Radish Production Research Articles

Effect of Organic Nutrient Sources on Growth, Seed Yield and Seed Quality of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cv. Chinese Pink

Seed is the ultimate economic input in any crop production programme. Two field experiments were conducted to study the effect of organic inputs on seed production of radish at Organic Block of Department of Vegetable Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during Rabi season of 2019-20 & 2020-21. Various combinations of organic and liquid manures were replicated thrice in the form of twelve treatments in Randomized Block Design (RBD) Factorial. The pooled data of two years revealed that treatment with Vermicompost @ 8 t/ha + Jeevamrit @ 10 per cent was rated as best treatment for majority of characters like days to 50 per cent initiation of bolting (61.00), days to 50 per cent flowering (93.33), number of primary branches per plant (11.13), plant height (171.50 cm), pod length (5.82 cm), number of seeds per pod (5.01), seed yield per plot (225.25 g) & hectare (417.13 kg) and seed quality parameters like 1000 seed weight (12.02 g), seed germination (97.03 %), seedling length (28.26 cm), seedling dry weight (8.87 mg), seed vigour index-I (2742.07) and seed vigour index-II (860.42). Vermicompost along with jeevamrit recorded 61.41 per cent increase in yield over control. Hence application of vermicompost @ 8 t/ha + jeevamrit @ 10 per cent can be recommended for getting higher seed yield and better growth for organic seed production of radish.

Short-Term Effect of the Combined Application of Rice Husk Biochar and Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Radish Growth and Nitrogen Use Efficiency.

Research on soil biochar fertilization has mainly been conducted on cereal crops, and information on its potential for radish production remains inconsistent. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to examine the short-term effects of rice husk biochar on radish growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). An investigation was conducted with two application rates of biochar alone, (10 t ha-1 (B10) and 25 t ha-1 (B25), and biochar + chicken manure application with and without NPK fertilizer. The results indicated that the application of biochar 25 t ha-1 + chicken manure (B25:CHM) and the combination of biochar 25 t ha-1 + chicken manure + NPK fertilizer (B25:CHM:NPK) significantly increased root yield by improving NUE, fertilizer recovery efficiency (REN), agronomic efficiency (AE), nitrogen harvest index (NHI), and retaining soil NH4+-N. Although biochar application alone did not significantly influence radish growth on a short-term basis, B10 and B25 increased root yields by 10% and 20%, respectively, compared with the control. Notably, the role of biochar application when combined with organic and inorganic fertilizers was to retain fertilizer N and promote N uptake efficiency by radishes, as higher rates of biochar resulted in higher NUE. Our results suggest that B25:CHM is a suitable combination for organic farming.

Dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in agricultural ecosystems following irrigation with treated municipal wastewater

The spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in agricultural systems via irrigation water is a serious public health issue as it can be transmitted to humans through the food chain. Therefore, understanding the dissemination routes of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in agricultural systems is crucial for the assessment of health risks associated with eating fresh vegetables such as spinach and radish irrigated with treated municipal wastewater (TMW). In this study, we investigated the bacterial community structure and resistome in the soil–plant–earthworm continuum after irrigation of spinach and radish with TMW containing the antibiotics trimethoprim (TMP), sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), and sulfapyridine (SPD) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and high throughput quantitative PCR (HT-qPCR). The study was conducted in two phases: Phase I involved eight weeks of spinach and radish production using TMW for irrigation, whereas Phase II entailed three weeks of earthworm exposure to contaminated plant material obtained in Phase I. The 16S data indicated that the rhizosphere bacterial community composition and structure were more resilient to antibiotic residuals in the irrigated water, with radish showing less susceptibility than spinach than those of bulk soils. The HT-qPCR analysis revealed that a total of 271 ARGs (out of 285) and 9 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) (out of 10) were detected in all samples. Higher diversity and abundance of ARGs were observed for samples irrigated with higher concentrations of antibiotics in both spinach and radish treatments. However, compared to spinach, radish ARG dynamics in the soil biome were more stable due to the change of antibiotic introduction to the soil. At the class level, multi-drug resistance (MDR) class was altered significantly by the presence of antibiotics in irrigation water. Compared to earthworm fecal samples, their corresponding soil environments showed a higher number of detected ARGs, suggesting that earthworms could play a role in reducing ARG dissemination in the soil environments. These findings will not only provide insight into the dissemination of ARGs in agricultural environments due to antibiotic residuals in irrigated water but could help understand the potential human health risks associated with ARGs.

