Fall Plowing Research Articles

Effects of Three Different Tillage Patterns on Ground and Below-Ground Dwelling Insect Assemblage

Tillage could significantly change the biodiversity in farmlands. As a prominent component of farmland ecology, crops play a key role in regulating biological communities. To explore the effects of tillage patterns and planting modes, including high-disturbance tillage practices and different plant compositions, on the abundance of soil insects, we tested the responses of soil insects to no-tillage (NT), ridge tillage (RT), and fall plow (FP) treatments with different planting modes. The results illustrated that planting modes significantly changed the distributions of ground-dwelling insect species and disturbed interactions on the farmland. Soil-dwelling insect assemblages were mainly influenced by tillage patterns, which reflected that soil physicochemical properties, especially pH, had the highest contribution to the determination of community composition. The no-tillage system supported the highest predator species richness and lower herbivore richness with higher abundance. In the no-tillage system, most of the insects on the farmland have established relationships, forming a relatively high degree of connection between different insects. The network was more specialized and nested in the field with fall ploughing. In conclusion, the effects of tillage patterns and planting modes on insect assemblage can be divided into two spatial dimensions: the success of soil-ground insect maintenance determined by plants and below-ground depended on tillage.

The Effect of the Timing of Manure Application in Combination with Mineral Fertilizers and Planting Density on the Weediness of Potato Plantings

Potatoes are one of the most responsive crops for grooming techniques since in the period from seedlings before closing rows are easily suppressed by weeds that take away nutrients, water, light from it. The factor that causes high harm to potatoes is weed. By absorbing a large number of nutrients and moisture from the soil, weeds inhibit the growth and development of plants, reducing their potential productivity. The purpose of the study was to establish the effect of the timing of the introduction of bedding manure in conjunction with mineral fertilizers and planting density on the weediness of potato plantings. Studies were provided to identify the impact of the timing of bedding manure together with mineral fertilizers and planting density for weed planting potatoes. Experiments were laid by the systematic method with a tiered arrangement of variants in the experiment with a 3-fold repetition. We used cattle manure on straw bedding for autumn-winter harvesting. The following types of fertilizers were used: ammonium nitrate, double superphosphate, potassium chloride. Determination of the amount and biomass of weeds in potato plantings was carried out in the flowering phase and before harvesting. The application of manure was accompanied by an increase in the number and weight of weeds. Annual weeds predominated in potato plantings: Amaranthus retroflexus L., 1753 and Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson, 1877, Chenopodium album L. Chenopodium album L., 1753, Setaria P. Beauv, 1812 and Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv, 1812, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) BEAUV., 1812 and others, perennials included Cirsium arvense (L.) SCOP. 1772 and Sonchus arvensis L., 1753, (Elytrigia repens (L.) DESV. ex NEVSKI, 1933 and others. Planting density also has a definite effect on the development of weeds. When manure was applied in autumn under the plow, the number of weeds increased in comparison with other options, where only mineral fertilizers were applied. The application of manure over frozen plow and in winter over snow leads to a slight decrease (2.3-2.5 pcs/m2) of weeds. The greatest number of weeds is observed during the spring application of manure for plowing the fall plow. Nevertheless, studies aimed at clarifying the composition and structure of weediness, the number and weight of weeds in potato plantings are of great practical importance for local agricultural producers. These data should contribute to the development of an effective weed control system and high yields of potatoes in the region

