Water management in wheat using non-traditional techniques

Water is one of the most limiting resources for agricultural production. Due to uneven distribution of rainfall, supplemental irrigation is often required to produce sustainable yield level. Timing and frequency of irrigation is one of the most important tactical decisions, which a farmer has to make to maximize profit from limited water availability. Computer based dynamic simulation models have the capability to assess management options under different environments to help in decision making. In this study, CRESS-Wheat Model V-3.5 has been utilized to quantify the optimum utilization of limited water for popular wheat genotypes of NW India for operational use in Agrometeorological Advisory services with routinely measured weather parameters.

Responsiveness of cauliflower varieties to the use of biocompost and mineral fertilizers

Цветная капуста – одна из наиболее ценных овощных культур по своим питательным и лечебным свойствам. Эта культура отличается высоким содержанием полноценного растительного белка, ее используют как диетический продукт при диабете и заболеваниях желудка, кишечника, печени. Однако выращивание цветной капусты сопряжено с большими проблемами ввиду очень высокой требовательности этой культуры к уровню плодородия почвы, элементам минерального питания, влажности почвы и воздуха. В почвенно-климатических условиях ЦНЗ России уровень урожайности цветной капусты колеблется в пределах 10–20 т/га, в среднем по России – 9,7 т/га, что не всегда компенсирует затраты на ее выращивание. Важнейшее условие повышения урожайности и рентабельности этой культуры – оптимизация питательного режима и внедрение новых высокоурожайных сортов и гибридов. Цель работы: поиск способов оптимизации питания капусты цветной с помощью органических удобрений (компостов) и их комбинаций с минеральными удобрениями. В 2020–2021 годах отделом земледелия и агрохимии ВНИИО-филиале ФГБНУ ФНЦО были проведены комплексные исследования по изучению отзывчивости некоторых сортов и гибридов цветной капусты на применение органических (птичий компост в дозе 6 т/га) и минеральных (N120P120K180) удобрений и их сочетаний, а также по влиянию этих удобрений на качество продукции. Было изучено семь сортов и гибридов капусты цветной отечественной и зарубежной селекции. Результаты исследований показали, что совместное применение минеральных и органических удобрений в наибольшей степени увеличивает продуктивность капусты, в среднем на 30%, в то время как чисто минеральные – на 25%, а чисто органические – на 19%. Совместное применение минеральных и органических удобрений позволяет получать в среднем 28,3 т/га головок цветной капусты, по отдельным сортам и гибридам – от 23,9 до 38,1 т/га. Качество продукции остается хорошим при применении минеральных и органических удобрений как раздельным, так и совместным способами. Cauliflower is one of the most valuable vegetable crops for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Differs in a high content of complete vegetable protein, is a dietary product for diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver and diabetes. However, the cultivation of cauliflower is fraught with great problems due to the very high demands of this crop on the level of soil fertility, elements of mineral nutrition, soil and air moisture. In the soil and climatic conditions of the Central Black Earth Region of Russia, the yield level of cauliflower fluctuates between 10–20 t/ha, on average in Russia 9.7 t/ha, which does not always compensate for the costs of its cultivation. The most important condition for increasing the yield and profitability of this crop is the optimization of the nutritional regime and the introduction of new high-yielding varieties and hybrids. The aim of our work was to find ways to optimize the nutrition of cauliflower using organic fertilizers – composts and their combinations with mineral fertilizers. In this regard, in 2020–2021, the Department of Agriculture and Agrochemistry of the ARRIVG-branch FSBSI FSVC conducted comprehensive studies to study the responsiveness of some varieties and hybrids of cauliflower to the use of organic (bird compost at a dose of 6 t/ha) and mineral (N120P120K180) fertilizers and their combinations, as well as the effect of these fertilizers on product quality. Seven varieties and hybrids of cauliflower of domestic and foreign selection were studied. The research results showed that the combined use of mineral and organic fertilizers to the greatest extent increases the productivity of cabbage, on average by 30%, while purely mineral fertilizers – by 25%, and purely organic – by 19%. The combined use of mineral and organic fertilizers allows to obtain an average of 28.3 t/ha of cauliflower heads; for individual varieties and hybrids from 23.9 to 38.1 t/ha. Product quality remains good when mineral and organic fertilizers are used both separately and jointly.

