Row Planting Research Articles

Design, Development and Optimization of a Robotic Weed Control System for Greenhouses

This study presents the design and development of a robotic prototype specifically engineered for weed elimination within cucumber plants growing in greenhouse conditions. Given the limited research in automated weed control tailored to cucumber cultivation, this project fills a crucial gap in agricultural robotics. The cucumber plants are arranged in a single row, maintaining a spacing of approximately 40 cm between each plant, while the rows themselves are positioned about 1 meter apart. The greenhouse environment features sandy loam soil, which informs the robot's design and operational parameters. The robot employs three arrays of ultrasonic sensors strategically positioned to enhance weed detection capabilities. A PIC18 F4550-E/P microcontroller serves as the processing unit, enabling real-time feedback from the sensors that triggers the actuation of a robotic arm. This arm is engineered to maneuver between plant rows, utilizing rotating blades for efficient weed cutting. A comprehensive experimental procedure was conducted, comprising 54 trials within the greenhouse setting, to optimize the performance of the robotic arm. Key variables investigated included arm motor (AM) speed, blade rotation (BR) speed, and blade design. The research tested three BR speeds—3500, 2500, and 1500 RPM—determined based on prior literature concerning rotary movers. Furthermore, two AM speeds (10 and 30 RPM) paired with three distinct blade designs—S-shaped, triangular, and circular—were evaluated primarily for their cost-efficiency and performance based on initial testing outcomes. Results revealed a significant correlation between motor speed and weed cutting efficiency, showing that higher motor speeds correlated with a decreased percentage of cut weeds. Consequently, the 10 RPM motor speed was identified as the optimal setting for arm movement, balancing effective weed removal with operational efficiency.

Manipulating Propagule Type and Interrow Ground Cover to Influence Flowering Time, Yield, Fruit Quality, and Harvest Dates in the Day-neutral Strawberry ‘Albion’

We examined methods of producing day-neutral strawberries in a north temperate climate using alternatives to standard bare-root propagules and clean cultivation between plant rows. Fragaria ×ananassa ‘Albion’ were planted in plastic-covered raised beds in Ithaca, NY, USA, for each of the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. Plants were selected from the following four propagule types from different developmental stages: standard bare-root plants set in early May; bare-root plants started in the greenhouse in February and planted in early May; bare-root plants started in the greenhouse in March and planted in early May; and plug plants set in the field in fall (Aug 2021 and Oct 2022) of the previous year. To determine if pollination could be enhanced, each type of plant was grown in plots in the field with one of the following between rows: bare ground; a diverse flowering groundcover; or exclusion netting on hoops over the strawberry plants when they were flowering. Pollinators visiting strawberries were observed weekly and identified to species when possible. Fruits were collected weekly and marketable and unmarketable yields were measured through the harvest season. Fall-planted plugs produced significantly higher marketable yields than those of other propagule types in both years. Bare-root plants set in early May had the lowest yield. Percent marketable yield varied depending on the growing year because of drastically different weather conditions. There was no evidence that flowering groundcover attracted pollinators to the strawberry plants because strawberries had few pollinator visits, regardless of the surrounding vegetation. Exclusion netting had significantly higher percent marketable yield and total yield than the those of other groundcover types despite lower percent fruit set, likely because of the benefits of tarnished plant bug exclusion.

Productive efficiency of multiple cropping systems: further evidence of the effect of planting design

ABSTRACT A plethora of experiments with intercropping have established greater yield benefits in multiple cropping (MC) than sole crop (SC) systems. However, most of these experiments involved only two crop species cultivated in row intercropping, and rarely with complex planting designs. The only study of MC involving seven crops is Deb (2021), which showed that land equivalent ratio (LER) was greater in all MC plots than SC plots, but the MC plots planted in semi-random (SRAN) planting design were substantially more productive than those planted in row intercropping (ROW). This study repeats the MC trials with the same seven crop species, planted in replicated ROW and random (RAN) planting designs. Results of this study corroborate the previous findings. Analysis of inter-crop interaction strength further indicates that intra-specific competition is intensified in ROW, but is substantially curtailed in SRAN and RAN designs, where inter-specific facilitative effects prevail. This finding indicates that owing to greater additive intra-specific competition effects in regular planting designs, LER is consistently low in row intercropping; and conversely, LER spectacularly increases in disorderly (and) planting designs. This finding is consonant with the ancient practice of random mix agroforestry systems in the Global South.

