Crop Grain Research Articles

Efficacy of different amendments and residual effects on nickel toxicity and nutritional quality in wheat/rice continuous system and health risk assessment in Ultisol

ABSTRACT Rice straw (RS), biochar (BC) and lime (LM) have proved to be effective immobilizing agents in acidic contaminated soil. Up-to-date scientific data is lacking regarding residual effects of these amendments in acidic soils and wheat/rice cropping system. The objective was to analyze the efficacy of amendments to improve grain yields, nutritional quality, and reduce Ni bioavailability of wheat/rice rotation system. A pot experiment was conducted to examine the efficacy of RS, BC 10 and 20 g kg−1 and LM 10 g kg−1 application rates on plant growth, nutritional quality and Ni contents in wheat and rice tissues and grain. Amendments enhanced Ni immobilization, declined their uptake by plants and accumulation in the grains of both crops. Rice straw biochar reduced several factors like health risk assessment, Ni uptake and bioconcentration factor. BC 20 g kg−1 increased shoot, root and grain yields, while enhanced essential nutrients in the wheat/rice cropping system compared to untreated soil. Soil amendments significantly decreased toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP) extractable Ni by 42.25% and 42.62% and simple bioaccessibility extraction test (SBET) by 42.1% and 45.25% in post- wheat/rice crops. This process enhanced the safety of wheat/rice rotation cropping system to be consumed and mitigated security risks.

Effect of Biochar Application on Soil Fertility, Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Balance in Coastal Salt-Affected Soil under Barley–Maize Rotation

Coastal lands are often affected by salinization, which leads to a deterioration of soil structure and a decrease in land productivity. As a widely used soil amendment, biochar has been proven to improve poor soil properties and promote crop growth and N adsorption and utilization. However, the effects of biochar on soil fertility, N use efficiency (NUE) and balance in coastal salt-affected soil have rarely been reported. Therefore, we conducted a field micro-plot experiment to study the improvement effects of different biochar rates (0, 13.5, 20.25 and 27 t/ha, corresponding to CK, B1, B2 and B3 treatments, respectively) on coastal salt-affected soil. The results showed that biochar application increased soil water content (SWC) in seasons with abundant rainfall but decreased SWC in seasons with strong evaporation, and the increase or decrease in SWC was greater with the increase in biochar rates. Biochar application increased soil salinity and decreased soil pH, although high rates of biochar increased soil salinity to a lesser extent, while low rates of biochar decreased soil pH most. Biochar application was able to reduce soil bulk density, while B1and B2 treatments decreased it to a higher degree. Moreover, biochar application increased soil macro-aggregates (>0.25 mm) and organic matter, while B2 and B3 treatments increased it to a higher degree. Biochar application improved soil fertility to an extent that crop grain increased yield by 2.84~19.88% in barley season and 12.27~16.74% in maize season. Meanwhile, biochar application also increased NUE because it promoted the increase of yield. In particular, the calculation of N balance between soil and plant systems suggested that biochar application could reduce the apparent N loss during crop planting, and B1 treatment was better at reducing apparent N loss. Overall, our study indicates that biochar application has great potential to improve poor physicochemical properties and N nutrient utilization in coastal salt-affected soil. More importantly, we suggest that biochar application rates should be controlled in coastal salt-affected soil.

Population Dynamics of Digitaria sanguinalis and Effects on Soybean Crop under Different Glyphosate Application Timings

Large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) is one of the most problematic weeds in summer crops in Argentina. Emergence throughout the season of several cohorts allows the weed to escape postemergence control. Demographic models are useful tools to understand and compare the effect of different agronomic management decisions on weed population growth, as well as to identify critical functional stages that affect population growth rates. The objectives of this work were (i) to study population dynamics of D. sanguinalis in soybean, (ii) to determine the effect of glyphosate application timing on weed demographic parameters and soybean yield losses, and (iii) to evaluate the effect of weed density on soybean yield loss. A field experiment was conducted in two locations, in a completely randomized design with three replicates. Treatments included a control without glyphosate and glyphosate applied at soybean stages V4 or R1. The demographic stages (initial seedbank, seedlings, and adult plants) and parameters (establishment, survival, and fecundity) were estimated. Reproductive organs were evaluated in each cohort, including raceme per plant, spikelets per raceme, and seeds per spikelet. Weed and crop biomass and yield crop were assessed at harvest. Three cohorts were identified, the first of which emerged in November and contributed 93% of the total seedlings and 71% of the total adults. Glyphosate applied at V4 reduced the survival rate of the first cohort, as well as the total shoot biomass and the fecundity rate, increasing the biomass and crop grain yield. Both application timings affected tillers per plant, racemes per tiller, and fertile spikelets per raceme. Glyphosate at R1 did not effectively reduce weed competition, but reduced seed production as application at V4. Yield losses estimated with the model of the rectangular hyperbola according to weed density showed a yield loss at low densities (I) of 18%, and a maximum yield loss (A) of 82%. To avoid yield losses, herbicide applications targeting the first cohort are more effective than later applications targeting subsequent cohorts. However, at both times glyphosate applications reduced the number of seeds entering the seedbank, and therefore the population growth rate.

TRADITIONAL CULTIVATION, STORAGE AND USE OF GRAIN CROPS, FRUITS AND GREEN HERBS OF THE ISFAIRAM-SAI KYRGYZ (XIX century and the first half of the XX century)

Ата-бабаларыбыз тамак-аш азыктарын, азыркы мезгилдеги азыктарды кайра иштетүүдөн жана сактоодон айрымаланып, кургатылган түрдө гана жылдап сакташып, анан пайдаланышкан. Алар дан эгиндеринен буудай менен арпаны эгин талаасынын четине оюп курулган оролорго куюп сакташкан, ал эми макани болсо кайыңдын же тыттын чыбыгынан (ноодасынан) токулган четенге салышкан. Жердин кыртышына жана аба ырайына жараша ал жерге туура келген дан эгиндеринин жакшы сортторун себишкен. Ошондой эле кайрак жерлерди которуштуруп айдоо жолу менен пайдаланышкан. Мындан сырткары элибиз мөмө-жемиш дарактарынын мөмөлөрүн кургатышып алып сакташкан. Андай мөмө-жемиштердин арасынан биринчи июнь айында бышкан бөдөнө тытты, экинчи саратан мезгилинде бышкан өрүктүн учма кандек, ак кандек деген сортторун, кийин сентябрь айында бышкан жаңгак менен жийдени терип күнгө жайып кургатып алышкан. Ушул эле мезгилде жапайы мөмө-жемиштерден пистени (мистени), долонону, карагатты да кагып, терип, кургатышып, кийин тамак-ашка колдонушкан. Исфайрам-Сай чөлкөмүнүн жаратылышы абдан кеңири болгондуктан, жапайы тоо көк чөптөрүнө бай аймак болуп саналат. Ошондуктан ата-бабаларыбыз тоо көк чөптөрүн суу (өл) учурунда же кургатылгандан кийин тамак-ашка кошуп, анын жагымдуулугун арттыруу жана ден соолукка пайдалуулугун жогорулатуу үчүн пайдаланышкан. Аларга тоо пиязы, кийик от, аркар от, чай чөп, көбүргөн ж.б. кирет. В отличии от нынишней переработки и хранения продуктов питания, наши предки их хранили только в сушенном виде потом употребляли. Из зерновых культур: пшеницу и ячмень хранили в ямах (оро) вырытых на краю зерновых полей, а кукурузу плетенной ограде (четен) из прутьев березы или тутовника. В зависимости почвенного покрова и погодных условий выбирали лучшие сорта зерновых культур для посева, а также для богарных земель применяли севоборот. Кроме того наши предки сушили и хранили плоды фруктовых деревьев. Из таких фруктов сушили первым созревшие в июне тутовника, затем в июле абрикосы (урюки), а в сентябре орехи и жийде. В это же времья собирали и сушили дикорастушие фисташки, боярышник, барбарис и употребляли в пище. Природа Исфайрам-Сайского региона очень обширна, поэтому считается богатым краем дикой горной зеленой травой. Наши деды добавляли в пищу свежие или сушенные горные зеленые травы для улучшения вкусовых качеств. К ним относятся горный лук, трава горной косули и архара, зверобой и др. Unlike the current processing and storage of food, our ancestors stored them only in dried form and then consumed them. From grain crops: wheat and barley were stored in pits (oro) dug at the edge of grain fields, and corn in a wicker fence (cheten) from mulberry birch twigs. Depending on the soil cover and weather conditions, the best varieties of grain crops were chosen for sowing, and crop rotation was also used for rainfed lands. In addition, our ancestors dried and stored fruits of fruit trees. Of these fruits, mulberries, which ripened in June, were the first to be dried, then apricots (apricots) in July, and nuts and jyde in September. At the same time, wild-growing pistachios, hawthorn, barberry were collected and dried and used in food. The nature of the Isfayram-Sai region is very extensive; therefore, it is considered a rich land of wild mountain green grass. Our grandfathers added fresh or dried mountain green herbs to their food to improve their palatability. These include mountain onion, grass of mountain roe deer and argali, St. John's wort, etc. others

