Research Progress on Detection Techniques of Fungicide Residues in Chinese Chives

Chinese chive is a kind of medicinal and edible plant,with many diseases,and chemical fungicides are usually used for control.In order to find out the risk of pesticide residues in Chinese chives,this paper summarized relevant literatures published in recent years,and sorted out and analyzed the types of pesticides used and detection techniques of common diseases in Chinese chives.

Genetic Variability, Heritability and Correlation of Some Morphological and Yield Components Traits in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Collections

The study was conducted with the main objective to evaluate the genetic variability, heritability, and clustering pattern exploration of morphological and yield related traits in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) collections in the bimodal rainfall agroecological zone of Cameroon using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The data obtained on morphological and yield traits were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the viability rate of the collections varied from 77.78% to 96.55% respectively for the Maffo and Desiree collections, while the greatest number of tubers per plant varied from 4 to 18 respectively for Synergie and Desiree. The emergence rate varies from 60% to 1.66% respectively for Maffo et Doza collections. However, Desiree presents the highest TL (96.55) while Maffo shows the lowest value (77.78%). The yield per hectare varied from 1.14 to 9.3 t/h for Maffo and Doza respectively. For all the characteristics observed, Phenotypic Coefficients of Variation (PCV) were higher than Genotypic Coefficients of Variation (GCV) suggesting the role of environment in the expression of traits under observation. The highest GCV and PCV 47.55 and 58.94 respectively were observed for Diameter at the collar (DC). Most of the traits showed high GAM (>20%)) except Average Tuber Length (ATL) with a moderate value (19.8). In terms of vegetative development, the Desiree variety showed the highest performance. Based on the growth and yield results, Doza seems to be the most recommendable crop in the study area.

Amelioration of Salt Stress in Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) by Supplying Potassium and Silicon in Hydroponics

A hydroponics experiment was conducted to evaluate the role of potassium (K) and silicon (Si) in mitigating the deleterious effects of NaCl on sugarcane genotypes differing in salt tolerance.Two salt-sensitive (CPF 243 and SPF 213) and two salt-tolerant (HSF 240 and CP 77-400) sugarcane genotypes were grown for six weeks in 1/2 strength Johnson's nutrient solution.The nutrient solution was salinized by two NaCl levels (0 and 100 mmol L 1 NaCl) and supplied with two levels of K (0 and 3 mmol L 1) and Si (0 and 2 mmol L 1).Applied NaCl enhanced Na + concentration in plant tissues and significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced shoot and root dry matter in four sugarcane genotypes.However,the magnitude of reduction was much greater in salt-sensitive genotypes than salt-tolerant genotypes.The salts interfered with the absorption of K + and Ca 2+ and significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased their uptake in sugarcane genotypes.Addition of K and Si either alone or in combination significantly (P ≤ 0.05) inhibited the uptake and transport of Na + from roots to shoots and improved dry matter yields under NaCl conditions.Potassium uptake,K + /Na + ratios,and Ca 2+ and Si uptake were also significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased by the addition of K and/or Si to the root medium.In this study,K and Si-enhanced salt tolerance in sugarcane genotypes was ascribed to decreased Na + concentration and increased K + with a resultant improvement in K + /Na + ratio,which is a good indicator to assess plant tolerance to salt stress.However,further verification of these results is warranted under field conditions.

Nature of Soil Acidity in Relation to Properties and Lime Requirement of Some Inceptisols

