Harvest Soil Research Articles

Field Studies with Carbofuran for Control of the Root Form of the Grape Phylloxera1

A granular formulation of carbofuran was evaluated over a wide range of soil conditions in California to determine its effectiveness against the root form of Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch). A post harvest soil treatment consisting of 11.2 kg AI/ha broadcast and incorporated between the vine rows resulted in excellent control and was comparable in activity to applications of higher rates. Retreatment on a biennial basis is suggested for the continued suppression of the grape phylloxera population and the maintenance of vine productivity.

Danish Experiences with Cereals in Monoculture1

AbstractLong‐term experiments show that monoculturing cereals will lead to yield depletion. The two main factors responsible for this loss are take‐all (Gaeumannomyces graminis (Sacc.) v. Arx & Olivier) and eyespot (Cercosporella herpotrichoides Fron). Of less importance is the cereal cyst nematode since Danish breeders produced new barley varieties that are highly resistant against this nematode. These parasites, however, do not account for all the losses occurring and other yield decreasing factors must be present, the nature of which remains to be revealed.Experiments with barley grown in monoculture show that the yield, although declining steadily the first 2–4 years, remains stable after that, whereas take‐all declines. Adding straw to the soil or burning it has little effect on yield or diseases. The same is true for post‐harvest soil treatments. It is expected that post‐harvest crops such as Italian ryegrass and white mustard do have a beneficial effect and their value, especially as crops that can be sown after harvest, is being investigated. Breeding for resistance against take‐all is cumbersome and of doubtful economical value. Chemical control of take‐all is not feasible, but eyespot can be controlled efficiently with Benomyl.SummaryLong‐term experiments show that continuous cereal growing may result in yield decrease. In barley, which is dominating in Denmark, the decrease on fertile soils is usually of minor importance. Experiments have further shown that the biggest yield decrease occurs in the 3rd to 5th year of barley monoculture.The influence of different treatments of straw on yield and diseases has been insignificant according to experiments carried out during 7 years on 4 experimental stations.Post‐harvest soil treatment has very little effect on diseases and yield except on land heavily infested with weeds. Post‐harvest crops such as Italian ryegrass and white mustard are of great interest and their value is further investigated, especially as crops sown after harvest.The cereal root nematode is still a threat to the growing of oat and spring wheat. High yielding barley varieties which are resistant to the 2 pathotypes occurring in Denmark are a useful tool in reducing the risk inherent in continuous barley growing. Decline in the population of nematodes has been observed when using monocultures of different host‐plants.Resistance against take‐all (G. graminis) is thoroughly investigated in Denmark. The conclusion is that breeding for resistance is very difficult and of doubtful economical value. Chemical control of take‐all in the field seems to be impossible in contrast to the good results obtained when testing several chemicals in the laboratory. The control of eyespot (C. herpotrichoides) with Benomyl has been highly successful in winter wheat and winter rye in some experiments, but an economical use demands a rather safe method of forecasting attacks in the different fields.The problem of take‐all decline and yield stabilization by continuous cereal growing has attracted the interest of many research workers. In Denmark we have tried to investigate this phenomenon in different soil types placed under the same climatic conditions. The importance of take‐all as the most serious pathogen in barley monoculture is doubtful according to our experience gained from thousands of observations. We are therefore investigating intensively which factors could possibly be held responsible for the clearly noticeable reduction in yield.

Effect of Rate and Date of Seeding Shoshoni Winter Wheat on Soil Moisture Depletion1

AbstractSome growers in southeastern Wyoming plant winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) 2 weeks earlier than the recommended planting date, a procedure that utilizes more moisture than necessary for stand establishment. This experiment was designed to determine the extent to which high rates and early planting of winter wheat depleted soil moisture.‘Shoshoni’ winter wheat was planted at seeding rates of 17, 34, 50, and 67 kg/ha on four seeding dates, August 19, August 26, September 4, and September 11, 1965. In mid‐August, November, April, and after harvest soil moisture was measured to a depth of 122 cm using the neutron probe. Moisture depletion during the fall, winter, and spring growing periods was calculated.During stand establishment, the wheat planted August 19 depleted soil moisture significantly more than wheat planted September 4 and 11, and the wheat seeded at the rates of 34, 50, and 67 kg/ha depleted soil moisture significantly more than that at the 17 kg/ha rate.Kernel protein content of wheat harvested from planting dates August 19, August 26, September 4, and September 11 was 12.2, 13.3, 13.2, and 14.2% respectively. There were no significant differences in grain yield attributed to planting dates or rates.During the test period adequate spring moisture was received. During years of low spring precipitation, conservation of moisture by planting on the recommended date or later could be important.