Agricultural Use of Urban Sewage Sludge from the Wastewater Station in the Municipality of Alexandria in Romania

Considering the increase in the amount of sewage sludge as a result of the development of urbanization, and the pollution of the environment through the storage of this sludge, the objective of this paper is to analyze the effects of the action of different doses of urban sewage sludge as a fertilizer for agricultural soil. Starting from the legislative recommendations regarding the use of urban sewage sludge in agriculture, we analyzed the sludge resulting from the sewage treatment plant in the Municipality of Alexandria, Romania. This sewage treatment plant, with two technological lines of water and sludge treatment, produces urban sewage sludge without pathogenic bacteria. We highlighted that by applying sewage sludge doses of 15 t/ha and 25 t/ha to agricultural soils, on which we planted soybean and wheat crops. We obtained high yields, and the concentration of heavy metals in the roots, stems and grains of soybean and wheat crops did not exceed the maximum standard limits allowed. Having a high content of organic matter and nutrients important for plants such as nitrogen, ammonium, potassium and zinc, sewage sludge has improved the fertility, physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, and is able to be used as a fertilizer for degraded soils.

Value-Added Fertilizers Enhanced Growth, Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency through Reduced Ammonia Volatilization Losses under Maize–Rice Cropping Cultivation

Plant nutrition is an essential element for crop production and enormous amounts of fertilizers are used in agricultural systems. However, these sources emit toxic gasses and compounds in the environment that not only deteriorate soil quality but also cause a reduction in the use efficiency of applied nutrients. Therefore, the value addition of these fertilizer sources by coating micronutrients, microbes, polymers or other organic and inorganic compounds have been advocated recently. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of value-added fertilizer sources for growth and yield improvement of Zea mays (Pioneer-30T60) and Oryza sativa (Super Basmati-515) with a reduction in ammonia volatilization and an improvement in nutrient recovery by crop grains. Different phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer sources (Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), polymer coated DAP, zarkhez plus NPK, urea, polymer-coated urea and zabardast urea) were used in different combinations keeping one control for N. The results revealed that maximum growth, yield and nutrient recovery was shown by polymer-coated urea and DAP followed by zarkhez plus NPK and zabardast urea. Moreover, a minimum ammonia emission was recorded by polymer-coated fertilizers, but other value-added fertilizers were found inefficient in reducing ammonia emission, though these sources improved all growth and yield attributes. Nutrient recovery efficiency was patterned as; polymer coated fertilizers > zarkhez plus NPK + zabardast urea > zarkhez plus NPK + urea > DAP + zabardast urea > DAP + urea > DAP. Thus, the use of polymer-coated fertilizers was beneficial for both the reduction in ammonia volatilization and for improving nutrient use efficiency with maximum crop benefits.

