Growth and yields of two varieties of maize (Zea mays L.) intercropped with peanut (Arachys hypogaea L.) applied by bokashi plus fertilizer between the rows of teak trees based agroforestry system

Nutrient shortages are the main problems faced by farmers, so as to improve soil fertility using organic fertilizer is compulsory. The main objective was to analyze the effects of bokashi plus fertilizer on the growth and yields of two varieties of maize intercropped with peanut under three years old teak trees in agroforestry system. The research was arranged in randomized completely block design in factorial pattern with two factors, maize variety: local maize and hybrid corn bisi-2; and bokashi plus fertilizer doses: 0, 3, 6 and 9 t ha-1. Maize growth recorded were plant height, leaf number, stem diameter and leaf area at 2, 4, 6 and 8 WAP and maize yields recorded were cob weight with cornhusk, cob weight without cornhusk, cob length, diameter, row number, 100 seeds dry weight, biomass dry weight, yield and LER. The results showed that interaction between maize variety and bokashi plus fertilizer had significant effect on the growth and yield of maize intercropped with peanut under three years of teak trees in agroforestry system. The best effects of maize growth and yield were obtained at 9 t ha-1 with highest yield of local maize and hybrid maize of 4,69 and 5,79 t ha-1.

Observations on the Productivity of Breeding Specimens of Urtica dioica L. from European Russian Ecotopes in Comparison with the Breeding Variety under Field Crop Conditions

Nettle is most often studied as a spinning plant, as a source of biochemicals and environmentally safe fungicides. Major studies are mostly conducted on natural samples and plant populations. Prospects for the use of plant biological resources of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) from the Cretaceous south of the Central Russian Upland to create cultivars for a wide range of applications are considered. The aim of the study is to investigate the productivity of fresh weight and its biochemical composition in the variety of stinging nettle Avicenna, created on the basis of the initial material selected in the Belgorod region of Russia and patented in 2019, and new promising cultivars UD 32/06 and UD 12/16. The experiments were carried out by the split plot method with full randomization in four replicates. The cultivars UD 32/06 and UD 12/16 reliably surpass the Avicenna cultivar in the collection of fresh mass weight by 16.6–22.7% and 23.1 to 27.8%, dry weight by 11.4–28.7% and 1.9–32.7%, and seeds by 19.7–32.0% and 23.2–40.0% accordingly. Analysis of variance showed a significant effect of the factor “Cultivar” on the productive traits “Fresh weight yield” (strength influence 87.2%), “Dry weight yield” (strength influence 43.9%), and “Seed yield” (h2x = 61.6%). The content of crude protein in dry weight of the Avicenna and new varieties is 21.1–24.2%, crude fat: 2.5–4.2%, fiber: 12.0–14.8%. High content of ascorbic acid, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc were observed in all material tested. It is concluded that the biological resources of the wild-growing forms of Urtica dioica L. from the European south of Russia are a valuable source material for obtaining varieties, and varieties with high productivity of the aboveground mass and stable seed productivity. The obtained research results prove the usefulness of nettle cultivation.

Potential of Three Taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) Cultivars as Animal Feed

The growth and yield of taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) plants are influenced by the planting material. The use of planting material derived from corms is expected to improve the quality and quantity of taro growth and yield. This research aimed to find the best type of planting material and cultivars for taro growth and the potential of taro plants as animal feed. The experiment was carried out in Jember, East Java ( elevation ±89 m asl). The experiment used the randomized completed block design method with two treatment factors, the type of planting material (B) as the first factor (B1: taro corms, B2: taro tiller, B3: taro stolon) and the use of taro cultivars (V) as the second factor (V1: green taro, V2: ketan taro, V3: Sukabumi taro). The treatment was repeated four times. The results showed that there was an interaction between the use of taro planting material and taro cultivar that could influence the tuber weight per plant. The types of planting material had a significant effect on the number of tillers, leaf area, corm weight and diameter, and the planting of several taro cultivars significantly affected all observed variables. The treatment that gave the best results was planting material from taro tuber (B1) and Sukabumi cultivar (V3) with a tuber weight yield of 362.58 g (±14.5 tons/ha). Meanwhile, the Sukabumi cultivar (V3) had the best potential as animal feed. Overall, the stems and leaves of taro had a protein content of 1.19–2.02%, while the corms had 2.82–4.09%.

