Higher Crop Yields Research Articles

The density of the structure of dark gray podzolized soil under different tillage systems under crop rotation

The results of studies on the influence of tillage systems on the density of the structure of dark gray podzolized soil under crops in a four-field short-rotation crop rotation (winter rape – winter wheat – corn for grain – spring barley) in the stationary field experiment of the Institute of Agriculture of the Western Polissia of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine during 2016 are shown. – 2020. In the experiment, three tillage systems were studied (shelf by 20–22 cm, shallow by 10–12 cm, surface by 6–8 cm) against the background of mineral fertilizers N128P90K120 kg/ha of the crop rotation area. It was determined that at the time of spring germination and spring weeding of winter crops under the shelf system of soil cultivation, a plow layer was formed under the crops of the crop rotation, which was characterized by a compaction density close to the optimum – 1.06–1.33 g/cm3. Under no-shelf tillage under crop rotation, the 0–30 cm soil layer was differentiated by compaction density into the upper loose 0–10 cm layer with a density of 1.13–1.24 g/cm3 and compacted to 1.30–1.41 g/cm3. The lowest soil compaction density was in winter wheat, spring barley, and corn crops under the shelf and shallow tillage systems in soil layers of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm, where it was, respectively, in the range of 1.06–1.19 g/cm3 and 1.17–1.25 g/cm3. Noticeably, the density of the soil compaction increased during crop rotation during surface tillage under winter rape in the soil layer of 10–20 cm to 1.36 g/cm3 and in the soil layer of 20–30 cm to 1.47 g/cm3. The compaction density under the surface tillage system under winter rape in the 20–30 cm soil layer increased by 0.14 g/cm3, compared to the wormwood tillage system for this crop. The system of shelf and shallow soil cultivation in crop rotation creates better conditions for optimizing the agrophysical fertility indicators of dark gray podzolized soil and provides the highest crop yield in crop rotation, compared to the surface 6–8 cm system, and made it possible to obtain yields of 6.80 and 6.32 respectively t/ha of winter wheat 5.19 and 4.99 of spring barley 11.25 and 11.33 of corn and 2.97 and 3.05 t/ha of winter rapeseed. From the application of surface tillage to a depth of 6–8 cm, the yield of winter wheat decreases by 1.45 t/ha, spring barley by 1.69 corn by 3.66 t/ha and winter rapeseed by 0.30 t/ha compared with a shelf tillage system. Key words: compaction density, tillage, shelf, shal-low, surface, productivity, crop rotation.

Impact of the timing of harvesting energy sugar beets in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine for biogas output

In the conditions of worsening problems with the supply of energy to Ukraine, it would be appropriate to speed up the production of biofuel based on plant biomass, including and from sugar beets, which can be grown separately for energy purposes. Biomethane is a biofuel produced from agricultural crops that can be used in accordance with the Biofuel Directive. Sugar beet has a number of advantages in its use as biofuel, namely: good productivity in cooler areas, unlike, for example, corn; high content of dry matter in root crops and their sugar content; high yield of root crops and leaf mass; biomass is easily fermented, which makes it possible to obtain biogas fairly quickly; the opportunity will extend the harvesting season, ensuring longer biogas production; excellent yield of methane per unit area; the price of biogas production and many other advantages. The article reflects the results of research on the influence of the timing of harvesting energy beets of the sugar beet hybrid of the domestic selection ІСБ 0902 on the output of biogas in the conditions of the Forest Steppe of Ukraine. The aim of the work was to increase the efficiency of using biomass of modern domestic hybrids of sugar beet as raw material for biogas production, by searching for the optimal timing of their collection. The subject of research is the elements of the technology of growing high-energy sugar beets and their energy assessment. Laboratory and field studies were conducted during 2019–2020. at the Belotserkov experimental breeding station (BC OSS) of the IBKySS of the National Academy of Sciences in the zone of unstable moisture in the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine. It has been established that in order to obtain the maximum yield of biogas, energy sugar beets should be harvested in the period from the third decade of September to the second decade of October. It is in this period, despite the gradual decrease in the total mass of the leaf apparatus, the yield of root crops and the estimated yield of biogas significantly exceed the indicators of August-September (II/08, I/09). The maximum yield of biogas and energy from the sugar beet of the hybrid 'ICB 0902' is reached during the last harvest period (II/10) and amounts to 9.4 thousand m3/ha and 204.3 MJ/ha. The researched hybrid ICB 0902, having a high yield potential, a high content of dry matter in root crops and leaves, according to productivity indicators, can be recommended for cultivation on biofuel in the zone of unstable moisture in the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Key words: sugar beets, hybrids, biogas, biofuel, energy productivity.