Evaluating how lodging affects maize yield estimation based on UAV observations.

Timely and accurate pre-harvest estimates of maize yield are vital for agricultural management. Although many remote sensing approaches have been developed to estimate maize yields, few have been tested under lodging conditions. Thus, the feasibility of existing approaches under lodging conditions and the influence of lodging on maize yield estimates both remain unclear. To address this situation, this study develops a lodging index to quantify the degree of lodging. The index is based on RGB and multispectral images obtained from a low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle and proves to be an important predictor variable in a random forest regression (RFR) model for accurately estimating maize yield after lodging. The results show that (1) the lodging index accurately describes the degree of lodging of each maize plot, (2) the yield-estimation model that incorporates the lodging index provides slightly more accurate yield estimates than without the lodging index at three important growth stages of maize (tasseling, milking, denting), and (3) the RFR model with lodging index applied at the denting (R5) stage yields the best performance of the three growth stages, with R2 = 0.859, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1086.412 kg/ha, and a relative RMSE of 13.1%. This study thus provides valuable insight into the precise estimation of crop yield and demonstra\tes that incorporating a lodging stress-related variable into the model leads to accurate and robust estimates of crop grain yield.

Biochar and biofertilizer reduced nitrogen input and increased soybean yield in the maize soybean relay strip intercropping system

Applying Biochar (BC) or biofertilizers (BF) are potential approaches to reduce the nitrogen input and mitigate soil degradation in the maize soybean relay strip intercropping system (IS). In 2019 and 2020, a two-factor experiment was carried out to examine the effects of BC and BF on soil productivity and yield production in IS. 4 N input levels (8.4, 22.5, 45 kg, and 67.5 kg ha − 1) referred to as N0, N1, N2, and N3 were paired with various organic treatments, including BC (150 kg ha − 1), BF (300 kg ha − 1), and without organic amendments (CK). The results demonstrated that, despite BF decreasing the biomass and N distribution into grains, BF performed better on improved soybean yield (5.2–8.5%) by increasing the accumulation of soybean biomass (7.2 ~ 11.6%) and N (7.7%). Even though BC and BF have a detrimental effect on soybean nitrogen fixation by reducing nodule number and weight, the values of soybean nitrogenase activity and nitrogen fixation potential in BF were higher than those in BC. Additionally, BF performs better at boosting the soil’s nitrogen content and nitrate reductase and urease activity. BF increased the concentration of total N, soil organic matter, Olsen-phosphorus, and alkaline hydrolyzable N in the soil by 13.0, 17.1, 22.0, and 7.4%, respectively, compared to CK. Above all, applying BF combination with N2 (45 kg ha − 1 N) is a feasible strategy to raise crop grain output and keep soil productivity over the long term in IS.

Integrating Diverse Cover Crops for Fallow Replacement in a Subtropical Dryland: Implications on Subsequent Cash Crop Yield, Grain Quality, and Gross Margins

