State University Agricultural Research Articles

Long-Term Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seasonal Irrigation Amount, Evapotranspiration, Yield, and Water Productivity under Semiarid Climate

A long-term field experiment was conducted from 2002 to 2014 for the evaluation of yield and water productivity of three winter wheat varieties—Kharkof, Scout 66, and TAM107—under sprinkler irrigation at New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, NM. Winter wheat daily evapotranspiration was estimated following the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization FAO crop coefficient approach (ETc = Kc ETo), and crop water use efficiency (CWUE), evapotranspiration water use efficiency (ETWUE), and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) were estimated for each growing season. There was inter-annual variation in seasonal precipitation and irrigation amounts. Seasonal irrigation amounts varied from 511 to 787 mm and the total water supply varied from 590 to 894 mm with precipitation representing a range of 7.7–24.2%. Winter wheat daily actual evapotranspiration (ETc) varied from 0.1 to 14.5 mm/day, averaging 2.7 mm/day during the winter wheat growing seasons, and the seasonal evapotranspiration varied from 625 to 890 mm. Grain yield was dependent on winter wheat variety, decreased with years, and varied from 1843.1 to 7085.7 kg/ha. TAM107 obtained the highest grain yield. Winter wheat CWUE, IWUE, and ETWUE were also varietal dependent and varied from 0.22 to 1.01 kg/m3, from 0.26 to 1.17 kg/m3, and from 0.29 to 0.92 kg/m3, respectively. CWUE linearly decreased with seasonal water, and IWUE linearly decreased with seasonal irrigation amount, while CWUE, IWUE, and ETWUE were positively correlated with the grain yield for the three winter wheat varieties, with R2 ≥ 0.85 for CWUE, R2 ≥ 0.69 for IWUE, and R2 ≥ 0.89 for ETWUE. The results of this study can serve as guidelines for winter wheat production in the semiarid Four Corners regions. Additional research need to be conducted for optimizing winter wheat irrigation management relative to planting date and fertilization management to reduce the yield gap between winter wheat actual yield and the national average yield.

Socio-personal and academic factors affecting the extent of perceived stress among undergraduate students of Northern State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) of India

Socio-personal and academic factors affecting the extent of perceived stress among undergraduate students of Northern State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) of India

Cooperation of higher education and academic science in training of biodiversity conservation specialists

The paper considers the problem of bachelors, masters and graduate students training for work in the field of plant biodiversity ex-situ conservation (out of natural habitats), taking into account the modern strategy of biodiversity conservation accepted by the world scientific community. The long-term analysis of bachelors and graduate students training effectiveness was performed in Novosibirsk State Agricultural University, Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University, Novosibirsk State University of Architecture, Design and Arts. Some training materials of National Research Tomsk State University and experience of training of CSBG graduate students majoring in introduction of rare and useful plants were used. The authors show the leading role of the subject Introduction of plants for this major. The lack of valuable references on this course is noted. The authors justify the use of a complex of classical botanical techniques and modern ways of data analysis, including digital processing of images and parameters of plant objects in the educational process. Three main directions of experiments with introduced plants are characterized. The authors emphasize cooperation of higher education and academic science including students internship in research laboratories and centers of collective use of RAS institutes. This makes the most essential contribution to the training of young scientists who want their major to be conservation of plant biodiversity by methods of introduction and biotechnology.

Comparative Mechanical Harvest Efficiency of Six New Mexico Pod–type Green Chile Pepper Cultivars

