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Does coinoculation with bradyrhizobia and cyanobacteria improve groundnut growth and yield? Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2024-03-11 Diva Souza Andrade, Gisele Milani Lovato, Glaciela Kaschuk, Mariangela Hungria
Summary Groundnut plants can obtain N from N2 fixation via symbiosis with rhizobia, and inoculation with selected strains can improve grain yields. We report the results of four field experiments carried out under subtropical conditions to confirm whether microbial inoculants can improve groundnut performance through the effects of single inoculation with Bradyrhizobium arachidis (SEMIA6144), coinoculation
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Plant growth regulators improve root growth of rice seedlings after mechanical transplanting and increase grain yield Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Jichao Tang, Zhimin Zhang, Shahbaz Tung, Bilin Lu, Wenjia Yang
Summary Enhancing seedling quality and promoting root growth post-transplantation are crucial for improving mechanically transplanted rice productivity. Here we investigated the impact of various plant growth regulators on hybrid and conventional rice varieties. Treatments, including two-diethylaminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6, 10 mg L−1), a combination of potassium 3-indole-butyrate + potassium 1-naphthylacetate
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Drought responses in Coffea arabica as affected by genotype and phenophase. I – leaf distribution and branching Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2024-03-01 Miroslava Rakocevic, Fabio Takeshi Matsunaga, Ricardo Antônio Almeida Pazianotto, José Cochicho Ramalho, Evelyne Costes, Rafael Vasconcelos Ribeiro
Summary In Coffea arabica, there is a small genetic distance between wild and bred genotypes. However, coffee genotypes express differential acclimation to multiple drought cycles, allowing them to successfully deal with water-limiting conditions. We hypothesized that bred coffee cultivars have a plant structure less sensitive to drought than wild genotypes. Plant and leaf architecture were analyzed
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Resistance of sugarcane hybrids to internode borer Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 P. Mahesh, B. Singaravelu, J. Srikanth, K. P. Salin, K. Chandran, R. Nirmala
A four-year field study (2013–2016) was conducted to screen Indian sugarcane hybrids together with two susceptible checks against internode borer Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in endemic locations of Tamil Nadu State, India. Each year, borer incidence on cane basis and intensity on internode basis were assessed at harvest to eliminate susceptible entries. Of the total
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Straw return-enhanced soil carbon and nitrogen fractions and nitrogen use efficiency in a maize–rice rotation system Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-31 Yanwen Wang, Mingguang Qin, Ming Zhan, Tianqi Liu, Jinzhan Yuan
Summary Considering straw resource utilization and air pollution prevention, straw return has been commonly practiced in China. However, the practicability of plenty straw return in an emerging maize–rice rotation and their effects on soil C and N pools have not been extensively investigated. This study has been conducted to examine the effects of straw return on soil nutrients, soil functional C and
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Selenium accumulation in grains of wheat cultivars grown in selenium-rich areas in China Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-30 Weilin Kong, Hafeez Noor, Aixia Ren, Linghong Li, Pengcheng Ding, Yongkang Ren, Zhiqiang Gao, Min Sun
Summary Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for human health, and Se concentration of wheat grain in China has no significant relationships with selenium concentration of wheat and with soil organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium in the 0–20 cm soil layer. However, a significant indigenous positive correlation was found with soil Se concentration. Field experiments were conducted from
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Multi-trait selection for agronomic performance and drought tolerance among durum wheat genotypes evaluated under rainfed and irrigated environments Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-24 Reza Mohammadi, Mahdi Geravandi
Summary Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) is a major crop in the Mediterranean region, widely grown for its nutritional value and economic importance. Durum wheat breeding can contribute to global food security through the introduction of new cultivars exhibiting drought tolerance and higher yield potential in the Mediterranean environments. In this study, 25 durum wheat genotypes (23
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The temperature optima for pollen germination and pollen tube growth of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) strongly depend on the growth temperature Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-08 Dushan P. Kumarathunge, Lasantha K. Weerasinghe, Ruwan K. Samarasinghe, Nalaka Geekiyanage
Understanding trait variation in response to temperature is important to predict how crops respond to rising temperature. Although we have a sound understanding of the effects of increasing temperature on growth and development of crops, a robust assessment of how crop reproductive processes are affected by climate warming is still lacking. In this study, we experimentally investigate how the growth
