Dry Matter Yield and Competitiveness of Alang-alang (Imperata Cylindrica) and Guinea Grass (Panicum Maximum) in Intercropping

The objectives of this experiment were to determine dry matter yield and competitiveness of alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica) and Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) in intercropping. The experiment was arranged in factorial combinations of four planting proportions, two levels of nitrogen fertilization and three harvesting intervals with three replications. Planting proportions were 0, 33.3, 66.7, and 100% of alang-alang (planting densities of 0, 1, 2 and 3 plants/pot) combined with 100, 66.7, 33.3, and 0% of Guinea grass (planting densities of 3, 2, 1 and 0 plants/pot). The plants fertilized with nitrogen fertilizer at the doses of 0 and 250 kg/ha and harvested at intervals of 30, 45 and 90 days. Results of experiment showed that as planting proportion of alang-alang increased in the mixtures, total dry matter yield of mixed plants decreased. N fertilization increased dry matter yield in both species, but Guinea grass was more responsive than alang-alang. Regardless of planting proportion and nitrogen fertilization, increasing harvest interval decreased dry matter yield of Guinea grass – alang-alang mixture. Intercropping system gave substantially higher yield advantage over sole cropping in terms of land equivalent ratio with the maximum value achieved when Guinea grass – alang-alang mixture planted at the ratio of 2 : 1, fertilized with N and harvest monthly. In intercropping system, Guinea grass appeared to be the dominant crop as indicated by its higher values of relative crowding coefficient and positive sign of aggressivity index. It reflects that Guinea grass grown in association with alang-alang utilized the resources more aggressively than when alang-alang grown alone

FORAGE AND GRAIN YIELD PERFORMANCES OF SOYBEAN LINES

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the yield and yield components of twelve soybean genotypes as a forage and a grain crop in Marmara Region of Turkey in 2003-2004 growing seasons. Forage and dry matter yield and yield components at one vegetative stage (V5) and two reproductive stages (R2, and R4) and seed yield was determined in all soybean genotypes. The experiments showed that the harvest stages had signifi cant effects on forage and dry matter yield, and R4 reproductive stage had the highest forage and dry matter yield. Dry matter partitioning of soybean plant parts was greatly affected by harvest stages, while the genotypes had little effect on dry matter partitioning of soybean plant parts. There were statistically signifi cant differences between soybean genotypes in seed yield, but the differences were small. The correlations between forage and dry matter yield and seed yield were not statistically signifi cant

FORAGE AND GRAIN YIELD PERFORMANCES OF SOYBEAN LINES

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the yield and yield components of twelve soybean genotypes as a forage and a grain crop in Marmara Region of Turkey in 2003-2004 growing seasons. Forage and dry matter yield and yield components at one vegetative stage (V5) and two reproductive stages (R2, and R4) and seed yield was determined in all soybean genotypes. The experiments showed that the harvest stages had signifi cant effects on forage and dry matter yield, and R4 reproductive stage had the highest forage and dry matter yield. Dry matter partitioning of soybean plant parts was greatly affected by harvest stages, while the genotypes had little effect on dry matter partitioning of soybean plant parts. There were statistically signifi cant differences between soybean genotypes in seed yield, but the differences were small. The correlations between forage and dry matter yield and seed yield were not statistically signifi cant

Preliminary evaluation of perennial forage legumes for organic farming in Finland

In 1998-2001 fourteen forage legume species were evaluated for their productivity in mixed organic swards. The aim was to find new alternatives for red clover. Medicago falcata produced the highest dry matter yield (about 11 000 kg/ha/year). Dry matter production of Trifolium pratense, Trifolium hybridum and Medicago sativa varied from 2 200 to 10 600 kg/ha/year

Effect of cultivation on maize response to nitrogen fertilizer : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Applied Science in Soil Science, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Continuous cultivation of arable soils results in the decline of 'soil quality' in terms of structural degradation and nutrient depletion. It decreases soil organic matter content, induces the leaching and gaseous losses of N through enhanced nitrification and denitrification, resulting in the depletion of nitrogen content of the soils. This will affect N availability, soil moisture retention, soil aeration and the activity of soil microorganisms. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of cultivation on the response of maize to N fertiliser. A glass house experiment was conducted using four soils. The soils included a permanent pasture soil and three maize / barley grown soils which have been cultivated for 6, 17 and 34 years. Maize plants were grown at six levels of N applied as urea (0 - 500 kg N/ha). The dry matter yield response to N application indicated higher maize growth for the pasture soil than for the cultivated soils at all levels of N application. Even at the highest level of N application (500 kg N/ha) the maize dry matter yield for the cultivated soil did not reach that for the unfertilised pasture soil. This indicates that N alone was not limiting the dry matter yield among the cultivated soils. It was hypothesised that the differences in the physical conditions among these soils may also be responsible for differences in dry matter yield. In the second experiment, pasture and the 34 year cultivated soils were incubated with poultry manure for eight weeks. The addition of poultry manure was to improve the physical conditions of the soil. A glasshouse experiment was then conducted to examine the effect of poultry manure addition on the growth of maize at five levels of N (0-400 kg N/ha) applied as urea. There was a clear visual indication of an improvement in the structure of the cultivated soil due to the incorporation of poultry manure. Addition of poultry manure increased the dry matter yields of maize plants both in the cultivated and the pasture soils. The dry matter yield of plants in the cultivated soils (in the presence of manure addition) was higher than the pasture soils at low levels of N application and similar yields were obtained at the higher rates of N application. Oxygen diffusion rate (ODR) values were higher for the pasture soil than the cultivated soil. The addition of poultry manure in the initial stages, however, decreased the ODR values in both soils which is attributed to the increased consumption of oxygen by the easily decomposable organic carbon in the poultry manure. With increasing time after incubation the ODR values slowly increased in the poultry manure treated soils indicating an improvement in soil structure. The study clearly demonstrated that the impact of cultivation on maize yield was partly due to poor soil physical conditions

Dry matter accumulation and remobilization in winter barley as affected by genotype and sowing date

Knowledge about the effect of genotypic variation and sowing date on dry matter accumulation, remobilization and partitioning in winter barley is important for crop management. Therefore, in field studies, six winter barley genotypes of various origin and maturity groups were studied across four sowing dates. In general, grain yield and dry matter content decreased with delayed sowing, after mid-October, and average grain yield in late October and November sowing was lower 14.2% and 16.9%, respectively, compared to the yield in the optimal sowing date. Among the tested genotypes, high grain yield and dry matter content was obtained from late and medium early barley genotypes. Delayed sowing dates, on average, reduced dry matter remobilization and contribution of vegetative dry matter to grain yield. In years characterized by high spring precipitation, late September and early October sowing of medium early and late barley genotypes enable increased accumulation and remobilization of dry matter and obtainment of high grain yield

PHENOTYPIC CORRELATIONS BETWEEN PRODUCTIVITY ELEMENTS OF RED CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM PRATENSE L.)

Studying the correlations between productivity elements of red clover (green matter, dry matter and seed yield) is a very important aspect of breeding programs because it helps obtaining highly productive cultivars. Positive correlations, statistically assured, were observed between green and dry matter yields in both years of vegetation, for both groups of ploidy. Negative correlations were noticed between seed yield and first cut green matter yield in the 2nd year, for diploids and between seed yield and total green and dry matter in the 1st year, for tetraploids

PHENOTYPIC CORRELATIONS BETWEEN PRODUCTIVITY ELEMENTS OF RED CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM PRATENSE L.)

Studying the correlations between productivity elements of red clover (green matter, dry matter and seed yield) is a very important aspect of breeding programs because it helps obtaining highly productive cultivars. Positive correlations, statistically assured, were observed between green and dry matter yields in both years of vegetation, for both groups of ploidy. Negative correlations were noticed between seed yield and first cut green matter yield in the 2nd year, for diploids and between seed yield and total green and dry matter in the 1st year, for tetraploids

Yield and quality traits of some silage maize cultivars

The research was carried out under Kirsehir ecological conditions in 2016 and 2017 vegetation period. The experimental layout was randomized blocks with three replications. In this study, 10 hybrids and one composite maize cultivars were evaluated for some yield and quality characteristics. Important yield and quality characteristics green herbage yield (tons ha4), dry matter yield (tons ha4), crude protein yield (tons ha4), ADF (%), NDF (%), ADL (%) digestible dry matter ratio (%) and digestible dry matter yield (tons ha4) were determined. Significant differences were found between cultivars in terms of yield and quality. The two-year mean values of dry matter yield, crude protein yield and digestible dry matter yield indicated that Kerbanis, Karadeniz Yildizi and Samada-07 were the high yielding cultivars. The ADF, NDF and ADL ratios which are the quality indicators, of high yielding cultivars were also low. The results revealed that the high-yielding cultivars are also prominent in terms of important quality criteria. Kerbanis, Karadeniz Yildizi and Samada-07 cultivars are suitable for silage maize production considering the yield and quality characteristics and can be recommended for Kirsehir and similar ecologies. © 2020 Parlar Scientific Publications. All rights reserved

Effect of variety, sowing date and location on yield and nutritional characteristics of sorghum

Sorghum is a forage species important in animal nutrition with an increased potential in the upcoming difficulties in agricultural practices in regard to climate change. Therefore, this paper describes its yield and nutritional parameters depending on growing conditions simulated on two locations (humid and fertile Obora, less fertile and dry Písky), two sowing dates (29. 5. and 25. 6.), and variety (11 varieties). Fresh matter yield was determined by weighing the sample on the field immediately after harvest, Dry matter yield and nutritional content were determined in laboratory by Weende analysis from dried and homogenized samples. Nutritional parameters measured were crude fibre, fat, nitrogen and ash content. Additionally, digestibility of organic as well as dry matter was determined. No significant differences in average fresh matter yield or dry matter yield were found between the two locations and sowing dates in general. There were significant differences among varieties, the highest yields were measured in KWS Zerberus (51.57 +- 3.76 t/ha of fresh matter yield, 15.98 +- 1.34 t/ha of dry matter yield, with higher values observed on Písky). Our data suggest, that sowing date does significantly affect fat content (higher in June sowing). Other nutritional parameters were also higher in sorghum sown in June, with the exception of ash. Nutritional composition of samples did not significantly differ variety to variety, however, there were differences in digestibility of the biomass. Organic matter digestibility was 70.58-85.67%, dry matter digestibility was 73.21-86.70%, with highest digestibility in DMS 45-480. Varieties with the highest importance to farmers in the area are KWS Zerberus, KWS Tarzan and KWS Kallisto (based on dry matter yield), and Triumfo BMR, Sweet Susana and DSM 45-480 (based on digestibility). Sorghum was able to perform well even on dry sandy soil with lower fertilization, which shows the high variability and suitability of sorghum in agricultural practice.O