Crops Rye Research Articles

Цифровая обработка фотометрических данных дистанционного зондирования полей озимой ржи

Abstract. The paper considers the possibility of using neural network structures of an artificial intelligence system for processing photometric data of remote sensing of winter rye crops grown in the conditions of the Leningrad Region on the field of the educational and experimental garden of Saint Petersburg State Agrarian University in 2014–2015. In the process of cultivating plants, various types of treatments were applied: the application of mineral fertilizers, microelements and a microbial biological product. To process the photometric data, the Rosenblatt perceptron was used, which analyzes the similarities and differences in the photometric NDVI profiles of winter rye crops obtained from different variants of the experiment. According to the numerical indicators of vegetation indices, it was possible to construct phase portraits of the trajectory of their movement on the coordinate plane of the field. Further cluster analysis of the data obtained, converted into a square matrix of paired Euclidean distances, made it possible to identify on the dendrogram a grouping of variants in which the connecting components were the use of a microbiological inoculant. When using a biological product, there is a more complete development of plants in crops and their evenness in the field improves. The minimum coefficient of variation was observed for the variant without the use of a biological product, but with the joint use of a complex of all mineral fertilizers (50 phosphorite flour + 50 KCl + 50 ammonium nitrate) and microelements at a dose of 250 kg/ha. Based on the results of the analysis, it can be concluded that the images of the trajectories of the points of the NDVI profiles provide qualitative information reflecting the dynamics of the ontogeny phases of winter rye plants. Based on the nature of the selected sections of these trajectories, it is possible to create a digital map of the experimental field, with the help of which to conduct a protocol for remote diagnostics of the state of crop productivity and make a forecast of their yield during harvesting.

Effect of ammonium and potassium nitrate on winter hardiness and yield of winter rye (<i>Secale cereale</i> L.)

The results of research for 3 years (2019–2021) on winter rye (Secale cereale L.) crops in the North-West region of the Russian Federation (Leningrad region) are presented. The effect of different doses and timing of ammonium and potassium nitrate application on winter hardiness and productivity of winter rye plants on the example of Volkhova and Eureka varieties was studied. The soil in the experimental fields was sod-podzolic loamy with the depth of the arable horizon of 20–25 cm. Humus content – 2.0–2.3%, pH of the salt extract – 5.2–5.5. Fertilizers were applied in dry form in the autumn one week after the emergence of the seedlings, and in the spring – at the resumption of vegetation. The studied fertilizer doses in terms of active substance for nitrogen were 0 (control), 30, 60 and 90 kg/ha. It is shown that winter hardiness of both varieties practically did not depend on the doses and timing of the application, as well as on the type of fertilizers. The maximum grain yield was shown by the Volkhova variety at a dose of nitrogen of 60 kg/ha, the Eureka variety – 90 kg/ha, with the maximum yield of the Eureka variety for all the years exceeding that of the Volkhova variety by 24.5%. Within the specified doses of nitrogen for both varieties, the best option was a single spring application of a mixture of ammonium and potassium nitrate, the worst - a single spring application of ammonium nitrate alone. On average for both varieties, potassium nitrate application in spring increased the grain yield by 16% compared to the variants where potassium nitrate was not used.

The Behavior of Some Alternative Crops Under the Synergic Effect of Soil Work and Climate Conditions in the Eastern Area of Romania

Water and thermal stress accentuated in the last decade, hinder farmers from obtaining rich and balanced harvests in the quality-quantity ratio. Thus, it is studied to carry out minimal soil work and to cultivate a wide range of agricultural species that have increased adaptability to climate changes. Dry farming is one of those working systems that allow the exploration of several combinations of soil works and rarely cultivated plants that can replace conventional crops. The present experiment was carried out to observe the influence of tillage on the yield of some alternative types of grassy cereals cultivated under water and thermal stress conditions in the eastern part of Romania, in the 2020-2022 agricultural years, at A.R.D.S., Braila. Rye and triticale crops were sown in three repetitions for each tillage: L1 – Plow (control), L2 – Paraplow, L3 – Scarifier, L4 – Heavy Disc, and L5 – No Tillage. The 2020-2021 agricultural year was rich in precipitation, therefore the difference in yields, for L2, L3, and L4 tillage compared to control - L1, was between -540 kg/ha and +267 kg/ha for the rye crop and between 0 - 535 kg/ha for triticale crop. Climatic conditions influenced yields, especially for triticale crops.

