Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science

Schindler, Uwe; Mueller, Lothar; Eulenstein, Frank; Dannowski, R.

doi: 10.1080/03650340802253929pmid: N/A

Starting in 1993, interactions between land use and precipitation have been investigated in three research areas of northeast Germany. The research based on continuous measurements of soil water tension and water content down to a depth of 5 m at 36 plots situated at diverse soils under different land use (arable land, forest, grass fallow). At arable sites, the main period of deep seepage occurred between February and April during the study period. With 175 mm a−1, the mean annual deep seepage rate under arable land was highest at sandy soils. At loamy soils, the mean seepage rate amounting to 122 mm a−1 appeared significantly less. Smallest seepage rates, however, were determined for forested plots (pine 15 mm a−1, beech 18 mm a−1). Differences were significant as compared to arable land at sandy and loamy soils and grass fallow. It is concluded that deep seepage and groundwater recharge under forest will tend to wane at annual precipitation rates of <550 mm a−1. This should be taken into account in decision making on land use planning and conversion of arable areas to forestry in regions characterised by negative values of the climatic water balance.

Halász, Judit L.; Chonka, Ivana; Tóth, Márta Dobroné; Boyko, Nadya; Balázsy, Sándor

doi: 10.1080/03650340802253911pmid: N/A

Our main purpose was to study the microflora and the enzyme activity in soil of polluted areas, and to identify the factors affecting them. For the assessment, the following indices were identified: Gross (total) contents of heavy metals (HM) and the content of available heavy metals. Results of correlation analysis showed positive correlation (r = 0.74) between cellulase and phosphatase activities in the soil, while positive correlation between cellulase and invertase activities (r = 0.26) as well as between phosphatases and invertases (r = 0.24) was shown to be weak. There was also a positive correlation between invertase activity of the landfill soils and content of ammonium ions (r = 0.60). Glucose disintegration intensity (dehydrogenase activity) in the dump soils was considerably related only to the contents of nitrates. The relation was direct (r = 0.66). Negative values of the correlation index characterize the relation of soil dehydrogenase activity with other measured ferments. However, according to our analysis, activity of a given group of ferments was considerably related to the total number of aerobic chemoorganotrophic soil organisms (r = 0.72). In the soil of dumping sites, bacterial coenoses comprise the genera of Actinomyces, Enterobacter, Bacillus, and Coryneform bacteria, with the species of Bacillus brevis, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter aerogenes.

Chung, Byungkyun; Girma, Kefyalew; Martin, Kent L.; Tubaña, Brenda S.; Arnall, Daryl B.; Walsh, Olga; Raun, William R.

doi: 10.1080/03650340802219979pmid: N/A

Identifying the optimum resolution where differences in corn (Zea mays L.) grain yields are detectable could theoretically improve nitrogen (N) management, thereby resulting in economic and environmental benefits for producers and the public at large. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum resolution for prediction of corn grain yield using indirect sensor measurements. Corn rows, 15–30 m long, were randomly selected at three locations where the exact location of each plant was determined. In 2005 and 2006, four of eight rows at each location were fertilized with 150 kg N ha−1 as urea ammonium nitrate (28% N). A GreenSeeker™ optical sensor was used to determine average Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) across a range of plants and over fixed distances (20, 40, 45.7, 60, 80, 91.4, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 220, and 240 cm). Individual corn plants were harvested and grain yield was determined. Correlation of corn grain yield versus NDVI was evaluated over both increasing distances and increasing number of corn plants. Then, the squared correlation coefficients (rcc 2) from each plot (used as data) were fitted to a linear plateau model for each resolution treatment (fixed distance and number of corn plants). The linear-plateau model coefficient of determination (rlp 2) was maximized when averaged over every four plants in 2004 and 2006, and over 11 plants in 2005. Likewise, rlp 2 was maximized at a fixed distance of 95, 141, and 87 cm in 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. Averaged over sites and years, results from this study suggest that in order to treat spatial variability at the correct scale, the linear fixed distances should likely be <87 cm or <4 plants as an optimum resolution for detecting early-season differences in yield potential and making management decisions based on this resolution.

