Controlled traffic to increase productivity of irrigated row crops in the semi-arid tropics

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 503 ◽  
Author(s):  
MV Braunack ◽  
JE McPhee ◽  
DJ Reid

The tropical environment generally allows 2 crops/year to be grown. Controlled traffic has been suggested as a means of improving soil conditions, which may also lead to increased crop yield. A field trial at Millaroo Research Station, North Queensland, on a cracking clay (Entic Chromustert) studied the effect of controlled traffic (in conjunction with direct drilling and tillage) and conventional ridging on soil properties and crop yield. Maize (Zea mays L. cv. Hybrid 50) was grown as the winter crop and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Canapolis] as the summer crop. With few exceptions, there was no significant difference between any pair of treatments in sowing line water content, bulk density, aggregate size distribution, seedling emergence, mean time of seedling emergence, and final yield. Differences that did occur between crop cycles were due to climatic variation. Cone index measurements indicated no lateral spread of compaction from the traffic lanes in the controlled traffic system to the soil in the plant growth area. Under the ridged area, however, it appeared that a plough pan began to develop just below the depth of tillage. Although no marked benefit in soil properties or plant yield resulted from controlled traffic, it was possible to grow 2 crops/year for the duration of the experiment. In one season, only the controlled traffic treatments could be planted, due to unsuitable conditions for seedbed preparation. Double cropping under conventional cultivation systems is unreliable, due to the limited opportunity for seedbed preparation at the beginning of the wet season and the large number (up to 8) of operations required to prepare a seedbed. Controlled traffic, restricting soil compaction to the traffic lanes, is a system that helps to maintain a zone more favourable for plant growth, as indicated by the cone index measurements.

1982 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-65
Author(s):  
F. S. Wright ◽  
D. M. Porter

Abstract The effects of underrow ripping on peanut yields have been studied for several years along with other tillage production practices. In this study, tillage treatments included no ripping and ripping under the plant row in combination with four methods of seedbed preparation. The bed preparations were prepared flat (conventionally), with a rotary tiller and bed shaper, with a disk bedder, and with a rolling cultivator. Test plots were planted at different locations each year to assess different soil conditions. To evaluate these tillage treatments, yield, grade, value, and incidence of pod breakdown were recorded. Results indicated that underrow ripping compared to not ripping directly under the plant row adversely affected crop yield and value in some soil conditions but had no effect in other soil conditions. Peanut roots penetrated the subsoil region even in soil types with an A2 layer. Under-row ripping appeared to enhance the incidence of pod breakdown, caused by Pythium myriotylum and Rhizoctonia solani. It does not appear to be an advantageous tillage operation to use in peanut production systems for southeast Virginia based on these responses and the additional energy required to perform the operation.


Author(s):  
J.L. Brock ◽  
G.J. Kane

Reported problems with inconsistent white clover establishment in pastures prompted a MAF SFF project to investigate the causes. The establishment of white clover in 32 new and renovated paddocks on 16 farms in the Wanganui-Manawatu-Southern Hawke's Bay region was monitored and the inconsistency confirmed in the f irst year. Seedling emergence at 44% (range 22 to 84) for ryegrass and 35% (range 9 to 73) for white clover was low (expected 70%+) and inappropriate grazing management inhibited subsequent plant growth and sward performance to 20% of potential. There were a few good performances, but the 'grass to grass' technique was particularly hard on clover. These problems have arisen as a result of modern methods (e.g. direct drilling and fertiliser N) that are less 'clover friendly', and have moved away from the older proven techniques. Minimal seedbed preparation and method of sowing, combined with lack of knowledge of white clover growth strategies and management requirements are seen as the main causes. Change is inescapable and while modern farming techniques and expectations may have currently placed clover at a disadvantage, the challenge now is how to balance the requirements of the pasture species with the expectations of the farming production system in the future. Keywords: emergence, establishment, farmer knowledge, grazing management, life cycle, sowing conditions, white clover.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2582
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Gondek ◽  
Monika Mierzwa-Hersztek

As natural plant growth stimulators, amino acids are widely used to improve crop yield and quality. There are numerous studies documenting the influence of amino acids on plants, which is not always positive. This study was conducted to determine the effect of soil-applied L-tryptophan (L-TRP) on the accumulation and utilization of nitrogen and sulfur by maize. The study was carried out under the conditions of a pot experiment. The experimental design included three treatments: soil without fertilization (control), soil with mineral fertilization (NPKS), and soil with mineral fertilization and L-tryptophan addition (NPKS + L-TRP). The application of tryptophan to the soil, supported by mineral fertilization, caused a significant increase in maize biomass. Although no significant differences in nitrogen and sulfur contents in maize biomass were found between treatments without and with the addition of L-tryptophan, significantly higher intakes of both elements were observed in the NPKS + L-TRP treatment. The application of L-tryptophan increased the biosynthesis of Chlorophyll a. Utilization of nitrogen and sulfur by maize in the NPKS + L-TRP treatment was more than 27% and 17% higher, respectively, compared to the NPKS treatment. Maintaining the recommended contents of individual nutrients in the rhizosphere is not a guarantee of optimal quantitative and qualitative intake of nutrients. Problems with maintaining optimal relationships between individual nutrients may be compounded by soil properties.