Evaluation of insecticidal efficacy against maize leaf aphid [Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch)] under inner terai condition of Nepal

Field experiments were carried out at the National Maize Research Program in Rampur, Chitwan, with the objective of comparing the effectiveness of insecticides in the field for controlling maize leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch) during the winter season of 2019 and 2020. The design of the experiment was randomized complete block with four replications. The plot size was 6 rows of 5 m long with the spacing of 60cm × 25cm. Maize hybrid Rampur Hybrid-14 (RML-86/RML-96) was used as experimental variety. The efficacies of five insecticides viz., thiomethoxam 25% w/w 0.2g/L (T1), acetamiprid 20%WP 2g/L (T2), flonicamid 50% WG 0.5g/L (T3), neemix 3ml/L(T4), imidacloprid 0.5ml/L(T5) and untreated control (T6) were used as experimental treatments. The recommended dose of fertilizer was 180: 60: 40 N: P2O5: K2O kg/ ha with farm yard manure 10 t/ha and seed rate was 20kg/ha. Data on aphid incidence, severity, yield and yield components were recorded. All the tested insecticides significantly (P≤0.05) reduced the plant infestation caused by maize aphid, and thereafter increased the grain yield of maize compared to control. However, newer insecticide flonicamid 50% WG 0.5g/L was found as the most effective insecticide with lower aphid colony per plant (2.85), aphid score (2.63), aphid infested plant (7.33%) and higher crop yield (7904.79kg/ha). The application of insecticides prior to their severe infestations is necessary for the efficient control of the maize leaf aphid. The research findings will assist maize farmers in choosing and applying the best insecticide to ensure efficient management of maize leaf aphid with high yield.

System analysis of the state and prospects for the development of the production of inulin (review)

The review informs on the results of the research of the application of inulin as a bioactive prebiotic in functional nutritional products, in cosmetic formulations and pharmaceuticals as the excipient of anticancer agents on the basis of the system analysis. The steady trend of the world growth of inulin production of 8-10 % a year has been noted. The aim of the research is to reveal and to analyze the effect of the system complex of inulin production in sequential chain from the inulin synthesis, its accumulation in plants and extraction. The Jerusalem artichoke is the most advanced kind of raw material which has the high crop yield of tubers up to 40 t/ha and inulin content up to 20 %. The sucrose and the synthesizing enzymes 1-SST and 1-FFT take an active part in the inulin biosynthesis as their genes can be edited with the purpose of changing the inulin content. At the Jerusalem artichoke breeding the most prospective trend is the cross-species hybridization drawing on the example of a topinsunflower with the crop yield of tubers of 40 t/ha. In the Jerusalem artichoke seed breeding the new methods of clonal micropropagation of tubers and its cultivation in the airhydroponic environment with the achievement of the inulin content no less than 20 % have been studied. At Jerusalem artichoke cultivation the breed is significative for the maximum crop yield of tubers with the row width of 90 cm and with the interval between tubers in a row – 30 cm. The least loss of the tubers weight and the inulin content in them under the long-term storage is achieved at the temperatures from -5 to 0 °C. The technology of the Jerusalem artichoke tubers processing into inulin is suggested as the system of partly optimized technological operations from peeling and washing the tubers to receiving the powdered inulin and the oligofructose syrup. The system complex is suggested in the form of the structural topological model combining 4 systems: «Selection and seed breeding», «Agritechnologies», «Harvesting and storage of tubers», «The tubers processing technologies» with the interrelations in the form of the technological requirements and the output data of every system and of the complex as a whole, which is the basis for the development of the agri-food technology of inulin from Jerusalem artichoke and other kinds of raw materials.