Integrating cover cropping into crop–fallow rotation has been considered a key component of ecological intensification that could mitigate negative productivity and sustainability challenges associated with conventional fallow practices. However, the adoption of cover crops in water-limited environments has been limited by potential soil water and nitrogen (N) costs and resulting yield penalties. We examined the impacts of diverse cover crops on fallow soil water and mineral N dynamics and the legacy impacts on subsequent cash crop productivity and profitability. The cover crops used (forage oat—Avena sativa L. [grass], common vetch—Vicia sativa subsp. sativa L.)/fababean—Vicia faba L. [legume], forage rape—Brassica napus L. [brassica]) differed in functional traits related to growth, phenology, and soil water and N acquisition and use strategies. We found that grass-associated cover crops generally supported higher cash crop grain yield and profit than brassica- or legume-associated cover crops, mainly due to moderate biomass accumulation and water use and persistent groundcover. Cash crop grain yields increased by +19% and +23% following forage oat cover crop, with concomitant gains in gross margins of +96$ ha−1 and +318$ ha−1 for maize and winter wheat compared to conventional fallow. In contrast, maize grain yield following brassica-associated cover crops ranged from +8 to −21% and reduced gross margins by −229 to −686$ ha−1 relative to conventional fallow. Legume- and brassica-associated cover crops had the lowest mungbean and winter wheat grain yield and gross margins compared to conventional fallow and the added stubble. Cash crop yields were related to cover crop biomass production, biomass N accumulation, residue carbon to N ratio, and legacy impacts through effects on soil water availability at cash crop sowing. Given the additional grain yield and gross margin benefits following grass-associated cover crops, they may provide a potential alternative fallow soil water and N management option that could improve crop productivity and cropping system resilience in water-limited environments.

Comparative assessment of the winter grain crops’ feeding value by the content of arabinoxylans

ABSTRACT The main difference in fodder qualities of winter rye, triticale and wheat grains is the content of anti-nutritive substances: water-soluble pentosans and, accordingly, the viscosity of the aqueous extract of grain. Lack of scientific information about the content of antinutrients in the grain of winter cereal crops determines the relevance of the research; and the possibility to develop ways of using it and volumes of production for fodder purposes determines study’s innovativeness. The paper was set out to make a comparative assessment of the winter rye, winter triticale and winter wheat grain quality. On average for three years, the protein content of winter wheat grain was 11.5%, winter triticale – 10.0% and winter rye – 8.5%. In terms of starch content, winter wheat grain differs significantly from winter rye grain (by 0.9 percentage points more); winter triticale (by 0.8 percentage points more). On average, over three years, phosphorus in winter rye grain was 0.02 percentage points less than in wheat grain and 0.03 percentage points less than in triticale grain. Winter triticale and wheat grains hardly vary in the content of arabinoxylans and the viscosity of the aqueous extract. The results can be used in fodder production and animal husbandry.

