No-till alfalfa stand termination strategies: Alfalfa control and wheat and barley production

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Bullied ◽  
M. H. Entz ◽  
S. R. Smith Jr.

Crop rotations involving perennial alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) present the unique problem of terminating the alfalfa stand. Intensive tillage currently used to terminate alfalfa increases the risk of soil erosion and reduces many of the rotational benefits from alfalfa. Inadequate alfalfa termination results in severe competition to the following crop by surviving alfalfa plants. Field experiments were conducted in Manitoba between 1991 and 1993 with the following objectives: 1) to investigate no-till vs. tillage management systems for successful alfalfa termination, 2) to compare fall vs. spring alfalfa termination, 3) to compare the performance of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeded into alfalfa residue, and 4) to determine the relationship between alfalfa escapes and grain yield. Fall termination produced higher grain yields than spring termination, however this advantage was only achieved with the better termination treatments capable of lowering alfalfa regrowth below a critical level. The best herbicide treatment tested here was glyphosate at 1.78 kg a.i. ha−1. Successful treatments would have to reduce residual alfalfa basal crown area (a measure of alfalfa regrowth potential) after cereal grain harvest to below 2%. Alfalfa escapes reduced yield of following wheat and barley crops similarly (P > 0.05). When alfalfa termination treatment method allowed some regrowth, in-crop herbicide treatments significantly reduced alfalfa basal crown area. Results of this study indicate that it is feasible to terminate alfalfa with herbicides in the absence of tillage, however an overall cropping strategy, including adequate consideration of weeds present in alfalfa fields at time of termination, must be considered. Key words: Herbicides, competition, recropping, no-till, alfalfa regrowth, soil conservation, sustainable cropping

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 571-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. McALLISTER ◽  
L. M. RODE ◽  
D. J. MAJOR ◽  
K.-J. CHENG ◽  
J. G. BUCHANAN-SMITH

The objective of this study was to examine the microbial digestion and colonization of whole (W), halved (H) and quartered (Q) cereal grains within the rumen. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were placed in nylon bags in the rumen of a fistulated steer. In sacco DM disappearance (ISDMD) of W grain was lower (P < 0.001) than that of H or Q grain. Once sectioned, wheat was most susceptible to microbial digestion followed by barley, sorghum and maize, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy showed that microbial colonization of W grain was restricted to fractured areas of the pericarp. Fracturing of the pericarp is necessary to allow rumen bacteria to gain access to the rapidly digestible nutrients of the endosperm. Initial colonization (2 h) of the endosperm of H and Q grains by rumen bacteria tended to be between large starch granules. After 24 h of exposure in the rumen, the endosperm of barley, wheat and sorghum was colonized by a variety of rumen bacteria. In contrast, regions of the germ and horny endosperm in maize were not colonized. The sequential colonization of the endosperm, culminating in the establishment of complex microbial consortia, is required for the digestion of cereal grains. Key words: Cereal, rumen bacteria, digestion, processing, concentrate


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Merabta Sarra ◽  
Zerafa Chafia ◽  
Benlaribi Mostefa

This paper focuses on the relationship between two genotypes of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.): Gamgoum Rekham (GGR) and Haurani; two genotypes of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Florence aurore 8193 (FA) and Mexipak; and two genotypes of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.): Manel and Saïda 183. These genotypes were subjected to a water deficit during a period of twenty days at the heading stage. The proline content and the chlorophyll content are determined on the standard leaves both on the control and on the sample subjected to water stress after twenty days and after one and two weeks, following the return of watering. Despite the fact that these varieties are cultivated under the same conditions on the Algerian highlands, their reactions to the test conditions are very different. As a matter of fact, GGR and FA recorded very high levels of proline at the end of the stress. This, however, was at the moment when the two barley genotypes presented relatively low values for the two studied parameters. After the return of watering, the proline contents at the various genotypes returned gradually to those of the controls. The GGR genotype recovers more quickly than the others. As for the chlorophyll content, it evolves, unevenly, in the course of the test, showing no evolutionary indication in relation to the proline.


