Winter oilseed-rape yield estimates from hyperspectral radiometer measurements

Spectral reflectance data can be used for estimation of plant biophysical parameters such as seed yield, related to the use of solar energy. A field experiment was conducted to investigate relationships between canopy reflectance and seed yield of winter oilseed rape sown on four different dates. Ground hyperspectral reflectance measurements were made using a hand-held radiometer and multispectral images were taken with a VIS-NIR camera. The different sowing dates generated a wide range of difference in crop spectral response and seed yields. The strongest relationships (R2=0.87) between the yield and spectral data recorded by both sensors occurred at early flowering stages. Later, the presence of flowers caused a decline in the relationship between yield and spectral data especially in the visible (VIS) range. In the full flowering stage the strongest correlation (R2=0.72) with the yield showed vegetation indices of the near-infrared (NIR) bands

Effects of Growth Type, Sowing Date, and Sowing Rate on the Canopy Architecture, Protein Yields, and Oil Yields of Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.)

A split-split-plot design was used to evaluate the effects of sowing dates and sowing rates on three winter rape cultivars, including ‘PR45D03’, a semi-dwarf hybrid, ‘PR46W31’, a traditional hybrid, and ‘Californium’, an open-pollinated cultivar. August 25 was the optimal sowing date for maximizing protein and oil yields across all three cultivars. Of the cultivars, the traditional hybrid, ‘PR46W31’, produced the highest protein and oil yields on that date. The yields of the semi-dwarf hybrid, ‘PR45D03, were greater than those of the open-pollinated cultivar, ‘Californium’, when these were sown later than the optimal date. Protein and oil yields did not differ significantly among different seeding densities

Reakcja kukurydzy uprawianej na ziarno po zastosowaniu osadów ściekowych

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the agricultural use of sewage sludge in corn for grain, in the year of application and follow up effect after one and two years after its application. The study was conducted on the variety PR39G12 on the field after the 5-year monoculture corn. Sewage sludge was used in accordance with the Directive of Minister of Environment allowing application of 10 t dry mater per ha-1 once every five years. Fertilization with sludge of maize grown for grain did not cause differences in the growth and development of plants, compared to mineral fertilized objects, as well as did not exceed the limit value for heavy metals content in above-ground plant parts. Maize grown using sewage sludge yielded higher than the objects fertilized with mineral, especially in conditions of extreme drought, which occurred in 2006. Beneficial effect of sewage sludge was maintained in the next two years after application and stabilized the grain yield of maize.Celem pracy była ocena efektów rolniczego wykorzystania komunalnych osadów ściekowych w uprawie kukurydzy na ziarno, w roku zastosowania oraz w kolejnych dwóch latach działania następczego. Badania przeprowadzono z wykorzystaniem odmiany PR39G12, na polu po 5-cio letniej monokulturze kukurydzy. Osad ściekowy stosowano zgodnie z ówczesnym rozporządzeniem Ministra Środowiska dopuszczającym aplikację w dawce 10 ton s.m.·ha-1 raz na 5 lat. Nawożenie osadem ściekowym kukurydzy, uprawianej z przeznaczeniem na ziarno, nie spowodowało różnic we wzroście i rozwoju roślin w porównaniu do obiektów nawożonych mineralnie, jak również nie powodowało przekroczenia dopuszczalnych zawartości metali ciężkich w nadziemnych częściach roślin. Kukurydza uprawiana z wykorzystaniem osadów ściekowych plonowała wyżej niż na obiektach nawożonych mineralnie, zwłaszcza w warunkach ekstremalnej suszy, jaka wystąpiła w 2006 roku. Korzystne oddziaływanie osadu ściekowego utrzymywało się w kolejnych dwóch latach od jego zastosowania oraz stabilizowało plon ziarna kukurydzy

The effect of sewage sludge and BAF inoculant on plant condition and yield as well as biochemical and microbial activity of soil in willow (Salix viminalis L.) culture as an energy crop

Excessive amounts of sewage sludge produced in sewage treatment plants along with the ban on its storage and dumping require rapid solutions to the problem of sewage sludge management. An example of a rational and environmentally viable method may be provided by its application in agriculture and environmental management. The optimal solution is to use sludge as a fertiliser for industrial plants, including energy crops, that is, those not used in food production. For environmental reasons it is essential to control soil quality and condition following sludge application. Analyses of the residual effect of sewage sludge and bacteria, actinobacteria, fungi microbial inoculant (BAF) on selected physiological parameters of plants and microbial activity of soil were conducted in the years 2013–2015 on experimental fields of the Poznan University of Life Sciences. The results indicate that the application of sewage sludge increased yields and improved selected photosynthesis activity and biometric traits of willow. Among the tested combinations the best results were obtained following the application of sewage sludge combined with the BAF medium microbial inoculant. Similar dependencies were observed when evaluating soil microbial activity

