Band sowing with hoeing in organic grains: I. Comparisons with alternative weed management practices in spring barley

AbstractWeeds remain the foremost production challenge for organic small grain farmers in the northeastern United States. Instead of crops sown in narrow, single-line rows, band sowing offers a more uniform spatial arrangement of the crop, maximizing interspecific while reducing intraspecific competition. Weeds in the inter-band zone are controlled by cultivating with aggressive sweeps; tine harrowing can target weeds in both intra- and inter-band zones. Field experiments in Maine and Vermont in 2016 and 2017 evaluated band sowing for improved weed control, crop yield, and grain quality in organic spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ‘Newdale’). Specifically, we compared: (1) the standard practice of sowing 16.5-cm rows at a target crop density of 325 plants m−2, (2) narrow-row sowing with increased crop density, (3) wide-row sowing with interrow hoeing, and (4) band sowing both with and (5) without inter-band hoeing. Mustard (Sinapis alba L. ‘Ida Gold’) was planted throughout the experiment as a surrogate weed. Compared with the standard practice, band sowing with hoeing reduced surrogate weed density on average by 45% across site-years. However, effects on weed biomass and yield were inconsistent, perhaps due to suboptimal timing of hoeing and adverse weather conditions. In 1 out of 4 site-years, band sowing with hoeing reduced surrogate weed biomass by 67% and increased crop yield compared with the standard treatment. Results also indicate that band sowing with hoeing may improve 1,000-kernel weight and plump kernel grain-quality parameters.

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Predicting the competitive effects of weed and crop density on weed biomass, weed seed production and crop yield in wheat

Weed Research ◽

10.1111/j.1365-3180.1995.tb01789.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 265-278 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

B. J. WILSON ◽

K. J. WRIGHT ◽

P. BRAIN ◽

M. CLEMENTS ◽

E. STEPHENS

Keyword(s):

Seed Production ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Weed Seed ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

Competitive Effects ◽

Crop Density

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An empirical model relating crop yield to weed and crop density and a statistical comparison with other models

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600059396 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 105 (3) ◽

pp. 513-521 ◽

Cited By ~ 165

Author(s):

R. Cousens

Keyword(s):

Field Experiment ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Spring Barley ◽

Likelihood Estimation ◽

Sinapis Alba ◽

Hyperbolic Model ◽

Replacement Series ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Yield Data ◽

Crop Density

SUMMARYA hyperbolic model relating crop yield to weed density is extended to include crop density as a further variable. Other models were obtained from published sources, eight being originally applied to yield of above-ground biomass and six to marketable yield. Data were obtained from a field experiment in which spring wheat and spring barley were planted either in monoculture or together and at a range of densities. Further data were obtained from a published experiment on Sinapis alba and barley grown in containers. The models were fitted to data using maximum likelihood estimation. Comparisons of residual sums of squares showed that for the wheat and barley field experiment biomass yield and marketable yield were sufficiently described by a three-parameter model. The Baeumer & de Wit (1968) equation proposed for replacement series experimental designs is considered reasonable for the analysis of field additive designs provided the parameters are interpreted in agronomic terms. For the Sinapis alba and barley experiment more complex models could be justified.

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Advances in the breeding of oats Comparative trials with historical varieties in 1977—87

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.23986/afsci.72290 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 60 (4) ◽

pp. 307-321

Author(s):

Matti Rekunen

Keyword(s):

