Crop production is often affected by multiple agronomic factors. However, little has been reported on the synergistic effects of multiple factors on crop production. Here, we reported the effects of five factors (i.e., variety, planting density, nitrogen application, supplementary irrigation and plastic mulching) on crop yields, using data from a 5-year experiment at Dongyang, Shanxi province of China

Mid-South corn producers continuously search for ways to increase grain yield. In this region, growers typically plant on 96-cm beds to facilitate drainage of excess rainfall and irrigation but are concerned about wide row widths causing intra-row stress as plant populations steadily increase. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of row spacing and plant population on morphology

Alternative crop and soil management practices can offer additional tools to address current soybean yield gaps in South Africa. Despite recent genetic advancements and the introduction of novel weed management strategies, soybean yield remained static. Inconsistent rainfall patterns, high temperatures and soil compaction have been limiting soybean productivity. Uncertainty exists among farmers regarding

Leaf canopy dynamics are associated with crop productivity. Frequent, non-destructive measurements of the leaf canopy using a plant canopy analyzer, followed by parameterization using a mathematical model, enabled the quantification of leaf area growth characteristics. However, an understanding of the rice cultivar effect under various field conditions is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to compare

A growing world population and increases in food and energy consumption have placed production agriculture in a difficult situation. The rapid growth in food production through specialized operations such as monoculture cropping systems has aligned to satisfy increases in demand for food and fiber. However, its adverse impacts on natural resources pose huge challenges for the sustainability of food

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] critical tissue-K concentrations associated with the bloom to early pod set growth stages have been used to diagnose K deficiency for decades. The ability to interpret tissue concentrations beyond the R2 stage would strengthen soybean tissue monitoring programs. Our objective was to develop continuous critical-K concentrations for the trifoliolate leaf and petiole of

Identifying the causes of the yield gap (Yg) is essential to understand and take proactive measures to improve crop management factors. Brazil is the country in the Americas with the highest area of flooded rice (Oryza sativa L.) and the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state accounts for 73% of the Brazilian rice production. The objective was to determine yield potential (Yp) and Yg in flooded rice and identify

Improving corn (Zea mays L.) N management is pertinent to economic and environmental objectives. However, there are limited comprehensive data sources to develop and test N fertilizer decision aid tools across a wide geographic range of soil and weather scenarios. Therefore, a public-industry partnership was formed to conduct standardized corn N rate response field studies throughout the U.S. Midwest

Prior to the 1950s, weeds were controlled by a wide variety of mechanical and cultural methods with limited use of inorganic chemicals at very high rates (100s kg ha–1). With the advent of selective carbon-based herbicides in the 1950s, herbicide weed management became the norm throughout much of the world, using grams to a few kilograms of active ingredient per hectare. However, with the benefits

Variation in plant responses to inoculation with rhizobia strains in different environments can be analyzed with the aid of biometric techniques. The Annicchiarico methodology and the Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction Analysis (AMMI) and Toler models are here applied to the genotype × environment (GE) interaction to determine the adaptability and phenotypic stability of N2-fixing

In cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production systems, mineral N is the most managed nutrient because of its mobility and therefore optimal use of N is an important goal for sustainable management of cotton. Soil characteristics influence the availability of N for plant growth and therefore spatial variability in soil should be considered for optimal N fertilization. The study was established in a 4-yr

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is the leading Indian oilseed crop grown under rainfed conditions. Meticulous understanding of genotype × environment interaction patterns is essential to develop superior and widely adaptable soybean varieties. In the current study, 32 soybean genotypes were evaluated at eight locations for two consecutive years. Additive main effect and multiplicative interaction

Nitrate is the main nitrogen source for plant growth and development. Increasing evidence indicates that nitrate plays an important role in root growth and development. However, the effects of different concentrations of nitrate on the physiological and transcriptional response of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] root development at the seedling stage are not well understood. In this study, we found

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is a widely cultivated crop for food and animal feed, with a high potential for alleviation of climate change effects on crop production due to its biological nitrogen fixing ability. However, its yields are low in Ethiopia partly due to poor agronomic practices such as lack of improved varieties, low soil fertility, and limited input use including bio-inoculants

Crop rotations are key agronomic tools to enhance farm productivity, preserve soil, and ensure provision of ecosystem services. Knowledge of the spatio-temporal distribution of crops over regions is essential to characterize rotations at field scale and estimate their impacts on several outcomes. Our objectives were to: (a) determine the diversity of cropping systems practiced in a semiarid region