Progress in maize hybrids breeding based on official registration trials in Poland in last 20-year period

The progress in breeding of grain and silage hybrids was analysed based on results of the official testing of maize hybrids during 20 years from 1981 to 2000. A number of maize hybrids tested significantly increased in 1990’s. Competition between seed companies resulted in big progress of both usage types (grain and silage). This progress was expressed by over 45% increase of the mean grain yield in all hybrid groups. At the same time farmers obtained much lower yields, which indicates a small ability to take advantage of hybrids potential productivity. Positive progress was obtained in limitation of lodging (almost 8%). Plant health was improved in many new hybrids but average data did not show significant progress in this aspect. Number of hybrids tested for silage was much lower than for grain. During 20 years nearly 38% increase of total dry matter yield (average for hybrids) was evidenced. Significant progress was observed in ear yields (52%), content of ears in total dry matter, which indicates a progress also in silage quality. Fodder units yield increased by 37.5% (average for all hybrids) during this period

New winter oilseed rape varieties – seed quality and morphological traits depending on sowing date and rate

Many studies have focused on research about impact of time and density of sowing on the agronomic characteristics of different crops. However, the number of studies investigating such a response on the qualitative composition of different types of winter oilseed rape varieties is still limited. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of sowing date and density on yield, protein and oil content and quality of winter oilseed rape varieties: open-pollinated, a typical hybrid of traditional type of growth and a new semi-dwarf hybrid, which biology and yielding have not been thoroughly established. This experiment was conducted applying four sowing dates (August 14, August 25, September 4, September 15), three winter oilseed rape cultivars (PR45D03 -semi-dwarf hybrid, PR46W31 – hybrid, Californium – open-pollinated) and four sowing rates (30, 40, 50, 60 seeds/m2). Among the compared sowing dates, August 25 proved to be optimal for yielding of the tested winter oilseed rape cultivars. Semi-dwarf variety contained less protein and glucosinolate in seeds, but more oil in comparison to other studied varieties (hybrid and open-pollinated). The yields did not differ significantly within a density of 40, 50, 60 seeds/m2, so it is important result, especially for the agricultural practice

Winter oilseed-rape yield estimates from hyperspectral radiometer measurements

Spectral reflectance data can be used for estimation of plant biophysical parameters such as seed yield, related to the use of solar energy. A field experiment was conducted to investigate relationships between canopy reflectance and seed yield of winter oilseed rape sown on four different dates. Ground hyperspectral reflectance measurements were made using a hand-held radiometer and multispectral images were taken with a VIS-NIR camera. The different sowing dates generated a wide range of difference in crop spectral response and seed yields. The strongest relationships (R2=0.87) between the yield and spectral data recorded by both sensors occurred at early flowering stages. Later, the presence of flowers caused a decline in the relationship between yield and spectral data especially in the visible (VIS) range. In the full flowering stage the strongest correlation (R2=0.72) with the yield showed vegetation indices of the near-infrared (NIR) bands

The use of microorganisms as bio-fertilizers in the cultivation of white lupine

The agricultural usability of bio-fertilizers, particularly including microbiological seed vaccines meet the recommendations for integrated protection/cultivation applicable in Poland. Combined vaccination seeds with Rhizobium bacteria together with endophitic bacteria from the group of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), increase the efficiency of biological nitrogen fixation and therefore stimulate the development and yielding of legume crops. This hypothesis was verified in a series of field experiments with white lupine conducted between 2016 and 2018 at Złotniki, Poland. The one-factor experiment consisted of different variants of inoculation including: seeds uninoculated, inoculated with nitragine, nitroflora, Pseudomonas fluorescens strain, Bacillus subtillis strain and seeds co-inoculated with Rhizobium from nitragine or nitroflora + Pseudomonas fluorescens, or + Bacillus subtillis. The experiment showed a positive response of white lupine to all tested seed vaccinations. The highest seed yield was found after seed inoculation with Rhizobium bacteria (from nitragine) and with co-inoculation Rhizobium with Pseudomonas fluorescens. The results indicated that plant height, the development of aboveground parts and roots as well as root nodules and the setting of pods and seeds on the plant increased significantly after seed co-inoculation of Rhizobium derived from the preparation of nitragine with Pseudomonas fluorescens, as compared to the control object without vaccination. A generally positive correlation was found between the number of root nodules, dry mass of nodules and yield, and an especially significant strength of this relationship was found in variant with co-inoculation Rhizobium with Pseudomonas fluorescens