Dry Matter Yield Research Articles

Extraction of nitrogen and distribution of dry matter in forage corn (Zea mays L.) in a clayey soil

Objective: To analyze nitrogen extraction in forage maize (Zea mays L.) and its distribution in the plant's stems, leaves, ears, and husks under different fertilization rates, and to determine the total dry matter (DM) yield in the plant and in each of its organs. Design/methodology/approach: Plots of forage maize were established to evaluate treatments with different nitrogen fertilization rates in a randomized complete block design with four replications in clay-textured soil. Results: The behavior of nitrogen extraction in forage maize production on clay soil was observed. No significant differences were found among the treatments. The DM yield was very low, ranging from 13.72 to 16.52 t ha⁻¹. The percentage of DM distribution was higher in the ear and lower in the husks, and the same pattern was observed for N extraction. Findings/conclusions: The dry matter yield in forage maize was not significantly affected by the applied nitrogen rates, and the yield was very low. The percentage of dry matter in the ear did not reach the 45% that the crop should have. Palabras clave: N rates, yield, plant organs.

Optimization of high-throughput marker systems for genomic prediction in alfalfa family bulks.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial forage legume esteemed for its exceptional quality and dry matter yield (DMY); however, alfalfa has historically exhibited low genetic gain for DMY. Advances in genotyping platforms paved the way for a cost-effective application of genomic prediction in alfalfa family bulks. In this context, the optimization of marker density holds potential to reallocate resources within genomic prediction pipelines. This study aimed to (i) test two genotyping platforms for population structure discrimination and predictive ability (PA) of genomic prediction models (G-BLUP) for DMY, and (ii) explore optimal levels of marker density to predict DMY in family bulks. For this, 160 nondormant alfalfa families were phenotyped for DMY across 11 harvests and genotyped via targeted sequencing using Capture-seq with 17K probes and the DArTag 3K panel. Both platforms discriminated similarly against the population structure and resulted in comparable PA for DMY. For genotyping optimization, different levels of marker density were randomly extracted from each platform. In both cases, a plateau was achieved around 500 markers, yielding similar PA as the full set of markers. For phenotyping optimization, models with 500 markers built with data from five harvests resulted in similar PA compared to the full set of 11 harvests and full set of markers. Altogether, genotyping and phenotyping efforts were optimized in terms of number of markers and harvests. Capture-seq and DArTag yielded similar results and have the flexibility to adjust their panels to meet breeders' needs in terms of marker density.

Effect of Potassium Optimization on Wheat Drought Tolerance in Controlled Conditions

Potassium is an essential nutrient that influences key processes in plants, including osmotic regulation, photosynthesis, and nitrogen assimilation. This study investigated the drought tolerance of wheat (Triticum spp.) plants treated with sufficient potassium (SK, 1 mM) and low potassium (LK, 0.05 mM) under PEG-induced drought stress. Plant physiological development, canopy temperature, photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant defense enzymes, and nitrogen assimilation enzymes were assessed. In non-drought conditions, LK increased canopy temperature and reduced dry matter yield and photosynthetic performance, with these effects becoming more pronounced under drought stress. SK-treated plants exhibited higher biomass, chlorophyll content, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II, and lower canopy temperatures, even under drought conditions. Furthermore, LK restricted the accumulation of key osmotic regulators, including proline, amino acids, and soluble sugars. Under drought stress, LK plants also showed increased hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion levels, while SK plants had lower reactive oxygen species accumulation and higher antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase and superoxide dismutase). Additionally, LK resulted in reduced activity of nitrogen assimilation enzymes (nitrate reductase, NR, and nitrite reductase, NiR) under both normal and drought conditions. In contrast, SK-treated wheat seedlings maintained higher NR and NiR activities and higher soluble protein content during drought stress. These findings underscore the critical role of potassium management in enhancing wheat yield, particularly in water-scarce regions, as optimal potassium supply strengthens essential physiological and biochemical mechanisms that improve plant tolerance to drought stress.