Rye Production under Acid Soils and Drought Conditions: An Alternative for the Sustainability of High Andean Livestock Farming in Peru

The rye (Secale cereale L.) crop shows a high potential to contribute to the sustainability of high Andean livestock because it supports the agroclimatic conditions and acid soils in the Peruvian Andes. The production of green forage, hay, and grain from the rye crop in acid soils was studied with the use of different levels of phosphorus and potassium fertilization in four local rye ecotypes (CBI-001, CSM-001, CJS-001, and CCE-001). The green forage yield (GFY) ranged from 32.35 to 53.62 t ha−1, dry matter from 6.05 to 8.56 t ha−1, and hay from 7.0 to 10.36 t ha−1; nutritional levels ranged from 9.02% to 13.56% protein and 6.50% to 7.75% ash levels, mainly with differences between ecotypes (p < 0.05). No differences existed between fertilization levels for the number of stems per plant, spikes per plant, and grains per ear (p > 0.05). Also, CBI-001 and CCE-001 were superior with 1868.4 and 1797.8 kg ha−1 of grain, respectively (p = 0.0072); the use of 60 kg ha of nitrogen, 120 kg ha−1 of P2O5, and 80 kg ha−1 of K2O gave higher grain and residue yields. The high nutritional value and yield of the rye ecotypes studied in acid soil conditions and without irrigation can be an alternative for livestock feeding and grain production in the rainy season in the Andes as a dual-purpose crop.

The effectiveness of using some criteria for determining adaptability on the example of winter rye cultivars

Background. For most regions of Russia, winter rye is an indispensable grain and fodder cereal. Recently, winter rye crops have been declining. It is possible to improve this situation by releasing cultivars that ensure consistently high grain productivity under various growing conditions. Therefore, measuring the level of adaptability for yields in different mathematical quantities using a variety of methods is an urgent need. Materials and methods. For an unprejudiced assessment of winter rye cultivars, the following adaptability parameters were calculated and analyzed: the intensity coefficient (I) and constancy of the stability index (Y) according to Udachin and Golovchenko; stability index (IS) according to Hangildin; range breadth (Jsp) according to Eberhart and Russell; breeding value (Sc) according to Hangildin; responsiveness coefficient (Cr.) according to Zykin; genotypic effect (Ɛi) according to Guryev; equalization coefficient (B) according to Dospekhov; multiplicativity coefficient (KM) according to Dragavtsev; and reaction effect (Er.) according to Novokhatin. Field experiments and the study of 8 winter rye cultivars were carried out according to VIR’s guidelines in 2012–2017. Results and conclusion. A significant variation was found in grain yield; it was induced by the high contribution of the “year” factor (79.4 %). The best conditions for higher yields were formed in 2012 and 2015. An analysis of the six-year average yield showed that cvs. ‘Rushnik 2’, ‘Bereginya’, and ‘Novaya Era’ exceeded ‘Ilmen’ by 5–22 %. It was shown that among the selected ten indicators, worth attention were the multiplicativity coefficient, the stability index, the breeding value index, the reaction effect of a cultivars, and the range breadth index: they established the adaptability level of a cultivar with higher statistical significance. Cvs. ‘Novaya Era’, ‘Yanrarnaya, ‘Bereginya’, and ‘Vavilovskaya’ from the analyzed set demonstrated high adaptability.

Crop agro-technologies adaptation in organic farming

The materials of long-term field experiments carried out in the forest-steppe of the Ob region of the Novosibirsk region and in the northern forest-steppe of the Kuznetsk basin of the Kemerovo region in various types of crop rotations on leached chernozems were analyzed to assess the possibility of developing organic farming. The most stable crop rotation in relation to weeds is a grain-fallow crop rotation with winter rye, where the coefficient of crop rotation productivity decrease with an increase in infestation by 1 unit of specific weed biomass was 0.205.The number of interstim pests per plant was less on wheat crops placed on vetch-oats, winter rye and rapeseed than on fallow and spring grain predecessors. The most productive crop rotations without the use of fertilizers and pesticides were grain fallow crop rotations with winter rye (2.46 t/ha) and legumes (2.44 t/ha). It has been established that organic farming can only be carried out under conditions of crop diversification (increase in biodiversity within crops of winter rye, cabbage, leguminous grasses and grain legumes), a decrease in the intensity of mechanical impact on the soil, the introduction of organic fertilizers and plant residues of crops, sideration.