Protein Content ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus ◽

Kernel Weight ◽

Experimental Series ◽

Crude Protein Content ◽

Test Environment ◽

Variety Trials

From 1977 to 1987, variety trials were conducted at two test sites in order to determine the agronomic value of old oat varieties as compared to that of the varieties presently grown. The trial sites were located at two breeding stations of the Hankkija Plant Breeding Institute, those of Nikkilä (61° 33' N latitude) and Anttila (60° 25' N latitude). The variety trials were performed according to the methods of Partially Balanced Lattices, and the results and their summary were computed according to the Nearest Neighbour Analysis. Eleven oat varieties released by the Institute between 1921 and 1982 as well as the old native oat variety from Ylitornio and the American oat variety Wasa, released in the 1920s, were all tested simultaneously. The materials are presented in Table 1, the test environment in Table 2. The main findings are shown in Tables 3 & 4 and in Figures 1—5. The correlations between the age of the varieties and their characteristics are presented, in order of quality, in Table 5. The field experiments showed that intense progress inbreeding work is reflected as increased crop yield, shortening of the straw, improved strength of the straw, and decreased husk content. In the trials the crop yield of the newest variety, Hankkijan Vouti variety, averaged 51 per cent more than the Ylitornio land race variety. The mean improvement in these properties achieved in 1921—-1982by means of breeding work was: an increase in crop yield of approximately 40 per cent; shortening of the straw by roughly 20 per cent; reduction of the tendency to lodging by about half; and lowering of the husk content by some 2 percentage points. In contrast, no constant advances could be shown for the earliness at heading or ripening, the 1 000 kernel weight, the hectolitre weight, the crude protein content or resistance to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV). The 1 000 kernel weight and the hectolitre weight had risen from those of the local oat variety, whereafter development ceased to occur. The study also investigated the ratio between genotype and environmental effects. In the experimental series, environmental factors had an effect on determining the time needed for ripening, the crude protein content, the length of the straw, the hectrolitre weight and crop yield that was at least five times greater than the effect of genotype. Genotype proved to have a stronger influence on the 1 000 kernel weight, for which the variance component of genotype was three fold that of the environmental component. The heritability values in the experimental series ranged from 0.19 (for BYDV infection) to 0.77 (for time to heading).

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Yield and Grain Quality of Hulless Spring Barley in Field Trials Under Different Nitrogen Management Conditions

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Section B Natural Exact and Applied Sciences ◽

10.2478/prolas-2013-0040 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 229-235

Author(s):

Māra Bleidere ◽

Sanita Zute ◽

Linda Brunava ◽

Natalija Bobere ◽

Ida Jākobsone

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Grain Quality ◽

Spring Barley ◽

Tocopherol Content ◽

Kernel Weight ◽

Total Phenolic ◽

Scavenging Activity ◽

Weight Test ◽

Barley Genotypes

The aim of the study was to evaluate the yield and grain quality (1000 kernel weight, test weight, crude protein, starch, β-glucans, total phenolic content, antiradical scavenging activity and α-tocopherol content) variation of three hulless spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes under different levels of N, in relation to weather characteristics. The field experiments were carried out at the State Stende Cereal Breeding Institute. Three hulless barley genotypes ‘Kornelija’; ‘ST 1165’; ST 1185’ were studied during two years (2011 and 2012) using three levels of nitrogen (N80; N80+40; N80+80) by split application at the end of the tillering stage. The effects of genotype, N treatment and genotype by N treatment interaction contribute the variation in yield and grain quality traits for hulless barley genotypes. There were considerable differences between crop years in response of hulless genotypes to top-dressing N, with significantly (P < 0.05) higher grain yield, 1000 kernel weight, test weight, starch and β-glucans in the growing season of 2012, when rainfall was optimal at the tillering and stem-elongation growth stages. In 2012, a significant (P < 0.05) response to top-dressing N was recorded for grain yield and 1000 kernel weight (at rate N120), crude protein, starch and β-glucans (at rate N160). The maximum values of total phenolic content, antiradical scavenging activity (in 2011) and -tocopherol content (in 2012) were obtained with application of 160 kg N ha-1. Hulless line ‘1185’ gave the highest grain yield, starch, α-tocopherol content and radical scavenging activity, but variety ‘Kornelija’ formed significantly higher TKW, crude protein and β-glucans content.

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Tillage and weed management effects on forage production in a barley-red clover rotation

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/p00-169 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 81 (3) ◽

pp. 405-412 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Anne Légère ◽

F. Craig Stevenson ◽

Nathalie Samson

Keyword(s):

Weed Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Trifolium Pratense ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Spring Barley ◽

Red Clover ◽

Forage Production ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

No Till ◽

Trifolium Pratense L

Tillage and weed management practices used during the establishment year can likely affect for age yield during the subsequent production year(s). This study was conducted as part of a long-term experiment to determine the suitability of conservation tillage practices for red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) production on a Kamouraska clay from 1988 to 1995. Red clover was underseeded with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in cropping systems including different tillage (MP: fall moldboard plow; CP: fall chisel plow; NT: no-till) and weed management (intensive, moderate, minimum) treatments applied during the establishment year. Red clover dry matter yields and weed biomass were measured twice in the subsequent forage production year. Tillage had no effect on red clover yields in 3 out of 7 yr. Yields were 16% greater with NT in 1 yr and 52% with MP tillage in 3 yr compared with other tillage treatments. Weed response to tillage was consistent over years. Dicot weed biomass increased as tillage intensity was reduced. Monocot biomass was much less with NT than with MP or CP treatments. Red clover yield was 11% greater with intensive weed management, but this yield increase was not associated with differences in dicot or monocot biomass during the forage production year. Red clover yield gain with intensive weed management would need to be weighed against economical and environmental costs to determine the relevance of increased herbicide use in a short-term cereal/forage rotation. Key words: Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), conservation tillage, no-till, forage legume

