Effect of aggregate size on water uptake by peanut seeds

In a lateritic sandy clay loam soil contained in a soil bin, three aggregate size ranges (0.25–0.50, 1.0–2.0 and 2.0–4.0 mm) were established by different tillage intensity to vary the seed—soil contact and to determine the best seedbed for peanut seedling emergence. The general objective was to study the water uptake and diffusivity of the seeds as well as the aeration, water transmission and thermal properties of the seedbed. In the seedbed with the finest aggregate size, the water uptake was maximum and the time needed for germination was least.     

Maize response to broadcast flaming at different growth stages: Effects on growth,yield and yield components

Weed management is a major constraint in organic crop production. Propane flaming could be an additional tool for weed control in organic maize (Zea mays L.) production. However, tolerance of maize to broadcast flaming must be determined first to optimize the use of propane. Field experiments were conducted at the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory of the University of Nebraska, Concord, NE in 2008 and 2009 to determine maize response to five propane doses applied at three growth stages of V2 (2-leaf), V5 (5-leaf) and V7 (7-leaf). The propane doses tested were 0, 13, 24, 44 and 85 kg ha^?1. Flaming treatments were applied utilizing a custom built research flamer mounted on the back of a four-wheeler moving at a constant speed of 6.4 km h^?1. The response of maize to propane flaming was evaluated in terms of visual crop injury (1, 7, 14 and 28 days after treatment—DAT), effects on dry matter (14 DAT), yield components (plants m^?2, ears plant^?1, kernels cob^?1 and 1000-kernel weight) and grain yield. The response of different growth stages of maize to propane doses was described by log–logistic models. Overall, maize response to broadcast flaming varied among growth stages and propane doses. In general, maize at V5 was the most tolerant stage for broadcast flaming, whereas V2 stage was the most susceptible to flaming resulting in the highest visual crop injury ratings, dry matter reductions and the largest loss of yield and its components. At 28 DAT, the maximum visual crop injury rating of 7% was estimated for flaming done at V5 stage compared to significantly higher injuries of 43% and 12% for V2 and V7 growth stages, respectively. An arbitrarily assigned 2.5% yield reduction was evident with 33, 16 and 11 kg ha^?1 of propane for V5, V2 and V7 growth stages, respectively, suggesting that maize flamed at V5 stage can tolerate higher dose of propane for the same yield reduction compared to other growth stages. Moreover, the maximum yield reductions with the highest propane dose of 85 kg ha^?1 were 3% for V5, 11% for V7 and 17% for V2 stage. Based on these results, flaming has a potential to be used effectively in organic maize production when conducted properly at V5 stage. However, there are both benefits and concerns associated with the use of flame weeding. The preservation of the soil from erosion and the protection of the surface and underground water from chemical pollution can be seen as benefits, while the concerns include higher energy use, and the release of greenhouse gasses.     

Response surface optimization and artificial neural network modeling of microwave assisted natural dye extraction from pomegranate rind

The extracted dye from brown dry rind of the pomegranate has been used as natural colorant for textiles from ancient times. In this study, microwave assisted extraction (MAE) has been used for extraction for dye from dried pomegranate rind. The effect of three independent parameters namely extraction time (25–90 s), pH of solution (3.5–8) and amount of pomegranate rind (0.5–1.5 g) was considered. Response surface methodology (RSM) is applied to optimize the effects of processing parameters of extraction on the yield of dye and a computer-stimulated artificial neural network (ANN) model is developed to get a good correlation between the input variables responsible for extraction and the output parameter (concentration of dye) of extraction from pomegranate rind. Considering the yield of dye extraction and the feasibility of the experiment, the optimum conditions of dye extraction are extraction time 90 s, pH 3.5, amount of sample 1.48. Application of microwave irradiation method proved to be a rapid and improved technique for dye extraction and significantly reduced the extraction time. The optimization procedure shows a close interaction between the experimental and simulated values for dye extraction.     

Impact of different combined doses of fertilizers with plant growth regulators on growth, yield attributes and yield of mustard (Brassica campestris cv. B9) under old alluvial soil of Burdwan, West Bengal, India

Field experiments were conducted with mustard (Brassica campestris cv. B₉) consecutively for three years (2005, 2006 and 2007) in the Crop Research and Seed Multiplication Farm of Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal, India. In the first year, varietal screening of mustard under recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (100:50:50) were performed with seven mustard varieties during November 2005 to February 2006. In the second year, two experiments were conducted to study the effects of six different combined doses of chemical fertilizer and biofertilizer and six different levels of growth retardant cycocel. In the third year, six different levels of compost along with the best screened dose of growth retardant (CCC-300 ppm) and the best combined dose of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer (3/4thchemical fertilizer:1/4th biofertilizer) from the previous year were applied to study the effects on agronomic traits and growth attributes of mustard, and the field data were analyzed statistically. The variety B₉ recorded a significant higher seed yield along with other yield contributing factors, which was found to be superior to other varieties under old alluvial soil of Burdwan, West Bengal, India, in 2005. In 2006 and 2007, seed yield was found to be the best for CCC-300 ppm treatment and the best combined dose of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer was found to be 3/4th chemical fertilizer:1/4th biofertilizer. In 2007, the best yield was given by the treatment of 7.5 t·hm^?2 compost along with the best dose of growth retardant cycocel and the best combined dose of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer.     