Contribution of weather conditions and anthropogenic activity to the variation of grain yields in the North-West of Russia

Current trends in climate change associated with the growth of heat supply contribute to the growth of bioclimatic potential and the increase in productivity of grain crops in the North-West of Russia. In such conditions, research is relevant aimed at clarifying the contribution of weather conditions and anthropogenic activity in the formation of the crop. The research was conducted on the crops of winter rye, spring barley, winter wheat, and spring wheat of the experimental landfill of the Menkovsky branch of the Agrophysical Research Institute. We studied various factors of anthropogenic activity, such as the level of mineral or nitrogen nutrition, an integrated plant protection system, seeding rates, and the size of seed material. Variance analysis was used in statistical processing. According to the results obtained, weather conditions were the most significant factor of productivity for winter cereals, and mineral nutrition was crucial for spring crops. The integrated protection system was less important than both the weather conditions of the growing season and the background of mineral nutrition of cultivated plants. This factor appeared to be the least significant for winter rye, which often has a favorable phytosanitary situation. The novelty of the data obtained lies in determining the predominant value in varying the yield of nitrogen fertilizers and herbicide treatment for spring wheat. A little less critical were the seeding rate and the size of the seed material.

ОЗИМЫЕ КУЛЬТУРЫ КУЗБАССА: СОСТОЯНИЕ, ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ

Winter crops are distinguished by the effective use of autumn-winter moisture and meltwater in spring. In the conditions of Western Siberia, they are insurance crops. In the Kemerovo region, winter crops are used for food, fodder and technical purposes. grain of winter rye, winter wheat and winter triticale is used for food purposes. Winter wheat is cultivated for technical processing to obtain edible vegetable oil in local oil extraction plants. The cake after seed processing is used in animal husbandry as a high-protein component in the production of compound feeds. Winter rye is a traditional food grain crop, often surpasses the yield of spring wheat. During the period 2007–2022 the crop yield varied from 15.6 c/ha to 28.1 c/ha. In arid 2012, the yield of spring grain was 9.0 c/ha, winter rye – 15.1 c/ha. The crop yield in individual farms reaches 50 centners or more per hectare. In 2022, winter rye crops decreased by 4.5 thousand hectares and amounted to 15.7 thousand hectares. Winter rye occupies one third of the acreage of the winter wedge of the region. Winter wheat in Western Siberia began to be cultivated in the early twentieth century. Cultivation of the crop on a large scale began in the last 20 years with the introduction of new hardy varieties. In 2022, winter wheat was cultivated in all municipal districts on an area of 22055 hectares. the grain yield of the crop by region ranged from 16.9 c/ha to 41.7 c/ha. Winter triticale in the region is distributed in limited quantities, although the productivity of the crop is higher than that of winter rye by 5.25 % and winter wheat by 14.7 %. Cultivation of winter wheat for seeds is about 15 years. In 2017–2021, the area of winter wheat in the region ranged from 5186 (2021) to 6140 ha (2017), seed yield from 5.0 c/ha to 20.0 c/ha. The acreage of winter crops is 7.8 %t in the structure of acreage. For a scientifically based farming system in the field, the area of winter crops must be increased to 15 % or double the level of 2022.

