Phosphorus–microbes interaction on growth,yield and phosphorus-use efficiency of irrigated cotton

The phosphorus-use efficiency of crops in high pH soil is low. A randomized complete block design in a 3 × 2 split-plot experiment was conducted on a high pH silt loam (Typic Ustochrepts) to evaluate whether P-solubilizing microbial (PSM) inocula were able to improve the P fertilization effects on irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., cultivar CIM-482). Cotton was planted after seed treatment with PSM inoculation at 0, 22 and 44 kg P ha^?1. Results showed that soil microbial populations were significantly higher throughout the cotton-growing season in response to P fertilization and PSM inoculation. Both P fertilization and PSM inocula exerted a significant effect on cotton biomass and Puptake without an interaction. Economic analyses suggest that PSM inocula alone significantly increased P-use efficiency (8%), reduced cost and improved net income (by $36 ha^?1) of irrigated cotton production. Moreover, the relationship between relative yield and P fertilization with PSM inocula showed that 95% of the maximum yield of cotton was produced at 22 kg P ha^?1, whereas in the absence of PSM inocula, 95% relative yield was obtained at 36 kg P ha^?1, asaving of ～39% applied P with PSM inoculation.     

Performance of cowpea cultivars when grown as an intercrop with maize of contrasting maturities

A field trial was conducted during the rainy seasons of 2008 and 2009 at Samaru in northern Guinea savannah of Nigeria to determine the performance of semi-determinate and indeterminate cowpea cultivars intercropped with extra early, early and late maize cultivars. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) having treatments arranged as a split-plot factorial. Transmitted radiation was reduced by 49–63% due to shading by the maize plants. Similarly, intercropping cowpea with maize reduced intercepted radiation, fodder yield and grain yield of cowpea by 59–70%, 39–51% and 45–62%, respectively. Intercepted radiation and yields of intercropped cowpea were lower for late maize which maintained high leaf area over a longer period of time. This is supported by the higher plant height, higher leaf area index (LAI) and reduced transmitted radiation recorded in late maize compared with extra early and early maize. Extra early and early maize were less competitive with cowpea because of shorter period of association in addition to permitting higher radiation. Crop value of maize plus cowpea was higher than that of sole cowpea ($2616.8 vs. $1218.7 ha^?1) because higher combined yield was achieved by a more efficient use of resources in the intercrop. Therefore, cowpea cultivar may be intercropped with extra early maize.     

Tree biomass,resource use and crop productivity in agri-horti-silvicultural systems in the dry region of Rajasthan,India

A combination of silvicultural species [Prosopis cineraria (L.), Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. and Colophospermum mopane (J. Kirk ex Benth.)] were planted with horticultural species [Ziziphus mauritiana (L.), Cordia myxa (Forster), and Emblica officinalis (Gaertn)] and intercropped with wheat (Triticum aestivum). Z. mauritiana +P. cineraria combination produced greater fruit, fodder and fuel wood and was less competitive to wheat crop. Crop yield reduced by 5% to 23% in the agroforestry systems than the yield in sole crop plot. Lowest yield was in C. mopane + C. myxa combination. Fodder yield was 0.53, 0.20 and 0.07 t ha^?1 from C. mopane (cursive), P. cineraria and A. excelsa, respectively, whereas utilizable biomass was 2.63 t ha^?1 from C. myxa (cursive) + P. cineraria, 2.21 t ha^?1 from C. myxa (cursive) + C. mopane and 2.18 t ha^?1 from Z. mauritiana + P. cineraria combinations. Soil organic carbon and NH₄–N increased (by 7% and 8%, respectively), whereas NO₃–N and PO₄–P decreased in agroforestry compared to the sole tree plots. Primary root attributes of P. cineraria, A. excelsa and C. mopane were higher in agroforestry and mostly concentrated in the top 0–25 cm of the soil layer. Z. mauritiana + P. cineraria were the best combination with minimum yield reduction and were found to be beneficial in enhancing soil fertility.     

