Split-split Plot Research Articles

Assessing the Zinc, Boron and Rhizobium Inoculation on Yield and Economics of Kharif Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)

The present experiment was carried out during kharif season of 2021 and 2022 at Instructional farm, Kamla Nehru Institute of Physical and Social Sciences Sultanpur, U.P. India. Four levels of zinc (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 Kg Zn ha-1), three levels of boron (0, 0.5 and 1.0 Kg B ha-1) and two levels of rhizobium i.e. Uninoculated (Control) and inoculated. A split-split plot design with three replications was used. Zinc levels were allocated to the main plots, boron levels in the sub-plot, while Rhizobium inoculation in the sub-sub plot. Results revealed that dry weight and seed and stover yield was observed that Rhizobium inoculation with application of zinc 7.5 kg ha-1 and Application of boron 1.0 kg ha-1. Obtaining seed yield from Rhizobium inoculation (8.53 and 8.71 q/ha-1) with application of zinc (8.53 and 8.79 q/ha-1) and Application of boron (8.45 and 8.70 q/ha-1). The highest net return (Rs. 58211.0 and 65488.50 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.75 and 1.97) were obtained with 7.5kg Zn ha-1 + 1 kg B ha-1 + seed inoculation with rhizobium. It could be recommended for cultivation of mungbean.

Fiber composition, in vitro true digestibility, and fiber degradation of hempseed meal compared to mainstream feedstuffs using equine feces as microbial inoculum within the DaisyII Incubator.

Recent changes in legislation have put hempseed meal (Cannabis sativa L.; HSM) under consideration as a potential livestock feedstuff. Digestibility of HSM has been researched in other species, however, there are little data in horses. The study objective was to determine the in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) of HSM compared to common equine feedstuffs. An in vitro split-split plot design used four geldings (8.5 ± 3.9yr; 558.4 ± 31.0kg; 6.0 ± 0.4 BCS) to investigate the IVTD of HSM compared to alfalfa hay (ALF), Coastal Bermudagrass hay (CBH), soybean meal (SBM), rice bran pellets (RBP), and a commercial concentrate (Bluebonnet Equilene Pellets; EQU). Fresh feces were collected after a 21-d acclimation period and used as incubation inoculum. Dried ground feed samples were incubated in ANKOM filter bags within 2 DaisyII incubators for 48h. Split samples were analyzed for pre-fermentation neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Incubated filter bags were dried and analyzed for NDF to determine IVTD and fiber degradation. Hempseed meal NDF was greater than ALF (P<0.001), RBP (P<0.001), and SBM (P<0.001) but less than CBH (P<0.001) and tended to be greater than EQU (P=0.077). The IVTD of HSM was greater than CBH (P<0.001) but less than all other feedstuffs (P<0.001). The results indicate that HSM has an NDF and IVTD between ALF and CBH. Due to its lower digestibility and NDF content compared to concentrates, HSM has potential to be used as a fiber source in equine rations.

Exogenous application of mepiquat chloride and crop geometry alters cotton growth and yield traits of compact cotton cultivars (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Mepiquat chloride is widely used as a growth regulator in cotton fields to increase crop yield. The present study investigated the effects of growth regulator (mepiquat chloride) and row spacings on compact cotton's growth and yield attributes. An experiment was conducted during summer and winter seasons of 2023-2024 at Cotton Research Station, Veppanthattai and the field trial was designed as a split-split plot with three main plots (Varieties - CO 17, VPT 2, Suraksha), four sub-plots (crop geometry - 90 x 15 cm, 70 x 15 cm, 90 x 10 cm, 70 × 10 cm), and two sub-sub plots (growth regulators - mepiquat chloride @150 ppm, mepiquat chloride + cyclanilide @400 ppm), each replicated three times. Results concluded that the Suraksha variety showed superior performance with greater plant height, higher biomass, more sympodial branches, higher bolls/m2 and higher seed cotton yield than CO 17 and VPT 2. Wider spacing of 90 cm resulted in greater plant height, more sympodial branches and more bolls/m2 to a significantly rise in dry matter production due to the higher number of plants per unit area. Combining mepiquat chloride with cyclanilide at 400 ppm during square initiation and boll development stages significantly increased sympodial branches and bolls/m2, improving seed cotton yield.In contrast, applying mepiquat chloride alone led to more significant biomass accumulation, increased plant height and longer internodal distances. It was suggested that the Suraksha variety be sown at a spacing of 90 x 15 cm and treated with a combination of mepiquat chloride and cyclanilide. This resulted in a plant architecture well-suited for mechanical harvesting.

