Alternative strategies to fumigation are needed to manage weeds and improve fruit yield in the annual hill plasticulture strawberry production system. Field experiments were conducted in Blackstone, Virginia, for two consecutive growing seasons, 2013/14 and 2014/15, to assess the efficacy of 4 wk and 8 wk soil solarization (SS) and mustard seed meal (MSM) at 1121 kg ha−1, alone and in combination, for weed control efficacy and crop yield estimation in an annual hill plasticulture strawberry production system. These treatments were compared to 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) + chloropicrin (Pic) fumigation standard at 188 kg ha−1 and the untreated control (UTC). Over both growing seasons, compared to 1,3-D+ Pic, the SS-MSM-8wk and SS-8wk treatments provided equivalent or reduced cumulative weed count, including weed count of several dominant weed species, annual ryegrass, speedwell, common chickweed, and cudweed. The SS-4wk and MSM-4wk treatments did not affect weed density compared to UTC. The MSM-8 wk and 4 wk treatments reduced cumulative weed counts over UTC. In the second growing season, the total yield was significantly higher in the 1,3-D + Pic fumigation treatment compared with other treatments. The SS-4wk, MSM-4wk, and MSM-8wk treatments did not improve the total or marketable yield compared to UTC. The marketable yield in SS-MSM-8wk was similar to that of the 1,3-D + Pic treatment. In conclusion, the SS-8wk and SS-MSM-8wk treatments may be effective weed management strategies for organic growers, small farms, or growers who cannot use chemical fumigants due to new regulations and potential risks to human health.

Carolina redroot (LAHTI) is a perennial weed of New Jersey cranberry beds. It is associated with “stand opening” areas that result from fairy ring dieback or other conditions of natural and anthropogenic origin. LAHTI accounts for significant yield reduction through direct competition with cranberry for nutritional resources. Field experiments were conducted from 2017 to 2022 on ‘Ben Lear’ and ‘Early Black’ cranberry beds in Chatsworth, NJ, to determine 1) the efficacy of residual herbicides labeled for use on cranberry, and subsequently, 2) to evaluate the value of overlapping preemergence applications of napropamide and postemergence applications of mesotrione for LAHTI control while minimizing crop phytotoxicity. Treatments in the first experiment included preemergence applications of dichlobenil or norflurazon at 2.2 and 4.5 kg ha−1 and napropamide a 6.7 kg ha−1. In the second trial, napropamide was applied preemergence annually to plots at 6.7 or 10.1 kg ha−1 either as a single or as two equally or unequally split applications spaced 30 d apart, followed by or not followed by mesotrione applied postemergence at 280 g ha−1 when LAHTI leaves emerged above the cranberry canopy. The preemergence herbicides dichlobenil applied at 4.5 kg ha−1 and napropamide provided ≥48% LAHTI control and ≥40% LAHTI biomass reduction 112 d after treatment (DAT), whereas norflurazon had no significant effect on LAHTI biomass. Less than 4% of crop injury and liquid formulation adapted to chemigation identified napropamide as an effective preemergence herbicide for LAHTI control. In the second trial, napropamide applied at 10.1 kg ha−1 followed by an application of mesotrione reduced LAHTI biomass by ≥73%. Splitting napropamide application reduced yield by 36% and berry weight by 12% compared with a single application at the dormant stage. Compared with the nontreated control, a single napropamide application at 10.1 kg ha−1 followed by an application of mesotrione increased yield by 38%. Information derived from these studies is already being used by growers to enhance the productivity and profitability of New Jersey cranberry fields.

In 2022, trials were carried out in New Jersey and New York to assess the efficacy of weed management and the response of two cole crops to various herbicide combinations and rates. The experiments involved the application of S-metolachlor and micro-encapsulated (ME) acetochlor either alone or combined with oxyfluorfen. Different application timings of oxyfluorfen were tested in greenhouse and field studies. Results from the greenhouse trials showed that substituting S–metolachlor with ME acetochlor in over-the-top applied mixes with oxyfluorfen caused 15% to 22% less crop injury and increased seedling biomass by 33%. In field studies, nontreated plots exhibited significant weed growth, reaching up to 71% coverage 28 days after transplanting (DAT), whereas herbicide-treated plots exhibited weed cover at or below 10% by 28 DAT. Mixtures or sequential applications of oxyfluorfen and chloroacetamides achieved excellent control (≥99%) of the weed species complex compared to single applications of oxyfluorfen or chloroacetamides. However, applying both oxyfluorfen and a chloroacetamides post-transplanting, either as tank mixture or in sequence resulted in ≥19% injury. Despite the effective weed control achieved with herbicide treatments, mixing herbicides post-transplanting reduced relative commercial yield by 46% to 94% compared to oxyfluorfen applied alone or followed by chloroacetamides. The findings from these experiments will inform regional crop safety guidelines and support potential modifications to oxyfluorfen labels regarding sequential applications with chloroacetamides.