Some Inceptisols representing the Singla catchment area in Karimgaunge district of Assam, India, were studied for lime requirement as influenced by the nature of soil acidity. The electrostatically bonded (EB)-H+ and EB-Al3+ acidities constituted 33 and 67 percent of exchangeable acidity while EB-H+, EB-Al3+,exchangeable and pH-dependent acidities comprised 6, 14, 20 and 80 percent of total potential acidity. The pH-dependent acidity made a major contribution towards the total potential acidity (67%～84%). Grand mean of lime requirement determined by the laboratory incubation method and estimated by the methods of New Woodruff, Woodruff and Peech as expressed in MgCaCO3 ha-1 was in the order: Woodruff (15.6) ＞ New Woodruff (14.9) ＞ Peech (5.1) ＞ incubation (5.0). Correlations analysis among different forms of acidity and lime requirement methods with selected soil properties showed that pH in three media, namely water, 1 mol L-1 KCl and 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl2, had a significant negative correlation with different forms of acidity and lime requirement methods. Exchangeable Fe and Al showed significant positive correlations with EB-Al3+ acidity, exchangeable acidity, pH-dependent acidity and total potential acidity, and also lime requirement methods. Extractable Al showed positive correlations with different forms of acidity except EB-H+ and EB-Al3+ acidities. The lime requirement by different methods depended upon the extractable aluminium.Significant positive correlations existed between lime requirements and different forms of acidity of the soils except EB-H+ acidity and incubation method. The nature of soil acidity was mostly pH-dependent. Statistically, the Woodruff method did slightly better than the New Woodruff, incubation and Peech methods at estimating lime requirement and hence the Woodruff procedure may be recommended for routine soil testing because of its speed and simplicity.

Boron Application Improves Growth,Yield and Net Economic Return of Rice

A field trial was conducted to evaluate the role of boron （B） application at different growth stages in improving the growth,yield and net economic return of rice at farmer＇s fields during summer season,2009.Boron was soil applied （1.5 kg/hm2） at the transplanting,tillering,flowering and grain formation stages of rice;foliar applied （1.5% B solution） at the tillering,flowering and grain formation stages of rice,and dipped seedling roots in 1.5% B solution before transplanting;while control plots did not apply any B.Boron application （except dipping of seedling roots in B solution,which caused toxicity and reduced the number of tillers and straw yield than control） substantially improved the rice growth and yield.However,soil application was better in improving the number of grains per panicle,1000-grain weight,grain yield,harvest index,net economic income and ratio of benefit to cost compared with the rest of treatments.Overall,for improving rice performance and maximizing the net economic returns,B might be applied as soil application at flowering.

Micromorphological Evidences of Climatic Change in Yazd Region,Iran

The fact of, present is the key of the past, will help us to use paleosols properties as indicators of the ecological characteristics of past time, particularly the paleoclimate. In this respect the micromorphological properties showed to be a very good indicator. Therefore, for investigating of climate change in Ardakan-Yazd plain, Central Iran 9 pedons were digged and described. Yazd has an arid climate with less than 100 mm annual precipitation and more than 22°C mean annual temperature (Aridic-hyper thermic soil moisture and temperature regions, respectively). Based on the morphological and physicochemical analysis Arglic, Calcic and Gypsic diagnostic horizons have been distinguished in these soils. Thin section studied showed that the illuviated form of clay includes, infillings on channel, coating on pendant, on nodules and on grains, at lower depths and also juxtaposed calcite needles on void argillan at upper part of the profiles. Mineralogical result showed fine clay in arglic horizon, too. Considering depth and forms of these pedofeatures, we concluded that, the observed illuviated clays at lower depth must be the result of the more humid climate of the past, where the carbonates have been removed completely as pendant, nodules or coating to considerable depth, following processes, clay has been dispersed and also trans located to these depths. In contrast to these features, the juxtaposed needle calcite at the shallower depth is probably the result of drier climate of today.

Influence of Zinc Nutrition on Growth and Yield Behaviour of Maize (<i>Zea mays</i>L.) Hybrids

A field experiment was conducted during spring 2011 at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan to evaluate the comparative efficacy of Zn uptake and grain yield in three maize hybrids namely Pioneer-32F 10, Monsanto-6525 and Hycorn-8288 through the application of Zn in the form of ZnSO4. The ZnSO4 treatments comprised;soil application at the time of sowing @ 12 kg&middotha-1 (Zn1), foliar application at vegetative stage (9 leaf stage) @ 1% ZnSO4 solution (Zn2) and foliar application at reproductive stage (anthesis) @ 1% ZnSO4 solution (Zn3) and one treatment was kept as a control, where zinc was not applied (Zn0). The experimental results showed substantial difference in all physiological and yield parameters except plant height and stem diameter. Statistically maximum grain yield (8.76 t&middotha-1) was obtained with foliar spray of ZnSO4 at 9 leaf stage (Zn2) in case of Monsanto-6525. As regard to quality parameters, Pioneer-32F 10 and Hycorn-8288 accumulated more zinc contents in grains but Monsanto-6525 attained more zinc concentration in straw. Foliar spray of ZnSO4 at 9 leaf stage produced 19.42% more zinc contents in grains as compared to other ZnSO4 treatments. Foliar spray of ZnSO4 at 9 leaf stage in Monsanto-6525 hybrid produced higher grain yield.

