International Journal of Plant Production最新文献

The conventional paddy-wheat-green gram cropping system in the North-Bihar, area experienced issues such as diminishing yield, water constraint, and uneven fertilizer usage. Researchers wanted to boost sustainability and productivity by testing alternative tillage and crop establishment (TCE) practices within this cropping pattern. The research was conducted out at the Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) the village in the Muzaffarpur region of Bihar. The purpose was to compare five distinct (TCE) utilization in the present rice–wheat-green gram cropping system. The study indicated that the TCE technique designated SN 5 (ZTDSR-HSZTW-HSG) resulted in the greatest yields across all crops, with 15–18% greater rice yield, 20–25% higher wheat yield, and 20–22% higher green gram yield compared to other TCE methods. Additionally, SN 5 produced 20.2% larger net returns employing a conservation agriculture (CA)-based system compared to the conventional technique. These results suggest that CA-based TCE outperformed conventional approaches in terms of net returns and overall efficiency.

The majority of farmers (85%) in Asia operate on small plots (< 2 ha) under low-input conditions to support their livelihoods. Wheat production in India faces challenges due to water scarcity and suboptimal nitrogen (N) management practices. To address this problem, a multi-location (9) field experiment comprising of 9 treatments by including nano and prilled urea alone or in combination was conducted under restricted irrigation conditions (only two irrigations i.e., first at crown root initiation stage and 2nd at flag leaf stage) during 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 in randomised block design with three replications in three agro-climatic regions (NWPZ- North Western Plains Zone, NEPZ- North Eastern Plains Zone and CZ- Central Zone) of India. Results indicated that combining recommended nitrogen (RDN) i.e., 90 kg/ha with two sprays of 5% urea increased grain yield by 4.1% and 41.9% in NWPZ and NEPZ, respectively, over RDN alone. Two sprays of nano urea at tillering and jointing stages significantly outperformed the control (Zero N), increasing grain yield by 14.5%, 34.0%, and 19.2% in NWPZ, NEPZ, and CZ, respectively. Moreover, RDN with two sprays of nano urea increased the grain yield and agronomic efficiency by 12.1% and 12.0% in CZ and 25.2% and 24.6% in NEPZ over RDN alone, respectively. From a net benefit perspective, RDN with two sprays of 5% urea was 6.7 and 70.4% higher in NWPZ and NEPZ over RDN under restricted irrigation. In CZ, applying RDN with two sprays of nano urea provided 15.5% higher net benefit over RDN. The recommendation for wheat cultivation in small-scale farming systems in India under restricted irrigation conditions suggests adopting a nitrogen management approach combining RDN with two sprays of 5% urea in NWPZ and NEPZ or with two sprays of nano urea in NEPZ and CZ improved the productivity, profitability and agronomic efficiency.

Ancient wheats are valuable genetic resources, though knowledge on their response to micronutrients in the presence of saline irrigation water is scanty. Two studies were conducted to unravel the behavior of ancient emmer and spelt wheats upon exposure to saline (75 and 150 mM NaCl) water and foliar-applied Zn (4 g L^− 1) under pot and field conditions. Two weeks after implementing the salt treatment, Zn treatment was implemented twice with one week interval and the plants were exposed to the prolonged salt stress until physiological maturity. Then, an array of physiological processes underlying differential grain yield and quality responses of the ancient and standard wheats to these treatments were scrutinized. Salinity suppressed chlorophyll, relative water content, root volume, stubble yield, and grain yield of emmer and spelt and standard durum and bread wheats. Though, it increased the proline concentration, and Na⁺/K⁺ in all wheat genotypes. Emmer wheats indicated smaller salt-induced suppressions in stubble yield and grain yield, despite indicating a greater Na⁺/K⁺. Ancient emmer and spelt wheats indicated smaller grain yield components, but out-ranked the standard durum and bread wheats in terms of root volume, grain Zn, and protein concentrations. Zn’s effect on the grain yield attributes and grain yield was moderate but it enhanced the grain Zn, particularly in emmer wheats. Novel findings of this study suggest that emmer wheats supplied with foliar-applied Zn are superior to standard durum and bread wheats in terms of grain protein and Zn, root volume, and tolerance to saline water.

