Weedfree Fallow Research Articles

The efficiency of biological products’ use for winter wheat varieties in the Rostov region

In the conditions of insufficient and unstable moisture in the Rostov Region, unilateral application of mineral fertilizers for winter wheat is not always justified due to a lack of moisture in the soil. In this regard, at present, one of the promising directions is the additional use of water-soluble biological products to mineral fertilizers for the treatment of seeds and vegetative plants. Therefore, in 2016–2017 there were conducted the special experiments to study the effect of various biological products on the productivity and grain quality of the new winter wheat variety “Niva Stavropoliya” sown in a weedfree fallow and the variety “Victoriya 11” sown after oilseed flax. In the field trials there were studied such promising biological products for the southern agricultural area of the Rostov Region as “Extrasol”, “Rostok”, “Aquamix”, “Aquarin 5” and “Aquarin 9”. The effect of the mentioned products was evaluated on the mineral nutrition backgrounds optimal for winter wheat. When the grain crop was sown in weedfree fallow, there were used P60K40 before sowing, + N30 in the tillering phase, + N30 in the phase of head formation. When the grain crop was sown after oilseed flax, nitro-gen was additionally added at a dose of N60 to this fertilizer rate in the period of main tillage. It was established that the most effective results were under the compound use of biological products “Aquamix” (0.1 kg/t) in seed treatment + “Aquarin 5” (2 kg/ha) + “Aquarin 9” (2 kg/ha) in the treatment of plants in the tillering phase and the phase of head formation. At the same time, the yield increase to the background variant was 22.7% for the variety “Niva Stavropoliya” and 21.5% for the variety “Victoriya 11”.

The effect of sowing dates and forecrops on productivity and grain quality of the winter soft wheat variety “Krasa Dona” in the southern part of the Rostov region

The study was carried out on blackearth (chernozem) soils of the southern part of the Rostov region at the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The current paper has presented the results of the three years’ study (2017–2019) of the effect of sowing dates and various forecrops on the productivity and quality of the winter soft wheat variety “Krasa Dona”. There has been established a high resistance of the variety to lodging in all variants of the trial. There has been presented the dynamics of productiv-ity of the variety “Krasa Dona”, depending on the sowing dates and various forecrops. There has been identified a positive reaction of the variety to sowing in a fallow at the optimum dates (September 20 and 30), where the maximum yield was 7.77–8.62 t/ha. When sowing at a later date, the yields tended to be lower. There has been identified a high adaptability of the variety “Krasa Dona” to the sowing dates in a non-fallow, where it forms a high yield when sowing at different dates. It was found out that the winter soft wheat variety “Krasa Dona” formed different yields according to the studied variants of forecrops and sowing dates due to the number of productive stems per unit area and due to the head productivity. On average for 2017–2019 the winter soft wheat variety “Krasa Dona” formed the 3rd class grain, when sown in a fallow or after peas and the 4rd class grain, when sown after sunflower. The calculation of the grain production profitability showed that the greatest economic effect was obtained by sowing the winter soft wheat variety “Krasa Dona” after peas, it was 169.2–194.5% depending on the sowing date. The minimum profitability was 136.1-147.2% after sunflower. On average, over the years of research, the maximum conditional net income 52 508–58 887 rubles/ha was obtained when the variety was sown in a weedfree fallow.

The sowing date of winter durum wheat

Winter durum wheat is one of the most important crops. This grain crop forms the grain from which high-quality pasta and groats are obtained. The insufficient knowledge of the elements of cultivation technology of this grain crop is one of the factors that limits its widespread use. The sowing date is one of the main elements of cultivation technology of winter durum wheat, which determines the duration and conditions of vegetation, which its productivity depends on. The study was carried out at the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2013–2018 in the field crop rotation of the laboratory of grain crop cultivation technologies. There were studied four sowing dates, September 10, 20, 30 and October 10 according to three forecrops (weedfree fallow, peas, sunflower). The total area in the trials was 55 m2, and the accounting area was 41.25 m2, fourfold repetitions. The arrangement of variants in the repetitions was systematic and sequential. The trial was laid down and carried out in accordance with Dospekhov’s methodology of a field trial (1985). As a result of the conducted study, it was determined that the minimum period from sowing date to winter durum wheat sprouting was in the variant with weedfree fallow (from 21 to 27 days) maximal period was in the variant with sunflower (from 27 to 37 days). From the germination period to the finish of autumn vegetation of winter durum wheat (from the early sowing date (September 10) to the late sowing date (October 10)), the vegetation period of the plants decreases, their provision with positive and active temperatures and moisture increases depending on the forecrop. The largest productivity of winter durum wheat was obtained due to weedfree fallow (from 5.74 to 6.44 t/ha), and the smallest productivity of winter durum wheat was obtained when sown after sunflower (from 4.61 to 5.09 t/ha). For all forecrops, the largest yields of winter durum wheat are formed when sowing from September 10 to September 30, which proved to be optimal for this grain crop.