Fertilizer prescription for target yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in alluvial soils

Soil test crop response correlation studies were carried out to establish target yield prescription equations for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under the Integrated Plant Nutrition System (IPNS) at Research Farm of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab during 2019–2021. Fertilizer prescriptions under NPK alone and IPNS were developed for wheat crops using Ramamoorthy's “Inductive cum Targeted yield approach”. The amount of nutrients needed for producing 100 kg of wheat were 2.06, 0.78, and 1.95 kg/q of N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively. The nutrients contributed by soil and fertilizer were found to be 52.3% and 54% N, 11.7% and 50% P, and 20.2% and 20.6% K, respectively. Likewise, the organic material in the form of rice residue incorporation contributed 42.0% N, 15.3% P, and 26.0% K and increased the nutrient (N, P and K) uptake. The incorporated rice residue increased the soil organic carbon and microbial population substantially resulting in more mineralization thereby increasing nutrient availability. Therefore, the site-specific targeted yield-based approach used for developing fertilizer prescription equations gives a shred of strong evidence for maintaining soil health with higher crop yields and efficient nutrient management.

Effects of chicken manure substitution for mineral nitrogen fertilizer on crop yield and soil fertility in a reduced nitrogen input regime of North-Central China.

Organic manure has been proposed to substitute part of the chemical fertilizers. However, past research was usually conducted in regimes with excessive nitrogen (N) fertilization, which was not conducive to the current national goal of green and sustainable development. Therefore, exploring the potential of organic fertilizer substitution for mineral N fertilizer under regimes with reduced N inputs is important to further utilize organic fertilizer resources and establish sustainable nutrient management recommendations in the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) - summer maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system in North-central China. In this study, a 4-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different chicken manure substitution ratios on crop yield, N recovery efficiency (REN), soil N and soil organic matter contents, to clarify the optimal organic substitution ratio of N fertilizer under reduced N application (from 540kg N ha-1 year-1 to 400kg N ha-1 year-1). Six substitution ratios were assessed: 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% under 200kg N ha-1 per crop season, respectively, plus a control with no N application from chemical fertilizer or chicken manure. Results showed that the highest yield was achieved under the 20% substitution ratio treatment, with 1.1% and 2.3% higher yield than chemical N alone in wheat season and maize seasons, respectively. At the chicken manure substitution ratios of 20% in wheat season and 20%-40% in maize season, the highest REN reached to 31.2% and 26.1%, respectively. Chicken manure application reduced soil residual inorganic N with increasing substitution ratio. All organic substitution treatments increased soil organic matter and total N content. Implementing 20% organic substitution in wheat season and 20%-40% in maize season under the reduced N application regime in the North-central China is therefore recommended in order to achieve high crop yields and REN, improve soil fertility and enhance livestock manure resource utilization.

Architecture design of cucurbit crops for enhanced productivity by a natural allele.

Increasing production efficiency is a top priority in agriculture. Optimal plant architecture is the biological basis of dense planting, high crop yield and labour cost savings, and is thus critical for improving agricultural productivity. In cucurbit crops, most species have elongated internodes, but the path to architecture improvement is still not clear. Here we identified a pumpkin accession with a dominant bushy trait, and found that the associated Bush locus harbours a cucurbit-conserved cis-regulatory element in the 5' untranslated region of a transcription factor gene YABBY1. In cucurbit crops, various B-region deletions enhance the translation of YABBY1, with consequent proportional suppression of stem length in a dose-dependent manner. Depending on different cultivation patterns, the precise deployment of these alleles has significant effects on yield improvement or labour cost saving. Our findings demonstrate that the engineering of the YABBY1 B-region is an efficient strategy to customize plant architecture in cucurbit crops.

