Quantity Of Grain Research Articles

Small‐scale microwave cooking‐based procedure for evaluation of injera‐making quality of sorghum genotypes

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesEvaluation of the injera‐making quality of sorghum and teff genotypes is problematic because of the large quantity of grain required to make injera using the conventional full‐scale method. This study evaluated a small‐scale microwave cooking‐based injera making procedure. Eight lines expressing waxy and high protein digestibility traits and three normal‐type sorghums were used. Freshly prepared and stored injeras were evaluated using instrumental texture analysis.FindingsThe stress and strain data of fresh and stored injeras from the microwave procedure significantly (p < .01) correlated with those from the full‐scale method: Stress: fresh injera (r = 0.725), 2‐days stored (r = 0.741), 4‐days stored (r = 0.852); Strain: fresh injera (r = 1.000), 2‐days stored (r = 1.000), 4‐days stored (r = 0.999).ConclusionsThe small‐scale microwave procedure uses much less grain and correlates with the full‐scale method.Significance and NoveltyThe small‐scale microwave procedure should enable screening of considerably larger numbers of genotypes for injera‐making quality.

Wheat end-use quality: State of art, genetics, genomics-assisted improvement, future challenges, and opportunities.

Wheat is the most important source of food, feed, and nutrition for humans and livestock around the world. The expanding population has increasing demands for various wheat products with different quality attributes requiring the development of wheat cultivars that fulfills specific demands of end-users including millers and bakers in the international market. Therefore, wheat breeding programs continually strive to meet these quality standards by screening their improved breeding lines every year. However, the direct measurement of various end-use quality traits such as milling and baking qualities requires a large quantity of grain, traits-specific expensive instruments, time, and an expert workforce which limits the screening process. With the advancement of sequencing technologies, the study of the entire plant genome is possible, and genetic mapping techniques such as quantitative trait locus mapping and genome-wide association studies have enabled researchers to identify loci/genes associated with various end-use quality traits in wheat. Modern breeding techniques such as marker-assisted selection and genomic selection allow the utilization of these genomic resources for the prediction of quality attributes with high accuracy and efficiency which speeds up crop improvement and cultivar development endeavors. In addition, the candidate gene approach through functional as well as comparative genomics has facilitated the translation of the genomic information from several crop species including wild relatives to wheat. This review discusses the various end-use quality traits of wheat, their genetic control mechanisms, the use of genetics and genomics approaches for their improvement, and future challenges and opportunities for wheat breeding.

Productivity and SDS-sedimentation of the promising winter bread wheat varieties depending on forecrops

The main purpose of breeding and commercial production is the quantity of grain and its quality. Occupying 74 % in the structure of grain crops, and 80 % in terms of gross yields, wheat grain is the most important source of income for grain producers in the Rostov region. The purpose of the current study was to reveal the effect of forecrops on productivity and SDS-sedimentation of the promising winter bread wheat varieties. In the trial there were studied 12 winter bread wheat varieties developed by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” and sent to the State Variety Testing in recent years. There were estimated productivity and the amount of SDS-sedimentation. On average, over the three years of study (2019–2021), for all the studied forecrops, in terms of productivity there have been identified such winter wheat varieties of the intensive type as ‘Razdolie’ (7.14 t/ha), ‘Razgulay’ (7.67 t/ha) and ‘Vasilich’ (7.51 t/ha), which makes it possible to recommend these genotypes for sowing according to high and medium levels of Agricultural background. Among winter wheat varieties of semi-intensive type there has been identified only one variety ‘Donets’ (7.31 t/ha), which allows us to characterize it as a universal variety and recommend it for sowing in production according to high, medium and low levels of Agricultural background. According to the value of SDS-sedimentation for all the studied forecrops, there have been identified such varieties of intensive type as ‘Razdolie’ (62 ml), ‘Azov Sea’ (61 ml), ‘Razgulay’ (63 ml) and ‘Vasilich’ (63 ml). The varieties of semi-intensive type did not significantly exceed the value of SDS-sedimentation of the standard variety or were at its level, however, the values were high. Such SDS-sedimentation values have indicated that the presented genotypes are able to form high grain quality for all the studied forecrops and regardless of the productivity value.

