Stubble management and microclimate, yield and water use efficiency of canola grown in the semiarid Canadian prairie

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. W. Cutforth ◽  
S. V. Angadi ◽  
B. G. McConkey
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
Canadian Prairie ◽  
Use Efficiency

Standing stubble traps snow and creates a favorable microclimate, which increases yields in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and pulses [chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris L.)]. Generally, the taller the stubble the greater is the effect on microclimate and yield. A field study using farm-scale seeding and harvesting equipment was conducted over four seasons (1999 to 2002) to assess the effect of stubble management on the microclimate, water use and seed yield of argentine canola (Brassica napus L. ‘Arrow’) in the semiarid prairie surrounding Swift Current. Tall (30 cm), short (15 cm) and cultivated stubble treatments were deployed in fall and in spring. An additional tall stubble treatment with extra fertilizer N (application rate recommended for the Black soil zone in the subhumid prairie) was included to assess the role of fertilizer in canola response to stubble management practices. The differences in wind velocity, soil temperature and solar radiation reaching the soil surface indicated significant modification of the microclimate by tall compared with cultivated stubble. Yields were highest from the tall stubble receiving extra fertilizer. Further research is needed to determine optimum fertilizer rates to maximize canola yields in the semiarid prairie. For treatments receiving equivalent rates of fertilizer, tall stubble increased seed yield of canola by about 24% and water use efficiency (WUE) by about 19% compared with stubble cultivated in the fall. Comparing between stubble treatments deployed on fields that overwintered as tall stubble and which received equivalent rates of fertilizer, tall stubble increased canola yield by about 16% and WUE by about 11% compared with cultivated stubble. Crop water use was not affected by stubble management so the increased grain production was due to increased WUE. Key words: Stubble height, microclimate, canola, yield, water use efficiency

Yield and water use efficiency of pulses seeded directly into standing stubble in the semiarid Canadian Prairie

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. W. Cutforth ◽  
B. G. McConkey ◽  
D. Ulrich ◽  
P. R. Miller ◽  
S. V. Angadi
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Canadian Prairie ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Growing Conditions

In semiarid climates, appropriate management of the previous crop stubble in combination with seeding method is important to improve growing conditions for the subsequent crop. To determine the effects of standing stubble of various heights on the microclimate and on the growth and yield of pulse crops, we seeded desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. “Cheston”), field pea (Pisum sativum L. “Grande”), and lentil (Lens culinaris L. “Laird”) directly into cultivated, short (15 to 18 cm), and tall (25 to 36 cm) spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) stubble. Standing stubble changed the microclimate near the soil surface by reducing soil temperatures, solar radiation, wind speed, and potential evapotranspiration throughout the life cycle of these crops. Microclimate effects were much more pronounced for tall versus short stubble. The three pulses responded similarly to increasing stubble height. Vine length increased as stubble height increased, but the plants did not stand more erect. However, there was a tendency for plant height to increase as stubble height increased. Tall and short stubble increased the overall average grain yield by 13 and 4% compared to cultivated stubble. Crop water use was not affected by stubble height so the increased grain production was due to increased water use efficiency. Tall and short stubble increased the overall average water use efficiency by 16 and 8% compared to cultivated stubble. Key words: Stubble height, pulse, microclimate, evapotranspiration, yield

Adaptation of alternative pulse and oilseed crops to the semiarid Canadian Prairie: Seed yield and water use efficiency

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. V. Angadi ◽  
B. G. McConkey ◽  
H. W. Cutforth ◽  
P. R. Miller ◽  
D. Ulrich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
Canadian Prairie ◽  
Oilseed Crops ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Water Regimes ◽  
Pulse Crops ◽  
Use Efficiency

Diversification and intensification of the cropping systems in the traditional wheat-fallow area of the semiarid Canadian prairie is necessary to improve sustainability. Selection of alternate crops to include in cropping systems requires information on production risks with different climate regimes. To understand water use/yield relationships of alternate crops, three pulse crops (leguminous grain crops) [chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)], three oilseed crops [canola (Brassica napus L. and B. rapa L.) and mustard (B. juncea L.)], and one cereal crop [wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)] were studied under varying water regimes: during 1996–1998 under well-watered, rainfed, imposed drought conditions, and in 2001 under rainfed conditions. Generally, the relative ranking between crops for water use was maintained across water regimes, such that the crops separated into three general groups of water users (high: wheat, B. napus, mustard; medium: chickpea, B. rapa, lentil; low: pea) with pea using an average of 34 mm and 13 mm less water than high- and medium-water-using crop groups, respectively. The exceptions included desi chickpea, which tended to use less water and B. rapa, which tended to use more water relative to the other crops as water use decreased. Generally, pea and wheat produced the most grain and biomass, had the highest water use efficiency, and had moderately high to high harvest indices. Wheat and pea are well adapted to variable rainfall amounts inherent in semiarid climates. Desi chickpea and lentil produce good grain yields under dry conditions, and grain yields relative to those of other crops can be increased by some drought stress, especially mid- to late-season stress. Therefore, because of their relatively good performance under water-stressed conditions, they are also well adapted to semiarid climates. Conversely, the Brassica oilseeds yielded relatively poorly compared with wheat and pulse crops under severe water-stressed conditions, so they are not as well adapted to the semiarid climate. In 2001, grain yield of wheat and pulses seeded on stubble was ≥30% of the yield on fallow, whereas stubble-seeded Brassica oilseeds yielded only about 10% of that on fallow. Compared with stubble seeding, production of Brassica oilseeds on fallow will decrease the risk of very low yields under drought. We found little indication that mustard was more drought tolerant than B. napus. Key words: Yield, water use efficiency, oilseeds, pulse, semiarid prairie

scholarly journals Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Seed Yield, Yield Components, and Water Use Efficiency of Cleistogenes songorica

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 466
Author(s):  
Qibo Tao ◽  
Mengjie Bai ◽  
Cunzhi Jia ◽  
Yunhua Han ◽  
Yanrong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Yield Components ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Yield Component ◽  
Path Coefficient ◽  
Grass Seed ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Use Efficiency

Irrigation and nitrogen (N) are two crucial factors affecting perennial grass seed production. To investigate the effects of irrigation and N rate on seed yield (SY), yield components, and water use efficiency (WUE) of Cleistogenes songorica (Roshevitz) Ohwi, an ecologically significant perennial grass, a four-year (2016–2019) field trial was conducted in an arid region of northwestern China. Two irrigation regimes (I1 treatment: irrigation at tillering stage; I2 treatment: irrigation at tillering, spikelet initiation, and early flowering stages) and four N rates (0, 60, 120, 180 kg ha−1) were arranged. Increasing amounts of both irrigation and N improved SY, evapotranspiration, WUE, and related yield components like fertile tillers m−2 (FTSM) and seeds spikelet−1. Meanwhile, no significant difference was observed between 120 and 180 kg N ha−1 treatments for most variables. The highest SY and WUE was obtained with treatment combination of I2 plus 120 kg N ha−1 with four-year average values of 507.3 kg ha−1 and 1.8 kg ha−1 mm−1, respectively. Path coefficient and contribution analysis indicated that FTSM was the most important yield component for SY, with direct path coefficient and contribution coefficient of 0.626 and 0.592. Overall, we recommend I2 treatment (three irrigations) together with 120 kg N ha−1 to both increase SY and WUE, especially in arid regions. Future agronomic managements and breeding programs for seed should mainly focus on FTSM. This study will enable grass seed producers, plant breeders, and government program directors to more effectively target higher SY of C. songorica.

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