Timing and propane dose of broadcast flaming to control weed population influenced yield of sweet maize (Zea mays L. var. rugosa)

Farmers are interested to produce sweet maize under organic production systems and propane flaming could be a potential alternative tool for weed control in organic sweet maize production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the response of sweet maize to broadcast flaming as influenced by propane dose and crop growth stage. Field experiments were conducted at the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory of the University of Nebraska, Concord, NE in 2008 and 2009 using five propane doses applied at three different growth stages of V2 (2-leaf), V5 (5-leaf) and V7 (7-leaf). The propane doses were 0, 13, 24, 44 and 85 kg ha⁻¹. The response of sweet maize to propane flaming was evaluated in terms of visual crop injury, effects on plant height, yield components (plants m⁻², tillers plant⁻¹, number of ears plant⁻¹, cob length and number of seeds cob⁻¹) and fresh marketable yield. The response of different growth stages of sweet maize to propane doses was described by log-logistic models. Based on most parameters tested, V7 was the most tolerant while V2 was the least tolerant stage for broadcast flaming. The maximum yield reductions with the highest propane dose of 85 kg ha⁻¹ were 22%, 12% and 6% for V2, V5 and V7 stages, respectively. Furthermore, a 5% yield reduction was evident with 23, 25 and 36 kg ha⁻¹ of propane for V2, V5 and V7 growth stages, respectively, suggesting that plants flamed at V7 stage can tolerate higher dose of propane for the same yield reduction compared to the other growth stages. We believe that flaming has a potential to be used effectively in organic sweet maize production if properly used.     

Row spacing impacts the critical period for weed control in cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis>)

The knowledge on the critical crop-weed competition period is important for designing an efficient weed management program. Field studies were conducted in 2012 and 2013 at the Agricultural Research Institute, Kahramanmaras, Turkey to determine the effects of three row spacing (50, 70 and 90 cm) on the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in cotton. A four parameter logistic equation was fit to data relating relative crop yield to both increasing duration of weed interference and length of weed-free period. The relative yield of cotton was influenced by the duration of weed-infested or weed-free period, regardless of row spacing. In cotton grown at 50 cm row spacing, the CPWC ranged from 117–526 growing degree days (GDD) (V2–V11 growth stages) in 2012 and 124–508 GDD (V2–V10) in 2013 based on the 5% acceptable yield loss level. At 70 cm row spacing, the CPWC ranged from 98–661 GDD in 2012 (V2–V13) and 144–616 GDD (V2–V12) in 2013. At 90 cm row spacing, the CPWC ranged from 80–771 GDD in 2012 (V1–V14) and 83–755 GDD (V1–V14) in 2013. In order to obtain a 95% weed-free yield, the weed management should start at 16 days after crop emergence (DAE) and continued until 52 DAE (V2–V11) for crops grown in 50 cm row spacing, 15 and 60 DAE (V2–V13) for 70 cm row spacing and 11 and 67 DAE (V1–V14) for crops grown in 90 cm row spacing. This suggests that cotton grown in narrow row spacing (50 cm) had greater competiveness against weeds compared with wider row spacing (70 and 90 cm). Cotton growers can benefit from these results by improving cost of weed control through better timing of weed management.     

Fusarium crown rot under continuous cropping of susceptible and partially resistant wheat in microcosms at elevated CO2

This study examines the CO₂‐mediated influence of plant resistance on crown rot dynamics under continuous cropping of partially resistant wheat line 249 and the susceptible cultivar Tamaroi. Disease incidence, severity, deoxynivalenol and Fusarium biomass were assessed after each cycle in microcosms established at ambient and 700 mg kg^?1 CO₂ using soil and stubble of these wheat lines from a field experiment with free to air CO₂ enrichment. Monoconidial isolates from wheat stubble were collected initially, and after five cropping cycles, to compare the frequency and aggressiveness of Fusarium species in the two populations. Aggressiveness was measured using a high‐throughput seedling bioassay. At elevated CO₂, the higher initial incidence in Tamaroi increased with cropping cycles, but incidence in 249 remained unchanged. Incidence at ambient CO₂ did not change for either line. Elevated CO₂ induced partial resistance in Tamaroi, but not in 249. Increased Fusarium biomass in wheat tissue at elevated CO₂ matched raised deoxynivalenol of the stem base in both lines. After five cycles of continuous wheat cropping, aggressiveness increased in pathogenic F. culmorum and F. pseudograminearum by 110%, but decreased in weakly pathogenic F. equiseti and F. oxysporum by 50%. CO₂ and host resistance interactively influenced species frequency, and the highly aggressive F. pseudograminearum became dominant on Tamaroi irrespective of CO₂ concentration, while its frequency declined on 249. This study shows that induced resistance at elevated CO₂ will not reduce crown rot severity, or impede the selection and enrichment of Fusarium populations with increased aggressiveness.     

Identification of Stable Reference Genes for Gene Expression Studies Using Quantitative Real Time PCR in Buffalo Oocytes and Embryos

The present study was aimed to validate expression stability of 6 housekeeping genes (viz. YWHAZ, SDHA, GAPDH, RPS15, RPS18 and RN18S1) in the oocytes and embryos of different stages in buffalo. A modified Trizol protocol was optimized for RNA isolation from as few as five oocytes. The expression level of selected genes was studied by an optimized real time PCR using DCT method and their stability of expression was evaluated by Microsoft Excel based visual application, geNORM. The analysis revealed that the RPS15 and GAPDH were the most stable genes across different samples. Also, the geometric mean of three genes (i.e. RPS15, RPS18 and GAPDH) were found suitable for normalization of real time PCR data from buffalo oocytes/embryos. The information would help in more accurate interpretation of gene expression data from oocytes/embryos towards understanding the molecular events in these cells during development.