Maturing Varieties Research Articles

Brassica juncea pre-season cover crops reduce soybean root colonization by Macrophomina phaseolina, the fungus causing charcoal rot

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is a soilborne fungus that causes charcoal rot in numerous crop plants, reducing yield and profits. This study assessed the efficacy of pre-season mustard cover crops (Brassica juncea), a chemical fungicide seed treatment, a combination of both, and a non-treated control in a set of varieties that ranged in maturity. In 2016 and 2017, 'AG4135 RR2Y/SR' consistently yielded lower compared to other varieties. Early maturity varieties exhibited reduced yields relative to mid and late maturity pairs in 2016 and 2017. Root colonization was influenced by treatment, with the combined pre-season cover crop and seed treatment exhibiting the lowest colonization rates in 2015, while all treatments had significantly reduced colonization in 2017 compared to untreated controls. Additionally, differences in root colonization were observed among soybean varieties, suggesting genotype-specific responses to disease management strategies. M. phaseolina soil populations showed a marked increase from pre-cover crop to post-soybean harvest underscoring the pathogen's proliferation throughout the growing season. Correlation analyses revealed significant negative relationships between root colonization and yield for untreated controls, suggesting that higher root colonization adversely affected crop performance. These findings suggest that specific treatments may help mitigate M. phaseolina population build-up in roots and soil and indicate that the effectiveness of control measures may be influenced by pathogen variability in response to environmental conditions and management practices. These findings also contribute to our understanding of effective strategies for managing charcoal rot disease and highlights the importance of integrating chemical and biological control methods.

Итоги сравнительного испытания зарубежных сортов масличного льна в условиях Восточно-степной зоны земледелия Монголии

The purpose of the research was to evaluate oil flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) varieties originating from different geographical and ecological regions based on their yield formation and biological properties in conditions of the Eastern steppe zone of Mongolia. Mathematical and statistical analyses were performed on yield and its component parameters. According to the study results of 2019–2022, early maturing oil flax varieties such as Flanders and Norine-67 demonstrated a seed yield of 2.02–2.22 t/ha and oil content of seeds 37.0–38.2%. Their seed yield was higher by 0.97–1.17 t/ha compared to the control and other varieties. The late maturing variety Blatall demonstrated a seed yield of 1.36 t/ha and 40.7% oil content of seeds, with a seed yield higher by 0.01–0.54 t/ha compared to the control and other varieties. Due to our results, early maturing oil flax varieties can be cultivated in the soil and climatic conditions of crop production zones in Mongolia, achieving a high yield (1.05–2.22 t/ha).

COPING STRATEGIES ON CLIMATE VARIABILITY AMONG COWPEA FARMERS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

<p><strong>Background.</strong> The unstable climatic conditions can no longer be predicted by farmers. The unpredictability intensity of temperature and pattern of rainfall in cowpea production has affected the farmers’ decision on production practices and general productivity. Therefore, farmers are beginning to improvise on management practices to avert the effects of climate change to remain relevant and profitable in the business of cowpea production. <strong>Objective.</strong> To examine the farmers’ coping strategies used against the effects of climate variability for cowpea production in Kwara State, Nigeria. <strong>Methodology.</strong> A multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 cowpea-based farmers. A structured survey questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Data were analysed with frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to ascertain the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics and copying strategies used by farmers. <strong>Results.</strong> Majority (79.2%) of the respondents experienced high adverse effects of climate variability including abnormal rise in temperature (76.7%), irregular/unpredictable rainfall patterns (51.7%), and excessive rainfall (37.5%) on cowpea crop. The leading coping strategies used by farmers were use of fertilizer (x̄=2.73), herbicides (x̄=2.72), and planting early maturing variety (x̄=2.51). Farmers were mainly hindered by adequate irrigation facilities (x̄=1.72), inadequate access to extension services (x̄=1.66), and high cost of agrochemicals (x̄=1.60). Result education, cowpea farm size, years of experience in cowpea farming, membership in farmers group, and additional sources of information on cowpea production showed a positive significant relationship with the choice of coping strategies employed by cowpea farmers against the effects of climate change experienced at p<0.05 level. <strong>Implication.</strong> The study showed that abnormal rise in temperature and irregular rainfall patterns are affecting cowpea production and thus, some socioeconomic attributes significantly supported farmers’ choice of coping strategies employed against the effects of climate change and variability. <strong>Conclusion.</strong> The use of agrochemicals and cultivation of early maturing variety has played critical roles in coping with adverse effects of climate variability in cowpea production. </p>