Effect of Chemical Weed Control on Growth, Herb Yield and Oil Content of Mentha (Mentha arvensis L.) Across Northern Eastern and Central Highlands of India

A field experiment was carried out during the summer season of 2015 at Crop Research Farm of Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, Allahabad to study the effect of various weed management options on weed dynamics and production of mentha. In the experiment six treatments namely, propaquizafop 10% EC @ 50 ml/ha, propaquizafop 10% EC @ 62.5 ml/ha, propaquizafop 10% EC @ 75 ml/ha, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3% EC @ 100 ml/ha, hand weeding and un-weeded control were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The results revealed that a significantly lower weed density and weed dry matter weight, weed index and higher weed control efficiency were recorded under hand weeding which was found at par to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3% EC @ 100 ml/ha and propaquizafop 10% EC @ 75 ml/ha. The higher plant height, herbage yield (21.8 t/ha) and dry matter yield (6.00 t/ha) and oil yield (136.9 l/ha) of mentha were also obtained with hand weeding which was found at par to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3% EC @ 100 ml/ha and propaquizafop 10% EC @ 75 ml/ha. fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3% EC @ 100 ml/ha also resulted in the most effective herbicide against grassy weed and generated maximum net return (Rs. 92303/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.30) followed by propaquizafop 10% EC @ 75 ml/ha.

Assessment of the effectiveness of overseeding methods for hardwood meadows under various pluviothermal conditions

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of improving the state of hardwood meadows using two methods of overseeding: strip-till and disc seeding (Vredo), with mixtures of grass and legume seeds under diverse pluvial and thermal conditions in eastern and central Poland. The field experiments were conducted in three farms: Zimna Woda (experiment I), Racibory (experiment II), and Ranna (experiment III). The measures to improve permanent grassland (PG) were carried out after the second cut in 2016 and in spring 2017. The effectiveness of both methods was evaluated based on changes in the botanical composition of the sward and the yield of total protein and soluble sugars (Preś and Rogalski, 1997). Positive effects of both methods on the floristic composition were achieved in 2017 in all meadow habitats on mineral soils: brown soils formed from loamy sand (Zimna Woda), proper brown soils (Racibory) on light and medium loam, and alluvial soils on light loam (Ranna). Despite adverse pluvial and thermal conditions, both methods improved the utility value of the sward, increasing the yields of dry matter, protein, and soluble sugars in subsequent years. The study showed that improving the state of PG by overseeding with diploid and tetraploid grass varieties and legume plants is effective, with its level of effectiveness depending on the pluvial and thermal conditions after treatment.

Growth, Yield, and Photosynthetic Dry Matter Remobilization Response of Barley to Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Nitrogen

A two-year factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replicates was carried out on barley cultivar LB-IRAN at the research farm of the Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran, during the cropping years of 2019–2021, in order to survey the impact of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and nitrogen fertilizer on growth, yield, and remobilization of photosynthetic dry matter in barley. The first factor included five nitrogen levels: 0 (control), 25, 50, 75, 100 kg/ha net nitrogen; the second factor contained grain inoculations with four bacteria: no inoculation (control), Azotobacter chroococcum race 5, Azospirillum lipoferum race of, and a combination of the two mentioned bacteria. Fertilization was performed at the planting, tillering, and grain filling stages. Results revealed that the number of plant/m2, tiller per plant, 1000 grain weight, grain per spike, grain yield per unit area, biological yield, rate of dry matter remobilization from stem to the grain, contribution of dry matter remobilization from stem to the grain, rate of remobilization from whole of the plant to the grain, contribution of remobilization from whole of the plant to the grain, single grain weight, and harvest index significantly increased. Nitrogen rate increment resulted in the higher rates of the above-mentioned traits as 100 kg/ha nitrogen significantly showed the highest amounts while control showed the least. Combined treatment of the bacteria resulted in a higher rates as compared to the single bacteria, and the control showed the lowest amounts. It was also observed that application of 100 kg/ha nitrogen on Azotobacter chroococcum race 5 and Azospirillum lipoferum race of resulted in the lowest rate of dry matter remobilization from the stem and whole plant to the grain as well as the contribution of dry matter remobilization from the stem and whole plant to the grain, while control treatments of nitrogen and of PGPRs caused the highest rates. Difference between the highest and lowest rates of grain yield was observed by applying nitrogen (24%) and PGPRs (40%).