New mexico pod–type green chile (Capsicum annuum) is one of New Mexico’s leading horticultural commodities. Cultivated acreage of green chile in New Mexico is threatened because of the high cost and insufficiently available labor for hand harvest. Therefore, mechanization is necessary to sustain the industry. Successful mechanization depends on harvester design coupled with plant architecture that optimizes harvest yield and quality. Harvested green fruit must be whole, unbroken, and unblemished for fresh and processed markets, so harvester design and plant architecture must maximize yield while minimizing fruit damage. In two trials conducted at the New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center in Los Lunas, six cultivars (AZ-1904, Machete, PHB-205, E9, PDJ.7, and RK3-35) were evaluated for plant architecture and harvest efficiency with a double, open-helix mechanical harvester with two counter-rotating heads. Cultivars were direct seeded on 17 Apr. 2015 and 14 Apr. 2016 and managed according to standard production practices. Plant architecture traits, plant width, plant height, height to first primary branch, distance between first primary branch and first node, basal stem diameter, and number of basal branches were measured before harvest. Mechanical harvest yield components, which included marketable fruit, broken fruit, ground fall losses, unharvested fruit remaining on branches, and nonpod plant material, were assessed after once-over destructive harvests on 2 Sept. 2015 and 31 Aug. 2016. Fruit width, fruit length, and pericarp thickness were measured from a representative sample of 10 marketable fruit. In 2015, ‘AZ-1904’ and ‘PDJ.7’ had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) more marketable yield than ‘Machete’ that had the least marketable yield. No statistically significant differences were found in marketable yield in 2016. When both years were combined, ‘PDJ.7’ had significantly more nonpod plant material harvested and the plants were taller than all other cultivars. We found mechanical harvest performance to be significantly affected by plant height, with shorter plants yielding less marketable fruit. Despite differences in fruit wall thickness, no significant differences were measured in broken fruit. In 2015, ‘AZ-1904’ had significantly less basal branches per plant, reducing obstruction for the picking mechanism. Harvest efficiencies (marketable harvested fruit yield as a percentage of total plot yields) ranged from 64.6% to 39.3% during this 2-year trial, with the highest harvesting cultivars PDJ.7 and AZ-1904. In the future, all new mexico pod–type green chile breeding efforts for mechanical harvest must incorporate desirable plant architecture traits to increase harvest efficiencies.

Effect of herbicides on the activity of soil enzymes urease in maize crop

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of pre-emergence, post emergence and combination of atrazine with post emergence herbicides on soil enzyme urease activity(expressed as µg of NH4+ released g-1 soil h-1) at College Farm, College of Agriculture ,Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India during kharif 2014. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) using six herbicide treatments un weeded control and hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS with three replications. Maize was sown as test crop(variety –DHM-117).The soil samples were collected at 15 days intervals ie: 0, 15,30,45, 60, 75 and 90 days, to assay the enzyme activity. The pre-emergence herbicides were sprayed at zero days after sowing where post- emergence herbicides were sprayed after 15 days after sowing. The enzyme activity in the control increased from 0 days to 60 days and then decreased but the activity in the pre- emergence herbicide pendimethalin showed the same phase as that of control and showed higher activity over the control at each stage where as atrazine showed decrease in activity at 0 days (8.71) and latter it revoked the activity and reached maximum at 60 days (12.35). When compare to pendimethalin the activity was less at each and every stage. In case of post – emergence herbicides the activity showed mixed responses to at different stages Tembotrione showed higher activity when compare to Topramezone. In combination of Tembotrione and Topramezone with atrazine showed mixed responses.

Registration of ‘Langin’ Hard Red Winter Wheat

‘Langin’ (Reg. No. CV‐1141, PI 678945) hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed by the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station and released in August 2016 through a marketing agreement with the Colorado Wheat Research Foundation. In addition to researchers at Colorado State University, USDA–ARS researchers at Manhattan, KS, St. Paul, MN, and Pullman, WA, contributed to its development. Langin was developed with the objective of making available a hard red winter wheat cultivar with improved grain yield, end‐use quality, and stripe rust resistance compared with ‘Byrd’ hard red winter wheat. Langin is a doubled haploid cultivar developed using the wheat × maize (Zea mays L.) wide hybridization method from the cross CO050270/Byrd made in 2009 at Fort Collins, CO. Following doubled haploid generation in 2010, Langin was selected at Fort Collins in July 2011, assigned experimental line number CO11D446, and evaluated in yield trials in Colorado and other states in the US hard winter wheat region from 2012 to 2016. The name Langin was chosen in honor of former Colorado State University Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station agronomist Edward J. Langin (1924–2006).