HARDNESS OF SPRING DURUM WHEAT KERNELS IN THE WEST SIBERIA

There have been presented study results of the spring durum wheat varieties grown in the southern forest-steppe area of the Omsk region on kernel hardness. The objects of research were the varieties of ecological variety testing conducted by various Russian and Ukrainian scientific institutions. The study was conducted in the period from 2003–2015. Experimental plots of 10 m2 were placed in 4 sequences. The varieties were sown in weedfree fallow. The soil of the experimental plot was weakly leached blackearth (chernozem), medium humus (6.2%), and loamy. The sowing date is 14–15 of May, the sowing rate is 4.5 million of germinated kernels per ha. The average hardness index in 2003–2015 was 70.1%. The varieties varied from 66.0 (the variety “Svetlana”) to 74.6% (the variety “Saratovskaya zolotistaya”). The differences between maximum and minimum were 8.6%. The variation through the years was from 51% to 92%, from 21% (the varieties “Angel”, “Omsky korund”) to 34% (the variety “Saratovskaya zolotistaya”). The calculated coefficient of variation showed that the variability degree ranged from little to medium. Coefficients of variation varied from 9.3% (the variety “Angel”) to 14.3% (the variety “Bezenchukskaya 182”). According to S. A. Eberhart, W. A. Russel the stability index indicates a lower variability of the varieties “Angel”, “Omsky korund”, “Altayskaya niva”, “Nik”, “Kharkovskaya 23”, “Tavolga”. The value of the regression coefficient (bi) for kernel hardness ranged from 0.77 to 1.23. The varieties “Voronezhskaya 9”, “Elizavetinskaya”, “Altayskaya niva”, “Omskaya stepnaya” and “Bezenchukskaya stepnaya” turned to be most responsive to the conditions (according to the Eberhart – Russell test). The varieties “Angel”, “Aleyskaya”, “Zarnitsa Altaya” had a weak reaction to the environmental conditions. There has been identified phenotypic correlation between the trait and productivity, 1000-kernel weight, nature weight, gluten quality, pasta color. The correlation between these traits is positive, on average r = 0.30–0.440.

Efficiency of fertilizers while cultivation of the winter durum wheat variety “Agat Donskoy" in the southern part of the Rostov region

Over the years of research, the winter durum wheat variety “Agat Donskoy” sown in weedfree fallow showed a good resistance to lodging with no fertilizing (4 points), average resistance to lodging (3 points) with two nitrogen dosings: in spring in thawed frozen soil (N30) and in the period of earing (N30). The winter durum wheat variety “Agat Donskoy” sown after sunflower showed a high tolerance to lodging (5 points) for 3 years on average. Sown in weedfree fallow the largest productivity (6.09 and 6.13 t/ha) and the surplus to the control (0.54 and 0.57 t/ha) were formed by the variety when fertilizing with the basic dosing (P60K40) and with one or two nitrogen dosings (N30 in spring in thawed frozen soil and in the period of earing). At the same time, the grain had a high percentage of protein 15% and gluten 28.1% that corresponded to the 1st quality class. The winter durum wheat variety “Agat Donskoy” sown in weedfree fallow proved to be highly profitable (at the level of 163-201%). The winter durum wheat variety “Agat Donskoy” sown after sunflower produced the largest surplus of yield (1.00 and 1.25 t/ha) when fertilizing with N40P60K40 and the use of one or two nitrogen dosings (N30 in spring in thawed frozen soil and in the period of earing). The profitability of the variety sown after sunflower was 113-147%. According to the GOST the obtained characteristics allow referring the winter durum wheat variety “Agat Donskoy” to the 2-3d quality class.