Sugarcane varieties differ in their ratooning ability (RA), and it is hypothesized that soil types and harvest seasons impact varieties’ RA. However, the effects of these factors on varieties’ RA remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the RA of different commercial sugarcane varieties (NCo376, N19, N23, N25, and N36), and establish the effects of soils and seasons on ratoon yields of these varieties in Eswatini. Fifteen years data on tons cane per ha per annum (TCHA) and tons sucrose per ha per annum (TSHA) achieved by plant cane and seven ratoon crops were collected from four commercial growers and analysed using linear regression models. The varieties significantly differed in RA. Variety N25, which had the highest plant cane yields (121.3 TCHA and 16.7 TSHA), had the sharpest yield decline over ratoon crops (–2.74 TCHA and −0.33 TSHA), suggesting that this variety is more suitable for short crop cycles. Variety N36 had second highest plant cane yields (111.7 TCHA and 16.4 TSHA) and a lower ratoon yield decline (–1.38 TCHA and −0.16 TSHA) than N25, suggesting that it is suitable for longer ratoon crop cycles. While soil type and harvest season significantly affected the relative yields of varieties, they did not significantly impact their RA, indicating that differences in varieties’ RA were driven by genotype and were relatively stable across environments. This suggests that tests to assess the adaptability of varieties should be conducted in multiple environments, while testing the RA of varieties may be conducted in fewer environments.

The current study was conducted over four years between 2016 and 2019 to determine the effects of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) before and after harvesting of sweet cherry on yield, physiological, vegetative and fruit quality parameters. The current study used the 0900 Ziraat sweet cherry cultivar grafted onto Gisela 6 rootstock. There were six different treatments: IC, (Control) where soil moisture was kept at field capacity for each irrigation, I25, with 25% deficit irrigation of IC after harvesting, I50, with 50% deficit irrigation of IC after harvesting, I25BH, with no-deficit irrigation 30 days after full bloom and 25% deficit irrigation after this period, I50BH, with no-deficit irrigation 30 days after full bloom and 50% deficit irrigation after this period, and IFRM, with farmer's treatment of excessive irrigation (150% of ET) from colouring of fruit till harvest and 50% deficit irrigation after harvesting. When compared to IC, water saving ranged from 20.2–45.6%. The fruit yield obtained under I25 was increased by 21.8% in the last year of the current study than the yield obtained under IC treatment. Trunk and shoot growth increased for all treatments. Leaf water potential (Ψmd) and stomata conductance (gsw) were affected by RDI. IFRM and I25 had a positive effect on fruit size, the same as IC. Water deficit (IBH50) applied before harvesting increased fruit flesh firmness. I25 treatment (25% water deficit after harvesting) can be applied by sweet cherry growers because it leads to high yield, better fruit quality and water saving.

Waterhemp has evolved resistance to Group 2, 5, 9, 14, and 27 herbicides in Ontario, Canada, making control of this challenging weed even more difficult. Acetochlor is a Group 15, chloroacetanilide herbicide that has activity on many small-seeded annual grasses and some small-seeded annual broadleaf weeds, including waterhemp. The objective of this study was to ascertain if acetochlor mixtures with broadleaf herbicides (dicamba, metribuzin, diflufenican, sulfentrazone, or flumioxazin), applied preemergence (PRE), increase multiple-herbicide-resistant (MHR) waterhemp control in soybean. Five trials were conducted over 2 yr (2021 and 2022). The acetochlor mixtures caused ≤7% soybean injury, except acetochlor + flumioxazin, which caused 19% soybean injury. Acetochlor applied PRE controlled MHR waterhemp 89% at 4 wk after application (WAA). Dicamba, metribuzin, diflufenican, sulfentrazone, or flumioxazin controlled MHR waterhemp 59%, 67%, 58%, 64%, and 86%, respectively, at 4 WAA. Acetochlor applied in a mixture with dicamba, metribuzin, diflufenican, sulfentrazone, or flumioxazin provided good to excellent control of MHR waterhemp; control ranged from 91% to 98% but was similar to acetochlor applied alone. Acetochlor alone reduced MHR waterhemp density and biomass 98% and 93%; acetochlor + flumioxazin reduced waterhemp density and biomass by an additional 2% and 7%, respectively. This research concludes that acetochlor applied in a mixture with flumioxazin was the most efficacious mixture evaluated for MHR waterhemp control.

