Pea Grain Research Articles

Optimization of Enzymatic Hydrolysis Parameters of Pigeon Pea for Better Recovery of Dhal

Pigeon pea is mostly consumed in the form of splits and it provides good source of proteins. The pigeon pea grain is considered as most difficult for dehulling as compared to other pulses owing to its seed coat which is more firmly attached with the cotyledons through a layer of gum and mucilage. Pre milling treatments are generally employed to loosen the seed coat to remove husk without losing any edible portion. The effect of four enzymatic hydrolysis parameters, i.e., enzyme concentration (20–60 mg/ 100 g dry matter), incubation time (3-15 h), incubation temperature (40-60 0C) and tempering water pH (4.0-6.0) on hulling efficiency were optimized using response surface methodology. Three enzymes i.e. xylanase, pectinase, and cellulase were used in combination for enzymatic pre treatment. A quadratic model satisfactorily described the dehulling efficiency with high value for the coefficient of determination R2 (0.9062). It predicted a maximum dehulling efficiency of 88.37 % at enzyme concentration; 37.80 mg/100 g dry matter, incubation time, 8.69 min, incubation temperature, 48.48 0C and tempering water pH, 5.49. The results of the predicted optimum conditions were validated experimentally. Dehulling efficiency at optimum condition was observed to be 88.12 % and showed 0.28 % deviation from the predicted values. Results of the study revealed that dehulling efficiency of enzyme treated dhal could be increased 13.81 % compared to the control, i.e., the oil treated sample.

Dissipation of pendimethalin in the soil of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and detection of terminal residues in plants

Dissipation of pendimethalin in the soil of field peas (Pisum sativum L.) at 0 to 110 days, and terminal residues in green and mature pea were studied under field conditions. Pendimethalin was applied as pre-emergence herbicide at 750, to 185 g a.i. ha−1 in winter, in field peas. Dissipation of pendimethalin in the soil at 0 to 110 days followed first-order kinetics showing a half-life of 19.83 days averaged over all doses. Low pendimethalin residues were found in mature pea grain (0.004, 0.003, <0.001 μg g−1), and straw (0.007, 0.002, <0.001 μg g−1) at 750, 350 and 185 g a.i. ha−1 treatments, respectively. The study indicated that residues of pendimethalin in green and mature pea were within the prescribed MRL limits.

Assessment of Phosphorus Status in a Long-Term Tillage and Phosphorus Placement Experiment

A long-term experiment to examine the impact of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on the yields of crops in a wheat–canola–triticale–pea–barley rotation under conventional and no-till/direct-seeding conditions was established in 1979 at the Breton and Ellerslie experimental farms of the University of Alberta. A number of treatments, replicated four times, were employed; however, they were subsequently modified to accommodate added treatments. Tillage treatments were not replicated. Consistent throughout the 30 years of this experiment for both cultivation systems were three treatments, namely, control, in-row, and mid-row banded application of 17 to 20 kg P/ha with application of 74 kg N ha−1. Detailed soil analyses, including both chemical and anion resin (PRS™ probes) techniques were carried out on the three permanent treatments, described previously, in 2007. Yield data for a complete rotation of crops covering the period of 1997 to 2007 only are included in this study. Total grain production (all crops) over the period was 15% to 27% greater under the tilled system. Over the 20 years that barley was grown, yield increases were greater (P < 0.05) with in-row application of P only under the direct-seeding system. However, wheat canola, triticale, and pea grain yield increases were greater with in-row than mid-row placement of P under both tillage systems. The agronomic efficiency of in-row application of P was consistently greater than mid-row placement of P only under direct seeding. PRS 28-d burial or 24-h equilibration in the laboratory provided a better estimated of P availability (r = 0.88 and 0.89, respectively) than bicarbonate-extractable P (r = 0.57).

