Efect of sowing dates and seed rates of flax intercropped with sugar beet on productivity of both crops and competitive relationships

The aim of intercropping flax on sugar beet is to increase the cultivated area with flax due to widely cultivated area of sugar beet. So, a field experiment was carried out to study the effect of various sowing dates and seed rates of flax intercropped with sugar beet on yield, quality and economic evaluation. The main-plots were assigned to three sowing dates of flax intercropped with sugar beet and the sub-plots were allocated to four seed rates of flax. The results show that sowing date of flax after 35 days from sowing (DFS) sugar beet resulted in the highest values of sugar beet yields and quality. Maximum values of flax straw and seed yields resulted from sowing flax after 21 DFS sugar beet. Intercropping sugar beet with flax at 12.5% from recommended seed rate on top sugar beet terraces attained the most elevated values of sugar beet yield and quality. Sowing flax at 50% from recommended rate resulted in the best values of flax technical and fruiting zone length, also straw and seed yield/hectare. The maximum yield and economic return of both crops were obtained from sowing flax at 12.5% from recommended rate after (21 or 35) DFS sugar beet.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) Growth, Yield, and Nodulation in the Early Transition Period from Conventional Tillage to Conservation and No-Tillage Systems

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is the most important protein crop globally, with its cultivation area in Europe on the increase. To investigate how alternative tillage systems affect soybean growth, yield performance, and nitrogen fixation capacity in the early conversion period from conventional tillage to conservation and no-tillage practices, a field study was conducted in 2020 under the humid central European climatic conditions of Slovenia. A complete randomized block design with four repetitions was used for the three different tillage systems (conventional, conservation, and no-tillage). The results show that the majority of the studied soybean growth parameters (e.g., plant density, nodes per plant, and shoot and root dry matter) and the yield components (e.g., pods per plant, and 100-seed mass) were greatest for the reference conventional tillage system. The conventional system also showed significantly greater dry nodule mass (p < 0.01) and proportion of large-sized nodules (>4 mm) on both the tap root (p < 0.05) and the lateral roots (p < 0.001). A positive linear correlation between nitrogen content and nodule production in the roots also suggested increased nitrogen fixation for the conventional system. The less intensive conservation and no-tillage systems resulted in significantly greater soil compaction, which negatively affected early plant establishment and resulted in significantly decreased plant densities. Despite the large differences in plant stands and individual plant performances, no significant differences were seen for dry seed yields between these tillage systems. Dry seed yields for the conventional and conservation systems were 4.54 and 4.48 t ha−1, respectively, with only minor (non-significant) yield reduction for the no-tillage system, at 4.0 t ha−1. These data show that soybean cultivation in the early transition period to less intensive tillage systems have no major yield losses under these less suitable agro-climatic conditions if correct crop and weed management measures are implemented.

Seed yield of simple and tri-linear corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids for the mexican humid tropics

The objective of the work was to evaluate the agronomic performance and seed yield of tropical corn (Zea mays L.) of single and tri-linear crosses. In the spring-summer of 2015 and 2016, two essays were established in the states of Veracruz and Tabasco, Mexico. In the first essay, a group of 12 single crosses was evaluated, and in the second, a group of 18 tri-linear crosses was evaluated. In both essays, the treatments were distributed under a completely randomized block design with three replicates in 5 m long, two-row plots and 0.8 m between rows, with an initial population density of 62.500 plants ha-1. Within the simple cross trial, hybrids HE-3W, COMERCIAL 1, LT-164xLT-165, and HE-1W presented seed yields above the general mean (3384 kg ha-1). Within this outstanding group is the LT-164xLT-165 cross, which participates as a female parent in the formation of the recently released commercial hybrid H-567. In the tri-linear crosses essay, a group of varieties and hybrids including H-567, (LT-164xLT-165) xLT-156, (LT-164xLT-165) xLT-155, (LT-154xLT-155) xLT-165, VS-536, H-520, VS-563, (LT-154xLT-155) xLT-170, (LT-171xLT-172) xLT-156, (LT-164xLT-165) xLT-164, and (LT-171xLT-172) xLT-170 recorded seed yields of 6669.8, 6515.4, 6498.6, 6431.1, 6260, 6024.7, 5935.4, 5664.3, 5580.8, and 5527.1 kg ha-1, respectively. The LT-154, LT-155, and LT-156 lines are common as a male and female parent, suggesting a good genetic combination. The prevailing environmental conditions during the development of the experiments did not significantly influence the productivity of the crosses. There is genetic variability that can be used to continue developing lines, open pollination varieties, and corn hybrids.