Morphological characterization of indigenous potato (Solanum tuberosum) genotypes

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the most important non-grained food and vegetable crop lauded for its nutritional and health benefits. Identifying any new potato genotype primarily depends on its morphological traits, including vegetative, floral and tuber parameters. The present study was carried out during 2020–21 and 2021–22 at the research farm of ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, regional station, Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh and at ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Kufri-Fagu unit, Himachal Pradesh (for floral traits) to evaluate the potato genotypes for vegetative and tuber traits. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Total of 64 indigenous potato genotypes were characterized for 51 morphological traits for distinctiveness, uniformity and stability (DUS) test guidelines. For all traits, there was a high degree of variability between genotypes. Early maturing varieties are preferred owing to their suitability to fit into the potato-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)- paddy (Oryza sativa L.) cropping system. Most genotypes were either early or medium maturing based on foliage senescence. High variability was observed for tuber shape, i.e. genotypes bearing flattened, round, ovoid, oblong, long-oblong and reniform-shaped tubers were available. Tuber skin and flesh colour determining consumer preference depicted variability from whitish cream to dark purple-black skinned tubers. Novel genotypes bearing variegated tuber flesh with a niche market of specific consumer segments were noticed in genotypes Red flesh, Bareilly red, DRR Blue, Badami aloo and Kala aloo. Moreover, the results obtained from the present investigation indicated that the description of 64 indigenous potato genotypes based on notes can be used as a reference for the protection of new varieties under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Act (PPV&FRA) rules as well as a comparison against new candidate varieties.

Exploring crop maturity times as a conservation tool for improving resilience to human-elephant conflict: elephant crop-raiding

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to alleviate negative impacts of elephant crop-raiding faced by smallholder farmers around the Okavango delta. Although many studies have identified the relationship between crop-raiding and climatic factors, little attention was paid to aligning cropping duration to high rainfall. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how crop maturity duration influences farmers’ vulnerability to elephant crop raiding and food loss. An experimental plot consisting of early and late maturing varieties of maize, sorghum and cowpea was set up and monitored in farms adjacent to corridors. Early maturing varieties yielded more (mean = 0.35 tha−1) than later maturing varieties (mean = 0.25 tha−1). The prolonged stay of crops in fields exposed them more to elephants (p < 0.001). Unlike late varieties, early varieties served as an evasion strategy by allowing earlier harvesting when there was adequate rainfall and elephants rarely frequented farms. Late maturing varieties were harvested at 16–19 weeks when elephants frequented the fields. This harvest timing significantly influences the vulnerability of crops to debilitating elephant raiding. This outcome suggests that policy reviews should incorporate more climate action into smallholder farming systems to strengthen SDG 1: no poverty and SDG 2: zero hunger, ease hostility toward elephants and improve elephant conservation.

Plant density and variety effect on yield, leaf spot disease, weed species richness and diversity of groundnut production in northern Ghana