Registration of ‘Dayn’ Hard White Spring Wheat

Hard white spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the western United States is concentrated in regions of California, southern Idaho, and Washington, where resistance to stripe rust, high yield potential, minimal lodging, and desirable milling and baking qualities are preferred traits. Our objective was to develop a broadly adapted hard white spring wheat cultivar with a high level of resistance to stripe rust. ‘Dayn’ (Reg. No. CV‐1138, PI 666941) hard white spring wheat was developed by the Washington State University Agricultural Research Center and released for production in the Pacific Northwest. Dayn was derived from the cross ‘UI Lochsa’//‘Otis’*2/P9347A1‐2 by a modified‐pedigree bulk‐breeding method. Dayn was tested at sites across Washington and Idaho under the designations WA8123 and Dayn from 2010 to 2016. Dayn is a medium‐maturity, semidwarf cultivar broadly adapted to spring wheat production areas of the Pacific Northwest, with excellent yield potential in high‐moisture rainfed and irrigated production systems. Dayn was released on the basis of a combination of superior grain yield potential compared with contemporary commercial cultivars, a high level of resistance to stripe rust, and desirable milling and baking characteristics.

Eсomorphic structure of the soil macrofauna communities of technosols of the Nikopol Manganese Ore Basin

This study established features of the animal population of artificial soil-like bodies – technosols in terms of ecomorphic analysis. The survey was conducted at the research station of the Dnipro State Agricultural University in the city Pokrov in 2012–2014. The experimental polygons were laid within four technosol types: pedozems, sod loess-like lithogenic soils on loam, grey-green clay and red-brown clay. The polygon consisted of 15 transects and each transect was composed of seven test sites. The distance between rows in the polygon was 3 m. Each test site was a square with size 3 × 3 m. The manual sorting of the soil-zoological samples was conducted within each site for areas 0.25 × 0.25 m to the depth where animals were found. Samples were taken in late April or early May. In general, for each period of counting for each polygon 105 soil-zoological samples were taken 123 species of invertebrates were found in the soil macrofauna community of the technosols. These communities are a steppe monoceonosis with a tendency to transformations into pseudoomonoceonosis on account of increased share of pratants. The soil macrofauna of sod lithogenic soils on grey-green clay and loam on loes-like clays is most adapted to xerophilous condition. Animal communities in pedozems and sod-lithogenic soils or on red-brown clay have a more mesophilic character. The trophoceonomorphic structure of the soil macrofauna community indicates a significant potential of the fertility of artificial soil. The aeromorphs’ structure reveals a significant ability of technosols to create cracks and pores, which can lead to hyperaeration. The dominant part of the of soil macrofauna community was hypercarbonatophils. Against the background of the steppe character, the soil macrofauna community had a topomorphic structure that is unusual for natural steppe black soil biogeocenoses on loess-like loam. The trophomorph structure was greatly dominated by phytophages, which indicates the prevalence of processes of mineralization of plant residues under the humification process. The phoromorphic spectrum of soil animal communities was dominated by ecological groups which move without the active construction of tunnels.

Principal component analysis of technosols ecological properties

The article shows the agreed dynamic variation of physical properties and phytoindication assessments of the ecological regimes of the Nikopol manganese ore basin technosols by means of principal components analysis. The study was conducted at Dnipro State Agricultural University Research Center in city Pokrov during 2012-2014. Data on the aggregate structure was processed by composite analysis. The application of the log transformation of aggregate soil particle distribution data allowed to obtain new non-correlated variables that are able to reproduce the matrix of distances between sampling points that are most correlated with other environmental properties of technosols. Results of principal components analysis allowed to reproduce initial variables by seven principal component with eigenvalues dominated one. These components describe 72.4% variation feature space. The principal components are the integral variables that are sensitive to the dynamics of agreed environmental properties of technosols and have a differential ability. Each of the principal component indicates features of technosols types or a particular group. By their nature, certain selected features directly characterize the soil in the context of its importance as a habitat of living organisms. Also important group of signs are phytoindication assessment of the ecological regimes. Variation of edaphic characteristics as well as environmental assessments are based on the properties of vegetation, synchronized with each other. Such synchronization enables a more profound interpretation of environmental indicators that have independent significance.

Управління функціональними властивостями моделей техноземів за допомогою первинної стратиграфії насипок

