Manual Hoeing Research Articles

Performance di recenti imboschimenti con quercia da sughero in ex-coltivi

Recently, significant forestry activities have taken place in Sardinia thanks to EU Regulation 2080/92 funds. Some 80% of the afforestated surface has been planted with holm oak and cork oak. The latter also characterizes 89% of the reforestation area. Given the funding source, plantations have been established on farmlands. Growth performances of these recent cork oak stands have been quantitatively evaluated and compared with the performances of two experimental plots. In Gallura (north-east of Sardinia), that is the traditional cork production area and still is economically the most important cork district of the island, these new cork oak plantations have an average size of 28 ha. They have been established on lands that, before plantation, were either pastures (30%) or arable lands (70%). Plantation failures are limited to 8.8% of the total (in term of mass) and seem independent of environmental factors or plantations species composition (conifers have been frequently used as secondary species). Average growth of the stem, measured above cork at collar height, is in the range 4 to 8mm/year with a mean value of 5.5mm/year. No correlation appears with either environmental conditions or species composition of the plantations. In the first experimental plot, soil management practices (natural vegetation removal vs. its cutting and mulching) does not differentiate young plants growth trends. In the control subplots (no removal) stem collar diameter is 20% smaller. Localized manual hoeing around trunk base increased the diameters by 13% but reduced cork thickness by 21%. The second experimental plot allows comparisons among 27 Mediterranean proveniences of cork oak. The trial exhibits reduced genetic influence: diameters and heights growth are significantly different only among extreme groups. In conclusion, reduced growth performances of the plantations established in farmlands is due, to some extent, to the limitations inherent with private land management (constrained to costs minimization) and, on the other hand, to the generally very limited thickness of Gallura soils. Demand for good quality commercial cork is steadily raising. To sustain the request, in the short term, it would be necessary to extend financial support for plantations care, from 5 to 10 years, or even up to the first stripping (virgin cork).

Effects of Hand Weeding Strip and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Corn Plants

The objective of the present research was to evaluate effects of different strip weed control associated with nitrogen fertilizer on corn applied after planting. The experiment was set and conducted in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, and the hybrid planted was Dekalb 333-B. A completely randomized block design with four replications was used. Experimental plots were disposed as a factorial scheme 2×2×4, constituted by two types of weeding on row (with or without manual hoeing), two types of weeding on inter-row (with or without manual hoeing), and four nitrogen levels applied after planting (00, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha−1). Plots were composed by six rows with 5 m length. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at 35 days after emergence (d.a.e). For weed community it was evaluated: weed density, dominancy, frequency, and relative importance. The main weed species were: Brachiaria plantiginea, Amaranthus retroflexus, Bidens pilosa, Cyperus rotunds, Brachiaria decumbens, Euphorbia heterofila, Oxalis latifolia, Acanthospermum hispidum, Commelina benghalensis. It was evaluated corn height at 40 and 100 d.a.e., first ear insertion height at 100 d.a.e., and final grain yield at harvesting. Plants and first ear insertion height were affected when nitrogen fertilizer was not applied. Treatments without weed control showed that weed interfered negatively with plants height. There were no correlation between weeds and nitrogen fertilizer for all parameters evaluated. Parcels without weed showed the highest ear weights and final grain production. Treatments that received nitrogen fertilizer, independently of studied arrangement, provided higher yields.

Onion Development and Yield in Response to Manual Cultivation, Herbicides, or Colored Mulches

ABSTRACT The extent of onion (Allium cepa L.) bulb and seed production varies with different production management practices. Field experiments were conducted during the 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 growing seasons to evaluate bolting and yield in onion grown with blue, red or white mulch in comparison to those grown with manual cultivation or chemical weed control treatment without mulch. The role of low temperature at the post-juvenile growth stage in bolting induction was also examined. Bolting was sometimes higher under mulch as compared to plots receiving manual hoeing or herbicide treatments. No particular mulch color appeared to consistently favor bolting. There was an inverse relationship between bolting and yield. Treatments did not affect germination of harvested seeds. Onion plants which were exposed to low temperature after attaining the critical growth stage for vernalization produced more inflorescences.

Short and medium term assessment of tillage erosion in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania

Soil translocation due to shallow tillage by manual hoeing appears to be one of the most important erosion processes in the Uluguru Mountains. In order to quantify erosion rates caused by manual hoeing in the area a tillage experiment was set up and an on-farm survey was conducted during the dry season of the years 2000 and 2001, respectively. Soil flux rates on eight slope gradients (31–67%) were monitored by measuring the tillage step characteristics using Trapezoid-step method and by collecting soil material lost in Gerlarch troughs. Soil flux rates due to medium-term (30 years) manual hoeing along contour bands with grass barrier were also monitored by measuring volumes of tillage step below and colluvium accumulation above the surface of the original slope on six slope gradients (51, 52, 55, 56, 58 and 60%). Average tillage depth for superficial tillage was 5.2 cm. The results obtained by the Trapezoid-step method ranged from 43 to 70 kg m −1 per tillage pass with a mean tillage transport coefficient ( k) of 107.5 kg m −1 on the tested slopes. Mean soil flux rates obtained by Gerlarch trough method were slightly lower than those obtained by Trapezoid-step method with values ranging from 14 to 77 kg m −1 per tillage pass and a tillage transport coefficient ( k) of 83.9 kg m −1 per tillage pass. The rates measured by both methods showed an increasing soil flux with slope gradient. Results on soil flux rates due to the medium-term tillage operation (step measurements) showed a negative trend with increasing slope gradient. Soil flux ranged from 148 to 42 kg m −1 per year for slopes between 51 and 60%. Soil flux due to colluviation behind grass barriers showed a similar trend with values higher than those obtained by step measurements. The soil flux rates behind grass barriers ranged from 153 kg m −1 per year on slope of 51% to 67 kg m −1 per year on a 60% slope in approximately 30 years of cultivation. A reasonable correspondence between calculated displaced soil (area under original slope) and the accumulated colluvium (area above the original slope) was obtained indicating significant contribution of tillage erosion. Contribution due to water erosion processes ranged from 7 kg m −1 per year on slopes of 51% to 25 kg m −1 per year on a slope of 60%. The study demonstrated that tillage translocation rates due to manual superficial tillage are very high and could partly be held responsible for the development of shallow soils observed on steep slopes and the accumulation of colluvium behind grass barriers along contour bands in the Uluguru Mountains.

Effect of Tillage Methods on Weed Control and Maize Performance in Southwestern Nigeria Location

ABSTRACT Field trials were conducted at the experimental site of the Department of Plant Science and Forestry, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria during the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons to evaluate the influence of four tillage methods on weed control and maize performance. The results from manual ridging + manual weeding and heaping were not significantly different, but both showed better weed control, plant heights at 4 and 10 WAP and yield than manual hoeing and zero tillage. Weed density and weed biomass were highest in the zero tillage + weedy check plots. Germination count was lowest in the zero tillage plots. In both years there were no significant differences in the performance of maize between manual ridging and heaping.

Effect of fertility levels and weed-management practices on yield potential, nutri- ent uptake and economics of spring-planted sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)

A field experiment was carried out during the spring seasons of 200708 and 200809 at Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh to study the effect of NPK levels and weed-management practices on yield potential, nutrient uptake and economics of sugarcane ( Saccharum officinar um L.). The crop was fertilized with 75% recommended dose of fer- tilizer (RDF), 100% RDF (150:60:60 kg/ha of N: P O : K O) and 125% RDF in combination with 7 weed manage- 2 5 2 ment practices, viz. weedy check; weed free; three hoeing at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting; one hoeing at 30 days after planting followed by atrazine @ 2.0 kg a.i./ha; atrazine @ 2.0 kg a.i./ha as pre-emergence (PE) + 2,4-D @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha at 60 days after planting; glyphosate @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha at 25 days after planting + one hoeing at 60 days after planting and Sesbania sowing in inter-row space followed by 2,4-D @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha at 45 days after planting. The crop fertilized with 125% RDF being at par with RDF resulted in the highest cane yield and number of millable canes, being 15.5 and 22.3% higher respectively, than lower fertility level mainly because of remarkable improvement in individual cane weight, cane girth, cane length, tillering and lower mortality. The dose of 125% RDF was found economically more sound, as it generated the highest return of 86,740/ha with benefit: cost ratio of 2.35. The highest nutrient uptake by sugarcane and total nutrient removal by sugarcane + weeds was recorded with 125% RDF which was significantly higher over RDF. The total uptake of nutrients followed the trend similar to that of nutrient removal by sugarcane. Among the weed-management practices, 3 manual hoeings at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting being at par with the treatment post-emergence application of glyphosate @ 1.0 kg a.i. at 25 days after planting + one hoeing at 60 days after planting proved efficient in controlling the weed population and dry-matter production all the growth stages, as evident by the highest weed control efficiency. The cane yield, millable canes and nutrient removal were witnessed higher under glyphosate @ 1.0 kg a.i. at 25 days after plant- ing + one hoeing at 60 days after planting, followed by 3 manual hoeing at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting. Under weedy check plots, weeds removed the maximum nutrients, whereas lower uptake was observed under weed free conditions. Glyphosate @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha at 25 days after planting + 1 hoeing at 60 days after planting was the best weed-management practices for higher net return ( 91,067/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (3.60) when it was com- pared to other treatments.

