Crop, Forage and Turfgrass Management最新文献

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a high-value vegetable crop in Ethiopia; however, its productivity remains far below the global average (8.8 vs. 19.7 t/ha). This yield gap is largely attributed to inadequate fertilization and suboptimal agronomic practices. The objective of this review is to assess the effect of different rates and combinations of farmyard manure (FYM) and NPS (nitrogen–phosphorus–sulfur) fertilizers on the yield and yield components of onion under Ethiopian conditions. Global and national research highlights that integrated nutrient management improves onion growth parameters, including plant height, leaf number, bulb size, and total yield. The combined application of FYM and NPS fertilizers enhances soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, contributing to sustainable productivity gains. In Ethiopia, the currently recommended rates 7–10 t/ha FYM and 242 kg/ha NPS have shown positive effects on crop performance. However, persistent challenges such as the variable quality of FYM, poor application techniques, non-site-specific recommendations, and limited farmer awareness undermine their effectiveness. Reviewed findings suggest that no single fertilizer type can fully address productivity constraints. Instead, the integration of organic and mineral fertilizers at optimal rates optimized to local conditions emerges as a promising approach. Future research should focus on identifying site-specific, economically viable nutrient combinations that can close the onion yield gap while enhancing soil health and long-term agricultural sustainability in Ethiopia.

Traditionally cultivated for its seeds, quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa L. Willd) is increasingly being explored as a dual-purpose (grain and forage) or forage crop in integrated crop–livestock systems, particularly on marginal soils. This study investigated the effects of plant growth regulators and their application timing on drought tolerance, herbage yield, and the nutritive value of quinoa under rainfed conditions in Türkiye over 2 years. The treatments involved the application of the plant growth regulators zeatin, brassinolide, and their combination. These were applied either as pre-sowing seed treatments, post-sowing foliar applications, or both. A control group with no growth regulator was included for comparison. The herbage yield of quinoa without growth regulator application ranged from 3.19 to 4.67 t dry matter ha⁻¹. The application of growth regulators significantly influenced agronomic and physiological parameters, reducing the time required for plants to reach maturity. Combined pre- and post-sowing applications resulted in taller plants, larger root diameters, and increased herbage yield compared to control plants. The growth regulator applications also improved physiological traits and nutritional parameters, such as leaf area index, net assimilation rate, crude protein content, and digestible dry matter of forages. These findings suggest that quinoa can be incorporated into crop rotations to help address the shortage of high-quality livestock feed. Additionally, the application of zeatin and Brassinolide has the potential to enhance quinoa establishment and production in marginal soils (e.g., dry, saline).

Relay intercropping (RIC) of soft red winter wheat (SRWW, Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] offers potential benefits but requires optimized management. This 2-year study (2022–2023) evaluated the effects of soybean planting date and strip-tillage vs. no-tillage (ST vs. NT) on RIC soybean yield and assessed the impact of ST on wheat yield. Later-planted RIC soybean (May 19, 2022, and May 30, 2023) outyielded earlier-planted RIC soybean (April 29, 2022, and May 11, 2023) by 18.8 bushels per acre in 2022 and 20.1 bushels per acre in 2023. However, sole crop soybean yielded higher (∼50 bushels per acre) and had better economic returns. ST increased RIC soybean yield by 8.3 bushels per acre in 2022 and 1.8 in 2023 compared to NT. The experiment was also designed to isolate the effect of ST on wheat yield in RIC to help establish soybean rows. NT wheat outperformed ST wheat in both years, with yield reductions of 5.4 bushels per acre in 2022 and 14.8 bushels per acre in 2023 when ST was used. These results indicate that while ST benefits RIC soybean yield, it negatively affects wheat yield, highlighting a tradeoff in the system. Our findings suggest that later planting dates improve RIC soybean yield by reducing competition with wheat, but overall, sole crop soybean remains more productive and profitable.

Prior cropping sequence can have a major effect on populations of plant parasitic nematodes (PPN), peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yield, and financial return at the farm level. Effective crop rotation sequences can reduce PPN populations and reduce grower reliance on nematicides or fumigant. Recently, the root-knot nematode-resistant cultivar TifNV-High O/L was released. To determine the performance of this cultivar to PPNs in North Carolina, a cropping system trial that included 10 diverse rotation sequences from 2013–2020 was used that included rotation sequences that were favorable or unfavorable for maximum peanut yield. Peanut was planted in 2021 to determine the residual effects of the previous cropping sequence. Cropping sequence, cultivar, and metam sodium impacted peanut yield and population of PPN in soil. Fewer root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and less root injury from nematode feeding were observed for the cultivar TifNV-High O/L than Bailey II. Metam sodium decreased populations of lesion (Pratylenchus brachyurus Filipjev & Schuurmans-Stekhoven), ring (Mesocriconema ornatum Raski), root-knot, and soybean cyst (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) nematodes in soil. With the exception of lesion nematode, response of nematodes and peanut to crop sequence, cultivar, and metam sodium was independent.