Comparison of frameworks for defining land occupation considering on-farm and off-farm feed production on Italian dairy farms.

Land occupation (LO) is one of the most frequently discussed aspects of livestock competition with agricultural activities. commonly In this study the area needed to produce purchased feeds for animal nutrition, was used to estimate the off-farm land occupation of dairy farms, allowing for a precise calculation of the total land occupation requirement for milk production (on-farm plus off-farm LO, expressed in m2 per unit of standardized milk). We use 4 approaches (LO1, LO2, LO3A and LO3B) to calculate the off-farm land used for milk production on dairy farms and apply them to 14 dairy farms in northern Italy as a case study. The LO1 used mass allocation of each purchased product between the fraction of DM yield of each product (main, by-products, and crop residues) derived from the whole crop. This procedure was considered as the reference. The LO2 considered only the main product as the driver of land use without considering by-products. LO3A and LO3B converted all the purchased feeds into energy, protein, and fiber equivalents. LO1 was accurate, even though it was time-consuming, whereas procedures of LO3A and LO3B showed comparable values with easier required input data. When Total LO was considered (on-farm and off-farm using LO1), the average surface to produce milk resulted in 1.47 m2/kg FPCM, however the off-farm LO1 was 0.76 m2/kg FPCM (±0.24 m2/kg). This large variability indicates that LO largely depend on farm management and adopted animal feeding strategies. Moreover, half of the milk production was linked to the purchased feeds. We found positive correlations between all off-farm LO approaches and N surplus (r = 0.45 to r = 0.73), supporting previous studies suggesting that concentrated animal agriculture, in which the fulfillment of the animal's needs has been delegated to purchased feeds, is the main source of nitrogen surplus on farmlands. LO per unit of production can be reduced-by increasing on-farm feed production, particularly protein components and, to a lesser extent, by valorizing by-products, while not increasing the on-farm N surplus and carbon footprint.

Impact of long-term use of mineral fertilizers and after-effects of lime on the productivity of agrocenoses in the European North

The study of the effectiveness of the use of mineral fertilizers (N60P75K75) against the background of the effects of 2 doses of lime (1.0 and 2.0 h.a.) was carried out in a field stationary experiment, established in 1983, on sod-podzolic medium loamy soil. The effect of 2 doses of lime on a background without fertilizers, as well as with the annual application of mineral fertilizers, was studied. It was found that the highest yield of dry matter (d.m.) of legume-cereal grass mixtures with high quality was obtained in the lime 2.0 h.a. + NPK variant and amounted to 5.3 in 2015, in 2023 – 4.6 t of d.m./ha with yields in the control of 3.3 and 3.2 t/ha, respectively. The dry matter content with such application of agrochemicals was 21.5%, crude protein – 13.5%, the nitrate content did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration (MPC). Lime and NPK were found to have a beneficial effect on the agrochemical properties of the soil. In 2023, the humus content was 4.6%, pHKCl 4.0 pH units, the content of P2O5 – 159 and K2O – 124 mg/kg of soil.

Effect of Sulphur and Zinc on Growth and Yield of Indian Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.)