УПРАВЛЕНИЕ ЗАТРАТНЫМ МЕХАНИЗМОМ ИННОВАЦИОННЫХ ПРОЦЕССОВ ОБРАБОТКИ ПОЧВЫ ДЛЯ АДАПТИВНО-ЛАНДШАФТНОГО ЗЕМЛЕДЕЛИЯ СИБИРИ

Relevance. The efficiency of agricultural production is determined by internal and external conditions. When cultivating grain crops (GC), extensive technologies predominate using plowing, which is contrary to environmental principles and leads to soil degradation. The analysis shows that for the period from 1930 to 2020 y., the efficiency of plowing (CUA) decreased from 0.84 to 0.37: the highest efficiency was provided by units based on DT-54, and the smallest, corresponding to 0.37, was recorded for a unit with a K-744R3 tractor with a PML-8 plow -10. And the application of precision farming technologies, due to the lack of control theory, will require a long time. However, under certain prevailing conditions, the use of moldboard processing – plowing has positive aspects that provide an increase in the yield of grain crops. The time has come for a radical change in attitudes towards agriculture. We need innovative mechanical and technological solutions. The purpose of the work is to increase the efficiency of technologies for growing grain crops based on the establishment of relationships between the main technical and economic indicators that characterize the effectiveness of the use of innovative tillage processes in adaptive landscape agriculture in Siberia. Research methods. Analysis and synthesis, optimization methods, experimental research methods, as well as methodological principles, including the principle of decomposition and superposition, the principle of block-modularity, the Ashby principle, the principle of adaptation and flexibility of implemented mechanical and technological solutions. Results. With a deep scientific justification and methodological completeness, it is necessary for the recommended farming systems to carry out a rational distribution of the most common technologies. And in order to conduct expanded reproduction, ensured by the level of profitability of the SC at least 30%, a change in the ratio of fixed and variable costs is required. It has been established that this ratio should be increased by 1.64 times compared to the existing one. The use of the hyperbolic tangent function, which describes the relationship between tangential stresses and soil moisture, and its study for an extremum, made it possible to determine the rational structure of the main tillage of heavy and heavy loamy soil types. So, for a wet period, with W> 23%, plowing with share plows is recommended; favorable, W = 18 – 23% – non-moldboard processing by a flexible automated technological complex; arid, W<18% – minimal or no-moldboard layer-by-layer processing, differentiated by the golden ratio. Conclusions. Increasing the competitiveness of Russian agricultural products is possible only through innovative development, which requires not only a new methodological environment, but also a change in the mathematical apparatus. To conduct expanded reproduction at a profitability level of at least 30%, dependencies are proposed that allow determining a rational cost structure, as well as a rational structure of methods for the main processing of heavy and heavy loamy soil types, depending on their moisture content. Solving the problem of increasing the efficiency of domestic agricultural production, which has a variety of conditions, requires the creation of innovative types, both tractors and complexes of special agricultural equipment.

Application of Uniaxial Compression Curve Fractal Dimension in the Identification of Cañihua (Chenopodium Pallidicaule Aellen) Grain Cultivars

HIGHLIGHTS Grains of three cañihua cultivars were identified through the determination of fractal dimension of its force?deformation curves. A special test cell device was developed to mechanically assess small grains during compression tests. Cañihua cultivars form separate groups when results of fractal dimension of their force?deformation curves, force of rupture, and fracture force are analyzed with PCA. ABSTRACT.Cañihua is an ancient crop of the Andean regions in South America. High genetic diversity of this crop can be found around Lake Titicaca. Cañihua grain is an important source of food for the people in this region because of its high protein and amino acid contents. Currently, there are three known cultivars and more than a hundred accessions of cañihua. Most of the grains from these cultivars and accessions have the same shape and color, making their identification difficult. This work sought to estimate the fractal dimension of force–deformation curves obtained during individual cañihua grain compression tests through the box-counting method (BCM) and the Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD) to show the possibility of differentiating and recognizing cañihua cultivars by taking into consideration the influence of their mechanical properties and chemical composition. Using BCM for the fractal dimension of the force-strain curves allowed us to differentiate the three cultivars from each other, and with HFD, it was possible to observe the difference between accessions and cultivars. Finally, by using the BCM and HFD results, together with mechanical properties such as the bioyield and rupture points and the energy required to reach them, the three cañihua cultivars could be differentiated from the accessions through multivariate PCA. The findings of this work could be applied to distinguish or identify cultivars of different crop grains. Keywords: Cañihua cultivars and accessions, Fractal dimension, Force–deformation curves, PCA.

Primary Cleaning Machine for Small and Medium-Sized Mung Bean Grains for Farms and Peasant Farms

The article provides information on the current state of cultivation of mosh grain, technology and means of harvesting crops grown in Uzbekistan, the need to clean mosh grain. There is also information about the technological scheme of the primary cleaning machine, the experimental version, the results of economic tests, which divided the developed mosh grain into fractions.

Ensuring the safety of grain raw materials used in the production of grain products

The article considers the influence of physical methods of disinfection on the complex of microorganisms of grain food raw materials. Various methods of disinfection are considered - chemical, biological and physical, and their influence on the reduction of grain microflora. The classification of the microflora of the grain of cereal crops, the influence of microflora on the quality indicators of vegetable raw materials have been studied. When exposed to microwave energy on the grain, the most optimal modes were identified in terms of temperature, time and heating rate.

