scholarly journals The Perennial Grain Crop Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey (Kernza™) as an Element in Crop Rotations: A Pilot Study on Termination Strategies and Pre-Crop Effects on a Subsequent Root Vegetable

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1175
Author(s):  
Linda-Maria Dimitrova Mårtensson ◽  
Ana Barreiro ◽  
Jenny Olofsson
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Thinopyrum Intermedium ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Grain Crop ◽  
Perennial Grain

Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) may benefit soil fertility in crop rotations. To investigate termination strategies, i.e., autumn ploughing (AP), autumn harrowing (AH) and spring harrowing (SH) on a five-year-old IWG stand, a pilot study was performed. After the treatments, beetroots were sown and the IWG plants were counted twice during the beetroot growing season. The number of IWG plants was highest (20) after the SH strategy, intermediate (14) after the AH, and lowest (3) after the conventional termination strategy, AP. After the first plant count, the plots were subject to mechanical weeding in the form of a stale seedbed (i.e., harrowing twice before sowing). At beetroot harvest, the number of IWG plants was low (3 in SH and AH, 0 in AP) and similar between the treatments. The beetroot production was highest after AP and lowest in SH, and intermediary in AH, which showed no difference from AP and SH. At beetroot harvest, the weed biomass did not differ between the termination strategies. The weeds were mainly annuals. There were no differences in soil bulk density between termination strategies. Our results show that shallow soil tillage is enough to terminate IWG, as long as it repeated. We suggest further studies that investigate the dynamics of crop sequences with IWG, and how to benefit from this crop in rotations.

Soil resistance under grazed intermediate wheatgrass

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 833-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Liebig ◽  
J R Hendrickson ◽  
J D Berdahl ◽  
J F Karn
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
System Management ◽  
Thinopyrum Intermedium ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Soil Functions ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass

Intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. & D.R. Dewey subsp. intermedium] is a productive, high-quality perennial forage that lacks persistence under grazing. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of three grazing times on soil bulk density, soil pH, and soil organic C under intermediate wheatgrass. Treatment effects on the three soil attributes were negligible, implying grazing time did not negatively impact intermediate wheatgrass beyond a threshold whereby critical soil functions were impaired. Findings from this study are important in the context of sustainable forage and cropping system management, where maintaining or improving critical soil functions are essential for enhancing agroecosystem sustainability. Key words: Seeded perennial forages, Northern Great Plains, soil organic C

scholarly journals Comparing the Deep Root Growth and Water Uptake of Intermediate Wheatgrass (Kernza®) to Alfalfa.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corentin Clement ◽  
Joost Sleiderink ◽  
Simon Fiil Svane ◽  
Abraham George Smith ◽  
Efstathios Diamantopoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Perennial Crops ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Deep Root ◽  
Grain Crop ◽  
Perennial Grain

Abstract AimsWater is the most important yield-limiting factor worldwide and drought is predicted to increase in the future. Perennial crops with more extensive and deep root systems could access deep stored water and build resilience to water shortage. In the context of human nutrition, perennial grain crops are very interesting. However, it is still questionable whether they are effective in using subsoil water. We compared intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza®) Thinopyrum intermedium, a perennial grain crop, to alfalfa Medicago sativa, a perennial forage, for subsoil root growth and water uptake.MethodsUsing TDR sensors, deuterium tracer labelling, minirhizotrons and the Hydrus-1D model we characterised the root distribution and water uptake patterns of these two perennial crops during two cropping seasons under field conditions down to 2.5 m soil depth.ResultsBoth crops grew roots down to 2.0 m depth that were active in water uptake but alfalfa was deeper rooted than intermediate wheatgrass. All experimental methods concluded that alfalfa used more water from below 1.0 m depth than intermediate wheatgrass. However, simulations predicted that intermediate wheatgrass used more than 20 mm of water after anthesis from below 1 m soil depth. Simulations confirmed the advantage of deep roots in accessing deep soil water under drought.ConclusionsIn regions with high groundwater recharge, growing deep-rooted perennial crops have great potential to exploit deep soil water that is often left unused. However, the road to a profitable perennial grain crop is still long and breeding intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza®) cultivars for increased root growth at depth seems to be a worthy investment for the development of more drought tolerant cultivars.

