Soil tillage methods by years interaction for dry matter of plant yield of maize (Zea mays L.)using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model

The objective of this study was to assess soil tillage methods by years interaction for dry matter of plant yield of maize(Zea mays L.) grown in West Poland by the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model. The study comprised four soil tillage methods, analysed in 12 years through field trials arranged in a randomized complete block design, with four replicates. Dry matter of plant yield of the tested soil tillage methods varied from 86.7 dt ha(for no-plough tillage in 2005) to 246.4 dt ha(for complete conventional tillage in 2012), with an average of 146.6 dt ha. In the variance analysis, 49.07% of the total dry matter of plant yield variation was explained by years, 12.69% by differences between soil tillage methods, and 10.53% by soil tillage methods by years interaction. Dry matter of plant yield is highly influenced by soil tillage methods by years factors.

Effect of Variety and Plant Spacing on Growth and Yield of Groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.)

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effect of variety and plant spacing on yield and growth of groundnuts. The field experiment was laid in a 3 × 3 factorial experiment in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three (3) replications. The factor A included three (3) groundnut varieties (Nkatie Sari, Sum Nutt 22 and Yenyawoso) and Factor B was the three (3) spacing of 30 cm × 15 cm, 30 cm × 30 cm and 30 cm × 40 cm. All recommended agronomic practices were followed. Data was collected from eight (8) tagged plants. Growth data were recorded on plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, and the number of flowers while yield data were collected on the number of flowers, number of pods per plant, 100 seeds weight and the pod yield (kg/ha). The plant spacing significantly influenced (P < 0.05) the growth and yield parameters. Groundnut grown at a spacing of 30 cm × 15 cm produced the maximum plant height, whereas the maximum number of leaves, number of branches and number of flowers were produced from 30 cm × 40 cm. Yenyawoso variety with a wider plant spacing performed better vegetatively among all the varieties. The Yenyawoso variety produced the highest number of pods, 100 seeds weight and pod yield as compared to the other varieties. Also, Yenyawoso at 30 cm × 40 cm spacing and Nkatie Sari at 30 cm × 15 cm spacing produced the maximum pod yield.

Effects of Variety and Planting Density on Mung Bean Eco-Physiology and Yield in the Southeastern US

Mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek.) is a warm-season, C3 pulse crop of the legume family that has been widely cultivated in Asian countries. As the demand for mung bean continues to increase in the United States, the ecophysiology, growth, and yield of mung bean varieties in the southeastern US need to be assessed. A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research and Education Center of Tennessee State University to investigate the effects of four varieties (OK2000, Berken, TSU-1, AAMU-1) and three planting densities (5, 10, and 15 cm spacing) on the ecophysiology and yield of mung bean. Results showed that the relative chlorophyll content, plant height, pod dry biomass, pod number, crop yield, and harvest index significantly varied among the varieties. Density only influenced transpiration, relative chlorophyll content, and plant dry biomass. OK2000 had 101.0% more pods per plant and a 42.4% higher harvest index and produced a 45.3% higher yield than other varieties, but no significant difference in yield was found among the other three varieties. This study demonstrated that the mung bean variety OK2000 with a high yield would be ideal for commercial production in the southeastern US.

Effects of Plant Density on Yield and Canopy Micro Environment in Hybrid Cotton

A rational plant population is an important attribute to high yield of cotton, because it can provide a beneficial micro environment within the canopy for plant growth and development as well as yield formation. A 2-yr field experiment was conducted to determine the optimal plant density based on cotton yield in relation to the canopy micro environment （canopy temperature, relative humidity and light transmittance）. Six plant densities （1.2-5.7 plants m^-2） were arranged with a completely randomized block design. The highest cotton yield （1 507 kg ha^-1） was obtained at 3.0 plants m^-2 due to more bolls per unit ground area （79 bolls m2）, while the lowest yield （1 091 kg ha1） was obtained at 1.2 plants m^-2. Under the moderate plant density （3.0 plants m^-2）, there was a lower mean daily temperature （MDT, 27. 1℃） attributing to medium daily minimum temperature （Train, 21.9℃） and the lowest daily maximum temperature （Tmax, 35.8℃）, a moderate mean canopy light transmittance of 0.51, and lower mean daily relative humidity （MRH） of 79.7% from June to October. The results suggest that 3.0 plants m^-2 would be the optimal plant density because it provides a better canopy micro environment.

