Dryland Conditions Research Articles

Soybean Water Monitoring and Water Demand Prediction in Arid Region Based on UAV Multispectral Data

Soil moisture content is a key factor influencing plant growth and agricultural productivity, directly impacting water uptake, nutrient absorption, and stress resistance. This study proposes a rapid, low-cost, non-destructive method for dynamically monitoring soil moisture at depths of 0–200 cm throughout the crop growth period under dryland conditions, with validation in soybean cultivation. During critical soybean growth stages, UAV multispectral data of the canopy were collected, and ground measurements were conducted for three GPS-referenced 50 cm × 50 cm plots to obtain canopy leaf water content, coverage, and soil volumetric moisture at 20 cm intervals. Ten vegetation indices were constructed from multispectral data to explore statistical relationships between vegetation indices, surface soil moisture, canopy leaf water content, and deeper soil moisture. Predictive models were developed and evaluated. Results showed that the NDVI-based nonlinear regression model achieved the best performance for leaf water content (R2 = 0.725), and a significant correlation was found between canopy leaf water content and 0–20 cm soil moisture (R2 = 0.705), enabling predictions of deeper soil moisture. Surface soil models accurately estimated 0–200 cm soil moisture distribution (R2 = 0.9995). Daily water dynamics simulations provided robust support for precision irrigation management. This study demonstrates that UAV multispectral remote sensing combined with ground sampling is a valuable tool for soybean water management, supporting precision agriculture and sustainable water resource utilization.

Productivity and Economics of Ber Based Agri-Horticultural Systems under Semi-Arid Condition of Akola in Vidarbha, Maharashtra, India

Alternate land use system is applicable in areas where subsistence farming is practiced in unstable ecosystems, and it poses more potentiality and flexibility in land use than the traditional crop production systems. Alternate land use systems are effective means of stabilizing both productivity of dryland crops and incomes of dryland farmers, besides generating more counter potential. Ber is highly resistant to drought conditions due to well-developed long tap root system than other crops. There is area to grow field crops in between the interspaces during the early growth stages of Ber in order to increase the land use efficiency. The experiment with objectives for studying the productivity and the economics of Ber based Agro-Horticulture system under dryland condition was conducted at the research farm of the AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, Dr. PDKV, Akola. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design with four treatments and five replications. The six years pooled data resulted that the treatment cotton + soybean (1:1) recorded significantly highest Ber equivalent yield (970 kg ha-1), gross monetary returns (Rs. 69643), net monetary returns (Rs.22106) and rainwater use efficiency (1.17 kg ha-1 mm-1) as compare to rest of the treatments.

A Seed Endophytic Bacterium Cronobacter dublinensis BC-14 Enhances the Growth and Drought Tolerance of Echinochloa crus-galli.

Successful seed germination and plant seedling growth often require association with endophytic bacteria. Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.) is a main weed during rice cultivation and has frequently been found in drought-prone fields such as cornfields in recent years. To determine whether endophytic bacteria enhance the survival chances of barnyard grass in dryland conditions, endophytic bacteria were collected from barnyard grass seeds. An endophytic bacterial strain, BC-14, was selected and confirmed as Cronobacter dublinensis based on its morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and genomic information. Moreover, C. dublinensis BC-14 secreted IAA in the Luria-Bertani broth up to 28.44 mg/L after 5 days; it could colonize the roots of barnyard grass. After the inoculation with seeds or the well-mixed planting soil, the bacterium can significantly increase the root length and plant height of barnyard grass under drought conditions. When comparing with the control group on the 28th day, it can be seen that the bacterium can significantly increase the contents of chlorophyll b (up to 7.58 times) and proline (37.21%); improve the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase (36.90%, 51.51%, and 12.09%, respectively); and reduce the content of malondialdehyde around 25.92%, which are correlated to the drought tolerance. The bacterial genomic annotation revealed that it contains growth-promoting and drought-resistant functional genes. In a word, C. dublinensis BC-14 can help barnyard grass suppress drought stress, promote plant growth, and enhance biomass accumulation, which is helpful to interpret the mechanism of weed adaptability in dry environments.

