的萌发。（4）三种牧草的抗旱性强弱顺序为箭筈豌豆>光叶苕子>毛叶苕子。     

Effect of Genotypes and Plant Maturity on Forage Quality of Certain Forage Legume Species Under Rainfed Conditions

Evaluation of plant species for animal feed requires the quantitative and qualitative comparison of different genotypes. Promising lines of annual legumes comprising seven genotypes of vetche ( Vicia spp.) and chicklings ( Lathyrus spp.) were compared for herbage quality. The content of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in herbage and pods were measured at different stages of plant maturity. The proportion of the leaves to shoots (leafiness) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were also determined. As plants matured IVDMD, CP and leafiness decreased and NDF and ADF increased. For all the genotypes maximum digestible dry matter (DDM) and CP yields were more or less attained at 50–100 % podding. Narbon vetch had the highest DDM. The possible uses of the different genotypes as animal feed are discussed based on the partitioning of the DDM and CP yield as plants matured.     

Germplasm Evaluation of Annual Sown Forage Legumes under Environmental Conditions Marginal for Crop Growth in the Highlands of West Asia

In the very large areas of arid highlands in West Asia, of which land over 1000 m in Balochistan is typical, as a result of rapidly increasing numbers of small ruminants and subsequent overgrazing of natural rangelands, severe shortages in animal feed are being experienced. To address this problem the And Zone Research Institute (AZRI) have been evaluating annual forage legume germplasm for adaptability to the harsh climatic conditions of highland Balochistan. Due to the marginality of the environment for sustained crop production an unconventional germplasm evaluation strategy has been adopted which emphasizes the introduction of landraces, particularly of the genus Vicia. The substantial risk of crop failure from either cold or drought, in any year, makes continuity of seed supply of selected lines a major problem. Support from ICARDA in Syria for re-supply of seed is a major advantage to the AZRI program.
In the last three years some tangible progress has been made in selection. V. villosa ssp. dasycarpa Ace. 683 has with autumn sowing shown sufficient cold tolerance and is highly productive in wet years. V. ervilia Ace. 2542 has shown some potential for drought tolerance which could be exploited for spring sowing.     

燕麦与箭筈豌豆不同混播比例对生物量的影响研究

为了研究燕麦与箭筈豌豆不同混播模式的增产效应。在农业部兰州黄土高原生态环境重点野外科学观测试验站对一年生牧草燕麦和箭筈豌豆进行了混播试验。结果表明：丹麦444燕麦50%和333/A春箭筈豌豆50%的混播处理,地上生物量、种子产量及0~50 cm的地上生物量均最高,分别为22193.33 kg/hm2、4776.67 kg/hm2和11792.90 kg/hm2,且与其他混播处理的差异显著(P<0.05)。该混播模式具有较好的协同效应,可在黄土高原及类似地区推广应用。     

Variation and association analysis in coriander

Summary Two hundred genotypes of Coriandrum sativum L. exhibited genetic variation for plant height, primary and effective branches, days to flowering and maturity, umbels and umbellets per plant, grains per umbellet, thousand seed weight, straw yield and grain yield per plant and harvest index. Heritability estimates were high for days to flowering, thousand seed weight and days to maturity; moderate for plant height, straw yield, umbels per plant, umbellets per plant and number of primary branches; and low for harvest index, effective branches, grain yield per plant and grains per umbellet. Phenotypic correlations of grain yield per plant were highly significant and positive with umbellets per plant, umbels per plant, number of effective branches, straw yield per plant, number of primary branches, plant height, number of grains per umbellet and harvest index. Maximum direct contribution to grain yield per plant was made by umbellets per plant, followed by straw yield per plant, umbels per plant and grains per umbellet. Umbellets per plant made sizeable indirect effect via straw yield per plant. Straw yield per plant made sizeable indirect contribution via umbellets per plant.     