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a cool weather crop and one of the most important vegetables in the world, which is cultivated in temperate, subtropical, and tropical climates. Nearly all cultivated areas in Brazil use cultivars from temperate countries, resulting in lower performances particularly due to higher temperatures. The aim of this study was to identify clones that yielded better than foreign

Use of active optical sensors (AOS) in nitrogen (N) management of row crops continues to grow. Since the first studies in the mid-1990s, several commercial AOS are now available. Typically, canopy reflectance in red and near infrared (NIR) bands are used to calculate the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). More recently, commercially available AOS include a third, red-edge band that allows

New regulations aimed at reducing soil erosion along with changing building and residential codes are increasing sod demand, especially low-input species, which are currently in very short supply and require research. Replicated field experiments were established in Indiana and Minnesota to quantify the effect of turfgrass species (strong creeping red fescue [Festuca rubra L. ssp. rubra Gaudin], Chewings

Rotating wheat (Triticum spp.) with fallow is a popular practice in the North American Great Plains, in spite of environmental degradation and economic inefficiencies. Two-year crop sequences were established in four fields in central Montana to determine if grain yield could be maintained when wheat followed warm-season annual crops compared with fallow in shallow (soil depth ≤650 mm) dryland soils

Early freezes in the spring are becoming increasingly common. To protect farmers from low temperatures (LT), crops need improved LT tolerance. The hypothesis of this paper is that maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids released in the 2000s had higher LT tolerances than those released in the 1970s. In the study, eight popular maize released between 1970 and 2010 were subjected to LT in four different trials.

Global food security depends on the continual improvement of a relatively small number of food and feed crops. Today's food supply is heavily dependent on the movement of seed and other forms of plant germplasm for these crops across national and regional borders. As occurred during the Green Revolution, facilitated and widespread exchange of the major food crops is critical for food security. Plant

The interactive effect of silicon (Si) application on soil fertility is poorly understood when inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense is performed. This research determined if Si application and A. brasilense inoculation to corn and wheat has agronomic benefits on soil nutrient concentration and grain yield. Treatments were tested under a no-till system in a Rhodic Haplustox in a full factorial design

To identify the ideal potassium (K) fertilization rate in fields with continuous straw return to maintain soil potassium supply and increase yield in the rice-producing regions of Northeast China, we studied the effect of different K fertilizer application amounts (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 kg K2O ha−1 y−1) on rice yield, K use efficiency, and soil K availability in straw-returned and straw-removed

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of row spacing (RS) and interplant spacing (IPS) on the yield of total biomass, leaf, and edible twigs, and nutritive value of pigeon pea,(Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) at three locations in the Rift Valley area of Ethiopia, using a randomized completed block design with three replications in 3 × 3 factorial arrangement; three RS (25, 50, and 75 cm) and

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and potassium (K) dynamics are not well understood particularly in soils with high K levels. Potassium is important for cotton reproductive development as it influences the number, size and weight of bolls and can improve fiber quality, by mitigating moisture stress. In the case that soil cannot replenish solution K from exchangeable reserves to meet the plant demands

Reducing dependence on stored feed, particularly dry hay, is a major factor in beef cattle production systems in the southeastern USA. Increasing the nutritive value of the hay that is fed, however, can ultimately reduce total feed costs and boost profitability. A field trial was conducted in east-central Mississippi evaluating several warm-season perennial grass hay crops under varying N and harvest

: Hull-less barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a barley variety, serving as one of the major food crops worldwide. The main nutrients in hulless barley are starch, protein, and β-glucan, the contents of which vary considerably among different cultivars. However, the potential molecular mechanisms that underlie these variations in nutrient is still insufficiently clear.

Limited supply of quality feed is the most common problem limiting livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Routine feed evaluation is indispensable for formulating balanced rations, feed characterization, safety, and minimizing the environmental impact of livestock. Traditional wet chemistry has not met this demand in SSA because it is time consuming, expensive, reliant on imported reagents

To better understand how surface roughness affects soil erosion, we investigated the rill distribution of sloping farmland under tillage practices in China's Loess Plateau region. Four tillage treatments (three tillage practices and a non-tillage control) were simulated manually using five slope gradient levels (3°–20°) and two rainfall intensities (90 and 120 mm h–1). The spatial distribution of rills

The worldwide loss of date palm productivity is due to the infestation of the red pest weevil (RPW). The pest makes tunnels in the tree trunk and could be followed by secondary microbial infections causing oozing of fluid with a distinct of fermentation odor. This study aimed at isolation and identification of secondary invader bacteria associated with the RPW and confirmation of their potential destructive