Effects of planting patterns on yield, quality, and defoliation in machine-harvested cotton

The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of different machine-harvested cotton-planting patterns on defoliation,yield,and fiber quality in cotton and to provide support for improving the quality of machine-harvested cotton.In the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons,the Xinluzao 45(XLZ45)and Xinluzao 62(XLZ62)cultivars,which are primarily cultivated in northern Xinjiang,were used as study materials.Conventional wide-narrow row(WNR),wide and ultra-narrow row(UNR),wide-row spacing with high density(HWR),and wide-row spacing with low density(LWR)planting patterns were used to assess the effects of planting patterns on defoliation,yield,and fiber quality.Compared with WNR,the seed cotton yields were significantly decreased by 2.06–5.48%for UNR and by 2.50–6.99%for LWR,respectively.The main cause of reduced yield was a reduction in bolls per unit area.The variation in HWR yield was–1.07–1.07%with reduced bolls per unit area and increased boll weight,thus demonstrating stable production.In terms of fiber quality indicators,the planting patterns only showed significant effects on the micronaire value,with wide-row spacing patterns showing an increase in the micronaire values.The defoliation and boll-opening results showed that the number of leaves and dried leaves in HWR was the lowest among the four planting patterns.Prior to the application of defoliating agent and before machine-harvesting,the numbers of leaves per individual plant in HWR were decreased by 14.45 and 25.00%on average,respectively,compared with WNR,while the number of leaves per unit area was decreased by 27.44 and 36.21%on average,respectively.The rates of boll-opening and defoliation in HWR were the highest.Specifically,the boll-opening rate before defoliation and machine-harvesting in HWR was 44.54 and 5.94%higher on average than in WNR,while the defoliation rate prior to machine-harvesting was 3.45%higher on average than in WNR.The numbers of ineffective defoliated leaves and leaf trash in HWR were the lowest,decreased by 33.40 and 32.43%,respectively,compared with WNR.In conclusion,the HWR planting pattern is associated with a high and stable yield,does not affect fiber quality,promotes early maturation,and can effectively decrease the amount of leaf trash in machine-picked seed cotton,and thus its use is able to improve the quality of machine-harvested cotton.

Effects of plant density on cotton yield components and quality

Yield and ifber quality of cotton even varies within locules in a bol, but it is not clear how yield components and quality parameters are altered across seed positions of a locule （SPL）. A ifeld experiment was arranged in a split plot design with transgenic insect resistant Bt （Bacilus thuringiensis） cotton hybrid cultivar CRI75 and conventional cultivar SCRC28 as the main plots, and three plant densities （15000, 51000 and 87000 plants ha–1） as the subplots in 2012 and 2013 at Anyang, Henan Province, China. Cotton was hand harvested by node and fruiting position, and then seeds of the ifrst fruiting posi-tion bols from nodes 6–10 were separated by SPL. The effects of plant density on lint yield, ifber quality, especialy across SPL were determined. It was showed that plant densities of 51000 and 87000 plants ha–1 increased lint yield by 61.3 and 65.3% in 2012 and 17.8 and 15.5% in 2013 relative to low plant density （15000 plants ha–1）, however, no signiifcant differ-ence was observed between 51000 and 87000 plants ha–1. The number of bols （bol density） increased while bol weight decreased as plant density raised, and no signiifcant changes occured in lint percentage in 2013 but increased with plant density in 2012. The number of bols in upper nodes and distal fruiting positions, the number of seeds per bol, seed area （SA） and seed vigor index increased with decreasing plant density. Seed area was found to be greater from the base to the middle compared to the apex of a locule. Mote frequency （MF） increased as plant density increased, and ifber quality was the best at the middle of the locule regardless of plant density. As the number of ifbers per seed area is geneticaly determined, adjusting plant density to produce more seeds and greater seed area can be a potentialy promising alternative to improve lint yield in cotton. These ifndings might be of great importantance to cotton breeding and ifled management.