Soil Research ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 897 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Wakelin ◽  
R. A. Warren ◽  
M. H. Ryder

Penicillium radicum is a phosphate-solubilising fungus with plant growth promoting (PGP) activity. The widespread agronomic use of P. radicum as an inoculant is dependent on the accurate prediction of conditions where PGP response will occur. Therefore, the effect of soil physicochemical and biotic factors on PGP of wheat by P. radicum was investigated. In the first experiment, PGP was assayed in 10 soils with differing physicochemical properties. Each soil was tested with and without treatment with hydroxyapatite—an insoluble form of calcium phosphate used to increase the level of total inorganic P available for microbial solubilisation. Inoculation of wheat with P. radicum significantly (P < 0.05) increased plant growth in 4 of the 10 soils tested. The magnitude of the PGP response varied with soil type, and ranged from 8.5% (plant height, Avon soil) to 75% (plant weight, Mingenew soil). Most soil properties had little influence on PGP, with only low soil fertility (N and/or P) identified as a strong indicator of PGP by P. radicum. When detected, PGP was strongest in acidic soil conditions, although PGP was observed in neutral and alkaline soils. Virtually no interactions were detected between addition of hydroxyapatite to the soil and P. radicum inoculation. The second experiment tested PGP in 3 soils previously found to be non-responsive to inoculation, before and after sterilisation by γ-irradiation. Soil biological factors affected PGP by P. radicum in 2 of the 3 soils tested. In these soils, removal of biological factor(s) increased (P < 0.05 and P < 0.1) PGP by P. radicum. These experiments have shown that large and significant increases in plant growth promotion can be achieved through seed inoculation with P. radicum. However, both abiotic and biotic soil properties play a critical role in determining the success of inoculation. P. radicum-stimulated PGP occurred in infertile soils, with a stronger effect in acidic soil conditions. Furthermore, soil biological factors can have an important role in regulating PGP by P. radicum.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arief Pambudi ◽  
Nita Noriko ◽  
Endah Permata Sari

<p><em>Abstrak -</em><strong> </strong><strong>Produksi padi di Indonesia setiap tahun mengalami peningkatan, namun peningkatan ini belum mampu memenuhi kebutuhan nasional sehingga impor masih harus dilakukan. Salah satu masalah dalam produksi beras adalah penggunaan pupuk berlebih yang tidak hanya meningkatkan biaya produksi, namun juga merusak kondisi tanah. Aplikasi bakteri tanah sebagai Plant <em>Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria</em> (PGPR) dapat menjadi salah satu solusi terhadap masalah ini. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengisolasi bakteri tanah dari 3 lokasi sawah daerah Bekasi, membandingkan keberadaan total bakteri pada ketiga lokasi tersebut,  dan melakukan karakterisasi isolat berdasarkan karakter yang dapat memicu pertumbuhan tanaman. Dari ketiga lokasi, diperoleh total 59 isolat dan 5 diantaranya berpotensi sebagai PGPR karena kemampuan fiksasi Nitrogen, melarutkan Fosfat, katalase positif, dan motil. Dari ketiga lokasi pengambilan sampel, BK1 memiliki jumlah total bakteri terendah karena aplikasi pemupukan dan pestisida berlebih yang ditandai tingginya kadar P total, serta tingginya residu klorpirifos, karbofuran, dan paration. Kondisi fisik tanah BK1 juga didominasi partikel liat yang menyebabkan tanah menjadi lebih padat. Peningkatan jumlah penggunaan pupuk tidak selalu diikuti peningkatan produktivitas tanaman.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong><em>Kata Kunci</em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong>- <em>Bakteri tanah, Rhizosfer sawah, PGPR, Pupuk Hayati</em></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><em>Abstract</em><strong> - </strong><strong>Rice production in Indonesia has increased annually, but this increase has not reached national demand,so imports still done. </strong><strong>One of the problems in rice production is the use of excessive fertilizers that not only increase production costs, but also decreased the soil conditions. The application of soil bacteria as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) can be the one solution to face this problem. The objective of this study was isolate soil bacteria from 3 locations of rice field in Bekasi, compare the total bacteria in the three locations, and characterize isolates based on the character that can promote plant growth. From three locations, a total of 59 isolates were obtained and 5 of them were potential as a PGPRs due to its Nitrogen fixation activity, Phosphate solubilization, positive catalase, and motility. From three sampling sites, BK1 has the lowest TPC value because of excessive  fertilizers and pesticides application which indicated by high total P levels, and also high chlorpyrifos, carbofuran and paration residues. The physical condition of BK1 soil is also dominated by clay particles which causes the soil more solid. Increasing of fertilizer application is not always followed by increased plant productivity.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong> - <em>Biofertilizer, PGPR, Rice field rhizosphere, Soil Bacteria</em></p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 809
Author(s):  
Hiroya Yurimoto ◽  
Kosuke Shiraishi ◽  
Yasuyoshi Sakai