Assessment of Sensitivity to Frost in Ochrus chickling (Lathyrus ochrus (L.) D.C.) by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analyses

Ochrus chickling ( Lathyrus ochrus (L.) D.C.) is a promising feed legume for rain-fed farming systems in the Mediterranean environments of West Asia and North Africa (WANA) because of its drought tolerance and resistance to broom rape ( Orobanche crenata Forsk.). However, it is highly susceptible to cold and improving Its resistance would further improve its adaptation.
The potential of the chlorophyll fluorescence technique in screening for frost sensitivity in seedlings of five Lathyrus ochrus genotypes and one each of Vicia ervilia (L.) Wild and V. sativa L. was assessed by measuring the rate of rise in induced or variable chlorophyll fluorescence of fully developed leaflets after cold hardening in the open and subsequent exposure to freezing. The method differentiated the highly frost-susceptible L. ochrus genotypes from the more tolerant Vicia species. Testing the technique with nine genotypes of L. ochrus in which the plants were established, cold-hardened and frost-stressed under controlled conditions confirmed its sensitivity even to reveal the narrow inter plant differences that generally exist within a cultivar or genotype to frost. It is therefore considered as a useful screening technique for cold/frost tolerance in L. ochrus.     

Effect of Agronomic Factors on Annual Leguminous Forage Crop in Mediterranean Environments

Dry matter and seed production of five annual leguminous species hairy vetch ( Vicia villosa Roth cv. Orsara) , crimson clover ( Trifolium incarnatum L. ecotype Campano) , squarrosum clover ( T. squarrosum L. ecotype Calabro) , persian clover ( T. resupinatum cv. Accadia) and fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum-graecum L. ecotype Maltese) was estimated in 1989–90 under two density and irrigation rates and with two cutting treatments. The experiments were done at the Forage Crops Institute of Foggia, which has a typical Mediterranean environment. The forage cut severely affected the regrowth of the plants in all species. The year and irrigation factors affect dry matter, seed production and seed yield components more than the plant density rates. The averages over the years, for dry matter and seed yield were 21.0 % and 20.5 % higher in the irrigated than the not irrigated ones. The lower plant density rate, for seed yield trait, gave better result in hairy vetch in irrigated and non-irrigated treatment. Whereas in the other species, the lower rate of planting gave greater yield under non-irrigated and the higher rate under irrigated growing condition. The seed yield components most influenced by irrigation were: thousand seed weight and seeds/pod in hairy vetch and heads/tiller and seeds/head in clovers species. Fenugreek was the earliest forage crop (cut at the beginning of March), followed by crimson and persian clovers (cut at the middle of April) and squarrosum clover and hairy vetch (cut in the middle-late of May). All the cultivars and ecotypes considered not regrowth after cut and could represent an important fresh forage resource for the period March–May for the Mediterranean regions.     

Geneticanalysis of drought stress response in rapeseed (Brassica campestris and B. Napus). II. Yield improvement and the application of selection indices

Summary The expected improvement in grain yield if selection was made for plant characters measured between flowering and maturity was evaluated in populations of rapeseed (Brassica campestris and B. napus) grown in a droughted environment. Drought was commenced at flowering in each species and measurements were made on plants at the commencement of the drought stress, during the stress treatment and at crop maturity.Substantial genetic and phenotypic variation was observed in yield as well as the different morphophysiological determinants of yield. In B. campestris no single parameter was found to be a suitable alternative selection criterion to yield since the correlated responses in yield if selection was for another character was lower than if selection was for yield alone. By the use of a selection index however, joint selection for yield, as well as harvest index, 1000 seed weight and seeds per pod, was expected to be 20% more effective than direct selection for yield under drought. In the B. napus population direct selection for flowering time or for harvest index was predicted to result in a genetic advance in yield equal to or greater than that obtained by direct selection for yield, whereas joint selection for flowering time and yield should result in a 16% greater yield increase. Selection for increased yield in these populations grown in droughted conditions is discussed.     

Simultaneous selection for early maturity, increased grain yield and elevated grain protein content in spring wheat

High grain yield and grain protein content, and early maturity are important traits in global bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)-breeding programmes. Improving these three traits simultaneously is difficult due to the negative association between grain yield and grain protein content and the positive association between maturity and grain yield. We investigated the genetic relationship between maturity, grain yield and grain protein content in a population of 130 early maturing spring wheat lines in a high latitude (52–53°N) wheat-growing region of Canada. Grain protein content exhibited negative genetic correlation with maturity (−0.87), grain fill duration (−0.78), grain fill rate (−0.49), grain yield (−0.93) and harvest index (−0.71). Grain yield exhibited positive genetic correlation with maturity (0.69), rate (0.78) and duration (0.49) of grain fill, and harvest index (0.55). Despite the positive association between maturity and grain yield, and negative association between grain yield and grain protein content, higher yielding lines with medium maturity and higher grain protein content were identified. Broad-sense heritabilities were low (<0.40) for rate and duration of grain fill, grain protein content, spike per m², grains per spike, harvest index and grain yield, and medium to high (>0.40) for grain weight, days to anthesis and maturity, and plant height. Selection for longer preanthesis and shorter grain fill periods may help circumvent the negative association between grain yield and grain protein content. Selection for shorter grain fill periods and higher grain fill rate may be a useful strategy for developing early maturing cultivars with acceptable grain yields in northern wheat-growing regions.     

