Integrated effect of population and weed management regimes on weed dynamics,performance, and productivity of basmati rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

Weeds caused serious problem on yield reduction of basmati rice worldwide. Losses caused by weeds varied from one country to another, depending on the presence of dominant weeds and the control methods practiced by farmers; therefore, suitable plant population and weed management practices should be adopted. Keeping these in mind, a field experiment was carried out during kharif seasons of 2009 and 2010 at crop Research Centre of SVPUA&T, Meerut, India comprising 4 planting geometries, viz. 20, 30, 40, and 50 hills m^?2 as main plot factor, and 5 weed management practices (Butachlor @ 1.0 kg ha^?1, Butachlor @ 1.0 kg ha^?1 fb (followed by) one hand weeding, Butachlor @ 1.0 kg ha^?1 fb Almix @ 4 g ha^?1, two hand weedings and weedy check) in a split plot design with 3 replications. Experimental results revealed that plant population of 50 hills m^?2 proved superior over that of 20 hills m^?2 in respect of weed density, weed dry weight, number of tillers m^?2, yield attributes, grain, straw, and biological yields. The maximum grain yield (29.00 and 31.00 q ha^?1) and straw yield (51.30 and 52.50 q ha^?1) were recorded in 50 hills m^?2 followed by 40 hills m^?2 during 2009 and 2010, respectively. In respect of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium removal, a reverse trend was observed: the highest in 20 hills m^?2 followed by 30, 40, and 50 hills m^?2. As far as the weed management practices are concerned, both chemical and mechanical methods of weed control were found superior over weedy check. The lowest weed density, dry weight, and highest weed control efficiency, maximum length of panicle^?1, number of panicle (m²), and 1000-grain weight and grain yield of 30.40 and 32.60 q ha^?1 were recorded with two hand weedings which was at par with Butachlor @ 1.0 kg ha^?1 fb one hand weeding over rest of the weed management practices.     

Influence of crop establishment methods on yield,economics and water productivity of rice cultivars under upland and lowland production ecologies of Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains

A field study on assessment of crop establishment methods on yield, economics and water productivity of rice cultivars under upland and lowland production ecologies was conducted during wet seasons (June–November) of 2012 and 2013 in Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. The experiment was laid-out in a split-plot design (SPD) and replicated four times. The main-plot treatments included three crop establishment methods, viz. dry direct-seeded rice (DSR), system of rice intensification (SRI) and puddled transplanted rice (PTR). In sub-plots, five rice cultivars of different groups like aromatic (Improved Pusa Basmati 1 and Pusa Sugandh 5), inbreds (PNR 381 and Pusa 834) and hybrid (Arize 6444) were taken for their evaluations. These two sets of treatments were laid-out simultaneously in two production ecologies, upland and lowland during both years. In general, lowland ecology was found favourable for rice growth and yield and resulted in 13.2% higher grain yield as compared to upland ecology. Rice grown with SRI method produced 19.4 and 7.0% higher grain yield in 2012 and 20.6 and 7.1% higher in 2013, over DSR and PTR. However, PTR yielded 13.1 and 14.5% higher grain over DSR during 2012 and 2013, respectively. On an average, Arize 6444 produced 26.4, 26.9, 28.9 and 54.7% higher grain yield as compared to PS 5, P 834, PNR 381 and IPB1, respectively. Further, the interaction of production ecologies × crop establishment methods revealed that, in upland ecology, SRI recorded significantly higher grain yield as compared to PTR and DSR, but in lowland, grain yield resulting from SRI was similar to the yield obtained with PTR and significantly higher than DSR. The latter two methods (PTR and DSR) yielded alike in lowland ecology in both study years. The production ecologies × crop establishment methods × cultivars interaction on grain yield showed that the growing of Arize 6444 cultivar using SRI method in upland ecology resulted in the higher grain yield (8.87 t/ha). But the cost of production was also highest in SRI followed by PTR and DSR across production ecologies and cultivars. Cultivation of hybrid (Arize 6444) involved higher cost of production than all other cultivars. Irrespective of crop establishment methods and cultivars, gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio were significantly higher in lowland compared to upland ecology. Owing to higher grain yield, SRI method fetched significantly higher gross returns and net returns over PTR and DSR. Average increase in net return with Arize 6444 was 68.8, 41.0, 37.7 and 33.1% over IPB 1, PNR 381, P 834 and PS 5, respectively. There was a saving of 30.7% water in SRI and 19.9% in DSR over PTR under upland ecology. Similarly in lowland ecology, water saving of 30.2% was observed in SRI and 21.2% in DSR over PTR. Due to higher yield and saving on water, SRI returned significantly higher total water productivity (TWP) (5.9 kg/ha-mm) as compared to DSR (3.5 kg/ha-mm) and PTR (3.6 kg/ha-mm) under upland ecology. In lowland ecology, also SRI (6.2 kg/ha-mm) resulted in higher TWP as compared to other two methods. However, DSR gave significantly higher TWP as compared to PTR. Among cultivars, hybrid Arize 6444 recorded the highest TWP in both upland and lowland production ecologies across crop establishment methods. Hence, growing of hybrid Arize 6444 with SRI method can enhance rice productivity and water-use efficiency in lowland and upland production ecologies of Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains and in other similar regions.     