Dependence of the amount of certifiedd seeds of maternal lines of sunflower hybrids on the plant density

In 2017–2020, on leached black soils in the central climatic zone of the Krasnodar region we studied the patterns of amount of a fraction of certified seeds (amount of physically clean seeds from a sieve with holes of size 2.5 x 20 mm) of the early maturing inbreds – the maternal forms of sunflower hybrids VK 101, VK 678, VK 905, VA 760 and ED 765 bred at the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops depending on the plant density of 40, 50, 60 and 70 thousand plants/ha. We established the negative dependence of the amount of a fraction of certified seeds on the plant density. On average for 2017–2020, the maximum yield of such seeds was obtained when growing the studied maternal lines with plant density of 40 thousand plants/ha: 95 % in VK 905, 88 % in VK 678, and 76–79 % in VA 760, VK 101, and ED 765. With the increasing plat population from 40 to 70 thousand plants/ha, after each 10 thousand plants/ha on average, the amount of a fraction of certified seeds decreased by 1.9 % in VK 905, by 4.9–5.9 in VK 101, VK 678, VA 760, and by 5.9 % in ED 765; the number of a fraction of certified seeds per head decreased by 37 in VK 95 to 125 pieces in VK 101. The highest weight yield and number of a fraction of certified seeds per 1.0 m2 of sowing area of the maternal lines was obtained when growing VK 101 with a plant density of 50 thousand plants/ha, VK 678, VA 760, and ED 765 – 60 thousand plants/ha, VK 905 – 70 thousand plants/ha. We established the negative dependence of thousand-seed weight on the plant density; as the density increased by 10 thousand plants/ha, 1000-seed weight decreased by 1.4 g in VK 760, by 2.2 g in VK 101, by 3.1–3.2 in ED 765 and VK 678, and by 3.5 g in VK 905.

Quality Responses of Table Grapes ‘Flame Seedless’ as Effected by Foliarly Applied Micronutrients

Micronutrient (iron, zinc and boron) deficiencies are a basic and prominent factor affecting grape quality and yield in the Pothwar region. To overcome these deficiencies, different levels of micronutrients were applied foliarly on grapevines at five different berry developmental stages during two consecutive growing seasons (2018 and 2019). The data suggested that foliar treatment of micronutrients significantly increased the yield, number of bunches per vine, bunch weight, yield per vines, bunch length, berry number per cluster, berry diameter, berry weight and cluster compactness. The biochemical quality attributes of berries, including sugars (reducing, non-reducing as well as total sugars), ascorbic acid content, pH and TSS values, were at their highest levels in grapevines supplemented with Fe, Zn and B treatment at 200 ppm, respectively, i.e., the highest concentrations used. Biochemical leaf values, including chlorophyll a and b and leaf micronutrient content (Fe, Zn and B), were also highest in grapevines that were sprayed with Fe, Zn and B at 200 ppm. Overall, the results revealed that the performance of grapevine cv. ‘Flame Seedless’ growing in agroclimatic conditions of the Pothwar region was improved as a result of the foliar application of Fe, Zn and B at 200 ppm. The results also suggested that a further increase in the concentration of each nutrient might be helpful to obtain berries of improved quantity and quality.

Effect of Soil Mulching and Cobalt on Growth and Yield of (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Under Protected Conditions

The study was conducted during the winter season 2021 at the Agricultural Research Station of the College of Agriculture, University of Basra. In order to study the effect of soil Mulching and the addition of cobalt on the growth and green yield of green bean plants grown under greenhouses conditions, the experiment included 12 factorial treatments, which consist of the four types of plastic coverings (black, white, transparent and without Mulching ) and three concentrations of cobalt as a cobalt sulfate (zero, 5 and 10) ml g L-1, as the Mulching with white plastic achieved the best results in most of study parameters. The addition of cobalt at concentrations 5 and 10 ml.g L-1 recorded the best values in plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and number of root nodes, and white and black caps also outperformed in pod weight, yield of plant green pods, total yield of green pods and pod length. The white cover achieved the best value in the percentage of protein of seeds, while the transparent cover was recorded best value in the percentage of dry matter in the seeds. Foliar cobalt application of concentrations 5 and 10 mlg L-1 recorded best value in pod weight and per the yield of pods. Plant -1 yield., pod diameter and the percent of dry matter in the seeds, and the concentration of 5 mlg L-1 achieved the highest value in the number of pods and protein content in the seeds.

