Effect Of Establishment Methods Research Articles

Effect of establishment methods on weed management under puddled lowlands rice (Oryza sativa)

Effect of establishment methods on weed management under puddled lowlands rice (Oryza sativa)

Effect of establishment methods in rainy season (kharif) and tillage practices in winter season (rabi) on yield and economics of rice (Oryza sativa)–maize (Zea mays) cropping system under coastal saline ecosystem

A field experiment was carried out during 3 consecutive rainy seasons (kharif) June–November and winter (rabi) December–May seasons of 2013–16 at Canning Town, West Bengal to evaluate 3 rice (Oryza sativa L.) es tablishment methods, viz. dry direct seeding (DSR), unpuddled transplanting (UNPT) and puddled transplanting (PT), followed by 3 tillage practices for sowing rabi maize (Zea mays L.), viz. zero tillage (ZT), conventional tillage (CT) and raised bed sowing (RBS). The DSR was done in the last week of May when the soil salinity was higher (12–15 dS/m); however, it reduced to 4–5 dS/m in the month of June due to leaching of salts by monsoon rain. The transplanting in the UNPT and PT plots was done during the first week of July using 40 days old seedlings. Submergence caused by the heavy rain, affected the transplanted rice (PT and UNPT) but not the DSR, as the plants with DSR were sufficiently above the standing water due to higher plant height. The mean grain yields in 3 establishment methods of rice (5,117; 4,477 and 4,740 kg/ha in PT, UNPT and DSR respectively) were statistically at par. However, net returns ( 36,000/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.2) were the highest in DSR owing to 24% re duction in cost of cultivation than PT rice. The positive effects of DSR also observed on the succeeding rabi maize crop in terms of 7.4 ha-cm less irrigation water requirement and 27% higher irrigation water productivity. Maize gave the highest yield (5,600 kg/ha), net returns ( 37,910/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (BCR) 1.86 with RBS tillage practices. The system rice-equivalent yield, net returns and BCR were 11,659 kg/ha, 77,470/ha and 2.05, re spectively, for dry direct-seeded rice-raised bed sown maize with higher mean irrigation water productivity (79 kg/ ha-cm) and energy productivity (461 kg/GJ) of rabi maize.

Effect of establishment methods on aromatic rice (Oryza sativa) genotypes in lower Gangetic plains of West Bengal

A field experiment was conducted at Jaguli, Nadia, West Bengal, India, during the rainy (kharif) season of 2016, to study the response of four aromatic (Oryza sativa L.) rice genotypes (‘Gobindabhog’, ‘Radhunipagal’, ‘Tulaipanji’ and ‘Kalonunia’) under 3 establishment methods [conventional planting, drum seeding and modified system of rice intensification (SRI)].The plants raised under modified SRI showed the maximum plant height at harvesting (136.7 cm), tiller production (298/m2 ) at 63 days after transplanting (DAT), and dry-matter production at 33 DAT (194 g/m2 /day) and 63 DAT (444 g/m2 /day). Conventional planting resulted in the highest grain yield (2.24 t/ha), head rice recovery (HRR) (55.2%) and net income (`32,593/ha), which were greater over the modified SRI (2.09 t/ha, 53.5% and `30,901/ha) and drum seeding method (2.0 t/ha, 53.2% and `32,192/ha). ‘Gobindabhog’ had the highest grain yield (2.35 t/ha), HRR (56.5%), net income (`39,754/ha) and benefit: cost (B:C) ratio (2.13) compared to the other genotypes; but ‘Kalonunia’ might be tried as a second option in New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal.

Heat unit requirement of sweet corn under different planting methods and dates in temperate Kashmir, India

In order to investigate the "Effect of Establishment method and Planting date on phenology, yield, and agrometeorological indices for sweet corn," a field experiment was carried out at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir Wadura, Sopore experimental farm of the Division of Agronomy, over the course of two sessions in Kharif 2020 and 2021. The experiment had two components: a distinct sowing date with a 20-day interval and two establishment methods (direct seeding and transplanting). The initial planting day was (25th of April, 2nd was 15th of May and third was 5th of June during both the years) Three replications in RCBD were confirmed. Following transplanting with the first date of sowing, direct seeding required the most days to attain different phenological stages and accumulate the most heat units. Transplanting with the initial date of sowing resulted in noticeably greater HUE, HTUE, PTUE, and HyTUE, resulting in the largest green cob and biological yield as compared to other dates of sowing and direct seeding. As a result, given the weather in Kashmir It was discovered that planting on the first day of sowing increased sweet corn yields economically.