Planting density affected biomass and grain yield of maize for seed production in an arid region of Northwest China

Field experiments were conducted from 2012 to 2015 in an arid region of Northwest China to investigate the effects of planting density on plant growth, yield, and water use efficiency（WUE） of maize for seed production. Five planting densities of 6.75, 8.25, 9.75, 11.25 and 12.75 plants/m^2 were conducted in 2012, and a planting density of 14.25 plants/m^2 was added from 2013 to 2015. Through comparison with the Aqua Crop yield model, a modified model was developed to estimate the biomass accumulation and yield under different planting densities using adjustment coefficient for normalized biomass water productivity and harvest index. It was found that the modified yield model had a better performance and could generate results with higher determination coefficient and lower error. The results indicated that higher planting density increased the leaf area index and biomass accumulation, but decreased the biomass accumulation per plant. The total yield increased rapidly as planting density increased to 11.25 plants/m^2, but only a slight increase was observed when the density was greater than 11.25 plants/m^2. The WUE also reached the maximum when planting density was 11.25 plants/m^2, which was the recommended planting density of maize for seed production in Northwest China.

Response of grain yield to plant density and nitrogen rate in spring maize hybrids released from 1970 to 2010 in Northeast China

The objective of this study was to identify the response of grain yield to plant density and nitrogen rate in spring maize hybrids released from 1970 to 2010 and grown extensively in Northeast China.Twenty-one hybrids were grown for 2 years in Northeast China at densities of 30,000,52,500,75,000,and 97,500 plants ha^(-1)and N application levels of 0,150,300,and 450 kg N ha^(-1).Irrespective of density or nitrogen application rate,grain yields both per plant and per unit area were significantly higher for newer than older hybrids.As plant density increased from 30,000 to 97,500 plant ha^(-1),yield per plant of 1970 s,1980 s,1990 s,and 2000 s hybrids decreased by 50%,45%,46%,and 52%,respectively.The response of grain yield per unit area to plant density was curvilinear.The estimated optimum plant densities were about 58,000,49,000,65,000,and 65,000 plants ha^(-1)for hybrids released in the 1970 s,1980s,1990 s,and 2000 s,respectively.The theoretical optimum densities for the hybrids released from the 1970 s to the 2000 s increased by 1750 plants ha^(-1)decade^(-1).Nitrogen fertilization significantly increased grain yields per plant and per unit area for all hybrids.The theoretical optimum N application rates for high yield for hybrids released in the 1970 s and 1980 s were about 280 and 360 kg ha^(-1),and the hybrids from the 1990 s and 2000 s showed highest yield at 330 kg ha^(-1)N.No significant difference in the grain yields of 2000 s hybrids between the N levels of 150 to 450 kg ha^(-1)was found.Significant yield gains per plant and per unit area were found,with average increases of 17.9 g plant^(-1)decade^(-1)and936 kg ha^(-1)decade^(-1)over the period 1970–2010,respectively.Yield gains were attributed mainly to increased yield per plant,contributed by increases in kernel number per ear and1000-kernel weight.The rates of lodging and barren plants of newer hybrids were significantly lower than those of older ones,especially at high plant density.

Functional Activity of Some Growth Regulators on Yield Components and Endogenous Hormones of Cowpea Plants (<i>Vigna sinensis</i>L.)

