Significant Increase In Yield Research Articles

Residual effect of shredded cotton (Gossypium species) stalks and fertility levels on productivity, quality parameters and economics of sweet corn (Zea mays)

A field experiment was carried out during the winter (rabi) season of 2020–21 on sandy clay loam soil of College of Agriculture, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, to study the effect of incorporation of cotton (Gossypium sp.) stalk on soil-fertility status and yield of succeeding sweet corn (Zea mays L.). The treatments comprised 2 levels of residue management, viz. shredded cotton stalks incorporation and no incorporation, and 5 fertility levels, viz. control, 75% Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 100% RDF, 125% RDF and 150% RDF, making 10 treatment combinations. There was no significant impact of residue incorporation on yield and quality parameters of sweet corn over the residue removal but NPK uptake was enhanced with cotton-stalk incorporation. However, higher net returns and benefit : cost (B : C) ratio were obtained with residue removal plots. An application of 150% RDF (300 : 90 : 75 kg NPK/ha) resulted in the significant increase in yield and was at par with 125% RDF (250 : 75 : 62.5 kg NPK/ha). Quality parameter, viz. crude protein (11.6%), was higher with the application of 150% RDF, being at par with 125% RDF. The higher gross returns, net returns and B : C ratio were obtained with 150% RDF. It would be, therefore, advisable to apply 125% RDF (250 : 75 : 62.5 kg NPK/ha) to sweet corn. The interaction effect between residue management and fertility levels was non-significant for all the parameters of sweet corn.

Effects of Mixing and Particle Size on the Kinetics and Dynamics of Enzymatically Treated Cotton Cellulose (MCC) in Continuous Flow Reactor.

Enzymatic hydrolysis (EH) of cellulosic biomass needs tremendous technological advancement so as to efficiently convert cellulosic biomass into renewable fuels and commodity chemicals. Therefore, development of highly improved process engineering techniques is inevitable to reduce the processing cost of the fluids in the reactor. In this investigation, effect of mixing and particle size on the EH of microcrystalline cotton cellulose (MCC) has been investigated by using a spatially averaged low-dimensional two-mode mixing (TMM) model. The model simulations were carried out for the average particle sizes of MCC ranging from 0.78 to 25.52μm and mixing speed of η → 0 (very high) to η → 1000 (very low). The effects of mixing and particle size on the formation of glucose and reducing sugar (RS) have been quantified by exploiting the rigorous multistep reaction kinetics and TMM model. To access the bond-breaking ability, its effects on the degree of polymerization (DP) was also analyzed. The results deduced that increase in mixing limitations and reduction in particle size imparts a significant increase in glucose and RS yield while decreasing the DP drastically. Thus, our simulations reveal that while η → 1000 economizes the process by reducing the energy requirements, reduction in particle size can be beneficial for reducing the residence time in the depolymerization of MCC to fuels and chemicals.

Plasma-catalytic steam reforming of benzene as a tar model compound over Ni-HAP and Ni-γAl2O3 catalysts: Insights into the importance of steam and catalyst support

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) coupled Ni-based catalysts are a promising method for tar steam reforming to syngas. In this work, Ni-based catalysts supported on hydroxyapatite (Ni-HAP) and γAl2O3 (Ni-γAl2O3) coupled with a coaxial dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma were used to degrade biomass tar, and benzene was selected as a typical unbranched benzene ring structured tar model compound. In the NTP alone system, an increase in discharge power leads to benzene deep cracking to carbon deposition. In the NTP-catalytic system, the reaction temperature is a critical factor for catalysis, and the catalyst leads to a significant increase in benzene conversion and total gas yield, prompting the conversion of more cracking intermediates to gaseous products. Steam in the system has both positive and negative effects: a certain amount of steam can increase the amount of H· and ·OH, promoting benzene decomposition and carbon deposit elimination; excessive steam will compete for energetic electrons or oxidize the active metal in the catalyst, inhibiting benzene conversion. The Ni3-HAP catalyst exhibits the maximum benzene conversion (92.13 %) and energy efficiency (8.49 g/kWh), thanks to the formed Ni2+[I] and Ni2+[II] in the lattice due to the flexible ion exchange properties of the HAP support. The main reason for the catalyst activity degradation is carbon deposition rather than catalyst sintering. A good match among tar conversion rate, degree of decomposition, steam content and steam decomposition rate is critical for efficient and stable operation of the NTP-catalytic system.