IMPACT OF SEEDS SOAKING AND SEEDING DATES ON YIELD AND IT'S COMPONENTS OF SORGHUM

A field experiment was carried out during spring and fall seasons of 2021 at the experimental field of Al-Hamidhyia research station -College of Agriculture - University of Anbar to investgate the effect of variety, soaking with atonik and seeding dates on yield and its components of sorghum. the experiment was carried out using RCBD, within split-split plots arrangement with 3 replications. The main plots included three seeding dates for spring season (15/3, 1/4 and 15/4) and three seeding dates for the fall season (1/7, 10/7 and 20/7), while sub plots included seeds soaking with three concentrations of Atonik(0, 2.5 and 5 mlL-1), whereas the sub-sub plots included three varieties of Sorghum bicolor (Inqath, Lilo and Giza 113). The results showed that the Inqath variety was significantly superior in the studied traits and gave highest grain yield (4.70 and 5.70 ton ha-1) for both seasons prodused.Soaking seeds with Atonik had a significant effect on the studied traits; the highest concentration (5 ml L-1) was significantly superior and achieved a highest grain yield (4.79 and 5.36 tons ha-1)for both seasons respectively. Seeding dates significantly affected the studied traits.

Differential responses of two local and commercial guar cultivars for nutrient uptake and yield components under drought and biochar application

Drought is one of the abiotic stresses that can reduce crop yields. It has a major impact on crop yield reduction. For crops under stress, organic modifiers such as biochar can be useful. Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.), an annual legume from the Fabaceae Family, is highly adaptable to arid and semi-arid regions, with many applications in various industries. Field experiments were carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications using a split-split plots arrangement. The aim was to evaluate the influence of irrigation levels (Ir1 = 10, Ir2 = 14, and Ir3 = 17 days irrigation cycle) and biochar (B1 = 0, B2 = 5, and B3 = 10 tons ha−1) application on physiological traits [(chlorophyll a and b, chlorophyll index (SPAD), relative leaf water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage (EL), canopy temperature, leaf area, water use efficiency (WUE)], morphological parameters (length and diameter of the stem, pod length, fresh weight of root and plant, root length), yield components (seed yield, number of branch plant−1, number of clusters plant−1, pod plant−1, seed pod−1, seed plant−1, 1000-seed weight, and gum contents), and leaf nutrient uptake (Ca, Mg, P, Na, and K) of two commercial and local cultivars (cv1 = RGC-936 and cv2 = Saravan) of the guar plant. It was observed that the Ir3 irrigation treatment produced the highest seed yield (1921.8 kg ha−1) in terms of water stress. However, the maximum pod plant−1 (75.5), seed plant−1 (454.2), seed yield (1871.1 kg ha−1), leaf area (861.8 mm2), SPAD (92.2), Mg (49.8 mg g−1), Na (43.3 mg g−1) and P (0.49 mg g−1) were observed in RGC-936. The results also revealed that biochar was more effective than cultivars in terms of morphological traits. While yield and yield components were affected by cultivar, irrigation at different levels also had a significant effect on functional traits, physiology, and morphology. The addition of biochar appeared to have a positive effect on water stress alleviation and guar growth and leaf nutrient uptake. According to Pearson’s correlation analysis, plant weight and length, root weight and length, stem diameter, seed pod−1, branches plant−1, and 1000-seed weight are moderately correlated with seed yield, while pod plant−1 and seed plant−1 are strongly associated with seed yield. On the other hand, the pod length, branches plant−1, and gum content showed a positive but not significant relationship.