The effect of seed presoaking with different concentrations of growth bio-regulators (indole acetic acid, gibberellic acid and kinetin) on productivity and some biochemical and physiological aspects of yielded seeds of cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.) was investigated. Generally, application of growth regulators stimulated yield and yield quality of cowpea plants as compared to control plants through inducing a massive increase in number of pods/plants, seed biomass, pod length and number of seeds. In addition, results of this study showed that these growth regulators increased protein content and total soluble sugars in cowpea yielded seeds. Finally, it is evident from the present data that application of kinetin appeared to be the most effective hormone in stimulated productivity endogenous hormones and biochemical aspects in yielded seeds of cowpea plants.

OstMAPKKK5, a truncated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5, positively regulates plant height and yield in rice

Rice(Oryza sativa L.)is a major food crop worldwide.Plant height and yield are important agronomic traits of rice.Several genes regulating plant height and/or yield have been cloned.However,the molecular mechanisms coordinating plant height and yield are not fully characterized.Here,we report a novel gene,OstMAPKKK5 that encodes a truncated variant of a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5(OsMAPKKK5)lacking an intact kinase domain.Transgenic plants overexpressing OstMAPKKK5 in indica cultivar 9311 showed increased plant height,grain length,grain width,1000-grain weight,grain number per main panicle,and yield.Real-time quantitative PCR showed that OstMAPKKK5 was widely expressed in various tissues and developmental stages.The increased plant height and yield were attributed to enlarged cell size.Overexpression of OstMAPKKK5 led to higher contents of various forms of endogenous gibberellin(GA),especially the most common active forms,GA1,GA3,GA4.We concluded that OstMAPKKK5 positively regulates plant height and yield in rice by affecting cell size,and that its underlying mechanism is based on increased endogenous GA content.

Effects of planting dates and shading on carbohydrate content,yield,and fiber quality in cotton with respect to fruiting positions

Two cotton（Gossypium hirsutum L.） cultivars, Kemian 1（cool temperature-tolerant） and Sumian 15（cool temperaturesensitive） were used to study the effects of cool temperature on carbohydrates, yield, and fiber quality in cotton bolls located at different fruiting positions（FP）. Cool temperatures were created using late planting and low light. The experiment was conducted in 2010 and 2011 using two planting dates（OPD, the optimized planting date, 25 April; LPD, the late planting date, 10 June） and two shading levels of crop relative light rate（CRLR, 100 and 60%）. Compared with fruiting position 1（FP1）, cotton yield and yield components（fiber quality, leaf sucrose and starch content, and fiber cellulose） were all decreased on FP3 under all treatments. Compared with OPD-CRLR 100%, other treatments（OPD-CRLR 60%, LPD-CRLR 100%, and LPD-CRLR 60%） had significantly decreased lint yield at both FPs of both cultivars, but especially at FP3 and in Sumian 15; this decrease was mainly caused by a large decline in boll number. All fiber quality indices decreased under late planting and shading except fiber length at FP1 with OPD-CRLR 60%, and a greater reduction was observed at FP3 and in Sumian 15. Sucrose content of the subtending leaf and fiber increased under LPD compared to OPD, whereas it decreased under CRLR 60% compared to CRLR 100%, which led to decreased fiber cellulose content. Therefore, shading primarily decreased the ＂source＂ sucrose content in the subtending leaf whereas late planting diminished translocation of sucrose towards cotton fiber. Notably, as planting date was delayed and light was decreased, more carbohydrates were distributed to leaf and bolls at FP1 than those at FP3, resulting in higher yield and better fiber quality at FP1, and a higher proportion of bolls and carbohydrates allocated at FP3 of Kemian 1 compared to that of Sumian 15. In conclusion, cotton yield and fiber quality were reduced less at FP1 compared to those at FP3 under low temperature and low light conditions. Thus, reduced cotton yield and fiber quality loss can be minimized by selecting low temperature tolerant cultivars under both low temperature and light conditions.