UTILIZATION OF CONVENTIONAL AND NON-CONVENTIONAL ORGANIC SOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL BY-PRODUCTS FOR YIELD MAXIMIZATION OF BRINJAL IN COASTAL SOIL

This study was conducted to evaluate the response of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) with conventional, non-conventional organic source, industrial by-products combined with inorganic fertilizers. The treatments imposed were T1 – Control (100% RDF), T2-100% RDF + Municipal Solid Waste Compost @ 5 t ha-1, T3 – 100% RDF + Municipal Solid Waste Compost @ 10 t ha-1, T­4 – 100% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, T5 – 100% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1, T6 – 100% RDF + Rice Husk Ash @ 5 t ha-1, T7 – 100% RDF + Rice Husk Ash @ 10 t ha-1, T8 – 100% RDF + Lignite Fly Ash @ 5 t ha-1, T9 – 100% RDF + Lignite Fly Ash @ 10 t ha-1. There were nine treatments combinations replicated thrice in CRD. The soil was sandy in texture with available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of 257, 10.2 and 117 kg ha-1 respectively which fell in fertility status of low. The soil classified taxonomically as Typic Udisamments. The results showed that application of 100% RDF + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 (T5) significantly increased yield attributes viz., fruit length (16.6 cm), fruit girth (15.2 cm), no. of fruits plant-1 (20.67), fruit weight (45.2 g) and fruit yield plant-1 (934.2 g plant-1). This treatment registered maximum quality attributes like ascorbic acid content (4.5 mg 100 g-1), crude protein (4.81%), drymatter of fruit (70.2 g plant-1) and dry matter of plant (81.3 g plant-1). The post harvest soil available N (148mgkg-1) and P (7.15mgkg-1)status was higher due to application of 100% RDF with Vermicompst @ 5 t ha-1 (T5). The post harvest available K (75.58mgkg-1) status recorded higher in the treatment T9 which received 100% RDF with Lignite Fly Ash @ 10 t ha-1 (T9).

Leaf litter amendment in forest soil and their effect on the yield quality of red amaranth

A pot experiment was conducted at the open net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the period from March to June 2007 using soil collected from the surrounding areas of Gazni sal forest of Jhenaigati upazilla under Sherpur district to study the effect of different forest tree leaf litters on growth, yield, nutrient contents of red amaranth cv. Altapety. Plant height, number of leaves plant-1, dry weight plant-1 and moisture content (%) were significantly influenced by the addition of different forest tree leaf litters and highest values were obtained from the chemical fertilizer treatment which was identical with teak leaf litter in most of the parameters. The lowest values of most of the parameters were obtained from control treatment. Nutrient contents of red amaranth were significantly influenced by the addition of different leaf litters except Mg. The highest and lowest values of most of the nutrient contents and their uptake were recorded from chemical fertilizer and control treatment, respectively. It was also observed that addition of different leaf litters substantially decreased soil acidity and significantly increased the organic matter, total N, available P, exchangeable K, available Ca, Mg contents in the post harvest soil. The performance of these leaf litters with respect to growth, yield, nutrient contents and their uptake by red amaranth and the soil fertility was in the order teak >eucalyptus>acacia>sal. Overall results suggested that leaf litters can be used as an alternative of chemical fertilizer in the surrounding areas of Gazni sal forest for profitable production of leafy vegetables like red amaranth. Keywords: Leaf litter; Red amaranth; Forest soil; Yield quality DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v8i2.7929 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 8(2): 221-226, 2010