ВКЛАД УЧЕНЫХ БАШКИРСКОГО СХИ В ОСВОЕНИЕ АШИНСКИХ ФОСФОРИТОВ В ХИМИЗАЦИИ ЗЕМЛЕДЕЛИЯ ЮЖНОГО УРАЛА

Among the elements of mineral nutrition, the leading place belongs to the macronutrient phosphorus. The first mineral phosphorus fertilizer was developed by Looz at the Rothamsted Experimental Station in the 1840s. Before the beginning of the twentieth century manure applied to the fallow field was the main source of increasing soil fertility and crop yields. Phosphorus, as an element, came in the composition of organic matter. In the 1930s, the search for natural sources of phosphorus fertilizers was widely launched in our country, among which the leading place belongs to phosphorites – ores of natural origin that do not require industrial processing. In various areas of the country, positive results were obtained with the use of phosphorous flour of natural origin. In the mass experiments of the Novozybkov experimental station for 1925–1929, the increase in oat grain from phosphorite was 2.3 c/ha. When applying 5 kg/ha of phosphorous flour, the increase in the yield of winter rye grain amounted to 2.8 kg/ha, the sources of phosphorus fertilizers were examined in the western part of the Southern Urals, which subsequently formed the Ural phosphorous-bearing basin, where the Ashinskoye field took the leading place. This deposit was first discovered by N.P. Varlamov and G.V. Yakovlev in 1953, and was developed under the leadership of A.M. Mulmenko. The study of Ashinsky phosphorites for suitability as a phosphorus fertilizer began with the participation of the staff of the Department of Agrochemistry under the leadership of Professor Yu.A. Usmanov. Laboratory, vegetation, field and production studies were carried out with various agricultural crops. The average composition of phosphorites of the deposit was determined by laboratory: phosphoric acid – 24.43 %; one and a half oxides (Fe2O3 + A2O3) – 7.9 %; calcium oxides (CaO) – 45 %; insoluble residue – 11.0 %. It has been established that Ashinsky phosphorite phosphates are insoluble in water, up to 20 % of them are presented in lemon-soluble form, i.e. available to plants in the first year of use. In field experiments, the increase in the yield of winter rye grain ranged from 33.6 % to 54.3 %. Cereal crops had a different reduction in the growing season by 4–65 days. With high rates of phosphorite application, the sparsity of winter rye crops decreased to 9.2 %. The proportion of phosphorus (P2O5) in the grain of cereals increased. The use of phosphorous flour was justified as a phosphorus fertilizer both agroeconomically and agrochemically. Currently, the return of mineral nutrition elements to the soil together with fertilizers is at the level of half of the removal with the harvest. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the supply of mineral fertilizers and the introduction of organic ones. As phosphorus fertilizers, it is necessary to resume the application of phosphorous flour from the Ashinsky deposit, as it is economically feasible to increase the productivity of field crops in the farms of the Republic of Bashkortostan as in previous years.

Cavitation technology for the production of bionutrients from coprolites and evaluation of their effectiveness

The article presents the results of the development of a technology and a production line for the production of bionutrients for use in crop production in order to increase plant resistance to adverse climatic factors and reduce doses of pesticides and mineral fertilizers. The technology is based on the bioconversion of organic animal waste into coprolites (biohumus), uses the nutritional activity of earthworms. and this is a kind of solid-phase fermentation, where the fermented mass is a heterophase system of the type: solid phase - liquid - gas. Compost as the basis for the vital activity of earthworms is prepared by accelerated biotechnological processing of animal manure and other organic materials. Nutrients are converted by worms into coprolites - forms available to plants.. The humus of coprolites differs in chemical composition from humus formed in the soil with the participation of microflora, in that polymerization processes of low molecular weight decomposition products of organic substances develop in the digestive canal of worms and humic acid molecules are formed. The resulting product was tested for effectiveness on winter rye crops. A noticeable increase in resistance to climatic factors and an increase in yield while maintaining high nutritional qualities is shown.

THE FORMATION OF THE BOTANICAL COMPOSITION OF WINTER RYE CROPS DEPENDS ON THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT PREDECESSORS