Reassessment of tillage erosion rates by manual tillage on steep slopes in northern Thailand

Changing land-use practices in northern Thailand have increased tillage intensity. This study re-assesses the rate of tillage erosion by manual hoeing on steep slopes (17–82%) in northern Thailand. Previously collected soil translocation data during an on-farm tillage erosion experiment and additionally collected data during an on-farm tillage erosion survey have been analysed whereby a new calculation method (i.e. trapezoid tillage step) has been used. A comparison with previously collected data indicates that the trapezoid tillage step method and the tracer method are the most reliable methods to assess downslope translocation by manual tillage. Based on newly acquired understanding of the processes involved, soil fluxes by tillage erosion are quantified by linear functions for different slope gradient classes rather than one single diffusion-type equation for the whole slope range. For slope gradients smaller than 3%, soil fluxes are close to zero as farmers do not have a preferred tillage direction. For slope gradients between 3% and 70%, soil is tilled only in the downslope direction and soil fluxes range between 16 and 67 kg m −1 tillage pass −1. On slopes with gradients in excess of 70%, the angle of repose for soil clods is often exceeded resulting in a sliding down of the complete tilled top layer. These data are used to assess the soil flux for complete cropping cycles for the most dominant cropping systems in the highlands of northern Thailand: i.e. upland rice, maize, (soy) beans, cabbage and ginger. The on-site effects of tillage erosion will be very pronounced if parcels are short with respect to their slope length, cultivated for upland rice or cabbage, or when weed pressure is high. Tillage erosion results in a tillage step with low soil fertility and low infiltration capacity. Solutions to reduce tillage erosion intensity depend on the degree that tillage intensity can be reduced. This might happen by an improved weed management or by changing landuse to perrenial cropping. Other strategies are concentrating nutrients on the truncated hillslope sections and retaining soil on the field by vegetative buffers.

Research Concerning the Organic Technology for Satureja Hortensis L. Culture

The garden thyme is well known and used since antiquity. The air part of the plant (Saturejae herba) is used. It has carminative, expectorant and astringent action. 
 The research performed in this specie was performed based on the project PN II – parteneriates no. 51-032 with the title ”Implementation of the system of standardizing the vegetal raw material for increasing competitiveness in medicinal plants species valuable in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry”, where UASMV Cluj-Napoca is partner. 
 The plantation of the nursery transplant, in organic culture, was performed with 50 cm row distance and 20 cm between plants by row, in 18.05.2008.
 During 2008, 3 manual hoeing and 6 sprinkler with 0.2% Bionat (product accepted for organic cultures) foliar fertilizer. 
 Based on bio-morphological determinations we concluded that average plant weight increased from the first up to the forth harvesting phase (from 27.5 g to 130.7 g). The herbal production increase from first up to latest harvesting phase, from 2,743 kg/ha to 10,561 kg/ha, respectively. The vegetation period during 2008 was of 103 days. The highest content in triterpenic acids 3.3287 g%, respectively, was recorded in the second harvesting phase.

A Comparison of Controlled Grazing and Manual Hoeing as a Means of Reducing the Incidence of Cymbopogon Afronardus Stapf in Ankole Pastures, Uganda

(1969). A Comparison of Controlled Grazing and Manual Hoeing as a Means of Reducing the Incidence of Cymbopogon Afronardus Stapf in Ankole Pastures, Uganda. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal: Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 154-159.

Compatibility of Chemical and Mechanical Weed Control Methods

Herbicides were applied postplant to field grown peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsatum L.) in association with various cultivation devices. Rotary cultivations were compatible with single or multiple chemical treatments applied to soil. For eight preemergence herbicides commonly used on a nonincorporated basis, use of the multiple-application multiple-rotarycultivation technique, in comparison to the common method of use, increased the early-season weed control rating from 3.4 to 4.5 (scale 1.0 = no control, 5.0 = perfect), reduced weeds from 209 to 37 plants/50 sq ft, increased length of control from 36 to 50 days, and reduced the manual hoe time requirement from 24 to 10 hr/A. Incorporation of single or multiple chemical treatments decreased crop safety for some herbicides especially where cotton was the crop. The power driven rotary cultivator was superior to the standard sweep-equipped cultivator and the weeder for use in conjunction with multiple chemical applications. Herbicidal applications incorporated with the rotary cultivator at 0, 7, and 14; 7, 14, and 21; or 0, 14, and 28 days after planting provided equal weed control.

Variações nos métodos de aplicação dos herbicidas Diuron e Tripluralin na cultura do algodoeiro

Foram estudados os efeitos das variações nos métodos de aplicação dos herbicidas Diuron e Trifluralin na cultura algodoeira, para verificar sua eficiência no combate às ervas daninhas. O tratamento Trifluralin aplicado em pré-plantio incorporado, provocou excelente combate às ervas daninhas gramíneas, porém irrisória redução da população das dicotiledôneas. A aplicação de Trifluralin em pré-plantio incorporado e a de Diuron em pré-emergência, aumentaram consideravelmente a área de contrôle nos dois grupos de ervas más. O tratamento Diuron aplicado em pré-emergência foi bastante efetivo no combate às ervas de "fôlhas largas", enquanto que no combate às gramineas não foi tão eficiente. O incorporação do Diuron, aplicado em pré-plantio, não aumentou a eficiência do produto químico. A redução da dose de Diuron em pré-plantio incorporado ou em pré-emergência não proporcionou combate adequado às ervas más.