Tag Archives: yield components

xxx A. Katsileros, M. Giannakoulia, T. Fraggatzis, E. Tani, I. Mandala and Penelope J. Bebeli
Evaluation of agromorphological and grain physical traits in Greek barley accessions
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Evaluation of agromorphological and grain physical traits in Greek barley accessions

A. Katsileros¹*, M. Giannakoulia¹, T. Fraggatzis¹, E. Tani¹, I. Mandala² and Penelope J. Bebeli¹

¹Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Crop Science, Iera Odos 75, GR11855 Athens, Greece
²Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iera Odos 75, GR11855 Athens, Greece
*Correspondence: katsileros@aua.gr

Abstract:

This study assessed the agromorphological and grain physical traits of twelve barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) accessions, comprising eight Greek landraces and four cultivars, over two consecutive growing seasons (2022–2024). Significant genotypic effects and accession-by-year interactions were observed for most agromorphological traits, particularly plant height, spike morphology, and grain yield components. Grain physical characteristics, evaluated during one season, also revealed clear genotypic differentiation. Specific landraces, H1 (from Amorgos Island), H8 (from Pyrgos Region), and the old cultivar Athinaida, demonstrated high productivity and adaptability, performing comparable to, or even surpassing, modern cultivars under variable Mediterranean conditions Accessions originating from the Greek islands produced smaller but firmer grains, traits that likely reflect adaptation to arid environments, whereas those from the mainland and modern cultivars exhibited larger, less firm grains. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis, integrating both agromorphological and grain physical traits, revealed consistent patterns of differentiation, grouping accessions according to their geographic origin and breeding status. These findings highlight the genetic value and adaptive potential of Greek barley landrace genetic material for breeding programs aiming to improve resilience, quality, and yield stability in low-input agricultural systems.

Key words:

genotype-environment interaction, grain morphology, phenotypic variability, traditional germplasm, yield components

xxx Y. Bani Khalaf, A. Aldahadha, O. Migdadi and A. Alkaabnh
Seed priming with polyethylene glycol improved drought tolerance of late sown wheat by enhanced gas exchange attributes
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Seed priming with polyethylene glycol improved drought tolerance of late sown wheat by enhanced gas exchange attributes

Y. Bani Khalaf, A. Aldahadha*, O. Migdadi and A. Alkaabnh

Department of Field Crops, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC),
PO Box 639, Baqa'a 19381, Jordan
*Correspondence: abdallah.aldahadha@narc.gov.jo

Abstract:

Late sowing, especially in regions prone to drought, significantly hampers crop growth and yield. To address this, field experiments were conducted during the winter of 2021–2022 at Maru and Mushaqar in Jordan to evaluate the effects of seed priming agents as seed priming with water (hydropriming), polyethylene glycol (osmopriming), calcium chloride (osmopriming), and a control (unprimed) on physiological, phenological and yield traits of durum wheat (umqais variety) under normal and late sowing conditions. Results showed that Maru exhibited superior performance in physiology, growth, and yield attributes compared to Mushaqar. While late sown wheat demonstrated better water use efficiency, normal sowing conditions generally favored other yield components. Seed priming by polyethylene glycol (PEG) improved relative water content, stomatal conductance, and grain yield compared to other treatments. Mushaqar recorded higher grain spike^-1 and spike m^-2 under normal sowing, while PEG-primed seeds produced significantly higher 1,000-grain weight and harvest index. Notably, PEG-primed seeds improved grain yield and 1,000-grain weight, suggesting enhanced drought resilience under late sowing conditions. The study concludes that seed priming, especially with PEG, effectively improves drought tolerance in late sown wheat by enhancing photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll content (SPAD), and water retention. The findings indicate that PEG seed priming can effectively mitigate the negative impacts of late sowing, supporting its use as a practical strategy for improving wheat performance in semi-arid environments.

Key words:

intrinsic water use efficiency, Osmopriming, Sowing date, stomatal conductance, yield components

1541-1554 N. Ruangsuriya and K. Sungthongwises
Growth and yield response of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas var. batatas) under acid sandy soil, northeast of Thailand
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Growth and yield response of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas var. batatas) under acid sandy soil, northeast of Thailand

N. Ruangsuriya and K. Sungthongwises*

Agronomy section, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, TH40002 Khon Kaen, Thailand
*Correspondence: skiriy@kku.ac.th

Abstract:

Sweet potato is one of the major crops grown for food, animal feed and industrial products. The yield obtained in the Northeast of Thailand is far below its genetic potential due to soil degradation, erosion, acidification, loss of organic matter, waterlogging and salinization causing nutrient deficiency. The objectives of this research are to investigate yield components, accumulation of nutrients and food nutrition of different sweet potato species under acidic sandy soil. The experiment with four replications was laid out in a farmer’s field at Phu Wiang and Nong Ruea District, Khon Kaen Province, where young smart farmers are interested to grow sweet potato. Trials were planted for 2 years using four species of sweet potato: (A) Honey Sweet, (B) Okinawan Orange, (C) Okinawan Purple and (D) Purple Sweet Lord. All plots were treated with a basal application of 1.56 t ha^-1 of cow and poultry manure with 0.03 t ha^-1 of chemical fertilizer formula (N12-P4-K4). An addition of 0.15 t ha^-1 of chemical fertilizer formula (N12-P4-K20) was made at 15 and 30 days after growing. The results show that Okinawan Orange and Purple Sweet Lord were higher growth in Phu Wiang district than Nong Ruea district. If the cost and unit price are the same, Okinawan Orange will give farmers a higher return than Purple Sweet Lord. Regarding the leaf residues of Okinawan Orange and Purple Sweet Lord are suitable to be used for fish farming, because they contain the highest protein and carbohydrates.