Influence of the seeding rate, row spacing, and cultivar on alfalfa forage yield in the first production year

The cultivated lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is the most widely grown forage legume, mainly due to its high nutritive quality and yield. The objective of this study was to provide information about the optimal seeding rate and row spacing for alfalfa cultivation under rainfed conditions in the Republic of North Macedonia. Alfalfa was sown in the fall of 2020 using randomized complete block design in a split-split plot arrangement with three replications. The effects of two seeding rates (8 and 16 kg ha-1) and two row spaces (20 and 40 cm) were examined on the fresh forage yield (FFY) and dry matter yield (DMY) of four alfalfa cultivars. Based on the evaluation, the sowing method (row spacing) and cultivar choice have shown a significant impact on the obtained forage yield. Higher average yield of fresh (73.7 t ha-1) and dry (20.3 t ha-1) forage was achieved at a sowing distance of 20 cm. Since the seeding rate did not significantly impact the FFY and DMY, in regions with a temperate climate, it is recommended that lower seeding rates than 16 kg ha-1 should be used in order to have sufficient and cost-effective alfalfa production. The inevitable issues for increasing alfalfa production are the selection of an appropriate cultivar with good adaptability to recent climate change within compatible establishment methods.

YIELD AND QUALITY RESPONSES OF SOYBEAN (Glycine max. L. Merr.) VARIETIES INOCULATED WITH RHIZOBIA STRAINS UNDER DROUGHT STRESS

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nodule formation and nodulation performance of Rhizobia bacteria on yield and quality in soybean roots under limited water application conditions in soybean varieties depending on climate change. In this study, 4 different irrigation applications (limited vs irrigated: 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%), 2 soybean varieties (Cinsoy and Altınay) and 3 different Rhizobia inoculants (Control, AZOTEK-2, USDA-110) were applied for two years (2020-2021) in order to determine the yield and quality characteristics of soybean. The experiment was established according to randomized complete block split-split plots experimental design with 3 replications. In the experiment, the main factor was Rhizobia inoculant treatments, the first sub-factor was soybean varieties, and the second sub-factor was irrigation applications. Within the scope of the study, yield and quality parameters such as plant height (cm), first pod height (cm), number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, seed yield (kg ha-1), 1000 seed weight (g), leaf area (cm2 plant-1), seed crude protein (%) and oil content (%) were examined. It was concluded that irrigation and inoculant applications and combinations of these factors had significant effects on yield parameters of soybean varieties. The study revealed that there was no discernible nodulation development observed in soybean roots under both irrigated and limited irrigation conditions. It was determined that under conditions of limited irrigation combined with high temperature conditions, the growth of the soybean was significantly impacted, resulting in a notable reduction in yield and leaf area but this was not observed in the quality characteristics.