Regime Shifts in the Hexi Oases over the Past Three Decades: The Case of the Linze Oasis in the Middle Reaches of the Heihe River

Oases regime shifts in the context of integrated water resource management have a significant impact on ecosystem functions and services and affect regional sustainable development and human wellbeing. Taking the Linze Oasis in the middle reaches of the Heihe River as a case study, we evaluated the regime shifts of the oases over the past 30 years from the two perspectives of scale and structure, considering the structural diversity index (H), water savings (Cn), productivity (WP), and other indicators. Furthermore, the driving factors of the socio-hydrological processes and the corresponding effects of the regime stages were discussed. The results indicate that the oases expanded concurrently with the increase in the regional water consumption from 1.09 × 108 m3 to 1.93 × 108 m3. The production of low-water-consumption and high-yield crops was found to be the main cause for the oases structure’s adjustment. The regime shifts in the oases comprised three main stages from 1990 to 2020, based on the interaction of socio-ecological elements. Water management policies promoted the regime shift process, while economic factors determined the long-term shifts. The improvement in water-saving practices driven by economic benefits is an effective way to realize the sustainable development of the Hexi oases.

Assessment of the Effects of Selected AM Strain on the Growth and Yield of Brinjal

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can increase plant uptake of nutrients especially relatively immobile elements such as P, Zn and Cu and consequently, improve plant growth and yield. The study was conducted to identify native AM strains, multiply and test their effects in reduction of P fertilizer brinjal production. Rhizosphere soils and roots of and brinjal were collected from each of four AEZs, viz. AEZ-9 (RARS, Jamalpur), AEZ-11 (RARS, Jashore), AEZ-25 (ARS, Bogura) and AEZ-28 (BARI, Joydebpur) in 2014-2015. Characterization and identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal strains was studied in the microbiology laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). Nine AM strains were identified in brinjal Glomus geosporum, G. mosseae, G. fasciculatum, Acaulospora dilatata, A. mellea, A. morrowiae, Entrophospora infrequens, Sclerocystis coremioides and Gigaspora margarita were identified in brinjal. The collected mycorrhizal strains were maintained with trap crop sorghum under net house condition in 2014-2015 onwards. The best performing AM strain (Glomus mosseae) was selected from pot experiments at greenhouse of BARI. The sandy clay loam soil was used as the potting media. Nine each AM strains each from brinjal were tested with corresponding crops. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was followed with four replications. Dry matter yield (both root and shoot), some vegetative parameter, % root colonization and number of spores were observed. Finally the efficiency of the selected mycorrhiza. Glomus mosseae was tested under field condition during 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. Factorial RCBD was followed for field experiments with eight treatments and four replications. Selected soil-based AM inoculum (Glomus mosseae) those preserved in sorghum culture were used in seedbed of respective crops. Many morphological parameters and yield attributes were found as highest from 75% P. The highest crop yield was found from 75% P+AM, which was statistically similar to 100% P-AM indicating the possibility of saving 25% P in these three crops in AEZ 28 of Bangladesh. It was observed that Glomus mosseae could save 25% P in brinjal cultivation.

Aspects of the application of precision agriculture in the conditions of intensification of grain production in the forest-steppe of Western Siberia

The results of three-year research during 2019-2021 on the study of the effectiveness of precision farming elements in the forest-steppe of Western Siberia are presented. The experiments were carried out on leached chernozem at the Irmen breeding farm, Ordynsky district, Novosibirsk region. Elements of precision farming were tested on grain crops: spring wheat: varieties Likamero, Novosibirskaya 31 and Omskaya 36; spring barley varieties: Paustian and Margret and oats varieties Rovestnik. Navigation and drones of varying degrees of complexity were used, as well as a complex of differentiated fertilization. The aim of the work was to improve the technology of precision farming in the production of grain crops in the forest-steppe of Western Siberia. The effectiveness of the use of precision farming elements has been established. Due to the introduction of differentiated doses of mineral fertilizers, the grain yield of wheat varieties increased by 27%, spring barley 33% and oats - 23%. Against the background of the use of geolocation technologies in combination with differentiated application of mineral fertilizers, the yield level reached 7 t/ha for spring soft wheat of the Licamero variety, 8 t/ha for spring barley Paustian, and 5.6 t/ha for oats. In order to obtain a high yield of grain crops, doses of mineral fertilizers were applied differentially according to elementary fields up to 25 Oct. per 1 hectare and liquid nitrogen fertilizers up to 200 l/ha UAN-32, which ensured not only a yield of up to 7 t/ha, but also high technological quality of grain with a gluten level in spring soft wheat of the Licamero variety - 36%.

