This study compares saturated hydraulic conductivities (Ks) of three sandy soils such as coarse, medium and fine sand. The Ks was obtained using three different methods: empirical methods based on the grain size analysis, the relative effective porosity model (REPM), and breakthrough curve analyses based on tracer tests. Column drainage tests were performed to characterize the water retention p...

Shortage of water resources is a major limiting factor for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the North China Plain. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of supplemental irrigation (SI) on water use characteristics and grain yield of the wheat cultivars ‘Jimai 22’and ‘Zhouyuan 9369’. Two supplemental irrigation treatment regimens were designed based on target relati...

Increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) and associated soil warming along with global climate change are expected to have large impacts on grain mineral nutrition in wheat. The effects of CO2 elevation (700 μmol l(-1)) and soil warming (+2.4 °C) on K, Ca and Mg concentrations in the xylem sap and their partitioning in different organs of wheat plant during grain filling were investiga...

NT will reduce soybean grain yields and economic returns, particularly during the first few years of adoption. Farmers have been encouraged to adopt no-tillage (NT) because Soybean grain yield response to NT systems depends of its positive environmental effects compared with other conservation tillage systems. Nevertheless, poor crop performance under NT manmainly upon soil drainage and previou...

The spread of vegetable production around Lhasa, Tibet, China, with high nitrogen fertiliser use may cause accelerated acidification which has consequences for soil productivity. In order to understand the different patterns of soil acidity in Lhasa, Tibet, China three patterns of land use were studied namely: grain, openfield vegetable, and greenhouse vegetable. Fertilizer application was high...

This study tested the hypothesis that the interaction between polyamines and ethylene may mediate the effects of soil drying on grain filling of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Two rice cultivars were pot grown. Three treatments, well-watered, moderate soil drying (MD), and severe soil drying (SD), were imposed from 8 d post-anthesis until maturity. The endosperm cell division rate, grain-filling rate,...

The adsorption, desorption, degradation, and mineralization of C-glyphosate [-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] were examined in Catlin (a fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Oxyaquic Argiudoll), Flanagan (a fine, smectitic, mesic Aquic Argiudoll), and Drummer (a fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Endoaquoll) soils under oxic and anoxic soil conditions. With the exception of the Drummer soil...

Effective microorganisms (EM), a culture of coexisting beneficial microorganisms predominantly consisting of species of photosynthetic and lactic acid bacteria, yeast and actinomycetes, has been developed by Japanese Scientists. In the present study effect of soil sterilization on performance of a commercial EM biofertilizer (EM Bioab), in improving crop growth and yield in wheat (Triticum aest...