Significant Improvement of Solid‐State One‐/Two‐Photon Excited Luminescence in HOFs via Constructing Hydrogen‐Bonded Solvate Model

AbstractA hydrogen‐bonded solvate (HBS) model is herein proposed to construct hydrogen‐bonded organic frameworks (HOFs), for enhancing the solid‐state one‐/two‐photon excited fluorescence (1/2PEF) of organic fluorophores. Two photonic HOFs (ZJU‐HOF‐25 and ZJU‐HOF‐26) are synthesized by using the same organic fluorophore and the fluorophore in them features similar arrangement. The most obvious structural distinction between the two HOFs is the existence of solvent molecules in the crystal cell of ZJU‐HOF‐25. ZJU‐HOF‐25 is regarded as an ideal HBS material where solvent molecules separate fluorophores apart just like dissolving them. But ZJU‐HOF‐26 contains no solvent molecules and the fluorophores are connected directly via hydrogen bonds among them. A significant quantum yield (η) increase is realized from amorphous fluorophores (η ≈0%) to HBS‐based ZJU‐HOF‐25 (η ≈21.75%), while ZJU‐HOF‐26 displays poor 1PEF (η ≈0%). ZJU‐HOF‐25 also exhibits much stronger 2PEF with the two‐photon action cross section larger than ZJU‐HOF‐26 by almost two orders of magnitude. These phenomena are mainly attributed to that the solvent molecules in ZJU‐HOF‐25 benefit the homogeneous separation and conformation fixation of fluorophores, suppressing the non‐radiative transition. The HBS model thus shows the fantastic validity to improve solid‐state optical properties of organic materials, providing guidance for exploring advanced optical materials.

EFFECT OF VERMICOMPOST ASSOCIATED WITH MYCORHIZAL FUNGI ON THE GROWTH OF EGGPLANT IN ORGANIC GREENHOUSE AGRICULTURE

<p><strong>Background</strong>. In West Africa, the eggplant crop participates in the fight against rural poverty, hunger and malnutrition due to their higher nutritional contents. However, this crop is faced with several constraints including poor soils and low yielding cultivars. It is known that mycorhization of plants improves plant nutrition while preserving them from certain pests. <strong>Objective.</strong> To evaluate the combination of mycorhization and vermicompost effect on eggplant plants growth and yield. <strong>Methodology.</strong> A consortium of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) from forest soils was trapped using maize roots and used as inoculum for eggplant, Djamba F1 variety. A trial using this inoculum combined or not to vermicompost was carried out for 90 days under a greenhouse. Selected soil properties, eggplant growth and yield indicator were recorded at the end of trial. <strong>Results.</strong> As expected, soil vermicompost alone or combined to inoculum displayed an increase of soil parameter such as pH, exchangeable base cations, total organic matter, total nitrogen compared to control and soil with AM alone. Soil with AM alone had a limited impact on the growth and yield of eggplant. In contrast, all treatments including vermicompost (vermicompost alone and vermicompost + AM) showed a significant increase of eggplant growth parameters and yield’s indicators. <strong>Implications.</strong> These results highlighted a need to carry out a screening of mycorrhizal fungi from eggplant production areas to isolate and identify the efficient strains of mycorrhizal fungi for symbiosis with eggplant under tropical conditions. <strong>Conclusion. </strong>The vermicompost significantly improved the growth of the eggplant. Its coupling with a consortium of spores of the genera<em> </em>results in better plant growth and yield. This combination has a significant effect on the studied parameters (height, crown diameter, biomass and yield). </p>

Эффективность возделывания гороха Премьер в зависимости от вносимых минеральных удобрений и норм посева