scholarly journals Introducing Perennial Grain in Grain Crops Rotation: The Role of Rooting Pattern in Soil Quality Management

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1254
Author(s):  
Olivier Duchene ◽  
Florian Celette ◽  
Ana Barreiro ◽  
Linda-Maria Dimitrova Mårtensson ◽  
Grégoire T. Freschet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Root Traits ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Perennial Crop ◽  
Conservative Strategy ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Grain Crops ◽  
Perennial Grain

The use of the perennial grain intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey) may have the potential to sustain soil health and fertility through the development of an extensive root system. However, references are scarce to demonstrate its potential influence in a context of a limited perennial grain growth phase, integrated into annual grain crops succession. This study aims at determining how early a perennial crop rooting system differs from that of an annual crop through root development and root traits and microbial indicators. Our results indicate that the two-year-old intermediate wheatgrass promotes a denser and deeper rooting system with proportionally more root biomass and length deeper in the soil profile. From the first growing season, the perennial grain demonstrated a suite of root traits typical of a more resource-conservative strategy, and more belowground-oriented resource allocation. Soil fungal biomass indicators were enhanced. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) indicators were notably found to be improved at 1 m depth during the second growing season. This study provides evidence that grain-based agriculture can benefit from the potential of deeper and long-lived root systems of intermediate wheatgrass to manage soils. The periodic use of a short-term perennial phase in the crop rotation has the potential to improve soil functioning in the long term.

Growth, development, and biomass partitioning of the perennial grain crop Thinopyrum intermedium

2018 ◽  
Vol 172 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Jungers ◽  
C.S. Frahm ◽  
N.E. Tautges ◽  
N.J. Ehlke ◽  
M.S. Wells ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Partitioning ◽  
Thinopyrum Intermedium ◽  
Grain Crop ◽  
Growth Development ◽  
Perennial Grain

Kernza intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) response to a range of vernalization conditions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate A. Ivancic ◽  
Andres Locatelli ◽  
William F. Tracy ◽  
Valentin Daniel Picasso
Keyword(s):  
Induction Period ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Thinopyrum Intermedium ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Perennial Grain

Expansion of perennial grain and forage Kernza intermediate wheatgrass to temperate regions may be limited by its vernalization requirements. We compared vegetative and reproductive traits of Kernza plants grown in greenhouse under four environmental treatments of temperature and daylength for a 7 week induction period. Percent of plants which flowered and spikes per plant decreased from 83% and 8.2 at 4°C and 10 h to 15% and 0.4 at 26°C and 15 h, respectively. The variability observed suggests that there is potential for selection for reduced vernalization requirements in Kernza populations.

Dynamics of CO2 emission from chernozems under agricultural use

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 43-49
Author(s):  
M. Miroshnychenko ◽  
O. Siabruk
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Warm Period ◽  
Direct Seeding ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Plant Residues ◽  
Hydrothermal Conditions ◽  
Organic Mineral ◽  
Mineral System