Alteration in important quality traits and antioxidant activities in Brassica oleracea with Ogura cybrid cytoplasm

In vegetable brassicas, cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system is the most preferred mechanism for hybrid seed production and Ogura cybrid cytoplasm is the only source used widely. Effects of the alien cybrid cytoplasm on important quality traits need to be understood for their effective use in breeding programme. In analysing 38 Ogura cybrid cytoplasm‐based cauliflower CMS lines, it was revealed that introgression of Ogura cytoplasm resulted in significant alteration in important quality traits. Cupric reducing antioxidant activity and ferric reducing ability of plasma values were increased up to 5–10 times in different genotypes. Among 38 analysed CMS lines, concentration of plant pigments such as anthocyanin, total chlorophylls and ascorbic acid was reduced in 21, 17 and 32 genotypes, respectively. However, the concentration of total carotenoids and β‐carotene was elevated in most of the CMS lines and total carotenoid was increased up to 20 times in the CMS line, Ogu13‐85‐2A. The results indicate the role of nuclear–cytoplasmic interaction and mitochondrial genome in determining concentration of different quality traits.     

以生态文化引领美丽乡村景观规划——以许家崖流域连片村庄规划建设为例

文章论述了乡村生态文化的概念和内涵,并以山东省费县许家崖流域19个连片村落美丽乡村建设为例,分析了许家崖流域乡村生态文化的资源类型和存在的问题;在此基础上,从完善生态文化结构入手研究美丽乡村景观规划和建设实践,以推动乡村振兴战略的实施.     

基于机器视觉的马铃薯晚疫病快速识别

晚疫病是马铃薯的一种严重病害,可造成减产甚至绝收。因此马铃薯晚疫病的识别与控制对提高其产量有非常重要的意义。该文基于机器视觉技术对马铃薯叶部晚疫病进行检测,根据马铃薯叶片上晚疫病斑的颜色、纹理和形状特征参数的不同,提取叶片表面的特征参数,并建立数学模型对病害程度做出评价。在RGB、HSV颜色空间中,根据马铃薯叶片在患病早期叶片颜色发生变化且与健康叶片不同,利用颜色特征,建立马铃薯晚疫病的无病和患病模型,该模型对马铃薯患病早期的识别率为67.5%。利用灰度共生矩阵,采用纹理统计参数进行病害等级评价,用熵值和能量值描述晚疫病的严重程度,纹理特征对患病程度的识别率比较稳定,对患病中期与后期的识别率分别为72.5%与80%。利用形状特征的相对特征,根据病斑面积比进行晚疫病诊断,该方法对马铃薯叶片晚疫病患病后期的诊断取得较好效果,识别率为90%,但由于叶片患病早期的病斑面积小且分散,识别难度大,识别率仅为50%。针对颜色、纹理及形状特征在识别马铃薯叶片晚疫病时的优势与局限性,提出颜色纹理形状特征结合的识别方法,对患病中期与后期的识别率分别为90%和92.5%。通常马铃薯晚疫病的理化值检测法耗时数天,但利用机器视觉识别马铃薯晚疫病患病情况非常快速,根据颜色特征进行病害识别的时间约为4 s,纹理特征识别的时间为7 s,形状特征特征识别的时间为3 s,综合颜色纹理形状特征的识别由于计算量较大,识别时间为9 s。该研究可为基于机器视觉的马铃薯晚疫病的快速检测提供理论依据。     

Autochthonous halotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria promote bacoside A yield of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Nash and phytoextraction of salt-affected soil