箭筈豌豆、玉米产量对间作和施氮水平的响应

研究不同施氮水平下箭筈豌豆、玉米产量对单作和间作的响应,对于优化栽培措施、提高作物产量具有重要意义。本试验于2017年在甘肃河西绿洲灌溉区进行,重点研究是不同施氮水平下箭筈豌豆、玉米在单作及间作模式中干物质累积、产量构成、产量表现。结果表明,间作箭筈豌豆干物质累积量与单作相比在不施氮(N0)、减量施氮(N1)和常规施氮(N2)处理下分别提高44.0%、36.7%和37.2%;施氮水平间,间作模式下N1比N2和N0提高9.1%和25.5%,单作模式下提高9.4%和32.1%。间作玉米干物质累积量与单作相比在N0、N1和N2处理下分别提高23.3%、22.5%和23.0%;施氮水平间,间作模式下N1比N2和N0提高9.3%和19.8%,单作模式下提高9.9%和20.7%。间作模式下箭筈豌豆豆荚数和玉米穗数较相应单作分别增加7.6%和14.5%,两者的产量较单作分别提高34.9%和27.0%。由通径分析可知,箭筈豌豆产量决定次序是豆荚数>粒重>单荚粒数,玉米产量决定次序是穗数>粒重>穗粒数。间作结合施氮量240 kg/hm²能获得较高干物质积累量和产量,是河西灌溉区玉米间作箭筈豌豆适宜的施氮水平。     

甘蔗渣的饲用价值评价

为探讨甘蔗渣作为牲畜粗饲料的营养价值评价,本研究以光叶紫花苕、灯盏花秆、蚕豆秆、熟化洋蓟花苞等农副产物作对照,对其常规营养成分及其饲料相对值(RFV)和粗饲料分级指数(GI)进行综合评价。结果表明：甘蔗渣的粗蛋白(CP)含量显著低于熟化洋蓟花苞、光叶紫花苕、灯盏花秆(P<0.01),也低于蚕豆秆(P>0.05);甘蔗渣的粗脂肪(EE)含量明显低于光叶紫花苕、灯盏花秆(P<0.05),而甘蔗渣的钙、磷含量显著低于其他粗饲料(P<0.05)。在测定五类粗饲料中,光叶紫花苕、灯盏花秆和熟化洋蓟花苞的RFV分别为102.90、88.62和94.75,明显低于优质青贮玉米(139.48)(P<0.05),显著高于甘蔗渣(76.09)和蚕豆秆(55.86)(P<0.01),甘蔗渣(76.09)跟稻草糠(73.45)差异不显著(P>0.05)。与之相对应,光叶紫花苕、灯盏花秆、熟化洋蓟花苞的干物质随意采食量(DMI)、产奶净能(NE_L)显著高于甘蔗渣和蚕豆秆的对应值(P<0.05)。RFV排序依次为：光叶紫花苕>熟化洋蓟花苞>灯盏花秆>甘蔗渣>蚕豆秆;而粗蛋白含量高的灯盏花秆GI优于光叶紫花苕(P>0.05)和灯盏花秆(P<0.05),甘蔗渣和蚕豆秆二者极低(P<0.01),表明甘蔗渣饲用价值低下,作为粗饲料利用必须与其他饲料进行混合发酵或膨化后制作颗粒料。     