PRODUCCIÓN Y RENTABILIDAD DE MAÍCES NATIVOS AZULES BAJO DIFERENTES DENSIDADES DE POBLACIÓN Y RÉGIMENES HÍDRICOS

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; It is necessary to increase maize production due to the increase in global food demand. Producers in Mexico prefer to grow native varieties of maize, which have a wide genetic diversity that has not been fully studied. These native maize are being lost due in part to their low yields, as well as their low or no profitability. Despite this, in this germplasm it is possible the presence of genotypes that show high grain production and economic gains. Increasing plant density can be a viable strategy that contributes to improving the production systems of these native maize. &lt;strong&gt;Objective&lt;/strong&gt;: To analyze the agronomic behavior and profitability of blue native maize genotypes in two population densities and two water regimes. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology&lt;/strong&gt;: The study was carried out in the spring summer 2022 cycle in Nuevo León, Mexico (24°19'11.4"N, 99°56'34.8"W, 1980 m.a.s.l.). The treatments were the combination of four genotypes (Mimbres, Ascensión, Siberia and a Hybrid as a control), two water regimes (irrigated and rainfed) and two population densities (62,500 and 83,333 plants ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;), which were distributed in a random complete block design with split-split plot design. Analysis of variance, Pearson correlation and principal components were carried out to understand the behavior and relationship between variables. &lt;strong&gt;Results&lt;/strong&gt;: Grain yield was 38% higher in irrigation compared to rainfed. Increasing the density to 83,333 plants ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; also contributed to increasing grain yield and economic profitability, only in native maize. The number of grains per m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; and grain weight per ear were the components that were mostly associated with the benefit-cost ratio and grain yield. &lt;strong&gt;Implications&lt;/strong&gt;: The native maize studied are important genetic resources with a favorable response to high plant density, therefore, increasing the density to 83,333 plants ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; is a strategy that could be explored to increase grain production and profitability of native maize, in addition, this proposal could be more easily adopted by producers, since it would not significantly affect their production cost. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusions&lt;/strong&gt;: It was feasible to cultivate native maize at a density of 83,333 plants ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; both under irrigation and rainfed conditions, since only with this density and such maize genotypes was it possible to obtain the highest grain yield and economic gains.&lt;/p&gt;

Economic Feasibility of Ratoon Pigeon Pea under Different Levels of Irrigation, Fertilizers and Mulching

Background: Ratooning in pigeon pea is one of the unexplored options for increasing the production and income through more number of crops per year under adequate supply of inputs. Dearth of knowledge on the ratooning, its yield and economics in pigeon pea on which the current study aimed at providing the basic idea of its suitability for cultivation. Methods: The field experiment investigated during October 2020- February 2021 at University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru. The experiment was conducted with 2 levels of irrigation, 3 levels of fertigation and 2 levels of mulching under split-split plot design. Result: The experimentation of ratoon pigeon pea with varied levels of inputs revealed that ratooning was found to be an economically feasible option with higher returns and lower cost of cultivation. The study comprehensively covers and states the adaptability of the practice in terms of yield and economics.

Fruit Characteristics and Yield Quality of Two Apple Varieties As Affected By O DAP Fertilization and Spraying With Moringa Plant Extract

This study was carried out in one of the private orchards in the Hashimiya district in Babil Governorate during the 2023 growing seasons to study the effect of the organic O-DAP fertilizer and Moringa leaves extract on the vegetative and chemical characteristics of the Sharabi variety and the Anna variety at 5 years of age. The treatments in the experiment were distributed using a split-split plot design system with three replicates in a randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D). The main plots were represented by the varieties, symbolized by A (the Anna variety and the Sharabi variety), and the spraying with Moringa leaves extract, symbolized by M, as the secondary plots. - Plots at three concentrations (0, 150, 200) ml l-1 and the addition of O-DAP fertilizer, symbolized by D in the sub-sub-plots, and at three levels (0, 500, 1000) gm tree-1, as 27 trees were selected. Each variety is homogeneous in growth and age, and the total of both varieties is 54 trees, and each replicate contains 18 treatments. Each treatment was repeated three times, with one tree per experimental unit (2×3×3). The results were as follows

Boosting resilience and yields in water-stressed sunflower through coordinated irrigation scheduling and silica gel applications

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a globally significant oilseed crop, yet its yields may suffer due to water deficiency. A field experiment was conducted through two summer seasons (2021 and 2022) at the agricultural research station, Luxor, Egypt, to study the effects of irrigation regime, cultivar selection, and silica gel application on sunflower growth and yield parameters. The experiment utilized a split-split plot design with three irrigation levels based on field capacity (85 %, 70 %, 55 %), three sunflower cultivars (Sakha-53, Giza-102, and Giza-120), and two Silica gel treatments (0 and 300 kg/ha). Analysis of variance revealed significant effects of irrigation (P < 0.001) on all measured traits except 100-seed weight. Utilizing various cultivars also revealed substantial influence, affecting most traits consistently across the two seasons. Silica gel application positively impacted head diameter, 100-seed weight, oil content, and oil yield (P < 0.05). Furthermore, treatments combining moderate irrigation with silica gel application exhibited the highest water productivity, with values reaching 1.35 kg/m³ in the first season and 1.38 kg/m³ in the second season, indicating the synergistic effects of improved water management and silica gel on crop water use efficiency. Multivariate analysis of principal component analysis and clustering heatmap revealed that treatment combinations such as I2S1 (moderate irrigation with silica gel) optimized sunflower productivity, particularly for seed yield and oil content, reinforcing the importance of tailored agronomic practices for maximizing crop performance under varying environmental conditions. These findings underscore the significance of integrated agronomic approaches in enhancing sunflower productivity while promoting sustainable crop management practices.

