Effects of Cultivation Systems and Environmental Conditions on Peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) Biomass Yield and Oil Content

Peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) is perennial plant cultivated for essential oil production. In the present study, field experiments were conducted to determine the performance of peppermint under different cultivation systems for two consecutive growing periods in 2015 and 2016. The effects of environmental conditions on peppermint biomass yield and oil content was also evaluated. The experiments were carried out according to randomized complete block design with five replications per cultivation system. The results of the present study indicate that the total aboveground dry weight and dry leaves biomass were affected by cultivation system and year. For both growing seasons, the highest values were found under the conventional farming system. In contrast, oil content was approximately 14% higher in organic system than in conventional system. Moreover, oil content differed by year, with higher values being observed in 2015 comparing to 2016. Both oil content and biomass yield were positively affected by high temperatures. The results from this study demonstrated that both environmental conditions and the cultivation systems affect the biomass and oil content in peppermint crop.

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Effects of Cover Methods and Nitrogen Levels on the Growth and Yield of Tomato

Vietnam Journal of Agricultural Sciences ◽

10.31817/vjas.2021.4.2.03 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 1021-1033

Author(s):

Nguyen Thi Loan ◽

Tran Thi My Can

Keyword(s):

Yield Components ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Block Design ◽

Tomato Fruit ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

Yield Attributes ◽

Black Plastic

To study the effects of cover methods and nitrogen (N) levels on the growth and yield components of tomato Cv. Pear F1, field experiments with a 4x3 factorial design were conducted in the 2019 spring and winter seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The cover methods included four treatments: bare soil (BS), black plastic mulch (BPM), transparent polypropylene row cover (RC), and a combination of BPM and RC (BPMRC) with the RC removed approximately 30 days after transplanting. Nitrogen (N) was applied at three levels (150, 180, and 210 kg N ha-1). Using BPM and RC generally led to an increased air temperature, air humidity, soil moisture, and soil temperature compared to the BS treatment. Higher N rates (180 and 210 kg N ha-1) did not result in different tomato fruit sizes and fruit weights but positively increased fruit yield and quality (Brix values and fruit dry weight) as compared to the 150 kg N ha-1 addition. The cover methods positively affected the yield components and fruit yield of tomato as well as the fruit characteristics compared to the BS treatment. Using cover materials (BPM and RC) combined with a higher N application significantly increased the yield attributes and fruit yield. The highest fruit yield was achieved under the mulching treatment by black plastic (BPM treatment) combined with a 210 kg N ha-1 application, resulting in 50.90 tons ha-1 in the spring and 58.27 tons ha-1 in the winter.

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Zucchini squash production in conventional and organic cultivation systems

Advances in Horticultural Science ◽

10.36253/ahsc-10277 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

Author(s):

S. Toscano ◽

F. Branca ◽

Antonio Ferrante ◽

D. Romano

Keyword(s):

Titratable Acidity ◽

Shape Index ◽

Organic Production ◽

Extensive Experience ◽

Organic System ◽

Cultivation System ◽

Cultivation Systems ◽

Growing Period ◽

Organic Cultivation ◽

Two Systems

Organic production must be carried out following the EU regulations and their protocols. On the contrary, conventional cultivation instead can be carried out using the best agronomic approaches available and using the latest innovative resources. Organic cultivation is more widespread in permanent crops (olive and grape crops) than vegetable ones, and even less in protected cultivation systems, due to the high intensity production processes which render the application of organic growing protocols more complex. The comparison between the two systems of cultivation, organic and conventional, is difficult because the two cultivation methods are often carried out in different farms and hence in different environmental conditions. Cultivation using the two methods was conducted in a greenhouse from November to March 2017/2018. Results demonstrated that the total fruit yield zucchini squash in organic cultivation was not significantly different to the conventional one (43.2 Mg ha-1 and 46.4 Mg ha-1, respectively). The agronomic inputs (fertilizers, fungicides, and insecticides) were higher in the organic cultivation system than conventional one. The water use efficiency was higher in the conventional cultivation system (150.6 kg m-3 ha-1) compared to the organic one (147.6 kg m-3 ha-1). No statistically significant differences were found for the fruit number per plant and for the marketable fruit at the end of the growing period. Significant differences for the harvest period were only detected for fresh weight, shape index, firmness, and titratable acidity. In conclusion, this work demonstrated that the organic system required higher inputs compared to the conventional cultivation. The extensive experience of the grower allowed for comparable yields between the two systems.