A field experiment was conducted at experimental farm, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Mewar University Gangrar, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) during Rabi season of 2023-24 to effect of Sulphur and Zinc on growth and yield of mustard (Brassica juncea L.), variety “Bio-902‟ was used in this study. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. Maximum growth attributes such as, plant height (146.30 and 143.90 cm), number of branches per plant (8.28 and 8.05) and dry matter accumulation (326.17 and 324.32 g/plant) and yield attributes such as number of siliqua per plant (285.20 and 282.49), number of seed per siliqua (13.20 and 13.10), seed yield (20.40 and 20.18 q/ha), stover yield (69.84 and 69.58 q/ha) and maximum net return (66449.75 and 66557.00 Rs/ha) was recorded with combine application of 60 kg/ha Sulphur and 7.5 kg/ha Zn. Therefore, it was concluded that application of 40 kg Sulphur and 7.5kg zinc ha-1 found suitable to produce good yield of Indian mustard. Maximum values of growth parameters and yield also recorded with application 60 Sulphur kg ha-1 and 7.5 zinc kg ha-1.

Informing the prediction of forage quality of Mediterranean grasslands using hyperspectral reflectance: Concentration vs content, phenology, and generalisation of models

ContextRemote sensing has shown potential to provide accurate and real-time information on grassland forage quality, crucial for the management of livestock systems. However, there are still uncertainties that must be considered to make models reliable and practical. A source of discrepancy regards the measurement unit describing forage quality variables, namely either mass-based concentration (%) or mass per surface area content (kg ha−1). Furthermore, phenological patterns largely influence grassland reflectance and have a strong impact on model accuracy. Also, the generalisation of empirical models in heterogeneous grasslands can hinder their applicability. Objectives1) Assess the suitability of retrieving forage quality parameters as concentration (%) versus content (kg ha−1). 2) Investigate the performance of multitemporal compared to phenophase-specific models. 3) Evaluate the generalisation ability of the models. MethodsSamples were collected from five farms to determine Dry Matter Yield (DMY) and both, concentration (%) and content (kg ha−1) of forage quality variables including crude protein (CP), neutral and acid detergent fibre (NDF, ADF), and enzyme digestibility of organic matter (EDOM). The relationship between forage quality variables and DMY were analysed by Pearson Correlations and Principal Component Analysis. Reflectance was recorded with a FieldSpec spectroradiometer. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) was used to explore the relationship between forage variables and reflectance. ResultsThe forage quality variables were strongly correlated to DMY when expressed as content (kg ha−1) r>0.83 but not when expressed as concentration (%). For the best predicted variables, CP and NDF, the results of the PLSR models indicated better performance in concentration-based estimation. CP% was the best predicted variable (R2cv=0.8, NRMSEcv=9.8 %). Multitemporal models showed overall higher performance (CP%, R2cv=0.81) than phenophase-specific models (CP%, R2cv=0.60 green, R2cv=0.70 green-senescent and R2cv<0 senescent grasslands). The generalisation ability was low and varied among farms (R2test 0–0.60). ConclusionsThe use of concentration (%) is more accurate and representative of forage quality than content (kg ha−1), which seemed redundant with DMY and misleading from the true nutritive value for livestock.Multitemporal models performed better than phenophase-specific models due to their larger range of values. The ability to predict forage quality in senescent grasslands is low. The usefulness of the models is context-dependent, and their application requires knowledge of the limitations and status of the grasslands. Efforts must be directed toward improving the generalisation ability through the development of models calibrated with larger and more diverse datasets.