Effect of Bispyribac-Sodium and Spacing on The Weed Control and Performance of Aromatic Rice Varieties

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a staple grain, serves as a fundamental dietary component for billions by providing carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, supporting livelihoods, and stimulating national economies. A field experiment was led from July to December 2019 at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University’s agronomy field in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to determine how a post-emergent herbicide and spacing impacts aromatic rice varieties' growth, yield, and weed control. The investigation consisted of three factors, i.e., weed control treatments: weedy check (no weeding) and Bispyribac-sodium WP @ 150 g ha−1, aromatic rice varieties: Kalizira and BRRI dhan37 and spacing: 20 cm × 15 cm, 25 cm × 15 cm, 20 cm × 20 cm, and 25 cm × 25 cm in a split-split plot design with three replications. Thirteen dissimilar types of weeds invaded the experimental plots. Among them, Monochoria vaginalis was the most prevalent weed at 30 and 60 DAT (24.67 and 19.67 weed population m−2 and 15.24 and 13.02% relative weed density sequentially). Among all the factors, the application of Bispyribacsodium WP (W1), BRRI dhan47 (V2, grain yield 2.99 t ha−1) and 20 cm × 20 cm (S3, grain yield 2.87 t ha−1) spacing provided promising results. According to the findings, BRRI dhan37 planted at 20 cm × 20 cm spacing, along with the suggested application of Bispyribac-sodium WP could provide the best result. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2024, 26(2): 56-66

Effect of fertility levels and stress mitigating chemicals on nutrient content, uptake, intercropping advantage and competition effect in cowpea-baby corn intercropping

The primary goal of this study was to analyze how various row ratios of intercrops, in conjunction with different fertilizer levels with spray of two stress mitigating chemical, affect nutrient content, land productivity, and economic viability during Summer season. Furthermore, we aimed to explore the competitive dynamics within legume/cereal intercropping systems. Hence, A field experiment at Agriculture University, Kota, during the summers of 2019 and 2020, investigated different cowpea + baby corn intercropping system's intercropping indices, nutrient dynamics, uptake, and post-harvest soil nutrient balance under varying recommended fertilizer levels and foliar spray of stress mitigating chemicals. Using a split-split plot design replicated four times, the experiment involved thirty treatment combinations, including five intercropping techniques viz. Sole cowpea, sole baby corn, cowpea + baby corn 2:1, cowpea + baby corn 3:1, cowpea + baby corn 4:1 in the main plot, three fertility levels viz. 100 %, 125 % and 150 % recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) in subplots, and two stress mitigation chemicals; CaCl2 0.5 % and KNO3 1% in sub-subplots. The findings revealed notable trends, including nitrogen (N) and (P) content in cowpea seeds and straw, baby corn cobs and fodder, as well as enhanced land-equivalent ratio (LER) and monetary advantage index (MAI) within the cowpea + baby corn 2:1 row ratio. However, despite these advantages, total N and P uptake were markedly higher in sole crops. Notably, sole cowpea demonstrated the highest actual N and P balance and lowest was under sole baby corn. Among the fertility levels, the 150 % RDF level exhibited the most favorable outcomes across various parameters, including LER, MAI, NP content, and uptake in both crops. Additionally, higher fertility levels correlated with increased apparent and actual soil nutrient balances. While, among stress mitigation chemicals, CaCl2 0.5 % resulted in significantly heightened N and P uptake. Hence, to optimize intercropping dynamics and maintain soil nutrient balance, it is advisable to intensify cowpea cultivation along with baby corn in a 2:1 row ratio, utilizing 150 % RDF is beneficial. Additionally, alleviating higher temperature stress during the summer season can be achieved by applying a 0.5 % solution CaCl2 through spraying at the flowering and pod development stages of cowpea.