轮作豆科植物对马铃薯连作田土壤速效养分及理化性质的影响

合理轮作天蓝苜蓿 (Medicago lupulina L.)、陇东苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)和箭筈豌豆(Vicia sativa L.)3种豆科植物对马铃薯连作田土壤速效氮、速效磷及速效钾含量有不同程度的促进作用。对于马铃薯2年以上连作田,轮作3种豆科植物均能起到提高土壤氮素有效性的作用,速效氮含量最高提高476%,且可显著提高3年以上连作田速效磷含量,增幅最高可达207%。对于3~4年连作田,轮作天蓝苜蓿可提高土壤速效钾含量,其他连作年限及轮作箭筈豌豆和陇东苜蓿均没有提高土壤速效钾含量。轮作豆科植物后,不同连作年限马铃薯连作田土壤EC值均显著下降,与对照相比,土壤的EC值最大降低69.7%,说明实施马铃薯-豆科植物轮作对防止马铃薯连作田土壤盐渍化有显著效果。轮作豆科植物使连作田土壤脲酶、碱性磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶活性均显著提高。从第2年连作开始,轮作豆科植物对后茬马铃薯产量产生明显影响,第3~4年连作期间,轮作天蓝苜蓿和箭筈豌豆对后茬马铃薯增产效果较明显。     

Effects of Row Spacing, Support Plant Species and Support Plant Mixture Ratio on Seed Yield and Yield Characteristics of Hungarian Vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz)

The effects of row spacing (17.5 or 35.0 cm), support plant species (barley or triticale) and the proportion of crops in mixtures (no support plant or support plant 20, 40 or 60 %, respectively) on the seed yield and yield characteristics of Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz) were investigated. Increasing the row spacing increased the seed yield of V. pannonica from 881.0 to 1248.0 kg ha^?1. On average, in a pure stand the seed yield of V. pannonica was 1141.0 kg ha^?1. In mixtures with barley and triticale, the seed yield of V. pannonica averaged 986.0 and 1143.0 kg ha^?1, respectively. In single mixed stands the seed yield of V. pannonica varied between 551.0 kg ha^?1 (60 % support plant barley) and 1603.0 kg ha^?1 (20 % support plant triticale). The yield advantage of V. pannonica in this triticale mixture was 40 % compared to the V. pannonica pure stand. With respect to the total yield in the mixture with 20 % triticale (1902.0 kg ha^?1) the yield advantage over the V. pannonica pure stand was as high as 65.1 %. In the mixed stands the number of seeds per pod and the thousand‐seed weight of V. pannonica were higher than in V. pannonica pure stands.     

箭筈豌豆与燕麦不同间作混播模式对产量和品质的影响

豆科牧草与禾本科牧草混播是提高饲草产量和品质的重要措施。在低氮条件下比较分析12种燕麦与箭筈豌豆不同间作与混播模式对饲草产量和品质的影响。研究结果表明,燕麦蜡熟期与箭筈豌豆枯黄期混合饲草产量和粗蛋白产量最高。所有处理中H7（燕麦与箭筈豌豆3∶1间作）干物质产量和粗蛋白产量最高,土地利用率提高了76%。其中干物质产量在灌浆期比单播燕麦增产47%,蜡熟期增产40%;粗蛋白产量在灌浆期分别比单播燕麦和箭筈豌豆增产52.6%和2.6%;在蜡熟期增产97.2%和103.2%,均显著高于单播燕麦和单播箭筈豌豆（P<0.05）。同行混播各处理干物质产量均显著高于单播燕麦和单播箭筈豌豆（P<0.05）,且同行混播各处理之间并无显著差异;粗蛋白产量在2次刈割期H9（燕麦与箭筈豌豆1∶2混播）较高,土地利用率与单作相比提高了51%。间作混播处理有利于提高混合草的RFV值,与单播燕麦相比间混作提高饲草RFV值的幅度为0.3%~22.7%。综合全年牧草的产量、品质以及土地当量比分析,燕麦与箭筈豌豆3∶1的间作种植模式最好,能更好地发挥燕麦和箭豆的种间互补优势,获得较高的干物质产量,说明间作增产可能与燕麦和箭筈豌豆田间带距和行比的合理搭配有关。     

开花期外施表油菜素内酯(epi-BR)对水稻的影响

选用水稻品种日本晴为试验材料,初花期喷施表油菜素内酯(epi-Brassinolide,epi-BR)处理,并以喷施BR合成抑制剂-芸苔素吡咯(Brassi-nazole,Brz)为负对照,研究不同处理条件下水稻剑叶形态、叶绿素含量和产量构成因素的变化。结果表明,epi-BR提高了水稻灌浆高峰期剑叶中的叶绿素含量和比叶重,增加了水稻的结实率和千粒重,从而提高了水稻的生物产量和收获指数,使水稻增产。