Irshad, Amer; Cheema, Zahid A.; Farooq, Muhammad

doi: 10.1080/03650340802294311pmid: N/A

Barnyard grass interference with rice is one of the major causes of low yield. In a field experiment influence of different nitrogen levels – 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha−1 – on barnyard grass density – 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 plants m−2 – was evaluated to quantify the effect of barnyard grass on rice performance at different nitrogen levels. Rice-barnyard grass competition and N application significantly effected growth, yield and quality of rice. Increase in barnyard grass density resulted in corresponding decrease in the growth, yield and quality of rice; nevertheless, increase in N application improved the growth, yield and quality. Maximum spikelets, kernel weight, yield, harvest index, normal kernels, amylose contents, kernel water absorption ratio, and minimum sterile spikelets, abortive and opaque kernels were obtained with 120 kg N ha−1 and zero barnyard grass density m−2, while maximum tillers number, productive tillers, straw yield, leaf area index, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate and kernel protein contents were recorded from 180 kg N ha−1 with 0 or 4 barnyard grass plants m−2. In nutshell, 120 kg N ha−1 was adequate and four barnyard grass plants had non-significant effect on rice grain yield, and excessive N application reduced kernel quality.

Kumar, Narendra; Gopinath, K. A.; Srivastva, Anil K.; Mahajan, Vinay

doi: 10.1080/03650340802287018pmid: N/A

Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) is one of the most important tropical legumes in world. But its cultivation is limited to the hilly regions of India. A field experiment was conducted during kharif (wet) seasons of 2004 and 2005 to find out the optimum sowing time of pigeon pea in the mid-hills of north-west Himalaya. Significant difference in growth, yield attributes and yield were recorded due to different dates of sowing. Plant height, branches plant−1, grains plant−1 and grain weight plant−1 were affected due to late sowing on 20 June and 30 June, when compared to 20 May to 10 June sowing. Test weight decreased in 30 June sowing, under earlier sowing dates. Mean grain yield was highest in 30 May sowing (1.34 Mg ha−1) followed by 20 May sowing (1.30 Mg ha−1) whereas, it was only 0.66 Mg ha−1 under 30 June sowing. Harvest index under 20 May to 20 June sowing were on a par and significantly superior over 30 June sowing. Days to 50% flowering and heat unit required for 50% flowering were almost similar for 20 May to 10 June sowing and increased under 20 and 30 June sowing.

Gautam, A. K.; Kumar, Dinesh; Shivay, Y. S.; Mishra, B. N.

doi: 10.1080/03650340802283470pmid: N/A

A field investigation was conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute's Research Farm during the kharif (wet) seasons of 2002 and 2003 in a split plot design with three replications, consisting of 27 treatments, namely, main plots: three varieties (PRH-10, Pusa Sugandh-3 and Pusa Basmati-1) and three plant spacings (20 × 10, 20 × 15 and 20 × 20 cm2) and sub-plots: three levels of nitrogen (0, 80 and 160 kg N ha−1). The research results indicated that aromatic rice hybrid PRH-10 produced 33 and 6%, respectively, more grain yield than that of Pusa Sugandh-3 and Pusa Basmati-1. The appreciable higher grain yield of PRH-10 over Pusa Sugandh-3 and Pusa Basmati-1 was due to considerable improvement in most of the yield attributing characters. Application of 160 kg N ha−1 recorded 23.7 and 26.1% more grain yield over no nitrogen application whereas it was 6.4 and 6.1% more over 80 kg N ha−1, respectively, during first and second year of the experimentation. Wider plant spacing of 20 × 20 cm2 and application of 160 kg N/ha recorded significantly higher hulling, milling and head rice recovery compared to closer spacing and zero nitrogen application.

Gupta, Ashok K.; Jain, Navin Kumar

doi: 10.1080/03650340802280435pmid: N/A

An experiment was conducted on S deficient soil during 2003–2006 on a farmer's field in the Jaipur district of Rajasthan, India, to study the direct effect of four levels of sulphur (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg S/ha) on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and their residual effect on Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). Results revealed that S fertilization up to 45 kg/ha significantly increased grain and stover yields and S uptake by pearl millet. Agronomic efficiency, physiological efficiency and value:cost ratio decreased up to 45 kg S/ha. S recovery was higher at 45 kg S/ha (21.4%). Residual effect of sulphur up to 45 kg/ha significantly improved the seed, stover and oil yields by 66.3, 49.4 and 95.9% of Indian mustard over control, respectively. Productivity, S uptake and apparent S recovery in the pearl millet-Indian mustard system increased with increasing level of sulphur up to 45 kg/ha while physiological efficiency was higher at 15 kg/ha (69.3 kg grain/kg of uptake). Agronomic efficiency and value:cost ratio increased with increasing S levels up to 30 kg/ha. Sulphur application improved the available sulphur status in the soil when applied at 30 and 45 kg/ha.