AbstractLow plant density and weed infestation are major challenges for groundnut production in northern Ghana. A two‐year on‐farm study was conducted to determine the effect of plant density and variety on grain and fodder yields, incidence of leaf spot disease, weed species diversity and biomass. A factorial treatment combination of 6 varieties and 4 plant densities laid in strip plot design with 4 replications was used. The varieties were (early maturity type: Chinese, Yenyewoso, Samnut 23 and late maturity type: Azivivi, Manipinta, Samnut 22). The plants density included 9, 11, 15 and 22 plants/m2. The late maturity varieties recorded higher (p &lt; .05) canopy cover, grain and fodder yields relative to that of the early maturity varieties. The late maturity varieties also recorded the least sedge weed species frequency, density and incidence of leaf spot disease compared with that of the early maturity varieties. The canopy cover, grain and fodder yields increased with increasing plant density. Broadleaf weed species frequency and density, weed biomass, richness, and diversity declined with increasing plant density. Grain yield showed negative and significant correlation with broadleaf weed species frequency, density and weed biomass. The results suggest that both early and late maturity groundnut varieties can be planted at a density of 22 plants/m2 to increase grain and fodder yields and reduce weed species richness, diversity and growth in northern Ghana and similar agro‐ecology in West Africa.

Physical and mechanical properties of grain of spring barley varieties in the conditions of Tatarstan

The aim of the work is to analyze the physical and mechanical properties of grain of spring barley varieties cultivated in the conditions of the Predkamsk zone of the Republic of Tatarstan. The research was conducted in Tatarsky Research Institute of Agriculture FRC of Kazan Research Center RAS in 2015–2022. In the conditions of the Predkamsk zone, on average over the years of research, the late maturing variety Endan was characterized by reliably high values of 1000 grain weight (48.5 g), the early maturing variety Kamashevsky – reliably high values of natural grain weight (686, 3 g/l), convergence from 2.8 x 20 mm sieve (33.9 %) and coarseness (70.02 %), medium maturing variety Raushan – higher variability in 1000 grain weight (18.6 %), convergence from 2.8 and 2.5 x 20 mm sieves (55.6 and 29.7 %, respectively) and coarseness (39.5 %). The direct dependence of the mass of 1000 grains, runoff from the sieve 2.8 x 20 mm and coarseness on the sum of precipitation (r = 0.41/0.58/0.56, respectively), GTC (r = 0.40/0.58/0.55, respectively) and inverse dependence of these physical and mechanical properties on the average daily air temperature (r = -0.51/-0.62/-0.63, respectively) of the interphase period "earing-full ripeness" were established at 1% significance level. Judging by the value of the coefficient of determination (r2), the most closely related to the average daily air temperature are the signs "mass of 1000 grains", "drift from the sieve 2.8 x 20 mm" and "coarseness". The analysis of path coefficients revealed a high direct positive contribution (0.87) of 2.8 x 20 mm sieve runoff and an average direct positive contribution (0.43) of 2.5 x 20 mm sieve runoff to grain yield. Under the conditions of the Predkamsk zone, the prevailing contribution to the total variance of the traits "drift from the sieve 2.8 x 20 mm", "coarseness", "weight of 1000 grains", "bulk grain weight", "drift from the sieve 2.5 x 20 mm" was made by the factor "year", which accounted for (in descending order) 81.7...80.3...76.6...76.2. 68.7 %, respectively.

Fine mapping of the panicle length QTL qPL5 in rice

Panicle length is a crucial trait tightly associated with spikelets per panicle and grain yield in rice. To dissect the genetic basis of panicle length, a population of 161 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed from the cross between an aus variety Chuan 7 (C7) and a tropical Geng variety Haoboka (HBK). C7 has a panicle length of 30 cm, 7 cm longer than that of HBK, and the panicle length was normally distributed in the RIL population. A total of six quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for panicle length were identified, and single QTLs explained the phenotypic variance from 4.9 to 18.1%. Among them, three QTLs were mapped to the regions harbored sd1, DLT, and Ehd1, respectively. To validate the genetic effect of a minor QTL qPL5, a near-isogenic F2 (NIF2) population segregated at qPL5 was developed. Interestingly, panicle length displayed bimodal distribution, and heading date also exhibited significant variation in the NIF2 population. qPL5 accounted for 66.5% of the panicle length variance. The C7 allele at qPL5 increased panicle length by 2.4 cm and promoted heading date by 5 days. Finally, qPL5 was narrowed down to an 80-kb region flanked by markers M2197 and M2205 using a large NIF2 population of 7600 plants. LOC_Os05g37540, encoding a phytochrome signal protein whose homolog in Arabidopsis enlarges panicle length, is regarded as the candidate gene because a single-nucleotide mutation (C1099T) caused a premature stop codon in HBK. The characterization of qPL5 with enlarging panicle length but promoting heading date makes its great value in breeding early mature varieties without yield penalty in rice.