Roles of Stipules Include Determination of Flowering Time and Pod Harvest Index in Garden Pea Grain Legume Pisum sativum

Stipules are known to photosynthesize and provide protection to the organs differentiating at the apex, associated leaf and branch-bud and inflorescence in the axil of leaf. Stipules are expected to affect the bearer plant in multiple ways. To reveal the relative roles of stipules and leaves in Pisum sativum, the growth and development properties of leaf+ stipule− (L+S−), leaf− stipule+ (L−S+) and leaf+ stipule+ (L+S+) plants were compared. The L−S+ and L+S− plants were respectively obtained by surgically removing the leaves and stipules as soon as formed from the post-embryonic nodes of the genetically wild type stipule and leaf bearing plants. The three sets of plants were arranged in a completely randomized design and sampled at the near harvest time for the phenotypic quantitation of ten primary and six secondary traits. The L−S+ and L+S− plants were later in flowering, scarce in branching and total number of nodes, lower in biomass and bore pods in lesser numbers than L+S+ plants. The biomass allocation to leaves and/or stems was higher in L+S−and L−S+ plants as compared to L+S+ plants in which pods were the principal organs of biomass deposition. The observations allowed the conclusions that both stipules and leaves determine the flowering time and presence of stipules maximizes biomass allocation to pods and in turn the harvest index.

Effects of Fertilizers on Yield, Sustainability, and Soil Fertility under Rainfed Pigeon pea + Rice System in Subhumid Oxisol Soils

A long-term field experiment was conducted at the research farm of the All-India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture, Phulbani, Orissa, India, from 2001 to 2006 to identify the best integrated nutrient-use treatments for ensuring greater productivity, profitability, sustainability, and improved soil quality in pigeon pea + rice (two rows of pigeon pea followed by five rows of rice alternately) intercropping system. In all, nine treatments, eight comprising integrated nutrient-use practices, chemical fertilizer (CF), farmyard manure (FYM), and green leaf manure (GLM) to supply nitrogen (N) at 45 kg N ha–1 and one farmer's practice equivalent to 25 kg N ha–1 (FYM 5 t ha–1), were tested on a long-term basis. Results of the study revealed that 20 kg N ha–1 (FYM) + 25 kg N (CF) gave maximum mean rice grain yield of 1.52 t ha–1, followed by 20 kg N (GLM) + 25 kg N (urea) with grain yield of 1.51 t ha–1. In the case of pigeon pea, 30 kg N (FYM) +15 kg N (urea) gave maximum pigeon pea grain yield of 0.94 t ha–1, which was 34% greater than the sole application of chemical fertilizer. Pigeon pea grain yield tended to increase with increasing proportion of organic N in FYM + CF or GLM + CF combinations. Application of 20 kg N (FYM) + 25 kg N (urea) recorded maximum mean rice equivalent yield of 3.59 t ha–1 and sustainability yield index of 59%. While studying profitability, application of 20 kg N (FYM) + 25 kg N (CF) gave maximum net returns of US$168.94 ha–1. Impact of treatments on soil quality as assessed in terms of relative soil quality indices (RSQI) increased with increasing proportion of organic sources of N. Using an innovative and new approach, an index of integrated productivity–sustainability–profitability–soil quality performance index (I P,S,Pr,SQ) was computed to make a precise evaluation of the treatments. Based on this index, the order of performance of the treatments was T6 [20 N (FYM) + 25 N (CF)] (7.7) > T7 [30 N (FYM) + 15 N (CF) (6.9)] > T3 [20 N (GL) + 25 N (CF)] (6.8) > T5 [10 N (FYM) + 35 N (CF) (6.6)] > T9 [GL] (6.5) > T8 [CF] (6.2) > T4 [30 N (GL) + 15 N (CF)] (6.0) > T2 [10 N (GL) + 35 N (CF)] (5.7) > T1 [FYM at 5 t ha–1] (4.1). Thus, the results and the methodology adopted in this study using long-term data would be very useful to researchers, farmers, land managers, and other stakeholders not only in India but also across the world under similar climatic and edaphic situations.

Experimental and numerical determination of representative elementary volume for granular plant materials

A series of physical and numerical tests were conducted to determine representative elementary volume of granular plant material. The load response of pea grain assembly poured into a cuboid test chamber and subjected to uniaxial confined compression was studied. The apparatus was equipped with adjustable side walls that allowed measurement of boundary stresses in samples of varying thickness. It was found that load distribution varied considerably in samples of thickness smaller than three times the size of the particle. Less pressure variation was observed in grain assemblies of thickness equaled to three, five and seven times the particle size. Comparison between experimental data and numerical DEM results have shown qualitative agreement. It was found that the specimen of dimension not smaller than five times the particle size can be used as a representative elementary volume in confined uniaxial compression test of granular plant materials.