Assessing impact of thermal units on growth and development of mustard varieties grown under optimum sown conditions

Thermal unit indices have a strong correlation with the phenology, growth and yield of crops and can be effectively used to select suitable crop cultivars for specific environmental conditions especially temperature. In this study, four mustard varieties (viz., 'BARI Sharisha-14', 'BARI Sharisha-15', 'BARI Sharisha-16' and 'Tori-7') were grown in two consecutive growing to assess the impact of thermal unit indices on crop growth and development, and to select the suitable variety for better yield under optimum sowing condition. Thermal unit indices viz., growing degree-day (GDD), helio-thermal units (HTU), phenothermal index (PTI) and heat use efficiency (HUE) were estimated from daily temperature and sunshine hours. Role of GDD on different growth indicators and seed yield (SY) were estimated through association and dependence of the traits. Significant variations in studied genotypes were observed for different traits. Among the studied varieties, 'BARI Sharisha-16' produced higher dry matter and seed yields (1.82 t ha-1) while accumulated maximum GDD at different growth stages. A strong positive association was obtained between GDD and the studied traits. Thermal unit indices had a strong influence in attaining different phenophases and other growth indicators. Therefore, results suggest that those indices could be used for growth prediction; further 'BARI Sharisha-16' is expected to use heat energy more efficiently for increasing the seed yields which indicated that the crop can perform better under global warming scenarios.

Impact of planting timing on seed yields and productive longevity of eastern goat rue (Galega orientales Lam)

Eastern goat’s rue (Galega orientales Lam.) has a complex of economically useful features, which makes it a priority introduced fodder crop in different soil and climatic zones. The initial stages of ontogenesis determine the development of plants and the amount of seed yield of goat’s rue for the next year. In the first year, goat’s rue plants develop slowly, which requires its early sowing. It was found that the highest fullness of sprouts in the range of 50-61% was noted when goat’s rue was sown in the period from May 25 to June 5. Moisture conditions of vegetation seasons have a decisive influence on growth and development of plants in the year of sowing and their preservation during the overwintering period. The highest yield of seeds in the 1st year of using was when sowing goat’s rue from the beginning of May to the middle of the first decade of June which provided accumulation of the sum of effective air temperatures 1409,5-1125,00C and amount of precipitation within the range 373,9-335,7 mm from shoots to the end of vegetation in the year of sowing and 1208,30C with 274,9 mm of precipitation in the second year before harvesting. The highest seed yields in the range of 466-560 kg/ha yieldwere obtained from goat’s rue crops of May and June sowing dates. The influence of sowing dates on seed yields was evident during the first two years. In subsequent years, the value of seed yield is leveled.

Increasing productivity of mungbean (vigna radiata (l.) Wilczek) under subsistence farming in Eastern Indonesia

Mungbean is one of the major food legume and cash crops grown and consumed by small holder farmers under rain-fed conditions in Eastern Indonesia. However, the mungbean productivity has been low, less than 1 ton ha−1 due to a number of reasons including poor awareness about new varieties and skills of crop management. Two trials: varietal trial and management practices were conducted at Malaka District, East Nusa Tenggara during wet season 2008. The varietal trial in six sites resulted in identification of Sriti, Murai, Betet, and Vima 1 varieties had high productivity (1.1-1.5 t ha−1) with single harvest, shorter maturity, compared to the local varieties which were characterized by lower productivity (1.0-1.1 t ha−1), multiple harvests and longer maturity. The management practices found that selected varieties in combination with improved technology gave doubled seed yields compared to the yields when grown using local technology. These activities showed a reliable pathway to increase productivity of mungbean at small holder levels. The varietal and agronomic management trials demonstrated the impact of the technologies on mungbean productivity at small holder levels and identified future needs to sustain food productivity in remote regions on Eastern Indonesia.

Influence of Sowing Time on Yield and Yield Components of Spring Rapeseed in Lithuania

Sowing time, as an element, is important to improving the adaptation of cultivars to environmental conditions and to achieving high seed yields. The field experiment was conducted from 2018–2019 at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy. The experimental design included treatments with different sowing dates: eight sowing dates in 2018 and 10 sowing dates in 2019. The first sowing of spring rapeseed was carried out when the soil reached its physical maturity, i.e., it did not stick to agricultural implements and it crumbled well. The other sowing dates were every seven subsequent days. From 2018–2019, the rapeseed emerged as best in early May (3 and 4 May), and later sowing reduced the emergence of rapeseed. In 2018, most pods were formed on one plant when the rapeseed was sown (on 1 June), compared to other sowings, on average 2.8 times more. In 2019, most pods were formed by the latest-sown rapeseed (7 June), from 1.4 to 2.7 times more compared to previously sown crops. In 2018, the sowing time of spring rapeseed did not have a significant effect on the number of seeds in one pod. In 2019, it was found that the rapeseed formed most of the seeds in the pod at a similar time as in 2018: the sowings of 19 April and 7 June. The average number of seeds in the pod was significantly reduced by early sowing (5 April). In 2019, the highest 1000-seed weight was found at the earliest-sown crop (5 April), which was on average 18.0% higher compared to the later sowings. The 1000-seed weight of the last-sown rapeseed (7 June) was the lowest. In 2018, the yields of early-sown (20 April) spring rapeseed were the highest. Later sowing significantly reduced the yields by 20.7 to 48.2%. In 2019, the highest seed yield was obtained after sowing spring rapeseed in late April (26 April); it was significant, on average, 1.9 times higher than the yields of spring rapeseed sown from 3 May to 7 June. Meteorological conditions had a stronger effect on the field emergence and yield components of spring rapeseed than the sowing date.