With more than 65% of agronomic crops under no-till in Pennsylvania, herbicides are relied on for weed management. To lessen the environmental impact and selection pressure for herbicide resistance, we conducted a 9-yr experiment to test herbicide reduction practices in a dairy crop rotation at Rock Springs, PA. The rotation included soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–corn (Zea mays L.)–3-yr alfalfa

In rice production, early growth is often slow in direct-seeded system. Techniques to overcome this barrier are needed. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Kikuichi—a biofertilizer containing Bacillus pumilus TUAT1 spore—in promoting rice growth in a direct-sowing system. Oxygen, iron, and molybdenum as coating materials were also evaluated to combine with biofertilizer. The seeds were coated

Maize (Zea mays L.) intercropping with forage plants has been adopted with the main goal of promoting benefits on soil physical properties. However, a better understanding of soil chemical attributes and crops nutrition under this system is necessary. The objective was to verify whether intercropping maize with Urochloa ruziziensis (Germ. & Evrard) Crins, a tropical forage grass originating in Africa

Across the U.S. Cotton Belt, potassium (K) deficiency symptoms in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) have become more common over the past decade. In 2015–2017, an experiment was conducted in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, two regions in Texas, and Virginia for a total of 23 site-years. The objectives were (a) to quantify soil K levels at-depth in representative

Applications of high amounts of nitrogen (N) fertilizer are essential for obtaining sustainable maize yields but also result in low N-use efficiency (NUE) and cause a series of environmental problems. To optimize fertilizer management, it is necessary to determine the effects of soil fertility improvement on NUE and the fate of N fertilizer. In this study, we conducted a 15N tracer pot experiment involving

Current planting depth recommendations for corn (Zea mays L.) producers range from 38 to 51 mm in the midwestern United States. Characterization of emergence and soil conditions at a range of depths under later-planted scenarios is important as days adequate for field work in April have been reducing and may affect planting dates. Field studies were conducted in Ohio from 2017 to 2019 to determine

Maize (Zea mays L.), an important source of calories and nutrients in sub-Saharan Africa, is threatened by northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) caused by Exserohilum turcicum. This study examined combining ability and heterotic patterns of early-maturing maize inbreds, gene action conditioning NCLB resistance, and performance of derived hybrids across environments and identified testers. Fifteen each of

Although many studies have investigated the relationship between rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), few have used it as a practical indicator to determine whether topdressing application is necessary. Therefore, in this study, to verify the usefulness of NDVI as a fertilizer application indicator, changes of topdressing effect on rice depending on the NDVI

Delaying the application of N to corn (Zea mays L.) may help to match N supply to N uptake, but may also increase the risk of yield loss if N is applied too late or N uptake is delayed. In a 3-yr study with corn following soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (SC) and corn following corn (CC), N application was either split, with half (112 kg N ha–1) at planting and the rest at stages ranging from V3 to

Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), is an important drought-tolerant crop, and recently it has become a research focus because of its health-care and nutrition significance. A study was carried out to investigate callus induction and differentiation and plantlet rooting in Shaanmi 1 and Shaanmi 2 with young leaves of the two varieties. Its result showed that in proso millet, the age of aseptic seedlings

There is a growing interest in raising yields of organic farming to provide more nutritious food for a growing population. Garlic genotypes cultivated in a variety of environments therefore the yield of garlic can vary considerably between different regions of production. In this research, 21 garlic genotypes were evaluated for their tolerance to nutrient stress under the organic system. Nutrient stress

Improving maize genotypes for higher productivity and tolerance to drought stress depends mainly on physiological and molecular markers. Therefore, this study aims at breeding maize for drought tolerance and high potentiality by selection based on molecular markers, photosynthetic parameters; and easy graphic methods that help in selecting elite genotypes across diverse environments. An 8 × 8 half

Michigan winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growers continue to adopt intensive management strategies. However instead of broadscale implementation of an entire collection of inputs simultaneously, practitioners question which inputs may better contribute to improved production. Studies evaluated soft winter wheat plant growth, grain yield, and expected economic net return for multiple agronomic and

Cropping sequences integrating perennial forages and annual crops can generate multi-dimensional agro-economic and environmental benefits. A four-year cropping sequence study was conducted from 2013 to 2016 to evaluate the relative merits of various cropping sequences. Three forage seed crops – creeping red fescue, alsike clover and red clover, and four annual food crops – wheat, canola, barley and