Cloning and Characterization of a Tyrosine Aminotransferase( TAT)Gene in Gerbera hybrida

In our previous study,a gene predicted to encode a Tyrosine aminotransferase( TAT) was found to be significantly up-regulated in root rot diseased Gerbera by transcriptome sequencing. To confirm the genes and investigate the function,we cloned the gene by RT-PCR and then conduct bioinformatic analyses. In this study,a 1 537 bp long c DNA sequence of this gene( named as Gh TAT) was firstly cloned,which contained a coding region of 1 233 bp,which was predicted to encode a protein of 410 amino acids. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the Gh TAT was a stable hydrophobic protein without signal peptide. Subcellular location prediction result indicated that this protein located in chloroplast,which is the biosynthesis position of tyrosine and the derived products of tyrosine biosynthesis pathway. Moreover,typical Tyrosine aminotransferase domain was found in this protein,indicating that it is a TAT. According to the TAT-based phylogenetic analysis and similarity analysis,the closest relationship and highest similarity was found between Gh TAT and Halianthus annuus TAT,which again verified the TAT property of Gh TAT. Tyrosine aminotransferase( TAT) is the first enzyme in tyrosine biosynthesis pathway,whose products include many antioxidant substances such as tocopherols and tocotrienols. The up-regulation of Gh TAT in root rot diseased gerbera suggests that it may play an important role in response to the root rot pathogen infection. In addition,60 phosphorylation sites( accounting for 14. 6%) were found in this protein,suggesting that the expression of this protein and its encoding gene were greatly influenced by the phosphorylation reactions.

An insight into dwarfing mechanism:contribution of scion-rootstock interactions toward fruit crop improvement

Grafting has been commonly practiced for many centuries in the cultivation of horticultural crops.The use of dwarfing rootstocks has enabled a high-density plantation to produce maximum yield.Rootstock regulates scion phenotype,including precocity,fruit size,yield,quality characteristics,and tolerance to various environmental stresses.This review summarizes the existing information on the influence of rootstocks on scion growth and dwarfing mechanisms induced by multiple factors,including hormone signaling,photosynthesis,mineral transport,water relations,anatomical characteristics,and genetic markers.It has been shown that the complex interactions between scion and rootstock can regulate plant development and its structure.This information will provide interesting insights for future research related to rootstock-mediated dwarfing mechanisms and accelerate the breeding progress of dwarfing rootstocks.

Cervical dilation and improvement of reproductive performance in fat-tailed ewes via cervical dilator treatments

Objective:To determine the effect of different cervical dilators on cervical dilation and reproductive performance of fat-tailed ewes.Methods: In experiment 1140 ewes were divided into seven groups with seven different treatments as following: 10 mL normal saline (control group), 100 IU oxytocin (OT group), 100 μg estradiol and 100 IU oxytocin (E2+OT group), 5 mL relaxin (R group), 2 mL sensiblex (SEN group), 200 μg misoprostol (MIS group) or 200 μg dinoprostone (DIN group). In experiment 2, artificial insemination was applied for evaluation of reproductive performance in experimental groups.Results: In experiment 1, the highest cervical dilation was observed in OT (90%) and E2+OT (100%) groups (P<0.05), while no significant differences was found among DIN, MIS, SEN and R groups (80%, 75%, 70% and 65%, respectively). In addition, the lowest cervical dilation was observed in control group. Experiment 2 found no significant differences among control, OT and E2+OT groups. The highest pregnancy rate, parturition rate and lambing rate were observed in OT groups (60%, 60% and 70%, respectively) and E2+OT groups (65%, 60% and 70%, respectively) compared to SEN, R, MIS and DIN groups (P<0.05).Conclusions:Oxytocin treatment alone or with estradiol could be used as a suitable dilator for improving reproductive efficiency during artificial insemination in fat-tailed ewes.

