Effects of Age on Establishment and Yield of Cocoyam Setts (Xanthosoma Sagittifolium Schott.)

1967 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. C. Enyi

SummaryThe chemical composition of setts of cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) varied in different sections. The highest concentration of N, P and fat occurred in the youngest part but crude fibre and Ca were highest in the oldest portions. Dry matter was lowest in the youngest section. Positive linear relations were found between N and K percentage, Ca/P ratio and age of the various sections of the corm, with the highest N/P ratio towards the middle portion of the corm. The high sprouting percentage of the youngest sections of the corm was attributed to both greater bud number per given area and to the short period of their dormancy. Better establishment in the field was achieved by using setts from the oldest section of the corm, probably because they were less vulnerable to decomposition by soil micro-organisms. Positive linear relations were established between P concentration and sprouting percentage. Setts from the two oldest sections of the corm produced plants with the greatest leaf blade area, total dry weight and dry weight of various organs and it is recommended that planting setts should be obtained from the less succulent section of the corm. There were also positive linear relations between Ca concentration of setts and dry matter production in the field, and between leaf blade area at time of harvest and corm yield.

Weed Science ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 751-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
David T. Patterson ◽  
Maxine T. Highsmith ◽  
Elizabeth P. Flint

Cotton, spurred anoda, and velvetleaf were grown in controlled-environment chambers at day/night temperatures of 32/23 or 26/17 C and CO2concentrations of 350 or 700 ppm. After 5 weeks, CO2enrichment to 700 ppm increased dry matter accumulation by 38, 26, and 29% in cotton, spurred anoda, and velvetleaf, respectively, at 26/17 C and by 61, 41, and 29% at 32/23 C. Increases in leaf weight accounted for over 80% of the increase in total plant weight in cotton and spurred anoda in both temperature regimes. Leaf area was not increased by CO2enrichment. The observed increases in dry matter production with CO2enrichment were caused by increased net assimilation rate. In a second experiment, plants were grown at 350 ppm CO2and 29/23 C day/night for 17 days before exposure to 700 ppm CO2at 26/17 C for 1 week. Short-term exposure to high CO2significantly increased net assimilation rate, dry matter production, total dry weight, leaf dry weight, and specific leaf weight in comparison with plants maintained at 350 ppm CO2at 26/17 C. Increases in leaf weight in response to short-term CO2enrichment accounted for 100, 87, and 68% of the observed increase in total plant dry weight of cotton, spurred anoda, and velvetleaf, respectively. Comparisons among the species showed that CO2enrichment decreased the weed/crop ratio for total dry weight, possibly indicating a potential competitive advantage for cotton under elevated CO2, even at suboptimum temperatures.


Weed Science ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 876-882 ◽  
Author(s):  
David T. Patterson ◽  
Ann E. Russell ◽  
David A. Mortensen ◽  
Robert D. Coffin ◽  
Elizabeth P. Flint

Texas panicum (Panicum texanumBuckl. # PANTE) is a native of the Southwest, now increasing as a weed throughout the southern United States, whereas wild proso millet (Panicum miliaceumL. # PANMI) is an introduced weed currently increasing in importance in the northern Midwest. In controlled-environment chambers, both species produced more tillers, greater leaf area, and more total dry weight at 30/24 C day/night (simulated growing season temperature in Georgia) than at 24/18 C (simulated growing season temperature in Minnesota). Texas panicum accumulated more dry matter at 30/24 C than did wild proso millet, while wild proso millet accumulated more dry matter at 24/18 C than did Texas panicum. When the two species were grown together, Texas panicum was the superior competitor at 30/24 C while wild proso millet was superior at 24/18 C. Exposure to short photoperiods at an intermediate temperature of 27/21 C accelerated flowering and limited vegetative growth in both species. In the range of photoperiods (10 to 16 h) examined, wild proso millet always flowered earlier and, consequently, produced less vegetative growth than Texas panicum. Its responses to temperature and photoperiod indicate that wild proso millet probably would be competitively inferior to Texas panicum and other adapted grass weeds in the southern United States.