The bermudagrass stem maggot (BSM; Atherigona reversura Villeneuve) can severely damage bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] forage. Strategically timed pyrethroid applications significantly reduce BSM populations, but application timing needs to be further refined. Therefore, this study evaluated the use of a degree day model for timing insecticide applications to suppress the BSM. The research was conducted in a split plot design with two bermudagrass cultivars (‘Alicia’ and ‘Tifton 85’) and eight insecticide timing treatments ranging from 100 to 400 growing degree days (GDDs) plus an untreated control. The use of insecticide increased mean herbage accumulation and plant height more than the untreated control, but the timing of the insecticide applications did not affect either response (P < 0.01). All insecticide-treated plots had less BSM damage than the untreated control (P < 0.01). The canopies treated with insecticide at 100 and 200 GDD had a cooler micro-environment than those treated at 150 GDD, but all other insecticide timing treatments were not different from those treatments (P < 0.01). Tifton 85 accumulated more herbage, resulted in a taller canopy, and sustained less damage by the BSM than Alicia (P < 0.01). Canopy temperature did not differ between cultivars (P = 0.94). It was hypothesized that greater losses would have occurred in the earliest and latest insecticide treated plots based on feedback from area bermudagrass growers. However, it appears that day of application may be confounded with time of application in these reports. Future investigations should explore this interaction to further refine application timing.

Sorghum–sudangrass hybrids (Sorghum. bicolor × Sorghum. bicolor var. sudanense; SSG) are common warm-season annual forages utilized in forage systems in the northeastern United States. However, weed control can be an issue, particularly in low-input forage systems. Interseeding annual forages, such as crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.; CG) and berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.; BC), is of interest to aid in weed control due to their rapid growth and desirable nutritive value. A 2-year small plot evaluation was conducted to determine the agronomic benefits of interseeding CG and BC via no-till drill or broadcast seeding into SSG established on different row spacings. Total herbage accumulation (HA) did not differ by year for any of the treatments evaluated (p > 0.13), despite having different row spacing and companion crop establishment methods. Botanical composition (BOT) varied among treatments (p < 0.01) for all forage components in both years. In 2022, treatments containing CG had lower percentage of SSG, BC, and weeds (other undesirable plant species), but in 2023 only the weeds percentage was lower in treatments with CG. Crude protein did not differ in either year (p > 0.55) across treatments; however, treatments containing high amounts of CG had the lowest (p = 0.03) total digestible nutrients in 2022 only. This study concluded that while row spacing and the interseeding of annual forage species did not affect the overall HA of SSG, they did affect the BOT and nutritive value of the stand. Future research is warranted for evaluating other compatible forages and contrasting defoliation methods to determine their impact on the agronomic production of these types of mixtures, such as grazing or stored forage production.

The fertilizer application rate is the same for different forage crops in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application on fodder yield and nutritional quality of oat (Avena sativa L.)/vetch (Vicia villosa) mixtures. The oat/vetch mixtures were sown with eight fertilizer rates (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 125%, 150%, and 175%), and sole oat (100 kg/ha diammonium phosphate [DAP] + 50 kg/ha urea) and vetch (100 kg/ha DAP) were also sown with their recommended fertilizer rates (100%) using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The system productivity increased with increasing fertilizer rates up to 150% and the second year gave higher yield. All the nutritive value except fiber contents were higher in the second year. Among mixtures, the highest ash, crude protein yield, digestible dry matter, dry matter intake, in-vitro dry matter digestibility, digestible yield, total digestible nutrients, total digestible nutrient yield, relative feed value, and relative feed quality were recorded for 150% fertilizer. On the contrary, the neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, and cellulose contents decreased with increasing fertilizer rates. Application of 175% fertilizer on oat/vetch mixtures gave the highest crude protein and digestible crude protein. Moreover, the digestible energy, metabolizable energy, and net energies for lactation, maintenance, and gain increased with increasing fertilizer rates up to 150%. Therefore, application of 150% fertilizer would increase the system productivity and nutritive value of oat/vetch mixtures in the study area.

Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp. Willd.) is a warm-season grass used from tropical to temperate climates, and it generally requires fewer inputs than most other cool- and warm-season turfgrasses. The development of new zoysiagrass cultivars has increased its use in the United States, but its adaptation and specific uses are species and cultivar dependent. The playability of zoysiagrass and reduced inputs required to maintain this species have made it a popular choice for golfing surfaces. The greatest threat to zoysiagrass health and survivability is winterkill. This management guide discusses winterkill: what it looks like, what causes it, and where it occurs. Additionally, this management guide describes best management practices for the prevention and recovery of zoysiagrass from winterkill damage.

Hybrid winter rye (Secale cereale L.) was first introduced in the United States in 2014. Agronomic management recommendations, like optimum seeding date and rate, for this productive form of winter rye are lacking. Farmers need basic information to successfully integrate hybrid winter rye into their cropping systems to supply existing markets. The objective of this experiment was to determine the influence of planting date and seeding rate on winter hybrid rye grain yield in four states (Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota). The experiment was conducted during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 growing season as a split-plot randomized complete block with a whole plot factor of planting date (ranging from September to November) and sub-plot factor of seeding rate (ranging from 0.4 to 1.2 million seeds acre⁻¹). Across planting dates and seeding rates, grain yield was generally high (median values ≥90 bu acre⁻¹), except for the Crookston, MN, location in 2022 where dry conditions resulted in poor germination and low plant population, and Lexington, KY, in 2021 when rye was planted on November 29 and freezing temperatures prohibited plant establishment. In general, maximum grain yield occurred when rye was planted within the 2-week period following the Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor Say)-free date at seeding rates ≥0.8 million seeds acre⁻¹. Hybrid winter rye grain production was successful in most environments, but planting date and seeding rate influenced yield. Because hybrid rye is relatively new, especially to growers within the United States, continued work on agronomic recommendations to maximize grain yield is needed.