Purpose: to study the efficiency of cultivation of the variety Premier peas on ordinary chernozem, depending on mineral fertilizers and seed sowing rates. Materials and methods. The experience was laid on the fields of the Department of Agriculture and Crop Production of Federal Rostov Agricultural Research Centre. The objects of research are the elements of pea productivity, yield and protein content in grain, depending on the fertilizers applied and the seeding rate. Statistical analysis of data, records and observations were carried out according to the method of B. A. Dospekhov. Results. The sowing rate influences the el-ements of pea productivity. An increase in the rate to 1.2 million seeds/ha leads to a signifi-cant reduction in the number of formed beans, the number of seeds in a bean, and a decrease in grain weight. Fertilizers did not have a significant effect on the elements of productivity. The introduction of phosphorus and potash fertilizers leads to a significant increase in the yield of peas. The combined application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium leads to a sig-nificant increase in yield when sown 1.0 and 1.2 million seeds/ha. Nitrogen fertilizers do not have a significant impact on the yield of peas. The fertilizers application helps to increase the protein content in the grain. The maximum was obtained in the N₆₀ variant, amounting to 24.8 %. The responsiveness of peas to introduced fertilizers depends on the seeding rate. At the optimal rate of 1.2 million seeds/ha, the highest payback was obtained in the variant with the introduction of 20 kg of a. i. phosphorus and potassium, amounting to 7.7 kg/kg a. i. Conclusions. The best results were obtained when sowing 1.2 million seeds/ha, which pro-vides an opportunity to get the highest conditional net income with high profitability of pro-duction. The maximum conditional net income of 41.7 thousand rubles/ha was observed in the option P₄₀K₄₀, while the profitability of production was 139.39 %, the cost of production was 12.5 thousand rubles/t.

The timing of oilseed flax sowing in the steppe zone of Western Siberia

In the steppe zone of the Omsk region from 2020 to 2022 two sowing periods (May, 15 and 25) of Severny oilseed flax with a seeding rate of five million germinated seeds per hectare on four chemicalization backgrounds were tested. With the norm for the steppe zone of the HTC 0.78 all the years of the experiments this indicator was only 0.37-0.58. Having sowed in the third decade of May, the yield of oilseed flax seeds with the use of a tank mixture of herbicides (Agritox, WC 1 l/ha and Legion, EC 0,4 l/ha) with a working fluid flow rate of 200 l/ha 0.868 tons of oilseeds were obtained from 1 ha and 1.009 t/ha were obtained with the help of a complex chemicalization, where Lingohumate 100 g/ha was used during the leaf development phase in a mixture of herbicides and Isagry Bor 0.5 l/ha during the building phase. They provided a profitability level of 197 %. Similar results were obtained having used only herbicides – 179.9 %. Ammophos’s introduction during sowing did not bring a significant increase in yield and reduced economic indicators. Having sowed in the second decade of May, the annual oilseeds yield was significantly lower and, accordingly, the level of profitability was decreasing sharply from 27.8 to 87.8 %.

EFFICIENCY OF THE APPLICATION OF HUMIC PREPARATIONS IN FORMING THE YIELD OF WINTER WHEAT

The relevance of the use of nitrogen inhibitors is determined by three main aspects, namely, reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizers and, therefore, the chemical load on the environment, increasing the yield of agricultural crops, and economic feasibility. There is some information about the positive effect of the combined use of a nitrogen inhibitor and fulvic acid preparations, but there is no data on the role of humic substances such as nitrogen inhibitors. The results of the research showed a significant impact of the use of humic preparations on the formation of the yield of winter wheat. The use of UltraBoost for seed for pre-sowing treatment in the amount of 1 kg/t of seeds contributed to an increase in productivity by 0.22–0.29 t/ha, which was 4.4–6.4%. The norm of 1 kg/ha ensured a statistically significant increase in yield by 5–7.9%, which was 0.23–0.4 t/ha. In the variants of the experiment with a rate of 3 l/ha, the increase was 8.8–11% or 0.38–0.51 t/ha. The use of UltraBoost for NH3 and pre-sowing seed treatment contributed to an increase in yield by 7.1–7.5%. The rate of UltraBoost for NH3 of 1 l/ha provided an increase in yield by 0.25–0.4 t/ha, which in relative terms amounted to 3.9–7%. Twice as much rate led to an increase in productivity by 0.31–0.69 t/ha or by 10.4%. The use of nitrogen inhibitor UltraBoost for NH3 leads to an increase in the content of total nitrogen in the soil. In the variants with the application of 1 l/ha, an increase in the content was noted on average by 2.06 g/m3, which was 14.3%, and in the case of application of 2 kg/ha, the content of total nitrogen in the soil was higher on average by 3.28%, which was 22.7%. The rate of alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen in these variants was higher by 3.5–8.8%. In variants with a rate of 1 l/ha of UltraBoost for NH3, the content of total nitrogen increased by 11.5%, and on variants with a rate of 3 l/ha – by 12.7%. The similar trend was also noted for the content of alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen as the increase was 13.4 and 14.1%, respectively.