A cooperative combination of non-targeted metabolomics and electronic tongue evaluation reveals the dynamic changes in metabolites and sensory quality of radish during pickling

Pickled radish is a traditional fermented food with a unique flavor after long-term preservation. This study analyzed the organoleptic and chemical characteristics of pickled radish from different years to investigate quality changes during pickling. The results showed that the sourness, saltiness, and aftertaste-bitterness increased after pickling, and bitterness and astringency decreased. The levels of free amino acids, soluble sugars, total phenols, and total flavonoids initially decreased during pickling but increased with prolonged pickling. The diversity of organic acids also increased over time. Through non-targeted metabolomics analysis, 349 differential metabolites causing metabolic changes were identified to affect the quality formation of pickled radish mainly through amino acid metabolism, phenylpropane biosynthesis and lipid metabolism. Correlation analysis showed that L*, soluble sugars, lactic acid, and acetic acid were strongly associated with taste quality. These findings provide a theoretical basis for standardizing and scaling up traditional pickled radish production.

Compost Amendment Enhances Leaf Gas Exchange, Growth, and Yield in Water-challenged ‘Crimson Giant’ Red Radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Red radish is a nutritious root vegetable crop that has a short production cycle. Water deficit limits plant productivity, affecting its quantity and quality. Compost amendment offers a potential solution to mitigate water deficit effects. This study assessed the impact of compost manure rates (0%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) and irrigation treatments (40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of evapotranspiration) on ‘Crimson Giant’ red radish production. Significant differences in growth and quality were observed among these treatments. Compost rates of 75% and 100% improved leaf gas exchange, plant growth (leaf count, fresh weight, dry weight, and area; stem length), root development, total yield (root fresh weight, dry weight, diameter, and length), and root quality (vitamin C and total soluble solid and titratable acidity). The 100% compost and 100% irrigation combination achieved the highest yields. Under water deficit, applying 75% or 100% compost with 80% irrigation conserved 20% of water while maintaining radish output. Overall, compost amendment effectively enhanced red radish growth and production under water deficit.

Effect of plant spacing and sowing dates on the growth and yield of radish (Raphanus sativus) in Rupandehi district, Nepal

A field experiment was conducted from mid-April to mid-June 2022 in Rupandehi to evaluate the growth and yield of radish maintained in varied plant spacing at differed sowing dates. The study was aimed to compare the growth, production and economics of radish in Rupandehi district under different plant spacing and sowing dates and to evaluate the interaction between these two factors. Four plants spacing (10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm and 40 cm) with constant row spacing was maintained at two sowing dates (Chaitra 29 and Baisakh 14). The treatments were arranged in two factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. The data were collected on 30 DAS and 45 DAS. The obtained data were recorded and analyzed using MS-Excel and R-studio, respectively. The results revealed that the highest yield was obtained from plant spacing of 20 cm (28.20 t/ha). However, individual plant weight was higher in wider spacing. Plant spacing of 20 cm showed significantly highest plant height (24.52 cm), number of leaves per plant (22.37) and leaf length (23.36 cm). Leaf blade width (10.67 cm) and petiole length (3.05 cm) was significantly highest in plant spacing of 30 cm. Early sowing date showed significantly better results for all growth and yield parameters and yield except leaf blade width. Higher gross return, net return and B:C ratio was observed in plant spacing of 20 cm and early sowing date. The study concluded that plant spacing of 20 cm and earlier sowing date was ideal for maximum growth and yield of radish in Rupandehi district.

