The Happy Seeder enables direct drilling of wheat into rice stubble

Lack of suitable machinery is a major constraint to direct drilling into combine-harvested rice residues due to the heavy straw load, and the presence of loose tough straw deposited by the harvester. Therefore, most rice stubbles are burnt in the mechanised rice–wheat systems of south Asia and Australia, as this is a rapid and cheap option, and allows for quick turn around between crops. As well as loss of organic matter and nutrients, rice stubble burning causes very serious and widespread air pollution in the north-west Indo-Gangetic Plains, where rice–wheat systems predominate. A novel approach with much promise is the Happy Seeder, which combines the stubble mulching and seed drilling functions in the one machine. The stubble is cut and picked up in front of the sowing tynes, which engage bare soil, and deposited behind the seed drill as mulch. Evaluation of the technology over 3 years in replicated experiments and farmers’ fields in Punjab, India, showed that establishment of wheat sown into rice residues with the Happy Seeder was comparable with establishment using conventional methods (straw burnt followed by direct drilling or cultivation before sowing) for sowings around the optimum time into stubbles up to 7.5 t/ha. For late sowings, plant density declined significantly at straw loads above 5 t/ha. The mulch also reduced weed biomass by ~60%, and reduced soil evaporation. Yield of wheat sown around the optimum time into rice residues, using the Happy Seeder, was comparable with or higher than yield after straw removal or burning, in replicated experiments and farmers’ fields, for straw loads up to 9 t/ha. In farmers’ fields there was an average yield increase of 9 and 11% in 2004–05 and 2005–06, respectively, compared with farmer practice. For sowings after the optimum time, yield declined significantly at straw loads greater than 7.5 t/ha. The Happy Seeder offers the means of drilling wheat into rice stubble without burning, eliminating air pollution and loss of nutrients and organic carbon due to burning, at the same time as maintaining or increasing yield.

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Evaluation of legumes for introduction into native grass pastures on the North-west slopes of New South Wales

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9940449 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 449 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

RD FitzGerald

Keyword(s):

Plant Density ◽

New South ◽

New South Wales ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

Soil Types ◽

Native Grass ◽

Lower Altitude ◽

North West ◽

The North ◽

South Wales

A range of pasture legumes was either broadcast or drilled into native grass pastures on the North-west Slopes of New South Wales to identify legumes that would persist in that environment and improve the quality of winter pastures based on native grasses. There were 2 experiments conducted over 12 sites. In the first, sites were selected to permit identification of effects of altitude and 2 soil types on legume adaptation. In the second, the lower altitude range was extended and a wider range of soil types was sampled. Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) was the most persistent and productive species, with cultivar performance varying with altitude. At the lowest altitude (340 m) the early-maturing cv. Dalkeith was the most productive, and at 500-600 m there was little difference between the tested cultivars. Stand density, herbage yield, and seed yield all declined as altitude increased, but the decline was greater with earlier maturing cultivars than with the later maturing cv. Woogenellup White clover (T. repens cv. Haifa) established poorly in native grass swards, but plants that did establish persisted during favourable seasons at higher altitudes. Herbage yields of woolly pod vetch (Vicia dasycarpa cv. Namoi) and rose clover (T. hirtum cv. Hykon) occasionally exceeded yield of subterranean clover at some lower altitude sites, but those species failed to persist at other sites where grazing management may have been unsuitable. Barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) established satisfactorily but did not persist on the more acidic soils (pH <6.0). Both drilling and broadcasting establishment techniques produced satisfactory legume stands. Legume plant density was generally greater on heavier soils of basaltic origin than on lighter soils of rhyolitic origin.

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Utility of a simple soil water budget model in agronomic research. 2. Estimates of available soil water in relation to profile changes of soil water content and potential

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9740080 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 14 (66) ◽

pp. 80 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

RG Fawcett ◽

OG Carter

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Water Budget ◽

Plant Density ◽

Budget Model ◽

North West ◽

The North ◽

South Wales ◽

Profile Changes

A study was made of the effects of plant density, time-of-sowing and level of fallow water on profile changes in soil water content and potential during the growing season of spring wheat. The pattern of soil moisture extraction was affected by all treatments although water depletion occurred chiefly in the 0-90 cm zone. The results are discussed in relation to limitations of a simple soil water budget model and to wheat cropping on the north-west slopes and plains of New South Wales.

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Scavenging of atmospheric particulates by snow in Changji, China

Global NEST Journal ◽

10.30955/gnj.002548 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 471-476 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Influencing Factor ◽

Drying Time ◽

North West ◽

Scavenging Effect ◽

Atmospheric Particulates ◽

The North ◽

Large Particles ◽

Before And After ◽

Scavenging Ratio

<p>Changji is an arid city in the north west of China which suffers from severe air pollution due to increasing vehicle use and heating with coal. Samples (TSP, PM10, PM5, PM2.5) were collected before and after several snow events, for revealing the snow scavenging effect and influencing mechanisms. The result indicated that the snow scavenging effect was obvious. The highest snow scavenging quantity and scavenging ratio is TSP, followed by PM10, PM5 and PM2.5. Snow scavenging quantity was dependent on the particulate diameter. Snow intensity, drying time and amount of snow influenced scavenging ratio, and snow intensity is the key influencing factor. Scavenging ratio increases with the increase of snow intensity. Higher snow intensity can reduce the selective scavenging of particulate diameters, the scavenging ratio of different particulate diameter will get close to each other. The lower snow intensity was, the higher selectivity was. Light snow will scavenge large particles obviously, but little for small particle.</p>