Key words:

acid soil, decision, growth, sweet potato, yield components

320-334 S.C. Malaza and T. Tana
Agronomic and physiological response of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids to plant density in the dry and wet Middleveld of Eswatini
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Agronomic and physiological response of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids to plant density in the dry and wet Middleveld of Eswatini

S.C. Malaza and T. Tana*

Department of Crop Production, University of Eswatini, P. O Luyengo, M 205, Eswatini
*Correspondence: tamado@uniswa.sz

Abstract:

One of the factors limiting yield of maize in Eswatini is use of non-optimum plant density for the different maturity group of maize hybrids in different agro-ecologies. Thus, an experiment was conducted at Malkerns (wet Middleveld) and Luve (dry Middleveld) in Eswatini to determine the effects of plant density on growth, yield components and grain yield of maize hybrids. Factorial combinations of three maize hybrids [SC 403 (early maturing), SC 621 (medium maturing), SC 719 (late maturing)] and five plant densities (41,667; 44,444; 47,619; 50,000, and 57,143 plants ha^-1) were evaluated in Randomised Complete Block Design in three replications. The results showed that Malkerns had significantly higher crop growth rate (CGR) between V12 and R6 growth stages, relative growth rate (RGR) between V6 and V12 growth stages, mass of thousand kernels (395.60 g), aboveground dry biomass (22.71 t ha^-1) and grain yield (7.67 t ha^-1). Among maize hybrids, SC 719 produced significantly the highest CGR (18.37 g m^-2 per day) between V12 and R6, aboveground dry biomass (23.05 t ha^-1), number of kernels per m² (2074), and grain yield (7.49 ha^-1). Moreover, SC 719 grown at Malkerns recorded significantly the highest leaf area index (LAI) at V6, and the highest CGR (31.35 g m^-2 per day) between V6 and V12 and the tallest plants. The highest density of 57,143 plants ha^-1 produced the highest LAI, aboveground dry biomass (21.53 t ha^-1) and grain yield (7.17 t ha^-1). Thus, late maturing maize hybrid SC 719 and plant density of 57,143 plants ha^-1 (70 cm × 25 cm) can be used to enhance the productivity of maize in the Middleveld of Eswatini.

Key words:

crop growth rate, grain yield, leaf area index, relative growth rate, Swaziland, yield components

621–634 I. Plūduma-Pauniņa, Z. Gaile, B. Bankina and R. Balodis
Variety, seeding rate and disease control affect faba bean yield components
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Variety, seeding rate and disease control affect faba bean yield components

I. Plūduma-Pauniņa¹²*, Z. Gaile¹, B. Bankina¹ and R. Balodis¹

¹Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Soil and Plant Science, Liela street 2, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
²Latvia University of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Research and Study Farm “Pēterlauki”, Platone parish, LV-3021, Latvia
*Correspondence: ievapluuduma@inbox.lv

Abstract:

Faba beans (Vicia faba L.) have been grown since 8000 years B.C. in the Middle East. Despite their long growing history in the world, there are only few researches carried out in Baltic region in last decades about variety, seeding rate and disease control effect on faba beans’ growth, development and yield formation. Research was carried out at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies during 2015–2017. Three factors were researched: A – variety (‘Laura’, ‘Boxer’, ‘Isabell’), B – seeding rate (30, 40 and 50 germinate able seeds m^-2), C – treatment with fungicide (with and without application of fungicide Signum (1 kg ha^-1)). Meteorological conditions were diverse and sometimes caused stress for crop, but in general they favoured faba beans’ growth and development. High average yield of the field beans was obtained during all three trial years, however, yield differed significantly among them. Sowing time was constantly quite early, germination took longer time as expected due to the low air temperature, but later, temperature and humidity level improved and conditions were suitable for plant growth and development with some exceptions during flowering and pod filling. Number of productive stems per 1 m² was significantly affected only by seeding rate. Plant height in trial site was affected by variety (p < 0.001), fungicide application (p = 0.008) and meteorological conditions (p < 0.001) of the year. Number of pods per plant differed depending on trial year (p < 0.001). Number of seeds per plant had a close positive correlation with number of pods per plant. Whereas number of seeds per pod was a relatively stable and typical characteristic for variety. We can observe correlation between faba bean yield and number of productive stems per 1 m² at harvest, plant height, number of pods and seeds per plant.

Key words:

agrotechnology, field beans, phenology, yield components