New High Yielding Mung Bean Variety Phule Chetak for Maharashtra

Background: Mung bean is one of the important pulse crop requiring low inputs. The productivity of kharif mung bean is very low. The present improved varieties have lower yield potential and disease susceptibility. There is a need to develop high yielding varieties combined with early to mid synchronous maturity, better quality and resistance/tolerance to major pests and diseases. Methods: The green gram var. Phule Chetak was developed by pedigree selection method from a cross between SML-668 X Naval at Oilseeds Research Station, MPKV, Jalgaon. It was tested over several locations and environments for its stability performance. Result: The results indicated a significant improvement in yield level under field conditions. The new variety Phule Chetak reported an average yield of 1003 kg/ha which is 26.96%, 36.46%, 29.42%, 21.72%, 17.58% and 13.21 per cent higher than the check varieties Vaibhav, BPMR-145, AKM-8802, BM-2002-1, BM-2003-2 and Utkarsha respectively. It is bold seeded having early maturity, moderately resistant to major diseases like powdery mildew, mungbean yellow mosaic virus under field conditions. Considering its consistent performance, the mung bean genotype PM-707-5 has been released for cultivation in the kharif season for Maharashtra under the name of Phule Chetak in Joint Agresco during 29-30 October, 2020 held at Dr PDKV, Akola.

Update of the technical equipment of the grain-harvesting complex

Many options have been developed for the implementation of the algorithm for updating the fleet of grain harvesters to date. In accordance with the yield and other indicators, recommendations for the formation and renewal of the harvester fleet are proposed discretely in the form of tables or charts. This form of information does not always meet the requirements of operational correction and does not allow assessing the technological capabilities of the harvesting units, depending on the harvesting conditions. The method to improve the formation of the initial information for operational decision-making on the effective upgrading of technical means of grain harvesting complex taking into account the zonal features of a particular agricultural enterprise is proposed. A graph-analytical method for determining the main parameters of the basic harvesting tools depending on the predicted yield level is developed and the influence of the factors determining the composition of the grain harvesting fleet is assessed. This method makes it possible to identify the most rational basic parameters of alternative basic harvesting tools for a specific agricultural enterprise. The first step is to determine the basic parameters of the basic equipment, then select the appropriate size series of self-propelled threshers for combine harvesters and reapers. Further, alternative versions of various models of grain harvesting units and complexes are formed. For the subsequent selection of rational types of cleaning agents and their criterion assessment, technical and technological, environmental and other indicators are used. The expert-logical analysis of information resources makes it possible to identify and assess the factors that determine the quantitative composition of the technical means of the grain harvesting complex. The final stage in the formation of the initial information for making a decision on updating the technical means of the grain harvesting complex should be their economic assessment, which makes it possible to predict the competitiveness of the threshed grain.

Prediction and Analysis of Paddy Crops Disease in Artificial Intelligence Techniques

The survival of human beings is generally based on the proper productivity of agriculture. The paddy plant is considered as a major planting crop in improving the economical level of our country. Nowadays, the yield level of paddy crop might be minimized due to several diseases. Bacteria, fungi, virus and certain harmful insects are the main causative agents for such disease occurrence on the paddy crop. The diseases which affect the early stage of the paddy crops influences in the whole stage of crop cultivation. In early days of agriculture, the manual detection of diseases has been carried out by farmers. Image processing is one of the emerging techniques for identifying and classifying the different types of diseases and it overcomes the issues encountered during the manual detection of diseases. Image processing technique solves several issues involved in the cultivation of crops including, recognition and classification of plant diseases, discrimination of certain weeds and disease forecasting.

Sustainability Estimation of Oat:Pea Intercrops from the Agricultural Life Cycle Assessment Perspective

Winter cereal:legume intercropping is considered a sustainable arable farming system not only in temperate regions but also in Mediterranean environments. Previous studies have shown that with suitable crop stand composition, high grain yield can be achieved. In this study, a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the influence of sowing ratio and nitrogen (N) fertilization on grain nitrogen yield of oat (Avena sativa L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) in intercrops was performed to find the optimal design to achieve low environmental impact. This study compared the environmental impact of oat:pea intercrops using agricultural LCA. Monocrops of oat and pea and substitutive intercrops, which were fertilized with different levels of N, were compared. The system boundaries included all the processes from cradle to farm gate. Mass-based (grain N yield) and area-based (land demand for generating the same grain N yield) functional units were used. The results covered the impact categories related to the agricultural LCAs. The ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint and Endpoint characterization model was used for the data expression. According to the results, an unfertilized combination of oat and pea (50%:50%) had the lowest environmental impact in comparison with the other 14 assessed variants and selected impact categories. In the assessed framework, pea monocrops or intensively fertilized oat monocrops can also be considered as alternatives with relatively low impact on the environment. However, an appropriate grain N yield must be reached to balance the environmental impact resulting from the fertilizer inputs. The production and use of fertilizers had the greatest impact on the environment within the impact categories climate change, eutrophication, and ecotoxicity. The results indicated that high fertilizer inputs did not necessarily cause the highest environmental impact. In this respect, the achieved grain N yield level, the choice of allocation approach, the functional unit, and the data expression approach played dominant roles.