Фитосанитарный мониторинг производственных посевов зерновых культур в условиях ЦЧЗ

Phytosanitary monitoring of production crops of grain crops is an important component of the plant protection system, which provides timely information about the spread and development of harmful objects and allows timely management decisions on the conduct of extermination measures. This approach allows you to save the harvest, since the economic situation of agricultural producers of any form of ownership is determined by the receipt of high gross fees, cultivated crops. The paradigm of implementing control and management of the phytosanitary situation of crops is phytosanitary monitoring, which allows timely detection of harmful objects and signaling of control measures. This work is devoted to the study of these issues. Based on the conducted studies, information on phytosanitary monitoring of diseases and weeds is presented. The dynamics of the spread of the pathogen complex is revealed, plant protection measures are proposed and implemented. The features of the formation of wheat agrophytocenoses are shown, the quantitative and specific composition of weeds and the complex of pathogens are studied. The biological effectiveness of the use of pesticides has been determined. The agronomic efficiency of the plant protection system is analyzed. Keywords: PHYTOSANITARY MONITORING, WINTER WHEAT, SPRING WHEAT, WEEDS, DISEASES OF GRAIN CROPS

Grain Quality as Influenced by the Structural Properties of Weed Communities in Mediterranean Wheat Crops

Weed community structure, including composition, taxonomic and functional diversity, may explain variability in crop quality, adding to the variability accounted by management, climatic and genetic factors. Focusing on Mediterranean rainfed wheat crops, we sampled weed communities from 26 fields in Spain that were either organically or conventionally managed. Weed communities were characterized by their abundance and taxonomic, compositional and trait-based measures. Grain protein concentration and the glutenin to gliadin ratio were used as indicators of wheat grain quality. Linear mixed effects models were used to analyze the relationship between crop quality and weed community variables, while accounting for environmental factors. Nitrogen fertilization, previous crop and precipitation explained a large portion of the variation in wheat grain protein concentration (R2marginal = 0.39) and composition (R2marginal = 0.26). Weed community measures had limited effects on grain quality (increasing R2marginal of models by 1% on average). The weed effects were related to the composition and the functional structure of their communities, but not to their abundance. Environmental conditions promoting higher protein concentration were also selecting for weed species with competitive attributes, whereas the role of weed functional diversity depended on the functional trait and on the resource limiting crop grain quality. Understanding the mechanisms of weed effects on crop quality could aid on designing sustainable weed management practices.

Competence of Different Selective Herbicides for Weed Control and Productivity of Wheat in Central Telangana Zone, India

Aim: To study the effectiveness of seven (07) herbicides for the control of weeds in wheat crop.
 Study Design: Randomized Block Design.
 Place and Duration of Study: A field study was executed in the rabi seasons, 2014-15 to 2016-17 at Agricultural Research Station, Basanthpur, Telangana.
 Methodology: New molecules of herbicides were tested in different combinations and compared with the traditional weed control practice through the weed parameters viz., weed density, weed dry matter, weed index and weed persistence index. The performance of wheat crop in terms of grain yield and cost economics were noted to attest the efficiency of different herbicide treatments.
 Results: Based on the results, the pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 3.0 l ha-1 and a hand weeding at 45 DAS is advised to obtain maximum grain yield while the post emergence application of clodinafop propargyl @ 60 g a.i. ha-1 + metsulfuron methyl @ 4 g a.i. ha-1 at 3 leaf stage of weed is recommended for higher economic benefits.
 Conclusion: Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 3.0 l ha-1 followed by a hand weeding at 45 DAS can be recommended for higher wheat crop grain yield. And in case of labour shortage, one post emergence application of Clodinafop propargyl @ 60 g a.i./ha + metsulfuron methyl @ 4g a.i./ha at 3 leaf stage of weed i.e., at 25 DAS of wheat crop can be the cost-effective weed management practice in the wheat crop.