Aim. The comparison of the effect of hydrothermal conditions and various agricultural practices on the emission of CO 2 from chernozems in the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. The dynamics of the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions from chernozem calcic (typical chernozem – in Ukrainian classifi cation) was studied during the growing season of 2011–2012. The observations were based on two fi eld experiments with various methods of soil till- age (6–7 years from the beginning of the experiment) and fertilization systems (21–22 years from the beginning of the experiment). Particularly, plowing at 20–22 cm, disking at 10–12 cm, cultivation at 6–8 cm and direct seeding using Great Plains drill were studied among the soil tillage methods. Mineral system (N 45 P 50 K 45 ), organic system (manure 8 t/ha) and combined organic-mineral system (manure 8 t/ha + N 45 P 50 K 45 ) were studied among fertilization systems. The intensity of CO 2 fl ux was determined using the non-stationary respiratory chambers by the alkaline absorption method, with averaging of the results during the day and the frequency of once a month. Results. During the warm period, the emission of carbon dioxide from the soil changes dynamically depending on temperature and humidity. The maximum of emission coincides with the periods of warm summer showers in June-July, the minimum values are characteristic for the late autumn period. The total emission losses of carbon in chernozems over the vegetation period ranged from 480 to 910 kg/ha and varied depending on the methods of tillage ± (4.0–6.0) % and fertilization systems ± (3.8–7.1) %. The changes in the intensity of CO 2 emission from the soil under different methods of soil tillage are associated with hydrothermal regime and the depth of crop residues location. The biggest difference is observed im- mediately after tillage, but in the spring period the differences are only 12–25 %, and after drying of the top layer of soil become even less. Direct seeding technology provides the greatest emission of CO 2 from chernozem, which is fa- cilitated by better water regime and more complete mineralization of plant residues on the soil surface. Annual losses of carbon are the least under disking of soil at 10–12 cm. The changes in the intensity of CO 2 emission from the soil under different fertilization systems are associated with the involvement of the additional organic matter from plant residues and manure to the microbiological decomposition. The greatest emission was observed under the organic- mineral fertilization system, which increased the loss of carbon by 7–8 % in comparison with the mineral system in the unfavorable hydrothermal year and by 11–15 % in the more favorable year. These differences are observed mainly during the fi rst half of the growing season when there is a clear tendency to increase the intensity of soil respiration. Conclusions. The hydrothermal conditions of the warm period of the year are decisive in the formation of the CO 2 emission fl ow from chernozems. Due to the improvement of agricultural practices, emissions might be reduced but not more that by 15 % of natural factor contribution.

APPLICATION OF THE INTENSIVE CROP GROWING TECHNOLOGIES IN CROP ROTATION IS THE STABILITY CONDITION OF THE HUMUS CONTENT OF SOIL

1970 ◽  
pp. 52-56
Author(s):  
V. А. Shchedrin
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Humus Content ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Investment Project ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Labile Phosphorus

In OOO “Dubovitskoe” which was organized in 2006 as investment project of the AO “Shchelkovo Agrokhim” for 2010 – 2012 three advanced crop rotations have been developed. Before their introduction the grain crops fraction in the cropping system was 62%, then it fell to 49%. At the same time the portion of raw crops increased from 15 to 20%, legumes from 6 to 8%, others (buckwheat, grain maize, etc.) - up to 23%. As of 2017, the crops of leguminous crops have increased noteworthily. There are two predominant soil types here heavy clay loam podzolized chernozem (6615 ha) and grey forest soil (856 ha). Weighted average indicators (as of 2017): humus content in the soils of arable land is 5, 34%; acidity pH is 4.92; labile phosphorus - 111.8 mg / kg soil; exchange potassium - 144 mg / kg soil. The coefficient of the soil fertility in the enterprise (weighted average) is 0.66. This means that maintaining and increasing the soil fertility for arable land of the enterprise is critical task. As a result of the research, it has been established that the technologies introduced in the crop vegetation management (CVS) in the crop rotation conditions ensure high productivity of cultivated crops and stability of humus content in soils as an energy basis and a guarantor of increasing fertility. The indicators of the labile phosphorus Р205 and exchange potassium К20 in the soils depending on the crop rotation vary from a certain decrease to expressed steady growth. Therefore it is necessary to specify seeding rates based on actual data. Sustainable soil acidification in the crop rotations under crop cultivation in OOO “Dubovitskoe” it is the result of the acid feterlizers high rates application, during studying period did not carried out required agromelioration with calcium contenting elements.

Formation of crop rotation as a means of preventing degradation аnd improving soil fertility of the Carpathian region

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (95) ◽  
pp. 20-25
Author(s):  
O.J. Kachmar ◽  
O.V. Vavrynovych ◽  
O.L. Dubytsky ◽  
A.O. Dubytska ◽  
M.M. Shcherba
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Agricultural Crops ◽  
Carpathian Region ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
Rotational Crop

Scientific and methodological approaches to the formation of zonal ecologically safe crop rotations as a basic subsystem of farming in the formation of high, stable productivity of agricultural crops are substantiated, while ensuring the reproduction of soil fertility, increasing the efficiency of fertilizer systems and environmental protection. Various rotational crop rotations for introduction in the conditions of the Carpathian region in farms of different specialization and intensity of production are proposed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document