Long-term investigation of the irrigation intervals and supplementary irrigation strategies effects on winter wheat in the U.S. Central High Plains based on a combination of crop modeling and field studies

Implementing optimized irrigation strategies to achieve acceptable wheat yield while conserving groundwater resources is critical for extensively irrigated regions. Field experiments regarding winter wheat irrigation management were conducted for two growing seasons (2013–2014 and 2014–2015) to calibrate and validate the AquaCrop model. To determine proper parameterization of the AquaCrop model for various data availability conditions, the model performance was tested for calibration based on three different datasets, including a) calibration based on a full irrigation condition (CA 1), b) calibration based on a dryland condition (CA 2), and c) calibration based on diverse irrigation conditions, which included full irrigation, different deficit irrigation levels, and dryland (CA 3). The CA 3 calibration scenario resulted in the model's highest accuracy in simulating biomass, grain yield, total soil water, and seasonal evapotranspiration during the calibration and validation process. However, the model performance was also convenient when calibration based on full irrigation conditions was pursued. The calibrated and validated AquaCrop model based on the CA3 was used to analyze long-term (36-year) irrigation management scenarios for identifying the optimized water-conservative winter wheat irrigation strategies. The long-term analysis emphasized that increasing irrigation intervals from 7 to 15 or 20 days could reduce groundwater withdrawal by 52–64 % while expecting a 14–19 % reduction in grain yield. By implementing one 25 mm irrigation after planting and two 25 mm depth irrigation events at jointing or leaf growth stages, 91 % of Kansas's average winter wheat yield (2.88 tons/ha) could be achieved. During wet years, the 1.2 ton/ha reduction in biomass and 0.27–0.62 ton/ha reduction in grain yield is expected irrespective of irrigation management strategies. Considerable uncertainty was detected in grain yield production during dry years under dryland (rainfed) conditions. The maximum winter wheat production could be achieved under normal years, establishing a balance between precipitation and heat units. Our agro-hydrological analysis revealed that the highest irrigation water use efficiency could be attained by the application of two 25 mm irrigation events at jointing or flag leaf growth stages during normal years, the application of two irrigation events during jointing or heading during wet years, and two 25 mm irrigations at heading or flowering during dry years. The results of this research could be used as a baseline for producers of the U.S. Central High Plains and semi-arid regions with similar climate characteristics to cope with water scarcity in winter wheat production.

Organic carbon and nitrogen mineralization under saline conditions of dry hot arid lands: an incubation experiment

Organic carbon and nitrogen mineralization under saline conditions of dry hot arid lands: an incubation experiment

A Preliminary Study on the Whole-Plant Regulations of the Shrub Campylotropis polyantha in Response to Hostile Dryland Conditions.

Drylands cover more than 40% of global land surface and will continue to expand by 10% at the end of this century. Understanding the resistance mechanisms of native species is of particular importance for vegetation restoration and management in drylands. In the present study, metabolome of a dominant shrub Campylotropis polyantha in a dry-hot valley were investigated. Compared to plants grown at the wetter site, C. polyantha tended to slow down carbon (C) assimilation to prevent water loss concurrent with low foliar reactive oxygen species and sugar concentrations at the drier and hotter site. Nitrogen (N) assimilation and turn over were stimulated under stressful conditions and higher leaf N content was kept at the expense of root N pools. At the drier site, roots contained more water but less N compounds derived from the citric acid cycle. The site had little effect on metabolites partitioning between leaves and roots. Generally, roots contained more C but less N. Aromatic compounds were differently impacted by site conditions. The present study, for the first time, uncovers the apparent metabolic adaptations of C. polyantha to hostile dryland conditions. However, due to the limited number of samples, we are cautious about drawing general conclusions regarding the resistance mechanisms. Further studies with a broader spatial range and larger time scale are therefore recommended to provide more robust information for vegetation restoration and management in dryland areas under a changing climate.

Long-term continuous cropping reduces greenhouse gas emissions while sustaining crop yields.