The article highlights the influence of different predecessors on the cultivation of winter rye. The expediency of cultivation is proved and the importance and features of this crop as a food and fodder crop are indicated. The role of weeds and their impact on winter rye crops is also outlined. Winter rye belongs to high-yielding cereals. Advanced farms harvest 40-50 c/ha and more of grain. The experience of these farms is highlighted in the analysis of scientific literature sources, which indicates the presence of reserves for increasing the yield of rye in Ukraine. It is grown mainly for grain, as well as for green fodder (often in mixtures with winter vetch, winter rape). Rye bread has high nutritional and taste qualities due to its high content of proteins, vitamins (A, B, E) and high energy value. Rye grain is of great importance as a concentrated feed for farm animals. Rye flour is used for feeding pigs, and bran - for cattle. In a mixture with winter vetch and winter rape, rye in spring gives the earliest green fodder for animals. It is noted that weeds are most often present in crops of field crops from the groups of rhizome perennial weeds and root-sprouting weeds. Quite often there are pink thistle (Crisium arvense L.), field bindweed (Convolulus arvensis L.), creeping wheatgrass (Elytriga repens L.), horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.), creeping bitterweed (Acroptilon repens L.) and others. Among the most aggressive species are representatives of winter and biennial dicotyledonous wintering weeds. The most commonly found in winter rye crops are the following representatives: wild poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.), wild violet (Viola arvensis.), odorless chamomile (Matricaria perforate), wild poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.), common bindweed (Capsella bursa-pastoris), Sophia's curlyleaf (Descurainia sophia L. ), clinging feverfew (Galium aparine.), field axes (Consolida regalis S.), Sophia's curlyleaf (Descurainia sophia L.), medium starwort (Stellaria media), white pupal (Melandrium album), Sophia's descurainia (Descurainia Sophia), field thalassa (Thlaspi arvense). It was found that the correct selection of the predecessor for the cereal crop of winter rye will be able to satisfy high grain productivity, which will allow maintaining the agrophytocenosis in proper condition in relation to the negative impact of weed infestation and will help to reduce the overall number and species composition of segetal vegetation in winter rye crops.

The response of soil physical quality parameters to a perennial grain crop

Soil physical quality is paramount for root growth, water and air movement, and for its subsequent effects on chemical and biological processes in the soil. Management practices and their legacies can impact soil physical quality, and perennial grain cropping has been proposed as a solution to maintain or improve soil physical quality in agroecosystems due to their provision of year-round ground cover and increased root growth. An alfalfa-brome perennial forage crop, a perennial rye crop (Secale cereale L. x S. montanum L.), and an annual rye crop (S. cereale L.) were evaluated at two sites in Central Alberta with contrasting management histories (Edmonton and Breton) over 3 years to determine the effects on soil physical and hydraulic properties. Compared to the annual crop, the perennial forage crop reduced the bulk density of the uppermost soil depth sampled (5–10 cm depth increment) (p < 0.05) at the Edmonton site and increased soil macroporosity (p < 0.05) and pore connectivity (p < 0.05) in the deeper subsurface soil layer (25–30 cm depth increment) at both sites. While moderate improvements in soil physical and hydraulic properties manifested under the perennial rye crop when compared to the annual rye crop, they did not do so to the extent of the perennial forage crop. We attribute this to the inclusion of tap-rooted alfalfa in the perennial forage, and the overarching beneficial influence of root mass density on soil properties. Root mass density from highest to lowest consistently ranked as perennial forage > perennial rye > annual rye for both sites. Root mass density was negatively correlated with bulk density at both Breton (r = −0.77, p < 0.05) and Edmonton (r = −0.69, p < 0.05) sites. Furthermore, at Breton, root mass density positively correlated with macroporosity (r = 0.88, p < 0.01). Notably, the perennial rye crop enhanced soil carbon mass density relative to the annual rye crop in the clayey topsoil of the Edmonton site (p < 0.05), but treatment effects were muted at the Breton site due to the influence of previous land use. Despite moderate improvements in soil physical quality, our results suggest that 3 years of perennial rye monocropping falls short of the major improvements seen under a perennial alfalfa-brome forage crop over the same timeframe.

Regime of nitrate nitrogen in chernozem during the cultivation of perennial grasses

The article presents the results of field experiments to study the dynamics of nitrate nitrogen in ordinary chernozem of the forest-steppe zone of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The studies were carried out in 2017-2019 years in three-field grain-steam and 8 grain-grass crop rotations. Melilot and sainfoin were cultivated neat and under the cover of barley, incl. with seed treatment with Rizotorfin inoculant. Winter rye was sown in 2018 in a field of clean fallow in a grain-fallow crop rotation and after mowing the second cut of perennial grasses of the 2nd year of use in grain-grass crop rotations with a stubble seeder SZS-2.1 without preliminary tillage.It has been established that a high supply of nitrate nitrogen is characteristic of a steam field in a 0-20 cm layer of chernozem (19 mg/kg). The average supply of chernozem with nitrate nitrogen was formed by coverless crops of sweet clover and sainfoin and cover crops of sweet clover (9-10 mg/kg). In the crops of winter rye, according to various predecessors, an intensive consumption of mineral nitrogen by plants and a very low supply of soil with nitrate nitrogen (2-5 mg/kg) were noted. Grain-grass crop rotation with the cultivation of winter rye on binary and pure crops of sweet clover created the best conditions for the accumulation of nitrate nitrogen in the 0-40 cm layer of chernozem (6-8 mg/kg). The treatment of sweet clover and sainfoin seeds with the inoculant Rizotorfin determined a more intensive absorption of nitrate nitrogen from the soil and a low supply of nitrate nitrogen to the soil (4-6 mg/kg) in the crop rotation.

Impact of cover crops on soil physical properties, soil loss and runoff in compacted Oxisol of southern Brazil

Soil compaction can increase soil erosion owing to runoff and soil loss. Cover crops are an option for the sustainability of agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crops on soil physical properties, soil loss, and runoff in a compacted Oxisol. The plots were then compacted using a drum roller. Ten cover crops, mixed or single, were used, and maize (Zea mays L.) monocrop was used as a control. Bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), macroporosity (MaP), microporosity (MiP), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), were determined in the layers 0–0.1, 0.1–0.2, and 0.2–0.3 m. Within each experimental unit was allocated the collecting drains to measure soil losses and runoff during natural rainfall. The cover crops rye (Secale cereale), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), and sunn hemp (Crotalaria spectabilis) improved most of the physical properties of the compacted soil compared to the maize monocrop. The cover crops did not decrease soil loss and runoff in some periods compared to the maize monocrops, especially during high rainfall seasons. This result suggests that reducing the soil loss and runoff of a compacted Oxisol should be expected in the long term in comparison to soil physical properties that were improved in the short term.

Transcriptomic Responses of Fusarium verticillioides to Lactam and Lactone Xenobiotics.

The important cereal crops of maize, rye, and wheat constitutively produce precursors to 2-benzoxazolinone, a phytochemical having antifungal effects towards many Fusarium species. However, Fusarium verticillioides can tolerate 2-benzoxazolinone by converting it into non-toxic metabolites through the synergism of two previously identified gene clusters, FDB1 and FDB2. Inspired by the induction of these two clusters upon exposure to 2-benzoxazolinone, RNA sequencing experiments were carried out by challenging F. verticillioides individually with 2-benzoxazolinone and three related chemical compounds, 2-oxindole, 2-coumaranone, and chlorzoxazone. These compounds all contain lactam and/or lactone moieties, and transcriptional analysis provided inferences regarding the degradation of such lactams and lactones. Besides induction of FDB1 and FDB2 gene clusters, four additional clusters were identified as induced by 2-benzoxazolinone exposure, including a cluster thought to be responsible for biosynthesis of pyridoxine (vitamin B6), a known antioxidant providing tolerance to reactive oxygen species. Three putative gene clusters were identified as induced by challenging F. verticillioides with 2-oxindole, two with 2-coumaranone, and two with chlorzoxazone. Interestingly, 2-benzoxazolinone and 2-oxindole each induced two specific gene clusters with similar composition of enzymatic functions. Exposure to 2-coumranone elicited the expression of the fusaric acid biosynthetic gene cluster. Another gene cluster that may encode enzymes responsible for degrading intermediate catabolic metabolites with carboxylic ester bonds was induced by 2-benzoxazolinone, 2-oxindole, and chlorzoxazone. Also, the induction of a dehalogenase encoding gene during chlorzoxazone exposure suggested its role in the removal of the chlorine atom. Together, this work identifies genes and putative gene clusters responsive to the 2-benzoxazolinone-like compounds with metabolic inferences. Potential targets for future functional analyses are discussed.

