Wind as a limitation on the growth and yield of strawberries

Reduction in mean wind speed from 1.6 m/s to 1.1 m/s produced a mean increase of 56% in the yield of the strawberry Cambridge Favourite over a 3-year cropping period. Variation in response from year to year was appreciable and appeared to be linked to the wind conditions in the previous growing season.

Extensive bruising of leaves in exposed plots was recorded, and this appeared to be a more likely reason for growth depression than indirect effects of exposure by altering plant temperature or soil water balance. Earliness of cropping was virtually unaffected by reduction in wind speed.

Shelter improved not only the total yield but also the regularity of yield from year to year. The exposed plots showed yield variation from 9.8 to 15.8 t/ha compared with 16.6 to 19.1 t/ha in the sheltered plots.     

Production of high yielding red raspberry long canes in a Northern climate

Techniques for the production of raspberry long canes with high yield potential were studied on a research station and in two commercial nurseries in South Norway. Potted ‘Glen Ample’ plants were grown in the open and in polyethylene greenhouses during two seasons in order to optimize cultural practices. Dates of propagation and transfer to the production sites were varied. Following cold storage from December to early June, the canes were tipped (cut) at 160 cm height and grown in open plastic tunnels in the fruiting season for the evaluation of growth and yield performance. Remarkable berry yields of 1.5–3.8 kg per plant (cane) were regularly achieved. When grown in the open, later starts than June 1 (June 15 and July 1) successively reduced yields. On the other hand, an earlier start involves risks of growth cessation due to low spring temperature. When grown in greenhouses, high yields were still possible when plants were transferred from propagation conditions as late as July 1, although optimal yields of nearly 4 kg per plant were obtained with transfer on June 15. In a year with unusually high summer temperatures, the yields of canes produced in the open and in greenhouses did not vary significantly, whereas in the second year with normal summer temperatures, canes produced in greenhouses consistently out-yielded those produced in the open by about 1 kg per cane. Regression analyses revealed that high yields were associated with fruiting cane architecture traits such as cane height, number and length of laterals, and a low proportion of dormant buds. The single most important component was lateral length which alone accounted for 82% of the yield variation. Since lateral lengths increased from the shoot tip towards the base, cane heights in excess of 2 m are required for the attainment of top yields as the uppermost nodes with short and low-yielding laterals then can be eliminated by tipping.     

单株留芽量及结果母枝剪留长度对猕猴桃结果性能的影响

对栽植株行距3m×4m的美味猕猴桃秦美品种连续进行了3年试验,单株分别剪留250、300、350、400个芽处理后,平均单株新梢数、叶面积指数、落叶率与留芽数量呈正相关,叶幕下层的光强度、净光合率与留芽数量呈负相关;单株果枝数、果实数及单位面积产量均以留400芽处理最高,但平均单果重最小,88g以上的优质果产量最低。综合评价以单株剪留350个有效芽的效果最佳,优级果产量达到2102.7kg/666.7m2。结果母枝分别剪留7、12、17个有效芽处理后,平均每母枝的结果枝数、果实数、产量与留芽数量呈正相关,均以17芽处理最高,分别达到9.5个、30.4个和3.09kg,各处理间的单果重差异不显著。     

甘蔗机械化收获条件下1.3m行距试验表现

通过1.3m行距与1.1m行距1年新植、1年宿根大区对比试验,结果表明：新植蔗1.3m行距蔗茎产量142335 kg/hm2,较1.1m行距（蔗茎产量148875kg/hm2）减产6540 kg/hm2,减4.4％,甘蔗含糖分增0.39个百分点,含糖量减285 kg/hm2、减1.5％;1年宿根蔗1.3m行距蔗茎产量126945 kg/hm2,较1.1m行距（蔗茎产量130335kg/hm2）减产3390kg/hm2,减2.6％,甘蔗含糖分增0.66个百分点,含糖量增330 kg/hm2、增1.7％.     

Chemical and biochemical changes in the rice straw substrate related to the morphogenesis,cropping patternand yield of Pleurotus florida (Block & Tsao.)