Effect of establishment methods on the phenophases, productivity, and profitability of rice-rice system

A field experiment was conducted in the Instructional Farm of the College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India during 2017-18 to study the effect of rice establishment methods on phenophases, productivity, and profitability in rice- rice system. The experiment in kharif was laid out in a randomized block design with 3 treatments viz. direct seeded rice (DSR), non-puddled transplanting (NPTR), and puddled transplanting (PTR) with 3 replications whereas, in Rabi, these 3 establishment methods were reassigned within each treatment leading to 9 treatment combinations. Two promising rice varieties, cv. Swarna sub 1 and cv. Lalat were adopted in this experiment during kharif and rabi, respectively. Rabi rice under DSR-DSR matured 8 days earlier than PTR-PTR method, whereas the maximum grain yield (6.65 t ha-1) was recorded under the NPTR-PTR with the maximum harvest index of 0.52 which was 30.5% higher than DSR-DSR.The highest system yield (11.45 t ha-1) was recorded under the NPTR-PTR method of establishment which was 27.2% higher than the DSR-DSR method of establishment. The NPTR-PTR rice establishment also recorded the highest system gross return of Rs.1,79,785/- ha-1, the net return of Rs. 93,475/- ha-1, and B-C ratio of 2.1 against the total cost of cultivation of Rs. 86,310/- ha-1. Thus, the NPTR-PTR method of the establishment was found to be the best method so far as productivity and profitability are concerned.

Effect of Establishment Methods and Organic Nutrient Management Practices on Productivity and Profitability of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.) in Lateritic Soils of Odisha

A field experiment was carried out during kharif seasons in 2020 and 2021 at Agronomy Main Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar to study effect of crop establishment method and organic nutrient management on finger millet ('Arjuna' variety). The experiment was laid out in a split plot design and replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of 2 methods of crop establishment viz. conventional method of line transplanting (20 cm x 10 cm) and system of finger millet intensification (25 cm X 25 cm ) in main plot with application of 4 organic nutrient sources viz. farm yard manure (FYM) @ 100% recommended nitrogen dose (RDN), FYM @ 50% RDN (basal) + Vermicompost @ 50% RDN (top dressing) and FYM @ 25% RDN (basal) + toria oil cake @ 25% RDN (basal) + Vermicompost @ 50 % RDN (topdressing) allotted to sub plot in finger millet during Kharif season. System of finger millet intensification (SFMI) method of establishment resulted in superior yield attributes, grain yield (2,051 kg ha-1), straw yield (2,901 kg ha-1) and harvest index (41.42%) in finger millet than line transplanting. Yield attributes, grain yield (2,092 kg ha-1), straw yield (2,889 kg ha-1 ) and harvest index (42.00 %) were higher with the application of FYM @ 50% RDN (basal) + Vermicompost @ 50 % RDN (top dressing) in finger millet and was statistically similar with application of FYM @ 25% RDN (basal) + toria oil cake @ 25% RDN (basal) + Vermicompost @ 50 % RDN (top dressing). The benefit cost ratio was higher in SFMI and with the application of FYM @ 50% RDN (basal) + Vermicompost @ 50 % RDN (top dressing) to finger millet.

Effect of Establishment Methods and Nutrient Levels on Growth and Yield of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.)

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Allahabad (U.P.). The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture. The treatment consisted of T1-Transplanting+75% RDF, T2-Transplanting+100% RDF, T3-Transplanting+125 % RDF, T4- Broadcasting+75% RDF, T5-Broadcasting+100% RDF, T6- Broadcasting+125% RDF, T7-Line sowing +75%RDF, T8-Line sowing +100%RDF, T9- Line sowing +125%RDF.The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design, with 9 treatments replicated thrice. Results revealed that maximum plant height (94.7 cm), numbers of tillers per plant (7.5), plant dry weight (22.97 g/plant), Effective tillers per m2 (172.3), test weight (3.8 g), number of grains per finger (2240), finger weight (11.4 g), grain yield (3.2 t/ha), straw yield (4.48 t/ha) It can be concluded, that the treatment Transplanting + 125 % RDF was more productive.