Alternative methods for terminating green manures in organic grain systems

AbstractLegume green manures (GM) are a vital source of nitrogen (N) for many organic grain systems. A common practice among organic growers is to undersow clover into a small grain, harvest the grain crop and terminate the clover stand in late fall by moldboard plowing in preparation for a cash crop the following spring. While fall plowing offers excellent clover kill, growers increasingly seek an alternative termination method that reduces tillage intensity and bare winter soil. This study, performed at two sites in Maine, evaluates three clover termination methods for kill efficacy, winter soil cover, spring soil conditions and N uptake and grain yield and protein of a subsequent test crop of hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., var. Glenn). Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) was intercropped with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and terminated in late fall by moldboard plowing (PL), skim plowing (SK) or undercutting (UC). A control treatment received no clover and was fall plowed. An additional treatment, winterkilled field peas (WK), was evaluated at one site. SK, UC and WK increased soil cover relative to PL, though UC resulted in low clover kill efficacy in a wet spring and is in need of improved design. Grain yield was higher following red clover compared to the no-clover control at one site, but was unaffected by termination method. At one site, grain crude protein was higher following PL than the other treatments, indicating the possibility for more favorable timing of N availability associated with PL.

The Effects of Soil Compaction and Different Tillage Systems on the Bulk Density and Moisture Content of Soil and the Yields of Winter Oilseed Rape and Cereals

Progressive soil compaction is a disadvantage of intensive tillage. Compaction exerts a negative impact on the physical properties of soil and decreases crop performance. The adverse effects of soil compaction can be mitigated by replacing conventional tillage with simplified tillage techniques. Simplified tillage exerts a protective effect on soil, reduces production costs and preserves agricultural ecosystems. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of compaction and different tillage methods on the bulk density and moisture content of soil. The experimental factors were as follows: Soil compaction before sowing (non-compacted control treatment and experimental treatments where soil was compacted after the harvest of the preceding crop) and four different methods of seedbed preparation in a three-field rotation system (winter oilseed rape, winter wheat, spring barley). The influence of compaction on the bulk density and moisture content of soil varied across the rotated crops and their developmental stages. Soil compaction had no significant effect on the analyzed parameters in the cultivation of winter oilseed rape. In treatments sown with winter wheat, soil compaction resulted in significantly lower soil density and significantly higher soil moisture content. In plots sown with spring barley, soil compaction led to a significant increase in the values of both parameters. The average bulk density of soil after various tillage operations in the examined crop rotation system ranged from 1.49–1.69 g·m−3 (winter oilseed rape), 1.47–1.59 g·m−3 (winter wheat), 1.47–1.61 g·m−3 (spring barley). The bulk density and moisture content of soil were lowest after conventional tillage (control treatment) and higher after simplified tillage. Regardless of soil compaction, the greatest reduction in winter oilseed rape yields was noted in response to skimming, harrowing and the absence of pre-sowing plowing. Spring barley yields were higher in non-compacted treatments, whereas the reverse was observed in winter wheat. Chisel plowing and single plowing induced the greatest decrease in wheat yields relative to conventional tillage. Single plowing significantly decreased the grain yield of spring barley relative to the tillage system that involved skimming and fall plowing to a depth of 25.

УРАЖЕННЯ БУРЯКУ ЦУКРОВОГО ЦЕРКОСПОРОЗОМ І КАГАТНОЮ ГНИЛЛЮ ЗАЛЕЖНО ВІД ОСОБЛИВОСТЕЙ УДОБРЕННЯ

The results of field and laboratory research on podzolized heavy loam chernozem of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine to study the effect of various fertilization systems on the infestation of sugar beet by cercosporosis and gray rot are presented. It has been found that changes in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrition have a different effect on the development of diseases. The semi-rotted cattle manure on straw bedding and mineral fertilizers in the form of aqueous ammonia, ammonium nitrate, granular superphosphate, mixed potassium salt, potassium chloride, ammonium nitrate phosphate fertilizer grade A and liquid complex fertilizers of grade 10–34–0 were used in the experiment. The rate of manure is 40 t/ha, the rate of mineral fertilizers – N120Р120К120. Fertilizers were applied in August during fall plowing, as well as in late autumn at the end of October, together with the soil subsurface loosening to a depth of 14–16 cm, and in spring – for presowing cultivation. The degree of the leaf apparatus damage by cercosporosis and the intensity of the disease development were determined. The resistance of root crops to gray rot was determined by a microbiological method. For this, cuttings from root crops were placed in Petri dishes with a provocative background of a pure culture of the fungus Botritis cinerea Pers. The conducted studies have established that, depending on the types, forms and timing of mineral fertilizers against the background of manure, the degree of the leaf apparatus infestation of beets with sugar cercosporosis varies from 24 to 48 % and increases both for insufficient and unbalanced phosphorus nutrition. At the same time, the improvement of nitrogen nutrition, especially with the late autumn application of aqueous ammonia, compared with its introduction for the August plowing, contributes to an increase in the degree of stability of the leaf apparatus of sugar beet to cercosporosis from 46.6 to 60.0 %. Improving the mineral nutrition of plants through the use of fertilizers helps to increase the resistance of root crops to decay. At the same time, depending on the fertilizer application system, the degree of stability compared to the control without fertilizers increases by 8.5–38.9 %. This was especially effectively promoted by the improvement of phosphorus nutrition of plants. A high correlation dependence was established between the damage of leaf apparatus of sugar beet by cercosporosis and the formation of a rotten mass of root crops (r = 0.85).