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Long-term warming altered soil physical structure and soil organic carbon pools in wheatland field Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2024-01-03 Rentian Ma, Taiji Kou, Xianghan Cheng, Ning Yu
Summary The impacts of long-term warming on soil physical structure and soil organic carbon (SOC) pools are currently disputed and uncertain. We conducted an eleven-year warming experiment in wheatland field in Henan, China. We found that long-term warming significantly increased soil bulk density by 4.5%, and significantly decreased total porosity and non-capillary porosity by 3.4% and 5.0%, respectively
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Farmers’ selection criteria for sweet potato varieties in Benin: An application of Best-Worst Scaling Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-15 Idrissou Ahoudou, Dêêdi E. O. Sogbohossou, Nicodeme V. Fassinou Hotegni, Charlotte O. A. Adjé, Françoise Assogba Komlan, Ismail Moumouni-Moussa, Enoch G. Achigan-Dako
Summary Integrating farmers’ preferences into the breeding and dissemination of new genotypes is a effective approach to enhance their successful adoption by farmers. In the case of sweet potato, a staple crop in many parts of West Africa, there is a need for more research on the selection criteria used by farmers when choosing which varieties to grow. This study aims to highlight farmers’ selection
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The role of integrated soil fertility management in improving crop yields in the Ethiopian Highlands Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-12-11 Julia Doldt, Kidist Yilma, Jim Ellis-Jones, Steffen Schulz, Alex Thomson, Carlos Barahona
Summary Land degradation and declining productivity in the Ethiopian Highlands are primarily caused by soil fertility decline due to erosion, nutrient depletion, and soil acidity. An integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) project operating over a six-year period aimed to combat this and boost yields through participatory demonstrations. Despite high levels of yield variability expected from a
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Fallow weed application alters rice yield by changing nitrogen uptake Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-29 Ge Chen, Yuling Kang, Fangbo Cao, Jiana Chen, Min Huang
Summary Fallow weeds can be abundant in rice paddies without any inputs and provide ecosystem services like those of cover crops, such as reducing nitrogen (N) leaching and capturing carbon. Therefore, allowing fallow weeds to grow is a potential alternative to cover crops in rice cropping systems. To evaluate the feasibility of this strategy, the effect of fallow weeds on grain yield in rice needs
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Canopy development, leaf traits and yield in high-altitude Andean maize under contrasting plant densities in Argentina Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-13 D. A. Salve, M. L. Maydup, G. A. Salazar, E. A. Tambussi, M. Antonietta
Summary In highlands, the increase in altitude results in a drastic decrease in temperature (T) that delays phenological development of maize, decreasing light interception during the cycle. This could be partially overcome by increasing plant density, but information is scarce for designing specific management options. The objective of this work was to describe changes in canopy development, photosynthetic
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Variations in mango fruit quality in response to management factors on a pre- and post-harvest continuum Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-11-08 Antoine Drouillard, Mathieu Léchaudel, Michel Génard, Anna Doizy, Isabelle Grechi
Summary Fruit quality is a key factor – beginning with the producer, continuing through the supply chain, and ending with the consumer. It is described by multiple indicators and varies during the growth and ripening of the fruit. This study focused on two main aspects of Cogshall mango (Mangifera indica L.) quality: (i) the physical properties of the fruit with fresh mass (FM), pulp dry matter content
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Early harvesting and increasing stubble-cutting height enhance ratoon rice yield Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-09-21 Yuanwei Chen, Huabin Zheng, Weiqin Wang, Qiyuan Tang
Summary To clarify the combined effects of the cutting time and cutting height on ratooning ability and rice grain yield of the ratoon crop in the novel ratoon rice cropping, a field experiment was carried out to investigate the combined effects of harvesting time and the stubble-cutting height of the main crop on the growth duration, ratooning ability and grain yield of the ratoon crop. The growth
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Farmers’ heterogeneous preferences for traits of improved varieties: Informing demand-oriented crop breeding in Tanzania Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-09-13 Mekdim D. Regassa, Philip K. Miriti, Mequanint B. Melesse
Summary Understanding farmers’ preferences and willingness to pay for different traits is critical for demand-driven varietal development and designing targeted strategies that stimulate adoption of varieties by farmers. This study uses choice experiment data from a random sample of 1299 Tanzanian farmers to analyze their preferences for traits of groundnut varieties, investigate trade-offs involved