Greenhouse crops of radish under organomineral fertilization sources in the Brazilian semiarid region

The cultivation of radish in an organic system has potential for production to such a degree that alternatives of cultivation have been used to improve productivity in relation to fertilization. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of organomineral fertilization on gas exchange, growth, and production of radish. The experiment was carried in non-climatized greenhouse crop, with a metallic structure in form of arc, covered with 150 mm low-density polyethylene, in greater length-oriented East-Oste direction of Science and Technology Center of Federal University of Campina Grande, using the Crimson Gigante variety. The soil used experiment was fluvic neosol. The experimental design used was the completely randomized with three replications, using the Crimson Gigante variety. Seven treatments were used, which consisted of three doses of cattle manure (37.5; 75.0, and 150g per pot), three concentrations of biofertilizer (5; 10 and 15%), and mineral fertilization. This work analyzed the characteristics of growth, production, and gas exchange. The treatment (5% biofertilizer) provided greater height of the radish plants, however, the (75.0g manure per pot) resulted in a higher number of leaves. The concentration of 10% of the biofertilizer, obtained the largest diameter, fresh and dry matter of the tuberous root. The treatment presented higher fresh and dry matter of the leaves when compared with the other treatments. The use of organic fertilizers promoted greater production in the radish crop and can be used as an alternative to conventional fertilization.

Production of Radish Plants (Raphanus sativus) Due to Giving Bokashi and SP-36

Radish plants as a food ingredient, almost all parts of the plant can be eaten raw as fresh vegetables or cooked as vegetables. The community's need for radish continues to increase as indicated by an increase in the amount of production. In 2018 radish production was recorded at 32,381 tons, in 2019 production decreased to 27,279 tons, while in 2020 production increased again to 39,048 tons. The solution in increasing radish production is by fertilizing using organic and inorganic fertilizers. The aim is to determine the interaction between SP-36 and bokasih on radish crop yields. The plan utilized was a randomized block plan (RBD) in a factorial example with two variables. The outcomes acquired: The treatment of bokashi and SP36 composts meaningfully affected plant level, number of leaves, tuber length, tuber distance across and tuber weight of radish plants. The connection between the utilization of Bokashi and SP36 composts gave the best outcomes on the normal plant level, number of leaves, tuber measurement and tuber weight of radish plants.

Do organic fertilization and azospirillum brasilense influence radish cultivation?

ABSTRACT The association of conventional fertilizers with fertilizers of organic origin is a well-known practice in agriculture for achieving high productivity and also with the adoption of inoculants, composed of bacteria for promoting better plant development of crops. Thus, the objective of the work was to investigate the growth and productivity of radish with organic fertilization and the influence of the use of nitrogen fixing bacteria of the genus Azospirillum spp. radish (Raphanus sativus L.) Hybrid Margaret Queen. The treatments were the use of different doses of organic fertilizer and the application of Azospirillum brasilense, besides the control. At the end of the cycle, plant height, tuber diameter, tuber fresh mass, tuber dry mass, and total tuber fresh mass were evaluated. With and without application of A. brasilense, increases of 16.5% and 6.40% in tuber diameter were obtained, respectively. Without application of A. brasilense, there was an increase of 0.37% in leaf dry mass when the maximum concentration of 8 kg m² of organic fertilizer was used. For root fresh mass and root dry mass, with foliar application of A. brasilense, there was an increase of 9.57% and 0.67%, while without A. brasilense there was an increase of 2.43% and 0.22%. There were increases of 12.83% for total fresh mass with the management of A. brasilense and 3.4% without A. brasilense, using the maximum concentration of 8 kg m² of organic fertilizer. For height, there was an increase of 5.12% without A. brasilense. It was concluded that organic fertilization alone or combined with A. brasilense is an alternative in radish production. KEYWORDS: Raphanus sativus L; organic fertilization; Productivity; Vegetables.

Evaluation of genetic variation of morphological and clubroot-resistance traits of radish and metabonomic analysis of clubroot-resistant cultivar