Intercropping barley with pea for agronomic and economic considerations in northern Ontario

Intercropping, a mix of non-legume and legume crops, can improve crop yield and/or economic returns and reduce input costs. Field experiments (barley-pea intercrop) were conducted in 2008, 2010 and 2011 on an Oskondoga silt loam soil at Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, to determine the effect of intercropping barley (non-legume) and pea (legume) on grain yield, land equivalency ratio (LER), grain quality (protein concentration-PC), N uptake and economic returns. Barley and pea were grown as mono crops and in combinations as intercrops (both in the same row/and alternate rows). Nitrogen fertilizer was applied at 0, 40 and 80 kg·N·ha-1 to mono crop barley and at 0, 20 and 40 kg·N·ha-1 to barley-pea intercrop combinations. On an average of three years, application of 80 kg·N·ha-1 increased grain yield of barley by 846 kg·ha-1 as a sole crop and by 420 - 488 kg·ha-1 in the two intercropping combinations. Compared to barley and pea as sole crops, grain yield with barley-pea intercropping was greater by 266 kg·ha-1 with alternate row combination and by 223 kg·ha-1when both crops were grown in the same row. The LER values suggested 7% - 17% less land requirement for barley-pea intercropping than sole crops. Net returns from barley-pea intercropping without applied N greatly improved ($854 - $939 ha-1) compared to barley sole crop with 80 kg·N·ha-1($628 ha-1), although the net returns were highest for pea grown as a sole crop without applied N ($1141 ha-1). For barley as a sole crop, PC in grain increased with applied N. Compared to barley as sole crop with zero-N, PC in barley grain increased when barley was intercropped with pea. In barley-pea intercrop treatments, application of N fertilizer had no significant effect on PC in barley grain, although PC in pea grain was much higher than PC in barley grain. The response trends of total N uptake in grain were similar to grain yield. The findings suggest that pea or barley-pea intercropping could be an option for organic farming systems.

EFEKT NA NJAKOI RASTEŽNI REGULATORI S RETARDANTNA AKTIVNOST PRI PROLETEN GRAH ZA ZĂRNO

A field experiment was conducted at Trakia University - Stara Zagora to establish the effect of some growth retardants on morphological and productive parameters in spring pea for grain variety Bogatir. Three combined preparations: Trisalvit (phenylphthalamic acid + chlorocholine chloride + chlorophenoxyacetic acid +salicylic acid) at doses of 300 and 400 сmз*ha-1; SM-21 (phenylphthalamic acid + chlorocholine chloride) at doses of 300 and 400 сmз*ha-1 and PNSA-44 (phenylphthalamic acid + naphthaleneacetic acid + chlorophenoxyacetic acid) at doses of 200 and 300 сmз*ha-1 were applied in the early growth phase of the plant up to a height of 15-20 cm. The study showed that the greatest reduction in the stem height (by 12.8% compared to untreated plants) was achieved by applying SM-21 (400 сmз*ha-1). The application of growth regulators Trisalvit and SM-21 had no appreciable effect on the production of spring pea grain. Maximum values of yield structure components (number of pods and grain per plant, grain mass per plant and mass of 1000 grain) and the yield were obtained after application of PNSA-44 (300 сmз*ha-1) - up to 5.6% (117.2 kg*ha-1) more grain than the control. The investigation of the influence of tested factors (retardant, dose and year) demonstrated that the conditions of the year as a factor had the strongest effect on plant height and grain yield.

Feeding value of field pea as a protein source in forage-based diets fed to beef cattle.