Waterhemp is a summer annual, broadleaf weed with high fecundity, short seed longevity in the soil, and wide genetic diversity. Populations have evolved resistance to five herbicide modes of action (Groups 2, 5, 9, 14, and 27), which are present across southern Ontario; this has increased the challenge of controlling this competitive weed species in corn, the most important grain crop produced worldwide and the highest-value agronomic crop in Ontario. Acetochlor is a Group 15 soil-applied residual herbicide that has activity on many grass and broadleaf weeds but has yet to be registered in Canada. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether mixtures of acetochlor with flumetsulam, dicamba, atrazine, isoxaflutole/diflufenican, or mesotrione + atrazine applied preemergence would increase the control of multiple-herbicide-resistant (MHR) waterhemp in corn. Five field trials were conducted between 2022 and 2023. No corn injury was observed. Acetochlor applied alone controlled MHR waterhemp 97% 12 wk after application (WAA). All herbicide mixtures controlled MHR waterhemp similarly at ≥98% 12 WAA; there were no differences among herbicide mixtures. Flumetsulam, dicamba, and atrazine provided lower MHR waterhemp control than all other herbicide treatments and did not reduce density or biomass. Acetochlor reduced waterhemp density 98%, while the acetochlor mixtures reduced density similarly at 99% to 100%. This study concludes that the acetochlor mixtures evaluated provide excellent waterhemp control; however, control was not greater than acetochlor alone. Herbicide mixtures should be used as a best management practice to mitigate the evolution of herbicide resistance.

Chickpea is a cool season, photothermal-sensitive crop, that is adversely affected by high temperatures (>35°C) and whose flowering is promoted by long-day conditions (>12 h). This prevents horizontal crop spread under a variety of agro-climatic conditions and the development of insensitive genotypes that perform well in all seasons. Therefore, a study was conducted to identify genotypes that are mature early, insensitive to photoperiod, high temperature and tolerant to drought stress. A set of 74 genotypes was evaluated under rainfed conditions in Kharif 2021 (off-season) to select eight promising early-maturing genotypes with high-yielding capacity. Then further investigations were conducted in five different seasons Late Kharif 2021, rabi 2021, summer 2022, early Kharif 2022 and Kharif 2022 to identify the genotypes with photothermo-insensitivity among the selected eight genotypes. With the exception of rabi 2021, each of these seasons were distinct from the chickpea's typical growing season. Among these eight, the stable genotypes which are performed better in all the seasons, especially in summer were considered, such as IPC 06-11, MNK-1, JG-14 and ICE 15654-A as a photothermo-insensitive, were able to flower and set pods with higher seed yield and, resulting in early maturity in a temperature range of 41.4/9.3°C with photoperiods of 13.1/10.9 h to reach in all seasons throughout the year. The heritability was more than 60%. Hence, these genotypes can be used as donor aids in the development of early maturing, drought stress tolerant and photothermo-insensitive chickpea.