Global commercial production of radish (Raphanus sativus) is highly threatened by Plamodiophora brassicae. Germplasm evaluation and the deep analysis of variants with clubroot-resistant trait are needed to produce quality cultivars. The genetic diversity was analyzed for 97 radish germplasms based on 20 agronomic traits and the response to clubroot. Additionally, differentially regulated metabolites (DRMs) between healthy and P. brassicae-infected resistant cultivars were measured. The genetic diversity index values of quality traits varied from 0.396 to 1.350, and that of quantitative traits varied from 1.65–2.15. The variation of radish quantitative traits ranged from 19.18% to 54.44%. The principal component analysis indicated 8 comprehensive indicators, allowing classification of germplasms into 4 classes, with 71 in class I, 20 in class II, 4 in class III, and 2 in class IV. The results of classification of germplasms by the response to clubroot infection only or by comprehensive agronomic traits including response of plants to clubroot disease infection were similar. Among all traits assessed in the present study, the clubroot severity and the depth of in-soil root were closely linked. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the metabolites changes of clubroot resistant cultivar “DHBC” pre- and post- P. brassicae infection was relatively stable. P. brassicae infection resulted in limited DRMs, significant down-regulation was identified on ginsenoside, dihydro-2(3H)-thiophenone, proline, 1-pyrroline, while apiosylglucosyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, chrycolide, glucomalcomiin, and phosphocholine were significantly up-regulated. We revealed more extensive genetic variation in quantitative traits than in quality indexes in radish and we summarized that the response of radish to clubroot disease may be a dominate indicator in evaluation of radish varieties. Finally, untargeted metabolomic study confirmed the clubroot resistance of “DHBC” and revealed a sophisticated metabolites (including some precious pharmaceutical ingredients) variation in response to clubroot infection, offers new directions in the studies of clubroot resistance mechanism of radish.

Increased bulb yield following seed coating of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) with selected isolates of Trichoderma species in Rhizoctonia solani infected soil

Abstract: Red radish (Raphanus sativus) is highly susceptible to the soil-borne fungus Rhizoctonia solani, which can cause severe crop losses. In a glasshouse experiment, untreated seeds of radish cvs. French Breakfast and Red Round were grown in potting mix where R. solani inoculated wheat-bran was added at rates of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g per 100 g potting mix. Seedling emergence was reduced by one third and two thirds respectively by the two higher inoculum rates, and final plant numbers were ca. 20%, 50% and 80% less than in the uninoculated control. The ability of Trichoderma spp. to increase radish yields by limiting the damage caused by R. solani has long been known but has not been evaluated in New Zealand. Inoculum of each of four Trichoderma spp. isolates LU132 (T. atroviride), LU785 (T. hamatum), LU1437 (T. harzianum) and LU1358 (T. polysporum) was prepared in sterile wheat-bran and 0.5 g wheat-bran was added per 100 g potting mix. In a second glasshouse experiment, R. solani (0.25 g inoculated wheat-bran) was added per 100 g potting mix before untreated seeds of both radish cultivars were sown. Potting mix without either R. solani or Trichoderma served as the control. Maximum seedling emergence did not differ among the treatments for cv. French Breakfast, but was increased by the presence of either isolate LU132 (T. atroviride) or LU1358 (T. polysporum) for cv. Red Round. The presence of isolate LU1347 (T. harzianum) in the potting mix significantly increased plant survival in both cultivars. Each of the four Trichoderma isolates reduced the percentage of diseased plants with isolate LU132 (T. atroviride) providing the strongest response. In a third glasshouse experiment, Trichoderma treated seeds, thiram fungicide treated and untreated seeds of both radish cultivars were sown in naturally R. solani infected soil. The same treatments were used in a field trial at a site known to be infected by R. solani. In the third glasshouse experiment, seed treatment with Trichoderma isolates LU1347 (T. harzianum), LU1358 (T. polysporum) and LU785 (T. hamatum) significantly increased bulb fresh weight in cv. Red Round, but no treatments increased bulb fresh weight in cv. French Breakfast. In the field experiment, bulb yield for the thiram seed treatment did not differ from that of the untreated control. However, seed treatment with isolate LU785 (T. hamatum) increased subsequent bulb yield by 96% for both cultivars, and seed treatment with isolate LU132 (T. atroviride) or isolate LU1358 (T. polysporum) also significantly increased bulb yield (by 85% and 60% respectively) in cv. French Breakfast. A possible explanation for this result was sought by undertaking a fourth glasshouse experiment for radish cv. Red Round only. In this experiment, all four Trichoderma spp. isolates more than doubled bulb yield by producing not only a greater number of bulbs but also larger bulbs than the untreated control. Trichoderma seed coating may provide an alternative to fungicide seed treatment for radish production.