1990 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Azam-Ali ◽  
R. B. Matthews ◽  
J. H. Williams ◽  
J. M. Peacock

SUMMARYThe productivity of each component of a sorghum/groundnut intercrop and its constituent sole crops is determined in terms of a ‘Crop Performance Ratio’ (CPR) defined as the productivity of an intercrop per unit area of ground compared with that expected from sole crops sown in the same proportions. The CPR allows productivity, intercepted radiation and seasonal transpiration to be compared so that conversion coefficients for radiation (e; g MJ−1) and dry matter/water ratios (q; g kg−1) can be calculated for each intercrop component and its constituent sole crops. In this experiment, CPR for total dry weight in the intercrop was 1.08 and that for reproductive yield was 1.27. These advantages in overall productivity and yield were typical of those reported elsewhere for sorghum/groundnut intercrops. The proportional increase in total dry matter in the intercrop was largely a result of its greater interception of radiation. The further advantage in reproductive yield was a consequence of an improved harvest index in the sorghum component of the intercrop (0.64) compared with that of its sole crop counterpart (0.55).


Weed Science ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 588-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellery L. Knake

Field studies were conducted with giant foxtail(Setaria faberiiHerrm.) under shade intensities of 0, 30, 60, 70, 80, and 98%. Seed weight, dry weight of plant tops exclusive of seed, and total dry weight per plant decreased linearly with increasing shade intensities. These decreases were due primarily to decreases in number of leaves, number of stems per plant, and number of heads per plant. Height of main culm was less affected than other morphological characteristics. Shading affected the length of internodes but had little influence on number of internodes on the main culm. The amount of shade required to control giant foxtail completely, once it is established, appears to be above 95%. Expressed as 2-year means, plants grew to as much as 135 cm, had as many as 188 leaves, 41 stems, and 31 heads, and produced 73 g of dry matter per plant including 6 g of seed. Maximum number of seeds per head was 1405.


1980 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 457-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Greenwood ◽  
T. J. Cleaver ◽  
Mary K. Turner ◽  
J. Hunt ◽  
K. B. Niendorf ◽  
...  

SUMMARYFifty-six experiments, each with 15 levels of P fertilizer in the presence of excess N and K fertilizer, were carried out on adjacent sites of the same field where the soil was maintained at the same low P status. Yields, in every experiment where there was a response, were related to level of P fertilizer by a diminishing-retums type curve, and fitted an inverse polynomial equation with a single parameter to define responsiveness. Responsiveness of many crops were similar but there were, nevertheless, considerable inter-crop differences.Applications of P fertilizer increased the % P in the dry matter of lettuce and spinach as well as yields. They increased the % P in the Cruciferae and Chenopodiaceae without appreciably affecting yield. Conversely, theyhad little effect on the % P of leeks, onions, broad beans and French beans but increased yields.When the optimum levels of P fertilizer were applied, % P (in the entire plant) of the different crops was negatively correlated with total dry weight per unit area and total uptake of P was related by a single curved relationship to total dry weight. In addition, the difference between the % P in the foliage and in the storage roots of the various root crops was asymptotically related to mean plant weight.Percentage recovery of added P (100 kg/ha) by the different crops was largely determined by the total weight of dry matter. It varied from 1% when crop dry weight was 2 t/ha to 12% when it was 15 t/ha.Applications of phosphate suppressed leaf scorch of spinach. On occasion they alleviated stem rot in summer cabbage and influenced the bolting of onions and the number of defective Brussels sprouts. Otherwise, the effects on quality were small.


1945 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 126-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Snow ◽  
Norman C. Wright

1. Experiments were made on the respiration of bran at different moisture levels using a continuous absorption apparatus in which the humidity of the air-stream was adjusted to be at equilibrium with the respiring bran. The rate of respiration was accelerated with increasing moisture content and was very rapid deterioration due to the high respiration rate and microbiological damage.2. Experiments were made on the storage of bran at known moisture contents in closed tins in the laboratory and also in sacks kept under farm conditions. The total nitrogen content of the bran stored in the tins appeared to increase during storage. From similar increases in total phosphorus, it is clear that the increase in total nitrogen was caused by a loss of dry matter from the stored feeding stuff, a fact which was further demonstrated by the loss in dry weight of the sacks of bran with attributed to two causes: (1) the respiration of the plant cells still active in the bran itself, and (2) the respiration of developing micro-organisms. It is evident from these experiments that fresh bran, free from insect infestation and stored at a moisture content of less than 13%, will have a very low respiration rate and will, therefore, not be liable to heating. Bran of 15–19% moisture content respires at a much faster rate and the time for which such material can be stored with freedom from heating or other types of deterioration will be limited.