Considering straw resource utilization and air pollution prevention, straw return has been commonly practiced in China. However, the practicability of plenty straw return in an emerging maize–rice rotation and their effects on soil C and N pools have not been extensively investigated. This study has been conducted to examine the effects of straw return on soil nutrients, soil functional C and N fractions, and then to figure out their relationships with yield and N use efficiency. Two treatments of straw return (S2Nck) and without straw return (S0Nck) were compared in 3-year field experiment, and subplots without N application were added in their respective plots in the third year. The results showed that, relative to the control (S0Nck), straw return significantly increased soil mineralized nitrogen (Nmin), available P, and exchange K content by 11.7%, 41.1%, and 17.4% averaged across 3-year experiments, respectively. Straw return substantially increased soil dissolved organic C, microbial biomass C, and microbial biomass N content by 73.0%, 25.2%, and 36.8%, respectively. Furthermore, straw return markedly increased C and N retention in particulate organic matter in microaggregates (iPOM) and mineral associated organic matter within microaggregates (intra-SC), but significantly reduced in free mineral associated organic matter (free-SC) fraction. The structural equation modeling analysis showed that yield and the partial factor productivity of N were positively correlated with labile and slow soil C and N fractions. Consequently, straw incorporation significantly increased grain yields of maize by 14.7% and rice by 15.1%. The annual potential reduction proportion in fertilizer-N induced by straw return was estimated to be 25.7% in the third year. This study suggests that the incorporation of straws is an effective way to enhance soil nutrients and regulate soil C and N pools to improve crop production and has the potential to reduce N fertilizer application under maize–rice rotation in subtropical regions.

Exploring the nutritional potential of underutilized legumes such as Dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L.) is of great significance, particularly, in view of accomplishing the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal number two, which emphasizes on improving food and nutrition security by 2030. A thorough understanding of genetic variability is crucial for developing biofortified cultivars of Dolichos bean. In this study, the Dolichos bean genotypes represented by pole and bush types (28 bush and 19 pole types) were assessed for genetic variability for Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn contents. Pole type genotypes had higher average contents for all micronutrients except manganese. Among micronutrients, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, content ranged from 10.10–19.95, 77.13–331.93, 22.78–46.40 and 42.03–102.85 mg kg−1 in pole type, and 8.2–18.5, 50.8–99.3, 25.65–53.25 and 37.15–63.25 mg kg−1 in bush type beans, respectively. Strong positive correlations between Cu, Fe and Zn concentrations occurred, which indicates the possibility of simultaneous improvement of these nutrients. Pod pigmentation was positively correlated with contents of Fe and Zn. There was an association of micronutrients with yield. The pole genotypes VRSEM-1000, VRDB-01 and VRSEM 109 and bush type genotypes VRBSEM-3, VRBSEM-35 and VRBSEM- 200 are good source of microelements and high yielders. Gene sources with enhanced nutrients may be used as cultivated forms or as input material for breeding nutritionally rich biofortified varieties of bean.

A total of 32 sweet potato genotypes were evaluated to assess the genetic diversity based on quantitative traits and molecular markers, as well as stability for yield and related traits. Wider variability was observed for the traits like vine length (181.2–501.3 cm), number of leaves/plant (103.0–414.0 cm), internodal length (3.20–14.80 cm), petiole length (6.5–21.3 cm), leaf length (8.50–14.5 cm), leaf breadth (8.20–15.30 cm), leaf area (42.50–115.62 cm2), tuber length (7.77–18.07 cm), tuber diameter (2.67–6.90 cm), tuber weight (65.60–192.09 g), tuber yield (7.77–28.87 t ha−1), dry matter (27.34–36.41%), total sugar (4.50–5.70%) and starch (18.50–29.92%) content. Desirable traits such as tuber yield, dry matter and starch content have shown high heritability (>60%) with moderate to high genetic advance. Under molecular analysis, a total of 232 alleles were observed from all 32 microsatellite markers, which ranged from 4 to 14 with an average of 7.77 alleles per locus. In the population, the average observed heterozygosity (0.51) was higher than the expected heterozygosity (0.49). The contribution of genotype, genotype by environment interaction to the total variations was found to be significant. Based on the multi-trait stability index (tuber length, tuber diameter, tuber weight and tuber yield), genotypes X-24, MLSPC-3, MLSPC-5, ARSPC-1 and TSP-12-12 were found to be most stable. Among them, the high-yielding and stable genotypes TSP-12-10 (26.0 t ha−1) and MLSPC-3 (23.9 t ha−1) can be promoted for commercial production or used as parental material in future crop improvement programmes.

