Forage Dry Yield Research Articles

Impact of different nutrient sources on forage yield, nutritive value and economics of sorghum sudan grass hybrid-Oat cropping system

It is imperative to develop integrated fertilization strategies for various forage crops that enhance the competitive ability of the crop, increase crop production and reduce the risk of nonpoint source pollution from fertilizers. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of different sources of nutrients on performance of sorghum sudan grass hybrid-oat cropping system. Significantly highest plant height, shoots per square meter, leaf stem ratio and dry matter accumulation of sorghum sudan grass hybrid and oat was observed with FYM @10 t ha−1+Azotobacter+PSB. Not surprisingly, plant height, shoots per square meter, leaf stem ratio and dry matter accumulation increased with increasing fertilizer levels with highest values recorded with 100% RDF. Moreover, significantly highest total green and dry forage yields and gross as well as net returns were recorded in FYM @10 t ha−1+Azotobacter+PSB as well as 100% RDF. FYM @10 t ha−1+Azotobacter+PSB resulted in higher benefit cost ratio, while, significantly highest benefit cost ratio was also recorded with 100% RDF. The system productivity and production efficiency showed its maximum value in FYM @10 t ha−1+Azotobacter+PSB as well as highest level of NPK fertilization.

Boot Stage Forage Yield and Quality of Pearl Millet as Influenced by Organo-mineral Fertilizer Rates in Humid Rainforest Zone of Nigeria

An experiment was conducted at the experimental site of Federal College of Agriculture, Akure to investigate the effects of different levels of organo-mineral fertilizer (OMF) on forage yield and quality of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L) R.Br). The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. Five levels of OMF at 0 (control), 1, 2, 3, 4t/ha and 100 kg/ha N.P.K. 15:15:15 were used. Pearl millet seeds were sown at the rate of 10 kg/ha. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in the plant height, fresh and dry forage yield obtained at boot stage. The following ranges were obtained in the investigated traits among the fertilizer applications; plant height 1.08-2.54 m, fresh forage yield 24.37-59.10t/ha and dry matter yield of 4.25-10.67 t/ha. Quality parameters (CP, CF, EE, NFE and Ash) showed significant increase with higher levels of OMF applied. The ranges obtained were: CP 8.56-13.32%, EE 15.82-16.1%, EE 7.14-8.69%, Ash 11.46-16.07%, NFE 33.38-44.48 and moisture content 9.49-11.58%. The study concludes that organo-mineral fertilizer application at 4t/ha is particularly effective in improving the forage yield and quality of pearl millet.

Effect of intercropping cow pea with pearl millet on forage yield and competitive relationships

A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Farm of the Agriculture Faculty, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt, during successive summer seasons of 2017 and 2018 to study the effect of intercropping cow pea with pearl millet on forage yield and competitive relationships. A randomize complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used. Results could be summarized as follows: The pure stands of the pearl millet (S1) and cow pea (S2) produced the maximum total fresh and dry forage yields (ton /fed) (fed = feddan = Acre) as compared with the different intercropping systems in both seasons. Meanwhile, the cow pea and pearl millet grown under intercropping system of 2:2 ridges (S5) recorded the highest mean values for total fresh and dry forage yields (ton /fed) whereas cow pea intercropped with pearl millet side: side (S3) recorded the lowest mean values as compared to the other tested intercropping systems in both seasons. Crude protein % was increased by intercropping system of 2:2 ridges (S5) in both seasons compared with the different studied intercropping systems. Land equivalent ratio (LER) and relative crowding coefficient (RCC) recorded the highest mean values by intercropping system of 2:2 ridges (S5) on the both seasons. Pearl millet was dominant crop and cow pea was dominated crop at all intercropping systems in the both seasons. From the preceding results it be concluded that intercropping cow pea with pearl millet under intercropping system of 2:2 ridges (S5) caused an increase in forage yield production and its quality as compared to the other studied intercropping systems.