Bakteriyel İnokulantların Çavdar (Secale cereale L.) Hasılı Silajlarında Fermantasyon, Aerobik Stabilite ve Yem Değeri Üzerine Etkileri

This study was carried out to determine the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculants and lactic acid bacteria+enzymes (LAB+E) inoculant on the fermentation, aerobic stability, and feed value of rye silages. Whole crop rye was harvested at dough stage. Biosil (Wuthenow, Germany), Silaprilis Pro (Timac Agro, USA) and Sil-All (Allteck, UK) were used as lactic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants. Inoculants were applied to silages at 6.00 log10 cfu/g levels. After the treatment, alfalfa was ensiled in 1.0-L special polyethylene vacuum bags. The bags were stored at 20±2°C under the laboratory conditions. Three bags from each group were sampled for chemical and microbiological analyses 2, 4, 8 and 75th days after ensiling. At the end of the ensiling period, all silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test for 5 days. In addition, in vitro dry matter, and organic matter digestibility of experiment silages were determined. The results showed that lactic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants increased characteristics of fermentation and aerobic stability of rye silages. Lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants decreased neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and celluloses content in the silages. Lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants increased in vitro dry matter digestibility, organic matter digestibility and metaboze energy of rye silages. Therefore, lactic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria+enzyme mixture inoculants might improve the fermentation properties and feed values of rye silages harvested at dough stage.

Fusarium Head Blight of Small Grains in Pennsylvania: Unravelling Species Diversity, Toxin Types, Growth, and Triazole Sensitivity.

Fusarium graminearum is the main causal species of Fusarium head blight (FHB) globally. Recent changes in the trichothecene (toxin) types in the North American FHB pathogens support the need for continued surveillance. In this study, 461 isolates were obtained from symptomatic spikes of wheat, spelt, barley, and rye crops during 2018 and 2019. These were all identified to species and toxin types using molecular-based approaches. An additional set of 77 F. graminearum isolates obtained from overwintering crop residues during winter 2012 were molecularly identified to toxin types. A subset of 31 F. graminearum isolates (15 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol [15ADON] and 16 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol [3ADON]) were assessed for mycelial growth, macroconidia, perithecia, and ascospore production, and sensitivity to two triazoles. Ninety percent of isolates obtained from the symptomatic spikes (n = 418) belonged to F. graminearum, with four other species found at a lower frequency (n = 39). The F. graminearum isolates from symptomatic spikes were mainly of the 15ADON (95%), followed by 3ADON (4%), nivalenol (0.7%), and NX-2 (0.3%) toxin types. All F. graminearum isolates obtained from overwintering residue were of the 15ADON type. The toxin types could not be differentiated based on the multivariate analysis of growth and reproduction traits. All isolates were sensitive to tebuconazole and metconazole fungicides invitro. This study confirms the dominance of F. graminearum and suggests ecological and environmental factors, to be further identified, that lead to similar composition of toxin types in the northern United States. Our results may be useful to assess the sustainability of FHB management practices and provide a baseline for future FHB surveys.

Pollen Production of Selected Grass Species in Russia and India at the Levels of Anther, Flower and Inflorescence.

Grasses produce large amounts of pollen and are among the main causes of pollen allergy worldwide. Quantification of the roles of individual grass species in airborne pollen is an important task, because morphologically indistinguishable pollen grains of different species may differ in allergenicity. This requires knowledge of the pollen production of individual grass species; however, accumulated data are insufficient in this respect. Attempting to fill this gap, we studied pollen production per inflorescence in 29 grass species which are widespread in Middle Russia and India. Pollen production per inflorescence is determined by the number of grains per anther, the number of flowers in a spikelet and the number of spikelets per inflorescence, with the latter parameter being the most variable. We support the hypothesis that pollen production per inflorescence differs significantly between annual and perennial grasses. The greater pollen production of perennials can be interpreted as a tendency to guarantee cross-fertilization of species with self-incompatibility. The inferred pollen/ovule (P/O) ratios suggest the occurrence of facultative xenogamy in all annuals and obligate xenogamy in most perennials in the present dataset, though some self-incompatible annuals exist outside our sampling. Earlier data indicated that the P/O ratio of the annual cereal crop rye (Secale cereale) is higher than in any annual or perennial species sampled here. A ratio of pollen production to seed set (P/S ratio) is suggested to be another efficient parameter in reproductive biology of grasses. We highlight a need for detailed studies of reproductive biology in grasses that include both pollen and seed production. We found a correlation between pollen production per anther and anther length. A rough approximation of c. 1000 pollen grains per 1 mm of the length of an anther provides an instrument for estimates of pollen production in plant communities.