Obtaining seeds of meadow clover in the Lower Volga region under irrigation

The purpose of the experiment was to develop a technology for cultivating meadow clover under irrigation to obtain the planned seed yields in the conditions of the Lower Volga region. Research methods. Field experiments, records and observations were carried out in accordance with the generally accepted methods of experimental work. As a result of the research, it was found that the total water consumption of clover crops varied over the years of the herbage life and depended on the given pre-irrigation threshold of soil moisture. It was highest in the variants with the maintenance of the 70 % pre-flood threshold: 3.6–3.9, the lowest 2.7–3.1 thousand m3/ha in the variants with the 60 % humidity threshold. With the differentiation of humidity by the development phases, the total water consumption varied from 3.1 to 3.5 thousand m3/ha. The share of irrigation water in the structure of total water consumption was 60.6–72.7 % according to the experimental variants. The leaf area depended on the water and nutrient regimes of the soil: it reached the maximum values in the variants with a 70 % pre-irrigation threshold of humidity and fertilization. In comparison with the increase in biomass, the seed productivity of clover was less dependent on the photosynthetic potential and assimilation surface. The highest seed yields were formed in the variants with improved nutrition background and maintenance of a differentiated irrigation regime – 280–730 kg / ha. The accumulation of a significant amount of root mass by clover had a positive effect on improving the ecological state of the irrigated area: the water-physical properties of the soil improved, and nutrients accumulated in it. Scientific novelty. In the conditions of the Lower Volga region, the dependence of the seed productivity of clover on the availability of water and nutrients, on the age of the herbage, was revealed. Their optimal combination is determined for the production of seed yields at the level of 400–700 kg/ha.

Productivity and viral diseases of seed potatoes depending on the period of potato desiccation

The aim of the research was to determine the crop productivity, yield of tubers of seed fraction and infection of basic potato seeds with viral infection depending on the period of potato desiccation, application of mineral oil Sunspray, the number and species of winged aphids in the Polissia region of Ukraine. The study was conducted in the prebasic seed production nursery garden of the Institute for Potato Research, NAAS under the conditions of spatial isolation from the main sources and vectors of viral infections of potatoes, located in Nemishaieve, Borodiаnka distr., Kyiv region in the southern part of the Polissia region of Ukraine. The subject of the research is pre-basic and basic seed material of potatoes of mid ripening varieties Myroslava, Predslava, Alians. On average for 2018-2020 years of studies, the highest seed yield was obtained by potato desiccation 10 days after flowering of potatoes - 82.4-85.3 %. However, the level of total and seed yields was low. The efficiency of seed potato production increased with the haulm removal after 20 days - with the total yield depending on the variety 20.6-30.0 t/ha, the yield of seed tubers was in the range of 20.6-22.9 t/ha with the seed content in the crop structure - 71.0-76.3 %. Late haulm removal – on 30th and 40th days after potatoes flowering caused an increase in the yield of tubers of non-standard fraction, with desiccation on 30th day, the seed content in the crop decreased by 61.1-66.0 %, and with desiccation on 40th – by 54-59.8 %. Thus, during the early haulm removal, part of the crop was lost, which during haulm removal in the late stages consisted of large tubers. It has been found out, that potato plants, where the haulm removal during 2018, 2019 was carried out within 10 days after flowering, which was 4.0 % (9.0 % for the check) for the Myroslav potato variety, 3.0 % (10.0 % for the check) for the Predslava potato variety and 4.0 % (9.0 % for the check) for the Alians potato variety were the least infected with PVM. The level of PVM infection when removing the haulm on the 10th day after flowering with the application of Sunspray mineral oil at a rate of 6.0 l/ha decreased on average for the three varieties by 1.5–2.5 %. The best option to preserve the quality characteristics of seed potatoes was to desiccate the potato haulm on 20th day after flowering of potato varieties Myroslava, Predslava and Alians and the application of mineral oil Sunspray - 6.0 l / ha. The yield was 28.8-30.0 t/ha, seed fraction 20.6-22.9, seed yield - 71.0-76.3 %, viral PVM infection was 2.0 3.0 %