Biological technologies are the factors of winter wheat productivity improvement

The studies were conducted in 2012–2014 in OOO “Znamenskoe” in the Znamensky district of the Orlov region in order to determine the influence of forecrops on winter wheat productivity. Field trials have shown that the forecrops have a great effect on soil moisture. The use of weedfree fallow and oil radish as green manure crop provides 1.3–3% soil moisture increase in the 0–10 cm layer before winter wheat sowing compared with annual grasses. Sown in bare fallow, winter wheat infestation was on 17.6–18.8% less in the tillering phase compared with the use of oil radish oil as green manure crop and annual grasses for green mass. It was determined that the forecops had an effect on the height of winter wheat plants. In weedfree fallow it was the maximum (122.7–127.1 cm), depending on the fertilizing ratio, which was on 8.0–10.3 cm more than in other variants of the trial. It was established that winter wheat sown in bare fallow exceeded other variants by the number of productive stems, kernels per ear, 1000-kernel weight on 2.1–7.2; 1.7–4.4; 13.9–19.5% respectively. This ensured a higher productivity of winter wheat. It has been identified that the use of oil radish improves the winter wheat quality, namely protein and gluten content, grain unit on 2.0–2.2, 1.4–2.2; 11–12.5 g/l respectively. The norm of mineral fertilizers N98R64K64 in comparison with N66R32K32 in all forecrops provided an increase in protein and gluten content on 0.4–0.7% and 0.7–2.6% respectively. Thus, biological technologies provide productivity improvement of winter wheat.

Predicting the slow decline of root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus thornei) during host-free fallows to improve farm management decisions

Abstract Pratylenchus thornei is a major pathogen of cereal and legume crops around the world, especially in the northern grains region of eastern Australia. The dominance of host species within the rotation has seen soil pathogen population densities increase. Long weed-free fallows combined with sorghum production (non host crop) to reduce population densities has been successful. However, little is known about the rate of population decline during the fallow or how long this non–host period should continue in order to reduce the population below an accepted damage threshold. The rate of decline from a range of initial starting populations (high, medium, low and very low) were monitored over a 30 month weed free fallow. Fallows were initiated in November (late Spring) for three consecutive years. Nematode population densities and soil moisture were measured at eight depths down the soil profile to 1.5 m and used to describe the rate of population decline over time in each soil layer. Dynamic populations of P. thornei existed within the upper layers (

Wheat biomass and yield increased when populations of the root-lesion nematode (Pratylenchus thornei) were reduced through sequential rotation of partially resistant winter and summer crops

The root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus thornei, can reduce wheat yields by >50%. Although this nematode has a broad host range, crop rotation can be an effective tool for its management if the host status of crops and cultivars is known. The summer crops grown in the northern grain region of Australia are poorly characterised for their resistance to P. thornei and their role in crop sequencing to improve wheat yields. In a 4-year field experiment, we prepared plots with high or low populations of P. thornei by growing susceptible wheat or partially resistant canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis); after an 11-month, weed-free fallow, several cultivars of eight summer crops were grown. Following another 15-month, weed-free fallow, P. thornei-intolerant wheat cv. Strzelecki was grown. Populations of P. thornei were determined to 150 cm soil depth throughout the experiment. When two partially resistant crops were grown in succession, e.g. canaryseed followed by panicum (Setaria italica), P. thornei populations were <739/kg soil and subsequent wheat yields were 3245 kg/ha. In contrast, after two susceptible crops, e.g. wheat followed by soybean, P. thornei populations were 10 850/kg soil and subsequent wheat yields were just 1383 kg/ha. Regression analysis showed a linear, negative response of wheat biomass and grain yield with increasing P. thornei populations and a predicted loss of 77% for biomass and 62% for grain yield. The best predictor of wheat yield loss was P. thornei populations at 0–90 cm soil depth. Crop rotation can be used to reduce P. thornei populations and increase wheat yield, with greatest gains being made following two partially resistant crops grown sequentially.

Field inoculation with arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi overcomes phosphorus and zinc deficiencies of linseed (Linum usitatissimum) in a vertisol subject to long-fallow disorder

Background and aims Long-fallow disorder is expressed as exacerbated deficiencies of phosphorus (P) and/or zinc (Zn) in field crops growing after long periods of weed-free fallow. The hypothesis that arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) improve the P and Zn nutrition, and thereby biomass production and seed yield of linseed (Linum usitatissimum) was tested in a field experiment.

