Dry matter accumulation and nitrogen concentration in forage and grain maize in dryland areas under different soil amendments

S. Lamptey¹²⁴*, S. Yeboah¹³⁵ L. Li¹² and R. Zhang¹³

¹Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science, Lanzhou CN730070, China
²College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou CN730070, China
³College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou CN730070, China
⁴University for Development Studies, P.O Box TL 1882, Tamale–Ghana
⁵CSIR–Crops Research Institute, P.O Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana
*Correspondence: naalamp2009@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Soil amendment plays significant role in improving soil fertility and increasing crop productivity in rain–fed agriculture. Understanding the grain yield associated with dry matter and N concentration is essential for improving maize production. A 3– year field study was conducted to determine dry matter accumulation, nitrogen concentration and grain yield of forage and grain maize under different soil amendments in the Western Loess Plateau of China. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with four treatments and three replicates per treatment. Results showed that dry matter accumulation and nitrogen concentration in the swine manure in combination with chemical fertilized (SC) crops was significantly higher (by ≈ 60% and 39%) than no amendment (NA) which therefore translated into increased grain yield ≈ 74%. The SC treatment also improved leaf area index and chlorophyll content (P < 0.05) by approximately 34% to 32% compared to NA, which supported the above results. The nitrogen concentration in the leaf was higher at jointing and lower at maturity. Grain yield positively correlated with dry matter accumulation and nitrogen concentration at jointing, flowering and milk stage. Dry matter accumulation and grain yield also increased in the sole swine manure (SM) and maize stover (MS) treatments, but to lesser extent than SC. Based on the improvement of dry matter accumulation, nitrogen concentration and grain yield, swine manure in combination with chemical fertilizer appears to be a better fertilization option under dryland cropping systems.

Key words:

biomass production, nitrogen content, Rain–fed, yield

The influence of grain legumes on spring wheat yield formation and phytosanitary state

L. Sarunaite, I. Deveikyte, R. Semaskiene and Z. Kadziuliene

Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, Instituto al. 1, Akademija, Kedainiai LT-58344, Lithuania;e-mail: lina@lzi.lt

Abstract:

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of grain legumes on spring wheat yield, its quality and phytosanitary state in an organic farming system. The experiment was carried out in 2007 and 2008 at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture in Dotnuva on a loamy Endocalcari-Ephypogleyic Cambisol. Grain legumes – pea, lupine, bean, vetch and wheat were sown as intercrops and sole crops, and were grown organically for grain. The productivity and phytosanitary state of spring wheat sole crops or intercrops depended on the species of grain legume, however, the results varied over the experimental years. In 2007, the vetch and wheat intercrop produced a significantly higher grain yield than wheat in sole crop or in other intercrops. In 2008, no advantages of legume and wheat intercrops were revealed. The nitrogen content was higher in wheat when it was grown with legumes.

Key words: