and Reule, 1994; Norwood, 2000; Peterson et al., 1993; Schlegel et al., 2002). No-till (NT) production systems, especially winter wheat (Triticum Dhuyvetter et al. (1996) reported that the more intenaestivum L.)–summer crop–fallow, have increased in the central Great sive cropping systems had higher profit potential than Plains, but few N fertility studies have been conducted with these systems...

the winter, chemically terminated in the spring, and then corn is planted into the surface residue. Corn is typically The benefits of winter legumes as cover crops for corn (Zea mays planted early in the growing season, which forces an L.) are diminished by the earliness of corn planting in relation to early termination date. A termination date at least 14 d biomass and N production by the legu...

Unraveling the complexity underpinning nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) can be physiologically approached via examining grain N sources and N internal efficiency (NIE) (yield to plant N content ratio). The main objective of this original research paper is to document and understand sorghum NUE and physiological mechanisms related to grain N dynamics. The study of different grain N sources, her...

The perennial grass species that are being developed as biomass feedstock crops harbor extensive genotypic diversity, but the effects of this diversity on biomass production are not well understood. We investigated the effects of genotypic diversity in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) on perennial biomass cropping systems in two experiments conducted over 20...

i Summary/Zusammenfassung ii Summary Evaluation of dual purpose cowpea varieties for dry season feeding of ruminant animals Cowpea is of major importance to the livelihoods of millions of people in the tropics. Resource-poor smallholder farmers derive food, animal feed, cash and manure from the crop. Dual purpose cowpea has the potential to function as a key integrating factor in intensifying s...

The rice (Oryza sativa) dwarf mutant d61 phenotype is caused by loss of function of a rice BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 ortholog, OsBRI1. We have identified nine d61 alleles, the weakest of which, d61-7, confers agronomically important traits such as semidwarf stature and erect leaves. Because erect-leaf habit is considered to increase light capture for photosynthesis, we compared the biomass a...

The irrational use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer has become a major threat to soil quality and food security, resulting in serious ecological environmental problems. Holistic approaches N application are required maintain high utilization efficiency (NUE) sustainable agriculture development. Biochar is an efficient carbon-rich material for amending promoting crop uptake, but knowledge pertaining t...