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Kochia (Kochia scoparia) Interference in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/s0890037x00024970 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 52-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Beverly R. Durgan ◽

Alan G. Dexter ◽

Stephen D. Miller

Keyword(s):

Helianthus Annuus ◽

Plant Height ◽

Oil Content ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Yield Loss ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Kochia Scoparia

Field experiments were conducted in 1983 and 1984 at two locations to determine the influence of various densities and durations of kochia interference in sunflower. Sunflower achene yield and dry weight were reduced by all densities of kochia, averaged over locations and years. Season-long competition by kochia densities of 0.3, 1, 3, and 6 plants/m of row decreased sunflower achene yield 7, 10, 20, and 27%, respectively. Sunflower achene yield and sunflower dry weight decreased as weeks of kochia competition increased. Only 2 weeks of kochia competition after sunflower emergence decreased sunflower achene yield 6%. Sunflower achene yield loss increased as the duration of kochia competition increased. Sunflower 200 achene weight, oil content, and plant height were not influenced by various densities or durations of kochia competition.

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Comparison of an Antitranspirant Spray, a Polyacrylamide Gel, and Wind Protection on Early Growth of Muskmelon

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.41.2.361 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 361-366 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Laurie Hodges ◽

Entin Daningsih ◽

James R. Brandle

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Leaf Area Index ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Block Design ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Early Growth ◽

Polyacrylamide Gel ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Area Index

Field experiments were conducted over 4 years to evaluate the effects of antitranspirant (Folicote, Aquatrol Inc., Paulsboro, N.J.) and polyacrylamide gel (SuperSorb, Aquatrol Inc., Paulsboro, N.J.) on early growth of transplanted muskmelon grown either protected by tree windbreaks or exposed to seasonal winds. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement was used with wind protection (sheltered and exposed) areas as the main treatment and use of an antitranspirant spray or gel dip as subtreatments. Based on destructive harvests in the field, treatments and subtreatments did not affect dry weight or leaf area index in the first 2 years. Specific contrasts, however, showed that gel application significantly increased fresh weight, dry weight, and leaf area index over that of the untreated transplants whereas the spray application tended to reduce these factors during the first 3 weeks after transplanting. Significant differences between gel and spray subtreatments disappeared by 5 weeks after transplanting. Shelterbelts ameliorated crop microclimate thereby enhancing plant growth. Significantly, wind velocity at canopy height was reduced 40% on average and soil temperatures were about 4% warmer in the sheltered plots compared to the exposed plots during the first 5 weeks post-transplant. Muskmelon plants in the sheltered areas grew significantly faster than the plants in the exposed areas in 2 of the 3 years reported, with the 3-year average fresh weight increased by 168% due to wind protection. Overall transplanting success and early growth were enhanced the most by wind protection, followed by the polyacrylamide gel root dip, and least by the antitranspirant foliar spray. We conclude that microclimate modification by wind speed reduction can increase early muskmelon plant growth more consistently than the use of polyacrylamide gel as a root dip at transplanting or the use of an antitranspirant spray. A polyacrylamide gel root dip generally will provide more benefit during early muskmelon growth than the use of an antitranspirant spray.

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Effect of Harvesting Time and Iron Application on Moldavian balm

Notulae Scientia Biologicae ◽

10.15835/nsb649357 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 505-508

Author(s):

Prshang KHALILI ◽

Reza AMIRNIA

Keyword(s):

Essential Oil ◽

Iron Content ◽

Oil Content ◽

Foliar Application ◽

Block Design ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Harvest Time ◽

Branch Number ◽

Study Results

Dracocephalum moldavica L. of the Labiatae family is an annual herbaceous plant. In Iran it is known as Badrashbi and Badrashboo. Recent publications have reported antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of its essential oil, which have a wide usage in industry. In this research, the effects of iron foliar application and different yields’ harvest times on the essential oil content and some morphological treats (plant height, branch number, fresh and dry weights, essential oil content and leaf Iron content) were investigated under experimental study in faculty of Agriculture of Urmia University during 2012. A factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications was used in the present study. Results showed that foliar application of iron had a significant effect on branch number, fresh and dry weight, biomass and oil percentage. Similarly, harvest time had a significant influence on fresh and dry weight, essential oil content, essential oil yield and leaf iron content, but its effect was not significant on stem diameter and branch number. The best harvest time for Dracocephalum moldavica L. was at 100% of flowering and 6 ml/l of iron application showed the best results in all characters measured.