Compost incorporation and wildflowers introduction for stormwater infiltration and erosion-control vegetation cover establishment in post-construction landscapes

Urban and suburban development frequently disturbs and compacts soils, reducing infiltration rates and fertility, posing challenges for post-development vegetation establishment, and contributing to soil erosion. This study investigated the effectiveness of compost incorporation in enhancing stormwater infiltration and vegetation establishment in urban landscapes. Experimental treatments comprised a split-split plot design of vegetation mix (grass, wildflowers, and grass-wildflowers) as main plot, ground cover (hydro-mulch and excelsior) as subplot, and compost (30% Compost and No-Compost) as sub-subplot factors. Wildflower inclusion was motivated by their recognized ecological benefits, including aesthetics, pollinator habitat, and deep root systems. Vegetation cover was assessed using RGB (Red-Green-Blue) imagery and ArcGIS-based supervised image classification. Over a 24-month period, bulk density, infiltration rate, soil penetration resistance, vegetation cover, and root mass density were assessed. Results highlighted that Compost treatments consistently reduced bulk density by 19–24%, lowered soil penetration resistance to under 2 MPa at both field-capacity and water-stressed conditions, and increased infiltration rate by 2–3 times compared to No-Compost treatments. Vegetation cover assessment revealed rapid establishment with 30% compost and 60:40 grass-wildflower mix, persisting for an initial 12 months. Subsequently, all treatments exhibited similar vegetation coverage from 13 to 24 months, reaching 95–100% cover. Compost treatments had significantly higher root mass density within the top 15 cm than No-Compost, but compost addition did not alter the root profile beyond the 15 cm depth incorporation depth. The findings suggest that incorporating 30% compost and including a wildflower or grass-wildflower mix appears to be effective in enhancing stormwater infiltration and provides rapid erosion control vegetation cover establishment in post-construction landscapes.

Rhizostimulation of Hydrocarbon Degrading Microorganisms Using Chrysopogon zizanioides and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Species During Bioattenuation of Hydrocarbon Polluted Soils

Background: This study was carried out to compare the rhizostimulation potentials of C. zizanioides and E. camaldulensis on microorganisms cfu during the phytoremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated potted soils. The objectives were to: i). determine the best treatment for the rhizostimulation of the microbial population in soils during the bioattenuation process. ii). examine the most efficient plant species in the Phytostimulation of hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms during the bioattenuation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils. iii). identify the various bacterial and fungal colonies associated with the bioattenuation of hydrocarbon. Materials and Method: The design was the Split-Split Plot experiment (4 x 4 x 2). The main plot factors were the crude oil contamination (4 levels), the sub-Plot factors were the soil amendments (4 levels) while the subsub-Plot factors were the plant species (2 levels). Results: Results indicated that there were significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) in rhizostimulation potentials of the plant species in different crude oil contamination levels and in the different soil amendments for both bacteria and fungi. Although E. camaldulensis species was involved in biostimulation of microbial cfu, C. zizanioides was found better efficient (16.13 x 106 soil bacteria cfu g g -1 at 9 WAT and 10.04 x 106 soil fungal cfu g g -1 at 12 WAT respectively. Microorganisms found involved in bioattenuation of hydrocarbon include Bascillus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp for bacteria and Aspergillus spp., Rhizopus spp., and Penicillium spp for fungi. The most frequently occurred genus of microorganisms were Bacillus and Rhizopus. Conclusion: In conclusion, C. zizanioides was recommended as efficient rhizostimulating plant species. It was concluded that the mixture of both the grass and woody plant species are required for optimum growth and stimulation of hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms during phytoremediation procedure in the field. Additionally, bacterial and fungal cfu was observed to have increased with increasing hydrocarbon concentration under the influence of the two plant species and the applied landfarming treatments of a mixture of NPK (g g-1) and Cowdung (3:1 v/v) fertilizer. The most frequently occurred genus of microorganisms were Bacillus and Rhizopus.