Yield performance and adaptation of advanced large-seeded common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes in Ethiopia

To ensure the food demand of the rapidly growing population along with changing climate and limiting resources, development and adoption of high-yielding crop cultivars adapting to the adverse effects of climate is crucial for enhancing food production and productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and adaptability of 23 advanced bean lines generated by single-seed descent and two commercial varieties (Batu and SAB-736), using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and genotype plus G x E interaction (GGE) models. Field experiments were conducted in 2019 wet season (from July to October) at five diverse growing environments of Ethiopia. Wide variations were observed across the genotypes and environments for grain yield and other related traits. Mean performance of genotypes for yield ranged from 1.20 to 1.67 t ha −1 across environments, with a grand mean of 1.50 t ha −1 thereby favors genetic enhancement of the trait through selection. Environmental and interaction impacts were greater for all measured traits including yield. Except for number of pod plant −1 and 100 seed weight where interaction effect was more important, the percent variation due to environment was the highest for all traits expression, from 14.76 to 91.09%, to the total variation. Three advanced genotypes showed better yield than SAB-736 (the recent c. variety) and general adaptation across the environments. But, their consistency should be checked across seasons to suggest them for cultivation on these and other similar environments.

Light Interception and Radiation Use Efficiency of Three Cassava Genotypes with Different Plant Types and Seasonal Variations

The yield potential of cassava might be increased by enhancing light interception and the ability to convert energy into biomass and yield, which is described as radiation use efficiency (RUE). The objective of this study was to determine light interception, extinction coefficient (k), and RUE of three cassava genotypes (Kasetsart 50 (KU50), Rayong 11 (RY11), and CMR38-125-77) under seasonal variations. The field experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications, using two planting dates for 2 years at Khon Kaen, Thailand. Data were recorded for weather conditions, light interception, leaf area index (LAI), and biomass. Solar radiation interception, RUE, and k were calculated. Light interception of the crop planted in May sharply increased in the early growth stage, whereas the crop planted in November slowly increased and could maintain higher light interception from the mid–late growth stages. Light interception and LAI had a moderate to high coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.61–0.89) for three cassava genotypes and all planting dates. The k values ranged from 0.59 to 0.94, varying by genotypes and planting dates, indicating that the leaf orientation of the three cassava genotypes was horizontally oriented. The relationship between biomass accumulation and cumulative solar radiation produced a high value of R2 (0.86–0.99). The RUE for biomass (RUEbi) varied by genotype and planting date, ranging from 0.66 g MJ−1 to 0.97 g MJ−1. However, the RUE for storage root dry weight (RUEsr) ranged from 0.29 g MJ−1 to 0.66 g MJ−1. The RUEbi and RUEsr in each genotype on each planting date were significantly different. The highest RUEbi and RUEsr were found at 4–6 and 7–9 MAP for almost all genotypes and planting dates, except for the crop planted in November 2015, when both RY11 and CMR38-125-77 had the highest RUEbi at 10–12 MAP. RY11 had a lower LAI compared to other genotypes, which contributed to lower light disruption and lower RUEbi and RUEsr. KU50 and CMR38-125-77 could maintain canopy light interception during canopy development and storage root accumulation stages and had high RUEbi and RUEsr, resulting in high biomass and crop yield.

Comparison of Ultrasonic and QuEChERS Extraction Methods Efficiency for the Determination of Herbicides Residues in Soil and Maize Cob