Effect of climate risk adaptation on food security among farming households: The case of Nigeria

Climate risk is a major threat to the sustainable food production of many farmers who depend on rainfed agricultural systems. In response to this threat, climate-smart agricultural innovations, such as drought-tolerant and early mature crop varieties, have been developed and promoted. It is well-known that adopting innovations and improved technologies positively impact adopters' well-being. Therefore, this study sought to determine the factors influencing the adoption of climate risk adaptation strategies and subsequently estimate how food security is affected by the adoption using questionnaire survey data from 1,080 farming households across six agro-ecological zones. The data were analysed using different matching techniques and Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR). The model results reveal that access to extension, crop-related and weather information, access to credit and climate change awareness of farmers increase the adoption likelihood of the climate risk adaptation strategies. Adoption of climate risk adaptation strategies positively impacts the food security of farming households as it increases their dietary diversity score and reduces the food security coping strategy index. Enhancing the accessibility of the drought-tolerant and early mature varieties, promoting crop-related and weather information through extension services, and empowering farmers through credit accessibility would strengthen the adoption of climate risk adaptation strategies to increase food security.

Optimizing agronomic practices to harness climate change impacts on potato production in tropical highland regions

A simulation experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of planting time, nitrogen rate, and crop variety choice on potato productivity and to assess the adaptation role of these practices in a changing climate in the northwestern tropical highlands of Ethiopia. The study used agroecosystem (AES) as the lens for spatial analysis. Thirty years of simulations were performed for the baseline (1981–2010), near-term (2011–2040), and mid-century (2041–2070) climate periods using a calibrated and validated SUBSTOR-Potato (DSSAT) model. The results showed that shifting planting time forward and changing the nitrogen application rate had greater productivity benefits than switching varieties in all climate periods and AESs. Late planting and higher nitrogen rates increased tuber yield during the near-term climate period. However, in the mid-century climate period, early planting of both medium and long maturity varieties with higher nitrogen rates showed potential adaptation benefits despite its negative impact on yield in the current climate. This result highlights the distinction between optimal management under current conditions and practices that are truly adaptive to climate change.

The public sector's role towards sustainable agricultural economy and rural development: Techno-economic feasibility analysis of hybrid paddy production

Rice is the major food and a significant source of foreign exchange. To meet internal demand, must develop high quality varieties of rice, including early and late maturing varieties, hybrid and conventional rice varieties. In this study evaluated the adoptability and suitability of different hybrid rice varieties in local soil. The studied hybrid varieties revealed supremacy regarding the growth characters over the inbreed rice. At the reproductive stage, highest plant height was recorded in hybrid variety ennpova-55 (106.5 cm) while inbreed IRRI-9 produced the shortest height (65.5 cm). Whereas no of highest tillers was observed in Winner-55, Tahafuz-121, and Ashoka (24/m-2) and have highest seedling number and lowest no. of tillers were recorded in Komal 21/m-2. Highest plant dry matter per hill was found in Ennova-55 (95.9/g) and lowest observed in IRRI-9 (69.8/g) as compared to others. In chlorophyll studies, highest chlorophyll parameter was observed in Ennova-08 and Pukhraj and lowest was observed only in inbreed varieties. Shoot and root length showed significant variation among the rice. Tallest shoot was found in Ennova-55 (82.3 cm) which was statistically identical with Thafuz-121 (78.1cm), while shortest was found in IRRI-9 (54.1 cm) at harvest. However, the maximum Leaf area index was recorded from Komal (4.50) at heading stage followed by Ennova-55 (4.20), whereas significantly lower in Shakar (2.70). Compared with inbreed, hybrid rice produced a higher yield with BCR of 21.96. However, further research studies are obligatory to perform for adoptability of hybrid rice locally for sustainable rice production.