Responses of soil–plant C, N, and P concentrations and stoichiometry to contrasting application rates of biochar to subtropical paddy field

Summary Biochar is increasingly used in crop production as a fertilizer; however, its effects on nutrient cycling and stoichiometry in rice paddy soil–plant systems are unclear. We tested for effects of contrasting rates of biochar on soil and rice plant organ carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) concentrations and stoichiometry and soil physicochemical properties in early and late paddies. Overall, biochar reduced soil bulk density by an average of 7.4%, while application at 10, 20, and 40 t ha−1 increased soil C and N concentrations in early paddies by 31.6, 41.3, and 104.2%, respectively, and by 8.0, 5.0, and 21.8%, respectively; in late paddies, there were increases of 23.0, 94.1, and 117.0%, respectively, and 6.7, 15.4, and 18.0%, respectively (P < 0.05). Following biochar application at 10, 20, and 40 t ha−1, soil concentration of P decreased in early paddies by 10.9, 19.0, and 13.9%, respectively, and increased in late paddies by 4.3, 16.4, and 20.1%, respectively. Biochar increased ratios of soil C:N and C:P in early and late paddies (P < 0.05), and there was no effect on concentration and stoichiometry of soil available nutrients. Biochar reduced rice plant organ concentration of N and P in early rice and increased leaf N:P ratios. Despite the biochar application improved nutrient status in plant–soil system, we did not observe a significant increase in yield (P > 0.05). According to the N:P value of leaves between treatments, it was found that biochar alleviated the current situation of N limitation in paddy fields during the mature period and transformed the N limitation of early rice into a joint limitation of N and P. These results show that the addition of biochar to subtropical paddy soils leads to a short-term reduction in soil bulk density and increases in soil C and N concentrations and soil fertility. Thus, biochar applied at optimal rates is likely to improve the sustainability of subtropical paddy rice production.

Impact of Soil Health Card Scheme on Soil Fertility and Crop Production Among the Adopted Farmers

The study was conducted in Bareilly district of western UP regarding adoption of recommendation of soil health card scheme and its impact on productivity and economics of different crops i.e. wheat, paddy and sugarcane. It was found that only 40 per cent farmers owned soil health card. However, due to adoption of SHT based fertilizer recommendations there was a significant increase in crop yields of wheat (30.80%), paddy (29.80%) and sugarcane (32.90%). In addition, the adoption of SHT based fertilizer recommendation had a significant reduction in production cost by Rs. 2130, 2164 and 3122/- per acre of wheat, paddy and sugarcane crops, respectively. Also, the net increase in farmer’s income was realised from one acre of wheat, paddy and sugarcane was about Rs. 11197, 12058 & 29187, respectively. Thus, the application of SHT under field condition has reduced the production cost and increased the farmers’ income.

Review Article Utilization Of Pesticides In Vegetable Farming In Sub-Saharan Africa: Prospects And Challenges

Introduction: The use of pesticides in vegetable farming has become increasingly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. Pesticides are commonly used to control pests, diseases and weeds and can lead to significant increases in crop yield and quality. However, overuse or misuse of pesticides can lead to negative impacts on human health and the environment. High cost of pesticides and limited access to information and training on safe pesticide use are major challenges faced by farmers in the region. This article provides an overview of pesticide utilization in vegetable farming and highlights recommendations for an integrated approach to promote the safe and sustainable use of pesticides. Objective:  The goal of this paper is to review the utilization of pesticides in vegetable farming in Sub-Saharan Africa aimed at informing policy decision on pesticide utilization Method: A concise and comprehensive review was carried out with the aid of online research journal websites such as science direct, research gate, sci-hub, PubMed and google scholar. A total of 10 reviewed and published articles were used to generate this research paper. Results: The most common pesticides used in vegetable farming in sub-Saharan Africa are insecticides (44%), herbicides (33%), and fungicides (23%). Most pesticide residue concentrations are below 500mg/kg body weight, which can cause dangerous health effects. Conclusion: In conclusion, the use of pesticides in agriculture has both benefits and risks. Pesticides can help to increase crop yields and provide food security, but their use can also have negative impacts on the environment, wildlife, and human health.