In this study, the optimization and application of ultrasonic extraction and QuEChERS methods was conducted for the effective extraction of pesticides from maize and their corresponding soil samples. The characterization pesticides (Atrazine, glyphosate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and mesotrione) was done with gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. Factors influencing the efficiency of the extraction methods such as the extraction solvent, extraction time, solvent volume and spiking concentration were assessed. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the recoveries of analytes ranged between 100 - 104 % in maize cop and 91 - 97 % in soil for ultrasonic method, while they were 94 - 115 % in maize cob and 89 - 101 % in soil for QuEChERS method. The repeatability, articulated as RSD values were less than 5 % for all analytes in both methods. The limits of detection and limit of quantification ranged from 0.02 - 0.15 µg L−1 and 0.2 - 0.5 µg L−1 for ultrasonic method and 0.01 - 0.23 µg L−1 and 0.13 - 0.8 µg L−1 for QuEChERS method. The lower limits of detection and quantification with higher recoveries suggests that both methods can be accurately applied for the determination of the assessed pesticides in soil and maize cop. Herbicides concentrations ranged between 0.33 - 45.10 µg L−1 in soil and 6.15 - 34.2 µg L−1 in maize cob. In all studied herbicides, maize residues detected were found to be higher compared to maize allowable maximum residue limits however, atrazine in all soil samples was found to be lower compared to soil allowable maximum residue limits. This indicates the importance of continuous monitoring the herbicides residues in maize to safeguard health for the consumers. HIGHLIGHTS Crops compete with lots of undesired plants that naturally grow and compete for carbon dioxide, space, nutrients, sunshine and water Agricultural sector plays a significant role in food security, production and steady supply by employing herbicides and agrochemicals to achieve high crop yield in a short space of time Crop and soil health are evaluated for herbicides toxicity as herbicides contains toxic chemicals that poses a risk to the consumer and the environment GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Ameliorating C and N balance without loss of productivity by applying mulching measures in rainfed areas

Farmland mulching is applied widely as a soil management practice, especially in rainfed areas with scarce water resources. However, it is not clear how continuous mulch application might affect the carbon and nitrogen budget in rainfed agroecosystems. Therefore, we evaluated the impacts of different mulching measures (SM: flat planting pattern with full straw mulching; RM: ridge–furrow construction with half plastic film mulching; PM: flat planting pattern with full plastic film mulching; BM: flat planting pattern with full biodegradable film mulching; and NM: conventional tillage without mulching) on the maize yield, net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB), net global warming potential (NGWP), greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), and N surplus or deficiency. The results showed that compared with NM, the maize yield decreased significantly by 10.0% under SM, whereas the mulching treatments (RM, PM, and BM) significantly increased the maize yield by 15.1–24.4% (P < 0.05). SM, RM, and PM significantly increased CO2 emissions (24.8–38.2%), N2O emissions (21.1–47.1%), and NGWP (20.8–45.5%), but reduced NECB. By contrast, BM increased NECB and significantly reduced GHGI (P < 0.05). Regardless of the mulching method applied, the N balance indicated an N surplus. Each mulching treatment (SM, RM, PM, and BM) increased the harvested N removal (47.9–179.9 kg N ha–1) and decreased the N leaching loss (8.8–35.9 kg N ha–1). RM, PM, and BM inhibited the ammonia volatilization rate, whereas SM promoted it. PM and BM achieved a lower N surplus. In conclusion, biodegradable film mulching (BM) can significantly reduce GHGI and the risk of N losses while also ensuring high crop yields, and thus it can be used as a high-yield and sustainable production method in rainfed areas.

Optimizing nitrogen rates for synergistically achieving high yield and high nitrogen use efficiency with low environmental risks in wheat production – Evidences from a long-term experiment in the North China Plain

The optimization of nitrogen (N) fertilization has become an ever more important global challenge with the aim of achieving high crop yields and high N use efficiency (NUE) with low environmental risks. The North China Plain (NCP) is China’s most important wheat (Triticum aestivum Linn.) production region, and a global hotspot for N fertilizer use. How much nitrogen can be saved compared to the farmers’ level that would not influence wheat yield, and lead to high NUE with low N surplus? It is still challenging as there are not enough evidences from the long-term experiments. Thus, continuous detailed observations from an ongoing long-term experiment in the NCP since 2010 with five N rates, namely 0 (N0), 60 (N60), 120 (N120), 180 (N180) and 240 (N240) kg N ha−1, were included in the study. Our results indicated that stable high wheat yield cannot be achieved without enough N inputs from the long-term, because of severely depleted N pool in the N0 and N60 treatments seriously influenced root growth and wheat development thus damaged wheat yield. Though highest wheat yield was obtained in the N240 treatment, the high N rate caused lowest NUE and largest N surplus with high soil mineral N (SMN) with the mean value of 143 kg N ha−1 at the 0–60 cm layer at harvest. Besides, both root weight density (RWD) and root length density (RLD) were much lower in the N240 treatment compared to that in the N180 treatment. Our integrative analyses clearly indicate that the optimal N application for achieving high yield, high NUE and low environmental risks in wheat production was 180 kg N ha−1 based on long-term observations. Our results should be beneficial for promoting sustainable wheat production in the NCP and similar regions with wheat-based double cropping over the world.