Characterisation and Environmental Significance of Glauconite from Mining Waste of the Egorievsk Phosphorite Deposit

This article presents the results of a study of glauconite obtained from phosphate rock waste. The aim is to study the morphological, structural and chemical characteristics of glauconite and to determine the potential for secondary use of mining waste in the agricultural sector. The electromagnetic separation method was used to obtain glauconite concentrate. The optimum parameters for obtaining the maximum mineral content in the concentrate were determined. Studies have shown that glauconite is characterised by globular, granular grains of the highly mature variety. Glauconite almost invariably contains inclusions of pyrite and apatite, which significantly improve the characteristics of the fertiliser. Laboratory experiments have shown that glauconite waste and glauconite concentrate have a positive effect on plant growth and development. The high potassium content, the favourable globular shape of the grains, and the presence of apatite and pyrite inclusions indicate the potential use of glauconite from mining waste as a potash fertiliser. Application of glauconite fertiliser to the soil will provide an opportunity to improve its texture, providing better moisture and aeration. The use of glauconite fertiliser is particularly valuable on acidic soils where apatite can be dissolved, making phosphorus available to plants. This nutrient additionally favours plant growth, as well as reducing the risk of heavy metal accumulation in the soil. Thus, glauconite from the waste of the Egorievsk deposit represents a promising fertiliser for improving soil quality and increasing crop yields.

New spring barley variety ‘Stepnyak’

The purpose of the current study was to develop a new spring barley variety that can form consistently large productivity in different soil and climatic conditions, including regions with frequent droughts. As a result of breeding work at the experimental breeding station ‘Prikumskaya’, a branch of the FSBRI “North Caucasus FRAC”, there was developed a new spring barley variety ‘Stepnyak’ in 2009–2020. The new genotype was obtained as a result of intraspecific hybridization, followed by individual selection from the hybrid population of Nutans g-74840 (EBS ‘Prikumskaya’, a branch of the FSBRI “North Caucasus FRAC”) and Special (ICARDA, Syria). According to maturation terms, the variety belongs to the group of middle maturing varieties. The vegetation period lasts from 75 to 87 days. The new variety has high drought and heat resistance, resistance to lodging and damage by net blotch. During 2020–2022 at the EBS ‘Prikumskaya’, the new variety ‘Stepnyak’, in comparison with the standard, was characterized by a higher productive stem stand with 353 pcs/m2 (+9 pcs. to the standard), number of grain peer head with 21 pcs. (+6 pieces to the standard) and grain yield per total mass of a plant 39.1% (+4.5 % to the standard). The mean variety productivity in the Competitive Variety Testing was 2.42 t/ha and was higher than that of the standard variety ‘Strannik’ on 0.32 t/ ha (15.2 %). The high adaptation of the new variety to changing environmental conditions makes it possible to form a stable productivity increase to the standard variety ‘Strannik’. In 2020, at the EBS ‘Prikumskaya’, with a significant moisture deficit, the variety ‘Stepnyak’ exceeded productivity of the standard variety on 0.30 t/ha. In a more favorable 2021 and 2022 the yield increase varied from 0.24 to 0.43 t/ha. When studying the variety in the Kalmyk Research Institute of Agriculture (in 2021 and 2022), the yield increase to the standard variety ‘Strannik’ was 0.25 t/ha (12.8 %). During the years of the State Variety Testing (2021 and 2022) in the North Caucasus and Low Volga regions, the new variety ‘Stepnyak’ exceeded productivity of the standard on 0.17–0.18 t/ha, respectively. In 2023, the variety ‘Stepnyak’ was included in the State List of Breeding Achievements and recommended for cultivation in the North Caucasus and Lower Volga regions.