HortScience ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 826-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.J. McLaurin ◽  
S.J. Kays

Four high-yielding sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] cultivars displayed substantial leaf shedding, under typical field production conditions, that was not due to pathological or herbivory causes. Losses ranged from ≈ 45% to 60% of the total leaves formed by the normal harvest date during 2 years. There was a strong positive correlation between leaf shedding and the number of vines (r2 = 0.80) and nodes (r2 = 0.89) per plant. Likewise, positive correlations were found between leaf shedding and total dry weight (r2 = 0.67), root fresh weight (r2 = 0.65), root dry weight (r2 = 0.60), and vine dry weight (r2 = 0.68). Distinct differences were found among cultivars in dry-matter allocation within the plant. `Jewel' allocated a lower percentage of dry matter into vines and a higher percentage into storage roots. Estimated leaf dry matter losses due to leaf shedding ranged from 1.2 to 2.6 t·ha-1. High leaf losses appear to be closely related to vigorous vine growth and subsequent shading of older leaves but did not have a negative impact on storage root yield in the cultivars tested.


2015 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.D. Ugese ◽  
P.T. Ezechukwu ◽  
C. Ogbaje

Experiments to determine the effect of seed size, watering interval and defoliation on growth and dry matter attributes of seedlings of shea butter tree were conducted at Makurdi, Nigeria, from July 2010 to April, 2012. In the first experiment, treatments were made up of three seed size categories described as small (5-10g), medium (11-15g) and large (16-20g) and three watering intervals of 3, 6 and 9 days. In the second experiment, treatments comprised three watering intervals of 3, 6 and 9 days and three levels of defoliation – 0, 50 and 100%. In both experiments, factorial combinations of the treatments were laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. Results of analysis of variance showed that in the first experiment seed size significantly influenced root length with the medium and large seeds producing seedlings with comparatively longer roots than the small seeds. The most frequently watered seedlings (3 and 6 days) produced more leaves than those watered less frequently (9 days). Seed size influenced dry weight of root and total (whole plant) dry weight with the medium and large seeds recording significantly higher values than the small seeds. Watering interval however did not significantly influence any of the other traits. Seed weight exerted significant influence on amount of dry matter partitioned to the stem and the root. More dry matter was partitioned to the stem by the small seeds. Conversely, medium and large seeds allocated more dry matter to the root than to the stem. In the second experiment, defoliation level only influenced total fresh weight, dry weight of root and total dry weight in favour of plants with half their leaves removed. None of the traits examined were significantly influenced by watering regime. Interaction between defoliation level and watering regime significantly influenced total fresh weight, dry weight of root and total dry weight. Generally seed size had more influence on seedling characters than watering interval. Seedlings also demonstrated remarkable ability to overcome effects of defoliation.


1954 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 356 ◽  
Author(s):  
WM Hutton ◽  
JW Peak

Induced autotetraploidy in the Dwalganup variety of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) resulted in total dry weight increases of 60 and 65.5 per cent. at flowering and maturity respectively. In the other four varieties the tetraploids had decreased yields of dry matter compared with the diploids, although the decreases for leaf weights at flowering were nonsignificant in Mount Barker and Tallarook, as was the total dry weight reduction in Tallarook at maturity. There were no significant differences between the diploids and tetraploids in percentage moisture content. When early development was stimulated by growth in a glass-house, the tetraploids of all varieties showed a significant increase in yield of green matter. The level of increased growth was maintained only in Dwalganup, and decreased in other varieties during flowering. An analysis was made of the way in which the different plant parts mere changed by tetraploidy. Where decreased growth occurred, the leaves and stems were coarser. In all varieties a reduced seed-setting followed autotetraploidy, although in Dwalganup the yield of seed per plant was not affected.


1981 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 327-344
Author(s):  
I.P. Oliveira ◽  
E. Malavolta

Seven cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris L. were grown in nutrient solution in the presence and absence of aluminum. Da ta obtained herewith allowed for the following conclusions to be drawn: (1) plant height, root lenght and total dry weight decreased with increase of aluminum levels in the nutrient solution; (2) aluminum concentration in plant tissue increased with higher levels of aluminum in the substrate; decreases pf calcium and magnesium concentration in the dry matter in the presence of higher aluminum concentration in the nutrient solution were observed.


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