changes in the 1980s. Droughts and water regulations required increased use of lowvolume irrigation, severe freezes promoted the use of fabric covers for cold protection, and governmental immigration reform necessitated re-evaluation of personnel resources. Production practices were required that used smaller quantities of fertilizer and pesticides. Additional restrictions limited the disposal ...

Interactions between plants and insect herbivores are important determinants of plant productivity in managed and natural vegetation. In response to attack, plants have evolved a range of defenses to reduce the threat of injury and loss of productivity. Crop losses from damage caused by arthropod pests can exceed 15% annually. Crop domestication and selection for improved yield and quality can ...

Research on barley as an animal feed started some decades ago but its utilization in animal production has been limited to countries that grow the crop extensively. Corn has been the most popular energy feed in cattle rations, but the high price of corn and the decreased supply of the grain in the international market have shifted the focus of the animal industry to other cereal crops like barl...

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the oldest oilseed crops widely grown in Africa and Asia for its high-quality nutritional seeds. It is well adapted to harsh environments and constitutes an alternative cash crop for smallholders in developing countries. Despite its economic and nutritional importance, sesame is considered as an orphan crop because it has received very little attention from...

Selenium (Se) at very low doses has crucial functions in humans and animals. Since plants represent the main dietary source of this element, Se-containing crops may be used as a means to deliver Se to consumers (biofortification). Several strategies have been exploited to increase plant Se content. Selenium assimilation in plants affects both sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) metabolic pathways, whic...

Consistent use of high RSC water may deteriorate the physical properties of soil and increases pH and SAR of soil. Continuous use may reduce germination / the establishment of seedling, retards plant growth and leads to a significant reduction in yield. Therefore, a field experiment in microplots was displayed at research plot in St. John’s College, Agra to study the effect of sodic water on th...

The objective of the study is to explore the scope for water productivity enhancement in irrigated agriculture in India through: i] water control; ii] optimizing nutrient input to crop; iii] improving the quality and reliability of irrigation water; and, iv] growing crops in regions where climate is favourable. The study is based on data from three important river basins in India, viz., Indus, ...

Nine cultivars of winter wheat were compared in organic and conventional crop rotation systems. Bread-making quality was evaluated using three parameters [thousand-kernel weight (TKW) in g, volume weight in g/l, protein content in %]. Grain yield, TKW and protein content of winter wheat in organic cropping system were significantly lower as compared to any intensity in conventional cropping sys...

Pollination improves the yield of most crop species and contributes to one-third of global crop production, but comprehensive benefits including crop quality are still unknown. Hence, pollination is underestimated by international policies, which is particularly alarming in times of agricultural intensification and diminishing pollination services. In this study, exclusion experiments with stra...

Quantifying crop residue cover on the soil surface is important for improving estimates of surface energy balance, net primary productivity, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. Quantifying crop residue cover is also an important factor in controlling soil erosion and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation tillage practices. By reducing the movement of eroded soil into streams and ...