Management of Tomato Ringspot Virus in Red Raspberry with Crop Rotation

Tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV) is an important disease of red raspberry which is vectored by the dagger nematode, Xiphinema americanum. A field study was conducted to evaluate crop rotation as an alternative to soil fumigation for the management of ToRSV. The effects of treatments on nematode population densities and ToRSV were evaluated for 18 months during growth of rotation crops, and for 36 months after replanting raspberries. Treatments included the rotational crops rapeseed (Brassica napus) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) (nonhosts for ToRSV), clean fallow, fumigation with methyl bromide, and controls in which raspberries followed raspberries. At planting, X. americanum densities were highest in fescue and control plots and lowest in fumigated plots, but densities decreased and remained low in all plots after planting ‘Meeker’ raspberries. Raspberry leaves were collected in each plot and assayed for ToRSV with ELISA for 3 years. ToRSV was detected only in the control plots. Rotations with rapeseed or tall fescue, or weed-free fallow were as effective as fumigation with methyl bromide in preventing re-infection of raspberry plants with ToRSV for three years.

Fallow and Sesbania Effects on Response of Transplanted Lowland Rice to Urea

AbstractAlthough lowland soils in Asia are frequently fallowed between rice (Oryza sativa L.) crops, little is known about the effects of fallow management on N cycling and growth of a subsequent lowland rice crop. A 2‐yr field study was conducted in the Philippines on a Typic Tropaquept to determine the interactive effects of pre‐rice land management and urea fertilization on rice growth, N uptake, and response to applied N. Management treatments before transplanting wet‐season rice were (i) weedy fallow (WF), (ii) weed‐free fallow (WFF), and (iii) Sesbania rostrata Bremek. & Oberm. grown in situ for either 45 or 60 d as green manure (SR). Weeds and S. rostrata were incorporated after soil flooding on 23 June of each year, and rice was transplanted on 30 June 1989 and 4 July 1990. Four rates of urea‐N (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha‐1) were applied to rice following each pre‐rice treatment. The efficiency of added N with respect to dry matter accumulation (kg dry wt. kg−1 N applied) was reduced following WF and SR compared with that following WFF at 45 d after transplanting (DAT), about 10 to 15 d after panicle initiation. Rice recovered from the initial adverse effect of incorporated plant residue, and growth rate after 45 DAT was greater following SR and WF than that following WFF. Grain yield without applied urea was 0.9 Mg ha‐1 higher following WF than that following WFF. Incorporated weed‐N (35 kg N ha‐1) substituted for 40 kg urea‐N ha‐1. High initial rice growth rate in the absence of incorporated plant residue (WFF) resulted in a lower rice N concentration at 45 DAT. Incorporated S. rostrata and weeds continued to provide N to rice after 45 DAT. When no plant residues were incorporated (WFF), the application of only one‐third of the total urea‐N at panicle initiation was insufficient to meet the N requirements of rice. Basal urea‐N (two‐thirds of the total urea‐N) failed to increase rice dry weight or N concentration at 21 DAT following all pre‐rice treatments. Results suggest that optimal distribution of urea among application timings might depend on whether plant residues are incorporated before transplanting.

Fallow and Sesbania Effects on Soil Nitrogen Dynamics in Lowland Rice‐Based Cropping Systems

AbstractVast areas of rice‐growing (Oryza sativa L.) lowlands in Asia are fallowed or cropped with non‐rice crops for part of the year. Nitrate can accumulate during the fallow or non‐rice crop, but this nitrate can be lost upon flooding for rice production. To determine fallow and green manure crop effects on soil nitrate and ammonium dynamics in lowland riceland, a 2‐yr field study was conducted in the Philippines. Treatments before wet season rice were (i) Sesbania rostrata grown for either 45 or 60 d, (ii) weedy fallow, and (iii) weed‐free fallow. Sesbania rostrata was sown with irrigation in late April‐early May, rains started in early (1989) or mid‐May (1990). Weeds and S. rostrata were incorporated after soil flooding on 23 June. Rains increased soil water‐filled pore space to above 0.75 mL mL−1 between mid‐May and soil flooding. Weeds and S. rostrata assimilated soil nitrate, as evidenced by lower (P < 0.05) nitrate in those treatments than in the weed‐free fallow. The decrease in soil nitrate in the weedfree fallow from 24 April to before soil flooding (15 kg N ha−1) was apparently due to denitrification or leaching; additional nitrate (19 kg N ha−1 in 1990) disappeared after soil flooding. Ammonium‐N was rapidly released from incorporated weeds and S. rostrata. It reached a maximum by 36 d after incorporation, which correlated (r = 0.95) with N accumulation by rice at 45 d after transplanting. Results suggest that weeds and crops before rice can reduce soil N loss by assimilating nitrate‐N and then cycling this N through incorporated plant residues back to the soil where it is rapidly mineralized and used by rice.