Slow-Release Fertilisers Control N Losses but Negatively Impact on Agronomic Performances of Pasture: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis

High nitrogen (N) losses and low nitrogen utilisation efficiency (NUE) of conventional-nitrogen fertilisers (CNFs) are due to a mismatch between N-delivery and plant demand; thus, slow-release N fertilisers (SRNFs) are designed to improve the match. A quantitative synthesis is lacking to provide the overall assessment of SRNFs on pasture. This meta-analysis analyses application rate and type of SRNFs on N losses and agronomic performances with 65 data points from 14 studies in seven countries. Standardized mean difference of SRNFs for nitrate leaching losses and N2O emission were −0.87 and −0.69, respectively, indicating their effectiveness in controlling losses. Undesirably, SRNFs had a more negative impact on dry matter (DM) yield and NUE than CNFs. Subgroup analysis showed that SRNF type and application rate had an impact on all tested parameters. The biodegradable coating-type of SRNF outperformed other types in controlling N losses and improving agronomic performances. High application rates (&gt;100 kg N ha−1) of SRNFs are more effective in controlling N losses. In conclusion, SRNFs are more conducive to controlling N losses, but they showed a negative impact on yield and NUE in pasture. Further studies are recommended to assess the efficacy of SRNFs developed using advanced technologies to understand their impact on pastoral agriculture.

The amendment value of pulp and paper mill sludges in Finnish coarse-textured soil

As a source of exogenous organic matter, pulp and/or paper mill sludges (PPMS) may have beneficial effects on crop productivity and soil chemical and physical properties. This study's aim was to assess the impacts of two different PPMS materials on crop yields, the quality of percolation water, and soil chemical and hydraulic properties in a three-year field experiment on a silt loam soil in East Central Finland. Fresh (FPMS) and lime-stabilized (LPMS) sludges were applied once at rates of 21–28 fresh-Mg ha−1 in the spring prior to the sowing of grass ley under barley as a cover crop and incorporated into the upper 7 cm soil layer. Supplemental nitrogen (N) was applied at levels of 40 and 80 kg ha−1. A decrease of barley grain yield due to N immobilization was observed at the N level 40 kg ha−1, but the standard N application rate (80 kg ha−1) connected with a moderate C:N ratio (FPMS 27:1, LPMS 24:1) was adequate to avoid significant yield losses. In the second and third year following the PPMS applications, there was a tendency for positive residual effects on the total dry matter yield of grass ley, which could be attributed to slow mineralization of sludge-N. The application of LPMS increased the pH in surface soil by 0.5–0.7-units and Ca concentration by 240–660 mg L−1 of soil relative to the non-amended control over the study period. In the year of PPMS applications, the amendments produced a significant increase (about 2.0 g kg−1) in the total carbon (C) concentrations in the uppermost 10 cm soil layer relative to the non-amended soil. During the following years, the change in soil C was no longer measurable, indicating relatively fast decomposition of sludge-C. Saturated hydraulic conductivity tended to be 1.4 to 2.3 times higher in the PPMS-treated soils than in the non-amended soil. Except for the decline in readily plant-available water, the other common water retention parameters were not significantly affected by the PPMS amendments. There were significant positive treatment effects on the amount of water retained between −13 and − 316 kPa matric potentials, suggesting an increase in medium-sized pores contributing to water storage in the soil. To maintain or enhance the beneficial direct and indirect effects of PPMS on crop yields and soil physico-chemical properties, repeated applications of PPMS are required, possibly combined with the use of organic fertilizers, especially during grass ley years.

Phosphorus leaching in high-P soils under maize silage and interseeding cover crop system

