The use of some novel and efficient crop nutrient-based superabsorbent hydrogel nanocomposites (SHNCs), is currently becoming increasingly important to improve the crop yield and productivity, due to their water retention properties. In the present study a poly(Acrylamide-co-acrylic acid)/AlZnFe2O4 superabsorbent hydrogel nanocomposite was synthesized and its physical properties characterized u...

While increasing temperatures and altered soil moisture arising from climate change in the next 50 years are projected to decrease yield of food crops, elevated CO2 concentration ([CO2]) is predicted to enhance yield and offset these detrimental factors. However, C4 photosynthesis is usually saturated at current [CO2] and theoretically should not be stimulated under elevated [CO2]. Nevertheless...

Research Article Stability analysis for grain yield and yield components in chick pea (Cicer arietinum l.) Abstract: Twenty one advanced breeding lines selected from All India Coordinated trials and one local popular variety " annegiri' were studied over three years to identify high yielding stable genotypes. Genotype , environment and G x E interaction variance found to be significant. Genotyp...

Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] and finger millet [Eleusine coracana Gaertn] are staple cereal crops in Africa and Asia with several desirable agronomic and nutritional properties. Tef is becoming a life-style crop as it is gluten-free while finger millet has a low glycemic index which makes it an ideal food for diabetic patients. However, both tef and finger millet have extremely low grai...

The relationship between topography, land use, and topsoil moisture storage is investigated for a small catchment with undulating deep loess hilslopes in the south of the Netherlands. For a period of 10 months, soil moisture profiles have been measured weekly at 15 locations throughout the catchment. A Generalized Additive Model was employed to find relationships between the various factors inf...

The earth is rapidly changing through processes such as rising [CO2], [O3], and increased food demand. By 2050 the projected atmospheric [CO2] and ground level [O3] will be 50% and 20% higher than today. To meet future agricultural demand, amplified by an increasing population and economic progress in developing countries, crop yields will have to increase by at least 50% by the middle of the c...

The widespread use of glyphosate-resistant (GR) cropping systems may impact rhizosphere microbial associations and crop productivity. It was previously reported that glyphosate accumulation in the rhizosphere may stimulate colonization of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] roots by soilborne Fusarium. Field studies often reveal inconsistent root colonization by Fusarium, especially during growing...

687 Edgar Buckingham became involved with soil physics for 5 yr at the turn of the twentieth century. His general goal was to advance understanding of moisture movement and evaporation from soils to improve irrigation and crop management. Specifi cally, he was interested in elucidating why evaporation from near the soil surface in arid areas during summer months was self-limiting (Buckingham, 1...

This work aims to estimate soil moisture and vegetation characteristics from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) data using direct and reflected signals by the land surface surrounding a ground-based antenna. Observations are collected over a rainfed wheat field in southwestern France. The retrievals are compared with two independent reference datasets: in situ...

A hydroclimatology, or description of long-term means and interannual variation, that focuses on soil moisture deficits was constructed for the period of 1895–1998 for a six-state region composing the Ohio Valley. The term ‘‘deficit’’ is considered from an agricultural point of view whereby moisture-induced crop stress is a combination of insufficient precipitation and soil moisture. Of particu...