Few published studies exist documenting banana pepper tolerance to clomazone. Therefore, field trials were conducted in 2022 at two Indiana locations [Meigs Horticulture Research Farm and the Pinney Purdue Agricultural Center (PPAC)] to evaluate crop safety in plasticulture-grown banana pepper. The experimental design was a split-plot in which the main plot factor was the clomazone rate (0, 840, and 1,680 g ai ha–1) and the subplot factor was cultivar (‘Pageant’ and ‘Sweet Sunset’). Clomazone was applied over the top of black polyethylene mulch-covered raised beds and their respective bare-ground row middles 1 d prior to transplanting 12 pepper plants per subplot. Data collected included crop injury on a scale from 0% (no injury) to 100% (crop death) at 2, 4, and 6 wk after treatment (WAT), and plant stand. Two harvests were performed in which mature fruits were counted and weighed. Injury presented as interveinal bleaching only at PPAC 2 and 4 WAT. At this location 1,680 g ha–1 clomazone resulted in greater injury to ‘Sweet Sunset’ at 2 and 4 WAT (53% and 15%, respectively) than to ‘Pageant’ (19% and 3%, respectively); however, plant stand and yield were not affected by either clomazone rate. These results suggest that the clomazone rate range currently used for bell pepper (280 to 1,120 g ai ha–1) can be applied prior to transplanting plasticulture-grown banana pepper with minimal crop injury and without reducing yield.

In 2021 and 2022, research was initiated at two locations to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sulfentrazone in transplanted cabbage and broccoli. Treatments included oxyfluorfen at 560 g ha−1 applied pretransplant (PRE-T), sulfentrazone applied at 116 or 233 g ha−1 PRE-T, and S-metolachlor applied at 715 g ha−1 immediately after transplanting (POST-T) followed by (fb) oxyfluorfen applied at 210 g ha−1 postemergence (POST) 14 d after planting (DAP). The weedy cover of nontreated plots averaged between 6% (14 DAP) and 72% (42 DAP); all herbicide-treated plots averaged less than 30% cover at 42 DAP. At 14 and 28 DAP, oxyfluorfen, S–metolachlor fb oxyfluorfen, and the high rate of sulfentrazone reduced total monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed densities by 62% and 100%, respectively, relative to the nontreated control. The density of hairy galinsoga (in New Jersey) and combined ladysthumb and prostrate knotweed (in New York) were reduced by 71% to 99%. Except for the low rate of sulfentrazone, all herbicide treatments reduced weed biomass at harvest by ≥88%. Crop injury varied in response to herbicide treatments or weed competition but was also affected by crop and location. Between 14 and 28 DAP, the greatest amount of stunting (22%) was noted in the S-metolachlor fb oxyfluorfen treatments at both locations. Averaged over treatments, greater stunting was observed in broccoli than in cabbage in New York, whereas stunting estimates were higher for cabbage in New Jersey. All treatments in New Jersey resulted in significantly increased cabbage yield and broccoli and cabbage head sizes relative to the nontreated controls. No yield difference was noted between herbicide treatments and the nontreated check in New York. Data derived from these studies will be used to enhance crop safety recommendations in northeastern U.S. production environments for sulfentrazone used PRE in transplanted cabbage and support a potential label for broccoli.

Six field experiments were established in southwestern Ontario in 2021 and 2022 to evaluate whether the addition of a grass herbicide (acetochlor, dimethenamid-p, flufenacet, pendimethalin, pyroxasulfone, or S-metolachlor) to tolpyralate + atrazine improves late-season weed control in corn. Tolpyralate + atrazine caused 12% and 5% corn injury at 1 and 4 wk after herbicide application (WAA); corn injury was not increased with the addition of a grass herbicide. Weed interference reduced corn yield 60%. The addition of a grass herbicide to tolpyralate + atrazine did not enhance velvetleaf control. The addition of acetochlor or dimethenamid-p to tolpyralate + atrazine enhanced pigweed species control 4% 4 WAA; the addition of other grass herbicides tested did not increase pigweed species control. The addition of acetochlor enhanced common ragweed control 5% at 4 WAA, and the addition of acetochlor or dimethenamid-p enhanced common ragweed control 8% at 8 WAA; the addition of other grass herbicides did not improve common ragweed control. The addition of acetochlor to tolpyralate + atrazine enhanced common lambsquarters control up to 4%; there was no enhancement in common lambsquarters control with the addition of the other grass herbicides. Tolpyralate + atrazine controlled barnyardgrass 90% and 78% at 4 and 8 WAA, respectively; the addition of a grass herbicide enhanced barnyardgrass control 9% to 10% and 21% at 4 and 8 WAA, respectively. Tolpyralate + atrazine controlled green or giant foxtail 80% and 69% at 4 and 8 WAA, respectively; the addition of a grass herbicide enhanced foxtail species control 15% to 19% and 24% to 29% at 4 and 8 WAA, respectively. This research shows that adding a grass herbicide to tolpyralate + atrazine mixture can improve weed control efficacy, especially increased annual grass control in corn production.