Managing soil phosphorus (P) in agroecosystems with high P levels is crucial to mitigate P loss in water sources without compromising yields. The objective of this study was to assess maize silage (Zea mays L.) + interseeding cover crop of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiforum) or using a relay cover crop and starter P (P0, P10, and P20) on (i) P leaching, (ii) changes in soil P status, and (iii) maize yield, cover crop biomass and P uptake. A six-year study was conducted between 2018 and 2023 in two sites. Leachate samples were collected every two weeks between 2021and 2023. The concentration of P in leachate exceeded 0.5 mg L–1 indicating a high risk of P leaching at the current levels of soil P. High concentration of P in leachate with a peak at 0.9 mg L–1 in August and 1.45 mg L–1 in October during 2021 and 2022 was pronounced under interseeded compared to relay cover crop system due to improve water infiltration contributing to the downward movement of P. In contrast, the concentration of P in leachate was high under relay cover crops in February and March particularly in 2023, which could be attributed to the delay in cover crops establishment and growth in early spring. The concentration of P extracted using anion exchange membranes (PO4AEMs) increased with increasing starter P rate during the first weeks after planting maize silage. There were spikes of PO4AEMs, reaching 1.18 and 1.73 µg cm–2 d–1 during the 4th, 7th, and 8th weeks after planting maize which coincided with high soil moisture content occurring after irrigation or rainfall events. The lack of dry matter yield response to starter P at harvest was due to high initial soil P. The soil P status remained significantly high averaging 196.6 mg kg–1 as Mehlich-3 P, despite negative cumulative P budgets. A close observation of the relationships among soil P indicators shows a trend of rapidly decreasing water extractable P under interseeding compared with relay cover crops. It is possible that the production of high biomass under interseeding cover crops increased the amount of P taken up from the soil. We conclude that interseeding cover crops within cash crops in high P soils could be effective at decreasing soil P, but could enhance P leached in the first years of cropping due to high water infiltration along the soil profile.

Influence of different organic manures on the yield of plantago ovata forsk and post-harvest yield of residual crop of digera muricata mart

Pot experiments were conducted to evaluate fertilizing capacity of different organic manures on the yield of Isabgol (Plantago ovata) plant. Experiments were conducted using different organic manures (Kultha Powder, Til Khali, Vermi-compost) and their fertilizing capacity were compared with control. The fertilizing capacities of different organic manures were assessed on the basis of fruit yield and dry matter yield of Isabgol plant. Study observed low levels of micronutrients (Copper and Iron) in post soil analysis with Kultha powder and Til, compared to the control, this may be attributed to the increased uptake of these micronutrients by the plant. This observation was further supported by the higher dry matter yield and greater number of fruits in the Kultha and Til treated pots. HPTLC analysis was also conducted to assess the chemical constituents of the test plant grown under the influence of different manures. The active constituents were found to be highest in the Kultha treated plants, followed by those treated with Til khali. Study suggested Kultha powder and Til as promising manure compared to others for the cultivation of Isabgol plant.

Response of Yield of Shallot (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Allium ascalonium&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; L.) to Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates and Spacing Under Irrigation at Mulo, Ethiopia

The shallot (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Allium ascalonium&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; L.) is one of the important alliaceous crops cultivated in many tropical countries. It is an important horticultural crop used to flavor the local stew &amp;quot;wot&amp;quot; and a source of income for farmers in Ethiopia. However, the productivity of shallot is low at study area due to various limiting factors such as low soil fertility, plant population and lack of improved agronomic practices. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of intra-row spacing and nitrogen fertilizer levels on growth, yield and quality of shallot at Mulo District, Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia during 2021/22 off season. The treatments consisted of four intra-row spacing (5, 10, 15 and 20) cm and four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 50, 100 and 150) kgNha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; tested in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on shallot yield was collected. The interaction effect of intra-row spacing and nitrogen fertilizer influenced the marketable yield, unmarketable yield, bulb weight, bulb fresh weight, bulb dry weight, dry matter and total yield. As a result, the treatment combination of 150kgha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; nitrogen and 15cm intra-row spacing yielded the highest net benefit of shallot (Eth-Birr 1,012,274), followed by the treatment combination of 150kgha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; nitrogen and 20 cm intra-row spacing. In conclusion, the above findings indicated that the combined application of 150kgNha&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;-1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; with 15 cm spacing can improve shallot growth and productivity in the Mulo district area. However, more research needs to be done in different seasons and locations, taking into account the application rate of nitrogen fertilizer and different intra-row spacing, to generate more reliable information.