Effect of Establishment Methods and Nutrient Management Practices on Growth Characters and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Aim: Study was conducted to compare and to identify the best combination of rice crop establishment method and nutrient management in terms of crop growth, development and yield.
 Study Design: Experiment was laid out in splitplot design.
 Place and Duration of Study: The field experiments were conducted at the research farm of Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India during the kharifand rabiseasons of 2011-12 and 2012-13.
 Methodology: The treatments consisted of four establishment methods (System of rice intensification (SRI), modified drum seeder, normal drum seeder and normal transplanting) as main plot treatments and four nutrient management practices (100% recommended dosage of nitrogen (RDN) through inorganic, 75% RDN through inorganic+ 25% RDN through organic, 50% RDN through inorganic+50% RDN through organic and 100% RDN through organic) as sub plot treatments with 16 treatment combinations and three replications. The semi dwarf, high yielding Sampada variety was raised during the study period.
 Results: Growth parameters like plant height, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation, number of tillers per square meter were observed at 45,75,105 days after transplanting and at harvest stages. The two years experimental results and the pooled mean data revealed that SRI recorded significantly superior growth parameters at all the crop growth stages followed by modified drum seeder. In respect of subplots 50% RDN through inorganic+50% RDN through organic resulted in superior growth parameters and yield.
 Conclusions:The combination of SRI with nutrient management practice 50% nitrogen through urea and 50% nitrogen through vermiconpost resulted in greater growth parameters and grain yield.

Corrigendum to “Puddled and zero-till unpuddled transplanted rice are each best suited to different environments – An example from two diverse locations in the Eastern Gangetic Plains of Bangladesh” [Field Crops Res. 262 (2021) 108031

The authors regret to report some mistakes (AE for treatment N) in the published Table 3 (resulting from a spreadsheet error) and associated changes necessary to results and discussion section of the paper. The corrected Table 3 and associated text are below (words to be removed in sections ‘3.3 and 4.4’ are shown with bold, words to be added are italicised). There are no changes to paper conclusions or abstract. The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused. Table 3 Interaction of establishment method and N rate on agronomic efficiency of N (AE) and partial factor productivity of N (PFP) of rice at Rajshahi in 2016 and 2017, and at Dinajpur in 2017 and 2018. Values are means of three replicates. [Table presented] PTR = Puddled transplanted rice; ZT UPTR = Zero-till unpuddled transplanted rice; ZT RUPTR = Zero-till rainfed unpuddled transplanted rice; N = 45 kg N ha; N = 90 kg N ha; LSD = Least significance difference; NS = Not significant. 3.3. N use efficiency There was no significant effect of rice establishment method and N rate on AE in any season and location, except for N rate at Dinajpur Rajshahi in the second season (Table 3). In general, AE decreased increased with increasing N rate at Rajshahi, however, the trend was opposite at Dinajpur. 4.4. Effect of establishment method and N fertilization on N use efficiency There was a decreasing trend in both AE and PFP with increasing N rate, irrespective of the establishment method, suggesting that the recommended N management for both the PTR and ZT UPTR rice was similar in both the sites. The AE was generally greater where 45 kg N ha was applied than in the 90 kg N ha treatment. Comparatively lower AEwith increasing N rate at Dinajpur may be due to the higher N losses at the higher N rate resulting from N leaching during deep drainage in the light-textured soil.

A Review on Effect of Establishment Methods on Growth, Yield and Yield Attributes of Rice and on Succeeding Crops after Rice

A Review on Effect of Establishment Methods on Growth, Yield and Yield Attributes of Rice and on Succeeding Crops after Rice

Effect of establishment methods and nutrient management on productivity and energetics of rice (Oryza sativa)

