Influence of meteorological parameters on performance of rainfed cropping systems

Rainfall, its distribution along with distribution of temperature. relative humidity (RH), bright sunshine hours (SSH) suggest the possible growing season and crop performance in a given area. Field experiments on five economically feasible, sustainable, rainfed crop sequences viz. fallow (i.e. no crop) – rice-lentil, jute-rice-lentil, direct seeded rice-rice-lentil, mungbean-rice-lentil and sesame-rice-lentil were conducted at Kalyani Farm, W.B., during 1989-91. Mean monthly meteorological parameters viz. rainfall, potential evapotranspiration (PET), SSH, temperature (max. and min.) and RH (at 0700 and 1400 hrs LMT) were obtained from selected agrometeorological observatories (viz. Chinsurah, Haringhata and Barrackpore), adjacent to the Kalyani Farm located in Gangetic alluvial region. The relative yield performance of crops and sequences as influenced by meteorological parameters were studied. In Gangetic alluvial region early rain, moderate to high temperature with high RH during April/May resulted in good pre-kharif crop establishment. Heavy, well distributed precipitation during monsoon months along with moderate temperature and very high RH showed scope for rainfed transplanted kharif rice as the pivot of crop rotation. Kharif rice yields were high especially after jute or mungbean. Profile stored residual moisture along with low rainfall, low temperature and high RH during rabi season resulted in good performance of lentil. Among the five sequences studied, performance of' jute-rice-lentil and mungbean-rice-lentil were the best with sustainable production and net return.

Exploitation of neighbouring subsoil for nutrient acquisition under annual-perennial strip intercropping systems

Little is known of how the deep root systems of perennial crops contribute to deeper and better resource use when intercropped with annuals in arable fields. Therefore, we aimed at measuring the capacity of perennial deep roots, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and curly dock (Rumex crispus L.) to access the nutrient source located under the neighboring annuals at 1.0 and 2.5 m of soil depth. Alfalfa and curly dock were able to access the tracer-labelled source placed at a distance under the annual crop strips. As a result, the reliance on deeper soil layer for nutrient uptake under intercroppings became greater compared with sole-croppings. Combination of an annual cereal (winter rye) and a perennial legume (alfalfa) with contrasting root systems exhibited higher resource complementarity compared with intercroppings having similar root systems or absence of legumes. Our results demonstrated that the deep-rooted perennials when intercropped with annuals can induce vertical niche complementarity, especially at deeper soil layers. This was assumed to be due to the vertically stratified root activity between the crop components, however, the magnitude of the effects depended on choice of crop combinations, and on types of tracers. Future studies should include estimates such as relative yield total and land equivalent ratio to quantitatively determine the effects of resource acquisition under annual-perennial intercropping in arable fields.

Effect of P fertilizer and precipitation on wheat under permanent beds in the absence of N fertilizer application

Environmental conditions contribute to a large percentage of wheat yield variability. This phenomenon is particularly true in rainfed environments and non-responsive soils to N. However, the effect of P application on wheat is unknown in the absence of N fertilizer application. This study was conducted from 2012 to 2019 in permanent beds established in 2005. Treatments were arranged in a split-plot design and consisted of superimposing three P treatments (foliar, banded and broadcast application) plus a check (0P) within each one of four preceding N treatments (applied from 2005 to 2009). Foliar P generally showed a greater response than granular P treatments even though the soil tests high P (>30 mg/kg). Precipitation estimated for two different growth intervals explained through regression procedures the Years' effect. Seasonal precipitation (224–407 mm) explained variation of relative yield, N harvest index (NHI) and P agronomic efficiency (AE). Reproductive stage precipitation (48–210 mm) explained soil N supply. In dry years, foliar P application improved predicted relative yield 14% and AE 155 kg grain/kg P compared to granular P treatments. Similarly, soil N supply increased 15 kg/ha in dry moisture conditions during the reproductive stage. The NHI consistently improved over the crop seasons. This improvement was relatively larger for 0 kg N/ha. On average, NHI increased from about 0.57 to 0.72%. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) readings at the booting growth stage were negatively associated with NHI. Foliar P in this non-responsive soil to N showed the potential to replace granular P sources. However, the omission of granular P needs to be further studied to estimate the long-term effect on the soil P test.

