Assessing the Efficiency of Different Nitrogen Fertilization Levels on Sorghum Yield and Quality Characteristics

Sorghum is a Poaceae family plant that produces a lot of hay. A field experiment was carried out at the University of Thessaly’s experimental farm to investigate the hay yield and quality characteristics of six different sorghum varieties (V1: Buffalo grain, V2: Elite, V3: Big Kahuna, V4: 25K1009, V5: 4264, and V6: 5D61) under different nitrogen fertilization levels (N1: 0, N2: 80, N3: 160, and N4: 240 kg ha−1, using urinary ammonia 40-0-0). Pea for silage production was established in the same field prior to sorghum cultivation. Hay yield was found to differ significantly between the tested varieties and was also influenced by nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilization has a statistically significant effect on sorghum production, with a higher nitrogen supply contributing to a higher protein content in the sorghum yield. Other hay quality indicators, such as ash, NDF, and ADF, demonstrated differences between the different varieties and nitrogen fertilizer levels. According to the study, the variety that had stable output was “Elite”, which had good quality attributes and could be used as an alternative to feed production before sorghum development

THE USE OF UREASE INHIBITOR FERTILIZERS (AGROTAIN) AND THEIR EFFECT ON CEREAL CROPS AND COTTON YIELD

Many commercial compounds exist that promise the increasing efficiency of ureafertilizers by inhibiting urease activity in soils. Such a compound gaining incommercial importance in the last decades is N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide,broadly known with its registered trade name of “Agrotain”. In this paper, theeffect of nitrogen fertilizer dressings using Agrotain versus conventional (urea)fertilizers was studied under field conditions. In particular, the effect of threedifferent nitrogen dressings using conventional N-fertilizers and Agrotain wasinvestigated on the growth and final yield of (rainfed) durum wheat, and (irrigated)maize and cotton, grown on a fertile clay loamy soil in Velestino (Thessaly plain)area in central Greece in the year 2015. It was demonstrated that all three cropsfertilized Agrotain obtained greater chlorophyll contents and reached significantlyhigher biomass and grain yields comparing to the crops receiving traditionalnitrogen fertilization, obviously due to the more effective nitrogen release anduptake by the crops.Therefore, application of urease inhibitor fertilizers, such asAgrotain, might reduce nitrogen application dressings, reduce N-losses andnitrification, and their introduction to existing crop rotations is highly advisable

Could a Legume–Switchgrass Sod-Seeding System Increase Forage Productivity?

Nowadays, the lack of cattle feed, particularly green fodder, has become a key limiting factor in the agricultural economy. Switchgrass appears to offer a viable solution to the feed shortage. An improved cultivation practice might be needed to boost switchgrass forage production all season long. This study was conducted to quantify the positive effects of introducing different legume crops (vetch and pea), optimally fertilized, on the production and quality of mixed harvested switchgrass–legumes hay in late spring (May) and switchgrass hay harvested once more in early fall (September). The studied intercropping systems, independently of the legume species used, increased forage productivity (almost threefold), reaching 7.5 t ha−1 and quality characteristics, with protein content almost rising threefold, reaching 12.5%. The aforementioned practice can assist the perennial crop (switchgrass) in providing a high hay production during the early fall harvest, even without fertilization. The overall annual economic benefit for the farmers may be increased by 90–720 € per ha, depending on the prevailing weather conditions. Overall, it may be concluded that the suggested cropping system produces a significantly higher yield of cattle feed compared to traditional monocultures, improving the agricultural economy while reducing the negative effects of modern agriculture on the environment

Effects of Post-Emergence Herbicides and Period of Johnsongrass (<i>Sorghum halepense</i> (L.) Pers.) Control on Growth and Yield of Sunflower Crops

Sunflower is an important industrial crop since it is grown all over the world for oil production, while Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.) is characterized by great competitiveness and can severely impair plant growth and crop productivity. Thus, a two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of Johnsongrass control practices on plant growth, seed yield, and oil content of sunflower crop. The results indicated that Johnsongrass competition negatively affected sunflower growth and productivity as the lowest values of height, dry biomass, seed, and oil yields were recorded at the weed-infested treatment, followed by the weed infested for 30 days after sowing. All the other treatments had a positive effect on vegetative and yield parameters. Moreover, fluazifop-p-butyl, quizalofop-p-ethyl, and the combination of fluazifop-p-butyl and imazamox effectively controlled Johnsongrass. Specifically, in 2020, the lowest dry weight of Johnsongrass was observed in the plots where fluazifop-p-butyl + imazamox were applied. Thus, the results of this study clearly showed that the use of the above-mentioned herbicides can improve the seed and oil yield of a sunflower crop by managing Johnsongrass, while the competition of this rapidly growing weed for a short period of 30 days can significantly reduce crop yield