The reasons for the decrease in the feld crops yield against the background of flat-cut basic tillage

The purpose of the research was to establish the reason for the decrease in the productivity of crops grown in the experiments under replacing the main processing of moldboard plowing with flat-cut loosening to appropriate depths based on a review of the literature and our own experiments conducted on podzolized chernozem in a fve-feld crop rotation of soybeans – spring rape – spring wheat – oil flax – spring barley. According to the research data, the average yield of 15 crops decreased by 9.0 % due to such replacement. In our experience, the average yield of spring crops decreased by the same amount. Such a decrease in the yield of crops cultivated in different experiments against the background of flat-cut cultivation instead of plowing could not be caused by a deterioration in the physical condition of the soil due to the absence of the latter, sinse in 15 experiments, according to the literature data, the density of the addition of the arable layer of different soils changed only by 0.7 % and the content of agronomically valuable structures – only by 0.1 %, and in our experience – respectively by 2.1 and 1.4 % (towards improvement). The total soil permeability in the arable layer also decreased by 1.9 % in our study due to the use of flatcut tillage instead of fall plowing, while remaining within the acceptable range. Changes in the water regime related to the change in the method of basic soil cultivation could not negatively manifest at the level of productivity of crops cultivated in different experiments. In addition, only in fve publications out of 15 the reserves of available moisture in the root layer decreased due to replacing moldboard cultivation with non-moldboard loosening, and in the rest 10 ones they remained unchanged or they increased signifcantly. Therefore, the reserves of soil moisture available against the background of flat-cut loosening were 1.7 % higher in comparison with plowing. In the experiment, the advantage of flat-cut cultivation over plowing in terms of available moisture reserves in a meter layer of soil at the middle and end of the growing season of spring crops increased to 6.1 and 6.4 %, respectively. The average productivity of crops cultivated in crop rotation against the background of flat-cut cultivation was signifcantly (by 9.0 %) lower in comparison with plowing. The reason for this could be almost a third (by 27–31 %) higher infestation of crops after the moldboard-free main autumn tillage. Key words: fve-feld crop rotation, physical condition of the soil, reserves of available moisture, crops weediness, crop yield.