Experimental Determination of the Influence of the Peeling Machine Constructive and Operating Parameters on the Criteria of the Peeling Process Efficiency

Introduction. The determination of the optimal technological efficiency of the peeling process, in terms of the number of detached casings and unit costs of the process, is an important task. The purpose of the study is to give reasons for a comprehensive evaluation criterion of the technological efficiency of peeling wheat grain and choose the optimal values of the parameters of grain peeling, taking into account the energy intensity of the process. Materials and Methods. To quantify the technological efficiency of peeling wheat grain, we used the following local efficiency criteria: the relative yield of peeling by-products, the relative decrease in grain ash content, the increase in the number of cracked grains, and a comprehensive criterion of efficiency taking into account local criteria and the specific power consumption. Results. The experiments have shown that the technological feasibility of the peeling process is ensured at the percentage of the flap opening at the outlet of the machine 60‒70%. In this case, the relative yield of waste husk is 3.2‒2.8%, the relative decrease in grain ash content is 0.32‒0.20%, and the increase in the number of cracked grains does not exceed 0.85%. With increasing the degree of the flap opening at the outlet of the machine from 50 to 100%, the specific power consumption decreases from 8.7 to 3.5 kW∙h/t. Discussion and Сonclusion. To assess the technological efficiency of wheat grain peeling a generalized efficiency criterion, which includes local criteria, is proposed. It has been experimentally proved their dependence on the intensity of grain processing in the machine. The optimum combination of the flap opening degree at the outlet of the machine at 67% (productivity 0.7 t/h) and the specific power consumption of 5.8 kW∙h/t was defined. In this case, the efficiency complex criterion, taking into account the process energy intensity of, is 4.5 kg/kW∙h.

UV treatment of agricultural plants in territories subject to salination of soil

An assessment of the influence of electrotechnology of ultraviolet irradiation of seeds and pre-sowing soil treatment and the creation, on their technological basis, of management and control of salt and nutritional regimes of irrigated soils has been carried out. Relative yield of field crops versus the concentration of toxic salts in the soil solution at full moisture capacity are shown. By results of experimental researches acting of UV irradiation on the amount of ammonifying bacteria in the soil under cotton for increasing the accumulation of the most mobile nitrate forms of nitrogen are defined.

Increased Carbon Dioxide by Occupants Promotes Growth of Leafy Vegetables Grown in Indoor Cultivation System

The development of various types of plant factories is central to improving agriculture. In one form, it is expanding from the existing commercial plant factories to home cultivation systems or cultivators. The plant cultivation system grafted into the living space for people produces differences in the growth of the plant depending on the lifestyle (cooling and heating, residence time, number of residents, etc.) of the resident. In this study, identical home cultivation systems that automatically adjust environmental conditions (temperature, photoperiod, light, and nutrient solution supply) other than the carbon dioxide level were set in an office and warehouse. The study confirmed how plant growth can differ depending on the amount of carbon dioxide generated by humans occupying the space. In addition, it was confirmed whether the growth of plants can be further promoted depending on the external air exchange speed by a ventilation fan even if the indoor carbon dioxide concentration is the same. Due to the nature of the cultivation system that controls the temperature, the type and speed of the fan were set to minimize heat loss in the cultivator. The airspeed from ventilation fans attached to the indoor cultivation systems of an office and warehouse was adjusted to one of three levels (0.7, 1.0, or 1.3 m·s−1). In this study with two species, Ssamchoo and Romaine, it was confirmed that the office space was significantly advantageous for the growth of Ssamchoo, especially in terms of the fresh weight, root activity, and chlorophyll content. Romaine also had a significantly higher fresh weight when grown in the office. Shoot length, leaf length, and leaf width were longer, and there were more leaves. When comparing the relative yield based on an airspeed of 1.0 m·s−1, the yield increased up to 156.9% more in the office than in the warehouse. The fan airspeed had an important influence on Ssamchoo. The higher the fan airspeed, the greater the yield, root activity, and chlorophyll. However, fan airspeed had no consistent effect on the growth tendencies of Romaine. In conclusion, carbon dioxide produced by humans occupying the space is a significant source of carbon dioxide for plants grown in the home cultivation system, although both the speed of the ventilation fan that can promote growth without heat loss and delayed growth caused by the photorespiration in a carbon dioxide-limited situation require additional experiments.

Long-term response planting method on wheat under conservation agriculture

Objective: To compare different bed planting systems: narrow beds (80 cm), wide beds (100 cm), and flat soil, on the growth and yield of wheat under conservation system. Design/methodology/approach: Treatments were established on a complete block design with three replicates; also, wheat crop was grown during five seasons. Treatments were as follow: A) wide beds (furrows at 100 cm), B) narrow beds (furrows at 80 cm) and C) flat soil. Response variables were dry weight of 50 stems, weight of 1000 grains, number of spikes (m2), harvest index and yield. Also, the relationship between relative yield and cold units and degree-days were measured. Results: Flat soil reach the highest dry weight of 50 stems, whereas narrow beds had the maximum number of spikes per m2. Yield was equal between flat soil and narrow beds. No differences were found in the harvest index (HI) among the evaluated treatments. When comparing results between years, dry weight of 50 stems increased and the HI index decreased, affecting negatively the yield. A negative association was found between chill hours and yield. Findings/conclusions: Despite yield was equal between flat soil and narrow beds, reduction on yields was mainly associated with of reduction in chill hours occurring in each season.