RGB Composition Obtained by a UAV in the Monitoring of Sugarcane Row Gaps Using the Biophysical Index

Sugarcane crops have a long cycle with successive harvests before re-planting, and row gaps are one of the main problems associated with the yield. The objective of this study was to establish an alternative methodology for measuring the planting and regrowth of sugarcane rows using UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) images and to compare it with manual measurements. This study was conducted in a 1 ha experimental area under mechanized harvesting. The reference methodology consists of measuring the continuous distances without regrowth between two plants along a planting row, considering distances greater than 0.50 m as gaps and the following gaps classes: >0.5–1.0 m, >1.0–1.5 m, >1.5–2.0 m, >2.0–3.5 m, and >3.5 m. Images were collected from a UAV equipped with a 12-megapixel RGB camera. The number of regrowth gaps measured through imaging for the class of gaps with a length between 0.5 and 1.0 m was eight times higher than field measurement. In the class of gaps with a length between 1.0 and 1.5 m, the result is the opposite, as the field measurement was approximately three times higher than the UAV measurement, with a significant difference in both classes. In the other length classes analyzed, the number of gaps did not show significant differences. Our results suggest that regrowth gaps can be quickly estimated with the proposed methodology for gaps greater than 1.5 m. For gaps smaller than <1 m, the methodology using a UAV is not accurate.

Impact of multiple maize technology package adoption on the production efficiency and food security of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia: Evidence from the Sidama region.

This study aimed to investigate the individual or combined impacts of multiple maize technology package adoption on the production efficiency and food security of smallholder farmers in the selected districts of Sidama region of Ethiopia. The cross-sectional data of 424 sample farmers owing 545 maize plots were collected using multistage sampling approaches. The selection-bias corrected multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) model was employed to assess the impact of improved maize seed, chemical fertilizers, and row planting adoption on the production efficiency and food security of smallholder maize-producing farmers. In the first stage of the MESR model, the multinomial logit was used to examine the determinants of adoption. The results of the model showed that a male household head, greater household size, land size, tropical livestock unit, oxen, several plots, extension contact, credit access, and membership in farmers-based organizations were significant factors affecting the adoption of improved maize seed, chemical fertilizer, and row planting. In addition, the results from the second stage impact estimation demonstrated that the adoption of maize technology packages, both individually and in combination, significantly impacts the production efficiency and food security of farming households. Moreover, the simultaneous adoption of two or more technology packages has a greater impact than it does in isolation. The highest technical, allocative, and economic efficiency and food consumption scores, which are 33%, 37%, 47%, and 17, respectively, were achieved when farm households adopted all technology packages simultaneously, followed by the adopters of two packages in combination. Therefore, the policies and strategies aimed at increasing farmers' production efficiency and food security should address the important variables identified and promote wider adoption in combination to realize the utmost benefit.

Influence of Row Pattern and Prohexadione Calcium on Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Maturity and Pod Distribution

Many newer peanut cultivars are offering improved yield benefits but have larger canopies and have taken 10 or more days longer to reach maturity levels that were historically desired for optimal profitability of a crop. Prohexadione calcium growth regulator and twin row planting pattern have previously been individually reported to increase the amount of orange, brown or black pods compared to untreated alternatives. Twin row planting (i.e., planting two rows spaced 18-cm apart on 96-cm centers) has additionally been anecdotally associated with increased concentrations of pods nearer the taproot. Objectives of this work were to evaluate maturity development in single versus twin row planted peanuts and to evaluate how prohexadione calcium application would affect maturity development and pod distribution of both single and twin row planted peanut. Four cultivars were selected based on frequency of use in South Carolina then paired into experiments based on maturity requirements. Experiments were conducted at the Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville, SC and the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, SC in 2021 and 2022. Peanut planted in twin row planting pattern yielded greater and had a higher percentage of orange, brown or black pods and total sound mature kernels. For FloRun 331 and Georgia-16HO in twin but not single rows, prohexadione calcium treatment increased the percentage of orange, brown or black pods. Although pod distribution effects for twin rows without and single rows with prohexadione calcium varied by maturity group, twin rows with prohexadione calcium exhibited pod distributions closer to the taproot than treated single rows. Twin row plots were associated with cooler ground temperatures than single rows, while the effects of prohexadione calcium on ground temperature varied between cultivars. Increased ground temperature was negatively correlated with pod maturity and main stem heights. Results from this work contribute to our understanding of potential benefits and variability across cultivars of the use of twin row planting pattern and prohexadione calcium treatment.

