Seed yield and components of alkaloid of meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale) in natural grassland and under cultivation

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Poutaraud and P. Girardin

Alkaloids extracted from meadow saffron seeds are used in numerous medicines. To test the influence of cultivation and climatic conditions on the production and the quality of meadow saffron seeds, we studied seed alkaloid yield on a natural site (grassland) and in a cultivated crop over several years. Seeds contained in capsules harvested before their dehiscence were dried and ground. The alkaloids of the extracts (colchicoside, demethylcolchicine and colchicine) were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Seed alkaloid content was not influenced by year, inter-plant competition, or number of capsules per plant. Seed dry matter yield per plant, however, practically tripled in the cultivated crop due to an increase in the number of capsules per plant compared to the grassland. In the cultivated crop, 47% of fruiting plants produced two new plants (corms) every year. Four years after planting, this vegetative multiplication resulted in intraspecific competition, inducing a decline in seed yield per plant linked to a decrease in the weight of seeds per capsule. We were able to show that cultivated production of meadow saffron greatly increased dry matter and alkaloid yield per plant and per hectare, but that it could lead to the need to thin after several years. Key words: meadow saffron, alkaloids, colchicine, cultivation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
Tessema Atumo ◽  
Christopher Stephen Jones

Feed supply in terms of quality and quantity plays an important role in livestock production and productivity. Here we report on varietal differences in yield and nutritional quality among 9 alfalfa accessions over 7 harvests following planting in Ethiopia. Experimental design was a randomized complete block with 3 replications at Chano Mille, Southern Ethiopia on a sandy loam soil where mean annual rainfall is 544 mm. Days to harvesting, plant height, dry matter yield, seed yield and the concentrations of the nutritional quality parameters crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose plus in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and relative feed value (RFV) were assessed to rank the accessions. There were significant (P<0.001) differences between accessions and harvests in plant height, dry matter yield and seed yield. Accession ILRI_7323A performed best in all agro-morphological aspects. All accessions, except 1, produced forage with CP in excess of 30% and IVDMD greater than 80% with RFV greater than 150 at 50% flowering, indicating the high quality of forage produced. Further studies to assess the longevity of stands of the various accessions seem warranted along with studies in higher rainfall environments or under irrigation.


Author(s):  
Bent Al-Hoda Asghari ◽  
Mohsen Yousefi ◽  
Katarzyna Możdżeń ◽  
Joanna Puła ◽  
Peiman Zandi ◽  
...  

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern) cultivation is suggested for regions with short seasons and low rainfall. Although there have been many studies conducted on agronomic production of mustard in Iran, the information regarding the interactive impact of cropping seasons and nitrogen fertiliser on growth characteristics and yield quality of mustard plant is still insufficient and requires further investigation. This study focused on the possible implications of different cropping seasons and different nitrogen levels on selected agronomic traits in mustard. In this experiment, five different doses of nitrogen and two sowing periods were used to assess for their combined effects on the growth parameters, seed yield and agronomic characteristics of mustard in the semi-arid climatic conditions of Takestan. The results revealed that cultivation seasons and nitrogen rates had a significant effect on plant height, biomass yield, number of siliques per plant, seed oil content and seed yield.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1427
Author(s):  
Gulen Ozyazici

Environmental contamination and the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers resulting in stagnant yields of field crops which necessitate the utilization of combined fertilization approach under changing climatic conditions. Current study was aimed to clarify the influence of several fertilizer sources (chemical, organic, organomineral fertilizers) on yield and quality of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.). The results revealed that the fertilizer sources significantly affected the yield of coriander cultivars. The absence of “Year x Variety x Fertilizer Type” interactions for any of the noted parameters signaled that the detected “Variety x Fertilizer Type” interactions were constant regardless of the year factor. The recorded values of traits according to fertilizer sources different for the plant height from 61.85 to 69.67 cm, number of branches from 5.98 to 7.71 (piece/plant), number of umbels per the main umbel from 5.62 to 7.18 pieces, seed yield from 1.06 to 1.66 t/ha, the biological yield from 4.29 to 5.70 t ha−1, harvest index from 25.29 to 29.41%, essential oil ratio from 0.29 to 0.33%, and essential oil yield from 3.1 to 5.6 L ha−1. Erbaa variety was observed to be superior over the rest of the varieties producing the maximum values of 6.5 L ha−1 of essential oil, 0.36% essential oil content, 30.9% harvest index, 1.81 t/ha seed yield, and 5.9 t ha−1 biological yield with the treatment of chemical fertilizers.