Physiological Response and Productivity of Alfalfa to Potassium Foliar and Soil Applications under Saline Calcareous Soil Conditions

A field experiment was conducted at Nubaria Agricultural Research Station, El-Behira Government, Egypt along the duration of 2015 to 2017 to study the physiological response and productivity of alfalfa (cv., Nubaria1) to seven potassium fertilization treatment of 0, 28.6, 57.14Kg/ha as soil dressing, spraying with 1%K2O and 2% K2O alone or in combination with adding 28.6Kg K2O/ha under saline calcareous soil conditions. Experimental design was Randomized Complete Block design with four replications. Eighteen successive cuts were taken (Nine cuts /year), to estimate growth and physiological parameters, and alfalfa productivity. Potassium fertilization treatments had significant effects on all studied traits in individual cuts except the 1st and 9th cuts in the first year and 2nd cut in the second year for plant height, the 2nd and 7th cuts in the two years for dry matter%, the 2nd cut in the second year for dry forage Kg/m2 and 1st, 4th and 5th cuts for protein content in the first year. In general, plant height, leaf steam ratio, green forage yield Kg/m2, dry matter%, dry forage yield Kg/m2, relative water content, K+ content, K+/Na+ ratio and protein content increased significantly when plants received 28.6 K2O/ha + 2%K2O and 57Kg K2O/ ha with insignificant difference as compared with other potassium treatments. Also, a significant increase was recorded in Na+ content in leaves under control K+ treatment (0 K2O/ha). Linear relationship was found between potassium fertilization rates (soil dressing, foliar application as well as 28.6KgK2O/ha +foliar1 and 2% applications) and fresh forage weight t/ha. The linear regression equation showed that as potassium fertilizer rate (soil dressing) increased by one unite/ha, fresh forage weight/ha increased by 1.139t/ha and as potassium fertilizer rate (foliar application) increased by one unite/ha, fresh forage weight/ha increased by 3.112t/ha. In addition, the highest fresh forage weight/ha (125.850 t/ha) was produced under treatment of 28.6KgK2O/ha + 2%K2O. Highly positive significant correlation coefficients were found for all traits except the relation between Na+ content and other traits which was a highly significant negative relationship. Profitability assessment results revealed that addition of 28.6KgK2O/ha with foliar application of 2%K2O as potassin 30%K2O followed by addition of 57.14KgK2O/ha markedly obtained the highest values of alfalfa yield with insignificant difference. These results were incorporated with the highest values of output, net income and the investment ratio. Results indicated that controlling soil fertility, especially K+ as soil application, in addition to foliar application under saline calcareous soil condition is considered to be one of the most important factors to overcome the negative effects of salinity stress.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF SOME ALFALFA GENOTYPES FOR HIGH FORAGE YIELD AND PROTEIN

Twenty five genotypes of alfalfa were evaluated for forage and dry yields and protein content at Nubaria Research Station. Planting was carried out at October, 5th 2011, and data were taken during the three years 2012, 2013 and 2014. Data of green and dry forage yields and protein content were collected for four seasons in each year during the three years. Results indicated highly significant differences among genotypes for all traits. Dry forage yield and protein content of the studied genotypes had a highly significant reliance on years and seasons. The values of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV%) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV%) were 6.48 and 6.89% for green forage yield, 5.72 and 7.53% for dry forage yield and 1.43 and 1.73 % for protein percentage, respectively. Broad-sense heritability for green forage yield was 88.38% which was higher than that for dry forage yields and protein content (57.58% and 68.81%), respectively. The average of expected genetic advance value for total green forage yield, total dry yield and protein content were 8.52, 6.06 and 1.65%, respectively. The population G.15 showed common superiority over other populations (46.163, 48.163 and 55.939 t/ha, in the first, second and third year, respectively) in the summer season. In the context, G.5 showed common superiority in the autumn (24.233 and 26.233 t/ha in the first and the second years, respectively) While, G.3 was the best for previous trait (35.135 t/ha) in the third year in autumn season. It could be concluded that, the genotypes G.15, G.3, G.9 and G.14 are promising to improve green and dry forage yield and protein content and could be used to produce as available a new variety via further breeding programs

Effect of intercropping and nitrogen levels on biometric growth parameters and yield of forage sweet sorghum