Development of Tractor Drawn Single Row Irish Potato Planter with Fertilizer Applicator

Irish potato planting in Nigeria has been accomplished by traditional method of planting potato tubers on the field, which is labor intensive, time consuming and produce low yields of potato per hectare. This is due to lack of suitable row planting machine. In order to solve the above problem, this study aimed to develop a prototype of Irish potato planter with fertilizer applicator which is capable of planting potato tubers in rows at desired depth and spacing and applying fertilizer simultaneously. The developed tractor drawn single row Irish potato planter with fertilizer applicator consists of main frame, tuber hopper, fertilizer hopper, cup feed seed metering mechanism, shovel type furrow opener, ground wheel, seed tube and spring loaded furrow cover. This machine has an edge over existing irish potato planting machine with additional of spring loaded furrow opener, rubber coated metering cup to avoid injuring of the tubers and incorporation of fertilizer applicator which saves the farmer additional cost of applying fertilizer after planting. The performances of tractor drawn single row Irish potato planter with fertilizer applicator was evaluated in the laboratory and field at a tractor walking speed of 3.5 km/hr and moisture content of 13.41%. At the tractor speed of 3.5 km/hr when the moisture content was 13.41%; the average depth of planting was 133.3 mm, the average intra row spacing of the planted potato seedling was 291.2 mm, the average number of potato per drop of the planted potato seedling was 1, quantity of fertilizer per drop was 10.6 g, the average percentage of missing was 2.46%, the average height of ridge was 285.7 mm, the average depth of fertilizer dropping was 133.3 mm, the average fuel consumption was 10.3 l/ha and the average field efficiency was 75.04%. The implement is recommended for small scale and medium scale farmers.

Effect of land configuration and methods of establishment on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucam)

The present study examines the impact of land configuration and establishment methods on the growth and productivity of pearl millet. The experiment was conducted using a split-plot design with three main plot treatments, flatbed planting (M1), ridges and furrows (M2) and raised bed paired row planting (M3) and four subplot treatments: direct sowing (S1), 10- day-old seedlings (DOS) (S2), 15 DOS (dapog) (S3) and 20 DOS (S4). Each treatment combination was replicated three times. The results revealed that among the main plot treatments, ridges and furrows (M2) demonstrated superior performance exhibiting greater plant height, a higher total number of tillers, and increased dry matter production (DMP) at harvest. In subplot treatments, direct sowing (S1) resulted in better growth parameters, including greater plant height, higher DMP at harvest, and improved indices such as Leaf Area Index (LAI), Crop Growth Rate (CGR), Relative Growth Rate (RGR) and Net Assimilation Rate (NAR). In contrast, the 20 DOS in raised bed paired row planting (M3) recorded the shortest time to heading and 50% flowering. Among the treatment combinations, direct sowing in ridges and furrows (M2S1) achieved the highest plant height, maximum DMP at harvest and superior grain and straw yield.