Evaluation of the Strategic Factors of the Management of Protected Areas Using SWOT Analysis—Case Study: Bashgol Protected Area-Qazvin Province

The majority of Iranian protected areas are being affected by human activities. Such areas demand continuous monitoring into account due to quality loss problem. This study identifies the weaknesses and strengths as well as opportunities and threats of Bashgol protected area and analyzes them using SWOT matrix in order to provide an efficient managerial strategy. Following the identification of factors, experts’ opinion was collected using questionnaire. Then, the factors were scored based on IFE (Internal Factors Evaluation) and EFE (External Factors Evaluation) tables and were weighted using AHP and EXPERT CHOICE. Totally, 16 strengths and opportunities were determined as the advantages of this area and 22 weaknesses and threats were identified as the limitations and straits. The final scores of IFE and EFE were 2.468 and 2.261, respectively and both are below 2.5 indicating that the area is in defensive state. According to quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM), “attracting required credits for the completely implementation of the comprehensive management plan of the area” was determined as the most important strategy (score = 6.365).

OILCROP-SUN Model for Nitrogen Management of Diverse Sunflower (<i>Helianthus annus</i>L.) Hybrids Production under Agro-Climatic Conditions of Sargodha, Pakistan

Decision support system for agro-technology transfer (DSSAT), OIL CROP-SUN Model was used to stimulate the phenology, growth, yield of different two sunflower hybrids. i.e. Hysun-33 and S-78 by applying different nitrogen levels. The effect of nitrogen (N) on growth and yield components of different sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids were evaluated under agro-climatic conditions of Sargodha, Pakistan during spring 2013. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement having three replications, keeping cultivars in the main plots and nitrogen levels (0, 45, 90,135 and 180 kg/ha) in sub plots. OIL CROP-SUN Model showed that the model was able to simulate the growth and yield of sunflower with an average of 10.44 error% between observed and simulate achene yield (AY). The result of simulation indicates that nitrogen rate of 180 kg/ha produced highest achene yield in S-78 hybrid as compared to other treatments and Hysun-33 cultivar.

An Empirical Approach to Get the Vitality of a Genotype to Water Stress Tolerance in Yield and Yield Contributing Traits

Conventional methods of plant breeding and agronomic practices remained a successful tool to maintain the pace of food production for centuries but due to changing climatic conditions and the challenges of 21st century like population growth, pollution, declining biodiversity and food security have shaken the previous policies. This situation compelled the agriculturist towards the judicious management of natural resources to combat the poverty, disasters and increased food demands. The present study was initiated to check wheat varieties in two water provision conditions. The results revealed that environmental stresses played negative role by minimizing the yield and yield contributing traits. However the severity of water stress was depleted by some promising genotypes by showing minimum hazard effects and by having capability to contribute to conserving biodiversity, ensuring sustainability, combating food insecurity and increasing economic benefits. The minimum effect of moisture stress on grain yield was shown by genotypes C-518 (12.97%) while the genotype Shakar, Pari-73 and Uqab-2000 showed maximum decline percentage. The global warming and population explosion will further induce commodity shortage and law and order situation in the world. The prevailing International tension can be cooled down by the provision of marshal aids by the developed countries to the effected or threatened countries.

Chemical Control of Monocot Weeds in Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>L.)

Due to similar growth pattern and morphology, monocot weeds offer more severe competition with wheat. A field experiment was conducted to screen herbicides most suitable for the control of monocot weeds in wheat. Seven herbicides viz., Puma super 69EW @ 862.5 g a.i. ha-1, Bristle 69 EW @ 1250 ml, Topik 15WP @ 37.05 g a.i. ha-1, Safener15WP @ 247g, Certain 80WD @ 395.2 g and Tremor 24EC @ 247 ml/ha were used. Weedy check where no weed control was practiced was kept as control. All herbicides were sprayed as post-emergence with second irrigation 38 days after crop sowing. The best weed control was accomplished by Safener 15WP 247 g ha-1 as significantly lower weed counts per m2 (11.0) and higher percent weed control (73.4%) were noted after 21 days of its spray. Wheat growth parameters like plant height, number of tillers per m2, spike length and number of spikelets per spike remained statistically at par among various treatments. Significantly higher number of grains per spike (55.67) and 1000 grain weight (36 g) were noted with Puma Super 69EW @ 1250 ml ha-1 and Certain 80WD 395.2 g ha-1, respectively. Although treatments did not differ significantly with respect to wheat grain and biological yields, yet the highest grain yield (3708.3 kg ha-1) and biological yield (10208.3 kg ha-1) were produced by Puma Super 69EW @ 1250 ml ha-1. Based on better weed control and wheat yield, Safener 15WP @ 395.2 ml ha-1 and Puma Super 69EW @ 1250 ml ha-1 were proved to be better in areas where wheat fields are predominantly infested by monocot weeds. Puma super, Bristle Tremore, Safener and Certain were found effective against Avena fatua and Polypogon monspelliensis, less effective against Phalaris minor and ineffective against Poaannua grass.