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Metabolism of carbohydrates in Estilosantes cv. Campo Grande under different systems of cultivation and nitrogen fertilization

Acta Scientiarum Agronomy ◽

10.4025/actasciagron.v41i1.42711 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. e42711

Author(s):

Florence Taciana Veriato Coura ◽

Daniela Deitos Fries ◽

Daniel Lucas Santos Dias ◽

Renata Rodrigues Jardim Souza ◽

Adriane Pereira da Silva dos Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Block Design ◽

Invertase Activity ◽

Reducing Sugar ◽

F Test ◽

Cultivation System ◽

Cultivation Systems ◽

Randomized Block Design

The objective of this study was to verify the activity of invertases in Estilosantes under the influence of cultivation systems and nitrogen fertilization in two seasons. The experiment was conducted in the Xaraés area, where Estilosantes was planted according to a 2 x 2 factorial scheme with two cultivation systems (monoculture and mixed pasture) in the absence or presence of fertilization (75 kg of N ha-1). A randomized block design with four replications was used. The neutral cytosol (Inv-N), vacuole acid (Inv-V) and cell wall acid (Inv-CW) invertase activity and reducing sugar contents in the leaves and stems were evaluated and analyzed by a 5% probability F-test. The interaction between cultivation systems and nitrogen fertilization was significant for Inv-N in the leaves in the summer, such that greater activity occurred in response to the mixed pasture system and nitrogen fertilization. Nitrogen increased the activity of the Inv-N in the stem in both periods, increased the activity of Inv-V in the leaf in the summer, and decreased the activity of Inv-CW in the fall. This cultivation system influenced the activity of Inv-N regardless of the period of the year and did not interfere with the activities of the acid invertases. The invertases did not show regular changes in relation to nitrogen fertilization.

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Effects of Drought Stress on Biomass, Essential Oil Content, Nutritional Parameters, and Costs of Production in Six Lamiaceae Species

Water ◽

10.3390/w11030573 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 573 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Pedro García-Caparrós ◽

María Romero ◽

Alfonso Llanderal ◽

Pedro Cermeño ◽

María Lao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Essential Oil ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Oil Content ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Raw Material ◽

Mentha Piperita ◽

Effects Of Drought ◽

Lavandula Latifolia

Lamiaceae is one of the largest families of aromatic plants and it is characterized by the presence of external glandular structures which produce essential oils highly valued in cosmetics and medicine. Plants of Lavandula latifolia, Mentha piperita, Salvia sclarea, Salvia lavandulifolia, Thymus capitatus, and Thymus mastichina were grown for one year. In order to evaluate the effects of drought stress, plants were subjected to two water treatments (100% ETo and 70% ETo, including the rainfall during the experimental period). At the end of the experiment, the biomass, the essential oil content, and leaf nutrients concentration were assessed for each water treatment and species studied. At the end of the experiment, L. latifolia, M. piperita and T. capitatus plants showed a significant fresh weight reduction under drought stress conditions whereas the other species studied remained unchanged. With respect to dry weight, only L. latifolia plants showed a reduction under water deficit conditions. As far as essential oil content was concerned, L. latifolia and S. sclarea plants had a reduction under water deficit conditions. Leaf nutrient concentration showed different trends between species considering the nutrient assessed. The economic viability of the growth of this species will be dependent on the benefits achieved which are related to yield production obtained and the price accorded for both raw material and the essential oil extracted.

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Legume-rhizobium specificity effect on nodulation, biomass production and partitioning of faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-83235-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bayou Bunkura Allito ◽

Nana Ewusi-Mensah ◽

Vincent Logah ◽

Demelash Kefale Hunegnaw

Keyword(s):

