Effect of Irrigation, Mulch and Nitrogen on Yield and Composition of Japanese Mint (Mentha arvensis L. subsp. haplocalyx var. piperascens) Oil

Effects of irrigation, mulch and nitrogen on yield and composition of Japanese mini ( Mentha arvensis L. subsp. haplocalyx Briq. var piperascens) oil were studied using a replicated experiment. Two harvests were obtained 120 davs atter planting and 75 davs after the first harvest. Significantly higher drv matter and essential oil yields were obtained with frequent irrigations (50 mm Cumulative Pan Evaporation), application of mulch and Nitrogen. The economic optimum rate of N was 215 Kg ha^-1. The essential oil from the first harvest was richer in menthol (78.8%) than the oil obtained from second harvest (75.2%). Soil moisture extraction was maximum between 15 and 30 cm soil depths. Consumptive use, water use efficiency and moisture use rate-were maximum under higher irrigation levels and mulch application which reflect that more availability of moisture in soil profile with frequent irrigations and application of mulch.     

Biomass Yield and Essential Oil Yield Variations in Java Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt.), Intercropped with Food Legumes and Vegetables

Java citronella ( Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt., Family: Poaceae) is a perennial, multiharvest aromatic grass, the shoot biomass of which, on steam distillation, yields an essential oil extensively used in fragrance and flavour industries. It has a long initial lag phase. To utilize the crop resources more efficiently during this lag phase, a field experiment was conducted for two years (1995–97) in semiarid tropical climate to explore the feasibility of intercropping food legumes and vegetables in Java citronella. Among food legumes, greengram ( Vigna radiata (L.) Wilez.), and among vegetables, clusterbean ( Cyamopsis psoraloides D. C., syn. Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.), tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and lady's finger ( Abelmoschus esculentus Moench.) as intercrops did not decrease the biomass yield, essential oil yield of Java citronella and produced bonus yields of these crops over and above that of Java citronella. Maximum monetary returns were recorded by Java citronella intercropped with tomato or greengram. Java citronella intercropped with redgram ( Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), horsegram ( Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verd. syn. Dolichos biflorus Roxb.) and brinjal ( Solanum melongena L.) suffered significant biomass and essential oil yield reductions. Horsegram proved to be the most competitive intercrop producing least yields and minimum monetary returns.     

低氮密植栽培对超级稻产量和氮素利用率的影响

为了研究低氮密植栽培对水稻分蘖发生及成穗率、干物质积累及其转化、氮素利用率和产量的影响,2012—2013年以超级稻Y两优1号为材料,在湖南长沙和海南澄迈进行了施氮量(75、150、225 kg N hm–2)与栽插密度(68、40、27、19穴m–2),每穴苗数(单、双、三本穴–1)与栽插密度(40、27、19、14穴m–2)的大田栽培试验。结果表明,在基本苗数相同或相近的条件下,减苗增密在齐穗期和成熟期的干物质量及产量分别比增苗减密高10.5%、5.2%和2.9%,有效穗数对产量的贡献最大,达到显著水平;在低氮密植条件下,有效分蘖期缩短6 d左右,分蘖成穗率、表观转化率、氮肥偏生产力和氮素籽粒生产效率分别提高10.9%、21.0%、150.6%和19.6%。在施氮量为75 kg N hm–2的密植(40~68穴m–2)条件下,齐穗期和成熟期的干物质量及长沙点产量分别比中、高氮(150~225 kg N hm–2)常规密度(19~27穴m–2)低3.2%、7.5%和1.2%,但差异不显著,而澄迈点产量在2012年和2013年分别比之低5.2%和高9.1%,且差异均达显著水平。在施氮量为150 kg N hm–2的密植条件下,成熟期干物质量比高氮常规密度低1.7%,但齐穗期干物质量和产量比高氮常规密度高10.3%和3.3%。因此,超级稻采用低氮密植栽培,在100~150 kg N hm–2和40穴m–2条件下提早了够苗期,增加了有效穗数,提高了分蘖成穗率和结实率,加之齐穗期适宜的干物质积累和较高的表观转化率,有利于高产的形成和氮肥利用率的提高。     

施氮量和密度互作对全覆膜旱作甜菜光合特性和块根产量的影响

全覆膜具有增温、保墒和压草的作用,是干旱区农作物种植的有效措施。为探索旱作甜菜在全覆膜条件下的适宜施氮量和种植密度,采用二因素裂区试验设计,研究施氮量和密度不同组合处理对全覆膜旱作甜菜光合特性的影响,为旱作甜菜高产栽培提供依据和参考。研究结果表明,全覆膜条件下施氮水平和密度对旱作甜菜光合特性影响的互作效应显著;适宜的施氮量和密度配置有利于甜菜SPAD值、叶面积指数、净光合速率（P_n）、单株干物质积累量、根冠比以及块根产量的提高,SPAD值、叶面积指数、P_n、单株干物质积累量均与产量呈正相关。在甜菜块根糖分增长期,SPAD值和叶面积指数分别维持在53.8和4.5时,旱作甜菜产量最大;通过二项式回归分析建立密度和施氮量与产量的回归方程,得出全覆膜旱作甜菜高产适宜的种植密度为9.35万株/hm ²,施氮量为128.8kg/hm ²。