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of intercropping and nitrogen levels on biometric growth parameters and yield of forage sweet sorghum at AICRP on Sorghum, Main Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad during kharif season of 2015. The experiment was laid out on medium black soil in randomized complete block design with fifteen treatments and three replications. The results of the experiment indicated that intercropping of sweet sorghum + horsegram (2:1) with 100 % RDN recorded significantly higher total dry matter production (71.23 g/plant), LAI (7.72), LAD (106.3 days) and NAR (0.0737 g/dm2 /day1) as compared to others. The same treatment produced significantly higher total green and dry forage yield (49.08 and 12.81 t/ha respectively) and LER (1.36) followed by sweet sorghum + horsegram (2:2) with 100 % RDN due to higher growth and yield attributes.

Cultivar and growing degree day accumulation effects on forage partitioning, quality attributes, and nutrient yields, and water use efficiency of common vetch on the Tibetan Plateau

ABSTRACT The use of common vetch in smallholder crop-livestock systems has expanded widely in recent years, partly to relieve grazing pressure and improve seasonal supply of high-quality herbage. The aim of this work was to evaluate plant fraction biomass accumulation, forage quality attributes and nutrient yields, and water use efficiency (WUE) responses of a local and an improved cultivar of common vetch in a two-year study on the Tibetan Plateau. No differences were observed between the cultivars for dry forage yield, nutrient yields, and WUE. Regressions of forage quality attributes and nutrient yields on growing degree days were explained and coefficients of determination were high in all cases (R2 ≥ 0.833). These results demonstrate that air temperature information can be a useful tool for understanding forage quality attributes and nutrient yields of common vetch. The models from this study also provided in-field estimation of forage yield potential and nutrient components, which can guide farmers in appropriate use of common vetch forages.

Farklı Zamanlarda Ekilen Maş Fasulyesinin (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) Bazı Tarımsal Özellikleri ve Ot Kalitesi Üzerine Bir Araştırma

Bu çalışma Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi, Ziraat Fakültesi, Tarla Bitkileri Bölümüne ait araştırma alanında yürütülmüştür. Araştırma Kahramanmaraş ekolojik koşullarında maş fasulyesi (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) bitkisinin en uygun ekim zamanını tespit etmek üzere gerçekleşmiştir. Deneme tesadüf blokları deneme desenine göre üç tekerrürlü olarak kurulmuştur. Beş farklı zamanda (30 Mart, 15 Nisan, 30 Nisan, 15 Mayıs ve 30 Mayıs) ekim yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre bitki boyu, bakladaki tohum sayısı ve NDF oranı değerleri haricindeki tüm özelliklere ait ortalamalar arasındaki farkın önemli olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çalışmada; çıkış süresi 6,33-14,67 gün, %50 çiçeklenme dönemi 50,00-67,33 gün, %50 bakla bağlama 57-70 gün, %50 olgunlaşma dönemi 73,67-99,00 gün, bitki boyu 36,43-41,70 cm arasında tespit edilmiştir. Bakla oluşumu ile ilgili değerler incelendiğinde; ilk bakla bağlama yüksekliğinin 11,82-21,70 cm, bakla boyunun 9,06-10,63 cm, bakla sayısının 9,43-23,93 adet/bitki, bakladaki tohum sayısının 9,90-10,27 adet/bakla ve tane veriminin 25,00-74,21 kg/da arasında değiştiği bulunmuştur. Ayrıca yaprak sayısının 47,30-73,77 adet/bitki, yeşil ot veriminin 960,00-1512,38 kg/da, kuru ot veriminin 232,35-316,59 kg/da, ham kül oranının %13,03-16,91, ADF oranının %22,17-29,12 ve NDF oranının %55,06-56,05 değerleri arasında olduğu bulunmuştur.