A field experiment was carried out during kharif season of 2017–18 at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi to study the effect of crop establishment methods and nutrient management options on and energetics of rice (Oryza sativa L) (cv. Pusa Basmati 1509). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications. The treatments comprised two main plots, viz. aerobic rice (AR) and conventional transplanted (CT) rice and three sub-plots, viz. 100 % RDF (120:60:60 kg N: P2O5: K2O); 100 % RDF + biofertilizers (bf) and 125 % RDF. Results showed that plant growth and yield were significantly superior in CT rice than AR. In case of nutrient management, application of 125% RDF gave significantly higher grain (4.76 and 5.17 t/ha) and biological yields (11.77 and 12.55 t/ha) and those were at par with 100% RDF + bf. Likewise, significantly higher energy input (25.19 and 25.15 ×103 MJ/ha), output (158.85 and 168.62×103 MJ /ha) was recorded in CT than AR and net energy obtained was non-significant. Among nutrient management options, significantly higher energy input were consumed in 125% RDF followed by 100% RDF +bf and 100% RDF and the energy output was also higher with 125% RDF and 100 % RDF + bf. Hence, CT rice along with 100% RDF + biofertilizers may be recommended for farmers to get higher productivity, profitability and energy values. But in case of water scarce conditions, aerobic rice can be recommended with 100% RDF+ biofertilizers with slight penalty in grain yield and net returns.

Influence of Establishment Methods on Yield and Yield Parameters of Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L. Gaertn) in Ward 24, Zaka District

Finger millet is a climate compliant crop; its production remains low due to poor establishment methods. A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2018/19 at Dorcas Charare plot in ward 24, Zaka district to investigate the effects of establishment methods on yield and yield parameters of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three treatments namely broadcasting, hand drilling and transplanting replicated three times. Results on grain yield showed that transplanting method had the highest yield of 0.51t/ha whilst drilling and broadcasting scored 0.40t/ha and 0.35t/ha respectively. Transplanting method significantly (p<0.05) influenced higher number of tillers (7.13) per hill followed by drilling (2.40) and lastly broadcasting (2.13). Significant differences (p<0.05) were noted on panicle number with transplanting scoring the highest (8.13) and broadcasting the lowest (3.13). It can be concluded from the study that transplanting method realized a higher panicle number, tiller number and grain yield. Farmers must adopt transplanting as an establishment method in finger millet production.

Effect of establishment methods and varieties on yield and economics of linseed in vertisols

The field experiment on the effect of establishment methods and varieties on yield components, yield and economics of linseed was undertaken in Vertisols during rabi season of 2013-14 and 2014-15. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with allocation of methods of establishment in main plot and varieties in sub plot. The treatments were replicated four times. The treatments comprised of three methods of establishment i.e. M1: Dry seeding with planking followed by irrigation, M2: Dry seeding without planking followed by irrigation and M3: Seeding after pre-sowing irrigation and four varieties i.e. V1: T 397 (National check), V2: RLC 92, V3: Indira Alsi 32 and V4: Shekhar. Linseed sowing by dry seeding with planking followed by irrigation (M1) gave higher plant population, enhanced the growth and yield attributes which in turn resulted in significantly higher seed yield (1298 kg/ha) as well as net income (`37938/ha) amongst methods of establishment. With respect to varieties, RLC-92 (V2) showed good crop stand establishment, highest oil content (41.4%) and produced vigorous growth and superior yield attributes and highest seed yield (1293 kg/ha) of linseed as well as accrued handsome net profits (`37872/ha) and B:C ratio (1.91). The interaction effect among the methods of establishment and varieties was found non-significant in terms of yield and important yield attributing characters.

English

English

The legacy effect of cover crops on soil fungal populations in a cereal rotation

The use of rotations and minimum tillage in agriculture can permit more sustainable production through increasing soil organic matter and nutrients, and breaking of pathogen lifecycles. Soil fungal populations make an important physical and chemical contribution to soil. For example, mycorrhizal species are important in plant nutrition but are often overlooked when considering management practices for efficient soil function. We undertook DNA metabarcoding (Ion Torrent) using novel PCR primers and high-throughput sequencing of the D1 region of the large ribosomal subunit of the rRNA locus, to assess the effect of different forages and cereal tillage methods on the soil fungal community. The study comprised five forage treatments, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) with either low or high N, chicory (Cichorium intybus), red clover (Trifolium pratense) or white clover (Trifolium repens) grown over 3 harvest years (2010–2012). Cultivation of chicory, red clover or white clover led to significantly divergent soil fungal communities, with a notably lower diversity of fungal populations under clover, suggesting a link to soil N dynamics. Consistent with this, was a negative correlation of soil nitrate-N levels with populations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and other root-associated fungal groupings (dark septate endophytes, ‘CHEG’, Sebacinales and Ceratobasidiaceae). In contrast, abundance of Fungi belonging to the genera Mortierella and Cryptococcus were positively correlated with soil nitrate-N, with Mortierella also being negatively correlated with soil P. Spring wheat was sown on the same plots (April 2013) followed by winter barley (October 2013). Half of each plot was sown either after ploughing or by direct drilling. A legacy effect of the preceding forage crop on the fungal community was detected after both cereal crops, with plots previously cultivated with ryegrass being most divergent. No overall effect of establishment method on fungal communities was detected but AMF and CHEG fungi were more abundant on direct-drilled plots and pathogenic fungi were more abundant on ploughed plots after the sowing of winter barley.