Differential Growth and Development Response of Sunflower Hybrid in Contrasting Irrigation Regimes

Water is the most important factor limiting crop productivity at different growth stages of crop growth and development. The study was conducted to investigate the effect of irrigation scheduling on sunflower hybrid (Hysun-38) at vegetative versus reproductive stages during spring season 2010. The trial was laid out in randomized complete block design (factorial arrangement), replicated thrice, having net plot size of 3.5 m × 9 m. The treatments comprised of irrigation application of 75 mm each, at different growth and development stages. viz., I1 = irrigation at plant establishment, I2 = irrigation at plant establishment and irrigation at vegetative phase, I3 = irrigation at plant establishment, irrigation at button stage and irrigation at flowering, and I4 = irrigation at plant establishment, irrigation at vegetative phase, irrigation at button stage and irrigation at achene’s formation. Days taken to 50% flowering was highest in I2, where irrigation was applied at plant establishment and vegetative phase, and in I4 treatment , where irrigation was given at seedling establishment, irrigation at vegetative phase, irrigation at button stage and irrigation at achene’s formation. Leaf area index at different growth intervals was significantly affected by irrigation levels. Crop growth rate was highest for treatment I4. Plant height (PH), stem girth (SG) head diameter (HD), 1000-achene’s weight (AW) and achene’s yield (AY) were significantly affected by different irrigation levels at various growth stages. Maximum AY (2415.68 kg·ha-1) was obtained in I4 treatment while, minimum AY (1275.35 kg·ha-1) was obtained in case of those plots which were irrigated only at plant establishment stage. Sunflower productivity was affected with irrigation regime at different growth stages with the strongest responses seen at early growth stages which ultimately affected the final achene yield adversely.

OILCROP-SUN Model Relevance for Evaluation of Nitrogen Management of Sunflower Hybrids in Sargodha, Punjab

The experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of crop system (DSSAT) OILCROP-SUN model simulating growth & development and achene yield of sunflower hybrids in response to nitrogen under irrigated conditions in semi arid environment, Sargodha, Punjab. The model was evaluated with observed data collected in trials which were conducted during spring season in 2010 and 2011 in Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan. Split plot design was used in layout of experiment with three replications. The hybrids (Hysun-33 & S-278) and N levels (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg.ha-1) were allotted in main and sub plots, respectively. The OILCROP-SUN model showed that the model was able to simulate growth and yield of sunflower with an average of 10.44 error% between observed and simulated achene yield (AY). The results of simulation analysis indicated that nitrogen rate of 150 kg.N.ha-1 (N3) produced the highest yield as compared to other treatments. Furthermore, the economic analysis through mean Gini Dominance also showed the dominance of this treatment compared to other treatment combinations. Thus management strategy consisting?of treatment 150 kg.N.ha-1 was the best for high yield of sunflower hybrids.