Biomass Production ◽

Faba Bean ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Block Design ◽

Dry Weight ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

Weight Increase ◽

Root Dry Weight ◽

Shoot Dry Weight ◽

Rhizobium Strains

AbstractGreenhouse and multi-location experiments were conducted for two consecutive years to investigate the effects of rhizobium on nodulation, biomass production and partitioning of faba bean. Split-plot in randomized complete block design was used for field experiments. Treatments consisted of six rhizobium strains and three faba bean varieties. Peat carrier-based inoculant of each strain was applied at the rate of 10 g kg−1 seed. Non-inoculated plants without N fertilizer and with N fertilizer served as –N and + N controls, respectively. Data on nodulation, shoot dry weight and root dry weight were collected and analyzed. Inoculation of rhizobium significantly increased nodulation of faba bean under greenhouse and field conditions. Location x strain x variety interaction had significant effects on nodulation, dry matter production and partitioning. Rhizobium inoculation increased nodulation, shoot and root dry weights of faba bean across locations. For example, inoculation with rhizobium strains NSFBR-15 and NSFBR-12 to variety Moti resulted in 206.9 and 99.3% shoot dry weight increase at Abala Gase and Hankomolicha, respectively and 133.3 and 70.7% root dry weight increase on the same variety at the same sites, respectively. Nodulation and biomass production depend on the compatibility between faba bean genotype and rhizobium strain and its interaction with soil bio-physical conditions.

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BIOMASS YIELD ENHANCEMENT OF DHAINCHA (SESBANIA SPECIES) THROUGH CULTURAL PRACTICES

Cercetari Agronomice in Moldova ◽

10.46909/cerce-2020-014 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 160-176

Author(s):

S. C. CHANDA ◽

M. A. RAZZAK ◽

M. A. HOSSAIN ◽

A. K. M. GOLAM SARWAR

Keyword(s):

Population Density ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Biomass Yield ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Block Design ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Yield Enhancement ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Sowing Dates ◽

Experimental Treatments

Three separate field experiments were conducted to exploit biomass yield potential of dhaincha (Sesbania species) by different cultural practices. A total of six accessions from three Sesbania species, viz. S. bispinosa (#05, 71, 77 and 109), S. cannabina (#28) and S. sesban (#81), were used as experimental materials. Experimental treatments were population densities, viz. 180, 240 and 300 plants m-2; sowing dates, viz. 30 April, 15 May, 30 May and 15 June, and fertilizer doses, viz. 0 (without N/control), 10, 20 and 30 kg N ha-1. All the experiments were designed following randomized complete block design with three replications. Experiments on population density and sowing dates were conducted in control condition (without any fertilizer application). The N-fertilizer was applied as top dress at 30 days after sowing (DAS) and crops were harvested at 60 DAS. The maximum biomass (10.07 t ha-1) was obtained from 240 plants m-2. At 30 April sowing, plants produced the tallest height (199.69 cm), widest base diameter (1.02 cm), highest fresh weight (62.07 t ha-1) and biomass yield (14.73 t ha-1). There were no significant differences in biomass yield and yield contributing descriptors between 20 and 30 kg N ha-1. Among the species, S. bispinosa was the best performer in terms of biomass yield and yield contributing descriptors. It may be concluded that S. bispinosa (accession #71) could be cultivated with the population density 240 plants m-2, at 30 April, without any fertilizer application. In case of later sowing/cultivation, the 20 kg N ha-1 could be applied for the maximization of biomass yield.

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Performance of cucumber hybrids cultivated in coconut fiber and soil

Horticultura Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0102-05362014000100014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 86-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Renata Castoldi ◽

Rafaelle F Gomes ◽

Hamilton CO Charlo ◽

Danilo M Melo ◽

Leila T Braz

Keyword(s):

Block Design ◽

Production Traits ◽

Coconut Fiber ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Soil Culture ◽

Cultivation System ◽

Cultivation Systems ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Fruit Diameter ◽

Japanese Group

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of three Japanese group cucumber hybrids, which were cultivated in two cultivation systems. The experiment was designed in a split-plot randomized block design with two cultivation systems (coconut fiber and soil) for commercial Japanese cucumber hybrids ('Tsuyataro', 'Yoshinari' and 'Nankyoku'). After harvesting the cucumbers, we evaluated the number of marketable fruits per plant, the average fruit length, the mean fruit diameter, the bottom fruit diameter, the marketable production of fruits per plant and the marketable yield per hectare. There were significant interactions between the cultivation system and the hybrid, as indicated by the number of marketable fruits. The Nankyoku hybrid had the highest average (14.54 fruits pl-1), although it did not differ from the Yoshinari hybrid when grown in coconut fiber. In soil culture, the Yoshinari hybrid had the highest average number of fruits per plant (10.12 fruits pl-1) and did not differ from the Tsuyataro hybrid. Cultivation in coconut fiber provided better results for production traits and plant productivity. 'Yoshinari' and 'Nankyoku' were the most productive hybrids. Based on the cucumber cultivation results from a protected environment, the cultivation of hybrid Japanese cucumbers and Yoshinari and Nankyoku hybrids in coconut fiber is recommended.

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