Hauser, Stefan; Mekoa, Cyril; Jacobsen, Kim Sarah

doi: 10.1080/03650340802279619pmid: N/A

Effects of fallow type, sucker sanitation (hot-water treatment, HWT) and fertilizer application on yield, root and corm health of two plantain cultivars were investigated. Most yield parameters were strongest affected by fallow type with more producing plants, higher bunch mass and yield after forest clearing than in bush/grass fallow. The second most important factor was HWT with more producing plants (52.3%) than in control (35.8%, p < 0.0001). Fertilizer application increased the proportion of producing plants by 9%, p < 0.018 and yield from 4.08–5.79 Mg ha−1. Combined HWT and fertilizer had strong synergistic effects. Cultivar interacted with fallow and HWT: in bush/grass fallow yield did not differ between cultivars (2.17 Mg ha−1); in forest fallow Essong produced 57% (9.4 Mg ha−1) more than Ebang (6.0 Mg ha−1, p < 0.001). Essong yielded 65% more after HWT than Ebang (8.0 versus 4.9 Mg ha−1, p < 0.001), yet not when untreated. A limited sink capacity of Ebang is likely to constrain yield increases. HWT improved root and corm health and was better in forest than in bush/grass land. In bush/grass fallow no treatment attained yields as high as in forest even when untreated and not fertilized. Soil chemical properties were not correlated with yield.

Hussain, M.; Farooq, Muhammad; Jabran, K.; Rehman, H.; Akram, M.

doi: 10.1080/03650340802262086pmid: N/A

Limited water availability is a severe threat to the sustainability of crop production. Exogenous application of glycinebetaine (GB) has been found very effective in reducing the adverse affects of water scarcity. This study was conducted to examine the role of exogenous GB application in improving the yield of hybrid sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under different irrigation regimes. There were three levels of irrigation: Control (four irrigations), three irrigations (irrigation missing at budding stage) and two irrigations (irrigation missing at budding and grain formation stage) in the experiment. While GB was applied exogenously at 100 mM GB each at budding and grain formation stages, the Control treatment did not receive any GB application. Data regarding yield, yield components and quality parameters showed that water stress reduced the head diameter, number of achene per head, 1000-achene weight and yield. Nonetheless, it was significantly improved by the exogenous GB application. Among the qualitative characteristics, protein contents were significantly increased by water stress at different growth stages but were reduced by exogenous GB application. Whilst oil contents were reduced by drought at different stages, GB application, however, did not ameliorate the negative effect of drought stress on achene oil contents. The effects of water stress and foliar application of GB were more pronounced when applied at vegetative stage than at the reproductive stage. Moreover, exogenous GB application was only advantageous under stress conditions.

Jalali, Mohsen

doi: 10.1080/03650340802225836pmid: N/A

Excessive use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers contributes to the accumulation of nitrate ( ) in soil and vegetable crops. Vegetables contribute considerably to human intake in Iran. This study was carried out to determine in vegetable crops and soils. Samples of different vegetables (edible portions) were taken from eight fields during spring, summer and autumn. Also samples of two soil depths (0–30 and 30–60 cm) were collected at sites corresponding to the vegetable field locations. The results showed a high variation of the content in various vegetables. Nitrate levels within the same vegetable, but in different fields also varied greatly. Different levels were found in different vegetables analyzed in different seasons. In general, higher levels were found in vegetables growing in spring and autumn. Spinach, radish and cress accumulated much higher levels than that of other studied vegetables. Nitrate concentration in soils also varied in different seasons. The results showed that continuous vegetable cropping caused accumulation of in soil, with a nitrogen (N) accumulation of 81 mg -N kg−1, on average. The soils were sandy loams and there is the possibility of excessive leaching from these vegetables fields. This has caused concern because of possible groundwater pollution. Poor fertilizer, irrigation, and soil management resulted in low fertilizer-use-efficiency and substantial losses of the applied N fertilizer to the groundwater.