Summary

Growth and yield of Pleurotus florida on rice straw were studied as a function of temperature. At an ambient temperature of 20?C, a maximum bioconversion efficiency (yield to substrate ratio, both on a dry-weight basis) of 14.5% was recorded. The net yield was observed over 2–3 flushes, with an interflush period of ca. 7.d. Increase in bioconversion efficiency (BCE) decreased left-over spent substrate and increased the loss of growth substrate as CO₂ and H₂O. An increased solubility of the growth substrate was observed with increase in BCE. In general, increase in sugars, amino acids, and decrease in phenols, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin were observed; however amino acids decreased at high levels of BCE. Likewise, the decrease in lignin content was not important above a 10% increase in BCE. Flush co-ordinated operation of the degradatory enzymes in the rice straw substrate was studied. Whilst CMC-ase, b-glucosidase, hemicellulase and protease showed a continuous increase over all the flushes, laccase showed a decline only after the first flush, reflecting the possible non-requirement for lignin degradation thereafter. The growth of the fruiting primordium into a mature fruiting body took 72.h was characterized by an active increase in cellulase(s), hemicellulase(s) and, protease in particular. Laccase activity declined. This observation is associated with the requirement for carbohydrates and protein for growth and development of the fruiting bodies. Hexosamine content in the rice straw substrate increased until the end of spawnrun and declined thereafter, in accordance with the fructification.     

Effect of tree and branch thinning on growth,yield, and fruit quality of persimmon trees in a high-density orchard

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of branch and tree thinning on growth, yield and fruit quality in 8-year-old non-astringent persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.f.) trees in a high-density orchard over 6 years in Korea. Adjacent trees in the rows were removed in 2008 (first-year thinning) or in 2010 (gradual thinning). Trees in the second treatment also had 25% of the main scaffold branches removed in the first two seasons. Control plots were left unthinned. First-year thinning elevated leaf macro-nutrient concentrations, increased the production of short fruiting shoots (less than 20 cm) per tree, decreased water sprout development and weight of pruned biomass, and increased fruit set compared with values recorded on control trees and with gradual thinning. First-year thinning gave higher photosynthetic photon flux in the centre of the canopy and better fruit quality. There were generally only small differences in total yield across the three treatments in individual years, but much higher total marketable yield from 2010 to 2013 in the first-year thinning plots. First-year thinning improved overall tree productivity, and the gross returns were 80% higher than those of control from 2008 to 2013 when the extra cost of the thinning was taken into account.     

The Response of Malling Jewel And Malling Exploit Raspberries to Different Soil Moisture Conditions and Straw Mulching

The raspberry varieties Mailing Jewel and Mailing Exploit were used to study growth and crop responses to mulching and irrigation from 1957 to 1962 inclusive.

Treatment A consisted of a wheat straw mulch applied deeply enough to form a complete surface cover; treatments B and C of water applications on unmulched cultivated soil at soil moisture tensions of 20 cm. and 50 cm. of mercury respectively, measured at 1 ft. depth. Treatment B was changed after i960 to a single 2-in. water application given when the raspberry fruits began to ripen. Plots under treatment D were cultivated, unwatered and unmulched.

Irrigation greatly increased the rate of cane growth but this was found to be a disadvantage in raspberries grown as continuous rows because the new cane tended to chafe and obscure ripe berries. Restricting irrigation to the pre-picking period reduced height growth but did not appear to reduce cane numbers or crop yield. Crop yield was increased by irrigation to about 30% more than was produced on the unwatered and unmulched plots, mainly as a result of increased berry size, but the full effect of irrigation on yield was not realized because cane numbers and height were restricted. Under the conditions of this experiment, in which the canes were thinned to a given density and tipped to a given height, a single 2-in. application of water at the commencement of ripening, i.e. when the berries showed the first tinge of pink, was a very economic irrigation treatment. Irrigation slightly delayed ripening, probably because of the harder tipping required by the irrigated canes.

The mulch conserved the equivalent of 2 in. of moisture and was intermediate in effect between the irrigation treatments B and C and treatment D in height growth, crop yield and berry size, but had a depressing effect on the production of new canes by the weaker-growing variety Mailing Jewel.     

Use of the salmonberry,Rubus spectabilis Pursh., in red raspberry breeding

Rubus spectabilis Pursh. was introduced as a donor of earliness in summer fruiting raspberries. F, hybrids between R. ideaus and R. spectabilis were more or less sterile but flowered very early. Fertility was almost fully restored in the BC[ generation. Some BC, individuals were early summer fruiting while some were early primocane fruiting. Using these as parents, further generations were raised and individuals with cultivar potential have been selected in the BC2 generation. The F, showed resistance to cane diseases and this resistance was largely retained in BC, and BC3 summer fruiting progenies. The two F, individuals used as parents were highly resistant to Phytophthora root rot and ten 2nd or 3rd backcross derivatives of R. spectabilis were moderately resistant.     