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Sustainability assessment methodology oriented to soil-associated agricultural experiments Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-09-12 Oscar Iván Monsalve Camacho, Oscar Gonzalo Castillo-Romero, Carlos Ricardo Bojacá Aldana, Martha Cecilia Henao Toro
Summary A variety of established tools are available for agricultural sustainability assessment at global, regional, and farm geographical scales. However, no assessment has been reported in research literature to indicate their ability to provide insights about the most sustainable cropping system at plot level or experimental unit. Despite the environmental and social importance of soil in agricultural
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Fertilizer use in conventional cereal production in northern Greece: Mapping gaps for improving sustainability Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-08-24 Vassiliki Vindena, Elisavet Toubou, Spyridon D. Koutroubas, Christos A. Damalas
Summary Optimizing fertilizer use in intensively cropped soils is essential, but knowledge of related issues among farmers is lacking. The present study assessed farmers’ perceptions of fertilizers and practices of fertilizer use in intensive cereal production in rural areas of Evros in northern Greece. In total, 250 cereal farmers were chosen for this study, and more than half of the farmers (53.6%)
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Responses of soil–plant C, N, and P concentrations and stoichiometry to contrasting application rates of biochar to subtropical paddy field Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-08-09 Qiang Jin, Weiqi Wang, Xu Song, Jordi Sardans, Xuyang Liu, Shaoying Lin, Akash Tariq, Fanjiang Zengg, Josep Peñuelas
Summary Biochar is increasingly used in crop production as a fertilizer; however, its effects on nutrient cycling and stoichiometry in rice paddy soil–plant systems are unclear. We tested for effects of contrasting rates of biochar on soil and rice plant organ carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) concentrations and stoichiometry and soil physicochemical properties in early and late paddies
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Kaolin particle film mitigates supra-optimal temperature stress effects at leaf scale and increases bean size and productivity of Coffea canephora Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-07-31 Deivisson Pelegrino de Abreu, Newton de Matos Roda, Cesar Abel Krohling, Eliemar Campostrini, Miroslava Rakocevic
Summary In young plants of Coffea canephora, fine particle film based on calcined kaolin (KF) causes a decrease in leaf temperature (Tleaf), minimizing the damages to the photochemical apparatus, especially in summer season, but no report about the ecophysiological responses to KF over phenology is available on this species. We hypothesized that greater ecophysiological effects of KF would occur during
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Animal traction, two-wheel tractors, or four-wheel tractors? A best-fit approach to guide farm mechanization in Africa Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-07-26 Thomas Daum, Anna Seidel, Bisrat G. Awoke, Regina Birner
Summary Farm mechanization promises to help raise labor productivity and reduce the heavy toil of farming on the world’s millions of smallholder farms, hence contributing to socioeconomic development in the Global South, in particular in Africa. While mechanization is therefore high on the African development agenda, there are heavy – at times dogmatic – debates on which technological pathway toward
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N-enriched biochar increases carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus accumulation associated with changes in plant ecological stoichiometry in subtropical rice paddy fields Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-07-05 Jie Hei, Xiaolei Yin, Weiqi Wang, Jordi Sardans, Chun Wang, Xiaoxuan Chen, Akash Tariq, Fanjiang Zeng, Abdulwahed Fahad Alrefaei, Josep Peñuelas
Summary N-enriched biochar can increase the accumulation of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and biomass in rice plants. On the other hand, the biomass and C, N, and P contents of plant organs are important indicators to reflect plant C, N, and P storages. We established control, 4 t ha−1, and 8 t ha−1 N-enriched biochar treatment plots in a subtropical paddy field in China to investigate
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Socio-demographic factors and ethnobotanical knowledge associated with sesame management practices across agroecological zones in Benin Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-06-09 Christel F. Azon, Nicodème V. Fassinou Hotegni, Charlotte A. O. Adjé, Chaldia O. Agossou, Olga E. D. Sogbohossou, Hermine Nouletope, Odilon-Parfait K. Akotchayé, Pancrace Kékpè, Clavaire Aïsso, Maboudou A. Guirguissou, Komivi Dossa, Clément Agbangla, Florent J-B. Quenum, Enoch G. Achigan-Dako
Summary Sesame is an oilseed crop and source of income for small-scale farmers, particularly in developing countries. In Benin, sesame production is poorly developed and the underlying reasons are still unknown. In this study, we investigated the sesame management practices, socio-demographic factors and ethnobotanical knowledge associated with sesame production, as well as the production constraints