Varietal Screening of Radish Genotypes Against Alternaria Leaf Spot (Alternaria raphani) at Western Nepal

Paucity of knowledge on resistant variety, high yield loss ranging from 32- 57% and dearth of knowledge on management of Alternaria leaf spot has been the major concerns in radish production in the world. Our study will aid in multiplication and standardization of the germane variety of radish resistant to Alternaria leaf spot disease so as to escalate the production, productivity, and the competitiveness in the domestic as well as in the international market. Hence, this experiment was rendered to screen the radish genotypes against Alternaria leaf spot disease in Western Nepal in 2021. Seven genotypes namely Sparkle white F1 hybrid, Korean cross, Palak-patta 35, Pyuthane red, 40 days, Geeta 33, and Mino early were used as the treatment and experiment was laid out in one factorial RCBD design. Each treatment was assigned with 8 plants for observation with 3 replications per treatment. Parameters like days to appearance of disease, incidence of disease on seedling, disease severity (3 scorings), mean score of disease, mean AUDPC and reaction of genotypes were measured during the experiment. Our study unveiled highly significant result for the days to appearance of disease, disease severity, mean score of disease and AUDPC among the genotypes of radish. Alternaria leaf spot first appeared in Pyuthane red (18.33 days) while appeared late in Mino early. Disease severity was found harsh in 40 days at each scoring (57.33, 64.67 and 70.33 respectively); on the contrary severity was minor in Sparkle white at each scoring (26.67, 35 and 44.17 respectively). Similarly, the highest MDS (3.4) and AUDPC (449.8) was found in 40 days, whereas the lowest MDS (1.7) and AUDPC (246.5) was observed in Sparkle white. Ultimately, it is contended that 40 days was found to be moderately susceptible variety while other varieties were found to be moderately resistant.

Effect of organic amendments in seed production of radish (Raphanus sativus)

The present study was carried out at the Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh during the rainy (kharif) season of 2019, 2020 and 2021 to evaluate the effect of different organic amendments in seed production of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cv. Chinese Pink. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design, consisting of seven treatments with three replications. The treatments were: T1, Control; T2, FYM @20 t/ha; T3, Vermicompost @8 t/ha; T4, FYM @10 t/ha + vermicompost @4 t/ha; T5, FYM @20 t/ha + Vermiwash @1:1 (v/v - water + vermiwash) spray; T6, Vermicompost @8 t/ha + Vermiwash @1:1 (v/v - water + vermiwash) spray; T7, FYM @10 t/ha + Vermicompost @4 t/ha + Vermiwash @1:1 (v/v – water + vermiwash) spray. Pooled data of three consecutive years revealed that application of T7 recorded maximum plant height (127.30 cm), number of branches per plant (9.89), highest number of pods per plant (690.57), more seed yield per plant (30.35 g) and seed yield per hectare (5.93 q). This treatment also resulted in maximum 1000-seed weight (11.83 g), germination (94.77%), seed vigour index-I (2420.51) and seed vigour index-II (669.33) along with highest net return (`458135.70/ha) and benefit:cost ratio (3.40).

Characterization of the volatile compounds in white radishes under different organic fertilizer treatments by HS‐GC‐IMS with PCA

AbstractOrganic agriculture and organic produce are attracting increasing attention around the world. In order to explore the effects of different organic fertilizers on the volatile flavour compounds of white radishes, six experimental groups were designed as follows: no fertilizer group (CK) and conventional chemical fertilizer group (CF) as the control, pig manure organic fertilizer (PMOF), sheep manure organic fertilizer (SMOF), earthworm manure organic fertilizer (EMOF), and earthworm manure organic fertilizer with the microbial agent (EMOF+M) as the organic groups. Headspace–gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (HS‐GC‐IMS) was used to detect the volatile flavour compounds of white radishes under six different planting conditions. A total of 26 volatile flavour compounds were identified qualitatively and the common characteristic flavour compounds of organic and conventional white radishes were determined, as well as the differences in the composition and content of volatile flavour compounds in different white radishes. The flavour fingerprint of white radish was established, and principal component analysis (PCA) clearly showed that the samples in a relatively separate space could be well‐distinguished. It provided a theoretical basis for the establishment and improvement of the evaluation system of volatile flavour substances of white radish, which was of great significance in the high‐quality production of white radish and the safe and sustainable development of organic vegetable industry.