Effect of bio-fertilizers and seaweed extract on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under different irrigation regimes: Two-year field study

Wheat productivity is constrained by genetic, agronomic, and climate factors, though it is an important crop for food production worldwide. The present study evaluated the effect of bio-fertilizer consortia and seaweed extracts on the growth and yield of two wheat varieties under different irrigation regimes in a field study. This experiment was conducted in a split-split plot based on a randomized complete block design with four replications in 2018 and 2019. Irrigation treatments were the main factor, wheat variety (Sardari and Sirvan) the sub-factor, and bio-fertilizers the sub-sub-factors. The results showed that irrigation regimes significantly improved leaf width, number of leaves, fresh weight of roots and shoots, osmotic potential, leaf water content, and number of stomata respectively by 57.53, 38.59, 106.65, 135.29, 87.92, 14.22 and 13.77, 88.02 and 96.11 percent compared to dry-land conditions. Applying one- and two-times irrigation increased grain yield by 51% and 79%, respectively, and the response varied in wheat varieties. Sardari variety due to having smaller leaf dimensions (Leaf length and width) and lower fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots, as well as lower leaf and tissue water content, had lower grain yield than the Sirvan variety. All the bio-fertilizers positively impacted the growth and yield of both varieties. However, the highest average grain yield in the first and second years of the experiment (with an average of 5226.25 and 4923.33 kg/ha, respectively) were found under the combined application of Mycorrhiza + Nitrozist and Phosphozist + Seaweed extract. The results of the present study underscore the importance of irrigation regimes and consortia of bio-fertilizers for improving grain yield. This study also highlighted the resilience of the studied wheat varieties and bio-fertilizers to projected climate changes. These findings could provide insights into adaptive strategies for mitigating the impact of climate change on wheat production.

Influence of Certain Biostimulants on the Vegetative Growth of Annual Moringa (Moringa oleifera. Lam)

Due to the importance of moringa leaves which can help improve the dietary diversity and quality of households that need to improve their nutritional intake, being a potential alternate source of protein, and for the sake of increasing its growth and yield, this study is determine the effect of some biofertilizers, amino acids and seaweed extract on vegetative growth of moringa seedlings As well as, to find out the best fertilization treatment to improve the vegetative growth of Moringa and reducing the intensive use of chemical fertilizers. This study was conducted in the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture (Saba-Basha), Alexandria University, Egypt, during two consecutive seasons of 2020 and 2021, to study the effect of biofertilizers, amino acids, and seaweed extract and its combinations on the growth of Moringa (Moringa oleifera, L.). The experiment was designed as split-split plot design it included 27 treatments with three replicates. The results revealed that the highest significant values of vegetative growth as plant height (171.8 cm), stem length (87.30 cm), stem diameter (3.49 cm), leaves fresh weight (70.61 g), leaves dry weight (13.35g), number of leaves per plant (72.03), and number of leaves per shoot (54.41) were achieved when the trees were soil bio-fertilized and sprayed with the investigated amino acid 700 mg/l + seaweed extract 700 mg/l + cerealine (T26) for both seasons of study. While the number of branches per plant (15.28), shoot fresh weight (138.1g), and shoot dry weight (24.07g) were concerned, the highest values were obtained when the plants were treated with soil bio-fertilization (Phosphorine), sprayed with amino acids, and seaweed extract, as the abovementioned treatments, amino acid 700 mg/l + seaweed extract 700 mg/l + Phosphorine (T25), for both seasons of study compared to the other treatments and control.