Evaluation of growth indices and quantitative traits of safflower under organic farming and conventional agriculture

Application of organic fertilizers in sustainable agriculture systems improves yield sustainability of field crop production. The current research has been formed to investigate the effects of various levels of vermicompost (zero, 3, 6 and 9 t ha^?1) in combination with foliar spraying of potassium humate (0, 1, 2 and 3 mL L^?1) on spring safflower, in Iran during 2012–2013. In addition, inorganic fertilization has been considered as conventional agriculture (CA). In the current experiment, growth indices, seed yield, yield components and flower yield were evaluated. The results showed that the maximum leaf area index, total dry weight and crop growth rate have been determined at 9 t ha^?1 vermicompost and 3 mL L^?1 K-humate while the maximum netto assimilation rate has existed in CA at the emergence of flower buds. Likewise, the results indicated that vermicompost leads to a significant increase in seed yield, flower yield and yield components except 1000 seed weight. Flower yield, head number per plant and seed number per head were affected by K-humate concentrations and increased significantly from 1 to 3 mL L^?1. It should be mentioned that 9 t ha^?1 vermicompost and 3 mL L^?1 K-humate produced the highest seed and flower yield.     

Quantification of loss in oilseed rape yield caused by delayed sowing date in a Mediterranean environment

ABSTRACT

Rapeseed acreage has been increasing fast in the last few decades and cultivated areas have expanded into lower latitudes because of the high value of its seed. This work evaluates the effect of date of sowing and nitrogen (N) fertilization on crop productivity and N use efficiency in a Mediterranean environment. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design with the dates of sowing as the main-plots and N rates the sub-plots. Rapeseed recovered 128 to 212 kg N hm^-2 before top-dress N application in late winter if sown before the last week of September. Seed yield was very dependent on the date of sowing, varying from 3.4 to 6.2 Mg hm^-2 on the first sowing date in September to 0.3 to 1.0 Mg hm^-2 on the last sowing date in November. The daily loss in seed production was 68.9 kg hm^-2 (or 482.3 kg hm^-2 per week) or 1.53 % (or 10.7 % per week). N rate significantly increased seed yield within each sowing date but did not allow late-sowed plants to regain the productivity levels of those sown earlier. Apparent N recovery and agronomic N efficiency were particularly dependent on the growing conditions associated to different sowing dates.     

Pea-oat intercrops are superior to pea-wheat and pea-barley intercrops

Abstract

A three-year field experiment was conducted in Estonia to determine which combinations of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oats (Avena sativa L.) and barley (Hordeum distichon L.) were most suitable for mixed cultivation and the effect of pea on the yield potential of cereals. The inclusion of pea in cereal seeds and the increasing of its seed density led to substantial decreases in the grain yields of the cereal component. The reason for these decreases was the formation of smaller grains in cereals when intercropped with pea. The inclusion of pea in a cereal crop and the increasing of its seed density led to substantial increases in the protein content of the cereal grains. In barley and oats the increases in grain protein content were the lowest of the three cereals. At the same time, the maximum protein yield per area unit in cereals was obtained from plots of pure crops. In a mix with pea, the amounts of nitrogen consumed by cereals decreased and the protein yield of cereals per area unit were reduced in intercrops. Pea-cereal mixes had an advantage over cereal sole crops with regard to protein yield, due to the pea component. Pea-cereal mixes are particularly suitable for the conditions of organic farming, and should be recommended to farmers, as they ensure a relatively good harvest and high protein yield on soil without nitrogen fertilizers. In conclusion, the study showed that, of the three combinations, pea-oat mixed intercrops gave the highest yield of grain and protein yields.     

海南荔枝产量的寒害风险分析与区划

利用1990-2010年海南荔枝产量和气象资料,采用线性滑动平均、回归分析、信息扩散等方法,构建荔枝的理论收获面积模型和气象灾害指数,实现了寒害与其它气象灾害减产率的分离,并建立产量风险评价模型,结合地区间荔枝种植规模风险的差异,对海南荔枝寒害综合风险进行区划.结果表明：海南荔枝产量风险较高的区域主要分布于北部和中部,西北部相对较低,南部、东部和西南部沿海地区最低.种植规模风险较高的地区主要分布在中部、北部和东部.综合风险较大的地区呈带状分布,高风险区集中在中部和北部,其中海口、琼中和五指山风险最高,澄迈略低,东部、西部和南部的沿海地区风险最低.区划结果较好地反映了海南荔枝寒害风险分布的实际情况,可为荔枝合理布局、防灾减灾提供科学依据.     

