Evaluation of Forage Systems of Cool Season Legumes and Sudangrass

Agronom

Effect of Different Fertilizing Systems on Seed Yield and Phosphorus Uptake in Annual Medics under Dryland Farming Conditions

The effect of different fertilizing systems on the seed yield and phosphorus uptake in annual medic (Medicago scutellata cv. Robinson) was examined at two locations under dry farming conditions in Kermanshah province, Iran, in 2009. Experiments were conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications; the treatments consisted of control (no fertilizer), chemical fertilizer, biological fertilizer and different combinations of chemical and biological fertilizing systems. The results showed that application of different fertilizing systems had a highly significant effect on the number of pods per plant. The highest values were obtained in the treatment using the urea chemical fertilizer + phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria + mycorrhiza. The highest soil seed bank was recorded in the nitrogen-fixing bacteria + phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria treatment; it increased the number of seeds by approximately 50 percent compared to the control (only 134 pod containing seeds). The highest pod yield was obtained after applying nitrogen-fixing bacteria + mycorrhiza (445 kg/ha), the lowest yield in the control treatment (266 kg/ha). In general, under the conditions of this experiment, the seed yield of annual medic var. Robinson receiving nitrogen-fixing + phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria out-yielded other fertilizing treatments. This indicates a synergistic interaction between these groups of bacteria that increases seed yield, the soil seed bank as well as the seed phosphorus uptake of this plant species under dry farming conditions

Grazing management of annual medic pastures / by Mohammad Reza Chaichi.

Bibliography: leaves 300-321.xiii, 321 leaves [11] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm.This thesis aims to extend knowledge and understanding of the seed-seedling dynamics and productivity of annual Medicago pastures. In particular this study concentrates on the impact of grazing by sheep on Medicago pasture herbage and seed production and sheep body weight gains.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Depts. of Agronomy and Farming Systems and Plant Science, 199

Forage quality, water use and nitrogen utilization efficiencies of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum L.) grown under different soil moisture and nitrogen levels

The increasing scarcity of water for irrigation is becoming the most important problem for producing forage in all arid and semi-arid regions. Pearl millet is a key crop in these regions which needs relatively less water than other crops. In this research, a field study was conducted to identify the best combination of irrigation and nitrogen (N) management to achieve acceptable pearl millet forage both in quantity and quality aspects. Pearl millet was subjected to four irrigation treatments with interaction of N fertilizer (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg ha-1). The irrigation treatments were 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of total available soil water (I40, I60, I80 and I100, respectively). The results showed that increasing moisture stress (from I40 to I100) resulted in progressively less total dry matter (TDM), leaf area index (LAI), and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUzE), while water use efficiency (WUE) and the percentage of crude protein (CP%) increased. The highest TDM and LAI were found to be 21.45 t ha-1 and 8.65, in I40 treatment, respectively. TDM, WUE, CP% and profit responses to N rates were positive. The maximum WUE of 4.19 kg DM/m3 was achieved at I100 with 150 kg N ha-1. The results of this research indicate that the maximum profit of forage production was obtained in plots which were fully irrigated (I40) and received 225 kg N ha-1. However, in the situation which water is often limited and not available, application of 150 kg N ha-1 can produce high forage quality and guaranty acceptable benefits for farmers.Pearl millet Water stress Nitrogen Water use efficiency Nitrogen utilization efficiency Forage quality

Effects of head pruning and different nutritional systems (chemical, biological and integrated) on seed yield and oil content in medicinal pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.)

To evaluate the effect of head pruning and different nutritional systems (chemical, biological and integrated) on yield and seed oil content in medicinal pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), an experiment was conducted in Kermanshah/Iran during the 2013 growing season. The experimental treatments consisted of two levels - no head pruning, control (Co) and head pruning (C1) allocated to the main plots. Four levels of different fertilizing systems - control (without fertilizer) (T0), chemical (T1), biological (a combination of nitrogen fixing bacteria, Azospirillum brasilense and Glomus mosseae) (T2), and integrated fertilizing system (biological fertilizer + 50% chemical fertilizer) (T3) were assigned to the sub-plots. The experimental treatments were arranged as a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that the highest percentage of seed oil was obtained (37%) in the integrated nutritional system along with the head pruning treatment. The highest grain yields of 53 and 50 g per square meter were obtained in integrated and chemical fertilizing systems, respectively while no pruning was applied. The highest fruit yields of 3,710 and 3,668 kg per hectare were produced by chemical and integrated fertilizing systems, respectively. The biological nutrition system required more time to demonstrate its positive effect on the growth and yield of medicinal pumpkin

Effect of different fertilizing and farming systems in annual medic (Medicago scutellata ’Robinson’) on soil organic matter and nutrients status

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of different fertilizing and farming systems in annual medic (Medicago scutellata ‘Robinson’) on soil organic matter and nutrients status. Fertilizing systems consisted of control (no fertilizer), chemical fertilizer, biological fertilizer and integrated fertilizers (different combinations of chemical and biological fertilizing systems). The farming systems included irrigated and dry-farming systems. The experiment was conducted in two experimental sites with diverse climatic and soil conditions in Kermanshah province, Iran, during 2009 growing season. The highest amount of soil organic matter of 1.28 % was observed in integrated fertilizing system of nitrogen-fixing bacteria + phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria. Most of the nitrogen applied through chemical fertilizers was leached out of the plant access, however, application of integrated fertilizer resulted in increasing the concentration of nitrogen in soil because of its slow release and efficient utilization by plants. According to the results of this study it was concluded that the integrated fertilizing system was more successful in dry farming compared to other fertilizing systems.</p