Information is needed on the effect of long-term cropping systems on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in dryland conditions. The effect of 34 years of dryland cropping system was examined on N2O and CH4 emissions, greenhouse gas balance (GHGB), crop yield, and yield-scaled GHG balance (YSGB) from 2016-2017 to 2017-2018 in the US northern Great Plains. Cropping systems were no-till continuous spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (NTCW), no-till spring wheat-pea (Pisum sativum L.) (NTWP), and conventional till spring wheat-fallow (CTWF). Gases were sampled twice a week to once a month throughout the year using a static chamber and flux determined. Soil C sequestration rate at 0-10cm was determined from samples taken in 2012 and 2019. The N2O emissions occurred immediately after planting, fertilization, and intense rainfall from May to September in both years when the emissions greater for NTCW and NTWP than CTWF. The CH4 emissions were minimal and mostly negative throughout the year. Carbon sequestration rate was positive for NTCW and NTWP due to greater C input, but negative for CTWF due to rapid C mineralization. As a result, GHGB was 170%-362% lower for NTCW than NTWP and CTWF. Annualized crop yield was 23%-60% greater for NTWP than NTCW and CTWF in 2016-2017, but not different among cropping systems in 2017-2018. The YSGB was also 129%-132% lower for NTCW and NTWP than CTWF in both years. Because of greater annualized crop yield, but lower GHG emissions, NTWP is recommended for reducing GHG emissions while sustaining long-term dryland crop yields in the northern Great Plains.

Pre-Crop and Residue Management Effects on Photosynthesis Efficiency and Grain Yield of Dryland Wheat Genotypes

To evaluate dryland wheat genotypes’ performance under different pre-crop and residue managements under dryland conditions, a split–split plot experiment based on the RCB design, with three replications, was conducted for two years (2017–2018 and 2018–2019). The site of the study has a long-term average precipitation, temperature, and relative humidity of 376 mm, 9 °C, and 50%, respectively. Wheat–wheat and vetch–wheat cropping systems were considered in the main plots, different wheat and vetch residue levels, including 0, 2, and 4 t ha−1, were located in the subplots, and five dryland wheat genotypes, including Sadra, Hashtroud, Baran, Varan, and Ohadi, were allocated in the sub-sub plots. The results indicated that the leaf chlorophyll content index (CCI) and stomatal conductance (gs) were greater in the vetch–wheat cropping system compared to the wheat monoculture system for all genotypes. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of the genotypes improved by applying the crop residue. Over two years, the application of crop residues resulted in higher variable fluorescence at the J and I steps, as well as an increase in the photosynthesis performance index (PI). The Varan and Baran genotypes stood out as the superior genotype, exhibiting the highest values in physiological characteristics and grain yield under the application of 4 t ha−1 of vetch residue. The grain-filling rate (GFR) was reduced, while the grain-filling duration (GFD) was increased with increasing the crop residue levels. The enhanced grain yield of the wheat genotypes grown under vetch residue was attributed to factors such as improvement in leave pigments and photosynthetic efficiency, which facilitate longer grain filling duration, with high grain weight. As a result, it is advisable to adopt a vetch–wheat cropping system with a high proportion of crop residue in dryland regions to achieve increased and sustainable wheat production.

Evaluation Performance of Genotypes of Bread Wheat Under the Dry Land Conditions of Nineveh Governorate.

Evaluation Performance of Genotypes of Bread Wheat Under the Dry Land Conditions of Nineveh Governorate.

Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Determine Dry Matter Accumulation and Yield of Winter Wheat Under Dryland Conditions

ABSTRACTThe increase in crop yield can be primarily attributed to the combined effect of genetic advancements, as well as increased contributions from nitrogen (N) and water. The accumulation of dry matter plays a crucial role in determining grain yield in winter wheat. The current study aimed to better understand the source‐sink dynamics, analyse the dry matter transport (DMT) before and after anthesis and calculate its ratio to grain yield. In this experiment, eight main cultivars of winter wheat that have been widely cultivated in Shaanxi Province since the 1940s were selected as planting material. Field examinations were conducted using three levels of both irrigation and N. The yield‐related parameters, dry matter accumulation, dry matter distribution, DMT and DMT efficiency were measured. The results showed that irrigation prolonged the time of dry matter accumulation, and the application of N fertiliser increased the rate of dry matter accumulation. The analysis of the dynamic characteristic parameters of dry matter in winter wheat showed that irrigation and N had a significant impact on rate of dry matter accumulation. The proportion of stems, leaves and spikes of new varieties increased significantly (p < 0.05), which increased by 56.67%–69.7%, 13.26%–18.07% and 15.78%–28.26%, respectively, with the varietal improvement. The DMT efficiency increased with varietal improvement and also with increased irrigation and N application. The response of irrigation treatment to DMT and dry matter was more significant. In addition, the irrigation treatment had a higher effect on the DMT efficiency of vegetative organs after anthesis. The logistic equation analysis revealed that water stress accelerated the fulfilment of maximum daily temperature (Tmax), while both the maximum growth rate (Gmax) and dry matter weight (Wmax) decreased as water stress increased. There was a positive linear relationship between dry matter accumulation after anthesis and grain yield. The structural equation model showed that varieties, N application and irrigation had significant positive effects on DMT, post‐anthesis dry matter and grain yield, while irrigation had significant negative effects on DMT efficiency. The accumulation of dry matter in winter wheat after anthesis showed a significant increase with the succession of varieties. The combination of moderate deficit irrigation and fertilisation improved transportation and dry matter accumulation after anthesis in winter wheat, thereby enhancing its production capacity.

Effect of bio-fertilizers and seaweed extract on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under different irrigation regimes: Two-year field study

Wheat productivity is constrained by genetic, agronomic, and climate factors, though it is an important crop for food production worldwide. The present study evaluated the effect of bio-fertilizer consortia and seaweed extracts on the growth and yield of two wheat varieties under different irrigation regimes in a field study. This experiment was conducted in a split-split plot based on a randomized complete block design with four replications in 2018 and 2019. Irrigation treatments were the main factor, wheat variety (Sardari and Sirvan) the sub-factor, and bio-fertilizers the sub-sub-factors. The results showed that irrigation regimes significantly improved leaf width, number of leaves, fresh weight of roots and shoots, osmotic potential, leaf water content, and number of stomata respectively by 57.53, 38.59, 106.65, 135.29, 87.92, 14.22 and 13.77, 88.02 and 96.11 percent compared to dry-land conditions. Applying one- and two-times irrigation increased grain yield by 51% and 79%, respectively, and the response varied in wheat varieties. Sardari variety due to having smaller leaf dimensions (Leaf length and width) and lower fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots, as well as lower leaf and tissue water content, had lower grain yield than the Sirvan variety. All the bio-fertilizers positively impacted the growth and yield of both varieties. However, the highest average grain yield in the first and second years of the experiment (with an average of 5226.25 and 4923.33 kg/ha, respectively) were found under the combined application of Mycorrhiza + Nitrozist and Phosphozist + Seaweed extract. The results of the present study underscore the importance of irrigation regimes and consortia of bio-fertilizers for improving grain yield. This study also highlighted the resilience of the studied wheat varieties and bio-fertilizers to projected climate changes. These findings could provide insights into adaptive strategies for mitigating the impact of climate change on wheat production.

Growth and Yield Performance of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) as Influenced by Irrigation Levels and Genotypes: A Review

Chickpea is mostly cultivated under dryland condition and water availability is the major environmental factor affecting crop yield in dryland conditions. In dryland areas, the crop suffers from moisture stress due to the insecurity of rainfall. The combination of stored soil moisture and high temperatures results in the creation of various degrees of moisture stress during the duration of crop growth, therefore restricting the expression of growth and development characteristics, resulting in a significant loss of crop output. The provision of irrigation proves pivotal for the successful cultivation of chickpea crops during key growth stages, including pre-flowering, pod development and seed filling. Consequently, the implementation of supplemental irrigation serves as a strategic measure to offset potential production losses attributed to terminal drought. This agricultural practice is notably employed in diverse regions worldwide, with a pronounced impact observed in areas such as West Asia and Northern India, where it plays a crucial role in augmenting chickpea productivity. Susceptibility to drought stress has restrained chickpea productivity at a global level, thus, the proper selection of early maturing and drought tolerant cultivars along with supplemental irrigation may be helpful to sustain chickpea production.