On-farm Productivity and Profitability of Paired-Row-Rice Diversified Cropping System in West Coast Plains and Ghat Region of India

Globally diversification of rice based cropping system buildups ecosystem resilience and food security. In the summer season, weed growth and water availability are a major problem for rice cultivation; it can be managed with the help of intercropping. A field experiment was carried out during summer season of 2023-24 at Integrated farming system research station, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram to study the production potential of diversified intercrops in paired row planted rice in summer fallows of double cropped lowland rice fields. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized, completely block design with 10 treatments and three replications. The treatments were T1: Paired row of Rice + Grain Cowpea, T2: Paired row of Rice + Finger millet, T3: Paired row of Rice + Foxtail millet, T4: Paired row of Rice + Proso millet, T5: Sole crop of Paired row Rice, T6: Sole crop of Grain Cowpea, T7: Sole crop of Finger millet, T8: Sole crop of Foxtail millet, T9: Sole crop of Proso millet, T10:Fallow. Among the treatments, higher number of tillers m-2 and leaf area index were in the sole crop of paired row rice (T5). Among the yield attributes, rice had the highest number of productive tillers m-2, grain yield and straw yield in the sole crop treatment(T5). Sole crop treatments performed best in terms of growth and yield attributes than their intercropping treatments. The highest yield (5.85 t ha⁻¹) was observed in the sole crop of rice (T5), which was superior to all other treatments. The yield recorded in T1 (paired row of rice + grain cowpea) and T4 (paired row of rice + proso millet) were statistically at par and significantly higher than T3 (paired row of rice + foxtail millet). Paired row of rice + grain cowpea (T1) recorded the highest monetary advantage index of ₹ 55820 ha-1. The analyzed data showed that T5(sole crop of paired row rice) resulted in 8 to 15 per cent grain yield increase over intercropping treatments. It can be concluded from the study that among the intercrops, grain cowpea can be recommended for diversification in paired row planting of rice in summer fallows for higher productivity and profitability.

Effects of Organic Amendments on Earthworm Population in Sugarcane Plant Ratoon System under Different Planting Methods

This research aimed to study the effect of organic sources under different planting methods on the population of earthworm in sugarcane plantation for plant and ratoon crop. The experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research station, Anakapalle (Andhra Pradesh) on sandy loan soils under split split plot design with different planting methods, soil health management practices and nutrient levels. The main plots consisted of three planting methods M1: conventional planting, M2: paired row planting, M3: dual row planting along with four organic amendments as sub plots (Control, trash mulching + biodecomposer (A & B), green manuring with sunnhemp @ 37.5 kg ha-1 seed rate, green manuring with sunnhemp @ 25 kg ha-1 seed rate followed by intercropping) and two nutrient levels as sub sub plots (75% RDF + NPK biofertilizers and 100% RDF). The results showed that in the plant and ratoon crop significantly highest earthworm population was observed with green manuring with sunnhemp @ 25 kg ha-1 seed rate followed by intercropping and was found significantly superior to control treatment. Organic sources can improve both the physicochemical and biological properties of the soil under these conditions, which cousld improve soil ecosystem services and thus increasing the earthworm population.

Assessment of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) Based Intercropping System under Varying Planting Patterns

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), one of the main grain legume crops grown in tropical and subtropical countries, is mostly grown under rainfed conditions. After chickpea, pigeonpea is India's second most significant crop in terms of area and yield. It makes up 23 per cent of all pulse production (3.33 million tons) and 1.76 per cent of the nation's gross planted land (3.88 million hectares). When grown as a lone crop, pigeonpea is not a highly efficient crop Willey et al., 1980 due to its low harvest index and delayed start growth rate. It is therefore grown as an intercrop, helping to increase productivity and profit by making efficient use of available resources. The field experiment was conducted at the Rajola Farm, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalay Chitrakoot, Satna, Madhya Pradesh-4853 (M.P.) during the kharif season of 2014. In the treatments, cropping patterns and intercropping systems could be combined in seven different ways. The experiment was set up using a randomized block design with three replications. Our study revealed that in all intercrop cropping systems, the pigeonpea equivalent yield (PEY), LER, and ATER were significantly higher than under the pigeonpea sole system. PEY was found to be significantly maximum under T6: PP + Sesame alternate row (20.75 q ha-1) followed by T7: PP + Sesame paired row planting (19.54 q ha-1) and T4: PP + BG alternate row (19.51 q ha-1). However, LER and ATER were calculated significantly higher under T4: PP + BG alternate row (1.74 and 1.32, respectively), T2: PP + GG alternate row (1.73 and 1.31, respectively) and T6: PP + Sesame alternate row (1.71 and 1.29, respectively). The lowest values of PEY, LER, and ATER were found under pigeonpea sole system.