Methanol is abundant in the phyllosphere, the surface of the above-ground parts of plants, and its concentration oscillates diurnally. The phyllosphere is one of the major habitats for a group of microorganisms, the so-called methylotrophs, that utilize one-carbon (C1) compounds, such as methanol and methane, as their sole source of carbon and energy. Among phyllospheric microorganisms, methanol-utilizing methylotrophic bacteria, known as pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs), are the dominant colonizers of the phyllosphere, and some of them have recently been shown to have the ability to promote plant growth and increase crop yield. In addition to PPFMs, methanol-utilizing yeasts can proliferate and survive in the phyllosphere by using unique molecular and cellular mechanisms to adapt to the stressful phyllosphere environment. This review describes our current understanding of the physiology of methylotrophic bacteria and yeasts living in the phyllosphere where they are exposed to diurnal cycles of environmental conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7877
Author(s):  
Fahimeh Shahinnia ◽  
Néstor Carrillo ◽  
Mohammad-Reza Hajirezaei

Environmental adversities, particularly drought and nutrient limitation, are among the major causes of crop losses worldwide. Due to the rapid increase of the world’s population, there is an urgent need to combine knowledge of plant science with innovative applications in agriculture to protect plant growth and thus enhance crop yield. In recent decades, engineering strategies have been successfully developed with the aim to improve growth and stress tolerance in plants. Most strategies applied so far have relied on transgenic approaches and/or chemical treatments. However, to cope with rapid climate change and the need to secure sustainable agriculture and biomass production, innovative approaches need to be developed to effectively meet these challenges and demands. In this review, we summarize recent and advanced strategies that involve the use of plant-related cyanobacterial proteins, macro- and micronutrient management, nutrient-coated nanoparticles, and phytopathogenic organisms, all of which offer promise as protective resources to shield plants from climate challenges and to boost stress tolerance in crops.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2282
Author(s):  
Masudulla Khan ◽  
Azhar U. Khan ◽  
Mohd Abul Hasan ◽  
Krishna Kumar Yadav ◽  
Marina M. C. Pinto ◽  
...  

In the present era, the global need for food is increasing rapidly; nanomaterials are a useful tool for improving crop production and yield. The application of nanomaterials can improve plant growth parameters. Biotic stress is induced by many microbes in crops and causes disease and high yield loss. Every year, approximately 20–40% of crop yield is lost due to plant diseases caused by various pests and pathogens. Current plant disease or biotic stress management mainly relies on toxic fungicides and pesticides that are potentially harmful to the environment. Nanotechnology emerged as an alternative for the sustainable and eco-friendly management of biotic stress induced by pests and pathogens on crops. In this review article, we assess the role and impact of different nanoparticles in plant disease management, and this review explores the direction in which nanoparticles can be utilized for improving plant growth and crop yield.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3617
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Medyńska-Juraszek ◽  
Agnieszka Latawiec ◽  
Jolanta Królczyk ◽  
Adam Bogacz ◽  
Dorota Kawałko ◽  
...  

Biochar application is reported as a method for improving physical and chemical soil properties, with a still questionable impact on the crop yields and quality. Plant productivity can be affected by biochar properties and soil conditions. High efficiency of biochar application was reported many times for plant cultivation in tropical and arid climates; however, the knowledge of how the biochar affects soils in temperate climate zones exhibiting different properties is still limited. Therefore, a three-year-long field experiment was conducted on a loamy Haplic Luvisol, a common arable soil in Central Europe, to extend the laboratory-scale experiments on biochar effectiveness. A low-temperature pinewood biochar was applied at the rate of 50 t h−1, and maize was selected as a tested crop. Biochar application did not significantly impact the chemical soil properties and fertility of tested soil. However, biochar improved soil physical properties and water retention, reducing plant water stress during hot dry summers, and thus resulting in better maize growth and higher yields. Limited influence of the low-temperature biochar on soil properties suggests the crucial importance of biochar-production technology and biochar properties on the effectiveness and validity of its application in agriculture.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document