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IMPROVING THE YIELD OF MUNGBEAN (VIGNA RADIATA) IN THE NORTH WEST FRONTIER PROVINCE OF PAKISTAN USING ON-FARM SEED PRIMING

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479703001546 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 233-244 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

A. RASHID ◽

D. HARRIS ◽

P. A. HOLLINGTON ◽

M. RAFIQ

Keyword(s):

Vigna Radiata ◽

Low Cost ◽

Seed Priming ◽

North West ◽

Yield Increase ◽

The North ◽

North West Frontier Province ◽

Rate Of Decline ◽

Surface Drying ◽

On Farm

The effect of ‘on-farm’ seed priming – soaking seeds in water before surface-drying and sowing them – was tested for mungbean (Vigna radiata) in 15 irrigated on-station trials and four sets of rainfed, paired-plot, farmer-participatory trials over four contrasting years from 1999 to 2002 in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The optimum soaking time was found to be between six and eight hours; eight hours was used in all the trials. Of the 19 trials, priming was significantly better than non-priming in 14 with a mean yield increase of 56%. In the remaining five trials there was no difference between treatments but in no case was priming worse than not priming. In a subset of 11 on-station trials in which management was considered to be optimal, yield declined in a linear fashion as the date of sowing was delayed. The rate of decline of about 30 kg ha−1 d−1 after 1st June was similar for both non-primed and primed crops, although the latter declined from a higher base. Farmers' yields were proportional to rainfall over the four years and the mean increase in grain yield due to priming in the 39 trials was 30%. Benefits from priming were the result of a combination of faster germination and emergence and more vigorous growth and development, leading to better crop stands and bigger, more productive plants. It was concluded that ‘on-farm’ seed priming is a low-cost, low-risk technology that has the potential to raise mungbean yields substantially thus making it a more attractive crop for farmers.

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The spatio-temporal evolution of black carbon in the North-West European ‘air pollution hotspot’

Atmospheric Environment ◽

10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117874 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 243 ◽

pp. 117874 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K.P. Wyche ◽

R.L. Cordell ◽

L. Smith M ◽

K.L. Smallbone ◽

P. Lyons ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Black Carbon ◽

Temporal Evolution ◽

North West ◽

The North ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

West European

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Rare epiphytic lichens in phytocenoses of anthropogenic disturbed territories and their application in bioindication (Moscow region)

Проблемы ботаники Южной Сибири и Монголии ◽

10.14258/pbssm.2020098 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 177-183

Author(s):

E. A. Aristarkhova ◽

E. G. Suslova

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Common Species ◽

Moscow Region ◽

High Abundance ◽

Epiphytic Lichens ◽

Nature Protection ◽

Old Growth ◽

North West ◽

The North ◽

Favorable Conditions

The article analyzes the ecology and distribution of species of genera: Bryoria Brodo et D. Hawksw., Ramalina Ach., Usnea Dill. ex Adans., found in Moscow region and listed in the red book of the region (2018). It is based onliterature materials and monitoring data that we conducted as part of the «Verkhovye» Nature protection Fund in 2010–2019.In the period from 1906 to 1995, a greater number of Ramalina species were cited for Moscow region than at present,some of the finds of Usnea species were made on the outskirts of Moscow and in the near Moscow region, meanwhile thedistribution of genus Bryoria was not studied. Currently, the most favorable conditions for the development of lichens areformed in the North, West and North-West of the Moscow region, where the largest number of finds of various specieswith maximum abundance is noted. In the South-east, their settlement is probably hindered by dust, increased dryness ofthe air and the presence of harmful compounds in the atmosphere. In their distribution, lichens prefer intact habitats withhigh humidity and minimal air pollution: large fragments of preserved protected old-growth forests (spruce and sprucesmall-leaved), swampy forests and forest swamps.For the most common species with a high abundance (Bryoria fuscescens (Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw. и B. capillaris (Ach.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., Usnea hirta (L.) Weber ex F. H. Wigg.и др.), it is possible to track the dynamics ofchanges in the environment. The rarest species are recommended to keep category 1–2 in the Red book of the Moscow region (Bryoria nadvornikiana (Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., B. vrangiana (Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., B. osteola(Gyeln.) Brodo et D. Hawksw., Usnea lapponica Vain. и др.).

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SEM and TEM observations of sperm development in the testis of the freshwater fish Oreochromis mossambicus

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100157838 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 58-59

Author(s):

Daryl A. Cornish ◽

George L. Smit

Keyword(s):

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Oreochromis Mossambicus ◽

Breeding Cycle ◽

Limited Information ◽

North West ◽

The North ◽

Sem And Tem ◽

Sperm Development ◽

Ultrastructural Characteristics ◽

The University

Oreochromis mossambicus is currently receiving much attention as a candidater species for aquaculture programs within Southern Africa. This has stimulated interest in its breeding cycle as well as the morphological characteristics of the gonads. Limited information is available on SEM and TEM observations of the male gonads. It is known that the testis of O. mossambicus is a paired, intra-abdominal structure of the lobular type, although further details of its characteristics are not known. Current investigations have shown that spermatids reach full maturity some two months after the female becomes gravid. Throughout the year, the testes contain spermatids at various stages of development although spermiogenesis appears to be maximal during November when spawning occurs. This paper describes the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of the testes and spermatids.Specimens of this fish were collected at Syferkuil Dam, 8 km north- west of the University of the North over a twelve month period, sacrificed and the testes excised.

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