Ultra-Low Volume Application of Biological and Selected Chemical Pesticides

Growing cotton in Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland (now Zimbabwe and Malawi) began in the 1920's, but yields of Cotton remained low due to different insect pests. A project was established by the UK and in 1958 I was recruited to show farmers how to use DDT to control the insect pests. Some trials had been started using a knapsack sprayer fitted with a lance with two nozzles spraying Endrin laterally as the operator walked between the rows of cotton plants.

Pre-Extension Demonstration of Black Cumin Technologies in Goro and Ginnir Districts of Bale and East Bale Zones Southeastern Oromia

Pre-extension demonstration of improved black cumin technologies was carried out in Goro and Ginnir districts. The new variety Urgessa was demonstrated and evaluated against the standard check Gemechis where plot size of 10*10 m was used for each variety. Row planting was applied using seed rate of 12 kg /ha and fertilizer (NPS) rate of 100 kg/ha. Yield data, number of farmers participated on training and mini field days, production costs and farmers’ feedback were collected using field observation, check list, and focus group discussion. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze quantitative data. Cost-benefit analysis was used for profitability analysis. Awareness creation activities like training and mini field days were arranged for target beneficiaries and other stakeholders. Combined yield evaluation was carried out in which Urgessa gave higher seed yield of 13.84 qt/ha while Gemechis gave 11.73 qt/ha. Direct matrix ranking was used to rank black cumin varieties. Consequently, farmers gave the higher score for Urgessa variety. The result of pair wise ranking indicated that farmers gave high attention for traits of yield, number of branch per plant and number of capsule per plant. The result of profitability analysis also revealed that the farmer who prefers to produce Urgessa variety could get an extra net benefit of 24,360.00 ETB/ha than who prefers to produce Gemechis variety in single production season. Therefore, based on farmers’ preference and profitability analysis, Urgessa variety is recommended for pre-scaling up.

Single plant segmentation and growth parameters measurement of maize seedling stage based on point cloud intensity

Maize growth parameters are key pieces of information describing the growth, development and yield of plants, and they are of great significance for high quality and high yield maize breeding. Plants counting, row spacing, and plant spacing are closely related to maize sowing quality and yield. Plant height is closely related to maize photosynthetic rate and biomass. The main problem with measuring phenotypic parameters during the maize seedling stage is that maize plants are small, making it difficult to segment maize plant point clouds from ground point clouds, and there is a lack of automatic methods for measuring growth parameters. A point cloud intensity segmentation and improved Euclidean clustering method for single plant segmentation was proposed based on terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technical, and an automatic measuring method of growth parameters of maize seedling stage was realized. First, TLS was used to scan maize plants at two planting densities at V1 (first leaf is fully expanded) and V2 (second leaf is fully expanded) stages. Second, the segmentation based on point cloud intensity method and the improved Euclidean clustering single plant segmentation method were used to achieve the segmentation of a single maize plant. Finally, the automatic measurement of maize plants counting, row spacing, plant spacing, and plant height were realized. When plants counting of maize, the percentage error was lower than 1.70%. In the measurement of row spacing, plant spacing and plant height of maize plants, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) were lower than 1.50%, 5.50% and 3.10%, respectively. These results demonstrate that the point cloud intensity segmentation and growth parameters measurement method is feasible for maize V1 and V2 stages and different planting densities. The automatic measurement values of the number of maize plants, row spacing, plant spacing and plant height has high measurement accuracy and small error. This study provides a rapid, automatic and accurate measurement method for researchers to measure maize growth parameters.

Characterization of glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified eucalyptus.