PENERAPAN MEKANISASI PERTANIAN TERHADAP PENINGKATAN PENDAPATAN PETANI PADI SAWAH TADAH HUJAN DI KECAMATAN SEMIDANG AJI KABUPATEN OGAN KOMERING ULU

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the differences in income using agricultural mechanization and without agricultural mechanization in lowland rice cultivation in Semidang Aji District. The method used in this research is a survey method. using a questionnaire. The sampling method uses a simple random sample method. In this study, there were 813 farmers using the Slovin formula with a margin of error of 10% and the required sample was 89 respondents. The test uses statistical analysis of the T-test or the difference test (t-test) with two averages (parired – samples T-Test) using the SPSS 23 software with the conclusion that it is accepted for revenue and income. for costs not accepted Meanwhile for the acceptance significance test, all costs and revenues can be accepted or significant in the sense that there is a difference in income between mechanized and non-mechanized treatment. The revenue from mechanization for grain production is higher than without mechanization, although the selling price is lower than without mechanization, but the total income from mechanization is higher. The cost of mechanization is smaller than without mechanization so that it can be concluded that the income of mechanized farmers is greater than the income without mechanization due to the mechanization of the amount. The quantity of grain produced is higher, even though the price of grain is lower and the costs incurred are lower than the costs without mechanization, especially for labor. tillage and post-harvest work although equipment rental costs are higher.

Time to Resurrect Buffer Stocks?

SummaryVolatile food prices create problems for consumers and farmers the world over. Buffer stocks offer a way out. A buffer stock is a quantity of grain owned by the government which sets a price band via a maximum price and a minimum price for grain. By buying and selling grain from the buffer stock on the open market, the government can keep the domestic price within its desired price band and thus avoid unstable prices. A buffer stock does not require the government to forecast the future price of grain and is entirely compatible with a market economy; the government is effectively exploiting the forces of supply and demand to influence the market price. A buffer stock is also compatible with free international trade. In using a buffer stock to stabilise its domestic price of grain, a government helps to stabilise the world price. In contrast, a government which resorts to trade measures to stabilise its domestic price can cause the world price to become less stable. In this article it is argued that all countries – rich and poor alike – would do their consumers, their farmers and the world as a whole a favour if they were to set up buffer stocks.

Effects of Moisture Content and Compaction Pressure on Bulk Density of Rye

HighlightsRye grain compaction was measured for three different moisture contents (8%, 12%, and 16% wet basis) at five different compaction pressures (7, 14, 34, and 55 kPa)Bulk densities were found to be statistically significantly dependent (p < 0.0001) on both the moisture content and applied pressure.Compacted bulk densities increased with increasing applied pressure for all moisture contents.Abstract. Bulk density of agricultural grains is needed to determine the quantity of grain in storage structures and to calculate grain pressures. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of moisture content and applied pressure on bulk density of rye grain at moisture contents and pressures typical of those seen in storage structures. Rye compaction was measured for three moisture contents (8%, 12%, and 16% wet basis) at four compaction pressures (7, 14, 34, and 55 kPa) using a square box (based on the design used by Thompson and Ross, 1983). Data from the compaction tests were used to calculate the bulk densities for the three moisture contents and four compaction pressures. The bulk densities were found to be significantly dependent (p <0.0001) both on moisture contents and the pressure applied. Bulk densities varied with increasing moisture content as has been observed in similar studies for rye and other agricultural grains such as wheat and soybeans. These results provide guidance for estimating bulk density of rye in bins and other storage structures. Keywords: Grain compaction, Grain storage, Kernel rearrangement, Kernel elasticity.

The use and profitability of hermetic technologies for grain storage among smallholder farmers in eastern Kenya

Hermetic storage technologies (HSTs) have been disseminated in Sub-Saharan Africa (including Kenya) to reduce grain storage losses among farmers. We carried out a study in three counties in eastern Kenya to assess the use and profitability of HSTs among farmers. Data were collected from 613 farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire and Kobo Toolbox via android tablets. Results showed an increase in use of HSTs among farmers from 53.7% in 2015 to 91.2% in 2017. PICS was the most used hermetic bags by farmers (84%) in 2017. Majority of farmers (73.5%) received training in the use of HSTs from extension agents and agro-dealers. About 40% of respondents purchased additional (one to five) bags after their first experience using them. The quantity of grain produced made up about half of the farmer’s decision to store. The primary reason (87%) farmers used hermetic bags was the need to manage insect pests. Maize and beans were the most produced and most stored crops; but maize was the most stored in HST. Grain price seasonality showed a near doubling effect between the lean and harvest seasons. Estimates of the return on investments (ROI) ranged between 13 and 80% for all crops and maize stored in hermetic bags had the highest ROI. Awareness and trainings are key in increasing adoption and proper use of HSTs.