Effect of soybean population density on soybean yield, nitrogen accumulation and residual nitrogen

The effect of soybean population density on soybean yield, nitrogen accumulation and residual nitrogen was examined at Camden, N.S.W. (34�S.). In the first experiment, treatments were soybeans (cv. Ransom) at 50, 100, 200 and 400 x 103 plants ha-1; maize (cv. XL66); and a weed-free fallow. Total dry matter yields of tops and grain yields were highest at 200x 103 plants ha-1 (6214 and 3720 kg ha-1, respectively). The yield component most affected by population density was number of branches per plant, with values decreasing with increasing population density. The proportion of unfilled pods was highest at the highest population density. Total nitrogen (N) accumulation in the tops and in the grain was also at a maximum at 200x 103 plants ha-1. The rate of dry matter accumulation declined during pod filling at all population densities. N accumulation continued at high rates throughout the growing season except in the 400x 103 plants ha-1 population. There was a trend for residual dry matter and N in residues to increase with increasing population density. After grain and forage harvest of the first experiment, a crop of wheat (cv. Kite) was sown over the whole area to determine residual N available at anthesis and at maturity (experiment 2). The values of N accumulation in the wheat at maturity were 24 kg N ha-l for the maize treatment, 40-60 kg N ha-l for the soybean treatments and 69 kg N ha-1 for the fallow treatment. Grain yield and grain N followed the pattern of dry matter production and N accumulation at final harvest. The data suggest that soybean depletes soil N to a lesser extent than does maize. For the soybean treatments, there was a trend of increasing residual N at the 3 highest population densities (40-60 kg N ha-1). This was probably a result of an increase in N in leaf fall and in decaying tops and roots at the highest population density. The high value (57 kg N ha-l) at the lowest population density may be due to soybean plants at this density not using as much soil N as the other soybean treatments. No benefit in residual N was gained from planting soybeans at a density beyond the optimum for grain yield when residues were removed by forage harvesting.

STUDYING OF FROST RESISTANCE OF CHERRY VARIETIES IN SELECTION OF ALL-RUSSIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR FRUIT CROP BREEDING

The studies were conducted on the basis of the laboratory physiology resistance of fruit plant at the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding in 2017-2018. The objects of research were cherry varieties by the Institute selection. The year of setting was 2015. The scheme of setting – 5×2 m. Inter-row spacing and zone near a tree trunk – weedfree fallow. The purpose of the research was to study some physiological and biochemical adaptation processes in the autumn-winter period and evaluated the frost resistance of cherry varieties by artificial freezing method. The dynamics of the fractional composition of water in the tissues of annual branches of cherry varieties was studied. At the same time, the maximum proportion of bond water to free water was found in the varieties Bystrinka, Livenskaia, Muza, Novella, Shokoladnitsa. During the autumn period, the increase of bound water and the decrease of free water depended on the accumulation of the amino acid proline in annual cherry branches. The high level of dependence of bound to free water ratio and the proline amount on the minimum air temperature in the autumn period was noticed in the cherry varieties, which were studied. At the beginning of winter, the average dependence between the degree of freezing of varieties and the amount of bound water in the tissues of annual cherry branches was established. The dependence of the accumulation of the amino acid proline on the effects of low-temperature stress in winter was revealed. The resistance to early winter frosts (t = -25°C) was marked in all studied cherry varieties. The maximum frost resistance was marked in Livenskaia, Novella, Orlitsa, Shokoladnitsa varieties at t = -35°C. As a result of artificial freezing, frost-resistant varieties of cherry Livenskaia, Novella and Shokoladnitsa, which showed the highest level of resistance of generative and vegetative buds, bark and wood substance to the damaging factors of winter, were identified.