Abstract

Regular application of synthetic chemicals in rice ecosystem led to loss of nitrogen (N) and affected the native microbial communities. Controlled release fertilizers (CRFs), a solution to poor nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of urea and associated environmental implications while diminished economic advantages by high CRF use, is major obstacle that still exists. Reviving the diazotrophic native bacteria from rice cultivated locations should be the alternate for bounciness of potential bioinoculants for better performance and yield enhancement. In the present investigation, two potential nitrogen fixing bacteria, Pseudomonas lini GHM32 and Brevundimonas nasdae GHM62 isolated from rice rhizosphere on Rennie medium. These two bacteria were evaluated for yield and NUE in field studies in a randomized block design with treatments, T₁- 100% recommended dose of nitrogen through neem coated urea (RDN), T₂- 50% RDN, T₃- 50% RDN + P. lini GHM32, T₄- 50% RDN + B. nasdae GHM62 and T₅- co-application of both bacterial isolates during Rabi-2020-21 (dry season) and Kharif-2021 (wet season). Experimental results for plant height, chlorophyll, nitrogen content and yield in T₃ were on par T₁. Nitrogen use efficiency indices, such as partial factor productivity (PFP), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and nitrogen requirement (NR) of T₃ were at par T₁ throughout the experimental period. This is the first report with field trials on P. lini and B. nasdae as potential diazotrophic bacterial application by reduction in application of inorganic N fertilizer through neem coated urea with a focus on NUE indices and yield improvement of rice.

Rice residue burning poses a significant challenge in the rice-wheat cropping system of India, leading to environmental pollution, health issues, and substantial nutrient loss. To combat this menace, a three-year study (2020-21 to 2022-23) was conducted, investigating the effects of rice residue retention (RRR) and rice residue incorporation (RRI) at graded N levels (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg/ha) alongside farmers’ practices. The primary objective was to enhance wheat productivity, profitability, and soil fertility within this system. Pooled analysis revealed that RRR outperformed RRI at lower nitrogen doses, while RRI excelled with 7.5%, 7.4%, and 10.0% higher biological yields at higher nitrogen doses (100, 150, and 200 kg/ha). The success of RRR and RRI was attributed to 10.5% and 5.0% higher effective tiller/m², respectively, compared to farmers’ practices at 150 kg N/ha. Notably, RRR exhibited superior NDVI values at the flag leaf stage (0.76) over farmers’ practices (0.73). At the 150 kg N/ha, RRR displayed a 9.6% lower cost of cultivation compared to farmers’ practices, with 19.6% higher net returns at lower N levels (50 kg/ha), suggesting its greater benefits under low-input conditions. Furthermore, RRR showed the highest benefit-cost ratio (2.75) at 150 kg N/ha, followed by RRI (2.59) and farmers’ practices (2.55). Over the three-year period, RRR significantly increased organic carbon content (0.49–0.54%) compared to the initial value (0.38%), affirming its long-term benefits. Consequently, the adoption of RRR by farmers is a preferable eco-friendly option over RRI and present practices for enhancing wheat productivity within the rice-wheat system. Due to 60–65% saving of fuel with the practice of zero tillage along with rice residue retention, it can reduce CO₂ emission by 120 kg/ha, therefore, its implementation can reduce CO₂ release by 1.62 MT in South Asia per year. Ultimately, it can meet the target of Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and reaching net-zero CO₂ emissions globally by 2050.

This study evaluates the interaction effect of different irrigation strategies and winter wheat cultivars on yield and water use efficiency in a semi-arid region. The aim is to identify effective water-saving strategies for sustainable winter wheat production considering the variability in annual rainfall patterns over two years in Shiraz, Iran. The irrigation strategies included full irrigation (FI), deficit irrigation at 0.75FI, 0.5FI, and rainfed with supplemental irrigation at sowing. Two winter wheat cultivars, Varedati and Sirvan, were tested. The results showed no significant differences in grain yield, dry matter, and harvest index between the two cultivars. However, deficit irrigation (0.75FI and 0.5FI) and rainfed conditions led to a significant reduction in winter wheat yield and dry matter. The first year, with lower rainfall, resulted in a 16% decrease in grain yield and dry matter compared to the second year with higher rainfall. The rainfed treatment, supplemented with irrigation at sowing, yielded about 44% of the full irrigation regime in both years. Deficit irrigation negatively impacted yield components such as 1000-grain weight and the number of spikes per unit area. The Varedati cultivar had lower 1000-grain weight and spikes per unit area but a higher number of grains per spike compared to the Sirvan cultivar. In comparison to FI, rainfed treatments decreased RLD by 45% in both years. However, Sirvan cultivar exhibited a higher level of resistance in terms of root growth under water stress conditions.The study highlights the importance of selecting suitable irrigation strategies based on annual rainfall patterns to optimize winter wheat yield and water use efficiency in semi-arid regions.