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Kenyan farmers appreciate the higher yield of 50% non-pollen producing Maize (Zea mays) hybrids Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-05-25 Hugo De Groote, Michael K. Ndegwa, Nancy Muriithi, Bernard G. Munyua, Sarah Collinson, Michael S. Olsen
Summary Incorporating the dominant male sterile gene, Ms44, in new maize varieties results in 50% non-pollen producing (FNP) varieties. This makes the varieties more nitrogen efficient and increases yield directly by an average of 200 kg ha−1 across yield levels. However, as half of the plants do not shed pollen, the presence of Ms44 in an FNP variety is clearly visible. This technology can improve
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Wheat seed demand assessment assisted by genotyping in Ethiopia Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-05-10 Endeshaw Habte, Chilot Yirga, Moti Jaleta, Kindie Tesfaye, Adam Bekele, Olaf Erenstein
Summary This study examines the extent to which wheat varieties supplied by the formal seed system align with the varieties demanded and used by farmers in Ethiopia. The framework of stated and revealed preferences drawn from the consumer preference theory is used to analyze farmer demand for different wheat varieties. We used official data from the formal seed sector and representative survey data
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Ratooning increases production of sweetpotato seed vines multiplied in insect-proof net tunnels in Tanzania Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-05-08 Kwame Ogero, Haile Selassie Okuku, Margaret McEwan, Conny Almekinders, Jan Kreuze, Paul Struik, René van der Vlugt
Summary Insect-proof net tunnels can help reduce virus infection of clean virus-tested sweetpotato seed produced by decentralized seed producers. However, optimal management is required to maintain both quality and quantity of seed produced. This study investigated the effect of the ratoon cropping technique on vine production in net tunnels and open fields. Virus-tested planting material of two varieties
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Impact of salinity on yield-related parameters in two contrasting cultivars of Oryza glaberrima Steud. in Benin Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-03-14 Hermann Prodjinoto, Christophe Gandonou, Willy Irakoze, Stanley Lutts
Summary Salinity is one of the major environmental stresses limiting growth and yield of rice. The objective of the present study was to analyze the impact of NaCl on yield-related parameters of Oryza glaberrima. Two contrasted cultivars of Oryza glaberrima previously tested for salt resistance at the vegetative stage [salt-resistant (TOG5307) and salt-sensitive (TOG5949)] were irrigated with a saline
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Bioregulator application enhances yield by modulating antioxidant efficiency of rainfed cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. (Taub.)] in the hot arid region of India Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-03-14 Narayan Singh Nathawat, Narendra Dev Yadava, Jai Parkash Singh, Priyabrata Santra, Suryanarayana Bhaskar, Ravindra Singh Shekhawat, Vijay Singh Rathore
Summary Water deficiency is one of the most severe abiotic stresses in rainfed dry lands and limits crop productivity. Exogenous applications of salicylic acid (SA) have been applied to mitigate the adverse effects of water-deficit stresses, but the relative efficacy of different derivatives of SA in enhancing water-deficit tolerance along with the underlying physio-biochemical mechanism and yield
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Analyzing antifragility among smallholder farmers in Bihar, India: An assessment of farmers’ vulnerability and the strengths of positive deviants Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-02-06 Roos Adelhart Toorop, Santiago Lopez-Ridaura, Mangi Lal Jat, Pauline Eichenseer, Deepak Bijarniya, Raj Kumar Jat, Jeroen C.J. Groot
Summary Farmers around the world are increasingly vulnerable: climate variability is identified as the primary stressor, but unfavorable biophysical circumstances and disturbances in the socioeconomic domain (labor dynamics and price volatility) also affect farm management and production. To deal with these disturbances, adaptations are recognized as essential. Antifragility acknowledges that adaptations
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Secondary sexual dimorphism in biomass production of Ilex paraguariensis progenies associated with their provenances and morphotypes Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-01-26 Miroslava Rakocevic, Aline de Holanda Nunes Maia, Manoela Mendes Duarte, Ivar Wendling
Summary Secondary sexual dimorphism (SSD) in flowering plants is expressed as differences in sexual characteristics that are not directly related to gamete production, involving a wide variety of morphological and physiological traits. Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is an evergreen dioecious tree native to South America. It was hypothesized that: (1) in early years, the two yerba-mate genders would
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High plant density increases sunlight interception and yield of direct-seeded winter canola in China Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-01-20 Rui Wang, Weixian Wu, Xiaolei Cheng, Wenli Peng