ВОДОУТРИМУВАЛЬНА ЗДАНІСТЬ БУРЯКУ ЦУКРОВОГО ЗАЛЕЖНО ВІД УДОБРЕННЯ

The results of a field experiment held on podzolic black heavy loam soil of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, studying the effect of various fertilization systems on the water-holding capacity of sugar beet, are presented. It was found that the change in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrition has a different effect on this indicator when closing the leaves of sugar beet plants between rows and during the harvest time. Half-dead cattle manure KRS on straw bedding aw well as mineral fertilizers, namely aqueous ammonia, ammonium nitrate, granular superphosphate, mixed potassium salt, potassium chloride, ANP fertilizer grade A and liquid complex fertilizer grade 10–34–0 were used during the experiment. Manure was applied at a dose of 40 t / ha and mineral fertilizers – N120Р120К120. Fertilizers were applied in August during fall plowing, as well as in late autumn (at the end of October) together with moldboard-free loosening of the soil to a depth of 14–16 cm and in spring –under pre-sowing cultivation. The dynamics of the intensity of water return was monitored by cut sugar beet leaves under conditions of rapid natural evaporation by weighing them every 0.5, 1 and 2 hours (according to Arland's method). It was found that the leaves of sugar beet, both with insufficient and unbalanced nitrogen nutrition, have a weak water-holding capacity during the growing season. Improving phosphorus nutrition, especially when applying liquid complex fertilizer grade 10–34–0, helps increase the water-holding capacity of sugar beet plants throughout the growing season. Replacing potassium chloride with potassium salt mixed as part of a complete mineral fertilizer significantly increases the water-holding capacity of sugar beets due to the better provision with sodium. This is particularly evident in the second half of the growing season. With the age of sugar beet plants, a distinct decrease in the intensity of water loss is observed regardless of fertilization, which can be explained by an increase in the content of bound water due to a rise of the amount of dry matter.

ВЛИЯНИЕ СИСТЕМ ОБРАБОТКИ СВЕТЛО-СЕРОЙ ЛЕСНОЙ ПОЧВЫ НА УРОЖАЙНОСТЬ И ЭНЕРГЕТИЧЕСКУЮ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ ВЫРАЩИВАНИЯ ЗЕРНОВЫХ КУЛЬТУР ЗА РОТАЦИЮ ЗЕРНОВОГО СЕВООБОРОТА В УСЛОВИЯХ ВОЛГО-ВЯТСКОГО РЕГИОНА

The research was carried out in order to find new technological and technical solutions that ensure the energy efficiency of agriculture, stabilization and increase in the yield of agricultural crops for the rotation of grain crop rotation in Volga-Vyatka region. The field experiment was started in 2014 in Nizhny Novgorod region. The work was carried out in grain crop rotation: 1. mustard for seeds; 2. winter wheat; 3. soy; 4. spring wheat; 5. peas; 6. oats. The experimental scheme included 5 systems of tillage (factor A), differing in the methods of the main autumn tillage. For each system of soil cultivation, the influence of mineral fertilizers and destructors of plant residues (factor B) was determined. Against the background of natural soil fertility, the most energetically payback option of the main soil cultivation system is autumn plowing with a plow with dumps (energy coefficient 2.93). The use of a plow without plows, a Pottinger Synkro 5030 K chisel cultivator and a Discover XM 44660 nothad disc harrow in a soil cultivation system leads to a decrease in the energy coefficient to 2.84 ... 2.85; and the use of no-till technology - up to 1.88. Against the background of natural soil fertility, the greatest energy return was provided by systems with fall plowing, carried out both with a plow with dumps and without them, as well as with disking as the main soil cultivation in combination with the use of the biological product Stimix®Niva - energy coefficients were in the range of 3 , 03 ... 3.31. When using no-till technology, the highest value of this indicator was noted when N60P60K60 was applied separately (2.27) and together with the biological product Stimix®Niva (2.53). The maximum energy return in the experiment was recorded in the variant with the main tillage of the soil with a Pottinger chisel cultivator against the background of N60P60K60 together with the biological product Stimix®Niva - the average energy coefficient was 3.45

Economic effect of fall vs. spring plowing of forage on following potato production in Prince Edward Island, Canada