Effects of nitrogen topdressing and paclobutrazol at different stages on spike differentiation and yield of winter wheat

Background Optimal nitrogen (N) application and plant growth regulators can improve wheat productivity. This can help to improve yield level and ensure food security with limited resources in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China (HPC). Methods A 2-year field experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with four treatments (TS-N topdressing at pseudostem erection stage ; TPS-N topdressing combined with paclobutrazol application at pseudostem erection stage; TJ-N topdressing at jointing stage; TPJ-N topdressing at combined with paclobutrazol application at jointing stage) in 2011–2013. Results The grain number per ear, thousand kernel weight and yield for the TJ and TPJ treatments were higher than those of the TS and TPS treatments. Grain number per ear, yield, and thousands kernel weigh for the TPJ treatment were significantly higher than for the TS and TPS in 2011–2012 (9.82% and 7.27%, 10.23% and 8.99%, 6.12% and 5.58%) and in 2012–2013 (10.21% and 11.55%, 8.00% and 6.58%, 0.00 and 0.00), respectively. Thousands kernel weight under TJ were significantly higher than those under TS and TPS by 13.21% and 14.03%, respectively in 2012–2013. The floret number, significantly correlated with cytokinin content, was also significantly increased under TJ and TPJ at connectivum differentiation stage. For TPJ treatment, the floret number was significantly higher than for the TS, TPS, and TJ by 19.92%, 10.21%, 6.10% in 2011–2012; it was higher than for the TS and TPS by 28.06% and 29.61% in 2012–2013, respectively. The relative expression level of cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase gene (TaCKX2.2) was improved during flowering, when cytokinin content was at high level and was also inhibited by paclobutrazol with different degrees. Conclusions Therefore, nitrogen topdressing at jointing stage had increased grain number per ear, thousand kernel weight, and grain yield of wheat. Paclobutrazol could delay spike differentiation and promote cytokinin accumulation that induced expression of TaCKX2.2, maintaining hormonal balance and affecting wheat spike morphogenesis.

The reaction of soybean varieties to the use of a biological product

Relevance. In the conditions of the Central Black Earth region in the farm “Yaroslav the Wise” of the Starooskolsky district of the Belgorod region, five soybean varieties (Belgorodskaya 48, Bara, Victoria, Opus and Kassidi) were studied on nutritional backgrounds — without seed inoculation and without biological treatment (control), using only inoculation and with the use of a biological product against the background of seed inoculation.Methods. The experimental conditions differed in rainfall patterns and the amount of heat, their distribution was especially uneven in 2020, that had a significant negative effect on the yield of all studied soybean varieties. The soil of the experimental plot is typical medium-thick chernozem, medium-humus, heavy loamy texture. The advantages of the soybean variety Opus, the plants of which formed a large height, air-dry mass, leaf area, a greater number and mass of nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots, were revealed. Plants of this variety provided a higher yield level in all studied agro-backgrounds.Results. The yield varied from 32,5 centners per hectare (control) to 36,2 centners per hectare (when using the biological product Biogor, Zh). The content and collection of protein were also higher in the Opus cultivar in all the studied agrophones. In comparison with the control, the protein content was higher by 4% (background — control), by 4,9% — with inoculation of seeds and by 6,1% — when using a biological product. The same pattern is observed when assessing the oil content in seeds and collecting protein and oil per hectare of soybean sowing. Inoculation of seeds with soybean inoculant Nitragin, KM improved plant development and increased productivity, as well as the profitability of cultivation of the studied soybean varieties, which was higher when using a biological product against the background of seed inoculation by an average of 27%, while with only inoculation — by only 15,1%.

Productivity and Profitability of Aromatic Rice Production in the Philippines

With the 2019 implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), prices of ordinary white rice are expected to go down as a response to the influx of cheaper rice imports. This could put the local farmers at a disadvantage and could provoke them to reduce rice cultivation. Production of aromatic rice, a type of specialty rice with pandan-like scent induced by 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) compound, could serve as a viable enterprise for the local farmers. Covering the provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Apayao, this study was conducted to produce baseline information and gain a comprehensive understanding of the production and potentials of aromatic rice. A survey was carried out to obtain 2017 cropping season farm-level data from 82 market-oriented farmer-respondents. Descriptive statistics and costs and returns structure were employed for data analysis. Results showed that venturing into aromatic rice cultivation can be a viable enterprise for the farmers as a coping mechanism with the ill effects of RTL. Yield level of modern aromatic rice varieties is at par with the national average. Aromatic rice cultivation also appeared to be profitable. Findings showed that the current local aromatic rice industry has high potential for expansion and opportunity for import substitution. Furthermore, top aromatic rice varieties in the country must be looked into to increase profitability. With these conclusions, strategies for yield enhancement, cost reduction, and premium quality preservation are recommended.