Summary Rationally higher population density is crucial for seeking a balance that meets lodging resistance and maximizes seed yield in mechanized direct-seeded winter canola. In this study, a split-plot experiment with two cultivars (Huayouza9 and Zhongshuang11) and eleven planting densities (12–105 plants m-2) was conducted in a two-season field experiment to evaluate the high planting density in
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Controlled release urea increases soybean yield without compromising symbiotic nitrogen fixation Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2023-01-09 Clovis Pierozan Junior, José Laércio Favarin, João Leonardo Corte Baptistella, Rodrigo Estevam Munhoz de Almeida, Silas Maciel de Oliveira, Bruno Cocco Lago, Tiago Tezotto
Summary In Brazil, high-yield soybean [Glycine Max (L). Merrill] – corn (Zea mays L.) double cropping system might be nitrogen (N)-limited and additional N fertilization can be beneficial. Early application of N in soybean reduces the symbiotic N fixation (SNF) efficiency and/or establishment. One alternative to avoid SNF impairment is to apply N between the beginning pod (R3) and seed-fill (R5) stages
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Field arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation increased plant performance without phosphorus fertilizer supply of four promoted upland rice varieties in Madagascar Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-12-22 Naliharilala Miora Rakotoarivelo Njaramanana, Volatsara Baholy Rahetlah, Jean Trap, Patrice Autfray
Summary In Madagascar, upland rice cropping is constrained by soil acidity and low phosphorus (P) bioavailability. Given their role in plant P nutrition, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may improve crop yield in nutrient-poor tropical soils. In the Vakinankaratra region, a field experiment was conducted at 908 m asl on an acidic Ferralsol during the 2019–2020 growing season. The aim was to test
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Enabling cumulative learning in user-oriented research for root, tuber and banana crop breeding Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-12-22 José Francisco Valle, Elizabeth Arnaud, Pricilla Marimo, Jacob van Etten
Summary User-oriented research is important in breeding improved genotypes, for developing and validating product concepts (mostly involving trait prioritisation), as well as evaluating breeding products in use situations (mostly involving participatory variety evaluation). This paper examines key aspects that enable cumulative learning in user-oriented research for root, tuber and banana (RTB) crop
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Optimizing the clipping frequency and nitrogen topdressing in a dual-purpose oat used for fodder and cover cropping Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-12-05 Kudzayi Janhi, Cornelius Chiduza, John Mupangwa, Lindah Muzangwa
Summary Management strategies such as nitrogen (N) topdressing and clipping can be used to optimize a cover crop for the dual purpose of soil cover and forage. The present study tested oat (Avena sativa) for a holistic provision of soil cover and forage under various levels of clipping frequency and N topdressing. Effects on root and above-ground biomass, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber
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Trait-based description of the agronomic and usage potential of a range of plantain varieties from Cameroon Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-11-28 Sylvain Dépigny, Gaëlle Damour
Summary A highly diverse range of plantain varieties are cropped in West and Central Africa, and it is essential to enhance knowledge on this diversity to support farmers in their varietal choices. This study aims at proposing a new way to describe a panel of plantain varieties, based on their agronomic and usage potential. The agronomic trait values of nine plantain varieties, including five traditional
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Assessing the synergistic impacts of poultry manure and biochar on nutrient-depleted sand and sandy loam soil properties and sweet potato growth and yield Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-11-28 Taiwo Michael Agbede, Adefemi Oyewumi, Aruna Olasekan Adekiya, Ojo Timothy Vincent Adebiyi, Thomas Adebayo Abisuwa, Justin Orimisan Ijigbade, Catherine Temitope Ogundipe, Segun O. Oladele, Opeyemi Olaogun, Ehiokhilen Kevin Eifediyi
Summary Poultry manure (PM) has been shown to boost crop productivity. However, little is known about its favorable interactions with wood biochar (B) on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) growth and yield, and soil qualities. Hence, a 2-year field trial was conducted in the southwest Nigeria at two locations (Owo – site A and Obasooto – site B) to co-apply PM and wood B as soil amendments to boost
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Improvement of soil aggregate-associated carbon sequestration capacity after 14 years of conservation tillage Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-11-28 Siyu Chen, Yaqian Cao, Tingting Zhang, Jichao Cui, Liangliang Guo, Ying Shen, Pengchong Zhou, Huifang Han, Tangyuan Ning