<p><span lang="EN-US">The article examines the hypothesis that the structure of the </span><span lang="UK">soil-like </span><span lang="EN-US">body in zero-point of its existence directs the dynamics and trajectory of soil formation. To test the hypothesis at the Dnepropetrovsk State Agricultural and Environmental University science satiation the field experiment was laid out lizymetres, each contain a constructive combination of rock or chornozem-like mass. It is shown that the design of the </span><span lang="UK">soil-like </span><span lang="EN-US">body in zero-point of its existence controls the dynamics and trajectory of soil formation. Philip equation was modified to more suitable simulate the infiltration process in tehnozems which allows to accurately describe the water absorption process at the infiltration and filtration stages. The nature of the underlying rocks located at a certain depth impacts significantly on the process of soil formation within the whole soil profile. Underlying rock layer regulates the processes of the tehnozems contact with the environment, as well as determining the intensity profile migration of moisture and dissolved salts. The presence of water resistant biogenic origin aggregates smoothes the varying density clay soils resulting from swelling and shrinkage processes that can maintain stable structure of the pore space. As a result, the soil after reclamation phase gets such features as reduced infiltration rate, but increased level of filtration. Optimal values of sorptivity and filtering corresponds closely with relevant properties of soil that can be investigated using indicators of the soil mechanical impedance. Uniformity preparation and impermeable aggregate structure determines the optimal functional modes of the tehnozemes.</span></p>

Breeding for Crop Improvement

A one-day dialogue on breeding strategies for crop improvement was held on 10 July 2017. V. Praveen Rao (Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Hyderabad) opened the dialogue stating that the purpose was to integrate fundamental knowledge on breeding for crop improvement with what new technologies offer to raise crop production.

Performing alternative agriculture: critique and recuperation in Zero Budget Natural Farming, South India

This article explores how 'Zero Budget Natural Farming', an Indian natural farming movement centered on its founder and guru Subhash Palekar, enacts alternative agrarian worlds through the dual practices of critique and recuperation. Based on fieldwork among practitioners in the South Indian state of Kerala and on participation in teaching events held by Palekar, I describe the movement's critique of the agronomic mainstream (state extension services, agricultural universities, and scientists) and their recuperative practices of restoring small-scale cultivation based on Indian agroecological principles and biologies. Their critique combines familiar political-ecological arguments against productionism, and the injustices of the global food regime, with Hindu nationalist tropes highlighting Western conspiracies and corrupt science. For their recuperative work, these natural farmers draw, on one hand, on travelling agroecological technologies (fermentation, spacing, mulching, cow based farming) and current 'probiotic', microbiological, and symbiotic understandings of soil and agriculture. On the other hand, they use Hindu nativist tropes, insisting on the exceptional properties of agrarian species native to, and belonging to India. I use the idea of ontological politics to describe the movement's performances as enacting an alternative rural world, in which humans, other-than-human animals, plants, mycorrhizae, and microbes are doing agriculture together.Keywords: agricultural anthropology; alternative agricultures; naturecultures; critique; ontological politics; small-scale cultivators; India; Kerala; Subhash Palekar

Self-Learning Modules for Enhancing the Efficiency of Extension Personnel

In our country, capacity building of extension personnel is essential so that they can serve the farmers effectively. This study aimed at developing computer-based interactive self-learning modules (SLM) or programmed text materials on major functions of development management such as leadership, motivation, team development and stress management; validating them and assessing the impact of the modules in enhancing the managerial skills of extension professionals. These modules were evaluated and assessed for effectiveness with the help of 25 extension professionals drawn from various Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs). An instrument to evaluate the effectiveness of suitability of the programmed text was developed and content validated with the help of experts. Data were collected from 25 extension professionals in respect of effectiveness of the contents, perceived utility, and usefulness of programmed text in comparison to ‘conventional text’. The extension professionals perceived the overall contents of the programmed text as having a high level of effectiveness with an overall average score level of 4.06. Perceived study of programmed text was also studied and it was found that the usefulness ‘to improve professional competency'received the highest level of overall average score of 3.92. Adequacy and appropriateness of sequencing of contents of the text’ received the maximum overall average score level of 4.17.

Attitude of The Faculty Members Towards Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in State Agricultural Universities

Attitude of The Faculty Members Towards Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in State Agricultural Universities

Extent of Information Communication Technology [ICT] Utilization by the Faculty Members in State Agricultural Universities

Extent of Information Communication Technology [ICT] Utilization by the Faculty Members in State Agricultural Universities

Relationship among job satisfaction, job commitment and organizational commitment of the scientists of two state agricultural universities of northern India

Relationship among job satisfaction, job commitment and organizational commitment of the scientists of two state agricultural universities of northern India