Varietal zoning of spring wheat and estimation of its varieties according to productivity and adaptability in the Tyumen region

The purpose of the current study was to estimate the varietal zoning of spring wheat in the Tyumen region, as well as a productivity and adaptability potential of its varieties in the conditions of the northern forest-steppe zone of the region. Varietal zoning of spring wheat in 2022 included 18 varieties. The largest mean productivity was produced by the varieties ‘Ekaterina’ (3.14 t/ha, a middle-early variety), ‘KVS Akvilon’ (3.60 t/ha, a middle maturing variety) and ‘Melodiya’ (3.86 t/ha, a middle late variety). The best stress resistant varieties were ‘Novosibirskaya 15’ (a middle-early variety, –1.59), ‘Chernyava 13’ (a middle maturing variety, –1.42) and ‘Melodiya’ (a middle late variety, –2.08). The varieties ‘Ekaterina’ (a middle-early variety), ‘Ikar’, ‘Aviada’, ‘Omskaya 36’, ‘KVS Akvilon’ (a middle maturing variety), ‘Riks’ and ‘Melodiya’ (a middle late variety) belong to the strongly responsive, intensive varieties, with a regression coefficient bi &gt; 1. The best stable varieties in the middle-early group were the varieties ‘Iren’ (Si 2 = 1.82), ‘Tyumenskaya 25’ (Si 2 = 0.92) and the varieties ‘Lutescens 70’ (Si 2 = 0.92), ‘Chernyava 13’ (Si 2 = 1.18), ‘Tyumenskaya 29’ (Si 2 = 1.61) in the middle maturing group. The varieties ‘Ekaterina’ (Pcond = 197.8 %, a middle early variety), ‘Tyumenskaya Yubileinaya’ (Pcond = 202.5 %, a middle early variety), ‘Chernyava 13’ (Pcond = 170.9 %, a middle maturing variety), ‘Grenada’ (Pcond = 122.9 %, a middle maturing variety) and ‘Melodiya’ (Pcond = 154.2 %, a middle late variety) were characterized with the largest indicator of the productivity level and stability. According to the general adaptability, the best middle early variety was ‘Ekaterina’ (GA = 0.39), the middle maturing ones was ‘Chernyava 13’ (GA = 0.18) and ‘KVS Akvilon’ (GA = 0.26), the middle late variety was ‘Melodiya’ (GA = 0.19). According to the sum of the ranks of productivity and adaptability indicators, the most valuable variety in the middle early group was ‘Ekaterina’ (the sum of ranks was 20), in the middle maturing group was ‘Chernyava 13’ (the sum of ranks was 23) and in the middle late group was ‘Melodiya’ (the sum of ranks was 10).

Effect of irrigation schedules and drought tolerance varieties on productivity and profitability of sugarcane

An experiment conducted at Agricultural Research Station-Ummedganj, Kota (Rajasthan) during 2020-21 and 2021-22 on sugarcane. The experiment consisted twelve treatment combinations of two irrigation schedules viz. (IW/CPE ratio 1.0 and 0.3) and six sugarcane varieties (CoPk 5191, CoLk 14201 &amp; CoLk 11203 early maturing and Co 05011, Co 09022 and CoLk11206 mid late maturing) were under taken in strip plot design with four replications. Results showed that the maximum brix content (20.42 and 23.15 %), sucrose content (17.77 and 20.50 %) and CCS yield (10.83 and 12.54 t/ha) at 10- and 12-months crop were recorded in the pooled analysis under application of irrigation at IW/CPE ratio 1.0 over application of irrigation at IW/CPE ratio 0.3. Pooled data of two years showed that the significantly higher cane yield (86.16 t/ha), net return (Rs. 145524.00/ha) and B: C ratio (2.26) was recorded with application of irrigation at IW/CPE ratio 1.0 as compared to application of irrigation at IW/CPE ratio 0.3 in sugarcane. Two years pooled data showed that the early maturing variety of CoPk 05191 was found better in respect to brix content (20.33 and 22.58 %), sucrose content (17.62 and 20.62 %) and CCS yield (10.75 and 12.40 t/ha) at 10- and 12-month crop and mid late maturing variety of Co 05011 brix content (20.52 and 22.48 %), sucrose content (17.55 and 20.37 %) and CCS yield (10.65 and 12.30 t/ha) at 10- and 12-month crop as compared to remaining sugarcane varieties. The maximum cane yield (87.61 and 86.75 t/ha), net returns (Rs. 153790.00 and Rs. 153940.00 /ha) and B:C ratio (2.33 and 2.29) was recorded with sowing of of early maturing variety CoPk 05191 mid late maturing variety of Co 05011 over rest of the sugarcane varieties.