Summary The North China Plain is an important summer maize/winter wheat rotation area. However, over the years, continued intensive tillage has destroyed the soil aggregate accelerating the mineralization and decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC), which plays an important role in soil quality, as increased organic carbon storage improves soil fertility and crop yields. Thus, the objective of this
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Predicting protein content of silage maize using remotely sensed multispectral imagery and proximal leaf sensing Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-11-04 Nikrooz Bagheri, Maryam Rahimi Jahangirlou, Mehryar Jaberi Aghdam
Timely estimation of silage maize protein provides an effective decision to adapt optimized strategies for nitrogen fertilizer management and also harvesting time for farmers. So, this research aimed to investigate whether using vegetative indices (VIs) derived from UAV remotely sensed multispectral (with 520–900 nm wavelengths) imagery and also Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) greenness index
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Drivers of farmer involvement in experimental forage trials in the Peruvian Andes and implications for participatory research design Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-10-10 Mark E. Caulfield, Steven J. Vanek, Katherin Meza, Jhon Huaraca, Jose Luis Loayza, Samuel Palomino, Edgar Olivera, Raul Ccanto, Maria Scurrah, Lionel Vigil, Steven J. Fonte
This study analyses the experience and response of farmers within a multi-year collaborative research trial focused on the development of forage-based fallows in eight communities in the central Peruvian Andes. Quantitative data from a rural household survey were used to characterize farming household socioeconomic factors, livelihood strategies and soil and crop management practices of community members
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Role of small-scale dairy production systems in central Mexico in reducing rural poverty Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-10-10 Mónica Elizama Ruiz-Torres, Anastacio García-Martínez, Carlos Manuel Arriaga-Jordán, Peter Dorward, Adolfo Armando Rayas-Amor, Carlos Galdino Martínez-García
The aim of the study was to analyze the role of small-scale dairy farms in central Mexico in combating rural poverty from a gender perspective. Specifically, it was determined whether these production systems generated sufficient income for alleviating poverty and purchasing the basic food basket. Two hundred and twelve farmers were selected through snowball sampling. To maintain a gender perspective
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Cassava root yield variability in shifting cultivation systems in the eastern Amazon region of Brazil Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-10-07 Thomas Abrell, Krishna Naudin, Felix J.J.A. Bianchi, Debora Veiga Aragao, Pablo Tittonell, Marc Corbeels
Cassava flour is the main source of carbohydrates for family farmers in the Amazon region of Brazil. Cassava is mainly grown under shifting cultivation, in recurrent cultivation periods initiated through slash-and-burn. Its sustainability is, however, questioned due to the associated deforestation and often rapidly decreasing crop productivity. There is an urgent need to make these cassava systems
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Genotype × environment interaction and stability analyses of grain yield in rainfed winter bread wheat Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-10-06 Mozaffar Roostaei, Jaffar Jafarzadeh, Ebrahim Roohi, Hossein Nazary, Rahman Rajabi, Reza Mohammadi, Gholam Reza Khalilzadeh, Fereshteh Seif, Seyyed Mohammad Mehdi Mirfatah, Saber Seif Amiri, Hoosein Hatamzadeh, Malek Masoud Ahmadi
The genotype × environment (GE) interaction analysis is fundamental in crop breeding programs to guide selection and for recommendation of high performing and stable genotypes for breeding objectives. This study aimed at quantifying the GE interaction effects and determines grain yield stability among winter bread wheat genotypes under rainfed conditions of Iran. Twenty-four winter wheat genotypes
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Application of naphthalene acetic acid and gibberellic acid favours fruit induction and development in oil palm hybrid (Elaeis oleifera x Elaeis guineensis) Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-09-26 Daniel Gerardo Cayón Salinas, Gustavo Adolfo Ligarreto Moreno, Stanislav Magnitskiy, Gustavo Rosero, Omaira Leguizamón
The OxG hybrid bunches contain more parthenocarpic fruits (PF) than normal fruits (NF) and present problems of development and ripening due to either an asynchronous opening of flowers or insufficient pollination. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and gibberellic acid (GA3) in the induction and development of PF and NF, the fatty acid profile (FAP)
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Phosphorus cycling by Urochloa decumbens intercropped with coffee Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-09-26 João Leonardo Corte Baptistella, Ana Paula Bettoni Teles, José Laércio Favarin, Paulo Sergio Pavinato, Paulo Mazzafera
Phosphorus (P) is a limiting resource for agricultural production in the tropics. Urochloa spp. is commonly used as a cover crop and has mechanisms to mobilize partially the nonavailable P forms from the soil. The use of Urochloa intercropped with Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is increasing in Brazil, but P cycling has been overlooked in this system. Here, we proposed two experiments to test the