厚皮甜瓜宽垄栽培的节水效应

以厚皮甜瓜银丰为试材,研究了沟灌栽培方式下增加垄距对厚皮甜瓜品质和产量、灌水量及灌溉水分生产效率的影响。结果表明：瓜田灌水量随着垄距的增加而减少,同等种植密度时垄距2.8 m和2.5 m的处理可节水24 %和17 %|垄距2.8 m和2.5 m的处理灌溉水分生产效率极显著高于传统栽培模式（垄距2.0 m,对照）。3种垄距处理间单株结果数、单果质量、产量和可溶性固形物含量无显著差异|垄距2.8 m的处理果肉硬度显著高于垄距2.5 m的处理和对照。在沟灌栽培方式下,宽垄种植因缩短了灌水沟长度而实现了节水目的,且对甜瓜产量和品质无不良影响。     

Effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on yield,growth and nutrient contents in organically growing raspberry

During 2003 and 2005, plant growth promoting effects of two Bacillus strains OSU-142 (N₂-fixing) and M3 (N₂-fixing and phosphate solubilizing) were tested alone or in combinations on organically grown primocane fruiting raspberry (cv. Heritage) plants in terms of yield, growth, nutrient composition of leaves and variation of soil nutrient element composition in the province of Erzurum, Turkey. The results showed that Bacillus M3 treatment stimulated plant growth and resulted in significant yield increase. Inoculation of raspberry plant roots and rhizosphere with M3 and/or OSU-142 + M3, significantly increased yield (33.9% and 74.9%), cane length (13.6% and 15.0%), number of cluster per cane (25.4% and 28.7%) and number of berries per cane (25.1% and 36.0%) compared with the control, respectively. In addition, N, P and Ca contents of raspberry leaves with OSU-142 + M3 treatment, and Fe and Mn contents of the leaves of raspberry with M3 and OSU-142 + M3 applications significantly improved under organic growing conditions. Bacterial applications also significantly effected soil total N, available P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn contents and pH. Available P contents in soil was determined to be increased from 1.55 kg P₂O₅/da at the beginning of the study to 2.83 kg P₂O₅/da by OSU-142, to 5.36 kg P₂O₅/da by M3 and to 4.71 kg P₂O₅/da by OSU-142 + M3 treatments. The results of this study suggest that Bacillus M3 alone or in combination with Bacillus OSU-142 have the potential to increase the yield, growth and nutrition of raspberry plant under organic growing conditions.     

A Note on the Growth-Regulating Activity of 2:6-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid

During each of the four years 1957-60 the growth of the carrot crops in a long-term manurial experiment was studied. Significant increases in the yield of roots were produced by the application of farmyard manure and of potassic fertilizer but not by the application of nitrogenous or phosphatic fertilizers. The mean annual yields, and the responses to the applications of FYM and K, varied considerably from year to year.

The applications of FYM resulted in increases of 15-20% in the net assimilation rates and relative growth rates of the plants but these increases persisted for only 4-7 weeks when growth of the leaves on all plots was exponential. Subsequently net assimilation and relative growth rates of the plants on the FYM plots were slightly less than those on the no-FYM plots. It appeared that the initial differences in net assimilation rates were the main cause of the increased leafiness of the plants on the FYM plots, and hence of the increases in yields of roots.

Year-to-year differences in the total weight of leaves produced were related mainly to differences in the amount of rainfall during their growth. Yearly variation in root yields, however, was related both to the amount and to the distribution of the rainfall during growth.

The relative importance of variations in net assimilation rate and in leaf weight ratio are discussed.     