Tillage, crop residue management and nitrogen application impacts on soil properties under maize–wheat (Zea mays–Triticum aestivum) cropping system

Tillage intensity, crop residue retention and nitrogen application can significantly impact the soil properties and crop productivity. We studied the effect of tillage (deep tillage [DT] vs. shallow tillage [ST]) in main plots and residue management viz. conventional tillage without residue (CT-R), conventional tillage with residue (CT+R), minimum tillage without residue (MT-R) and minimum tillage with residue (MT+R) in sub plots and fertilizer-N at 75, 100 and 125% N (viz. N75, N100 and N125) in sub-sub plots. Field treatments were established in maize-wheat (Zea mays-Triticum aestivum) cropping system during 2016-2019 at two different locations in north-western India and were arranged in split-split plot design. The soil penetration resistance was significantly lower under deep tillage (3.4 to 3.7%) as compared to shallow tillage. CT+R recorded lowest penetration resistance as compared to other tillage and residue combinations but other soil properties like OC, available NPK, soil aggregation, infiltration rate did not differ significantly. The addition of crop residue both under minimum and conventional tillage significantly increased the soil microorganism count and dehydrogenase enzyme activity at both locations. CT-R recorded lowest microorganism count and dehydrogenase enzyme activity. The available soil nitrogen, microorganism count and dehydrogenase enzyme activity significantly increased with increasing nitrogen doses at both locations and were highest under 125% N level as compared to 75% and 100% levels. In both crops, the grain yield was not significantly affected by tillage and crop residue combinations while the different levels of nitrogen fertilizer significantly affected the grain yield. From soil health and sustainability point of view, CT+R treatment with 100% recommended dose of nitrogen in maize-wheat crop rotation seemed beneficial.

Impact of seedbed types and scarification methods on germination percentage and growth performance of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) in the Sudan Savanna zone of Nigeria

The field experiments were conducted during the 2021 and 2022 wet seasons at The National Institute for Horticultural Research, Bagauda, and Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Wudil, both in Kano State within the Sudan Savannah agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. The study aimed to find a better seedbed arrangement and the best scarification methods for good germination and growth of Bambara groundnut cultivars. The treatments consisted of four seedbed types (ridge, ridge+earthing, flat, and flat+earthing), four scarification methods (zero, mechanical, acid, and hot water treatments), and three cultivars (cream, black, and speckled). The treatments were factorially combined and laid out in a split-split plot design with three replications. Seedbed was assigned to the main plot, scarification methods were assigned to the subplot, and cultivars were assigned to the sub-subplot. Data collected were days to first emergence, establishment count (%), canopy height (cm), and kernel yield (kg ha-1). The result indicated that mechanically scarified Bambara groundnut seeds resulted in a higher establishment count and uniform canopy height (cm), which led to more dry matter accumulation and a higher kernel yield (kg ha-1).

Effect of cropping systems, top feeds and planting geometry on growth, yield and economics of top feeds

The present study was conducted to find out the effect of cropping systems, top feeds and planting geometry on the growth, yield and economics of different top feeds. The experiment was laid out in a split-split plot design with 18 treatment combinations and three replications. The treatments consisted of two cropping systems (C1-sole crop of top feeds, C2-intercrop of bajra napier hybrid), three top feeds [(F1-agathi (Sesbania grandiflora), F2-erythrina (Erythrina indica), F3-drumstick (Moringa oleifera)] and three planting geometry (G1-2 m x 1 m, G2- 2 m x 0.5 m, G3-paired system). The data over three years revealed that intercropping top feeds with bajra napier hybrid at a paired system (C2F1G3) recorded the highest mean number of branches in all three years. However, intercropping agathi at 2 x 0.5 m (C2F1G2) recorded the highest mean leaf stem ratio (0.82). Pooled data over three years also revealed that intercropping agathi at 2 x 0.5 m geometry recorded the highest total green fodder yield (30.16 t ha-1), total dry fodder yield (7.55 t ha-1), gross return (Rs 201200 ha-1), net returns (Rs 139000 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.25). Hence, among different tree grass combinations, growing agathi with bajra napier hybrid at 2 x 0.5 m geometry was found as most promising system for meeting the fodder requirements of Kerala.