Three studies were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of field peas as a protein source in diets for beef cattle. In the first study, 4 cultivars of field pea were incubated in situ to determine rate and extent of CP disappearance. Results indicate that field pea cultivars vary in CP content (22.6, 26.1, 22.6, and 19.4%, DM basis for Profi, Arvika, Carneval, and Trapper, respectively). Soluble protein fraction ranged from 34.9% for Trapper to 54.9% for Profi. Degradable CP fraction was greater (P = 0.01) for Trapper compared with the other cultivars, and no differences (P ≥ 0.25) were observed among Profi, Arvika, and Carneval. Rate of CP degradation differed (P ≤ 0.03) for all cultivars, with Profi being the greatest and Trapper the smallest (10.8, 10.0, 8.1, and 6.3 ± 1.4%/h for Profi, Carneval, Arvika, and Trapper, respectively). Estimated RDP was not different (P = 0.21) for all 4 cultivars. In the second study, 30 crossbred beef steers (301 ± 15 kg) were individually fed and used to evaluate effects of field pea processing (whole, rolled, or ground) on steer performance. Diets contained 40% field pea grain. Growing steers consuming whole field pea had greater ADG (P = 0.08) than those consuming processed field pea (1.69, 1.52, and 1.63 ± 0.05 kg/d, for whole, rolled, and ground, respectively). However, DMI (kg/d and as % of BW) and G:F were not different (P ≥ 0.24). In the third study, 35 individually fed gestating beef cows (694 ± 17 kg) were used to evaluate the use of field pea as a protein supplement for medium quality grass hay (9.3% CP). Treatments consisted of whole field peas at 1) 0 g (CON), 2) 680 g (FP680), 3) 1,360 g (FP1360), and 4) 2,040 g (FP2040), and 5) 1,360 g of 74% barley and 26% canola meal (BCM). Total intake (forage + supplement) of gestating beef cows increased with increasing field pea level (linear, P = 0.01; supplemented vs. nonsupplemented, P = 0.01). In summary, protein quantity and rate of ruminal protein degradation vary across sources of field peas used in this study. Additionally, because of source variability, nutrient analysis and animal requirements should be considered when field pea is incorporated into beef cattle diets. Processing field pea does not improve performance of growing steers. Supplementation of field pea to gestating cows consuming medium-quality grass hay increased total DMI. Overall, our data indicate field pea can be used in a wide variety of beef cattle diets.

Grain yield and quality characteristics of different genotypes of winter pea in comparison to spring pea for organic farming in pure and mixed stands

High grain yields are difficult to achieve for common spring pea (SP), mainly as a result of its relatively low competitiveness and yield instability. In field experiments, seven different genotypes of winter pea (WP) were analysed for their yield performance and yield stability in comparison to one SP in pure and mixed stands (two replacement designs with cereal) at two experimental sites in four and two growing seasons, respectively. Additionally, in a selection of treatments, parameters of grain quality were analysed. Two of the seven genotypes cannot be recommended for cropping in climates where there are frequent incidences of frost in winter, due to their poor winter hardiness. The pea grain yield of the highest-yielding WP grown in mixed stands (overall mean of 2.4 t DM ha−1) was higher than in a pure stand, with 1.8 and 1.9 t DM ha−1 for WP and SP, respectively. Moreover, the concentration of valuable substances (crude protein, amino acids) in WP was comparable to SP, but the concentration of unfavourable secondary compounds (tannin, trypsin inhibitor activity) was significantly higher. WP showed higher yield stability than SP, and negligible weed infestation was observed for WP, but not for SP. Hence, using WP–cereal mixtures provides an alternative to cropping SP, but awareness of the potential constraint to its use as feedstuff for monogastrics is required.

Phosphate fertilizer and weed control effects on growth and yield of field pea on Nitisols of central highlands of Ethiopia

Soil acidity and the associated low phosphorus availability and poor crop management practices are among the major factors constraining field pea productivity in the highlands of Ethiopia. The effect of phosphate fertilizer and weed control on yield and yield components of field pea ( Pisum sativum L.) were studied on acidic Nitisols of farmers’ fields of Welmera Woreda, West Shoa. Factorial combinations of four levels of phosphate fertilizer (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg P ha -1 ) as triple super-phosphate (TSP) and two levels of weeding (w 0 = no weeding and w 1 = hand weeding once) were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated that a highly significant positive response of plant height, number of pods per plant, total biomass and grain yields of field pea were noted to phosphate fertilizer and weeding treatments. Application of phosphate fertilizer at the rates of 10, 20 and 30 kg P ha -1 increased mean grain yields of field pea by 36, 67 and 57%, respectively compared to the control. Weeding once by hand increased mean grain yield of field pea by 15% compared to the unweeded check. The interaction between applied phosphate fertilizer and weed control (P×W) significantly affected field pea grain yield and total biomass. Grain yield was very significantly and positively correlated with plant height, number of pods per plant and total biomass (r = 0.59 ** , 0.68 *** and 0.94 *** , respectively). The results of economic analysis indicated that the treatment with application of 20 kg P ha -1 and weeding once during the 4 th week after sowing by hand was identified to be the best option with a marginal rate of return of 277%, well above the minimum acceptable rate of return of 100%, which is economically the most feasible alternative.