LOCAL IRRIGATION METHODS FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN SOUTH OF RUSSIA

In the Southern Federal District, where the Volgograd region occupies a significant territory, cultivation of vegetable crops is impossible without irrigation. There was a large number of wide-spread sprinklers in the USSR. Each unit of this system watered at least 60 to70 hectares, required a lot of water pressure that resulted in high operating costs. Therefore, currently, such local irrigation methods as drip and subsoil irrigation have a broad development perspective. Both irrigation methods favorably differ from sprinkling by a significant increase in yield of vegetable crops, irrigation water saving, ease of operation and rapid investment return. In this regard, the main goal of our research, conducted at Volgograd State Agricultural University, is development of techniques and technologies for drip and subsoil irrigation that allow receiving projected vegetable yields while maintaining soil fertility and environmental safety. The research have shown that it is possible to obtain planned yields of 60, 70 and 80 t/ha of zucchini and table beet using drip irrigation in steppe zone of southern Russia on light chestnut soils. Therefore, it is necessary to observe irrigation regimes with maintaining pre-irrigation moisture (PIM) 75-85-75 and 85% of field moisture capacity (FMC) simultaneously with application of calculated doses of mineral fertilizers. Moreover, it is important to apply increased doses of mineral fertilizers with decrease in intensity of irrigation regime due to reduction in soil moisture content to 75% of FMC. The planned radish yield of 80 tons per hectare with subsoil irrigation can be obtained in variants with differentiated soil moisture 75-85-75% of FMC and 1.4 m distance n t between humidifiers, and also maintaining constant soil moisture at 85% of FMC at plots with 1.2 and 1.4 m distances.

Western Ambar and Western Dhamaka: High yielding Spanish bunch groundnut varieties for Maharashtra

In groundnut, a high yield potential variety having desired combination for Spanish bunch plant habit, large pod size, higher oil content, improved oil quality and early/medium crop duration is rare. Western Ambar is a large pod mutant of popular variety TG-37A, and Western Dhamaka is a recombinant selected from a cross between TG-37A and TPG-41. Both the varieties maintained higher productivity in station, multi-locations and adaptive trials compared to check varieties in respective trial during rabi/summer season. Western Ambar and Western Dhamaka recorded overall an average pod yield of 4892 kg/ha and 5269 kg/ha, and exhibited superiority over the best check TG-37A (4610 kg/ha) by 6.1 and 14.3 per cent, respectively. Further, in State Agricultural Universities trials in Maharashtra, Western Ambar and Western Dhamaka recorded average yield of 3028 kg/ha and 3356 kg/ha, and showed superiority over national check TAG-24 (2645 kg/ha) by 14.5 and 26.9 per cent, respectively. Both the varieties were found tolerant to major biotic stress, and have mediumcrop duration, higher oil content and improved oleic/linoleic (O/L) ratio. In consideration of superiority for pod yield and their important component and quality characters; Western Ambar and Western Dhamaka have been accepted by Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra to include in license for their cultivation in Maharashtra.

ICT Impact on ISB of Users in State Agricultural University Libraries in Karnataka: A Study

ICT Impact on ISB of Users in State Agricultural University Libraries in Karnataka: A Study

FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY OF PRECISION FARMING IN PADDY- A CASE STUDY

Precision farming is an emerging, highly promising technology that helps in dealing with the present agricultural challenges by proper and effective management of soil and crop variability with the use of information technology. In order to initiate precision farming in India through state agricultural universities, the precision farming project in selected field crops was implemented in University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka. The objective of the study was to assess the financial feasibility of project implementation at farm level in paddy. Primary data was collected with the aid of a well-structured, pre tested schedule. Findings showed that the project of precision farming in paddy which was implemented by the University was economically viable and financially feasible. The cost incurred in cultivation of paddy by adopting precision farming practices was ` 75,825.35/ha and gross returns were ` 1,22,656.30/ha. Results of financial feasibility measures showed that the Net Present Value at 12 per cent discount rate, at the end of ten years was found to be positive, Benefit-Cost ratio was more than one and Internal Rate of Returns of the precision farming in paddy was more than discount rate (12 %). It was also revealed that payback period was 6.84 months and profitability index due to adoption of precision farming was found to be 8.83. Hence it was concluded that investment on precision farming in paddy at farm level was feasible to operate at farm level with the technical assistance from University. Considering the adoption strategy of precision farming and its benefits, there is a need to bring awareness among farming community by the joint effort of public and private sectors through the extension agencies, non-governmental organizations and state agricultural universities