Monitoring of Pesticide Multi Residues in Selected Cereals Crop Grains in United Arab Emirates

Assessing the contamination of cereals and their manufactured products with pesticide residues is a topic of global importance, and monitoring studies are needed to analyze multiple residues at trace levels. Current study was conducted to monitor pesticide residues in various cereals (corn, oats, rice, barley, sorghum and wheat) imported into the UAE as part of official surveillance. A total of 1,440 samples were collected during 2020 and 2021.
 Modified QuEChERS method for pesticide residue screening based on multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with advanced gas and/or liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry were optimized for monitoring 400 pesticides residues in cereals, and the method was validated for oats, rice, barley and corn matrices, following the European Commission guidelines achieving good recovery values in the range 70–120% with relative standard deviation values lower than 20% and providing limits of quantification of the method in the low mg/kg range, in accordance to the maximum residue limits set by European policies and CODEX.
 Results from monitoring showed that among the Cereals Grains samples, 903 samples (62.7%) were free from detectable residues, while 419 samples (29.09%) contained residues and 121 samples (8.4%) had residues exceeded the MRLs allowed by the EU legislation and/or COEDX. Tricyclazole, Thiamethoxam, Carbendazim and Buprofesin were the most frequently detected exceeded the MRLs in samples.

Understanding the Potential Gene Regulatory Network of Starch Biosynthesis in Tartary Buckwheat by RNA-Seq

Starch is a major component of crop grains, and its content affects food quality and taste. Tartary buckwheat is a traditional pseudo-cereal used in food as well as medicine. Starch content, granule morphology, and physicochemical properties have been extensively studied in Tartary buckwheat. However, the complex regulatory network related to its starch biosynthesis needs to be elucidated. Here, we performed RNA-seq analyses using seven Tartary buckwheat varieties differing in starch content and combined the RNA-seq data with starch content by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). As a result, 10,873 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and were functionally clustered to six hierarchical clusters. Fifteen starch biosynthesis genes had higher expression level in seeds. Four trait-specific modules and 3131 hub genes were identified by WGCNA, with the lightcyan and brown modules positively correlated with starch-related traits. Furthermore, two potential gene regulatory networks were proposed, including the co-expression of FtNAC70, FtPUL, and FtGBSS1-3 in the lightcyan module and FtbHLH5, C3H, FtBE2, FtISA3, FtSS3-5, and FtSS1 in the brown. All the above genes were preferentially expressed in seeds, further suggesting their role in seed starch biosynthesis. These results provide crucial guidance for further research on starch biosynthesis and its regulatory network in Tartary buckwheat.

Crop nutrition and grain yield as affected by phosphorus fertilization and continued use of phosphogypsum in an Oxisol under no-till management

ABSTRACT The benefits of applying phosphogypsum to the soil are widely known. However, the effect of phosphogypsum on phosphate fertilization efficiency is still unclear. A long-term field experiment was performed on an Oxisol in Parana State, Brazil to evaluate the effects of triple superphosphate (TSP) and phosphogypsum application rates on nutrition and grain yield of soybean, wheat, and black oat under no-till. Applying TSP in the sowing furrow of soybean and wheat increased soybean yield by 14 to 24%, wheat yield by 57%, and black oat yield by 78%. Soybean yields varied in different cropping seasons in response to phosphogypsum application (with no response to increases of up to 15% in yield), while phosphogypsum increased wheat yield by 23% and black oat yield by 59%. The water balance during crop flowering possibly interfered on crop yield response to phosphogypsum. The use of phosphogypsum increased agronomic P-use efficiency by 20%, regardless of the TSP-P application rates. Changes in P-leaf concentration caused by TSP fertilization and phosphogypsum use had a positive impact on crop grain yield. Our results reveal that the continued use of phosphogypsum to alleviate subsoil acidity could increase the phosphate fertilization efficiency and improve crop yield performance under drought stress.