Phenophasic heat units requirement and growth variations of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) varieties under different sowing dates

The field experiment was conducted at the dry farming research station, Solapur having three different sowing dates and seven varieties of safflower. Early sown safflower requires 7-9 days more for attaining physiologicalmaturity than latest sown safflower. Among the varieties, SSF-708 was found significantly more efficient over other genotypes in duration and yield. The deviation in heat unit requirement among early and late sown safflower dueto sowing dates was &lt;100°C. Early sown safflower completed the life cycle by obtaining 1684°C heat units. Variety SSF-708 attained physiological maturity at 1492°C and NARI-57 the late maturing variety attended physiologicalmaturity at 1628°C heat units. Similar trend was noticed in helio and photothermal units requirement ofsafflower. An increasing trend in leaf area upto 50 per cent flowering and gravitating trend towards the physiological maturity was noticed over sowing dates. Higher dry matter (DMP) was noticed under crop sown during first and second fortnight of September. At the end of physiological maturity, SSF-748 found better (94.32 g/plant) and SSF-708 (91.44 g/plant) was second in order for dry matter production.

Response of Fertilization of Nitrogen on Agronomical Attributes of Soybean

Soybean also known golden bean is a dual purpose crop grown to meet the requirement of both high protein and oil content. Fertilizers are one of the important components of farming system due to their requirement to provide essential nutrients to crop. The current research work was done to study the effect of the different rates of nitrogen fertilization on the growth and yield of soybean were studied. Field experiments were conducted at Instructional Research Farm, Krishi Nagar, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India during kharif season in the month of July to October in the year 2019‒2020. This research has been conducted in order to examine the beneficial effects of additional application of nitrogen at grain development stage on yield attributes and yield of soybean. The experimental material was early maturing variety of soybean JS 20-34. Treatments were given in 12 combinations in the split plot design. Plant samples were collected at R1 and R3 for dry matter yield and nitrogen determination. Grain yields were determined and grain samples were collected at harvest. A positive grain yield in response to nitrogen fertilizer was observed in different treatments. These imply that additional nitrogen applications are important for getting higher yields. In the current research we came to the conclusion that additional nitrogen fertilizer application to soybean crop has positive impact on several agronomical attributes of the crop.

Understanding the impact of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith) leaf damage on maize yields.

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith), a serious pest of maize and other cereals, recently invaded the Old World potentially threatening the food security and incomes of millions of smallholder farmers. Being able to assess the impacts of a pest on yields is fundamental to developing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches. Hence, working with an early maturing, medium maturing and late maturing variety, we inoculated maize plants with 2nd instar S. frugiperda larvae at V5, V8, V12, VT and R1 growth stages to investigate the effects of FAW induced damage on yield. Different plants were inoculated 0-3 times and larvae were removed after 1 or 2 weeks to generate a wide range of damage profiles. We scored plants for leaf damage at 3, 5 and 7 weeks after emergence (WAE) using the 9 point Davis scale. While at harvest we assessed ear damage (1-9 scale), and recorded plant height and grain yield per plant. We used Structural Equation Models to assess the direct effects of leaf damage on yield and indirect effects via plant height. For the early and medium maturing varieties leaf damage at 3 and 5 WAE, respectively, had significant negative linear effects on grain yield. In the late maturing variety, leaf damage at 7 WAE had an indirect effect on yield through a significant negative linear effect on plant height. However, despite the controlled screenhouse conditions, in all three varieties leaf damage explained less than 3% of the variation in yield at the plant level. Overall, these results indicate that S. frugiperda induced leaf damage has a slight but detectable impact on yield at a specific plant developmental stage, and our models will contribute to the development of decision-support tools for IPM. However, given the low average yields obtained by smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa and the relatively low levels of FAW induced leaf damage recorded in most areas, IPM strategies should focus on interventions aimed at improving plant vigour (e.g. through integrated soil fertility management) and the role of natural enemies, as these are likely to result in greater yield gains at lower cost than a focus on FAW control.