AbstractFall plowing of forage in a typical barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)–forage–potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) rotation in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada has led to negative environmental impacts, including soil erosion and nitrate leaching to groundwater. Data from five locations in PEI during 2009–2016 were assessed to determine the effects of delaying plow‐down of forage from early and late fall to spring on economic returns and risk of returns trade‐offs for potato producers. Factors related to fall or spring plowing such as soil erosion, nitrate leaching, planting date, effect on weeds, insects and diseases, potato harvest loss, and labor constraints were quantified. Potato yields were the same for fall and spring plowing; however, combined data for the five experiments showed late fall plowing was preferred over spring plowing for risk‐averse or neutral potato growers. Risk neutral farmers would require receiving between CAN$229 and $836 ha−1 yr−1, depending on yield loss for spring plowing due to delayed seeding, to be indifferent between fall and spring plowing options. Risk‐averse farmers at all levels of risk aversion would require being paid more than $600 ha−1 yr−1 to be indifferent between fall and spring tillage when 4–6% of yield loss for spring plowing due to delayed planting is assumed. Although spring tillage provides reductions in the risk of soil erosion and nitrate leaching, it also affects production risk and uncertainty. Therefore, we recommend farmers plow forage as late as possible in the autumn and replace it with other conservation tillage practices.

Soil Carbon, Nitrogen, pH, and Crop Yields in Winter Wheat–Spring Pea Systems

Core Ideas Under wheat–pea, reduced tillage increased SOC, TN, and pea yields over fall plowing. No‐till decreased surface soil pH and wheat yields relative to fall plowing. Spring plowing minimized surface soil acidification, increased crop yield, and maintained SOC and TN. Data from an ongoing winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–spring pea (Pisum sativum L.) long‐term experiment on a Walla‐Walla silt loam (coarse‐silty, mixed, mesic Typic Haploxeroll) in eastern Oregon was used to evaluate the effects of four tillage systems [fall plow (FP), spring plow (SP), disk tillage and chisel plow (DT/CP), and no‐till (NT)] on soil pH, bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and grain yields. Among tillage types, FP produced the lowest pea yields in 4 out of 6 crop‐years, whereas NT produced the lowest wheat yields during dry and hot crop‐years. Both NT and DT/CP had lower soil pH than FP and SP in the surface 10 cm. Soil organic C and TN were higher under NT and DT/CP than under FP and SP in the surface 10 cm. However, SP increased SOC and TN over NT at soil depth of 10 to 20 cm. Under wheat–pea, NT and DT/CP will increase SOC, TN, and pea yields but may reduce surface soil pH and decrease wheat yields relative to conventional FP. Spring plow has the potential to minimize surface soil acidification, increase crop yield, and maintain SOC and TN in wheat‐pea systems.

Productivity of sugar beets depending on the method of main soil tillage and levels of fertilization

Soil tillage and fertilization level are important in the system of agro-technical measures that increase soil fertility and sugar beets productivity. Today the cultivation of this crop requires a great deal of expense, therefore, there is a need for a wider study of the use of cheap soil cultivation, soil protection, energy-saving soil tillage technologies and appropriate ferti-lization levels.
 Under western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine conditions, investigations were conducted on dark grey podzolic light loamy soils where the influence of tillage models and fertilization levels on the formation of sugar beets root crops was studied.
 Shallow no-plow tillage of the soil on 14-16 cm is expedient to use as a main tillage under sugar beets. Under favorable weather and climatic conditions, it can provide yielding capacity at the level of deep fall plowing. The use of shallow no-plow tillage helped to increase the yielding capacity of sugar beet roots relative to plowing by 28-30 cm for 1.3 t / ha and the biological sugar output – for 0.2 t / ha. Then the sugar content was by 0.1% higher in the application of deep fall plowing on 28-30 cm.
 The optimization of the system of sugar beets fertilization allows ensuring the growth of the yielding capacity of root crops. It is established that the application of fertilizer norm N300P225K350 provides the yielding capacity at the level of 90 t / ha. The sugar content of root crops at the given fertilizer rate was the lowest in the experiment - 16.5 – 16.6%. Thanks to the high yielding capacity of root crops in terms of N300P225K350, the sugar harvesting was the highest and depending on the method of basic soil tillage was 14.95 – 14.79 t / ha. That is in 3.2 times more as to the control, in 1.3 times more than the norm of N180P135K210 and in 1.1 more than the fertilization level N240P180K280.