1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
UMESH C. GUPTA

Field experiments were conducted in Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) to determine the effects of Zn (zinc sulfate) applied to the soil; applied as a foliar spray; and the effects of chelated Zn applied as a foliar spray on Zn concentration of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Plant tissue Zn levels as low as 12 mg kg−1 in forages, 14 mg kg−1 in cereal boot stage tissue and 19 mg kg−1 in cereal grain were not related to Zn deficiency. Tissue Zn levels as high as 123 mg kg−1 in barley boot stage tissue and 153 mg kg−1 in alfalfa did not result in yield reduction or any Zn toxicity symptoms. Cereal and forage yields were not affected by Zn treatments. In most cases, soil and foliar Zn applications were effective in increasing the Zn concentration in forages and cereals. Should a Zn deficiency be suspected (either from the crop or animal nutrition viewpoint) Zn could be applied to the soil at 20 kg ha−1 or as a foliar spray at 0.5 to 1.0 kg ha−1 to overcome the problem in this region (and in other areas with similar soil and climatic conditions). Key words: Plant Zn, soil and foliar applied Zn, Zn chelate and zinc sulfate, podzol soils


1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. SINGH ◽  
J. W. B. STEWART ◽  
R. E. KARAMANOS

Current criteria for predicting zinc (Zn) deficiency in Saskatchewan soils are based on DTPA-extractable Zn values. DTPA-extractable Zn levels in 12% of 1200 samples taken across Saskatchewan contained less than 0.5 mg Zn kg−1 soil and would be classified as potentially Zn deficient. However, 23 field trials in 1982, 1983 and 1984 with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), lentils (Lens esculenta Moench.), peas (Pisum sativum L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), corn (Zea mays L.) and flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) produced only one significant response to Zn fertilization. No yield benefits due to either annual or residual application of Zn fertilizer were obtained even on high lime soils or those containing DTPA-extractable Zn levels below 0.5 mg kg−1 soil. Hence, current soil criteria to identify Zn deficiencies under the prevailing cropping systems must be revised to reflect these findings. Key words: DTPA-extractable Zn, crop response, critical level


1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
UMESH C. GUPTA ◽  
J. A. MacLEOD

Field experiments were conducted at three locations in Prince Edward Island to determine the effects of various sources of S (Agri-Sul, gypsum, and Urea-Sul) on S concentration of tissue and yields of forages and cereals. Gypsum was effective in increasing the S concentration in plant tissues. Agri-Sul at 10–80 kg S∙ha−1 was generally ineffective in increasing the S concentration of forages and cereals. In the absence of added S (check treatments), the plant tissue S concentrations in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) ranged from 0.18 to 0.39 and from 0.14 to 0.27%, respectively. In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum distichon L.), the S concentrations varied from 0.12 to 0.26 and from 0.13 to 0.20% in the boot stage tissue and grain, respectively, in the check treatments. In general, the S concentration was higher in the boot stage tissue than in the grain. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds and vegetative material from the check treatments contained 0.19–0.24% and 0.17–0.36% S, respectively. Gypsum or Urea-Sul did not increase the yields of forages or cereals. In one instance Agri-Sul slightly increased the alfalfa yield (5–8.5%), but this was not associated with tissue S increases. Plant tissue S levels as low as 0.12–0.18% appeared to be adequate for barley, wheat, timothy, peas, and alfalfa. Key words: Sources of sulfur, tissue S, yields, cereals, forages


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Khorasani ◽  
P. E. Jedel ◽  
J. H. Helm ◽  
J. J. Kennelly

The objectives of this study were to determine changes in yield of total grain, stem and leaf DM, leaf:stem ratio and chemical composition during the growth period (boot to soft-dough stage) and during ensiling of whole-crop barley (Hordeum vulgare L. 'Noble'), oats (Avena sativa L. 'Cascade'), triticale (X Triticosecale Rimpani Witt. 'Wapiti'), and a 1:1 barley (Noble):winter triticale (cv. Pika) mixture. Data for whole-crop cereals were compared with a second cut alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. 'Algonquin'). Crude protein and nitrate concentrations of all crops decreased with advancing maturity. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and cellulose concentrations of all crops initially increased and then decreased with advancing maturity whereas acid detergent lignin (ADL) concentrations increased with advancing maturity. During the growth phase, oats and triticale had higher NDF and ADF concentrations, but by harvesting these differences had disappeared. Leaf as percentage of total DM and leaf:stem ratios were higher and the stem as percentage of total DM was lower for the barley:winter triticale mixture compared with the cereal monocrops. Cereal forages were ranked in order of decreasing quality as barley, barley:winter triticale, triticale, and oats. Key words: Alfalfa, barley, oats, triticale, silage, quality


Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. F. Schillinger ◽  
T. C. Paulitz

Rhizoctonia bare patch caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-8 is a major fungal root disease in no-till cropping systems. In an 8-year experiment comparing various dryland no-till cropping systems near Ritzville, WA, Rhizoctonia bare patch first appeared in year 3 and continued unabated through year 8. Crop rotation had no effect on bare patch during the first 5 years. However, from years 6 to 8, both soft white and hard white classes of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in a 2-year rotation with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) had an average of only 7% of total land area with bare patches compared with 15% in continuous annual soft white wheat or hard white wheat (i.e., monoculture wheat). In years 6 to 8, average grain yield of both soft white wheat and hard white wheat were greater (P < 0.001) when grown in rotation with barley than in monoculture. Although both classes of wheat had less bare patch area and greater grain yield when grown in rotation with barley, monoculture hard white wheat was more severely affected by Rhizoctonia than soft white wheat. Soil water levels were higher in bare patches, indicating that roots of healthy cereals did not grow into or underneath bare patch areas. This is the first documentation of suppression of Rhizoctonia bare patch disease in low-disturbance no-till systems with rotation of cereal crops.