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Effect of tillage frequency, seed rate, and glyphosate application on teff and weeds in Tigray, Ethiopia Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-09-05 Haftamu Gebretsadik Gebrehiwot, Jens Bernt Aune, Ole Martin Eklo, Torfinn Torp, Lars Olav Brandsæter
Field experiments were conducted in 2015 and 2016 to study the effect of tillage frequency, seed rate, and glyphosate on teff and weeds. The experiments were arranged in a split plot design with three replications consisting of tillage frequency (conventional, minimum, and zero tillage) as the main plot and the combination of seed rate (5, 15, and 25 kg ha−1) and glyphosate (with and without) as subplots
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Preferential mineral N form uptake by sugarcane genotypes contrasting in nitrogen use efficiency Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-08-17 Oriel Tiago Kölln, Beatriz Nastaro Boschiero, Henrique Coutinho Junqueira Franco, Marina Camara Martins Soldi, Guilherme Martinelli Sanches, Sergio Gustavo de Quassi Castro, Paulo Cesar Ocheuze Trivelin
Ammonium has been reported as a ‘preferred’ nitrogen (N) source for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), which can improve N use efficiency (NUE) in this crop. We aimed to evaluate the preferential uptake of ammonium and nitrate in sugarcane genotypes contrasting with NUE under controlled conditions. Four sugarcane genotypes previously selected by another experiment (ER: efficient and responsive; ENR: efficient
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Conservation agriculture effects on yield and profitability of rice-based systems in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-08-11 Md. Ariful Islam, Richard W. Bell, Chris Johansen, M. Jahiruddin, Md. Enamul Haque, Wendy Vance
Sustaining productivity of the rice-based cropping systems in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain (EIGP) requires practices to reverse declining soil fertility resulting from excessive tillage and crop residue removal, while decreasing production costs and increasing farm profits. We hypothesize that the adoption of conservation agriculture (CA), involving minimum tillage, crop residue retention and crop
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Effect of combining organic manure and inorganic fertilisers on maize–bush bean intercropping Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-08-01 Gift Ndengu, Powell Mponela, Barthlomew Chataika, Lulseged Tamene Desta, Rowland Chirwa, Gudeta G. Sileshi
In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), farmers intercrop common beans with maize but apply inorganic or organic fertilisers targeting only maize. Effects of this practice on bush bean yield have not been fully evaluated with respect to input use and compatibility when intercropped with maize. An on-farm trial managed by smallholder community members was conducted to assess the influence of various soil fertility
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High phosphorus supply enhances leaf gas exchange and growth of young Arabica coffee plants under water deficit Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-08-01 Miroslava Rakocevic, Paulo Eduardo R. Marchiori, Fernando C. B. Zambrosi, Eduardo C. Machado, Aline de Holanda N. Maia, Rafael V. Ribeiro
Drought is considered as the major environmental stress affecting coffee production, and high phosphorus (P) supply may alleviate the drought effects on crop metabolism. Here, we hypothesized that high P supply would mitigate the impacts of drought on Arabica coffee physiology, morphology, and biomass accumulation. Potted Arabica coffee plants were grown under two P levels: the recommended P fertilization
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Topcross pearl millet hybrids for Africa: A case study for Mali Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-08-01 Moussa D. Sanogo, S. B. Coulibaly, Moussa Mariko, John R. Witcombe
Single-cross pearl millet hybrids are widely grown in India, but this cultivar type has not been adopted in Africa. Hybrids from India have proven to be highly susceptible to downy mildew disease in Africa, the continent where the disease originated. We investigated an alternative strategy of growing topcross hybrids where both the parents are of African origin and both are only partially inbred. We
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Estimating productivity and nutritive value of Marandu palisadegrass using a proximal canopy reflectance sensor Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-07-28 José Ricardo Macedo Pezzopane, Alberto Carlos de Campos Bernardi, Cristiam Bosi, Orlando Sengling, Willian Lucas Bonani, Henrique Bauab Brunetti, Patricia Menezes Santos
In intensive livestock production systems, estimating forage production and its nutritive value can assist farmers in optimizing pasture management, stocking rate, and feed supplementation to animals. In this study, we aimed to use vegetation indices, determined using a proximal canopy reflectance sensor, to estimate the forage mass, crude protein content, and nitrogen in live forage of Marandu palisadegrass
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Impacts of eucalyptus biochar application on greenhouse gas emission from an upland rice–sugarcane cropping system on sandy soil Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-07-27 Sucharat Butphu, Wanwipa Kaewpradit