Residual Behavior and Dietary Risk Assessment of Chlorfenapyr and Its Metabolites in Radish

Chlorfenapyr, as a highly effective and low-toxicity insect growth regulation inhibitor, has been used to control cross-cruciferous vegetable pests. However, the pesticide residue caused by its application threatens human health. In this paper, the residue digestion and final residue of chlorfenapyr in radish were studied in a field experiment. The results of the dynamic digestion test showed that the half-life of chlorfenapyr in radish leaves ranged from 6.0 to 6.4 days, and the digestion rate was fast. The median residual values of chlorfenapyr in radish and radish leaves at 14 days after treatment were 0.12 and 3.92 mg/kg, respectively. The results of the dietary intake risk assessment showed that the national estimated daily intake (NEDI) of chlorfenapyr in various populations in China were 0.373 and 5.66 µg/(kg bw·d), respectively. The risk entropy (RQ) was 0.012 and 0.147, respectively, indicating that the chronic dietary intake risk of chlorfenapyr in radish was low. The results of this study provided data support and a theoretical basis for guiding the scientific use of chlorfenapyr in radish production and evaluating the dietary risk of chlorfenapyr in vegetables.

Studies on Nutrient Management in Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) for Growth, Yield and Quality Traits

The experiment described in this study was conducted at the vegetable research farm located at the School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab. The study took place from October to December 2022, with the objective of evaluating the effects of nutrient management on the growth, yield, and quality traits of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). The experiment was designed using a Randomized Block Design, with a total of 14 different treatment levels of integrated nutrients. Each treatment level was replicated three times to ensure statistical validity and reliability of the results. The results obtained from the experiment indicated that the application of varying levels of integrated nutrients had a significant effect on the yield parameters of the crops. This suggests that the combination and dosage of these integrated nutrients played a crucial role in influencing the overall yield of the plants. T9 gave maximum plant height (38.77 cm), T13 gave maximum numbers of leaves (16.43). Among yield traits maximum root length (25.78cm) in T2, root diameter (4.30 cm) in T9, Fresh weight of roots and Dry weight of roots gave maximum in T2 (211.55g), while Plant yield per plot (kg) and Plant yield (q/ha) recorded maximum yield in T2. Among quality traits TSS (5.550 Brix) observed in T9, and Chlorophyll content (43.82 SPADE value) observed maximum in T9. This study demonstrates the potential benefits of integrating vermicompost and synthetic fertilizer for the growth and yield of radish. The results indicated a significant enhancement in both growth and yield of the radish crop. This combined approach of utilizing vermicompost and synthetic fertilizer proved beneficial in optimizing radish production.

Knowledge Extent of Farmers Towards Improved Radish Production Technology in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Radish is an important source of nutrition in our diet. Although farmers in eastern uttar pradesh are growing radish for a long time many farmers are lacking good knowledge of radish and its new varieties production practices. The study was conducted to know the level of knowledge of production practices among radish cultivating farmers of the eastern uttar pradesh region. A personal interview was conducted with hundred and fifty farmers those were selected through proportionate random sampling technique from ten selected village panchayat on the basis of fifteen farmers from each village panchayat. Highest knowledge level was observed in sowing time and irrigation management (100 per cent) followed by, field preparation (82.67 per cent), harvesting (80.66 per cent), weed management (74.00 per cent), high yielding varieties (72.00 per cent), plant protection measure (70.00 per cent), fertilizer application (68.67 per cent), spacing (68.00 per cent), inter cropping (61.33 per cent), plant growth regulator (50.67 per cent), respectively. Total knowledge index was calculated to be 74.67 per cent. Out of sixteen variables i.e., caste, education, material possession, risk orientation, scientific motivation, extension contact, awareness and adoption were found highly significant and positively correlated with knowledge at 0.05 % of significance level. The variables age is also highly significant but negatively correlated with knowledge level. Variables like annual income, marital status, land holding, type of family, size of family and social participation were found not significant but positively correlated with knowledge level. Only one variable economic motivation was found not significant and negatively correlated with knowledge level.