The beneficial effects of growth regulators on forage yield and quality of Amaranthus caudatus under different water stress conditions

In order to improve crop productivity, farmers should have strategies for higher quantity and quality of forage without excessive inputs, like irrigation water. In order to assess forage quality of Amaranthus caudatus in response to irrigation levels (irrigation after 70, 140 and 210 mm of evaporation from class A pan) as main plots and foliar sprays of abscisic acid (ABA; 50 μM), salicylic acid (SA; 3 g l–1) and potassium sulfate (PS; 3 g l–1) as subplots. A water shortage from 70 to 210 mm of evaporation decreased the stomata conductance and leaf-area index, but the crude protein concentration, dry matter digestibility, leaf/stem ratio, forage yield and total nitrogen were increased from 70 to 140 and then decreased. Using deficit irrigation for amaranth can reduce water usage without significant yield loss, so that water use efficiency remains at the relatively high levels. Leaf water potential, relative water content, leaf-area index, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, crude protein, dry matter digestibility, leaf/stem ratio and forage yield were increased by foliar sprays. Significant reduction in forage quality occurred at delayed harvest. Forage yield of potassium sulfate treated under severe stress was increased by 29% and 56% at flowering and seed set stages, respectively.

Variability in Forage yield of a Silage Maize “Zea mays, L.”Base Population via Two Types of Families

The base population for the recent study which is ayellow seed synthetic variety of maize was provided by Dr. M. Abd El-Sattar Ahmed, professor of crop science, Crop Science Department, faculty of Agriculture, Egypt.Two types of families had formulated, as a step before selection for high yielding ability. Those were half-sib (H.S) fami-lies and the first generation of self-pollination(S1) families. Variability in the base population gene pool had estimated depending on variance components of the families. The ratio of σ2A/ σ2G indicated that, additive genetic variance was more effective in controlling green and dry forage yield. This might indicate the importance of additive genetic vari-ance in maize population, consequently, selection among inbred- progeny would expect to be superior to other meth-ods under most genetic situations. Reduction in mean values of forage yield associated with selfing, reached 0.62 and 0.57 for green forage yield (Kg/ plot) and dry forage yield (Kg/plot), respectively. Values of genotypic variances estimated from S1 families were of larger magnitude amounted to 1.63 and 1.94 times the corresponding values for half- sib families in green forage yield and dry forage yield. Opposite to that, environmental variance estimates from S1 families were 0.56 and 0.55 of the respective values from half- sib families in green forage yield and dry forage yield respectively.Genotypic variations in term of coefficient relative to the overall mean of green yield and dry yield were less than 20%of the character mean when estimated from half-sib and S1 families (10.85 vs. 13.96 and 10.21 vs. 14.31% for green and dry forage, respectively).Dry forage yield expressed the highest estimates of heritability in both family types (0.829 and 0.877 for half –sib and S1 families, respectively). While, the obtained values for green forage yield were of lower magnitude (0.53 and 0.67 for half-sib and S1 families, respectively). This might indicate addition-al environmental influences with green forage yield.

Harvest Time and Cultivar Effects on Growth, Physiological Traits, Yield and Quality of Alfalfa in Saline Condition

One of the most important forage crops in Iran is Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Cultivar selection is important for alfalfa hay production. This research was carried out in 2017 and 2018 to assess the effects of harvest time and cultivar on growth, physiological traits and yield of alfalfa in saline condition. These field experiments were carried out at the Research Farm of East-Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Tabriz, Iran (Firuz Salar village located 4 km from Azarshahr city). Results showed that the synthetic cultivars (C2 and C3) and especially C4 (Azar cultivar) has the highest forage yield and it attributed to high chlorophyll content, catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, proline content, leaf area index (LAI), stem diameter, plant height and leaf to shoot ratio in these cultivars. However, the highest malondialdehyde (MDA) content related to C1 cultivar (Gara-Yonjeh as a local cultivar). Maximum of fresh and dry forage yields were achieved in second and third harvest times and it have related to high chlorophyll content, enzyme activities (CAT, POD and SOD), LAI, stem diameter, plant height, leaf to shoot ratio, proline and MDA contents in these harvest times. The highest acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), protein content and digestibility were obtained from C4 followed by C3, C2 and C1 cultivars. Value of ADF, NDF, protein content and digestibility were more during early harvests (H1 and H2) than during last harvests (H3 and H4). These findings have shown that suitable harvesting time of forage alfalfa is second stage for high yield and first stage for high quality. Synthetic cultivars and especially Azar cultivar was a superior cultivar. Thus, harvest time and cultivar selections can influence the yield and quality of alfalfa.