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SOYBEAN VARIETIES IN THE FOREST STEPPE OF THE PRIOBYA

In the article, the authors presented the results of comprehensive studies in 2020 - 2022. on the study of different varieties of soybeans when grown up to granules. The experiments were carried out on heavy loamy grey forest soil with a humus content of 4.1% with a slight acid reaction of the medium (pH 6.28). The nitrate nitrogen concentration was 10 mg/100 g, mobile phosphorus 13.5 mg/100 g, and exchangeable potassium 8 mg/100 g. Different varieties of soybeans, according to their ecological and geographical origin, were sown in the third decade of May with a sowing rate of 500 thousand viable seeds per 1 ha, with harvesting in the third decade of September. The authors conducted phenological observations and determined the photosynthetic potential during the experimental work. The authors also determined the leaf areas of different soybean varieties, plant height, yield indicators and crop structure. The researchers noted that the accelerated growth and development rates occurred in the West Siberian types Omskaya 4, SibNIIK-315, Gorinskaya and Krasnoobskaya. Early maturing varieties of Far Eastern selection were distinguished by a long growing season of up to 120 days, with 85 days in Siberian varieties: Omskaya 4, Far Eastern selection Alena, and Kuban selection (Barguzin, Puma, Vita, Lira, Sayana). The authors observed a significant increase in yield to the standard in the Omskaya 4 - 21% variety. On the other hand, types of the Far Eastern and Kuban selection showed grain yield indicators 2–5 times lower than the SibNIIK-315 standard. The high parameters of the crop structure in the Siberian variety Omskaya 4 were determined by the number of beans from one plant and the mass of grains from one plant.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIOCHEMICAL INDICATORS AND PHENOTYPICAL FEATURES OF GARDEN SAVORY (Satureja hortensis L.)

Relevance. Garden savory (Satureja hortensis L.) is an annual medicinal plant of interest due to the content of essential oil and phenolic compounds, the content of which varies depending on the variety. Identification of the relationship between morphological and biochemical traits will make the se-lection of productive plants more effective and accelerated. The purpose of the study is to identify the phenotypic characteristics of garden savory plants, indicating a high content of certain pharmacologically significant compounds or their groups. Materials and methods. The 9 samples of garden savory served as the object of the study. The content of essential oil was determined in dry raw materials by hydrodistillation according to Clevenger, the component composition was determined by gas chromatography. The flavonoid content was determined in terms of rutin was carried out in terms of rutin, the amount of phenolic compounds and tannins in terms of gallic acid. Results: Early maturing varieties are characterized by a high content of essential oil (r = 0.685) with a low content of tannins (r = –0.69). There was a relationship between the leaf index and the content of tannins (r = 0.620), with the accumulation of flavonoids (r = –0.522), with the content of γ-terpinene in the essential oil (r = 0.77) and of carvacrol (r = –0.76). The presence of anthocyanin coloration is interconnected with the content of essential oil (r = –0.688) and content of carvacrol in it (r = –0.53), with the content of the sum of flavonoids (r = 0.598), gamma terpinene (r =0.541) and tannins (r = 0.7). Conclusion. The identified phenotypic features of garden savory plants indicate a high content of certain pharmacologically significant compounds or their groups. Thus, is shown the selecting possibility of prospective plants according to external features.