Insect pollination enhances yield stability in two pollinator-dependent crops

Interaction of homozygous inbreds and heterozygous single, three way and double crosses with environment had shown a differential response in achieving yield stability. Seven diverse maize inbreds, their 21 single crosses and 105 each of three way and double crosses obtained through diallel were evaluated for twelve characters across three diverse locations to estimate comparative stability of homozygous and heterozygous genotypes for grain yield. Contrasts in heterobeltiosis, combining ability and stability parameters in three environments and interaction effects were observed. Gain in heterobeltiosis (%) for grain yield was observed with decreased environmental quality in different hybrid classes suggesting that heterozygous hybrids are more stable due to individual buffering in single crosses and both individual and population buffering in case of three way and double crosses. Significant increase in SCA effects was observed in moderate environment at Hyderabad rather than at high yielding environment Palem. Significant G × E and Environment (linear) in all the crosses was observed for grain yield suggesting the effect of environment and its pre dominant effect on grain yield. Stability of hybrids was attributed to their superior performance over the parents in low yielding environment. Thus the potential use of selected heterozygous hybrids would allow under diverse environments is suggested to mitigate losses arising out of climate change.

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Yield Stability in Relation to Maturity in Grain Sorghum 1

Crop Science ◽

10.2135/cropsci1983.0011183x002300040019x ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 683-687 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Mohammad Saeed ◽

C. A. Francis

Keyword(s):

Grain Sorghum ◽

Yield Stability

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Soil fertilization synergistically enhances the impact of pollination services in increasing seed yield of sunflower under dryland conditions

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859621000514 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Dolapo Bola Adelabu ◽

Emile Bredenhand ◽

Sean van der Merwe ◽

Angelinus Cornelius Franke

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Seed Yield ◽

Synergetic Effect ◽

Insect Pollination ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Degraded Soil ◽

Soil Fertilization ◽

Fertilized Soil ◽

The Impact ◽

Poor Soil

Abstract To exploit the potential of ecological intensification during sunflower cropping, it is crucial to understand the potential synergies between crop management and ecosystem services. We therefore examined the effect of pollination intensification on sunflower yield and productivity under various levels of soil fertilization over two seasons in the eastern Free State, South Africa. We manipulated soil fertility with fertilizer applications and pollination with exclusion bags. We found a synergetic effect between pollination and soil fertilization whereby increasing pollination intensity led to a far higher impact on sunflower yield when the soil had been fertilized. Specifically, the intensification of insect pollination increased seed yield by approximately 0.4 ton/ha on nutrient poor soil and by approximately 1.7 ton/ha on moderately fertilized soil. Our findings suggest that sunflower crops on adequate balanced soil fertility will receive abundant insect pollination and may gain more from both synergies than crops grown in areas with degraded soil fertility.

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VARIABILTY AND STABILTY OF TUBER YIELD OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE (Helianthus tuberosus L.) / VARIABILIDAD Y ESTABILIDAD DEL RENDIMIENTO DE TUBERCULOS DEL TOPINAMBO / VARIABILITÉ ET STABILITÉ DU RENDEMENT DU TUBERCULE DE TOPINAMBUR

Helia ◽

10.1515/helia.2001.24.35.25 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 24 (35) ◽

pp. 25-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Janoš Berenji ◽

Vladimir Sikora

Keyword(s):

Tuber Yield ◽

Jerusalem Artichoke ◽

Tuber Size ◽

Yield Stability ◽

Tuber Number ◽

High Yield ◽

Helianthus Tuberosus ◽

Variety Trial ◽

Stable Performance ◽

The Stability

SUMMARYThe objective of this paper was to estimate the genetic and ecological variation as well as the stability of tuber yield per plant, tuber number per plant and tuber size of Jerusalem artichoke based on the results of a variety trial carried out with 20 different Jerusalem artichoke varieties during the period of 1994-2000. Significant genetic as well as ecologycal variation was observed for all of the traits studied. The most promissing varieties showing high tuber yield combined with high yield stability were “BT-4”, “Violet Rennes” and “UKR 4/ 82”. It is encouraging that the highest yielding varieties exibited a rather stable performance over environments.

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The crucial role of mulch to enhance the stability and resilience of cropping systems in southern Africa

Agronomy for Sustainable Development ◽

10.1007/s13593-021-00687-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Blessing Mhlanga ◽

Laura Ercoli ◽

Elisa Pellegrino ◽

Andrea Onofri ◽

Christian Thierfelder

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Southern Africa ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Yield Stability ◽

No Tillage ◽

The Stability ◽

Stability And Resilience

AbstractConservation agriculture has been promoted to sustainably intensify food production in smallholder farming systems in southern Africa. However, farmers have rarely fully implemented all its components, resulting in different combinations of no-tillage, crop rotation, and permanent soil cover being practiced, thus resulting in variable yield responses depending on climatic and soil conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the effect of conservation agriculture components on yield stability. We hypothesized that the use of all three conservation agriculture components would perform the best, resulting in more stable production in all environments. We evaluated at, eight trial locations across southern Africa, how partial and full implementation of these components affected crop yield and yield stability compared with conventional tillage alone or combined with mulching and/or crop rotation. Grain yield and shoot biomass of maize and cowpea were recorded along with precipitation for 2 to 5 years. Across different environments, the addition of crop rotation and mulch to no-tillage increased maize grain by 6%, and the same practices added to conventional tillage led to 13% yield increase. Conversely, adding only mulch or crop rotation to no-tillage or conventional tillage led to lower or equal maize yield. Stability analyses based on Shukla’s index showed for the first time that the most stable systems are those in which mulch is added without crop rotation. Moreover, the highest yielding systems were the least stable. Finally, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis allowed clarifying that mulch added to no-tillage gives stable yields on sandy soil with high rainfall. Similarly, mulch added to conventional tillage gives stable yield on sandy soil, but under low rainfall. This is the first study that highlighted the crucial role of mulch to enhance the stability and resilience of cropping systems in southern Africa, supporting their adaptability to climate change.

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