Effect of biofertilizers on the nutrient availability in soil in relation to growth,yield and yield attributes of Stevia rebaudiana

A field experiment was conducted at Rani Chandramma Agricultural University (Arabhavi, Belgaum), Karnataka, India, in basic soil to study the nutrient availability in soil, yield and yield attributes of the medicinal plant stevia (Stevia rebaudiana). The results showed that the availability of nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the soil increased up to the fifth month; and thereafter, decreased by the same amount with the progress of the plant growth up to the sixth month, irrespective of treatments. Results also showed that the fresh and dry biomass yields significantly increased up to the sixth month with different treatments, but the yield attributes like plant height and the number of branches were observed to be varied with various treatments, being highest in the combined application of biofertilizers over that of their corresponding sole applications.     

盐渍化土壤覆土材料理化性状及其对双孢蘑菇生长的影响

研究山西省当地盐渍化土壤添加草炭土、醋糟、谷糠或高粱壳配制的不同覆土材料(Ⅰ:66.7%草炭土,33.3%盐渍化土壤;Ⅱ:50%草炭土,50%盐渍化土壤;Ⅲ~Ⅴ:每立方米盐渍化土壤分别添加45kg醋糟、谷糠或高粱)的理化性状,并比较不同覆土材料对双孢蘑菇(Agaricus bisporus)生长的影响,以草炭土为对照。从覆土至第一潮菇采收结束,Ⅰ和Ⅱ覆土电导率呈逐渐上升趋势,而Ⅲ~Ⅴ覆土的电导率则一直保持较高水平,为1427~1980μS/cm,第三潮菇采收时,Ⅰ~Ⅴ覆土电导率均显著下降;覆土第6天开始,Ⅰ~Ⅴ覆土的pH明显高于对照,为7.47~8.47;Ⅰ和Ⅱ覆土处理的发菌天数与对照相同,Ⅲ~Ⅴ覆土处理则比对照延长3d;各处理的第一潮菇和第三潮菇的采收时间均为5d,第二潮菇采收时间各处理间略有差异,但总产量均高于对照,其中以Ⅲ覆土处理产量最高,达21.3kg/m~2。试验结果表明,盐渍化土壤添加草炭土、醋糟、谷糠或高粱壳均可作为生产双孢蘑菇的覆土材料。     

ANSWER模型评估新疆咸水灌溉棉花产量与效益

利用咸水或微咸水进行农田灌溉是缓解中国新疆地区农业水资源供需矛盾从而保障当地棉花产业可持续发展的主要途径之一。为了明确不同咸水灌溉措施对棉花产量及经济效益的影响,该研究通过2 a的棉花膜下滴灌大田试验和文献检索获取了新疆9个不同试验地点的土壤、作物及灌溉等数据资料,评估作物产量-水盐胁迫响应分析模型（ANalytical Salt WatER,ANSWER）在新疆棉花产量评估中的适用性和可靠性,并结合经济收支平衡方法,模拟分析不同咸水灌溉措施（包括不同灌溉定额和灌溉水电导率的组合）对棉花产量与经济效益的影响。采用决定系数（R2）、均方根误差（root mean squared error,RMSE）、相对均方根误差（relative root mean squared error,RRMSE）评价模型精度。结果表明,在9个不同试验地点,ANSWER模型均可较准确地估算棉花的相对产量,其估算值与实测值之间的R2≥0.54,RMSE≤0.14,RRMSE≤0.16;不同试验地点,优化获得的各个模型生物参数（与棉花根系吸水的水盐胁迫响应相关的参数）差异较小,变异系数的绝对值处于0.08～0.37之间;基于不同试验地点优化的各生物参数均值估算各地的棉花相对产量,其与实测值仍然吻合良好（R2 为0.59,RMSE为 0.06,RRMSE为 0.07）;此外,当灌溉水电导率一定时,棉花净收益随灌溉定额增加呈先增后降的趋势,净收益达到峰值所需的灌溉定额随灌溉水电导率升高而迅速增加;当灌溉水电导率不大于10 dS/m时,通过加大供水量均可获得与淡水灌溉相当的净收益。研究可为新疆地区棉花产量与效益评估以及咸水资源合理开发利用提供理论依据。