Assessment of flubendiamide residues in pigeon pea in different agro-climatic zones of India

Supervised field trials were conducted at the research farms of four agricultural universities located at different agro-climatic zones of India to find out the harvest time residues of flubendiamide and its des-iodo metabolite on pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) during the year 2006-2007. Two spray applications of flubendiamide 20 WDG at 50 g (T(1)) and 100 g (T(2)) a.i./ha were given to the crop at 15-days interval. The foliage samples at different time intervals were drawn at only one location, however, the harvest time samples of pigeon pea grain, shell, and straw were drawn at all the four locations. The residues were estimated by HPLC coupled with UV-VIS variable detector. No residues of flubendiamide and its des-iodo metabolite were found at harvest of the crop at or above the LOQ level of 0.05 μg/g. On the basis of the data generated, a pre-harvest interval (PHI) of 28 days has been recommended and the flubendiamide 20 WDG has been registered for use on pigeon pea by Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India and the MRL has been fixed by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India under Prevention of Food and Adulteration as 0.05 μg/g on pigeon pea grains.

Intensification of Field Pea Production: Impact on Agronomic Performance

Including grain‐legumes in cropping systems contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and enhances agronomic and economic performance of cropping systems. The objective was to examine the potential for increasing the frequency of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) (FP) in a spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (W)‐based cropping system. Three crop rotations, continuous pea (C‐Pea), W‐FP, and W‐W‐FP, were evaluated over a 10‐yr period (1998–2007) at Indian Head, SK. During the FPphase of C‐Pea and W‐FP, three starter N rates (5, 20, 40 kg N ha−1) were applied. One rate of N (80 kg N ha−1) was used in W. Rotation and N had similar effects on plant densities in either crop. Field pea grain yields were 25% lower with C‐Pea than W‐FP or W‐W‐FP but similar between W‐FP and W‐W‐FP. Starter N had some effect on FP grain yields at the higher N rate in W‐FP but not C‐Pea. Spring wheat grain yields were 3% greater on FP than W stubble. Grain protein in FP was 3.1% higher on C‐Pea than W‐P or W‐W‐FP while grain protein in W was 1 g kg−1 higher on FP than W stubble. Crop water use efficiency in FP and W was not affected by crop rotation. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that the frequency of FP in cropping systems in the subhumid and semiarid areas can be increased intermittently with only a 1‐yr cereal break between FP crops when combined with proper integrated crop management practices.

Combining management and breeding advances to improve field pea (Pisum sativum L.) grain yields under changing climatic conditions in south-eastern Australia

Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) is widely grown across southern Australia. Delayed sowing is recommended to minimise yield losses caused by the disease ascochyta blight. However, drier and hotter springs in recent seasons have resulted in greater yield penalties from delayed sowing than from this disease. Field pea breeding in these shorter growing seasons has rapidly shifted the selection intensity towards genotypes with earlier flowering. Research was conducted to identify optimal management strategies that reduce losses from both disease and delayed sowing. Experiments comprising differing sowing dates (conventional, and 2–3 and 4–6 weeks earlier), various genotypes (including Alma—tall trailing type, and Kaspa—semi-leafless erect and OZP0602—earlier flowering, semi-leafless) and six fungicide treatments (combinations of P-Pickel T® seed dressing and mancozeb foliar fungicide) were conducted in multi-location sites in South Australia from 2007 to 2009. Ascochyta blight infection occurred in all years irrespective of treatment and location, but only reduced grain yield in one experiment in 2008 and two in 2009. The two earlier sowing dates were generally higher yielding than the conventional sowing date for all genotypes. However under severe disease pressure yield loss was observed with the earliest sowing date. Genotype differences were also observed in terms of yield response to sowing date and in levels of disease infection, although these small improvements in disease resistance did not translate to a yield advantage. The combination of seed treatment and strategic foliar fungicides resulted in a positive yield response in 2009 but this was variable between sowing dates and genotypes. Under recent weather patterns of lower rainfall and shorter growing seasons, this study suggested the optimum planting period is within a week of the first autumn rains in low rainfall regions and 3 weeks after the first autumn rains in medium and medium–high rainfall regions. Grain yield can be optimised in these conditions by using earlier flowering genotypes together with strategic fungicide application and early time of sowing. These earlier flowering genotypes were also found to have broader adaptation to a range of sowing dates providing increased management flexibility. Fungicides with greater efficacy than mancozeb are required to maximise yield at the earliest sowing time.