To explore trait variation, assess relative performance and establish association among yield and its associated traits in maize under organic system, 373 maize genotypes that consisted of landraces, open-pollinated varieties and single-cross hybrids were tested under organic management in Sikkim midhills. Data of 8 years (2009–2015 and 2019) for 12 agronomic traits viz., plant height, days to 50% tasselling, days to 50% silking, days to 75% dry husk, grain yield per ha, anthesis–silking interval, cob length, cob diameter, kernel rows per cob, kernels per row, number of cobs per plot and test weight were taken for analysis. Conventionally bred maize hybrids yielded 95.36% higher than the landraces and 58.60% higher than the open-pollinated varieties. Landraces displayed highest mean anthesis–silking interval of 7.18 days. In open-pollinated varieties, test weight showed a positive association with grain yield (0.37) while plant height (0.33) and kernels per row (0.34) were positively correlated to grain yield in case of landraces. Number of cobs per plot showed a very strong association with grain yield in hybrids (1.0). Kernels per cob and test weight contributed 24% to the variation in grain yield in open-pollinated varieties while anthesis–silking interval, days to maturity, number of cobs/plot, test weight and kernel per row accounted for 97% of the variation in grain yield in landraces. Grain yield in single-cross hybrids is contributed maximum (97%) by days to tasselling, silking, anthesis–silking interval, plant height and number of cobs per plot. The study indicates attaining high number of cobs per unit area along with emphasis on traits such as kernels per row, cob length and diameter for achieving higher yields in single-cross hybrids, selection of high test weight genotypes for open-pollinated varieties and emphasis on cob length, kernels per row and plant height for yield improvement in landraces.

The aim in this research paper was to investigate the effect of using calcium monophosphate (MCP) and MCP mixed with commercial phosphates salts, in total or partial replacement of calcium chloride (CaCl2) in the manufacture of Minas Frescal cheese. Initially, model cheeses were made to perform the rheological analysis during the coagulation process. Of these, the five best treatments were chosen to carry out the production of Minas Frescal cheese, used only CaCl2 and MCP, and partial replacements of MCP + polyphosphate, MCP + potassium monophosphate (MKP) and MCP. The cheeses showed no significant difference in physicochemical composition, yield and syneresis, however, the cheese with partial replacement of CaCl2 by MCP + polyphosphate and MCP + MKP showed the highest hardness values, like the control. This demonstrates that it is possible to replace calcium chloride without significant changes in the physicochemical characteristics and yield of Minas Frescal cheese, and it is still possible to modulate the hardness of the cheese produced according to the type of calcium/phosphate source used. This allows the industry to replace the source of calcium in the manufacture of Minas Frescal cheese according to the desired hardness.

Nitrogen fertilizer and water are two major nutrients required for the optimal production of rice worldwide. The utilization of different irrigation techniques to save water and fertigation to maximize rice production has been the main focus. A field experiment was conducted to explore the responses of 16 rice varieties to different irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer regimes. Two nitrogen treatments, 270 kg ha−1 and 225 kg ha−1 (urea N ≥ 46.4%), and two irrigation regimes, 8.7 t ha−1 and 5.22 t ha−1, were applied three times. Plant height and the soil and plant analyser development (SPAD) values were measured throughout the growth period. The total yield and quality characteristics of the rice varieties were also determined. Based on the yield, the 16 rice varieties were divided into three groups: high yield (I), middle yield (II) and low yield (III) using cluster analysis. A positive correlation was found between the growth period and yield of these 16 rice varieties. In the water-deficient regime, the growth period of the 16 varieties was reduced by 1.68–2.93%. Furthermore, nitrogen- and water-deficient regimes had significant effects on the polishing rate, protein content and taste values of all varieties. At maturity stage under these regimes, plant height and chlorophyll SPAD values were decreased by 1.25–6.05% and 1.60–31.48%, respectively. Deficient nitrogen fertilization, along with appropriate irrigation, is an effective method for the efficient utilization of irrigation and fertilizer resources in rice-growing areas.