Temperature-Mediated Competition Between the Invasive Larger Grain Borer (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and the Cosmopolitan Maize Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Interspecific competition between agricultural pests may affect the species that can establish, and may also affect food production. Prostephanus truncatus (Horn), the larger grain borer, is endemic to Central America, but invaded Africa with disastrous consequences for maize production. Its main competitor is Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, the maize weevil, which is cosmopolitan. These insects co-occur in many regions of the world and both are threats to maize. However, the impact of competition between these two species is not well-understood, nor is its effect on grain quality or potential to limit P. truncatus invasion in new areas. The aims of our study were to evaluate the outcome of interspecific competition between P. truncatus and S. zeamais at four different temperatures on a fixed quantity of grain, and determine effects on progeny production, grain damage, and mold growth. We found that coexistence may be possible at a range of 25-30°C, but mixed colonies experienced a direct competitive cost compared to single-species colonies. Prostephanus truncatus performed better at warmer temperatures, while S. zeamais favored cooler temperatures. The majority of grain damage was the result of P. truncatus activity as opposed to S. zeamais. Finally, mold growth was greater where both species were present, and species of mold that produce aflatoxin were identified. Although there are an increasing number of areas where both of these species occur, our results suggest P. truncatus will be capable of destroying much more maize in a shorter period compared to S. zeamais at temperatures greater than 25°C.

Investigation of the influence of various chemical substances on the field of natural damage to the cold disease of the autumn wheat.

It is reported that yellow rust in the winter wheat is the most dangerous disease in the Ferghana Valley and is widespread in high humidity conditions. In recent years, the disease has spread to the irrigated grain fields of the Republic, which has significantly affected the quality and quantity of grain grown and its effective fungicidal effect.

Investigation of the influence of various chemical substances on the field of natural damage to the cold disease of the autumn wheat.

It is reported that yellow rust in the winter wheat is the most dangerous disease in the Ferghana Valley and is widespread in high humidity conditions. In recent years, the disease has spread to the irrigated grain fields of the Republic, which has significantly affected the quality and quantity of grain grown and its effective fungicidal effect.

A novel compressed sensing based quantity measurement method for grain silos

The quantity of grain in silos has commercial and crucial importance. That’s why many researches have been implemented to detect the quantity of the grain. Although the traditional methods can measure the level of the grain from one measurement point, there has not yet been an effective method regarding to 3 dimensional (3D) volume measurement. Available thru-air radar (TAR) based systems can be adapted to 3D perception by increasing the beamwidth of the illumination. But, to achieve pure grain reflections from cluttered noisy signal (containing multi-path (MP) scatterings and mirror scatterings that suppressed the grain reflections) is a challenging problem. In this study, a new wide-beamwidth radar based level measurement method is firstly proposed to determine the amount of grain in silos. Based on the proposed CS-based method, the back-scattering information of the grain surface is obtained accurately. In this way, Cartesian coordinates of the powerful scattering points of grain surfaces, illuminated electromagnetically by three antennas, are identified and 3D height information belongs to the surface are obtained. According to the dominant scattering point’s coordinates and the probable smooth conical stack of the grain, a heuristic volume expression is derived and the volume of the stack grain is estimated with high accuracy. The success of the developed measurement method is confirmed through a real data of a commercial test silo.