Phytoremediation is a promising approach for reclamation of salt-affected soil. Phytoextraction is the most commonly used process, which exploits plants to absorb, immobilize, and accumulate salt in their shoots. In this study, halotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) were isolated from the rhizosphere of wild grasses growing naturally in salt-affected areas of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (India) and were tested for their efficacies of salt-tolerance and plant growth-promoting (PGP) abilities. Based on 16S rRNA sequences, the most efficient halotolerant isolates possessing PGP traits were identified as Pseudomonas plecoglossicida (KM233646), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (KM233647), Bacillus flexus (KM233648), and Bacillus safensis (KM233652). Application of these isolates as bio-inoculants significantly (P < 0.05) increased the growth and bacoside A yield of a medicinal plant, Bacopa monnieri (L.) Nash, grown on natural salt-affected soil. The phytoremediation of salt-affected soil was evident by the substantial increase in shoot Na⁺:K⁺ ratio of bio-inoculant-treated plants. When compared to un-inoculated control plants, the soil physico-chemical properties of bio-inoculant-treated plants were improved. The shoot and root biomass (fresh and dry weights), soil enzymes, and soil nutrient parameters showed significant positive correlations with the shoot Na⁺:K⁺ ratio. Consequently, the halotolerant PGPR screened in this study could be useful for the reclamation of saline soils concomitant with improved plant growth and bacoside A yield.     

Influence of in-house produced biochars on cracks and retained water during drying-wetting cycles: comparison between conventional plant,animal, and nano-biochars

Purpose

Biochars produced from different feedstocks (such as wood, pig manure) possess varying physical and chemical properties, which have influence on crack and evaporation rate of biochar-amended soil (BAS). Furthermore, influence of compaction state and drying-wetting cycles on evaporation rate and cracking of BAS has not been investigated comprehensively. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of biochar types, compaction state of BAS, and drying-wetting cycles on crack propagation and retained water (or evaporation rate).

Material and methods

An animal and plant feedstock-based biochars were produced in-house from pig manure (PM) and wood (W), respectively. In addition, nano structured chalk and wheat biochar (CWB) were also produced. Soil amended with individual biochars was compacted in petri-glass discs at two densities. Disc specimens were subjected to multiple drying-wetting cycles, and evaporation rate of specimens and crack area were monitored throughout the experimental period (70 days). Images were captured after every 24 h and processed using image processing technique to obtain the crack intensity factor (CIF).

Results and discussion

The results show that plant-based W BAS showed the high water retention, i.e., low evaporation rate and low CIF. Furthermore, the crack potential of CW BAS was seen to be higher. In dense compacted soil, maximum CIF% can be reduced from 3.9 to 0.4% for W BAS, from 3.9 to 1.7% for PM BAS, and from 3.9 to 1.6% for CW BAS.

Conclusion

WB was able to resist cracking more efficiently than other types of biochar. Evaporation was found to be minimal for plant-based W BAS at 10% biochar percentage. Higher biochar content in soil was seen to increase the water retention of BAS significantly. Dense state of BAS at high biochar content (i.e., 10%) was effective in reducing evaporation rate and crack progression.

     

陕北黄土丘陵区退耕地植物群落演替特征

为了解黄土丘陵区侵蚀地貌退耕地植物群落演替模式及其基本特征,以陕北安塞纸坊沟流域的20块不同年限退耕地和荒坡为研究对象,采用空间代替时间序列的方法进行植物群落的调查和演替特征的分析。结果表明:退耕地植物群落大致经历了茵陈蒿群落—杂类草—狗尾草群落—长芒草群落—铁杆蒿群落—茭蒿群落的演替过程。植物群落的Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数和Pielou均匀度指数均表现出随演替进行而上升的变化规律,但上升的速率各异;演替前期和中期的群落基本上属于对数级数分布,说明该阶段的物种组成主要是生态位预占模式起作用,演替后期的群落属于对数正态分布,可能是生态位预占、周围繁殖体的侵入压力、种间竞争和其他因素共同作用的结果;群落盖度变化与演替时间符合二次函数变化规律。     

宁夏引黄灌区冬小麦旱追肥肥效实验

在宁夏引黄灌区成功引种冬小麦,可促进产业结构调整,建立更高效的种植制度;但北方春季干旱多风、气温低与冬小麦返青期早、幼穗分化期遭遇缺水缺肥环境的矛盾有待进一步解决.探讨利用冬小麦返青前后灌区土壤返潮进行机械旱追肥的可行性及其增产效果,结果表明:冬小麦返青后至头次灌水前若没有自然降雨,机械旱追肥无增产效果,且有负面效应.原因主要是氮肥在土壤中易形成高浓度溶液,造成烧根烧苗,不利于促蘖增穗;在灌区干旱条件下,氮肥施用应结合灌溉水进行,才可充分发挥其增产效果.因此冬小麦返青至头水期间,田间管理应在潮水退前及早管理,提水保墒,有条件的区域早灌头水.机械旱追肥与种植前茬、土壤湿度、降雨、种植品种分蘖特性、苗情等关系较大,应综合考虑.