1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-280
Author(s):  
T. LAWRENCE

Progenies from a five-genotype diallel cross in Russian wild ryegrass, Elymus junceus Fisch., were studied to assess the pattern of genetic control for F1 seed weight and a number of seedling and adult plant characters. Variation in F1 seed weight was largely determined by the maternal parent, but some control by the pollen parent was apparent. Of the seedling characters, days to emerge, rate of leaf appearance, rate of tiller appearance, and seedling dry matter yield, only days to emerge showed additive variance which is amenable to direct selection. The other three characters could be most easily exploited by a recurrent selection program. The adult plant characters, date of inflorescence appearance, P content of the forage, and organic matter digestibility indicated strong additive control which is amenable to direct selection. Dry matter yield and seed yield also showed strong additive control which was accompanied by specific combining ability and weak maternal effects suggesting good progress should be possible by direct selection methods but crossing the selections in a diallel fashion prior to formation of synthetics might be desirable. The seedling characters, rate of leaf and tiller appearance and seedling dry matter yield were interrelated and associated with adult plant yield, thus offering the possibility of screening seedlings for these characters in a recurrent selection program for improved forage or seed yield.


2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcio S. de Lima ◽  
Antonio I. I. Cardoso ◽  
Marcelo F. Verdial

Squash seeds yield and quality can be improved by proper population plant spacing and the pollen quantity, which influences the pollination quality and fertilization. Nine experiments were conducted as a factorial combination of three spacing between plants (0.8 x 0.3, 0.8 x 0.6 and 0.8 x 0.9 m), two quantities of pollen (50% of an anther and another entire one) and natural insect pollination. Seed and fruit production parameters, and seed quality were evaluated. A randomized complete block design, five replications, with ten plants per plot was adopted. Larger plant spacing increased the average number of mature fruits and seed yield per plant. Seed yield was directly proportional to the amount of pollen used during pollination. Higher amounts of pollen resulted in higher seed yield per area, but the plant spacing did not affect this characteristic. Manual pollination, using a whole anther, did not differ from natural pollination in relation to seed yield and quality.


2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 167-177
Author(s):  
Miriam Kizeková ◽  
Ján Tomaškin ◽  
Jozef Čunderlík ◽  
Ľubica Jančová ◽  
Janka Martincová

Abstract This study highlights the effect of drought and ambient temperature on performance and herbage quality of legume monocultures and grass-legume mixtures. In a field experiment, the total dry matter yield, seasonal pattern of dry matter yield distribution, content of crude protein and crude fibre of monocultures of red clover and alfalfa and grass-legume mixtures were investigated during two consecutive dry years (2011-2012). Alfalfa cultivars Kamila and Tereza grown as monocultures or as mixtures with Festulolium braunii (cultivar Achilles) outperformed the red clover cultivars Fresko and Veles and provided a well-balanced total and seasonal dry matter yield during both years. Across all experimental years, crude protein content was significantly higher at alfalfa monocultures and mixture when compared with clover monocultures (P < 0.05). However, considerable lower content of crude fibre at clover monocultures in comparison with alfalfa ones was found. Responses of nutritive parameters of both legume species to weather variables were different. Crude protein content in red clover was independent of rainfall and temperature. In contrast, the crude fibre content correlated with temperature whereby the alfalfa monocultures showed stronger correlations (P < 0.05) than red clover monocultures.


2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 89-89
Author(s):  
M. A. Akbar ◽  
P. Lebzien ◽  
G. Flachowsky

The fresh weight, dry matter (DM) contents and nutritional quality in maize vary considerably with variation in varieties, stages at which harvested, climatic conditions and agronomic factors. Recently, agronomists, nutritionists, and dairy producers have placed increased emphasis on factors affecting the nutritive value of maize. However, very little information is available on quantitative variability of the feed value of maize fodder as affected by such factors. This study was, therefore, carried out to assess the effect of harvesting of six different maize varieties at two stages (dates) of grain maturity on quality of both the stover and cobs.


2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bajnok ◽  
L. Szemán ◽  
J. Tasi

No significant studies have yet been reported in Central Europe on the yield and quality of winter harvest pastures. The aim of the research was to collect information about the effect of pre-utilisation (June, July and August) and winter harvest date (November, December, January) on the quantity and quality of fodder from Festuca arundinacea stands. The dry matter, energy, ADF, ADL and ergosterol contents of the yield were examined and it was found that: 1. A shorter regeneration period between harvests resulted in lower dry matter levels, but also in a higher energy concentration and lower ergosterol concentration. 2. The yield and energy concentrations decreased, whereas the ADF, ADL and ergosterol concentrations increased as the winter progressed. 3. Fodder harvested in November produced the best results in terms of yield quantity and quality. The highest yield and energy values were thus achieved by harvesting in November, regardless of pre-utilisation. Despite the cold and the long period of snow cover, the energy values of samples harvested in December and January showed no significant decrease. The weather conditions were more important for fodder quantity and quality than the frequency or date of harvesting. Thus, under the continental climatic conditions in Hungary, extensive utilisation, until late November or early December, is recommended.


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