The effects of different cattle manure levels and branch management methods on organic production of Cucurbita pepo L.

To study the effects of different manure levels and two branch management methods on organic production of Schneider squash, a field experiment was conducted during 2005 and 2006. Treatments were four manure levels (10, 15, 20, 25 ton ha-1) and two branch management methods (with and without a wood pole), which were allocated to main plots and subplots, respectively. Results showed that the crop performed better in branch management without a wood pole than with a wood pole. Results showed that in the first year, manure level had a significant effect on fruit and seed yields. However, these traits were not significantly affected by manure levels in the second year. For both years, there were no differences in seed numbers due to manure levels. Seed oil content was slightly increased when the manure level was increased from 10 to 25 ton ha-1

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and free-living nitrogen- fixing bacteria on growth characteristics of corn(Zea mays L.) under organic and conventional cropping systems

In recent years, biological fertilizers have received special attention in sustainable agriculture. Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria had significant effects on corn photosynthesis and yield; the highest photosynthesis rate and yield were obtained with dual inoculation with fungus plus bacteria. These outcomes were also affected by cropping systems, but to a lesser extent. Therefore in organic and low input cropping systems, a combination of mycorrhiza and free-living bacteria performed satisfactorily