ИНСТИТУЦИОНАЛЬНО-РЫНОЧНАЯ ПЕРЕБАЛАНСИРОВКА РАСТЕНИЕВОДСТВА И ЖИВОТНОВОДСТВА В УСЛОВИЯХ ОБНОВЛЕНИЯ ИНВЕСТИЦИОННОГО ЦИКЛА РАЗВИТИЯ ОТЕЧЕСТВЕННОЙ АГРАРНОЙ ОТРАСЛИ/Institutional and Market rebalancing of crop and livestock agriculture under influence of updating inflow of investments in national agro-industrial complex

In the article, the authors present an empirical assessment of the conditions and factors for the development of the agro-industrial complex in the context of the crop and livestock sectors, the concentration of capital in the industry and the general macroeconomic constraints on its development in the medium term. The extended prerequisites for the vertical integration of agricultural assets, the provision of own raw materials and entering the cycle of more profitable deep processing are substantiated. For the development of crop production, a high market potential has been identified for increasing export supplies of grains, oilseeds and products of their processing. In a broader analytical vein, the authors update the inflow of investments into the segment, the consolidation of which is determined by the high marginality of crop production, a significant increase in average yields. A more complex market junction of demand restrictions in the economy and the consolidation of the sales link stimulate further concentration of capital in the agro-industrial complex, which is accompanied by increased pressure on the small-scale sector of domestic agricultural production.

Accelerating Crop Yield: Multisensor Data Fusion and Machine Learning for Agriculture Text Classification

Sensors are now used by farmers and agronomists to help them improve their operations. They use sensor data transmitted via IoT to remotely monitor their crops. Farmers today manage crops in a controlled environment to increase yields in the name of modern farming. Crop productivity, on the other hand, is influenced by the severity of the weather and disease variations. The primary objective of this paper is to present a novel Multisensor Machine-Learning Approach (MMLA) for classifying multisensor data. The fusion strategy supports high-quality data analysis in agricultural contexts for cultivation recommendations. Based on the proposed recommendation system, eight crops were classified: cotton, gram, groundnut, maize, moong, paddy, sugarcane, and wheat. Crop species were classified using three machine learning algorithms: J48 Decision Tree, Hoeffding Tree, and Random Forest. To evaluate the performance of the proposed multi-text classifier, only the top eight classes were investigated. The classifier’s performance is measured in terms of precision, recall, F-measure, MCC, ROC Area, and PRC Area class, and the results are compared with the state-of-the-art classifiers. The Random forest algorithm has the lowest error measure of RMSE at 13%, RAE at 38.67%, and RRSE at 44.21%, demonstrating effectiveness in classifying the agriculture text. Thus, the use of a multisensor data fusion approach based on crop recommendation provides greater precision in prediction, resulting in a significant increase in crop yield while also creating awareness in the condition-based environmental monitoring system.

Meta-analysis and systematic review of mediastinal cryobiopsy versus endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the diagnosis of intrathoracic adenopathy.

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided mediastinal/hilar cryobiopsy (MedCryoBx) is a relatively new modality, being combined with EBUS-transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) to improve yield in the diagnosis of intrathoracic adenopathy. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the diagnostic yield of MedCryoBx versus EBUS-TBNA for intrathoracic adenopathy. We conducted a systematic search using Google Scholar, Embase, and PubMed/MEDLINE for studies about a diagnosis of intrathoracic adenopathy using MedCryoBx and EBUS-TBNA. Two authors separately reviewed studies for inherent bias using the Quality Assessment Data Abstraction and Synthesis-2 (QUADAS-2) tool. Inverse Variance weighting for random effects methodology was used for meta-analysis. Pooled diagnostic yields overall and for subgroups were estimated. Complications of MedCryoBx were reviewed. Ten studies with 844 patients undergoing either biopsy procedure were in the final analysis. A total of 554 patients underwent MedCryoBx and 704 patients EBUS-TBNA. Meta-analysis showed a pooled diagnostic yield of 91% (504 of 554) for MedCryoBx and 81% (567 of 704) for EBUS-TBNA, with odds ratio (OR) of 2.5 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6 to 3.91; P<0.001], with I2 of 20%. Subgroup analysis for benign conditions showed increased diagnostic yield with OR of 7.95 (91% MedCryoBx versus 58% EBUS-TBNA, P<0.001) with an I2 of 25%. Subgroup analysis for lymphoma showed a statistically significant increase in pooled diagnostic yield with OR of 11.48 (87% MedCryoBx versus 29% EBUS-TBNA, P=0.001). Mild bleeding (36.5%) without any intervention was the most common complication. Bleeding requiring intervention (0.7%) was noted in patients. Pneumothorax (0.4%) and pneumomediastinum (0.4%) were less common in this analysis. MedCryoBx is a very promising tool for the diagnosis of intrathoracic adenopathy. It has improved diagnostic yield over EBUS-TBNA in benign and possibly lymphoproliferative diseases, but less so in lung cancer. The complication rates with MedCryoBx are comparable to EBUS-TBNA.