保水剂不同施用方法对甘蔗生长及产量的影响

用同一种保水剂,采取不同施用方法,探讨施保水剂与不施保水剂以及保水剂不同施用方法对甘蔗生长及产量的影响。试验前后经历3年,在2007年新植蔗施用保水剂,2008—2009年宿根蔗不再施用保水剂,结果表明,保水剂兑水处理：在新植蔗施用试验中获得极显著的增产效果,之后的两年宿根蔗试验仍增产显著。增产幅度表现逐年下降,增产效果随着施入土壤时间的延长而降低。保水剂干撒处理：3年的试验里表现出不同程度的减产。在施保水剂当年的新植蔗比对照略有减产,差异不明显;比保水剂兑水处理减产极显著。在后两年宿根蔗试验中,比对照减产明显,但差异不显著;比兑水处理减产显著。     

Phenology of strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum) in ReÂunion Island

Summary

The phenology of wild stands of strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) was studied at 100, 480 and 720.m over 2 years in ReÂunion Island. The shoots bore flower buds at the basal nodes, and vegetative buds at the apical nodes. Trees produced vegetative growth from September to December, flowers from November to January and fruit from February to June. Shoot growth was earlier at 100 and 720.m the first year, but were synchronized in the second year. Flowering and fruiting were also earlier at 100.m. The intervals between shoot emergence and flowering, and flowering and fruit maturity were strongly related to temperature, with base temperatures of 5.58C and 2.68C, and heat units requirements of 675 and 2,5528C.d, respectively. The number of shoots, flowers and fruit per branch varied across sites and years, unrelated to temperature. However, production was significantly higher at 720.m. Production was much lower after a hurricane. Flowering (y) was related to shoot production per branch (x) (log(y)=111.33.log(x); r².=.0.78), whereas the fruit set rate was highly variable between trees (26±100%). The number of fruits per branch (1±6) was possibly related to poor shoot growth or fruit set, but unrelated to the timing of the phenological events. It is expected that commercial orchards would be more productive than feral stands.     

Animal behavioral adaptation to changing landscapes: spring-staging geese habituate to wind farms

Wind farms are positioned in open landscapes and may cause loss of wildlife habitat due to disturbance, fragmentation, and infrastructure development. Especially flocking geese, swans, ducks and waders are regarded as vulnerable to wind farm development. We compared past and current displacement effects of two onshore wind farms and a line of land-based turbines on spring-staging pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) to see if there was evidence of habituation. In one wind farm area, geese previously (1998) (Larsen and Madsen 2000) kept a distance of c. 200 m (the distance at which 50% of peak densities is reached) and they did not go between the turbines; today (2008) they keep a distance of c. 100 m, but do still not enter the wind farm area. In another wind farm, where foraging geese previously (2000) kept a distance of more than 100 m and did not enter the wind farm, they now (2008) forage between the wind turbines and keep a distance of c. 40 m to turbines. In 1998, geese kept a distance of 125 m to a line of turbines, compared to 50 m now. We conclude that geese have behaviorally adapted to changing landscapes created by wind farms. The difference in avoidance between the sites may be due to the sizes of the turbines which in this study were small in both rotor-swept area and in height compared to more recent “industry standard” of 2.5 and 3.0 MW turbines. The study points to the need for longer term studies to properly assess the impact of wind farms on wildlife, including consequent increased risks from inclement weather events of feeding, rafting, and migrating waterfowl.     

Use of paclobutrazol sprays at mid-anthesis for increasing fruit size and yield of avocado (Persea americana Mill. cv. Hass)

Mid-anthesis foliar sprays of paclobutrazol (PB) at 2.5, 1.25 and 0.62 g a.i. I-1 reduced spring growth and altered dry-matter distribution in fruiting spring shoots of ‘Hass’ avocado.(Persea americana Mill.) trees. There was a decrease in dry matter allocation to vegetative components and an increase in allocation to fruit. The starch concentration in the wood of spring shoots on trees treated with 2.5 g a.i. I-1 foliar PB was increased by ca. 70% compared with spring shoots from trees of other treatments. The mid-anthesis foliar treatments also reduced summer growth by ca. 20%. Trunk injection of PB at 0.2 g a.i. m~2 of canopy silhouette area when the spring growth matured, in addition to a mid- anthesis foliar spray of 1.25 g a.i. I-1, reduced the length of summer shoots by 36% when compared with untreated trees. The spray treatments of 2.5 and 1.25 g a.i. T1 PB at mid- anthesis increased the mean fruit size at harvest by 16 and 11% respectively. Fruit yield was not significantly affected by PB applications on an annual basis. However, the PB spray treatments of 1.25 and 0.62 g a.i. I-1 significantly increased the two year cumulative yield by ca. 63%. There was no significant effect from the trunk injection treatment on fruit yield in either the season of treatment or the following season.     