Establishment Method Affects Oilseed Rape Yield and the Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer

Individual plant morphology and crop structure are contrasting between direct sown oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) (DOR) and transplanted oilseed rape (TOR) in China due to altered plant density and growth duration. This study was conducted to compare the yield performance and response to N fertilizer between DOR and TOR. The effects of establishment method (direct sowing or transplanting) and N rate (0 or 180 kg N ha–1) on yield, dry matter, and N uptake were determined through nine on‐farm experiments in China. The DOR produced lower and more inconsistent yields compared with TOR under identical N rates. The yield reduction was 78.7% for DOR and 66.7% for TOR when N fertilizer was omitted, demonstrating that DOR was more sensitive to N deficiency. Furthermore, TOR outperformed DOR in terms of individual growth, dry matter yield, N uptake, harvest index, and N efficiency. Compared with the steady development of TOR, DOR exhibited fluctuating dry matter accumulation and N uptake during plant growth, mainly due to the differences in population dynamics and initial N concentration. The TOR plant density was consistent throughout the growing season, whereas DOR showed 73.3 and 38.5% plant loss in no‐N and N‐fertilized plots, respectively. Nitrogen application increased DOR plants survival based on improved individual growth. Hence, DOR exhibited a relatively greater response to N fertilizer. In conclusion, crop performance, yield level, and responses to N fertilizer were significantly different between DOR and TOR, suggesting that the N fertilizer management strategy should be adjusted depending on the establishment method.

Effects of establishment method and fall stocking rate of wheat pasture on forage mass, forage chemical composition, and performance of growing steers1

Stocking rate is a fundamental variable for managing pastures, and there is a distinct relationship between stocking rate and animal performance for each forage type. This research was conducted to determine the effects of fall stocking rate (SR) and method of establishment of wheat pasture planted into dedicated crop fields on animal performance during the fall and subsequent spring. There was a factorial arrangement of tillage methods used in the establishment of wheat pasture and fall stocking rates. Tillage treatments included 1) CT, seed sown into a prepared seedbed, 2) RT, a single pass with a light disk followed by broadcasting of seed, or 3) NT, direct seeding into the undisturbed stubble of the grazed-out wheat pasture from the previous year. The fixed SR during the fall were 1.9, 2.5, and 3.7 growing beef steers (Bos taurus L.)/ha. In the spring all pastures were grazed at the same fixed SR by steers for graze out. Data were analyzed using the mixed procedure of SAS as a randomized complete block design with field as the experimental unit and year as the block. Forage mass, forage nutritive composition, and animal performance during the fall or spring were not affected (P ≥ 0.14) by tillage method. During the fall grazing season, with increasing SR there were linear (P < 0.01) decreases in BW of steers upon removal from pasture, BW gain per steer, and ADG, whereas grazing-day per hectare and BW gain per hectare increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing SR. The carryover effects of fall SR into the spring grazing season decreased (P< 0.01) grazing-day per hectare and tended (P ≤ 0.09) to produce quadratic changes in BW upon removal from pasture and BW gain per hectare. Across the fall and spring grazing seasons, grazing-day per hectare increased linearly (P < 0.01) with greater SR, and BW gain per hectare increased quadratically (P = 0.02) with increased fall SR. A tillage treatment by fall SR interaction (P = 0.10) indicates that although there was no difference (P ≥ 0.12) due to tillage treatment in BW gain per hectare at 1.9 or 2.5 SR, NT fields produced (P ≤ 0.04) more BW gain per hectare than CT or RT at the 3.7 SR. Although increasing SR of growing steers leads to reduced animal performance in the fall and reduced carrying capacity in the spring, NT appears to be capable of withstanding greater fall SR with less impact on total production per hectare than CT or RT.