Identifying dryland-resilient chickpea genotypes for autumn sowing, with a focus on multi-trait stability parameters and biochemical enzyme activity

BackgroundChickpea is a key pulse crop grown in the spring in dryland regions. The cold resistance potential of chickpeas allows for the development of genotypes with varying sowing dates to take advantage of autumn and winter rainfall, particularly in dryland regions. In this study, we assessed grain yield, plant height, 100-seed weight, days to maturity, and days to flowering of 17 chickpea genotypes in five autumn-sown dryland regions from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, the response of selected chickpea genotypes to cold stress was examined at temperatures of -4 °C, 4 °C, and 22 °C by analyzing biochemical enzymes.ResultsMixed linear model of ANOVA revealed a significant genotype × environment interaction for all traits measured, indicating varying reactions of genotypes across test environments. This study reported low estimates of broad-sense heritability for days to flowering (0.34), days to maturity (0.13), and grain yield (0.08). Plant height and seed weight exhibited the highest heritability, with genotypic selection accuracies of 0.73 and 0.92, respectively. Moreover, partial least square regression highlighted the impactful role of rainfall during all months except of October, November, and February on grain yield and its interaction with environments in autumn-planted chickpeas. Among the genotypes studied, G9, G10, and G17 emerged as superior based on stability parameters and grain yield. In particular, genotype G9 stood out as a promising genotype for dryland regions, considering both MTSI and genotype by yield*trait aproaches. The cold assay indicated that − 4 °C is crucial for distinguishing between susceptible and resistant genotypes. The results showed the important role of the enzymes CAT and GPX in contributing to the cold tolerance of genotype G9 in autumn-sown chickpeas.ConclusionsSignificant G×E for agro-morphological traits of chickpea shows prerequisite for multi-trial analysis. Chickpea`s direct root system cause that monthly rainfall during plant establishment has no critical role in its yield interaction with dryland environment. Considering the importance of agro-morphological traits and their direct and indirect effects on grain yield, the utilization of multiple-trait stability approches is propose. Evaluation of chickpea germplasm reaction against cold stress is necessary for autumn-sowing. Finally, autumn sowing of genotype FLIP 10–128 C in dryland conditions can led to significant crop performance.

Maize production at phenological stages affected by water irrigation stress in dryland conditions

Abstract The growth and yield of maize are significantly influenced by the adequacy of soil moisture during the growth period. Given the uncertain rainfall due to climate change, the availability of water for maize production is becoming increasingly limited, while the demand is rising due to population growth. The extent to which maize yield is affected by soil moisture stress at each phenological stage in dryland areas has not been thoroughly explored. This study aimed to determine the production and biomass of maize at various growth stages due to water stress. Watering using drip irrigation equipped with soil moisture sensors was stopped after the maize plants reached 20, 40, 60 (flowering), 80 days after sowing (DAS), and at harvest. Parameters of biomass, maize yield, and other parameters were determined when the soil’s permanent wilting point reached, and soil samples were taken to determine the moisture content. The results showed that irrigation up to 80 DAS was not significantly different in yield, although it was 30% lower than that irrigation up to harvest. However, irrigation up to 60 DAS reduced the yield by 3.9 times and 4.9 times compared to the yield at irrigation up to 80 DAS (85.897 grams/plant) and at harvest (108.57 grams/plant), respectively. Other parameters, such as dry biomass, cob weight, cob length, and cob diameter followed the yield trend, although their values varied. The dry biomass of maize at irrigation until 20 and 40 DAS were 13.68 grams/plant and 40.05 grams/plant, respectively. The experiment implies that irrigation water should be provided until 80 DAS to minimize significant yield losses of maize in dryland conditions.