Potential of Plant Growth Regulators on Modulating Rooting of <i>Rosa centifolia</i>

Rosa centifolia is grown for its flowers which are used for essential oil extraction. It is vegetatively propagated through its cuttings which are difficult to root. This study was designed to increase the rooting percentage of cuttings by applying plant growth regulators (PGRs) with different levels. In total 31 treatments with different concentrations (450 ppm, 700 ppm and 950 ppm) of indole butyric acid (IBA), indole acetic acid (IAA), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) alone, in combination and with same concentrations of 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) were used. Healthy similar sized cutting of R. centifolia was treated in solution of PGRs by quick dip method and planted in polythene bags. The data for shoot length, shoot dry weight, number of roots, root length and root dry weight were recorded. All three levels (450 ppm, 700 ppm and 950 ppm) of IBA alone produced maximum results in case of all parameters as compared to all other treatments. Among three levels of IBA, 450 ppm concentration produced maximum shoot length (10.67 cm), shoot dry weight (3.02 g), number of roots (14.00), root length (11.90 cm) and root dry weight (0.50 g). Lower concentrations of plant growth regulators produced better results as compared to higher concentrations.

Determination and inheritance of phytic acid as marker in diverse genetic group of bread wheat

Phytic acid (Myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6 hexa-kisphophate) is a storage form of phosphorus and can accumulate to the levels as high as 35% in the wheat kernel. Phytic acid acts as an inhibitor for macronutrients as well as micronutrients and located in the bran of wheat kernel. Due to its inhibitory role, a high concentration of phytic acid is undesirable as it hinders the bio-availability of some essential nutrients such as Fe, Mg, Ca, Zn and Cu, etc. In order to check the inheritance of phytic acid in wheat kernels, phytic acid concentration was initially determined in kernels of 10 wheat genotypes to identify two contrasting genetic groups for diallel analysis. Based on pre-screening results of 10 wheat genotypes, five wheat genotypes (3 with high and 2 with low phytic acid concentration) were crossed in all possible combinations during 2007-2008 by 5 × 5 full diallel mating fashion to insight the inheritance of phytic acid and other yield contributing traits. All 20 F1 hybrids and five parental genotypes revealed significant differences statistically, except plant maturity. The narrow and broad sense heritability estimates varied widely among traits for spike length (0.17, 0.62), spikelets spike-1 (0.35, 0.74), tillers plant-1 (0.05, 0.52) and phytic acid concentration (0.01, 0.86). The values for phytic acid concentration ranged from 0.56% to 3.43% among F1 hybrids and 1.06 to 3.67% for parental genotypes. F1 hybrids, Ps-2005 × Ghaznavi (0.56%), AUP-4006 × Ps-2004 (0.74%), Janbaz × Ps-2004 (0.89%) and Janbaz × Ps-2005 (1.01%), had the lowest concentration of phytic acid. The study concluded that F1 hybrids with low phytic acid concentration could yield desirable segregants.

Growth and Economic Assessment of Wheat under Tillage and Nitrogen Levels in Rice-Wheat System

Mechanically post-harvest puddled rice field has stubbles that often delay timely planting of winter wheat crop. Zero tillage increased the net return by decreasing the unwise tillage operations and labor charges. Keep in view, a randomized complete block design experiment in a split plot arrangement was conducted with four tillage system [conventional tillage, CT;deep tillage, DT;zero tillage with zone disc tiller, ZDT;and happy seeder, HS] in main plots and five nitrogen levels [0, 75, 100, 125, and 150 kg&middot;ha-1] in subplots during 2009 to 2010 and 2010 to 2011 cropping seasons. Results showed that in 2009-10 and 2010-11 grain yield (4.6 Mg&middot;ha-1 and 5.7 Mg&middot;ha-1) in DT and (4.5 Mg&middot;ha-1 and 5.8 Mg&middot;ha-1) in HS were significantly higher compared with CT and ZDT. Significantly, maximum leaf area index (5.18 and 5.24) and crop growth rate (12.14 g&middot;m-2&middot;d-1 and 13.15 g&middot;m-2&middot;d-1) were noted in DT. Grain protein (11.78%) was significantly higher in DT compared with CT, ZDT, and HS during 2009-10 and 2010-11. Total yield (12.4 Mg&middot;ha-1 and 16.4 Mg&middot;ha-1) and grain yield (4.9 Mg&middot;ha-1 and 6.5 Mg&middot;ha-1) at N125 kg&middot;ha-1 while grain protein (13.52%) at N150 kg&middot;ha-1 was significantly higher than other nitrogen levels. Maximum LAI (5.08 and 5.51) and crop growth rate (14.68 g m-2&middot;d-1 and 15.77 g<span style='font-family:Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;white-space:normal;