Surface Runoff and Snowmelt Infiltration into the Soil on Plowlands in the Forest-Steppe and Steppe Zones of the East European Plain

Long-term series of observations over the spring water balance elements on fields with hydrologically contrasting agricultural backgrounds―a loose soil after fall moldboard plowing and a plowland compacted by 12–16% compared to the former soil (perennial grasses, winter crops, stubble)―have been analyzed. The values of surface runoff and water infiltration into the soil in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of European Russia have been calculated for the spring (flooding) period and the entire cold season. The hydrological role of fall plowing has been shown, and water balance elements for the current (1981–2016) and preceding (1957–1980) periods have been compared. A significant decrease in runoff and an increase of water reserve in the soil have been revealed on all plowland types. Consequences of changes in the spring water balance on plowland have been analyzed.

Soil Organic Carbon Pools as Early Indicators for Soil Organic Matter Stock Changes under Different Tillage Practices in Inland Pacific Northwest

Soil organic matter (SOM) is essential for sustaining soil health and crop productivity. However, changes in SOM stocks in response to agronomic practices are slow and show years later when it is too late for adjustments in management. Identifying early indicators of SOM dynamics will allow early management decisions and quick remedial action. The objectives of this study were to evaluate long-term effects of tillage intensity and timing on SOM pools and determine the most responsive SOM pools to tillage practice. Soil from a long-term (53 yrs) winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) - spring pea (Pisum sativum L.) rotation and undisturbed grass pasture (GP) in inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW) was sampled to evaluate the effect of four tillage systems [no-till (NT), disk/chisel (DT/CT), spring plow (SP), and fall plow (FP)] on soil organic carbon (SOC, proxy for SOM), total nitrogen (TN), particulate organic matter carbon (POM-C) and nitrogen (POM-N), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), water extractable organic carbon (WEOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), KCl-extractable nitrogen (KEN), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), basal respiration (BR), carbon mineralization (Cmin), and metabolic quotient (qCO2). GP had higher levels of SOC pools than cultivated treatments. On average, tillage significantly decreased SOC and TN by 28% and 26%, respectively, compared to GP. Among the cultivated soils, tillage had no significant effect on SOC and TN, except for DT/CT that had slightly higher SOC than FP (P=0.08). On the contrary, NT and DT/CT significantly (P<0.05) increased levels of POM-C, POM-N, POXC, WEOC, MBC, BR, Cmin, and qCO2 over FP or SP. However, tillage did not affect TDN, MBN, and KEN. The C-pools (POM-C, POXC, MBC, WEOC, BR, and Cmin) were more strongly correlated with SOM than the N-pools (TDN, MBN, and KEN), with an exception to POM-N. Under wheat-pea rotation in the iPNW, reduced tillage systems (NT and DT/CT) have a potential to maintain or increase SOM, which can be assessed early through its physical (POM), chemical (POXC, WEOC), and microbiological (MBC, BR, Cmin) indicators. POXC and WEOC were the most sensitive indicators of tillage-induced changes in SOM dynamics.

Effects of Fall vs. Spring Plowing Forages on Nitrate Leaching Losses to Groundwater

AbstractHigh levels of nitrate leaching losses from potato rotation systems have caused concerns for both drinking water quality and aquatic ecosystem protection in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Paired‐field experiments were carried out in commercial fields to evaluate the potential of delayed plowing forages within potato rotation from fall to spring on reducing nitrate leaching at two separate sites in PEI during 2010 and 2013. Monitoring showed that fall plowing resulted in elevated tile‐drain nitrate concentrations compared to spring plowing, probably mainly due to crop residue mineralization during fall which was hastened by earlier herbicidal termination of forage (i.e., herbicidal killing) at Site 1. A similar trend was also observed regarding nitrate concentrations of shallow groundwater at Site 2 during the forage phase. The practice of delaying the plowing of forages and/or associated earlier herbicidal termination of forage until spring reduces forage‐phase nitrate leaching loss by 20 to 61%, and should therefore be encouraged for nitrate mitigation. The study also demonstrated that only a small fraction (9.6 to 22%) of the fall plow‐down forages decayed during the forage phase and a large portion was retained in the soil into the next season. Growers should consider accounting for some of the carried‐over N for the subsequent crops regardless implementing fall or spring plowing.