Effects of Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid On Morphological, Biochemical and Yield Attributes of Maize (Zea Mays L.) Under Rainfed Condition

An experiment was performed in the kharif- 2022 focusing on the impact of foliar applications of Salicylic acid on various morphological, biochemical, and yield attributes in maize, using the CP-858 variety. The study involved four concentrations of salicylic acid: T1-50ppm, T2-100ppm, T3-150ppm, and T4-175ppm. Notable differences emerged in morphological and yield attributes such as sink size, test weight and yield per plot, revealing a marked increase in plant physiological efficiency treated with Salicylic acid when compared to the control. This trend was also evident in key biochemical parameters like chlorophyll 'a', 'b', and total chlorophyll content, and protein content in leaves, showing a positive response to exogenously applied Salicylic acid. Similar outcomes were recorded in terms of yield and yield-related indicators. These outcomes underscore the significance of Salicylic acid as a potent growth regulator for crop plants, particularly those cultivated under dryland conditions. Bangladesh J. Bot. 53(2): 273-278, 2024 (June)

An Evaluation of Dryland Ulluco Cultivation Yields in the Face of Climate Change Scenarios in the Central Andes of Peru by Using the AquaCrop Model

Ullucus tuberosus is an Andean region crop adapted to high-altitude environments and dryland cultivation. It is an essential resource that guarantees food security due to its carbohydrate, protein, and low-fat content. However, current change patterns in precipitation and temperatures warn of complex scenarios where climate change will affect this crop. Therefore, predicting these effects through simulation is a valuable tool for evaluating this crop’s sustainability. This study aims to evaluate ulluco’s crop yield under dryland conditions at 3914 m.a.s.l. considering climate change scenarios from 2024 to 2100 by using the AquaCrop model. Simulations were carried out using current meteorological data, crop agronomic information, and simulations for SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 of CMIP 6. The results indicate that minimum temperature increases and seasonal precipitation exacerbation will significantly influence yields. Increases in rainfall and environmental CO2 concentrations show an opportunity window for yield increment in the early stages. However, a negative trend is observed for 2050–2100, mainly due to crop temperature stress. These findings highlight the importance of developing more resistant ulluco varieties to heat stress conditions, adapting water management practices, continuing modeling climate change effects on crops, and investing in research on smallholder agriculture to reach Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, and 13.

Ferric Oxide Nanomaterials and Plant-Rhizobacteria Symbionts Cogenerate Iron Plaque for Removing Highly Chlorinated Contaminants in Dryland Soils.

Rhizosphere iron plaques derived from Fe-based nanomaterials (NMs) are a promising tool for sustainable agriculture. However, the requirement for flooded conditions to generate iron plaque limits the scope of the NM application. In this study, we achieved in situ Fenton oxidation of a highly chlorinated persistent organic pollutant (2,2',4,5,5'-pentachlorobiphenyl, PCB101) through iron plaque mediated by the interaction between α-Fe2O3 NMs and plant-rhizobacteria symbionts under dryland conditions. Mechanistically, the coexistence of α-Fe2O3 NMs and Pseudomonas chlororaphis JD37 stimulated alfalfa roots to secrete acidic and reductive agents as well as H2O2, which together mediated the rhizosphere Fenton reaction and converted α-Fe2O3 NMs into iron plaque rich in Fe(II)-silicate. Further verifications reproduced the Fenton reaction in vitro using α-Fe2O3 NMs and rhizosphere compounds, confirming the critical role of •OH in the oxidative degradation of PCB101. Significant reductions in PCB101 content by 18.6%, 42.9%, and 23.2% were respectively found in stem, leaf, and soil after a 120-d treatment, proving the effectiveness of this NMs-plant-rhizobacteria technique for simultaneously safe crop production and soil remediation. These findings can help expand the potential applications of nanobio interaction and its mediated iron plaque generation for both agricultural practice and soil remediation.