Green and Dry Forage Yields of Alfalfa“Medicago sativa, L.” Populations Subjected to Selection Cycles for Glyphosate Tolerance

Green and Dry Forage Yields of Alfalfa“Medicago sativa, L.” Populations Subjected to Selection Cycles for Glyphosate Tolerance

Genotipos de maíz con potencial forrajero para las condiciones de secano del estado de Guerrero, México

El desarrollo de genotipos de maíz (Zea mays L.) para producción de forraje en condiciones de secano es incipiente, debido a que no se ha difundido variedades específicas para tal fin. El objetivo fue identificar híbridos con potencial forrajero para condiciones de secano del estado de Guerrero, México. Se evaluaron 25 genotipos de maíz en condiciones de secano, bajo un diseño experimental de bloques completos al azar con tres repeticiones. La unidad experimental consistió de cuatro surcos de 5 m de longitud, 0.8 m de ancho entre surcos, a 0.17 m entre plantas para obtener una densidad de población de 73 529 plantas ha-1. Se fertilizó con la fórmula 120N-60P-00K. Los caracteres estudiados fueron: altura de planta, altura de mazorca, peso de planta, peso de mazorca, rendimiento de forraje verde, de grano y de forraje seco. Los resultados indicaron diferencias altamente significativas en los caracteres estudiados. Los híbridos trilineales experimentales H-H562xHCF2-91, H-H565xHCF2-91, H-H516xHCF2-91, híbrido de cruza simple 329x97 y el testigo H-564C destacaron en rendimiento de forraje verde y los híbridos de cruza simple 1275x1277, 1278x1276, híbridos experimentales H-H516xHCF2-91 y H-H565xHCF2-91 expresaron mayor rendimiento de forraje seco.

Balanced Parameters for Genotype X Environment Interaction in Some Alfalfa Genotypes

Identification of alfalfa genotypes, with high yield potential and good forage quality along with the least seasonal fluctuation over a wide range of environments, is important for crop improvement programs. Trials were conducted to evaluate seven alfalfa (Medicago sativa, L) genotypes over three years at the Nubaria Agricultural Research Station Site. Field experiments were carried out in 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons to evaluate fresh and dry forage yield, protein and fiber percentages and their stability employing parametric and non-parametric measures for the seven genotypes across environments. Results indicated that the local cultivar Ismailia-1 was superior to the introduced genotypes regarding its fresh and dry forage yield in addition to recording the least fiber percentage; however, MI reya produced higher protein percentage. When stability measures for the four traits was considered, Isamilia-1 was considered the most stable for fiber percentage based on four different measures tested. MI reya was most stable for protein percentage and more stable than Ismailia-1 for fresh and dry forage yield based on estimates from larger number of the tested stability measures, suggesting that MI reya is the most promising genotype among the introduced genotypes under study.

GROWTH AND FORAGE YIELD OF PEARL MILLET AS INFLUENCED BY CUTTING DATE AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION

This investigation was conducted at the, Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt during 2016 and 2017 summer seasons to study the growth and forage yield of Pearl millet. The experiment was arranged in a split plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of two cutting dates [early at 56 days after sowing (DAS), and late at 63 DAS for the 1st cut, and after 35 and 42 days from the 1st and 2nd cuts for the 2nd and 3rd cuts] respectively and three nitrogen (N) fertilizer levels viz. 15, 30 and 45 kg N/fad./cut. The results indicated that late cutting date significantly produced the highest growth values for each of plant height (238.2 cm), leaf area/plant (4970.2 cm2) and fresh forage weight (164.9 (g)/plant). Also, the highest fresh and dry forage yields (16.88 and 3.541 ton/fad), the highest total fresh seasonal yield (TFSY) and total dry seasonal yield (TDSY) 37.98 and 7.11 ton/fad., were as well recorded by late cutting in both seasons. Apparently, the highest obtained value of each studied growth traits and the forage yield during both growing seasons was achieved by increasing N fertilizer level up to the highest amount (45 kg N/fad./cut), followed by 30 and 15 kg N/fad./cut, respectively.The significant interaction effect between the two studied factors on forage yield indicated that the highest (TDSY) (7.607 ton/fad.) of pearl millet was obtainable at late cutting date under application of 45 kg N/fad./ cut. The results of the present study has concluded that, cutting at 63 DAS followed by 42 and 35 days interval for next cuts (three cuts) with application of 45 kg N/fad./cut is optimum for better growth and yield performance in pearl millet cultivar “Shandaweel 1” under the agro-climatic conditions of Sharkia Governorate in Egypt and similar areas.