Comparison of yield traits in rice among three mechanized planting methods in a rice-wheat rotation system

Understanding the differences in yield traits of rice among pothole seedling of mechanical transplanting （PSMT）, carpet seedling of mechanical transplanting （CSMT） and mechanical direct seeding （MDS） is of great importance not only for rice scientists but also for rice farmers to develop a high-yield production system under mechanical conditions in a rice-wheat rotation system. However, such traits are yet to be studied among rice varieties ofjaponica-indica hybrid rice （JIHR）,japonica conventional rice （JCR） and indica hybrid rice （IHR）. Field experiments were conducted in 2014 and 2015, where six cultivars of the three rice types JIHR, JCR and IHR were grown individually with PSMT, CSMT and MDS methods, under respective managements for each method to achieve the maximum attainable yield. Results showed that （i） the PSMT significantly increased grain yield of JIHR by 22.0 and 7.1%, of JCR by 15.6 and 3.7% and of I HR by 22.5 and 7.4%, compared to MDS and CSMT on average across the two years, respectively. The highest yield was produced by the combination of JIHR and PSMT; （ii） high yield under PSMT was mainly attributed to large sink capacity and high-efficient dry matter accumulation. With sufficient panicles per hectare, the increase of spikelet number per panicle, especially the increase in spikelet number of the secondary rachis-branches was determined to be the optimal approach for developing a large sink capacity for rice under PSMT. The optimal tillers development, large leaf area index at heading stage, and high leaf area duration, crop growth rate and net assimilation rate during grain-filling phase could be the cause of sufficient dry matter accumulation for rice under PSMT; （iii） moreover, the PSMT favored plant growth as well as enriched the stems plus sheaths during grain-filling phase, as compared with CSMT and MDS. These results suggest that PSMT may be an alternative approach to increasing grain yield in a rice-wheat rotation system in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China.

Effects of Planting Date on Winter Canola Growth and Yield in the Southwestern U.S.

Canola (Brassica napus L.) has potential to become alternative cash crop (healthy oil for human and meals for animal uses) with tremendous rotational benefits in the Southwestern U.S., a region dominated by cereal-fallow cropping systems. However, information on optimum planting date for its successful production is limited. Field experiments were conducted in 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons under irrigation condition to study the response of canola growth and yield to planting dates at Clovis, NM. Three planting dates (mid-September, late-September and early-October) and four canola varieties (early flowering: DKW41-10 and DKW46-15;medium flowering: Riley and Wichita) are studied. Fall plant stand density is significantly higher for early-October than mid- and late-September plantings. However, a ratio of fall to spring plant stand density indicates a greater reduction in spring plant stand density with early-October (25%) and mid-September (19%) than late-September (7%). Vegetative (by 13 days) and flowering (by 7 days) duration phases are significantly shortened with delay in planting. The decline in aboveground dry matter (DM) due to delayed planting resulted in significant seed yield reduction in both 2011-12 (26%) and in 2012-13 (8%) when early-October and mid-September plantings were compared. There was a positive relationship between final DM and canola seed yield, accounting for 84 and 34% variation for 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, respectively with the 2011-12 environmental conditions being conducive for genetically controlled variation in DM production to be more apparent and strong in explaining the variation in seed yield among varieties. Medium-flowering varieties produced higher DM (9741 vs. 8371 Kg•ha-1) and seed yield (2785 vs. 2035 Kg•ha-1) than early-flowering varieties. In addition to seed yield, DM can be used as an indirect selection criterion for seed yield in variety selection and appropriate planting dates including a guarantee for high crop residues (~75% of the total aboveground biomass) production to make canola a potential alternative cash and rotational break crop in the Southwestern U.S.

Research on the Effect of Planting Density on Rice Yield and Quality

Planting density is of great significance in adjusting the population structure of rice,increasing yield and reducing the cost. And suitable planting density can not only bring the yield potential of rice population into full play, obtain the maximum grain yield per unit area, but save labor, protect the environment and improve rice quality. This article summarizes the impact of planting density on rice growth, yield, the components as well as qualities at an attempt to provide theoretical guidance for high yield and quality cultivation of rice.

Year-to-Year and Maturity Variation in Rainfed Soybean Yield by Planting Dates

The interactions on rainfed soybean yield among planting date, maturity, and year-to-yearclimate change were studied using CROPGRO-soybean model. Simulations were based on 19 plantingdates, maturity groupsⅢ, ⅣandⅤ, 30 years recorded weather data from Corbin, Suffolk,West Point in Virginia, USA. Yield was similar on early plantings and went down with lateplantings. Both grand and year-to-year variation of soybean yield declined linearly withplanting date. Year-to-year climate variation was dominant yield variation source inrainfed soybean production. Interaction occurred between planting date and maturity.Optimal planting dates for different sites lied within 130th-170th day of a year.Irrigation is recommended for profitable crops, especially in Corbin and West Point.

Study on Plant Morphological Traits and Production Characteristics of Super High-Yielding Soybean

Super high-yielding soybean cultivar Liaodou 14, soybean cultivars from Ohio in the United States, and the common soybean cultivars from Liaoning Province, China, with similar geographic latitudes and identical pod-bearing habits were used as the study materials for a comparison of morphological traits and production characteristics to provide a theoretical basis for the breeding of improved super high-yielding soybean cultivars. Using a randomized block design, different soybean cultivars from the same latitude were compared under conventional and unconventional treatments for their production characteristics, including morphological traits, leaf area index （LAI）, net photosynthesis rate, and dry matter accumulation. The specific characteristics of the super high-yielding soybean cultivar Liaodou 14 were analyzed. The results showed that the plant height of Liaodou 14 was significantly lower than that of the common cultivars from Liaoning, whereas the number of its main-stem nodes was higher than that of the cultivars from Ohio or Liaoning. A high pod density was observed in Liaodou 14 under conventional treatments. Under both conventional and unconventional treatments, the branch number of Liaodou 14 was markedly higher than that of the common cultivars from Liaoning, and its branch length and leaf inclination angle were significantly higher than those of common cultivars from Liaoning or Ohio. Only small changes in the leaf inclination angle were observed in Liaodou 14 treated with conventional or unconventional methods. Under each treatment, Liaodou 14 exhibited the lowest amplitude of reduction in SPAD values and net photosynthesis rates from the grain-filling to ripening stages; the cultivars from Ohio and the common cultivars from Liaoning exhibited more significant reductions. Liaodou 14 reached its peak LAI later than the other cultivars but maintained its LAI at a higher level for a longer duration. Under both conventional and unconventional treatments, Liaodou 14 produced a higher yield than the other two cultivars, with significant differences from the Ohio cultivars. In summary, super high-yielding soybean cultivars have several main features： suitable plant height, high pod density, good leaf structure with strong functionality, and slow leaf senescence at the late reproductive stage, which is conducive to the accumulation of dry matter and improved yield.

Effects of Planting Methods on Root Yield and Nutrient Removal of Five Cassava Cultivars Planted in Late Rainy Season in Northeastern Thailand

The objectives of this study were to evaluate growth, yield and nutrients removal of five cassava cultivars planted by different planting methods in late rainy season of northeastern Thailand. A split plot design was used in this study. The planting methods (vertical and horizontal) were assigned as main-plots. Cassava cultivars (Rayong-7, Rayong-11, Rayong-72, Huaybong-80 and E-dum) were assigned as sub-plots with four replications. Results showed that vertical planting gave significantly higher fresh storage root yield than those of horizontal planting, across five cassava cultivars. The cultivar Rayong-7 produced maximum fresh storage root yield across two planting methods, but not significantly different from Rayong 11, Huaybong 80 and Edum cultivars. Irrespective of nutrient removal, N, P and K removed ranges from 2.9 - 3.6, 0.8 - 1.3 and 5.3 - 7.9 kg per ton fresh root weight, respectively depending on cassava cultivar. The cultivar Rayong-7 removed the highest quantities of N, and the cultivar Rayong-11 removed maximum of P and K in the present study. Regardless of nutrient removal at different plant parts;N, P and K removed maximum quantities in leaf, stem and storage root, respectively. Planting method had no significant effect on N and P removal, but significant effect on K removal. The vertical planting removed K higher than those of horizontal planting.