Far from home: Bat activity and diversity in row crop agriculture decreases with distance to potential roost habitat

As demand for food increases, agricultural production is poised to increase dramatically. Pesticides are commonly used to maintain high crop yield, though they have several drawbacks, including reduced efficacy over time and harmful effects to human and ecosystem health. Bats are highly effective predators of crop pests and have great potential to reduce crop damage resulting from insects. However, few studies have investigated how pest control by bats might change over large expanses of continuous row crop agriculture, which is common in the midwestern USA. Agricultural landscapes offer few roosting opportunities and could be difficult for bats to traverse, which might affect the degree of ecosystem services provided by bats. We hypothesized that with increasing distance into uninterrupted row crop agriculture 1) bat activity would decrease and 2) bat species richness would decrease, but that these effects would be buffered when insect pest abundance is high. We deployed 50 acoustic bat detectors over 10 transects in east-central Illinois from July to September 2021. In each transect, we placed detectors on crop field edges at increasing distance from a large riparian corridor assumed to be frequented by bats. Bat activity was high across the landscape but declined by 56% from the forest edge to 4000 m into row crop agriculture, while bat diversity decreased by 34%. Pest abundance seemed to decrease overall bat activity but had no effect on bat diversity. These results indicate that bats, although able to have a large effect on crop pest reduction, might not be as efficient in suppressing crop pests in vast uninterrupted agricultural landscapes which offer scant roost availability. Our work will inform recommendations to landowners and private lands managers on ways to increase bat access to roosts and forest cover near agricultural areas, thereby enhancing the potential for bats to provide pest control services.

A crop variety yield prediction system based on variety yield data compensation

Forecasting crop variety yield, selecting suitable ecological regions for designated crop varieties, and finding high-yield crop varieties for designated ecological regions are all critical aspects of crop variety popularization. A crop variety yield prediction system based on variety yield data compensation (CVYPS-VYDC) is described in this paper. This novel system is used to predict the yield of designated crop varieties using the large amount of breeding data stored in the Golden Seed Breeding Cloud Platform and meteorological data from the National Meteorological Science Data Center. The prediction system was devised to (a) forecast the yield of designated crop varieties in the target ecological regions, (b) calculate the effects of different environmental factors on the yield of different crop varieties, (c) identify the key growth periods affecting crop yield, and (d) promote crop varieties according to a comprehensive analysis of the promoted variety yield, preferences for different meteorological factors, and climatic characteristics of the target ecological regions. In addition to meteorological factors, soil factors affect crop yield. However, large-scale measurements of soil composition require a large number of sensors and considerable human resources. By using the yield data compensation method, the yield data of predicted varieties across different regions were expanded and corrected, which reduces the yield prediction error caused by soil differences among regions to some extent. In addition, the coefficient of determination (R2) between actual and predicted yield was improved to 0.82. In addition to predicting the yield of 90 maize varieties in the Huang-Huai-Hai area of China, the preferences of different maize varieties for different environmental factors were analyzed at the same time. CVYPS-VYDC identified the key environmental factors greatly impacting the maize yield, and the proportion by which different factors affected the yield prediction of different maize varieties was determined. Moreover, the growth periods that have great impact on maize yield were identified by analyzing 39 cultivation sites of various maize varieties in the Huang-Huai-Hai area of China.