Twofold excessive utilization rate yields high financial equivalent but seriously threatens public rangelands in Turkey

The aim of this study was to estimate the utilization rate and financial equivalent of the utilized rangeland forage to quantify the extent of grazing pressure on the semiarid Turkish rangelands, and to attract the public attention to the importance of rangelands in national economy. The study was conducted in Erzurum province of Turkey. In permanent 12 representative sites in each of village rangelands, cages of 1 m height and 1 m × 1 m floor area, were placed and forage under cages was clipped to the ground at the end of the grazing seasons in 2007 and 2008. Simultaneously, the forage outside the cages was sampled with random quadrats. Financial equivalent of the utilized rangeland forage was estimated using surrogate market valuation method. In data analysis were employed descriptive statistical methods and one-way ANOVA test. According to the results, the average rangeland dry forage yield was 1012 kg.ha–1 and rangeland utilization rate was 69 per cent, roughly two-fold higher than suggested rates. Under the prevailing conditions, the financial equivalent of the utilized rangeland forage is about 526 TRY or 92 USD per hectare. It was concluded that utilization rate or grazing period should be deflated by 50% for sustainable resource use by allowing rangeland plants to regenerate.

Influence of Cutting Date and Nitrogen Fertilizer Levels on Growth, Forage Yield, and Quality of Sudan Grass in a Semiarid Environment

Sudan grass is less sensitive to water shortage and produces large amounts of biomass. For these reasons, it is a promising summer forage crop for arid and semiarid regions where natural pastures are rare and water scarcity limits summer forage production. The aim of the present work was to investigate the influence of cutting date (early and late, for three cuts) and three nitrogen (N) fertilizer levels (35, 70, and 105 kg N/ha/cut) on Sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense(Piper) Stapf.). The study was carried out in the experimental farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt, during 2016 and 2017 summer seasons using a split-plot design. The results obtained revealed significant differences between the two cutting dates on growth, forage yield, and quality of Sudan grass. The late cutting date (56 days after sowing DAS and 42 days after the 1stcut) gave the highest values for almost all the growth characters, dry forage yield in addition to total dry yield (TDY) in both seasons. The highest number of shoots/plant (1.911), leaf area/plant (2841.6 cm2), and dry forage weight (g)/plant (76.65 g) were obtained by late cutting (56 DAS) with the application of 105 kg N/ha/cut. The lowest values of these characters were recorded with 35 kg N/ha/cut. Quality parameters were significantly affected by N levels during both seasons, while cutting date significantly affected the protein yield (kg/ha). The interaction result apparently indicated that the highest dry forage yield of Sudan grass (16.26 ton/ha) was achievable at the 1stcut with the application of the highest N level (105 kg N/ha/cut).

The Interaction Effect of Humic Substances and Mineral Phosphorus Fertilization on Forage Yield and some Macronutrients Uptake of Triticale under different Soil Salinity Levels.