Results on Economic Efficiency in Growing Artichokes in Climatic Conditions

In this paper we present results of the research made between 2008-2010 on the effectiveness of soil fertilization with organic fertilizers and value cultivars tested, in terms of production. Experiences had been located in the experimental field of Jucu, CJ. We took four cultivation of artichokes in the study: “Unirea”, “Violet”, “Agrosel 656” and “Chișnă”. They were placed in the experimental field of Jucu - Cluj, made in two densities (3.57 pl/sqm and 2.38 pl/sqm) and three levels of fertilization (unfertilized, fertilized with 20 t/ha farmyard manure and 40 t/ha manure in the fall plowing). The sowing was performed manually in the artichokes nests (2-3 seeds/nest). The experience was located in four repetitions of 10 sqm. Biometric measurements were conducted at 10 plants in each plot experimental environments. Harvesting has been done manually with a sickle. Economic efficiency was established by calculating the following economic indicators: production per hectare achieved, value of trading, average price recovery, cost of production, cost per unit of product, taxable profit, net income + grants, rate is expressed as %, net profit + subsidy rate. From the cultivars studied, the highest net profit was obtained in cultivation Unirea (8,976 lei/ha), followed by far by the Purple (6,745 lei/ha). The main driver of profit was due to the production of plant material. From the three agrofunds, the ones fertilized with 40 t / ha manure turned out to be the most economically efficient of all cultivars due to higher production per hectare.

경상북도 지역 논 제초제의 농가 사용 실태

Field survey on the weed occurrence and the use of herbicides was carried out targeting 214 rice cultivating farmers at Gyeongsangbuk-do. 96.2% of farmers did machine planting in late May and this is 68.0% of total cultivating area. Spring plowing was first with 54.6%, followed by spring-fall and fall plowing with 24.8% and 15.0%, respectively. 75% of the farmers treated herbicide twice. 57.5% of them treated herbicide before transplanting and treated at post-emergence again. In case of only application, 84% of the farmers treated herbicide before transplanting. Twenty-three species were occurred at Gyeongsangbuk-do and Echinochloa spp. was the most dominant with 20.8%, Sagittaria trifolia was second with 10.4%, followed by Monochoria vaginalis and Sagittaria pygmaea with 9.9% and 9.7%, respectively. Sagittaria pygmaea was the most difficult to control followed by Echinochloa spp., M. vaginalis, and S. trifolia.

Nitrogen dynamics in stockless organic clover–grass and cereal rotations

We applied a mechanistic ecosystem model to investigate the production and environmental performances of (1) current agricultural practice on two fields of a stockless organic cereal farm in southeast Norway and (2) alternative cereal-ley rotations and plowing time scenarios. Scenarios were simulated using historic weather data and a climate change scenario. Measured and simulated soil mineral N concentrations were generally low (1–4 g N m−2) and in good agreement. Simulated nitrate leaching was similar for the two fields, except when an extended period of black fallow weeding was practiced on one of them. Scenario simulations indicated that continuous cereal cropping undersown with a clover–grass winter cover crop performed best when evaluated by whole-rotation grain yield, the N yield/input-, and N loss/yield-ratios, and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the rotation had the largest soil organic matter losses. The N use and loss efficiency indicators were especially poor when ley years occurred consecutively and under fall plowing. Total greenhouse gas emissions were, however, smaller for the fall-plowed scenarios. In conclusion, our results indicated a modest potential for improving stockless systems by management changes in plowing time or crop rotation, which was hardly different in the climate change scenarios, although nitrate leaching increased substantially in the winter. Alternative strategies seem necessary to substantially improve the N-use efficiency in stockless organic grain production systems, e.g., biogas production from green manure and subsequent recycling of the digestate. Abandoning the stockless system and reintegrating livestock should also be considered.