Optimum leaf area index in T-bar trained kiwifruit vines

Summary

The effect of leaf area index (LAI) on canopy growth, light interception, yield, fruit growth and quality and return bloom of kiwifruit were examined in 1990 and 1991. Different LAIs were obtained in the 1990 season with defoliation treatment made precociously at different intensities, in a diffuse way, uniformly in the whole canopy. At the end of canopy development LAIs of 3.6,3.3,3.1,2.6 and 1.8 were obtained and evaluated. The kiwifruit vines with a bud load of 680?700 and LAIs of 3.3 and 3.6 in 1990, showed an optimum and constant yield (>90 kg per vine), good average fruit weight (>100 g) and high fruit quality in both years, and also good return bloom the following season. The reduction of LAI to 2.6 and 1.8 drastically reduced, in the year of LAI imposition, both yield (?18.5% and ?30%, respectively) and mean fruit weight (?18.6% and ?29.1%, respectively) compared with vines with an LAI higher than 3.1. In the same treatments, the soluble solids concentration in the fruit was significantly decreased and a great reduction in numbers of fruiting shoots and numbers of fruits per fruiting shoot were observed in the year following the LAI imposition. In vines with the same bud load, fruit number and an LAI of 3.1, small variations in yield and fruit weight in the year of defoliation treatments were recorded, but in the following season the yield was significantly reduced (?14 kg per vine) due mainly to a decrease in the number of fruiting shoots (?14%). In kiwifruit vines with low LAI (2.6 and 1.8) nearly all fruits present in the canopy ripen, with no significant fruit drop. At low LAI, the sink strength of the fruit was greater and more extended so that vine growth and the plants reserves were restricted. Under the conditions of this experiment, an LAI higher than 3.3, corresponding to a leaf area-fruit ratio higher than 600 cm² per fruit, is necessary to obtain regular vine growth and yield, optimum fruit size and quality and return bloom the following season.     

Molybdenum as a Plant Nutrient: II. The Effects of Molybdenum Deficiency on Some Horticultural and Agricultural Crop Plants in Sand Culture

For 12 genotypes of red raspberry, the expression of various fruiting lateral characteristics at different node positions on the cane is described by regression techniques. There was much variation in the expression of these characteristics in 1975. Lateral length and lateral node number usually increased towards the cane base; but in some genotypes the rate of increase was not constant and declined towards the base giving a curvilinear relationship. Reproductive characteristics such as fruit number were often constant for all cane node positions. These relationships differed in 1976 and 1977 but usually genotypes changed in a similar way. Where genotypes changed in a dissimilar way it was related to cane height in the previous year. Some factors which influence these developmental patterns and the possible role of the timing of floral initiation in determining them are discussed together with some practical implications.     

The response of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) plants to early inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi at different levels of phosphorus

Summary

Chilli plants cv. Pusa Jwala were inoculated in the nursery beds with three mycorrhizal fungi, Gigaspora calospora, G. margarita and Glomus fasciculatum and transplanted to plots supplied with 0, 25 and 50% of a recommended P level (65 kg ha^?1). Uninoculated plants were also transplanted at 0 (Control) and 100% of.the recommended P level. Plant growth, height, shoot dry weight, uptake of P, root colonization and yield of green chillies were measured. Chilli responded well to inoculation and P. G. margarita best improved growth and yield. Inoculation plus 25 and 50% P were equally better than the control and equal to uninoculated plants at 100% P. As much as 50–75% P can be dispensed with by inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi and this represents a considerable economic saving in cost.     

7个甘蔗新品系种性表现及其评述

2004～2006年对桂糖99—181等7个甘蔗新品系进行2年新植2年宿根品种比较试验。结果表明：蔗茎产量与舍糖量表现较突出的是桂糖99—181、99-107、99-260，其公顷产蔗量与公顷含糖量均比对照品种新台糖16号（Roc16）增产12％以上；甘蔗蔗糖分以桂糖99-137和99-268为最高，4年新植宿根平均蔗糖分分别达15．90％和-15．84％．分别比对照品种新台糖16号高0．7和0．64个百分点。     

早实核桃新品种‘川早1号’

 ‘川早1号’是以‘云新7926’为母本,‘夏早’为父本杂交育成的早实核桃新品种。果实较大,壳薄,光滑。种仁饱满,色泽较浅。平均单果质量12.1 g,坚果壳厚0.9 mm。出仁率51.6%,粗脂肪含量72.14%,粗蛋白16.80%。5年生树冠投影面积坚果产量达595 g · m^-2。早实,优质,丰产,抗风、抗沙尘及抗病虫害能力强。