Salinity becomes one of the most important and serious agricultural problems. Furthermore, it is an ever-present impendence to crop productivity, especially in the countries where irrigation is a determining factor for agricultural activity. It is known that crop matching is one of the ways to overcome the problem of soil salinity, such as triticale plant which was recognized as a crop suitable for growth in saline soils. Two field trials were conducted to study the interaction effect of soil salinity levels, Humic substances and mineral phosphorus fertilization, it can further illustrate how triticale cultivation in saline soils is developed by studying the impact on plant height, forage fresh and dry weight, total NPK uptake in dry forage. All privies parameters were depressed with increased salinity levels. While the order of Humic substances for their influences on triticale growth parameters and total N, P and K uptake were as follows: Falvic soil, Falvic foliar, Humic soil, Humic foliar, without Humic substances. While, applying 140 kg P ha-1 gave the highest results of previous parameters. While the interaction effect shows that when using 70 kg p ha-1 in low soil salinity (SL), or when using 140 kg p ha-1 in moderate soil salinity (SM), the effect of Humic substances will become clear on fresh and dry forage yield and total N, P and K uptake of triticale. Therefore, it is preferred that applying Humic substances and mineral phosphorus fertilization to the improvement of triticale production with increasing soil salinity.

Dynamics of evapotranspiration over a non-irrigated alfalfa field in the Southern Great Plains of the United States

Accurately quantifying the dynamics of evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial for efficient water management and improved water use efficiency. However, details on the magnitudes and annual dynamics of ET with respect to environmental/biophysical factors and harvesting of hay in non-irrigated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are lacking. Using the eddy covariance (EC) technique, daily magnitudes and seasonal/annual dynamics and budgets of ET were quantified from April 2016 to May 2018 over a non-irrigated alfalfa field in central Oklahoma, USA. The field was harvested periodically for hay, and cumulative dry forage yield was approximately 7.5 and 10 t ha−1 in 2016 (dry year) and 2017 (wet year), respectively. Daily ET reached up to 6.9 mm d−1 and 8-day average ET reached up to 5.64 mm d−1. Cumulative seasonal (April-October) ET was 652 mm (∼1.3 times of precipitation) in 2016 and 734 mm (∼0.8 times of precipitation) in 2017. Annual ET in 2017 was ∼900 mm (∼0.8 times of annual precipitation). Optimum air temperature (Ta) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) for ET were approximately 30 °C and 3 kPa, respectively. Higher forage production was associated with a greater increase (∼22%) in carbon uptake (gross primary production, GPP) than ET (∼13%) in 2017 compared to 2016. Consequently, ecosystem water use efficiency (EWUE) at the seasonal scale (seasonal sums of GPP to ET) was 2.38 and 2.57 g C mm−1 ET in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Despite strong correspondence (R2 = 0.73) between EC-measured ET and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived ET (ETMOD16), the standard ETMOD16 product underestimated ET by 36% compared to EC-measured ET. The MODIS-derived enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) explained 83% of variations in alfalfa ET, indicating the potential of integrating remote sensing observations and climate data to extrapolate site-level alfalfa ET at larger areas.

Effect of irrigation with saline water on ion homeostasis and forage dry yield in Alfalfa ecotypes application of high salty water for Alfalfa plants irrigation

Salinity stress is a brutal environmental stress which decreases the yield production of plants. Questions rise on which of the ionic stress or lack of water has deleterious effects on plants forage dry yield. Also, questions remain on whether the K+ reduction or Na+ accumulation is more important in forage dry yield reduction under salinity stress. The present experiment was conducted to answer the above questions in four alfalfa ecotypes. To do so, 6-7 weeks seedlings were irrigated with high salty water (EC=20dS m-1) and RWC, MSI, height, forage dry yield, Na+ and K+ were measured 1, 3, 6, 10, and 16 days after the salt shock. The results showed that one day after irrigation with saline water, all measured traits changed adversely. Salinity stress by decreasing K+ and increasing Na+ content reduced the growth of alfalfa plants. RWC reduction was less than K+ reduction or Na+ accumulation, so ionic stress had more deleterious effects on forage dry yield of alfalfa plants. Root cells had a higher content of K+ and Na+ ions compared with leaves, hence, they had a major defensive role against salinity stress. The K+/Na+ ratio reduction in saline condition was the main element for decreasing plant forage dry yield. The application of high salty water for irrigation of alfalfa plants is possible if there is a good subsoil drainage system to remove the leached saline water regularly from the soil. It is also suggested that foliar application of potassium may be ameliorate harmful effects of salinity stress in plant growth.