Fusarium spp. contamination of wheat, maize, soybean, and pea grain in Croatia.

From 2002 to 2008, 203 samples of wheat, maize, soybean, and pea were analysed for the presence of Fusarium species. Contamination with Fusarium spp., expressed as the percentage of seeds with Fusarium colonies, ranged from 5 % to 69 % for wheat, from 25 % to 100 % for maize, from 4 % to 17 % for soybean, and from 3 % to 17 % for pea. 187 isolates were collected and the following 19 species determined: F. graminearum, F. poae, F. avenaceum, F. verticillioides, F. sporotrichioides, F. heterosporum, F. crookwellense, F. tricinctum, F. semitectum, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. solani, F. equiseti, F. pseudograminearum, F. chlamydosporum, F. sambucinum, F. compactum, F. scirpi, and F. culmorum. Dominant species were F. graminearum on wheat (27 % of isolates), F. verticillioides on maize (83 % of isolates), F. sporotrichioides on soybean (34 % of isolates), and F. proliferatum on pea (29 % of isolates). Among species identified, F. heterosporum, F. crookwellense, F. pseudograminearum, F. sambucinum, and F. compactum have been reported for the first time in Croatia.

Effect of Moisture Content on Pitting and Milling Efficiency of Pigeon Pea Grain

Pitting is a premilling operation in which pigeon pea grain is passed through a dehulling machine quickly to crack the hull or partly dehull the grain. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of grain moisture content on pigeon pea hull during pitting. Pitting of the grain was done at 6%, 8%, 10%, 12%, and 14% moisture contents using dhal mill developed by Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal (India). Grains having a cracked hull or partly dehulled during pitting varied from 35.3% to 85.3% with maximum value at 10% moisture content and reduced with an increase in moisture content. Maximum finished product in the form of dehulled whole (gota) and dehulled splits (dhal) was also obtained at 10% moisture content. Pitted grains of pigeon pea were treated with 0.28% cottonseed oil to study the effect of moisture content and pitting on dehulling efficiency, which was maximum (86.7%) at 10% moisture content.

Phosphate Fertilization Can Increase Yield of Productive Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) Crops in P-Retentive Soils

The effect of P fertilization on grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) yield and yield components was evaluated on soils with low P availability and high P retention capacity in small-scale farms of the Araucania Region in southern Chile. Trials were conducted during 2000-2001, 2001-2002, and 2002-2003, in six sites; three sites in Lumaco and three in the Selva Oscura area. Six rates of P (0, 21.8, 43.6, 65.4, 87.2, and 109.0 kg ha -1 ) were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Grass pea cv. Luanco-INIA was sown at 47 seeds m -2 . Mean grain yield for all trials was 2456 kg ha -1 . Phosphate fertilization increased grass pea grain yield in both areas during 2000 and 2001. There was no significant effect in 2002. The 2002 cropping season had an unusually high spring–summer rainfall, which may have enhanced the P mineralization rate from organic soil fraction, and thus P availability. According to this study, grass pea crops in soils with < 10 mg kg -1 of available P-Olsen should respond should respond should respond to P fertilization.