염분 스트레스에 대한 식물의 반응과 질소의 영향

Around the world, 110 billion hectares of cultivated land in more than 100 countries are affected by soil salinity due to rapid climate change. Salinity and drought stress among various abiotic stresses are the main causes of significant decrease in crop production worldwide. In the 21st century, there are also predictions that 50% of the arable land will be affected by soil salinity. To alleviate the salt stress of crops and further increase production, mechanisms related to various physiological phenomena related to plant salt stress should be identified at the molecular level. In addition, plants can not move, so in order to successfully grow and develop in a given environment, various nutrients including micronutrients such as iron, manganese, and zinc are needed as well as large nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Most of these soil nutrients are absorbed into the plant body through the underground root system of a wide range of plants. In particular, nitrogen is one of the essential macronutrients for plant growth and crop productivity. Plants evolved various mechanisms to adapt to unbalanced nitrogen conditions. However, plants absorb nitrates with the help of nitrogen-fixing-related bacteria around their roots, as they cannot absorb nitrogen directly from the atmosphere. To meet the growing demand for food resources, the large amount of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer supplied to crops increased dramatically as synthetic nitrogen fertilizers began to be developed, resulting in a significant increase in crop yields. However, most of the nitrates deposited in the soil are not absorbed by plants but spread to the surrounding environment, leading to serious environmental and ecological pollution. Thus, identification of regulatory genes associated with in-depth understanding of nitrate absorption, assimilation and their use mechanisms is a key prerequisite for improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crops, and consequently is critical for maintaining agricultural stability.

Effect of Black Plastic Mulching on Yield of Tomato

The use of polyethylene mulch has increased dramatically in the last few years because they have many benefits viz., increase in soil temperature especially in early spring, reduced weed problem, moisture conservation and increased crop yields. Field experiments were conducted to maximize total yield of tomato (Lycopersicon Mill.) using black polyethylene mulch (BPM). Tomato variety Arka Rakshak having triple disease resistance against tomato leaf curl virus, bacterial wilt and early blight. Unmulched treatments under recommended N:P2O5:K2O dose of 120:200:200 yielded an average of 47.74 tha-1for ‘Arka Rakshak ’ which was significantly higher than the widely cultivated var.‘Rocky’(32.20tha-1 ) in the study area. With BPM, highest yield was recorded as 55.3 t/ha in var. Arka Raksha kwhich was significantly higher than cultivar Rocky (37.2 t/ha). A significant increase in yield was recorded over control (no mulch) in both the cultivars. Keywords: Tomato, Black plastic mulch, Unmulch, Triple disease resistance, Cultivars.

Grain yield of grain sorghum hybrids of different ripeness groups depending on the influence of seeding rate and row spacing in the Northern Steppe of Ukraine