PICS bags safely store unshelled and shelled groundnuts in Niger

We conducted an experiment in Niger to evaluate the performance of hermetic triple layer (Purdue Improved Crop Storage- PICS) bags for the preservation of shelled and unshelled groundnut Arachis hypogaea L. Naturally-infested groundnut was stored in PICS bags and woven bags for 6.7 months. After storage, the average oxygen level in the PICS bags fell from 21% to 18% (v/v) and 21%–15% (v/v) for unshelled and shelled groundnut, respectively. Identified pests present in the stored groundnuts were Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) and Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens). After 6.7 months of storage, in the woven bag, there was a large increase in the pest population accompanied by a weight loss of 8.2% for unshelled groundnuts and 28.7% for shelled groundnut. In PICS bags for both shelled and unshelled groundnuts, by contrast, the density of insect pests did not increase, there was no weight loss, and the germination rate was the same compared to that recorded at the beginning of the experiment. Storing shelled groundnuts in PICS bags is the most cost-effective way as it increases the quantity of grain stored.

Famine and Kazakh Society in the 1930s

The purpose of this paper is to determine the role of famine in the 1930s and its consequences in the Kazakh steppe. The authors indicate the cause of the hunger which were laid mostly on economic mismanagement and Soviet struggle against the rich peasants. Statistics, concerning food and livestock revealed the wrong data and provided a false favorable situation. The authors considered Stalin's policy as deliberately implemented. It did not take into account the traditional relations: the existent nomadic and semi-nomadic economy. The Kazakh Steppes produced a small quantity of grain. As a result the fast sedentarization, which managed without the necessary conditions, led to the killing and dekulakization of more skilled and effective peasants who might help their poorer relatives overcome the crisis and survive. The Kazakh society lost around 40 percent of its population. The hunger also led to migration of thousands to the neighbouring regions.

Agricultural Productivity Differences across Countries

Recent studies argue that cross-country labor productivity differences are much larger in agriculture than in the aggregate. We reexamine the agricultural productivity data underlying this conclusion using new evidence from disaggregate sources. We find that for the world's staple grains-maize, rice, and wheat-cross-country differences in the quantity of grain produced per worker are enormous according to both micro- and macrosources. Our findings validate the idea that understanding agricultural productivity is at the heart of understanding world income inequality.

Investigation of grain mass flow in a mixed flow dryer

The numerical modeling of grain drying is a topic of great relevance to post-harvest engineering. The required type of drying process depends on the quantity of grain to be dried and the required quality of the grain. The choice of the drying system depends on the operating parameters of the drying process. The granular flow pattern of the material exerts a significant influence on the drying process. Post-harvest drying of grain is essential for better storage, handling, and processing. Therefore, it is important to know the material behavior that controls the particle flow patterns of grain in the drying equipment to guarantee the product quality and to optimize the drying process conditions. The discrete element method (DEM) was applied to investigate the particle flow pattern of wheat through a mixed-flow dryer (MFD) without airflow, and the findings were compared with experimental results in this work. The investigations were performed using dry wheat with 14wb% moisture content.

Malting Extremely Small Quantities of Barley

Micromalting procedures for malt quality analysis typically use 150–500 g of barley and can produce malt with characteristics representative of malts produced on a commercial scale. Modifications to routine micromalting protocols, in which small quantities of grain contained within inexpensive mesh containers are surrounded by a larger quantity of grain in standard malting containers, allow representative malts to be generated from 2 g of barley. This reduced scale enables multiplexing of samples within a malting container, thereby increasing the potential malting throughput of existing micromalting equipment. The combination of this extremely small-scale malting procedure with previously described reduced-quantity mashing and malt analysis procedures effectively expands the capacity for preliminary screening of malt quality characteristics, benefiting malting barley germplasm development programs by both increasing malting quality analysis sample throughput and reducing analysis turnaround time. In addition, the ability to generate and analyze representative malts on this very small scale would be useful in research studies where grain quantities are limited, such as might occur in specially developed genetic populations for basic research studies on the genetic and biochemical underpinnings of malting quality.

Plant growth promoting and its mechanism of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria isolated from <italic>Medicago sativa</italic> rhizosphere

Eight hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria isolated from Medicago sativa rhizosphere were test on wheat growth promoting effect. Superficial characteristics of germinal wheat were test by small scale cultivated experiments. ACC deaminase and siderophore were test to find the plant growth promoting mechanisms of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria. Results show that WMQ-7, FMG-3 and FMG-5 have strong ability to promote the growth of wheat. The length of roots and sprouts respectively increased over 50% and 30% than blank control. Dry biomass of wheat effect by the strains was respectively increased 95.24%, 57.14% and 47.62%. Quantity of grain increased over 100%. Strain WMQ-7 can produce both of ACC deaminase and siderophore. ACC deaminase activity is 0.671 U/μg. Siderophore concentration is 7.1996 μg/mL and absorption peak is at 404 nm and the absorbance was 0.834. So we speculate that ACC deaminase activity and siderophore would be the plant growth promoting mechanisms of strain WMQ-7.

