scholarly journals Potential of Integrating Biochar and Deficit Irrigation Strategies for Sustaining Vegetable Production in Water-limited Regions: A Review

HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (11) ◽  
pp. 1872-1878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manpreet Singh ◽  
Rupinder Kaur Saini ◽  
Sukhbir Singh ◽  
Sat Pal Sharma

Water shortage is one of the major challenges faced by the current agricultural systems worldwide, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Deficit irrigation (DI), a water-saving strategy of applying less water than crop evapotranspiration (ETc) demands, has been extensively investigated in different crops, including water-intensive vegetables. The DI strategies such as regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial root zone drying (PRD) generally increase water use efficiency (WUE) and have emerged as potential practices to save water for agricultural sustainability. However, in view of the sensitivity of shallow-rooted vegetable crops to water stress, DI is often associated with yield losses. A review of 134 DI reports of vegetable crops revealed significant reductions in yield under all DI levels in 52% of cases and yields statistically similar to those of full irrigation (100% ETc in most cases) under small water deficits in 44% of cases, thereby raising concerns about the sustainability of vegetable production under DI. Biochar, a carbon-rich co-product of pyrolysis of organic matter, is increasingly undergoing study as a soil amendment to mitigate drought stress and is being explored as an additional practice with DI to minimize the yield losses due to water deficits. This work reviews the effects of biochar application on growth, yield, physiology, and WUE of different vegetable crops under DI regimes to determine the potential of biochar and DI used in combination to sustain vegetable productivity in water-limited areas. Overall, the addition of biochar under DI has helped to compensate for yield losses of vegetables and further enhanced WUE. However, field studies investigating long-term soil–biochar interactions that strongly conclude the impact of biochar under moisture stress conditions are lacking.

Author(s):  
Navjot Singh Brar ◽  
Tarun Kumar ◽  
Prashant Kaushik

Climate variation and change are an unavoidable phenomenon faced by the natural habitat of this planet. For getting potential yield from vegetable crops under the changing climate conditions, the practical strategies at field level can serve as a guideline for the farmers. Moreover, there are several strategies available for mitigating the harmful effects of climate change. In this manuscript, efforts have been made for reviewing the mitigating strategies against the impact of climate change in vegetable crops via conventional approaches. Considering the situation, the information reviewed revealed that significant result of conventional approaches with climate-smart adoptions strategies has a direct bearing on vegetable production for the increasing population in frenziedly changing climate scenario.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dushyant D. Champaneri ◽  
Naren K. Patel

Photo selective shade net is a product made of plastic fibers connected together with each other, forming a regular porous structure and allowing gases, liquid and light to pass through. It has a capacity to selectively filter the intercepted solar radiation, in addition to their protective function. Vegetables are considered as protective food which are highly perishable in nature. High temperature due to global warming, climate change and excessive use of chemicals are some of the burning issues of vegetable production. Photo selective shade net can be a partial solution for these problems. Vegetable crops grown under different photo selective shade net shows productive responses thus by application of various Photo selective shade nets we can improve the quality as well as production of vegetable crops.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 728-737
Author(s):  
Zahra Amiri Forotaghe ◽  
Mohammad Kazem Souri ◽  
Marzieh Ghanbari Jahromi ◽  
Ali Mohammadi Torkashvand

Abstract Onion is an important crop with significant roles in human diets. The growth, yield, and quality of vegetable crops, including onions, are more vulnerable to water stress than other crops. In this study, different levels of deficit irrigation (DI) as factor A (a1: 80%, a2: 70%, and a3: 60% of soil field capacity [FC]) and humic acid (HA) as factor B (b1: without and b2: with HA application) were evaluated on onion growth characteristics in a factorial design with four replications. The results showed that the interaction of DI and HA was significant on leaf protein, peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and on bulb protein and potassium (K) concentrations. The highest record of these traits was observed in a3b2 (highest DI with HA application), and their lowest was in those at first level of DI (a1). Leaf protein and, to a lesser extent, bulb protein were increased by DI and HA applications. DI at 60% but not at 70% FC significantly reduced bulb fresh weight. There was a gradual increase in leaf proline, soluble sugars, protein, catalase (CAT), POD, SOD activity, and bulb K by application of DI; however, most of bulb traits including protein, iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and CAT and POD activity were increased only under highest DI level (a3: 60% FC). However, application of HA further increased the soluble sugars and protein concentration as well as the POD and SOD activities of leaves, and protein, Fe, K concentrations, and CAT activity of bulbs under DI. The results indicated that HA benefitted onion growth particularly under DI conditions.


HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 832C-832
Author(s):  
Richard Smith* ◽  
Krishna Subbarao ◽  
Steve Koike ◽  
Steve Fennimore ◽  
Adelia Barber

Growers in the Salinas Valley are not able to rotate away from lettuce to other crops such as broccoli, as often as would be desirable due to economic pressures such as high land rents and lower economic returns for rotational crops. This aggravates problems with key soilborne diseases such as Sclerotinia minor, Lettuce Drop. Mustard cover crops (Brassica juncea and Sinapis alba) are short-season alternative rotational crops that are being examined in the Salinas Valley for the potential that they have to reduce soilborne disease and weeds. Mustard cover crops have been have been shown to suppress various soilborne diseases and there are also indications that they can provide limited control of some weed species. However, no studies have shown the impact of mustard cover crops under field conditions on S. minor. In 2003 we conducted preliminary studies on the incidence of S. minor and weeds following mustard cover crops in comparison with a bare control or an area cover cropped to Merced Rye (Secale cereale). There was a slight, but significant reduction of S. minor infection in one of three trials following mustard cover crops. Mustard cover crops also reduced emergence of Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) and Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) these studies. Mustard cover crops have distinct nitrogen cycling characteristics. They were shown to reach a peak of release of nitrogen in 30 to 50 days following incorporation into the soil. The levels of nitrogen that are released by mustard cover crops were substantial and could be useful in nitrogen fertilizer programs for subsequent vegetable crops.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 630
Author(s):  
Domenico Ronga ◽  
Antonella Vitti ◽  
Massimo Zaccardelli ◽  
Catello Pane ◽  
Federica Caradonia ◽  
...  

Currently, vegetable production systems have been changed to improve yield and quality, leading to an improvement in sustainability. In horticultural cultivation, one of the most important sectors is the seedling production in nurseries. In the past, horticultural seedlings were produced directly by farmers. Nowadays, industrialized nurseries provide seedlings characterized by a uniform growth and an early and contemporaneous development. In addition, consumer concern about the impact of food production on the environment is driving an increased demand for organic vegetables with a consequent increase of agricultural land cultivated by organic methods. Hence, there is a need to produce high-quality seedlings suitable to be cultivated in the organic farming system. Root zone management, for improving seedling quality of organic horticultural crops, remains largely unexploited, such that this review highlights some of the current research and future development priorities, providing useful information to nursery growers. In particular, we reviewed all the scientific and modern knowledge on the production of organic, healthy and vigorous seedlings including the use of: (1) compost and compost tea; (2) agroindustrial byproducts; (3) microbial and non-microbial plant biostimulants; (4) beneficial microorganisms.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Auges Gatabazi ◽  
Diana Marais ◽  
Martin J. Steyn ◽  
Hintsa T. Araya ◽  
Motiki M. Mofokeng ◽  
...  

Ginger species play an important economic role as medicinal plants, food flavourings, and dietary supplements. Products from ginger, including oil and fresh and dried rhizomes can be used to treat malaria, asthma, headaches, and act as anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agents. The cultivation of wild plant species can alleviate the pressure from harvesting from the wild. Under cultivation, the major constraints on crop yield and quality are water availability and plant nutrition. Therefore, the impact of water stress on commercial and African ginger was assessed in the rain shelter study. Irrigation treatments were based on the maximum allowable depletion (MAD) levels of plant available water in the root zone (T1: 20–25% MAD, the control; T2: 40–45% MAD; T3: 60–65% MAD; T4: 80–85% MAD). As water stress decreased, the plant height and number of stems per plant of both plant species were positively affected. The number of open stomata was higher for well-watered and less stressed treatments in both ginger species. Higher fresh and dry rhizome yields were recorded for commercial ginger at all water treatments as compared to those from African ginger. In general, water use efficiency (WUE) of fresh and dry rhizome yield was higher for commercial ginger as compared to the indigenous African ginger, while moderately stressed treatments generally resulted in the highest WUE for both species.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Coy ◽  
A.V. Shuravilin ◽  
O.A. Zakharova

Приведены результаты исследований по изучению влияния промышленной технологии возделывания картофеля на развитие, урожайность и качество продукции. Выявлена положительная реакция растений на подкормку K2SO4 в период посадки. Корреляционно-регрессионный анализ урожайности и качества клубней выявил высокую степень достоверности результатов опыта. Содержание нитратов и тяжелых металлов в клубнях было ниже допустимых величин.The results of studies on the impact of industrial technology of potato cultivation on growth, yield and quality of products. There was a positive response of plants to fertilizer K2SO4 in the period of planting. Correlation and regression analysis of yield and quality of tubers revealed a high degree of reliability of the results of experience. The contents of nitrates and heavy metals in tubers was below the permissible values.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 531b-531
Author(s):  
J. Nienhuis

REDCAHOR is the Spanish acronym for “Central American Vegetable Network.” Vegetables have traditionally been an important source of nutrients and vitamins in the diet in Central America. Vegetable production in this region is now changing as local consumers are demanding increased diversity and quality and international markets are expanding with “non-traditional” vegetable exports. The present restraints to expanded research and production of vegetables in the region include i) need for cultivars with increased insect and disease resistance, ii) poor and excessive use of pesticides, and iii) inadequate postharvest technology. In addition, there are few vegetable researchers in the region and response to their activities have not been coordinated. The goal of REDCAHOR is to develop a regional network of national institutions that can prioritize agendas and cooperate to maximize the impact of available resources. Establishment of a system of regional trials and cooperative regional programs in integrated pest management and plant breeding are currently under development. A series of regional workshops are planned, including integrated pest management, maintenance and use of genetic resources, organic production, and greenhouse production. In addition, REDCAHOR, in collaboration with the Escuela Agricola Panamerica in Honduras, will offer regional short-course training in vegetable breeding and genetics as well as vegetable production and management, including integrated pest management.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document