Perennial rye as a grain crop in Alberta, Canada: Prospects and challenges

AbstractPerennial crops may present an opportunity to produce grain in a more environmentally and economically friendly manner. We examined principal agronomic traits of perennial cereal rye (Secale cerealeL. ×S. montanumGuss ‘ACE‐1’) at two field sites in Alberta, Canada, over two consecutive growing seasons. Treatments included perennial rye, fall rye (S. cerealeL. ‘Hazlett’), spring rye (S. cerealeL.‘Gazelle’), and perennial forage (meadow brome [Bromus commutatusSchrad.] and alfalfa [Medicago sativaL.]) with and without N fertilizer addition. Grain yield of the perennial rye in Year 1 averaged 64 and 51% of the fall and spring rye yields at the Breton and Edmonton sites, respectively. Grain yield of the perennial rye in Year 2 at the Edmonton site averaged 42% of the fall and spring rye. Perennial rye at the Breton site in Year 2 was subject to competition with weeds, resulting in minimal grain productivity. Perennial rye at the Edmonton site yielded significantly more aboveground biomass (without grain) than the other rye crops over both years. Likewise, perennial rye at the Breton site produced 1.5 times more aboveground biomass than the perennial forage in Year 1. The experiment was terminated after virtually nonexistent regrowth at both sites in the spring after two growing seasons. Overall, perennial rye may be an option as a dual‐purpose forage‐grain crop, however, perennial rye cropping beyond 2 yr faces issues of winter survival and weed competition; hence, multi‐year perennial rye cropping is not yet a feasible option for cold temperate conditions.

Double cropping and manure management mitigate the environmental impact of a dairy farm under present and future climate

CONTEXTStrategies are needed to reduce the environmental impacts of dairy farms, and these may become more important as our climate continues to change. Double cropping small grain and corn silages provides a strategy that can benefit dairy farms in the northeastern U.S. as they adapt to a longer growing season. Subsurface application of manure may also reduce nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses as the region faces warmer temperatures and greater precipitation. OBJECTIVEEvaluate whole-farm production, environmental and economic impacts of adopting these strategies on a representative dairy farm in central Pennsylvania under recent historical and projected midcentury climate. METHODSFarm management strategies were simulated using the Integrated Farm System Model to determine effects on crop yields, feed production, volatile, leaching and denitrification losses of N, sediment erosion, sediment-bound and soluble losses of P, farm-gate life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, fossil energy use, and production costs. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSDouble cropping increased and stabilized feed production by providing forage from a winter rye crop with less dependency on the summer crops of corn silage and perennial grasses. Summer crops are susceptible to summer droughts, which are expected to increase in this region due to warmer temperatures and increased evapotranspiration. Double cropping was more beneficial in the midcentury climate due to the projected increase in growing season length. Double cropping and subsurface injection of manure reduced total N losses by 12–18% and total P losses by 16–19%. Double cropping using broadcast manure application had a neutral environmental and economic impact on the farm. Adoption of these strategies provided a feasible adaptation and mitigation approach for future climate by reducing projected increases in soluble P runoff and ammonia emission caused by warmer temperatures and greater precipitation while maintaining and potentially reducing total farm production costs. SIGNIFICANCEWhole-farm simulation provides a tool for evaluating potential benefits and tradeoffs of novel technologies and strategies as agriculture adapts to changes in climate. Although these results are specific to a dairy farm in central Pennsylvania, they generally apply to dairy farms throughout the Northeast U.S. and climates where similar changes in temperature and precipitation are projected by mid-century. Our analyses suggest that use of a more intensive crop rotation (double cropping winter small grain and corn silage) along with improved manure application technology (subsurface injection) can help mitigate dairy farm environmental impacts now and even more in the future.