Dryland Crop Yields and Soil Organic Matter as Influenced by Long‐Term Tillage and Cropping Sequence

Novel management practices are needed to improve the declining dryland crop yields and soil organic matter contents using conventional farming practices in the northern Great Plains. We evaluated the 21‐yr effect of tillage and cropping sequence on dryland grain and biomass (stems + leaves) yields of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and pea (Pisum sativum L.) and soil organic matter at the 0‐ to 20‐cm depth in eastern Montana, USA. Treatments were no‐tilled continuous spring wheat (NTCW), spring‐tilled continuous spring wheat (STCW), fall‐ and spring‐tilled continuous spring wheat (FSTCW), fall‐ and spring‐tilled spring wheat‐barley (1984–1999) followed by spring wheat‐pea (2000–2004) (FSTW‐B/P), and the conventional spring‐tilled spring wheat‐fallow (STW‐F). Spring wheat grain and biomass yields increased with crop growing season precipitation (GSP) and were greater in STW‐F than in FSTCW and FSTW‐B/P when GSP was &lt;250 mm. Although mean grain and biomass yields were greater, annualized yields were lower in STW‐F than in other treatments. In FSTW‐B/P, barley and pea grain and biomass yields also increased with increased GSP. Soil organic C and total N were lower in STW‐F than in other treatments and linearly related (R2 = 0.64 to 0.78) with total annualized biomass residue returned to the soil from 1984 to 2004. Alternate‐year summer fallowing increased spring wheat grain and biomass yields compared with annual cropping but reduced annualized yields and soil organic matter. For sustaining dryland crop yields and soil organic matter, no‐tillage with annual cropping system can be adopted in the northern Great Plains.

Evaluation of the nutritive potential of pigeon pea (&lt;i&gt;Cajanus cajan&lt;/i&gt;) grain and leaf meals on growth performance of pre-pubertal rabbits

The study investigated the effect of including pigeon pea grain and pigeon pea leaf meals in the pre-pubertal rabbit diets that had maize offal as the main energy source. Eighteen pubertal rabbits of age range 5-6 weeks and weight range 482-486 gm at the commencement of the experiment were randomly allocated to experimental diets 1, 2 and 3 respectively containing 0% pigeon pea, 15% Pigeon pea grain meal and 15% Pigeon pea leaf meal, in replacement of maize offal. The final live weight (1375.1g for diet 1,1487.5g for diet 2 and 1347.38g for diet 3), daily weight gain (11.6g for diet 1, 13.00g for diet 2 and 11.21g for diet 3) and feed: gain: ratio 6.50 vs. 5.20 vs. 5.31 for diets 1,2 and 3 respectively were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. However, the daily feed intake 65.3g vs. 59.50 g for Diets 2 and 3 respectively ware similar but significantly (P 0.05) among the dietary groups. It was concluded that 15% Pigeon pea grain meal inclusion in rabbit diet with maize offal rather than maize, as the main energy base, resulted in better performance of weaner rabbits. Keywords : Pigeon pea leaf meal; grain meal, pre-pubertal rabbit, haematology , muscle composition Bowen Journal of Agriculture Vol. 5 (1&2) 2008: pp. 102-108

Expansion properties and ultrastructure of legumes: Effect of chemical and enzyme pre-treatments

Expanded cereals and legumes are commonly used as ready-to-eat breakfast foods or as ingredients in food formulations. The use of horse gram and pigeon pea in food formulations and in legume composite flours is limited due to the presence of high levels of antinutritional factors, poor functional and expansion properties. Sodium bicarbonate and protease pre-treatments altered the cell wall structure of these legumes leading to the development of expanded grains. Expansion processing of pre-treated legumes resulted in statistically significant ( P < 0.05) increases in grain size and expansion volume compared to control grains. Highest yield of expanded grains were obtained with sodium bicarbonate pre-treatment (80 grains/100grains in pigeon pea and 96 grains/100 grains in horse gram), whereas, protease treatment yielded 68 and 94 expanded grains per 100 grains of pigeon pea and horse gram, respectively. Pre-treated expanded grains had lower bulk densities in the range of 480–510 g/L compared to untreated controls (about 760 g/L). Increased porosity and decreased cell wall thickness in expanded grains resulted in the collapse of cell walls and the appearance of large void spaces within the intercellular matrix. These results suggest the potential utility of under-utilized expanded pigeon pea and horse gram grains or their flours as ingredients in food processing or in legume composite flours.