Effects of intercropping on Se accumulation and growth of pakchoi, lettuce and radish

Selenium is one of the most basic trace elements in the human body. It is necessary to improve the selenium content in agricultural products through agricultural planting technology to ensure that human nutrition and health need selenium. Therefore, our research passed the effect of intercropping on the growth and selenium accumulation of pakchoi, lettuce and radish were studied through pot experiments to determine whether intercropping of the three crop species can improve their selenium accumulation ability. The results showed that intercropping increased the root and shoot biomass of pakchoi and radish compared with the monocultures, while the biomass of roots and shoots decreased in other intercropping combinations. Intercropping also affected the photosynthetic pigment content of the three crop species. Specifically, the photosynthetic pigments increased in pakchoi and decreased in radish after intercropping. Notably, intercropping the three crop species together increased the SOD (superoxide dismutase) activities of the three crops compared with the monocultures. Meanwhile, intercropping radish with lettuce significantly increased the activities of SOD and CAT (catalase) in radish. Intercropping also increased the soluble sugar content in pakchoi and soluble protein content of radish relative to the monocultures. Furthermore, intercropping decreased the selenium content and the bioconcentration factor of the roots of the three vegetable crops, but improved the shoot selenium content, the bioconcentration factor and the transport factor of Se in pakchoi and radish. In conclusion, intercropping combination of pakchoi and radish can improve selenium accumulation in the edible parts of the crops, which is significant for efficient production of selenium-enriched vegetables.

Benefícios agroeconômicos no consórcio de rabanete e alface sob adubação verde e densidade de plantio otimizadas

ABSTRACT One of the biggest difficulties in the intercropping of radish-lettuce is to obtain the ideal dose of green manure and the adequate planting density for the crops. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to evaluate the agro-economic benefits of radish-lettuce intercropping under the influence of green manuring with Merremia aegyptia (hairy woodrose) and Calotropis procera (roostertree) and lettuce population densities in a semi-arid environment, in two cropping seasons. The experimental design used was randomized blocks, with treatments arranged in a 4x4 factorial scheme, with 4 replicates. The first factor in this scheme consisted of equitable biomass amounts of M. aegyptia and C. procera at doses of 20, 35, 50 and 65 t/ha on a dry basis, and the second factor of lettuce population densities of 150, 200, 250 and 300 thousand plants/ha. The production of radish and lettuce and its components, in addition to the agroeconomic indicators, system productivity index (SPI), land equivalent coefficient (LEC) and monetary equivalent ratio (MER) were evaluated. The greatest agro-economic benefits of the intercropped radish-lettuce were obtained with SPI of 15.37 t/ha, LEC of 1.27 and MER of 1.30, respectively, in the combination of 65 t/ha of M. aegyptia and C. procera biomass with the lettuce population density of 300 thousand plants/ha. The maximum commercial productivity of radish roots in the intercropping system was 8.45 t/ha in the combination of the biomass amount of 20 t/ha of M. aegyptia and C. procera and lettuce population density of 300 thousand plants/ha, while the maximum lettuce leaf productivity optimized in intercropping was 17.72 t/ha, in the combination of green manures biomass amount of 65 t/ha and population density of 300 thousand plants/ha of lettuce. The use of spontaneous species from the Caatinga biome as green manure in the radish-lettuce intercropping provides optimized agro-economic benefits in a semi-arid environment.

Economic viability and development of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) under different soil water tensions and mulching types

There is a lack of information on the production of irrigated radish associated with the use of mulching and on the economic viability of these production technologies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth, yield, and economic viability of the radish crop under different soil water tensions (SWT) and mulching types. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. During the experiment, the following variables were evaluates: growth parameters, yield and economic viability. SWT at 7 kpa in the treatments without mulching and at 12 kPa in the treatments with black plastic and black non-woven resulted in higher growth parameters and yield. The leaf area index and the root diameter were the parameters that had a high and positive correlation with yield. Expenses with variable resources represent on average 75% of the total production cost. Therefore, the investment pays all resources applied in the activity and provides an economic profit. In this context, the higher radish yield with 37.5 t ha-1 provided the highest profitability of the evaluated treatments, thus, for radish production, the recommendation is to use 12 kPa as an indicator of the moment for irrigation, associated with the use of black plastic.