Efficiency of Vivianite from Water Purification Depending on Its Mixing with Superphosphate and Application Method

Vivianite precipitation is gaining attention in phosphorus (P) removal from water purification. It is an iron (Fe)- and P-rich compound that can be used as a slow-release P fertilizer. However, this slow release can constrain P supply to crops in the initial growing stages. This limitation can be overcome by mixing with soluble P fertilizers and with banding application. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the fertilizer effect of vivianite and superphosphate mixtures and determine the most effective application method for vivianite and its mixture with superphosphate as a soluble fertilizer. A pot experiment was conducted by growing sunflowers in calcareous soil under controlled conditions involving two factors. The first factor was the combinations of vivianite and superphosphate: 100% Vivianite + 0% Superphosphate –T2–, 70% Vivianite + 30% Superphosphate –T3–, 30% Vivianite + 70% Superphosphate –T4–, 0% Vivianite + 100% Superphosphate –T5—at a single P rate of 50 mg P kg−1 and a non-fertilized control –T1–. The second factor was the application method: (i) mixing vivianite powder with the bulk soil and (ii) applying it in bands at three points around the plants. The dry matter (DM) yield in the roots and shoots of the sunflower when all P was applied as superphosphate was higher than when it was applied as vivianite. However, the combination of superphosphate and vivianite in different proportions (T3 and T4) led to a considerably higher DM yield compared to sole vivianite application (T2). The highest plant P uptake was observed in T5, while the lowest was in T1 and T2. The replacement values on a dry matter (PFRVDM) and P uptake (PFRVP Uptake) basis and the nutrient use efficiency of T3 and T4 were higher than that of T2. However, the PFRVDM and the PFRVP Uptake were in the same range as the proportion of the superphosphate added to the fertilizer mix. Thus, increased P use efficiency could be achieved with mixtures of vivianite and superphosphate. However, the contribution of vivianite to the fertilizer mix is difficult to access in a short growing cycle. Hence, further research is recommended on the residual effect of vivianite in such fertilizer mix on subsequent growing cycles.

Impact of field drying at different initial leaf ages on growth and yield formation of direct seeding rice in Chengdu plain

AbstractTo determine the optimal drying period for direct seeding rice, we conducted experiments using two rice cultivars: hybrid indica (Shuyou 217) and conventional indica (Huang Huazhan). The experiments explored the influence of varying initial leaf development stages on tillering dynamics, leaf area, dry matter production, yield, and yield components in direct seeding rice. The results indicated a significant correlation between the initial leaf development stage and the yield of direct seeding rice. As the initial leaf development stage progressed, the number of effective panicles increased, while key traits affecting panicle yield, such as grain/spikelet? Number per panicle, seed setting rate, and 1000-grain weight, decreased. Additionally, varietal differences in tillering reduction were observed across different leaf development stages. Shuyou 217 exhibited a decrease in heading rate with increasing leaf development stage, whereas Huang Huazhan showed no significant difference. With delayed seeding planting age, both cultivars demonstrated an increasing trend in the leaf area index, initially leading to a rise in effective leaf area proportion, followed by a decline. At the full heading and maturity stages, the dry weight of the stem sheath and panicles per plant decreased as the leaf development stage was delayed. However, the output and transport rates of stem sheath assimilated first increased and then decreased. From a practical perspective, field drying management should be aligned with varietal characteristics to reduce ineffective tillering, ensure sufficient dry matter accumulation during the full heading stage, and optimize post-heading dry matter export and transport. This strategy promotes the coordination between the “source” and “sink” dynamics in rice, ultimately maximizing yield in direct-seeded rice systems.