The results of the complex influence of the row spacing and seeding rate on the grain yield sorghum of various ripeness group in the conditions of the Northern Steppe of Ukraine are presented. The studies were carried out during 2019–2021 on the fields of the farming «Dyunis» of the Kreminsky district of the Lugansk region. A three-factor experiment was laid by a rando-mized method in four repetitions. In the experiment, three variant of the row spacing were studied – 35, 45 and 70 cm, two hybrids – Swat and Flagg and four variants of the seeding rate – 100, 140, 180 and 220 thousand pieces/ha. The area of sowing and accounting plots was 100 and 80 m2 respectively. From the point of view of the yield of both sorghum hybrids, the best option was the combination of sowing with row spacing of 35 cm with a seeding rate of 180 thousand seeds/ha. The yield of Swat and Flagg hybrids on average for three years in this variant was 6.28 and 5.07 t/ha, respectively. Increasing the seeding rate to 220 thousand units/ha did not provide a significant increase in grain yield. Only in 2019, favorable for sorghum, was a significant increase in grain yield of the Flagg hybrid noted with an increase in the seeding rate from 180 to 220 thousand units/ha. At the same time, taking into account that the weather condition of the study area are more characterized by high summer temperatures and a significant deficit of precipitation, during the sowing of Swat and Flagg hybrids, as well as hybrids close to them in term of biotype, preference should be given to the seeding rate of 180 thousand pieces/ha. In the context of years of research, certain differences were noted regarding the influence of the seeding rate. In particular, in the less favourable 2020, on variant with row spacing of 35 and 45 cm, the grain yield of both hybrids on variant with a seeding rate of 180 and 220 thousand pieces/ha did not differ statistically, while on variants with row spacing of 70 cm, its increase led to a significant decrease in yield. In 2019, the highest grain yield of the studied hybrids on variants with row spacing of 35 cm was noted at a seeding rate of 220 thousand pieces/ha (6.77 t/ha for the Flagg hybrid and 5.51 t/ha for the Swat hybrid). At the same time, on the crops of the Flagg hybrid, it significantly exceeded the yield on the variant with a seeding rate of 180 thousand pieces/ha (by 0.16 t/ha), while in the Swat hybrid it was at same level – 5.51 and 5.45 t/ha respectively (LSD05 – 0.16 t/ha). Key words: grain sorghum, seeding rates, row spacing, grain yield, hybrids, feeding area shape, grain.

Effect of amendments on bioavailability of cadmium in soil-rice system: a field experiment study.

The field experiment study investigated the effect of lime (L), manure compost (M), combination of lime and manure (LM), and combinations of lime with four kinds of passivators (LP1, LP2, LP3, and LP4) on the bioavailability of cadmium (Cd) in soil and Cd accumulation in rice plants. These four passivating products were composed of organic and inorganic compounds such as silicon-sulfhydryl group, CaO, SiO2, and so on. The results indicated that the application of these amendments improved soil pH, organic matter content, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) by 0.19-0.73 unit, 0.6-8.2%, and 5.7-38.9%, respectively; meanwhile, decreased soil acid-extractable Cd by 4.0-13.9% compared with before remediation. Alleviating Cd stress to rice also resulted in a significant increase in rice grains yield, whereas the LP4 showed an increment of 15.8-27.6%. Among these amendments, LP4 had a relatively high effectiveness, it promoted the decrease of extractable Cd by 13.9% and the increase of residual Cd by 8.1%; meanwhile, the bioconcentration factor of rice grain in LP4 decreased by 71.3%. The high pH, CEC, and rich functional groups in amendments might cause soil Cd transform from mobile fraction to residual fraction, and the cation ions in amendments also competed with Cd ions due to the antagonism. Taken all of these effects, the amendments alleviated Cd pollution in soil-rice system, decreasing Cd migration from soil to grain. In future, the long-term field experiment will need to be done for verify the long-term effect of soil amendments.

Productivity formation and processability of sugar beet in the conditions of continental climate