An on-farm field experiment was conducted in northeastern Thailand to assess the effects of different eucalyptus biochar (BC) application rates, in combination with mineral fertilizers, on upland rice and a succeeding crop of sugarcane on sandy soil. Soil mineral N and greenhouse gas emissions were also evaluated. The field experiment consisted of three treatments: no biochar (BC0), 3.1 Mg ha−1 of
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A critical review on applications of hyperspectral remote sensing in crop monitoring Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-07-25 Huan Yu, Bo Kong, Yuting Hou, Xiaoyu Xu, Tao Chen, Xiangmeng Liu
Numerous technologies have contributed to the recent development of agriculture, especially the advancement in hyperspectral remote sensing (HRS) constituted a revolution in crop monitoring. The widespread use of HRS to obtain crop parameters suggests the need for a review of research advances in this area. HRS offers new theories and methods for studying crop parameters, but much work needs to be
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Data-driven similar response units for agricultural technology targeting: An example from Ethiopia Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-07-25 Lulseged Tamene, Wuletawu Abera, Eduardo Bendito, Teklu Erkossa, Meklit Tariku, Habtamu Sewnet, Degefie Tibebe, Jemal Sied, Gudina Feyisa, Menale Wondie, Kindie Tesfaye
Ethiopia has heterogeneous topographic, climatic and socio-ecological systems. Recommendations of agricultural inputs and management practices based on coarse domains such as agro-ecological zones (AEZ) may not lead to accurate targeting, mainly due to large intra-zone variations. The lack of well-targeted recommendations may contribute to the underperformance of promising technologies. Therefore,
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Fertiliser use efficiency, production risks and profitability of maize on smallholder farms in East Africa Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-07-13 Abednego Kiwia, David Kimani, Rebbie Harawa, Bashir Jama, Gudeta W. Sileshi
The use of fertilisers in maize production has been the focus for many years of agronomic studies on research stations in East Africa. However, information on production risks and profitability of fertiliser use on smallholder farms is generally lacking because most of the early studies have focused on mean yields and yield components on research stations. This study applied rigorous analyses to determine
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Balanced fertilization increases wheat yield response on different soils and agroecological zones in Ethiopia Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-07-13 Sofonyas Dargie, Tsegaye Girma, Tilahun Chibsa, Sofia Kassa, Shiferaw Boke, Abate Abera, Bereket Haileselassie, Samuel Addisie, Sosina Amsalu, Mehretab Haileselassie, Shure Soboka, Wuletawu Abera, Sileshi G. Weldesemayat
The response of wheat to the application of different rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) under balanced fertilization on different soil types and agroecologies has not been well studied in Ethiopia. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (1) determine soil-specific responses of wheat to N, P, K, and S under balanced fertilization; (2) quantify agroecology-specific
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Linking grain yield and lodging resistance with growth patterns in rice Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-07-11 Min Huang, Tao Lei, Jialin Cao, Zui Tao, Fangbo Cao, Jiana Chen, Xiaohong Yin, Yingbin Zou
Improving grain yield and lodging resistance are two important targets for improving rice production. The aim of this study was to link grain yield and lodging resistance with growth patterns in rice. A nitrogen (N) fertilization experiment was conducted in 2020 and 2021, which consisted of two N rates (150 and 225 kg ha–1) and three N split-application ratios among the basal, early tillering, and
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Nitrogen and trinexapac-ethyl effects on wheat grain yield, lodging and seed physiological quality in southern Brazil Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-06-23 Lucas Pinto de Faria, Sérgio Ricardo Silva, Rômulo Pisa Lollato
Nitrogen (N) fertilization affects wheat yield and grain protein concentration; however, its mismanagement can increase plant lodging. While the use of plant growth regulators such as trinexapac-ethyl (TE) can mitigate plant lodging, their effects on seed physiological quality are not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of N fertilization and TE on wheat yield, lodging and
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Sustainable intensification of wheat production under smallholder farming systems in Burera, Musanze and Nyamagabe districts of Rwanda Exp. Agric. (IF 1.6) Pub Date : 2022-06-22 Athanase Rusanganwa Cyamweshi, Nsharwasi Léon Nabahungu, Jackson Cirhuza Mirali, Job Kihara, George Oduor, Harrison Rware, Gudeta Weldesemayat Sileshi
The productivity of wheat is low on smallholder farms in Rwanda. Although mineral fertiliser use is being promoted as a sustainable intensification (SI) pathway, little is known about the nutrient use efficiency and profitability of various fertiliser inputs in Burera, Musanze and Nyamagabe districts of Rwanda. The objective of this study was to assess the use of combinations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus