Impact of Production Inputs and Timing on Crackness of Rice in Northern Ghana

Under rain-fed conditions, perfumed rice production in Northern Ghana is associated with high paddy cracking during milling. In this study, 4 perfumed rice varieties, 6 staggered planting times, 6 staggered harvesting cycles, and staggered storage duration from harvest to six months of storage were used in a randomized complete block design to identify the best combination of factors that are associated with low cracking in rice production. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three geographically distinct locations serving as replicates. Grain moisture and paddy crackness were determined. The results indicated a mixed factorial interaction for all measured variables. Early planting, early harvesting, and short storage duration reduced paddy cracking compared to late treatments ( P < 0.05 ). For all treatment combinations, milling within two weeks after harvesting was associated with lower cracking as long as the harvesting cycle did not exceed the fourth cycle. After the second month of storage, percentage cracking was high, approaching 90% in most cases.

Crop modeling defines opportunities and challenges for drought escape, water capture, and yield increase using chilling-tolerant sorghum

ABSTRACTMany crop species, particularly those of tropical origin, are chilling sensitive so improved chilling tolerance can enhance production of these crops in temperate regions. For the cereal crop sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) early planting and chilling tolerance have been investigated for >50 years, but the potential value or tradeoffs of this genotype × management change has not been formally evaluated with modeling. To assess the potential of early-planted chilling-tolerant grain sorghum in the central US sorghum belt, we conducted CERES-Sorghum simulations and characterized scenarios under which this change would be expected to enhance (or diminish) drought escape, water capture, or yield. We conducted crop growth modeling for a full- and short-season hybrids under rainfed systems that were simulated to be planted in early (mid-April), normal (mid-May), and late (mid-June) planting dates from 1986 to 2015 in four locations in Kansas representative of the central US sorghum belt. Simulations indicated that early planting will generally lead to lower initial soil moisture, longer growing periods, and higher evapotranspiration. Early planting is expected to extend the growing period by 20% for short- or full-season hybrids, reduce evaporation during fallow periods, and increase plant transpiration in the two-thirds of years with the highest precipitation (mean > 428 mm), leading to 11% and 7% increase grain yield for short- and full-season hybrids, respectively. Thus, in this major sorghum growing region early planting could reduce risks of terminal droughts, extend seasons, and increase rotation options, suggesting that further development of chilling tolerant hybrids is warranted.

A new potato variety Gulliver in the Central Russia

Эксперименты проводили в 2018-2020 годах на новом раннем сорте картофеля Гулливер селекции ФГБНУ «ФИЦ картофеля имени А.Г. Лорха». В опыте изучали срок, густоту посадки и приемы внесения минеральных удобрений. Клубни высаживали в два срока: ранний (третьяя декада апреля при температуре почвы не ниже 5 °С) и базовый (контроль) – через 7-10 дней после первого срока. Посадку проводили на фоне удобрений, внесенных локально в три приема при нарезке гребней и последующих междурядных обработках двумя лентами: основное N90P90K135(контроль); дробное (стартовое N60P60K90 + подкормка N30P30K45 через 7-10 дней после всходов); стартовое N30P30K45 + подкормка N30P30K45через 7-10 дней после всходов + подкормка N30P30K45в фазу бутонизации. Густота посадки: 44; 50 и 56 тыс. клубней/га по схеме 75×30; 75×27 и 75×24 см. Ранняя посадка ускоряла появление всходов на 5-6, а фазы бутонизации и цветения растений на 3-7 дней. Увеличивались масса ботвы, площадь ассимиляционной поверхности листьев на 2,0 т/га и 3,6 тыс. м2/га. Период вегетации растений и накопления урожая клубней удлинялся на 8-10 дней в сравнении с контролем. Прибавка урожая от ранней посадки достигала в среднем за 3 года до 1,7 т/га или 4,0%, а от дробного внесения удобрений до 2,1 т/га или 5,0% в сравнении с соответствующими контролями. Совокупное применение агроприемов в опыте позволило получить прибавку урожая в размере 3,6 т/га или 8,5%. Условный доход составил 46 тыс. р/га, а себестоимость – 3,4 р/кг, что на 0,2 р/кг меньше, чем в контроле. Показатели качества при этом были практически одинаковыми. Загущение посадок до 50 и 56 тыс. клубней/га способствовало увеличению урожайности клубней в среднем на 2,9-3,1 т/га или до 7,3%, в сравнении с контролем. Условный доход возрастал на этих вариантах в среднем до 9 тыс. р/га. Experiments were carried out in 2018-2020 on a new early potato variety Gulliver in Russian Potato Research Centre. In the experiment, we studied different agrotechnical techniques, including the time, density of planting and methods of applying mineral fertilizers. Tubers were planted in 2 terms: early (3rd decade of April at a soil temperature of not less than 5 °C) and basic (control) - 7-10 days after the first term. Planting was carried out on background of fertilizers applied locally in three ways while preparing of ridges and subsequent inter-row treatments with two strings: the main N90P90K135(control); fractional (starting N60P60K90 + top dressing N30P30K45 7-10 days after germination); starting N30P30K45 + top dressing N30P30K45 7-10 days after germination + top dressing N30P30K45 in the budding phase. Planting density: 44; 50 and 56 thousand tubers/ha according to the scheme 75×30; 75×27 and 75×24 cm. Early planting accelerated the emergence of seedlings by 5-6, and the phases of budding and flowering of plants by 3-7 days. The weight of the tops, the area of leaves assimilation surface increased by 2.0 t/ha and 3.6 thousand m2/ha. The period of plants vegetation and tubers accumulation was extended by 8-10 days in comparison with control. The yield increase from early planting reached an average of 1.7 t/ha or 4.0% in 3 years, and from fractional appliance of fertilizers to 2.1 t/ha or 5.0% in comparison with corresponding controls. The combined use of agricultural methods in experiment allowed to obtain a yield increase of 3.6 t/ha or 8.5%. Conditional income amounted to 46 thousand rubles / ha, and the cost price – 3.4 rubles/kg, which is 0.2 rubles/kg less than in the control. The quality indicators were almost the same. Thickening of plantings to 50 and 56 thousand tubers/ha contributed to an increase of yield by an average of 2.9-3.1 t/ha or up to 7.3%, compared with the control. Conditional income increased on these options on average to 9 thousand rubles/ha.

Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Among Cereal Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Agriculture is the art and science of food production which spans soil cultivation, crop growing, and livestock rearing. Over the years, it has served as a means of employment and accounts for more than one-third of total gross domestic product. Cereals, which include rice, maize, and sorghum, are the major dietary energy suppliers and they provide significant amounts of protein, minerals (potassium and calcium), and vitamins (vitamin A and C). The growth and good yield of cereal crop can be greatly influenced by elements of weather and climate such as temperature, sunlight, and relative humidity. While climate determines the choice of what plant to cultivate and how to cultivate, it has been undoubtedly identified as one of the fundamental factors that determine both crop cultivation and livestock keeping. The chapter, though theoretical, adopted Kwara State, Nigeria, as the focus due to favorable weather conditions that support grains production. It was observed that the effect of climate change on cereal production includes: drastic reduction in grains production, reduction in farmers’ profit level, increment in cost during production, diversification to nonfarming activities, and discouragement of youth from participating in agricultural activities. Also, the adopted coping strategies employed by farmers in the focus site were early planting, planting of improved variety, irrigation activities, alternates crop rotation, and cultivation of more agricultural areas. The chapter thus concluded that climate change has negative impact on cereals production and recommends that government should provide communal irrigation facilities that will cushion the effect of low rains on farmers’ productivity, while early planting and cultivation of drought-resistant cultivars should be encouraged.

Best Management Practices for Sustaining Agricultural Production at Choctawhatchee Watershed in Alabama, USA, in Response to Climate Change

Climate change will ultimately result in higher surface temperature and more variable precipitation, negatively affecting agricultural productivity. To sustain the agricultural production in the face of climate change, adaptive agricultural management or best management practices (BMPs) are needed. The currently practiced BMPs include crop rotation, early planting, conservation tillage, cover crops, effective fertilizer use, and so on. This research investigated the agricultural production of BMPs in response to climate change for a Hydrologic Unit Code12 sub-watershed of Choctawhatchee Watershed in Alabama, USA. The dominating soil type of this region was sandy loam and loamy sand soil. Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator and Cropping Systems Simulation Model were used to estimate the agricultural production. Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP8.5 that projected a temperature increase of 2.3℃ and 4.7℃ were used as climate scenarios. The research demonstrated that crop rotation had positive response to climate change. With peanuts in the rotation, a production increase of 105% was observed for cotton. There was no consistent impact on crop yields by early planting. With selected peanut-cotton rotations, 50% reduced nitrogen fertilizer use was observed to achieve comparable crop yields. In response to climate change, crop rotation with legume incorporation is thus suggested, which increased crop production and reduced fertilizer use.

Assessment of maize farmers’ awareness and effectiveness of indigenous production and preservation practices in Ugbokolo, Benue State, Nigeria

This study assessed maize farmers’ awareness and effectiveness of indigenous production and preservation in Ugbokolo, Benue State, Nigeria. A sample of 148 maize farmers were selected. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Research findings revealed that most farmers were aware of intercropping (92.7%) and proper drying before storage (95.3%). The most effective indigenous production practice was early planting ( = 2.64), while the most effective preservation practice was proper drying before storage ( = 2.64). The main source of indigenous knowledge was from parents (89.3%). Based on these findings, it was recommended that other production and preservation practices be introduced to the farmers to broaden their knowledge, and technology for drying of maize be provided to the farmers

Influence of Tillage, Herbicide and Planting Delay on Nutrient Status and Yield of Cluster Bean as Replacement Crop Following Pearl Millet Stand Failure

Background: Cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.], with vernacular name of Guar, is annual, economically important and drought-hardy legume (Mondal and Gera, 2020) salinity tolerant grown under semiarid and subtropical regions. It is cultivated under both irrigated and rainfed condition in India (Rathod et al. 2020). India is its major producer, accounting for 80% of world’s total production (Meena et al., 2018). Cluster bean is grown in India on 5.60 Mha and produces of 2.82 million tonnes with a low national average yield of merely 504 kg/ha (Anonymous, 2019). Methods: The experiments were conducted at the Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture, SK Rajasthan Agricultural University (SKRAU), Bikaner during kharif seasons of 2018 and 2019. The Farm is situated on Bikaner - Sriganganagar road situated at 28°4’21" NL latitude and 73°20’17" EL longitude with an altitude of 234.7 meters above the mean sea level. The experiment was laid out in strip plot design in three factors with 32 treatments comprising four tillage, two herbicide and four planting delay treatments. Statistical analysis by using STAR (R-Packages 1.5 STAR 2.0.) (Statistical Tool for Agricultural Research), software developed by Department of Plant Breeding Genetics and Biotechnology, IRRI (International Rice Research Institute), Manila, Phillipines. Result: The disc plough (T2), control (H0) and early planting P1 (July 10) significantly increased N, P, K, total nutrient uptake and partial nutrient balance (PBN) than other treatments. All the interactions were found significant in nutrient of cluster bean. The seed and straw yield of cluster bean was found significantly higher in disc plough (T2), control (H0) and early planting P1 (July 10) compared to other treatments of pooled basis. The interactions were found significant between tillage × herbicide × planting delay in yield of cluster bean.