Sidedressing corn (Zea Mays L.) with liquid manure slurry via a manure hose application system was recently shown to be a viable practice to apply manure to a growing crop. However, little is known about what growth stage different corn hybrids can be dragged with a manure hose before plant population and grain yield is affected. A small-plot field study was conducted in 2019 and 2020 at both Saint

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover is an increasingly important feedstock for biofuel and bioproduct production; however, excessive harvest of corn stover from agricultural fields may affect corn seedling emergence and subsequent plant population which may reduce corn growth and yield. Field experiments were conducted over four consecutive growing seasons in southwestern Ontario to determine under continuous

Cover crop species and termination date could affect fertilizer-N management and N diagnostic methods traditionally used in bare fallow-maize (Zea mays L.) systems. Our objectives were to (a) assess the impact of cover crop termination date on maize yield and response to fertilizer-N, (b) determine maize yield at varying N rates following different cover crop species and mixtures, and (c) evaluate

Forages are a major source of nutrients for milk production, but little is known about the effects of forage species on whole–farm profitability and environmental performance. Using a whole-farm approach, the N-CyCLES optimization model, and experimentally measured data, this study aimed to compare the profitability and environmental performance of dairy farms when four alfalfa–grass binary mixtures

Proper storage of peanut seed is essential for maintaining viability to ensure adequate plant stands are achieved upon planting. Experiments conducted in Georgia from 2017 to 2018 evaluated cultivar by storage condition by sampling date effects on three peanut cultivars. The

The effect of irrigation regimes and N rates and their interactions on sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) yield is not completely evaluated. Hence the current study was conducted to investigate effects of these factors on sesame yield, N fertilizer use efficiency (NFUE), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) and seed oil content. The experiment was carried out in a semi-arid region of Iran during 2016 and

Urochloa grasses have shown promising results for smallholders to cope with feed shortages in tropical Africa. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of two Urochloa hybrids, Mulato-I and Mulato-II, in the Ethiopian highlands when managed under different plant spacing and harvesting stages. Treatments included three plant spacings for root splits (0.5m×0.25m, 0.5m×0.5m, and 0.75m×0

Reports of sulfur (S) deficiency symptoms in corn (Zea mays L.) fields of the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota are increasing. Current soil tests cannot predict the availability of S correctly due to the presence of gypsum in soils of this region. Field trials were conducted to determine corn yield and S uptake response to incremental applications of S (0, 11, 22, 33, and 44 kg S ha–1)

Fostering and maintaining soil health via holistic management is a central goal for most organic farmers. However, many questions remain regarding how different management practices influence soil health in farm fields. In this study, we used a mail-in soil survey to assess how organic management practices such as, crop diversity, perennials in rotation, tillage, manure use, and subscription to soil

Papaya breeding is a complex task besides carica papaya has a sexual chromosome and is difficult to make crosses. One of the most important papaya crop diseases is Black Spot caused by the asperisporium caricae. Therefore, is used half-sib families to combining genetic gains on the yield and resistance traits to Papaya Black Spot. In this scenario, the present study proposes to select for papaya genotypes

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivars for cover cropping have remained unchanged in the western United States over the past century. Although breeding efforts have improved grain production across much of the world, improvement of the crop for cover crop applications (e.g., biomass production at the flowering stage) remains understudied. Therefore, a trial of nine newly developed faba bean lines from

The growth, development, and quality production of Rosa hybrida L. are the core issues for being able to have good yields. Inadequate information on genetic background and resistance has hindered the ability to continue improving flower quality, and most cultivars continue to have lower-than-desired levels of resistance. Therefore, this study sequenced the transcription group of the R. chinensis Jacq

Crop simulation models are widely used in developed countries to understand the impact of uncertain weather situations on crop production and consequent strategies formulation but their application in developing countries like India is limited and thus needs to be strengthened. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the DSSAT-CROPGRO-cotton model for assessing impact of varying weather on

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage with high quality, and fine root turnover rate (FRTR). Soil P availability greatly influences dry matter yield (DMY) and persistence of alfalfa. However, the effects of water-P coupling under drip irrigation conditions on alfalfa FRTR and DMY have been rarely studied. So, a 2-yr field experiment was established with three randomized complete blocks

Base cation saturation ratio (BCSR) is a soil management philosophy that postulates having an “ideal” ratio of base cations for maximizing crop yields. This practice is widely employed on organic farms, and BCSR practitioners commonly describe improvements in soil health and crop productivity. However, studies evaluating the efficacy of BCSR on soil biological and physical properties are lacking. This