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Weeds are not always evil: crop-weed relationships are context-dependent and cannot fully explain the positive effects of intercropping on yield

10.1101/2020.04.02.021402 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Laura Stefan ◽

Nadine Engbersen ◽

Christian Schoeb

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Crop Diversity ◽

Crop Species ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Weed Communities ◽

Species Mixtures

Implementing sustainable weed control strategies is a major challenge in agriculture. Intercropping offers a potential solution to control weed pressure by reducing the niche space available for weeds; however, available research on the relationship between crop diversity and weed pressure, and its consequences on crop yield is not fully conclusive yet. In this study, we performed an extensive intercropping experiment using eight crop species and 40 different species mixtures to examine how crop diversity affects weed communities and how the subsequent changes in weeds influence crop yield. Field experiments were carried out in Switzerland and in Spain, which differ drastically in terms of climate and soil, and included monocultures, 2- and 4-species mixtures, and a control treatment without crops. Weed communities were assessed in terms of biomass, species richness and evenness, and community composition. Results indicate that intercropping per se does not reduce weed performance or diversity, but crop species composition does. In particular, the presence of cereals in crop mixtures significantly reduced weed biomass and diversity. Despite the lack of crop diversity effect on weeds, crop yield increased with crop species richness, particularly in Switzerland. Moreover, in Switzerland, where soil resources were abundant, increasing crop yield correlated with increased weed suppression and reduced weed diversity. In Spain, where water and nutrients were limited, crop yield was not related to weed biomass or diversity. Synthesis and applications: We demonstrate that in our study, increased crop yield in mixtures was not due to increased weed suppression in diverse crop communities, but must be the result of other ecological processes. We also show that crop-weed relationships vary across environmental conditions, which emphasizes the need for a better understanding of weed communities' assembly mechanisms, as well as locally adapted weed management strategies.

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Yield and grain quality of plump-kernelled spring triticale windrowed at different kernel water concentrations

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/p97-007 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 77 (4) ◽

pp. 561-566 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P. E. Jedel ◽

D. F. Salmon

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Grain Quality ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Secondary Growth ◽

Kernel Weight ◽

Test Weight ◽

Canadian Prairie ◽

Spring Triticale ◽

Dry Down

Little information is available on the response of plump-kernelled spring triticales (X Triticosecale Wittmack) to windrowing at different kernel water concentrations (KWC). The objective of this research was to determine the effects of windrowing at KWCs of 1600 g kg−1 or less on the yield and grain quality of spring triticales compared with a Canadian prairie spring (CPS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L. 'Oslo'). Field experiments were conducted from 1989 to 1993 at Lacombe, AB, using the spring triticale cv. Wapiti in all years, and the cvs. Banjo and Frank in 1992 and 1993. Rate of dry-down varied between the cultivars and years. Oslo dried at a rate of 1.67 to 3.23 g kg−1 per growing degree day (GDD 0 °C basis). The rate of dry-down for the triticales ranged from 2.80 to 10.80 g kg−1 per GDD. Although the triticales reached physiological maturity much later than Oslo in any given year, they dried at a faster rate (with fewer GDDs) than Oslo. Windrowing at KWC of up to 1600 g kg−1 (62% moisture) had no effect on test weight, grain protein or germination of harvested grain. Effects of windrowing on grain yield varied but, when yield differences were significant, windrowing at 430 to 530 g kg−1 (30 to 35% moisture) optimized grain yield. When effects of windrowing on kernel weight were significant, kernel weight increased as KWC at windrowing decreased. When windrowing to curtail secondary growth of spring triticale is necessary in central Alberta, windrowing at 430 to 530 g kg−1 (30 to 35% moisture) is recommended to optimize yield without loss of test weight, protein content or germination. Key words: Spring triticale, Canadian prairie spring wheat, windrowing, kernel water concentration

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Effects of Management Practices on Quinoa Growth, Seed Yield, and Quality

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10030445 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 445

Author(s):