Studies on the Efficacy of AGMA-Foliar (Kazuki Gold/Yoshi Gold) for Growth Development and Yield of Paddy (Oryza sativa)

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a principal staple food, with significant production worldwide. In 2021, rice covered 161.77 million hectares globally, with India as the second-largest producer. For sustained output, rice (Oryza sativa L.), a major crop around the world, needs balanced fertilization. Overuse of fertilizers degrades the soil, requiring the use of bio stimulants as an alternative. This study evaluates AGMA Foliar (Kazuki Gold/Yoshi Gold) and AGMA Energy on rice cultivar IET 4786 (Satabdi) during the kharif season of 2021-22 at C-block farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Kalyani, Nadia, and West Bengal. A randomized block design with seven treatments and three replications was used. Treatments included AGMA Kazuki Gold and Kazuki Energy applied at various stages. AGMA treatments significantly enhanced plant height, dry matter, grain count, and yield. Results indicated that T3 treatment (Kazuki Gold applied twice at 25-30 and 40-45 DAT) achieved the highest plant height (93.00 cm), dry matter (983.66 g m-²), grain count (180.05 grains panicle-1), and grain yield (5.26 t ha-1), with statistical significance confirmed by F-tests at 5% level. T6 treatment (AGMA Foliar (Kazuki Energy) showed comparable results. Chlorophyll content was also highest in T3. Control plots consistently showed the lowest values. The study emphasizes the effectiveness of AGMA Foliar bio stimulant applications, which significantly improve rice growth, yield, and nutrient efficiency. It highlights their potential as sustainable agricultural inputs and suggests optimal application stages for maximizing benefits.

Application of a Multi-Spectral UAV Imagery in Germplasm Characterization: Prediction of Forage Biomass and Growth Patterns of Cicer Milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) Populations

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)-based multi-spectral imaging could reduce the intensive labour required in phenotyping germplasm in crop breeding. The objectives of this study were to examine if UAV-based imaging could differentiate cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) germplasm and identify UAV-based vegetation indices with correlations to its dry matter yield (DMY). A spaced nursery from 27 cicer milkvetch populations was established near Saskatoon, SK, Canada, in 2019. From 1 June to 15 October in 2020 and 2021, phenotypic traits including maximum stem length, leaf number per stem, rhizome spread rate, and stem density, along with two UAV-measured traits, green area and canopy volume, were measured bi-weekly. Forage DMY was determined in late June and mid-October of each year. In this study, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) green area and NDVI canopy volume data differentiated the three selected populations. NDVI green area had the highest correlation with forage DMY among the traits (June harvest: r = 0.91, October harvest: r = 0.77). Among measured phenotypic traits, maximum stem length had the highest correlation with forage DMY (June harvest: r = 0.74, October harvest: r = 0.83), which was significantly correlated to NDVI green area. The results indicated potential use of UAV-phenotyping in single plant evaluation in plant breeding.

The Performance of an Alfalfa–Sainfoin Mixture in the Semiarid Southern High Plains of the USA

While alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is widely used as forage because of its many positive attributes, there are concerns regarding bloat in grazing ruminants, but tannin-containing legumes, such as sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), are non-bloating. Based on interest elsewhere for growing alfalfa–sainfoin mixtures to address bloat concerns, the objectives of a study conducted at Tucumcari, NM, USA, were to compare an alfalfa–sainfoin mixture to the respective monocultures for stand persistence and dry matter yield over three production years in three randomized complete blocks. The onset of drought limited irrigation water availability shortly after the study’s initiation, which limited sainfoin persistence to the second year after seeding. The resulting percentage decline in forage mass in June from year 1 to year 2 was alfalfa &gt; alfalfa–sainfoin &gt; sainfoin. That said, the alfalfa mass was considerably greater than the sainfoin mass, and the June mass of both monocultures was consistent with that in previous studies in the region when fully irrigated (5.57 vs. 2.00 Mg ha−1 for monoculture alfalfa and sainfoin, respectively; p &lt; 0.0004). Alfalfa persistence was greater than that of sainfoin after 3 years. Alfalfa–sainfoin mixtures may have value in the Southern High Plains of the USA and similar semiarid environments when fully irrigated. Additional studies should evaluate mixture seeding ratios and stand performance under fully irrigated conditions with sainfoin reseeding.