Exploitability of cultivated and wild cardoon as long-term, low-input energy crops

The potential ability in terms of biomass, achenes, oil and energy yield of two Cynara cardunculus L. genotypes (one cultivated cardoon and one wild cardoon) was evaluated along a 7-year experiment. It was carried out in a marginal farmland of Southern Italy, with low soil fertility and minimal external inputs. Under these conditions, they reached an annual harvestable biomass ranging from 0.74 (wild cardoon) to 1.46 kg m −2 (cultivated cardoon) and an energy yield ranging from 13.8 to 27.5 kJ m −2 . The lower heating value of biomass (including achenes) was on average 18.2 kJ kg −1 , while the oil yield from achenes varied between 25.1 and 25.7 g 100 g −1 of dry matter. The cultivated cardoon was able to produce high yields until the fifth season and therefore is prone for medium long-time cropping systems. Conversely, wild cardoon showed a most stable yield pattern and plant survival over seasons, suggesting its particular suitability for perennial cropping systems in Mediterranean marginal areas

Growth and Yield Performance of Five Guar Cultivars in a Mediterranean Environment

In order to evaluate growth and yield performance of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) in Mediterranean area, main morphological parameters (plant height, dry weight of single plant parts, branch and leaf number), dry biomass accumulation and seed yield response of five varieties of guar (Esser, Malosan, Kinman, Lewis and Santa Cruz) were studied. Seed crude protein and fibre content were also determined. Irrigation was applied to ensure that water availability did not limit production. The growing season of guar lasted for 120 days for all the varieties. Average plant height at harvest was about 63 cm (ranging from 56.0 to 70.6 cm). The highest dry weight increment was recorded during 55-70 days after sowing. Malosan, Santa Cruz and Kinman showed the highest individual seed weight (> 30 mg). Above average leaf and branch number were observed in Kinman, Esser and Santa Cruz. The greatest seed protein content was observed in Lewis and Esser (35.6% and 34.7%). High yield and seed quality were obtained in these environments with limited water supply, indicating that guar may represent a valid alternative multipurpose crop for semiarid regions

Deficit Irrigation on Guar Genotypes (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.): Effects on Seed Yield and Water Use Efficiency

For guar, a well-known drought and heat-tolerant industrial legume with a spring–summer cycle, limited research has been conducted into measuring the effects of drought on yield potential. A two-year field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of different irrigation regimes on yield, yield components and water use efficiency (WUE) on five cultivars of guar (Kinman, Lewis, Matador, Monument, and Santa Cruz) in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment. Three different water replenishment levels were used: fully irrigated (IH, 100% of the ET), and 50% (IM) and 25% (IL) irrigated. Seed yields ranged from 1.24 (IL) to 3.28 t ha−1 (IH) in 2011, and from 0.98 (IL) to 2.88 t ha−1 (IH) in 2012. Compared to IH, the two-year average seed yield reductions for IL and IM were 49% and 26%, respectively. Lewis and Santa Cruz showed significantly greater grain yields under fully-watered and water-limited conditions. The number of pods per plant achieved the highest positive direct effects on seed yield (r = 0.924***). The highest values of water use efficiency were observed in the IL water regime (1.44 kg m−3 with increments in improved water use efficiency of +34 and +95% when compared with IM and IH, respectively)

Agronomic, chemical, and antioxidant characterization of grain amaranths grown in a Mediterranean environment

The use of amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) in the food and dietary supplements industry is increasing. The aim of this work is to promote the Mediterranean area as a production hot spot, by using multivariate statistical analyses on data obtained in two-year trials and relating to morphological, productive, and qualitative traits and antioxidant activity of 20 accessions of five amaranth species (A. caudatus L., A. cruentus L., A. hybridus L., A. hypochondriacus Ã\u97 hybridus L.,A. hypochondriacus L.). Amaranthus cruentus accessions (Mexicane and New Mexico) were stable and highly productive (>2.7 t seeds ha-1), while Kinnaury Dhankar accession showed the highest protein percentage (17%). Amaranthus hypochondriacus (Orange Giant and Burgundy) possessed the highest oil percentage (always above 5.7%). A high amount in linoleic, cis-oleic, and palmitic acids, and an interesting saturated/unsaturated acids ratio ranging from 0.26 (A. hybridus) to 0.32 (A. hypo-chondriacus) were detected. The unsaponifiable fraction revealed the abundance of squalene in all species, while total tocopherol concentrations were lower than expected