Effects of mepiquat chloride on yield and main properties of cottonseed under different plant densities

Background:Cottonseed oil and protein content as well as germination traits are major indicators of seed quality.However,the responses of these indicators to plant density and mepiquat chloride(MC)are still uncertain.To investigate plant density and MC effects on cotto nseed yield and main quality parameters,we con ducted a twoyear field experiment including four plant densities(1.35,2.55,3.75 and 4.95 plants·m^-2)and two closes of MC(0 and 135g·hm^-2)in Dafeng,Jiangsu Province,in 2013 and 2014.Results:The application of MC reduced plant height,fruit branch length and fruiting branch number under different plant densities,resulting in a lower and more compact plant canopy.Cottonseed yield showed a nonlinear increase as plant density increasing and achieved the highest value at 3.75 plants·m^-2,regardless of MC application.No significant interactio ns were found between plant density and MC for cotton seed yield and quality parameters.The 100-seed weight,cottonseed oil content and vigor index significantly decreased as plant density increased,while these parameters significantly increased with MC applying under different plant densities.Seed vigor index was positively correlated with 100-seed weight and seed oil con tent across different plant densities and MC treatments.Conclusions:Thus,application of MC could realize a win-win situation between cottonseed yield and main quality parameters under various densities;and plant density of 3.75 plants·m^-2 combined with 135 g·hm^-2 of MC applying is optimal for high cottonseed yield and quality in this cotton production area.

Nutritive Equilibrium in Rice Plant Populations for High Yield

The effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium application level, seed rate and transplanting density on the growth and development of rice plants were studied to find out nutrient status in high-yielding rice plants and to increase grain yield by adequate fertilization. There was an equilibrium relationship among nutrient elements for high-yielding rice plant populations. The equilibrium index of nutrient amount, content and distribution in high-yielding rice plants should be generally greater than-2 but less than 2. The optimum nutritive proportion of nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium assimilated by the plants was about 10: 2: 9 at the ripening stage. But the content and the proportion varied with the growth stages. Therefore, the nutrient in rice plant populations should be in a dynamic equilibrium, so as to achieve high yield.

Growth and Yield of Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) Genotypes under Different Planting Dates in the Semi-Arid Southern High Plains

Guar is a drought and salt tolerant summer annual legume, which could be a potential alternative crop in the semi-arid Southern High Plains. Increased use of guar gum in oil industries has increased the demand of guar globally. Planting date effects on stand establishment, physiological parameters, and yield formation of guar genotypes were investigated at the New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Science Center at Clovis, NM for two seasons (2014 and 2015). Four guar genotypes (HES 1123, Kinman, Lewis, and Matador) were tested under three planting dates (June 18, July 7, and July 22 in 2014;and June 18, July 6, and July 20 in 2015). Higher temperature and rainfall were recorded under mid-June planting than early-July and late-July plantings. Guar planted under mid-June had better stand establishment as shown by the higher number of plants m-2, better physiology as revealed by higher photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), leaf area index (LAI), and SPAD values than early-July and late-July plantings. Guar planted under mid-June resulted in taller plants, and therefore, produced higher plant biomass than both of the July plantings. Yield attributing characteristics including clusters plant-1, pods plant-1, seeds plant-1, seed spod-1, 1000 seed weight, and harvest index (HI) were highest under mid-June planting followed by the early-July and late-July plantings, respectively. The mid-June planting increased seed yield by 26% and 55% over early-July and late-July (1399 vs. 1111 and 903 kg·ha-1) plantings, respectively in 2014;while the same increase in 2015 was 51% and 243% (1308 vs. 868 and 381 kg·ha-1), respectively. These results indicate that delaying planting beyond mid-June is detrimental to guar productivity. However, genotypes did not show any significant variation in their performance. Overall, warmer growing conditions and more precipitation under mid-June planting caused better growth and yield formation of guar genotypes.