Transforming History: The Economic Context of Frank Norris's "A Deal in Wheat"

Transforming HistoryThe Economic Context of Frank Norris's "A Deal in Wheat" Jon Falsarella Dawson (bio) Despite the belief that Frank Norris's "A Deal in Wheat" has little significance save as a preliminary sketch for The Pit, the story is a self-contained unit that illustrates the causative agents governing the experiences of the working class.1 Norris develops the societal influences operating upon the protagonist, Sam Lewiston, through aspects of Joseph Leiter and P. D. Armour's battle for control of the nation's wheat between April 1897 and June 1898. As David Marut has demonstrated, these individuals serve as the models for the speculators in the work: Hornung, the bull dealer who purchases when the market is depressed and hopes to sell at a higher price; and Truslow, the bear trader who sells stock for future delivery in the belief that rates will decrease (75).2 Marut observes that Norris condensed the forces responsible for the central character's plight "so that economic control fell to the Chicago Board of Trade speculators alone as he created a story that dramatized the need for change in policies governing the grain market" (79). While Marut has made an important contribution to Norris scholarship by identifying the factual antecedents of the text, it is possible to extend this discussion, which centers on May 1898, by analyzing events from earlier in the Leiter-Armour struggle that are relevant to the narrative. The action of "A Deal in Wheat" suggests that Norris combined Leiter's first attempted corner in December 1897 with his second of five months later, and this broader temporal range highlights the significant role of market speculation in the economic determinism operating on the rural and urban poor. The basic events of the narrative stem from actual occurrences on the Chicago Board of Trade. Leiter, the son of millionaire Marshall Fields's cofounder Levi Z. Leiter, began purchasing wheat in April 1897 after allegedly flipping a coin to determine whether to buy stocks in the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway or to attempt a corner of the nation's wheat [End Page 119] supply (Leech and Carroll 306). After settling on the latter course of action to acquire a sufficient quantity of grain in order to manipulate its price, Leiter came into conflict with Armour, co-founder of the Armour Elevator Company. He had considerable authority at the Board of Trade to the extent that he was able to break his competitor's attempt to control the market in December 1897, and Armour was also able to take on Leiter's holdings for the purposes of distribution after his financial collapse the following year. While conducting research for The Pit in Chicago, Norris learned the details of Leiter's rise and fall through examining newspaper accounts of his battle with Armour. As Joseph R. McElrath and Jesse S. Crisler observe, "Joseph Leiter was the main reason for the hours spent in the public library's newspaper files," and Norris "was again taking his prompt from the press" in his representation of these proceedings (389). They further posit that after finishing his investigation in Chicago, "he had recovered from periodicals the outline of Leiter's rise and fall" (390). Although the exact articles that Norris used as his sources for "A Deal in Wheat" are unclear, the central events of the narrative correspond to the Chicago Tribune coverage of Leiter's market activities, which sheds light on the historical context that frames the action of "A Deal in Wheat" and allows for a broader understanding of the economic determinism in the story. Norris identifies Hornung and Truslow as the deterministic agents in the text as their control of the nation's wheat supply gives them the power to manipulate prices with dire consequences for both producers and consumers. Reflecting on the forces that engendered Lewiston's circumstances, the narrator contends that the great operators, who never saw the wheat they traded in, bought and sold the world's food, gambled in the nourishment of entire nations, practised their tricks, their chicanery and oblique shifty "deals," were reconciled in their differences, and went on through their appointed way, jovial...