Research on the Cultivation of Artichokes (Cynara Scolymus L.) in Various Conditions of Fertilization in the Jucu, Cluj

In this paper we present results of the research made between 2008-2010 on the influence of cultivation, density and fertilization on the plant’s morphology and leaf production.&#x0D; Experiences had been located in the experimental field of Jucu, CJ. We took four cultivation of artichokes in the study: “Unirea”, “Violet”, “Agrosel 656” and “Chişinău”. They were placed in the experimental field of Jucu - Cluj, made in two densities (3.57 pl/sqm and 2.38 pl/sqm) and three levels of fertilization (unfertilized, fertilized with 20 t/ha farmyard manure and 40 t/ha manure in the fall plowing).

Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics in the Pendleton Long‐Term Experiments: Implications for Biofuel Production in Pacific Northwest

Use of crop residues for biofuel production raises concerns on how removal will impact soil organic carbon (SOC). Information on the effects on SOC is limited and requires long‐term experimentation. Fortunately, Pendleton long‐term experiments (LTEs), dating to the 1930s, provide some answers. This study compared crop residue inputs and SOC balance in conventional tillage (CT) winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–summer fallow (WW‐SF) systems with annual rotation of WW and spring pea (Pisum sativum L.). The WW‐SF consisted of crop residue (CR‐LTE) (0–90 N ha−1 yr−1, 11.2 Mg ha−1 yr−1 of steer (Bos taurus) manure and 1.1 Mg ha−1 yr−1of pea vines additions, residue burning, and tillage fertility (TF‐LTE) (tillage‐ plow, disc, sweep, and N (0–180 kg ha−1)). Winter wheat–pea (WP‐LTE) rotation treatments included maxi‐till (MT‐disc/chisel), fall plow (FP), spring plow (SP), and no‐till (NT). Soils were sampled (0–60‐cm depth) at 10‐yr intervals, and grain yield and residue data collected every year. In WW‐SF systems, SOC was maintained only by manure addition and depleted at a rate of 0.22 to 0.42 Mg ha−1 yr−1 in other treatments. In WP‐LTE, MT, FP, SP, and NT treatments increased SOC at the rate of 0.10, 0.11, 0.02, and 0.89 Mg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Minimum straw biomass to maintain soil organic carbon (MSB) in the CR‐LTE, TF‐LTE, and WP‐LTE was 7.8, 5.8, and 5.2 Mg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Winter wheat‐SF straw production was lower than MSB, therefore residue removal exacerbated SOC decline. Harvesting straw residues under NT continuous cropping systems is possible when MSB and conservation requirements are exceeded.

Monitoring Melolontha melolontha L. species in 2007, in the nursery from U.P. IV Bătrâna O.S. Topliţa, Harghita forest district.

Melolontha melolontha L. (called may bug), is the major species, the spread of this species, from Dobrogea and Câmpia Româna up in the mountains area, was detected in both woodlands: hardwood and softwood. Following surveys in the nursery of U.P.IV Bǎtrâna, in 2007, has made the prognosis for Melolontha melolontha ( may bug) for 2008. May bug larvae were reported only on 20.83% of total area. Attack will be weak in 2008. In U.P. I Cǎlimǎnel nursery, degree of infestation is average (medium), corresponding to a density of 0.27 active larvae, in to the third age, per square meter. Infested area remains the same every year, being 1880 ha, and the infestation level is low. Limiting excessive multiplication of may bug beetles can be achieved only by applying an integrated system of measures, preventive and repressive, carefully and continuous supervision of population dynamics of pests and their density, by making the prognosis works. Using integrated method, the focus is on destroying the insects in adult stage, during flight period, preventing infestation of crop land by depositing eggs, using in this purpose repressive measures (collection of beetles, treated food), and preventive measures (plowing land, soil cover, using repellent substances, using smoke, using light traps). Destroying beetles in the larval stage is done primarily by physical and mechanical methods ( inundation, catch with bait plants) and agrotechnical methods (fall plowing, plowing soil with scrapers).