Purpose. To reveal the peculiarities of yield formation and processability of sugar beet roots in the conditions of the Steppe of Ukraine through optimizing the cultivation technology.&#x0D; Methods. The field experiment was conducted in the years 2020–2021 in the conditions of Chkalov Agrocompany LLC (Kirovohrad region). A drought-resistant diploid sugar beet hybrid ‘Magister’ (SESVanderHave) was grown against the background of the application of a moisture retainer (without hydrogel and hydrogel Aquasorb, 300 kg/ha) and different fertilization systems [without fertilizers – control; manure, 20 t/ha; N170P180K350; Leonardyt, 400 kg/ha; Parostok-20, 400 kg/ha]. Organic and mineral fertilizers (PK) were applied in autumn under plowing, while nitrogen component was applied under early spring cultivation. The adsorbent was applied to the soil two weeks before sowing the crop locally in the zone of the row to be, based on the data of the GPS tracker. The rest of the agricultural activities carried out were generally accepted components of cultivation technology in the research area.&#x0D; Results. As a result of rather difficult weather conditions in 2020, the yield of root crops was only 30.3 t/ha on average in the experiment. The lowest level yield (26.0 t/ha) was obtained in the plots of both controls without fertilizer, while the application of 20 t/ha of manure yielded 29.0–30.0 t/ha. The mineral system (N170P180K350), despite its significantly lower efficiency in the treatment without Aquasorb hydrogel (31.0 t/ha), when it was applied to the soil before sowing the crop, ensured the maximum productivity of sugar beets – 34.0 t/ha. In addition, against the background of the hydrogel, the effectiveness of Leonardyt and Parostok-20 increased significantly – yield increases by 7.0 and 6.0 t/ha, respectively. The maximum content of sugars in roots was noted under the mineral fertilization system against the background of Aquasorb hydrogel – 16.3 against 15.0% in the control. However, in the same treatment, the highest content of α-amine nitrogen was also obtained, which significantly reduces the yield of sugar at the factory. In 2021, due to favorable weather conditions during the crop vegetation, the yield of root crops was 55.6 t/ha on average in the experiment, which is almost twice as high as the previous year. As predicted, the lowest yield was obtained in the treatments without fertilizers – 49.7–50.2 t/ha, with manure application – 50.7–53.3 t/ha. Significantly higher, however, unlike in 2020, the indicators for the mineral fertilizer system were 56.9–58.1 t/ha. The most effective from the point of view of the formation of sugar beet productivity were Leonardyt and Parostok-20 yielding 58.1–58.6 and 59.2–61.6 t/ha, respectively. The maximum sugar content of roots was ensured by the use of Parostok-20 fertilizer, both on the background of Aquasorb hydrogel and without it (17.8% compared to control 15.8%).&#x0D; Conclusions. Weather conditions during the vegetation of sugar beets are the most significant factor that determines the level of their productivity, as well as the effectiveness of applied agricultural measures. In all treatments with fertilizers, a significant increase in crop yield was observed, and the amount of the obtained increments largely depended on both their type and the use of hydrogel, especially under unfavorable growing conditions. On average, during the research period, the highest indicators of sugar yield were obtained in the treatment with the use of organic fertilizers of the new formulation Leonardyt and Parostok-20 on the background of Aquasorb hydrogel, which indicates the feasibility of their further implementation in the cultivation technology for sugar beet.

Qualitative Assessment of MWCNT- Treated Grains of Some Food Cereals

Abstract: The advancement in nanotechnology and its utilisation in agriculture increases agricultural output. To protect crops from numerous plant diseases and pests, excessive chemical, pesticide, and fungicide use can be replaced with nanoparticles. The first step of plant growth, seed germination, is thought to be the most delicate time in a plant's life cycle. The effects of carbon nanotubes on seed quality and seed content both before and after treatment are discussed in this study. Rice, wheat, and oat grains were compared with the seeds harvested from MWCNT (multiwalled carbon nanotubes) treated plants at three different concentrations (70, 80, and 90μg/ml) and indicated no significant changes in various components such as carbohydrates, protein, crude fat, crude fibre, moisture and ash contents when compared to untreated grains. Grain primed with MWCNT before sowing resulted in no change in the above components, but an increase in mineral accumulation was found. Here, we noticed a significant increase in grain yield. The treatment of MWCNT enhanced the growth of grains count by two folds compared to the control plant. The wheat grain had a moisture content: 9.3-9.38%, ash content: 1.31-1.35%, crude fat: 0.9-0.93%, crude fibre: 1.1-1.13%, protein content: 9.2-9.38%, carbohydrate content: 77.96-78.04%. The rice grain had a moisture content: 9.98-10.25%, ash content: 0.42-0.45%, crude fat: 1.00-1.02%, crude fibre: 0.9-0.93%, protein content: 4.42-4.49%, carbohydrate content: 82.92-83.03%. The oat grain had a moisture content: 8.95-9.3%, ash content: 1.74-1.8%, crude fat: 2.1-2.3%, crude fibre: 5.1-5.27%, protein content: 9.5-9.59%, carbohydrate content: 71.78-72.23%. The study revealed that the examined MWCNT concentrations might efficiently enhance the grain yield without altering the grain quality.