Eucalyptus stands out as one of the most productive tree species for large-scale cultivation. However, like all cultivated crops, it requires specialized management practices, including the control of weeds, pathogens, and pests. Glyphosate is the most widely applied herbicide used in the essential weeding effort, and it ensures the sustainable management of eucalyptus cultivation in Brazil. Given the sensitivity of eucalyptus to glyphosate, existing weed control methods in young eucalyptus farms predominantly rely on protected mechanical or/and knapsack spraying. Both methods contribute to herbicide drift, which compromises tree yield and increases chemical waste due to uneven spraying. This study provides a detailed observation of the physiological parameters and long-term field performance of glyphosate-tolerant (HT), genetically modified (GM) eucalyptus developed by FuturaGene/Suzano S.A. and approved in Brazil for operational deployment. The HT GM eucalyptus events were meticulously evaluated to ensure high levels of glyphosate tolerance. This involved the direct application of herbicide on seedlings in greenhouse studies and on young trees in field conditions. The herbicide-treated GM eucalyptus in all trials demonstrated consistent growth and maintained physiological parameters comparable to their respective non-sprayed wild-type (WT) counterparts. The HT GM eucalyptus represents a significant advancement by enabling the direct application of glyphosate over the top of the trees to control the weeds within the planting row. This innovative approach minimizes the need for frequent mechanical and manual interventions, thereby lowering worker herbicide exposure, reducing the environmental impact of mechanical operations, and enhancing the overall efficiency and sustainability of HT GM eucalyptus stands.

Maturity Prediction in Soybean Breeding Using Aerial Images and the Random Forest Machine Learning Algorithm

Several studies have used aerial images to predict physiological maturity (R8 stage) in soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). However, information for making predictions in the current growing season using models fitted in previous years is still necessary. Using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm and time series of RGB (red, green, blue) and multispectral images taken from a drone, this work aimed to study, in three breeding experiments of plant rows, how maturity predictions are impacted by a number of factors. These include the type of camera used, the number and time between flights, and whether models fitted with data obtained in one or more environments can be used to make accurate predictions in an independent environment. Applying principal component analysis (PCA), it was found that compared to the full set of 8–10 flights (R2 = 0.91–0.94; RMSE = 1.8–1.3 days), using data from three to five fights before harvest had almost no effect on the prediction error (RMSE increase ~0.1 days). Similar prediction accuracy was achieved using either a multispectral or an affordable RGB camera, and the excess green index (ExG) was found to be the important feature in making predictions. Using a model trained with data from two previous years and using fielding notes from check cultivars planted in the test season, the R8 stage was predicted, in 2020, with an error of 2.1 days. Periodically adjusted models could help soybean breeding programs save time when characterizing the cycle length of thousands of plant rows each season.

Corn Plant In-Row Distance Analysis Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Imagery and Row-Unit Dynamics

Uniform spatial distribution of plants is crucial in arable crops. Seeding quality is affected by numerous parameters, including the working speed and vibrations of the seeder. Therefore, investigating effective and rapid methods to evaluate seeding quality and the parameters affecting the seeders’ performance is of high importance. With the latest advancements in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, the potential for acquiring accurate agricultural data has significantly increased, making UAVs an ideal tool for scouting applications in agricultural systems. This study investigates the effectiveness of utilizing different plant recognition algorithms applied to UAV-derived images for evaluating seeder performance based on detected plant spacings. Additionally, it examines the impact of seeding unit vibrations on seeding quality by analyzing accelerometer data installed on the seeder. For the image analysis, three plant recognition approaches were tested: an unsupervised segmentation method based on the Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index (VARI), template matching (TM), and a deep learning model called Mask R-CNN. The Mask R-CNN model demonstrated the highest recognition reliability at 96.7%, excelling in detecting seeding errors such as misses and doubles, as well as in evaluating the quality of feed index and precision when compared to ground-truth data. Although the VARI-based unsupervised method and TM outperformed Mask R-CNN in recognizing double spacings, overall, the Mask R-CNN was the most promising. Vibration analysis indicated that the seeder’s working speed significantly affected seeding quality. These findings suggest areas for potential improvements in machine technology to improve sowing operations.