Cyanobacteria reduction in the integrated culture of Pacific white shrimp and West India pointed venus in a biofloc system

This study aimed to evaluate the integrated culture of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and the West Indian pointed venus (Anomalocardia flexuosa) reared in a biofloc system. The performance of both species and the phytoplankton community were evaluated. Shrimp monoculture and three stocking densities of West Indian pointed venus (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 Kg m-3) were evaluated in 0.05 m3 tanks. First of all, the addition of A. brasiliana did not affect the water quality parameters of the culture. Regarding the phytoplankton community, 13 taxa were found: 5 cyanobacteria, 4 dinoflagellates, 3 diatoms and 1 green algae. Although diatoms were dominant at the beginning of cultivation, in the middle and at the end a cyanobacterial dominance was observed (proven by ANOSIM and nMDS). The taxa that most contributed to the abundance of cyanobacteria were Aphanocapsa sp. and Pseudanabaena sp. Regarding the performance of the shrimp, all integrated treatments present the higher growth performances (final weight, yield and survival) when compared to shrimp monoculture. Moreover, gradual mortalities of A. brasiliana were observed, probably due to the high concentration of cyanobacteria. Thus, it can be observed that the integration of molluscs in shrimp culture can reduce the concentration of harmful algae and improve the zootechnical performance of the shrimp.

Mixed anionic double sodium-cobalt(II) diorthodiphosphate: structure and growing of single-crystals

The solubility of cobalt oxide was determined in the melts of the system Na2O–P2O5–CoO–NaF in a wide range of molar ratios Na2O:P2O5 (0.5–2.0) and temperatures of 800–9000C at the sodium fluoride content of 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%. The region of existence and optimal conditions for growing monocrystals of complex phosphate Na4Со3(PO4)2P2O7 in the melts of the system Na2O–P2O5–CoO–NaF was found out. The synthesized compound was investigated using a number of physicochemical methods (IR spectroscopy, diffuse reflection spectroscopy, X-ray phase analysis, X-ray structure analysis and differential thermal analysis). The complete chemical analysis of the synthesized compound was performed and the melting temperature was determined 7650С, without decomposition). The X-ray diffraction analysis of Na4Со3(PO4)2P2O7 single crystals was carried out and the unit lattice parameters were determined. Phosphate crystals belong to the rhombic crystal system, sp. gr. Pna21; crystal lattice parameters are as follows: a=18.021(1) Å, b=10.389(2) Å, c=6.532(2) Å, V=1222.47(1) Å3, Z=4, сcalc=3.47 g cm–3. The following specific features of the structure of complex phosphate Na4Со3(PO4)2P2O7 have been established: the presence of conduction channels for the sodium ion along the oy axis and the presence of differently coordinated Na and Co polyhedra with an uncharacteristic coordination number. The optimal conditions for the growth of complex phosphate single crystals with a high weight yield were selected. The use of the synthesized compound Na4Со3(PO4)2P2O7 as a functional material with ion conductivity was suggested.

Early and Total Yield Enhancement of the Globe Artichoke Using an Ecofriendly Seaweed Extract-Based Biostimulant and PK Fertilizer

This study evaluated the effect of phosphorus and potassium (PK) fertilizer levels and foliar seaweed extract on early and total yield productivity and the growth of globe artichoke plants. Field experiments were conducted over two seasons on loamy–clay soil at the vegetable research farm, of the Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Egypt. Fertilizer levels of 0, 25, 50 and 75 mL L−1, and seaweed extract concentrations of 0, 5 and 10 mg L−1, individually and in combination, were used. Globe artichoke plants treated with PK liquid fertilizer, with and without seaweed extract, showed critical increases in growth (plant height and number of leaves per plant as well as foliage dry weight), yield, and some chemical constituents compared to untreated plants. The PK3 fertilizer level and 10 mL L−1 seaweed extract as a foliar spray showed greater effects than other combinations.

Multiple Regressions Analysis to investigate the optimal yield of Guava fruits at different level of NPK Fertilizers in south west Nigeria

Purpose: This study investigates the effect of fertilizers (Nitrogen, Phosphorus & Potassium) on Guava; examines which of the three elements of NPK contribute most to the weight of guava seed. It thus further determines at what proportion each of the three elements is to be applied for optimum yield. Subjects and Methods: A 3 x 3 factorial experiments were adopted in the data analysis; further tests were conducted using different Post Hoc test approaches and a multiple regression analysis was derived to investigate at what proportion the elements are to be applied for optimum yield. Results: The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that only Phosphorus and Potassium contribute to the growth and weight yield of guava. The Post-Hoc Tests showed that there was a significant difference between the mean pair of P0 & P20 and P0 & P40 with a p-value of 0.000 and 0.000 respectively. Also, there was a significant difference between the mean pair of K0 & K50 and K0 & P100 with a p-value of 0.004 and 0.008 respectively which is less than the significant level at 0.05. Furthermore, the overall multiple regression models for the weight yield of guava fruits were obtained as: (Y)=5.646+0.0556N-0.3611P+1.5694K+1.7167NP+1.1333NK+1.0361PK. Conclusion: Thus, to obtain an optimal yield of 12- 20t/ha of guava fruits, phosphorus and potassium are to be applied at 40k.g and 50kg respectively with spacing of 6 x 6m accommodating 277.7 plants per hectare.