Sowing methods for successful pasture establishment - a review

Methods of achieving successful pasture establishment have been broadened over the last 50 years by the introduction of no-tillage technologies, providing a viable alternative to cultivation. Parallel developments in drill technologies for seed and fertiliser placement, and methods to control competition from the existing pasture have ensured the success of no-tillage methods. This review focuses on the effects of the establishment method on seedling growth over the establishment period, defined for the purposes of this paper as the year after sowing. Undersowing existing pasture is the establishment method least likely to provide a suitable environment for seedling growth and development. New pastures must receive different management to existing pastures for at least 1 year after sowing to increase their chances of becoming persistent and productive. Long-term monitoring (5-10 years) of new pastures has received little research attention, making assessments of effects of different establishment methods on persistence difficult. Factors likely to affect seedling establishment and plant survival are discussed. Keywords: competition control, cultivation, directdrilling, first year management, Lolium perenne, ryegrass, seedling survival, Trifolium repens, white clover

Effect of water management on dry seeded and puddled transplanted rice: Part 2: Water balance and water productivity

Labour and water scarcity in north west India are driving researchers and farmers to find alternative management strategies that will increase water productivity and reduce labour requirement while maintaining or increasing land productivity. A field experiment was done in Punjab, India, in 2008 and 2009 to compare water balance components and water productivity of dry seeded rice (DSR) and puddled transplanted rice (PTR). There were four irrigation schedules based on soil water tension (SWT) ranging from saturation (daily irrigation) to alternate wetting drying (AWD) with irrigation thresholds of 20, 40 and 70 kPa at 18–20 cm soil depth. There were large and significant declines in irrigation water input with AWD compared to daily irrigation in both establishment methods. The irrigation water savings were mainly due to reduced deep drainage, seepage and runoff, and to reduced ET in DSR. Within each irrigation treatment, deep drainage was much higher in DSR than in PTR, and more so in the second year (i.e. after 2 years without puddling). The irrigation input to daily irrigated DSR was similar to or higher than to daily irrigated PTR. However, within each AWD treatment, the irrigation input to DSR was less than to PTR, due to reduced seepage and runoff, mainly because all PTR treatments were continuously flooded for 2 weeks after transplanting. There was 30–50% irrigation water saving in DSR-20 kPa compared with PTR-20 kPa due to reduced seepage and runoff, which more than compensated for the increased deep drainage in DSR. Yields of PTR and DSR with daily irrigation and a 20 kPa irrigation threshold were similar each year. Thus irrigation and input water productivities (WP I and WP I+ R ) were highest with the 20 kPa irrigation threshold, and WP I of DSR-20 kPa was 30–50% higher than of PTR-20 kPa. There was a consistent trend for declining ET with decreasing frequency of irrigation, but there was no effect of establishment method on ET apart from higher ET in DSR than PTR with daily irrigation. Water productivity with respect to ET (WP ET) was highest with a 20 kPa irrigation threshold, with similar values for DSR and PTR. An irrigation threshold of 20 kPa was the optimum in terms of maximising grain yield, WP I and WP I+ R for both PTR and DSR. Dry seeded rice with the 20 kPa threshold outperformed PTR-20 kPa in terms of WP I through maintaining yield while reducing irrigation input by 30–50%.

Establishment Systems for Glyphosate-Resistant Alfalfa

Glyphosate-resistant alfalfa offers new weed control options for alfalfa establishment. Field studies were conducted in 2004 and 2005 to determine the effect of establishment method and weed control method on forage production and alfalfa stand establishment. Seeding methods included clear seeding and companion seeding with oats. Herbicide treatments included glyphosate, imazamox, imazamox + clethodim, and no herbicide. Temporary stunting from the glyphosate treatments was observed (< 7%); however, injury did not reduce forage yield or stand density in 2004. No glyphosate injury was observed in 2005. Weed control with glyphosate was more consistent than with imazamox or imazamox + clethodim. In 2004, total seasonal forage yield, which consisted of alfalfa, weeds, and oats (in some treatments), was the highest where no herbicide was applied in the oat companion crop and was reduced where herbicides were applied in both establishment systems. In 2005, seeding method or weed control method did not affect tot...