Impact of increasing grain feeding frequency on production of dairy cows grazing pasture

Pasture is a major component of the diet for dairy cows in Chile, and grain is often used as a supplement to increase milk production. The quantity of grain offered is affected by price and return to the farmer, but 6 kg/day is typical of many situations. However the benefits of feeding grain more frequently than twice daily to cows rotationally grazed on pasture is uncertain. This study was undertaken to measure effects of grain feeding frequency on milk production, intakes and grazing behavior and on blood and urinary metabolites in dairy cows on pasture. The 65 day trial used 28 Black Friesian cows in their second month of lactation. Prior to treatments, milk production averaged 29.7 L/day and mean live-weight was 502 kg. The four treatments included: grazed pasture only (P), pasture plus 6 kg/day of concentrate offered in two equal rations at milking (0600 h, 1500 h) (PC2), grazing plus 6 kg/day of concentrate offered in three equal rations (0600 h, 1200 h, 1500 h) (PC3), and grazing plus 6 kg/day of concentrate offered in four equal rations (0600 h, 1200 h, 1500 h, 2100 h) (PC4). Total feed intakes were determined from controlled-release chromium capsules (CRC) and faecal subsampling and milk composition was analyzed weekly using infrared spectroscopy (Foss 4300 Milko-scan). Milk production was 24.6, 28.7; 29.5 and 28.8 L/day for P, PC2, PC3 and PC4 treatments, respectively. Intake of pasture dry matter pasture (DM) (kg/day) decreased from 16.1 (P) to 12.7, 11.9 and 11.1 with increases in grain feeding frequency ( P < 0.05). Total DM intakes were higher with grain supplementation but tended to decrease with increased frequency, whilst total chewing time (eating and rumination) declined from 1012 (P) to 966 for the PC4 treatment. Grain supplementation increased milk production, but frequency of grain feeding had no effect ( P > 0.05) on production, milk fat (3.67%), protein (3.20%) or urea (5.68 mmol/L) concentrations. Live-weight and body condition score did not vary ( P > 0.05) with treatment. Plasma Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and plasma urea–nitrogen (PUN) were not affected by grain feeding frequency averaging 0.51 mmol/l and 14.8 mg/dl respectively ( P > 0.05). Urinary purine derivatives (allantoin + uric acid)/Creatinine (PD/C) ratio was similar in all treatments, so rumen microbial growth did not appear to be affected by grain feeding or frequency. This trial did not indicate any benefits when supplement was given more than twice daily (at milking) and there appeared to be negative impacts when given 4 times daily. We postulate a disturbance in their behavior when offered small supplements frequently, and a possible reduction in feed intake and time spent chewing.

Maize productivity in southern New South Wales under furrow and pressurised irrigation

Irrigation farmers in the Murray–Darling Basin of Australia are under considerable pressure to reduce the amount of water they use for irrigation, while sustaining production and profitability. Changing from surface to pressurised irrigation systems may provide some or all of these outcomes; however, little is known about the performance of alternative irrigation methods for broadacre annual crops in this region. Therefore, a demonstration site for comparing furrow, subsurface drip and sprinkler irrigation was established on a representative clay soil in the Coleambally Irrigation Area, NSW. The performance of maize (Zea mays L.) under the three irrigation systems was compared during the 2004–05 season. Subsurface drip irrigated maize out-performed sprinkler and furrow irrigated maize in terms of grain yield (drip 11.8 t/ha, sprinkler 10.5 t/ha, furrow 10.1 t/ha at 14% moisture), net irrigation water application (drip 5.1 ML/ha, sprinkler 6.2 ML/ha, furrow 5.3 ML/ha), net irrigation water productivity (drip 2.3 t/ML, sprinkler 1.7 t/ML, furrow 1.9 t/ML) and total water productivity (drip 1.7 t/ML, sprinkler 1.4 t/ML, furrow 1.3 t/ML). Thus, subsurface drip irrigation saved ~30% of the total amount of water (irrigation, rain, soil water) needed to produce the same quantity of grain using furrow irrigation, while sprinkler irrigation saved ~8% of the water used. The higher net irrigation with sprinkler irrigation was largely due to the lower soil water content in the sprinkler block at the time of sowing. An EM31 survey indicated considerable spatial soil variability within each irrigation block, and all irrigation systems had spatially variable water distribution. Yield variability was very high within all irrigation systems, and appeared to be more strongly associated with irrigation variability than soil variability. All irrigation blocks had large patches of early senescence and poor cob fill, which appeared to be due to nitrogen and/or water deficit stress. We expect that crop performance under all irrigation systems can be improved by improving irrigation, soil and N management.