Grain Quality Evaluation of Several Upland Rice Varieties in Indonesia

Abstract High-yielding rice varieties that are adaptive to dry land conditions are the main technological component in efforts to increase rice production also known as upland rice. This study aimed to determine the physical quality, milling quality, physicochemical characteristics, and sensory test of six upland rice new superior varieties namely Inpago 8, Inpago 10, Inpago 12, Inpago Unsoed, Rindang 1 and Rindang 2. The quality analysis was carried out at Rice Quality Laboratory, Indonesian Center for Rice Research (ICRR) in Sukamandi, West Java, Indonesia. Furthermore, rice quality data is compared with the Indonesian National Standard (INS) for paddy No. 0224-1987/SPI-TAN / 01/01/1993 and with INS of rice No 6128:2020. The result showed that upland rice varieties have the criteria of the third class of INS paddy. Out of six varieties, four varieties were categorized as long rice and the rest were medium rice (Inpago 8 and Inpago Unsoed). All varieties were classified as medium shape. According to milling quality, Inpago 12 followed by Inpago 8 has the best yield of brown rice. Meanwhile, the best yield of milled rice was Inpago 12 followed by Inpago 10. All varieties met the percentage of head rice (maximum 75%) and broken rice (maximum 22%) for the second medium class. The Inpago 8, Inpago 10, Inpago 12, and Inpago Unsoed varieties belong to the low to medium amylose group, having a medium gel consistency with a separated and fluffy cooked rice texture character. According to the sensory test findings for cooked rice, there were no differences among any of the kinds in terms of flavor, color, shine, taste and overall evaluation. Based on physical, milling quality and physicochemical characteristics, Inpago 12 is the best variety of all the upland varieties observed.

Improving dryland maize productivity and water efficiency with heterotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria via nitrification and cytokinin activity

A two-year field experiment conducted under dryland conditions in semi-humid and drought-prone regions of China aimed to assess the effect of ammonia-oxidizing bacterial on maize water use efficiency and yield. A heterotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (HAOB) strain S2_8_1 was used. Six treatments were applied: (1) no irrigation + HAOB strain (DI), (2) no irrigation + blank culture medium (DM), (3) no irrigation control (DCK), (4) irrigation + HAOB (WI), (5) irrigation + blank culture medium (WM), and (6) irrigation control (WCK). Results revealed that HAOB treatment increased maize growth, yield, and water use efficiency over controls, regardless of whether the year was wet or dry. This improvement was attributed to the accelerated nitrification in the rhizosphere soil due to HAOB inoculation, which subsequently led to increased levels of leaf cytokinins. Overall, these findings suggest that HAOB inoculation holds promise as a strategy to boost water use efficiency and maize productivity in dryland agriculture.

INDUCTION OF DROUGHT RESISTANCE IN MELON (Cucumis melo L.) M15 WITH HORMOPRIMING BRASSINOSTEROID BASED ON MORFOLOGY, ANATOMY, AND PHYSIOLOGY ASPECTS

Melon productivity in Indonesia has been declining. Global climate change is affecting the productivity of melons. Long-term droughts have contributed to a reduction in plant growth and development. Hormopriming is an alternative to increase the germination and growth of melon plants by soaking seeds in a solution of plant growth regulators. Brassinosteroid can enhance germination and plant tolerance under drought conditions. The objective of this research is to examine the impact of brassinosteroid hormopriming treatment on the germination and growth of melon plants subjected to various degrees of drought stress. The study utilized a two-factor fully randomized design. The brassinosteroid concentrations used were 0, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 ppm. Media with different water capacities of 75%, 50%, and 25% Space Capacity (SC) were used to test drought stress resistance. Water capacities were examined using the gravimetric method. This study's findings suggest that treating melon plants with brassinosteroid variations can induce drought resistance in M15 melons. A brassinosteroid concentration of 0.15 ppm is the best concentration, as it can increase all parameters of plant growth and adaptation under each variation of water availability provided. The findings of this study can serve as a reference for melon cultivators constrained by dry land conditions to increase the efficiency of cultivation.