Yield Potential and Monetary Advantage Index of Maize Intercropped with Grain Legumes in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Traditional mixtures of food crop species involve intercrop of plants with dissimilar size and growth cycle on the field. However, the Relative Yield Potential (RYP) and Land Equivalent Ratios (LER) of these mixtures are given less prejudice especially in monetary terms by ancient farmers. This necessitate an experiment conducted during the 2016 and 2018 rainy seasons. The treatments consisted of Maize (TZESR – Open Pollinated), Cowpea (Sampea - 7), Peanut (Samnut - 24) and Soybean (TGX 713 – 09D) as sole crops sown at seed rates of 25 and 50 kgha-1 for maize and legumes respectively. The grain legumes were intercropped with maize in the ratio of 4:1, 2:1 or 1:1 as additional rows in between the normal rows of maize planted at a spacing of 75 x 25cm. Results revealed that intercropping of maize with either cowpea, peanut or soybean in 2:1 ratio was most productive in terms of maize equivalent yield and declined thereafter, with increase in the legume proportion, though maintained its superiority over sole planting of maize. Maize intercropped with soybean in the ratios 4:1 gave the highest mean biological maize equivalent compared to its sole planting at different combinations of legumes. Maize + Peanut gave the highest mean Land Equivalent Ratio (1.81) followed by maize + Cowpea (1.74) and maize + soybean (1.59) all sown in the ratio of 2:1. Intercropping of legumes with maize appeared to be more aggressive than sole planting of maize or legumes. Maize + Peanut (2:1) gave the highest mean Monetary Advantage Index (MAI) of 7789.0, Mean Yield Index (MYI) of 79.0. However, regardless of the ratio in which Maize + peanut was combined, result of 47% MAI showed a greater biological relationship, effective competition, hence recommended. Highest cost/benefit ratio (5.09 and 4.45) was obtained with maize + soybean (4:1) during 2016 and 2018, respectively.

Simulation of the critical nitrogen dilution curve in Jiangxi double-cropped rice region based on leaf dry matter weight

In order to investigate the feasibility of using rice critical nitrogen concentration as a nitrogen nutrition diagnosis index, a two-year positioning field gradient experiment using four rice varieties and four nitrogen levels (0, 75, 150, 225 kg·ha–1 for early rice; 0, 90, 180, 270 kg·ha–1 for late rice) was conducted for early and late rice. The critical dilution curves (Nc%) of the double-cropped rice based on leaf dry matter (LDM) were constructed and verified using the field data. Two critical nitrogen dilution curves and nitrogen nutrition indexes (NNI) of rice LDM were constructed for early rice [Nc% = 2.66LDM−0.79, R2 = 0.88, NNI ranged between 0.29–1.74, and the average normalized root mean square error (n-RMSE = 19.35%)] and late rice [Nc% = 7.46LDM−1.42, R2 = 0.91, NNI was between 0.55–1.53, and the average (n-RMSE = 15.14%)]. The relationship between NNI and relative yield was a quadratic polynomial equation and suggested that the optimum nitrogen application rate for early rice was sightly smaller than 150 kg·ha–1, and that for late rice was about 180 kg·ha-1. The developed critical nitrogen concentration dilution curves, based on leaf dry matter, were able to diagnose nitrogen nutrition in the double-cropped rice region.

Modeling the productivity of intensive and super-intensive apple orchards in the midland of Russia

It is known that the main trend in the development of modern world gardening is the creation of intensive and super-intensive gardens, and the degree of intensity of the garden increases with an increase in the number of trees per unit area (compaction of tree layout). The paper considers the patterns of productivity of intensive apple orchards during the reproductive cycle depending on tree planting density. The paper presents the models of apple tree productivity in intensive and super-intensive orchards representing regression equations approximated by polynomials of 2 and 3 degree with determination coefficients R2=0.97-0.99. According to the above models, a total yield of up to 516 ton/ha may be obtained in an intensive garden with a tree planting density of up to 1500 wood/ha for 18 years of commercial fruiting, a total yield of up to 790 ton/ha may be obtained in a super-intensive garden with a planting density of more than 9,500 wood/ha for 16 years of commercial fruiting (an increase in the total productivity of planted vegetation of more than 1.5 times). The models (dependencies) of development of industrial apple orchards of different planting scheme are obtained, approximated by sigmoidal logistic functions defining three stages of logistic yield growth at the beginning of garden development (“growing up”), having exponential, linear and hyperbolic nature respectively. Logistics trends of the relative yield of the garden and the relative productivity of trees were established, according to which an increase in the yield of industrial gardens due to an increase in planting density is accompanied by a decrease in the productivity of fruit trees.