1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1115-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
LYLE FRIESEN ◽  
IAN N. MORRISON ◽  
GEORGE MARSHALL ◽  
WESLEY ROTHER

Field experiments were conducted in 1982 and 1983 to determine the effects of increasing densities (0–70 plants m−2) of volunteer wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Neepawa) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L. Bonanza) on the growth and seed yield of flax (Linum usitatissimum L. Dufferin). Rectangular hyperbolic models were fitted to data using nonlinear regression analysis. Results indicated that both volunteer cereals severely reduced flax biomass and yield, with volunteer barley interference causing greater losses than volunteer wheat at equivalent densities. From the regression equations it was calculated that an intermediate density of 30 volunteer wheat plants m−2 reduced the yield of flax by 49% in 1982 and 53% in 1983, whereas an equivalent density of volunteer barley plants reduced flax yields by 56% in 1982 and 67% in 1983.Key words: Competition, flax, volunteer wheat, volunteer barley, rectangular hyperbola, yield loss


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Suleiman ◽  
E. Okine ◽  
L. A. Goonewardene

The nutrient concentrations of selected Alberta-grown whole barley grain (Hordeum vulgare L.), three pure hays of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), barley, oat (Avea sativa L.), and four pure crop silages of alfalfa, barley, corn (Zea mays L.), and oat were determined and compared with nutrient concentrations of similar forages and a cereal grain reported in the National Research Council (NRC 1984 and 1989) feed nutrient composition tables. In addition, the variations in nutrient concentrations within the selected Alberta feedstuffs were assessed as an indication of whether the feedstuffs should be analysed frequently for certain nutrients. The concentrations of zinc and copper in barley grain cultivated in Alberta were 248% and 60% of the NRC values, respectively. The phosphorus, manganese, sulphur, magnesium, CP, selenium and calcium concentrations in barley hay were 17, 18, 18, 22, 32, 50 and 100% higher than NRC values. However, the concentrations of Cu and Zn were only 18 and 40% of the NRC values. Data from the present study suggest that Alberta hays, silages and barley grain are different in nutrient concentrations from similar grain and forages reported by the NRC (1984, 1989). Due to a high percentage of Alberta feeds being below the suggested NRC requirement levels of the various trace minerals, use of NRC table values for Cu, Mn, Mg and Zn for barley hay, silage and grain, oat hay and silage, alfalfa hay and silage and corn silage could result in deficiencies of these trace minerals in beef and dairy cattle with possible adverse effects on productivity. Thus, there is a need to use Alberta-derived nutrient composition values for these elements in diet formulations for cattle in Alberta. The high CVs calculated for most of the nutrients in the selected Alberta feeds suggest that these feeds should be analysed more often in order to minimise costs of production due to nutrient shortfalls or excesses in diets formulated using nutrient values without the knowledge of variability in feed composition. Key words: Nutrient composition, variability, feedstuffs


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. F. Nuttall ◽  
S. S. Malhi

Field experiments were conducted for 3 yr on a Black Chernozemic soil at Melfort in northeastern Saskatchewan to determine the yield response and N uptake of seven crop/cultivars to autumn and spring applied N. The crop/cultivars were, rapeseed (Brassica napus L. 'Midas' and 'Target'; Brassica campestris L. 'Torch' and 'Echo'); wheat (Triticum aestivum L. 'Manitou'); barley (Hordeum vulgare L. 'Conquest') and flax (Linum usitatissimum L. 'Noralta') (main plots). Ammonium nitrate fertilizer treatments consisted of three rates of autumn broadcast N, 0, 34 and 67 kg N ha−1 (subplots), combined with N at 0, 11, 22, 45, 67 and 134 kg N ha−1 side-banded with seed in the spring (subsubplots). At the 67 kg N ha−1 rate, autumn application was inferior to spring application in increasing grain yield and N uptake for three of the seven crops (Torch and Echo rapeseed and Manitou wheat). Nitrogen fertilizer applied at 134 kg N ha−1 in spring produced grain yields that were not significantly higher than the split application of 67 kg N ha−1 applied in autumn and 67 kg N ha−1 applied in spring. All crops responded to spring applied N and continued to increase in yield up to the high rates of 67 or 134 kg N ha−1. Key words: Time of N application, N, crops, cultivars


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