Ning Wang ◽

Fengxin Wang ◽

Clinton C. Shock ◽

Chaobiao Meng ◽

Lifang Qiao

Keyword(s):

Protein Content ◽

Seed Yield ◽

Management Practices ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Plant Density ◽

Chenopodium Quinoa ◽

Kernel Weight ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Available Nitrogen ◽

Thousand Kernel Weight

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) yield potential needs to be further achieved by good management practices to meet the increasing global demand. Two years of orthogonal field experiments were undertaken to investigate the effects of irrigation onset criteria using soil matric potential (SMP) (−15, −25, and −55 kPa), nitrogen fertilizer rate (80, 160, and 240 kg ha−1), and plant density (20, 30, and 40 plants m−2) on quinoa growth, seed yield, weight, and protein content. Initiating irrigations at an SMP of −15 to −25 kPa achieved significantly (p < 0.05) greater seed yield (37.2 g plant−1), thousand kernel weight (2.25 g), and protein content (21.2%) than −55 kPa (25.2 g plant−1, 2.08 g, and 19.8%, respectively). The 240 kg ha−1 nitrogen rate had significantly (p < 0.05) greater thousand kernel weight (2.26 g) and protein content (21.3%) than 80 (2.07 g and 19.5%, respectively) and 160 kg ha−1 (2.14 g and 20.7%, respectively). The yield under 20 plants m−2 reached 39.5 g plant−1, which was 13.5 g plant−1 higher than 40 plants m−2 (p < 0.05). The quinoa consumed most of the available nitrogen in the soil (410–860 kg ha−1), indicating that quinoa should be part of a sound crop rotation program.

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How Important are Crop Spatial Pattern and Density for Weed Suppression by Spring Wheat?

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-11-00172.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 501-509 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Jannie Maj Olsen ◽

Hans-Werner Griepentrog ◽

Jon Nielsen ◽

Jacob Weiner

Keyword(s):

Spatial Pattern ◽

Biomass Production ◽

Spring Wheat ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

Spatial Uniformity ◽

Crop Density ◽

Crop Biomass

Previous research has shown that both the density and spatial pattern of wheat have an influence on crop growth and weed suppression, but it is not clear what degree of uniformity is necessary to achieve major improvements in weed suppression. Field experiments were performed over 3 yr to investigate the effects of crop density and different spatial distributions on weed suppression. The spatial pattern of spring wheat sown in five patterns and three densities in small weed-infested plots were analyzed with the use of digitized photographs of field plots to describe the locations of individual wheat plants asxandycoordinates. We used a simple quantitative measure, Morisita's index, to measure the degree of spatial uniformity. Increased crop density resulted in reduced weed biomass and increased crop biomass every year, but crop pattern had significant effects on weed and crop biomass in the first year only. Weather conditions during the second and third years were very dry, resulting in very low weed biomass production. We hypothesize that water deficiency increased the importance of belowground relative to aboveground competition by reducing biomass production, making competition more size symmetric, and reducing the effect of crop spatial pattern on weed growth. The results indicate that increased crop density in cereals can play an important role in increasing the crop's competitive advantage over weeds, and that spatial uniformity maximizes the effect of density when low resource levels or abiotic stress do not limit total biomass production.

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Grain quality and N uptake of spring cereals as affected by nitrogen fertilization in northern conditions: a meta-analysis

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.23986/afsci.7448 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 208-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Elena Valkama ◽

Tapio Salo ◽

Martti Esala ◽

Eila Turtola

Keyword(s):

Grain Quality ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Spring Barley ◽

N Uptake ◽

Current Trend ◽

Acidic Soils ◽

Wide Range ◽

Spring Cereals ◽

N Rates

We reviewed quantitatively 40 Finnish field experiments related to the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the main parameters of grain quality and N uptake of spring cereals. The experiments were conducted on a wide range of mineral soils under varying growth conditions from the 1950s to the 1990s. Overall there was no statistically significant effect on 1000 grain weight and a slightly negative effect on grain test weight. Nitrogen fertilizer increased N uptake much more steeply in slightly acidic soils (SA, pH 5.8–6.9), located mostly in South Finland, than in moderately acidic soils (MA, pH 5.0–5.7), located in Central Finland. With increasing N rates, protein content increased to a larger extent in spring barley and oats than in spring wheat. In the light of the current trend to reduce N fertilizerapplication, the obtained regressions between N rates and the parameters of grain quality may be used to maintain yield quality at a desirable level, while optimizing N management.

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