Salinity is one of the major environmental stresses limiting growth and yield of rice. The objective of the present study was to analyze the impact of NaCl on yield-related parameters of Oryza glaberrima. Two contrasted cultivars of Oryza glaberrima previously tested for salt resistance at the vegetative stage [salt-resistant (TOG5307) and salt-sensitive (TOG5949)] were irrigated with a saline solution containing 30 mM NaCl (EC: 3 dS.m−1 NaCl). After 6 months of treatments, mineral nutrient and yield-related parameters were assessed. Proline was quantified in the panicle leaf at the start of the grain filling stage. NaCl treatment affected most yield-related parameters: panicle length, panicle leaf dry weight, number of branches per panicle, panicle leaf length, days to 50% heading, straw fresh weight per plant, grain yield per plant, number of spikelets per panicle, and number of filled grains per panicle. The weight of 1,000 grains decreased in the salt-sensitive cultivar only, suggesting that grain filling processes were compromised. The salt-resistant cultivar TOG5307 was less affected than the salt-sensitive TOG5949 and accumulated lower amounts of Na+ in the grains. For both cultivars, hulls contained higher concentration of Na+ and K+ than grains. TOG5307 also contained more proline in the panicle leaf than TOG5949, suggesting that TOG5307 can cope with the osmotic component of salt stress. The cultivar exhibiting the highest salt resistance at the vegetative stage also exhibited the highest resistance at the reproductive one.

Water deficiency is one of the most severe abiotic stresses in rainfed dry lands and limits crop productivity. Exogenous applications of salicylic acid (SA) have been applied to mitigate the adverse effects of water-deficit stresses, but the relative efficacy of different derivatives of SA in enhancing water-deficit tolerance along with the underlying physio-biochemical mechanism and yield of crops is not well documented. Field experiments were conducted to ascertain the relative efficacy of exogenous application of three plant bioregulators (PBRs) [SA, thiosalicylic acid and 5-sulfosalicylic acid (SSA)], each at three concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mM), on the growth, physio-biochemical characteristics and yield of cluster bean under rainfed conditions. Based on a 2-year field experiment, the application of PBRs enhanced yield (from 8 to 16%). The yield enhancement with the application of PBRs was associated with elevated water content (from 9 to 17%), membrane stability (from 12 to 18%) and antioxidant enzyme activity (from 12 to 33%) and reduced lipid peroxidation (from −15 to −34%) in leaves. The effects of PBRs were conditionally type and concentration dependent. The application of SSA at a rate of 1 mM was more effective in enhancing water-deficit tolerance and improving the yield of cluster bean under water shortage conditions. This study provides empirical evidence of the potential for the application of SA and its derivatives to enhance crop yields under drought conditions. The results have direct implications for sustainable crop production for similar regions of the world facing water deficits.

Rationally higher population density is crucial for seeking a balance that meets lodging resistance and maximizes seed yield in mechanized direct-seeded winter canola. In this study, a split-plot experiment with two cultivars (Huayouza9 and Zhongshuang11) and eleven planting densities (12–105 plants m-2) was conducted in a two-season field experiment to evaluate the high planting density in this cropping system and improve its production efficiency. Seed yield noticeably increased in planting density up to 80 plants m-2 in Zhongshuang11 (2187 kg hm-2) and 60 plants m-2 in Huayouza9 (2943 kg hm-2). The seed yield of Huayouza9 did not differ significantly from the local target seed yield. Higher plant density curtailed the luxurious vegetative growth of individual canola plants at the density of no less than 60–80 plants m-2, and high seed yield was derived from the increased ratio of main raceme and branch seed weight in winter canola. An increase in plant densities contributed to the reinforced sunlight interception at the pod-filling stage, providing a larger canopy photosynthetic area for the rapid growth of more canola pods at higher densities (60–105 plants m-2). Lodging resistance and breaking resistance decreased sharply with the plant density increasing from 12 to 60 plants m-2 while remaining almost steady as it further increased from 60 to 105 plants m-2 for Huayouza9 and Zhongshuang11. Hence, the population density of 60 plants m-2 reached a balance between lodging resistance and maximized seed yield in mechanized direct-seeded winter canola in China.