Automation in Agriculture: A Robotic Approach to Weed Control for Greenhouse Cucumber Cultivation

The increasing global population has heightened the demand for efficient food production, leading to the adoption of compact cultivation methods such as greenhouses. However, weed growth within these controlled environments significantly challenges crop productivity. The application of robots can be a useful and economic choice. This study presents an innovative, purely mechanical system for weed control in greenhouses, specifically designed to operate autonomously on a monorail. The machine stops in the distance between the two main plant rows (cucumber) and its arm goes into the gap to deploy the weeds by rotating its blades. This is continued repeatedly. The cutting is by the rotational speed of the blade. Variable-speed motions of the blade were at 3500, 2500 and 1500 rpm for 3 types of moulinex, triangular, and circular blades. The movement speed of the arm was 10 and 30 rpm and the forward movement speed of the machine was 30, 40, 50, 60, 80 and 120 rpm. The results showed that different blades, blade speeds and engine speed affect significantly (p <0.05) the percentage of weeds being cut. Although the interactions of these factors have no significant effect on percentage; the average percentages by the blades have significant differences. Although the interactions between these factors were not statistically significant, the comparison of means revealed that at lower blade speeds, the blade type had a pronounced effect on weed-cutting efficiency. As blade speed increased, differences in blade performance diminished. The most effective combination was achieved using Moulinex blades at 3500 rpm with a 10-rpm arm speed, resulting in the highest percentage of weeds cut. These findings suggest that optimizing blade type and speed can significantly enhance the mechanical weed control efficiency in greenhouse environments.

Effect of Land Configuration and Rainfall on Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. under Saline Irrigation

Field experiment was conducted in Eastern Block Farm of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to evaluate the effect of land configuration and rainfall on growth and yield of pearl millet under saline water irrigation in summer, 2024. The study was carried out in split plot design with three main plots (flatbed (M1), ridges and furrows (M2) and raised bed paired row planting (M3)) along with four subplot treatments (direct sowing (S1), 10 Day Old Seedlings (DOS) (S2), 15 DOS (modified dapog) (S3) and 20 DOS (S4)) which was replicated thrice. Water availability is a critical factor in influencing the length of the growing period while water quality significantly influences crop growth and yield. Consequently, rainfall received during the growing period affects plant height, Leaf Area Index (LAI), effective tillers and yield. The cumulative rainfall received 208 mm in 22 days and with 10 rainy days during the crop growth period. Rainfall between 40 to 60 Days After Sowing/Planting (DAS/P) corresponded with Crop Growth Rate (CGR). Among main plot treatments, ridges and furrows (M2) recorded higher plant height (173 cm) and effective tillers (2.6) at harvest. Grain and stover yields (t ha-1) were also higher in ridges and furrows (M2) (3.31 and 6.12, respectively) which was statistically on par with raised bed paired row planting (M3) (3.31 and 6.12, respectively).

Intercropping grapevine with rosemary: A promising alternative to conventional agriculture in the current frame of global change

The Mediterranean region is well known for its long history of viticulture and the use of herbs and spices in its cuisine. Given the increasing focus on intercropping as a sustainable agricultural approach to maximize land use efficiency or improve soil fertility amid global change, we conducted a study to assess the feasibility of intercropping grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Merlot) with rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.) in a Mediterranean vineyard. The trial was established in a 22-year-old vineyard, where rows of rosemary plants were cultivated between grapevine rows one year prior to the evaluation. To test intercropping feasibility and the abiotic stress effects on the harvest of rosemary, two sampling dates were set to monitor grape maturation (veraison and harvest) and rosemary quality in terms of antioxidant contents and composition, so that both crops were simultaneously analyzed under typical Mediterranean conditions, using both physiological and quality parameters. Results showed that intercropping with young rosemary plants did not affect grapevine physiology state, and observed differences in the two samplings were due to environmental stress only, indicating a positive coexistence between these crops in the context of global change. Regarding grape quality, variations in total soluble sugars, titratable acidity, and phenolic compounds were influenced by ripening during the summer, but not by intercropping, thus maintaining fruit quality. Rosemary contained high levels of antioxidants and exhibited strong antioxidant activity, particularly during mid-August (coinciding with vintage), indicating its potential as a valuable source of natural antioxidants for dietary intake, including phenolic diterpenes, vitamin C, and vitamin E. In conclusion, intercropping grapevines with rosemary did not negatively impact plant physiological performance or grape quality, promoting the production of two high-quality products with significant added value in the food sector under current stressful Mediterranean climatic conditions.