Effect of Variation in Row Spacing on Soil Wind Erosion, Soil Properties, and Cyperus esculentus Yield in Sandy Land

Cyperus esculentus is highly adaptable to extremely arid conditions and functions of oil extraction and sand fixation. Numerous studies have investigated the influence of row spacing on traditional crop growth and soil physicochemical traits but have not determined how cultivation affects C. esculentus growth and soil properties. Therefore, we conducted a field experiment in a sandy land to explore the responses of the organ yields of C. esculentus, soil wind erosion, and soil properties to row spacing (30, 60, or 90 cm), and bare land was used as the control. The highest plant height, plant density, number of tillers, and organ yields were observed at 30 cm row spacing. However, the lowest degree of soil erosion was also observed at 30 cm row spacing, and the coverage of C. esculentus facilitated soil fixation and conservation. The levels of soil wind erosion in the control plot were 11.7, 3.1, and 4.9 times those at 30, 60, and 90 cm row spacing, respectively. The percentages of clay and silt increased, whereas sand particles decreased with decreasing levels of soil wind erosion. Soil texture improved, and soil nutrients and plant growth were altered. Soil nutrient concentrations, yields, and root nutrient concentrations were positively related to clay percentage and negatively related to sand particles. In addition, the microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen significantly increased in the C. esculentus treatment groups, suggesting that planting C. esculentus promotes the survival and development of microorganisms. Overall, this study indicated that planting C. esculentus can decrease the level of soil wind erosion and improve soil quality. Narrow row spacing (30 cm) has the highest crop yield and soil amelioration and produces optimal ecological and economic benefits.

Effect of Biostimulant Application on Plant Growth, Chlorophylls and Hydrophilic Antioxidant Activity of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Grown under Saline Stress

Irrigated agricultural lands are prone to salinity problems which may imperil horticultural crops by reducing growth, yield and even qualitative traits. Eco-friendly approaches such as biostimulant application and in particular protein hydrolysates from vegetal origin are implemented to mitigate salinity stress effects on crops. For this reason, a greenhouse experiment on spinach irrigated with increasing concentrations of saline water (EC = 3 dS m−1 (EC3), 6 dS m−1 (EC6) and 9 dS m−1 (EC9), in addition to non-saline treatment (EC0)) was organized, while plants were subjected to foliar applications of a protein hydrolysate from vegetal origin on a weekly basis. The application of this biostimulant helped mitigate the adverse effects of saline stress, by increasing the SPAD index and total chlorophylls of spinach plants. Yield was significantly boosted under biostimulant treatment in saline conditions and reached the value obtained in control treatment (no biostimulants added) × EC0 in the case of EC 3 and 6 dS m−1. In addition, the number of leaves and plants m−1 was increased under biostimulant treatment, and most importantly the hydrophilic antioxidant activity of spinach, thus a qualitative aspect of great importance was also increased. Such results increase the knowledge on the effects of protein hydrolysates application on an important leafy vegetable and may help growers mitigate saline conditions and maintain high crop yield and high quality of the final product when no other source of irrigation water is available.

Decoupling between leaf nitrogen and radiation use efficiency in vegetative and early reproductive stages in high-yielding soybean.

Ontogenic changes in soybean radiation use efficiency (RUE) have been attributed to variation in specific leaf nitrogen (SLN) based only on data collected during seed filling. We evaluated this hypothesis using data on leaf area, absorbed radiation (ARAD), aboveground dry matter (ADM), and plant nitrogen (N) concentration collected during the entire crop season from seven field experiments conducted in a stress-free environment. Each experiment included a full-N treatment that received ample N fertilizer and a zero-N treatment that relied on N fixation and soil N mineralization. We estimated RUE based on changes in ADM between sampling times and associated ARAD, accounting for changes in biomass composition. The RUE and SLN exhibited different seasonal patterns: a bell-shaped pattern with a peak around the beginning of seed filling, and a convex pattern followed by an abrupt decline during late seed filling, respectively. Changes in SLN explained the decline in RUE during seed filling but failed to predict changes in RUE in earlier stages and underestimated the maximum RUE observed during pod setting. Comparison between observed and simulated RUE using a process-based crop simulation model revealed similar discrepancies. The decoupling between RUE and SLN during early crop stages suggests that leaf N is above that needed to maximize crop growth but may play a role in storing N that can be used in later reproductive stages to meet the large seed N demand associated with high-yielding crops.