Intimate relationships exist between form and function of plants, determining many processes governing their growth and development. However, in most crop simulation models that have been created to simulate plant growth and, for example, predict biomass production, plant structure has been neglected. In this study, a detailed simulation model of growth and development of spring wheat (Triticum...

Current agriculture is based on external fertilizers that jeopardize soil fertility. Alternative fertilization systems might come from the use of soil-borne bacteria with plant growth enhancing ability. Here, six bacterial strains that produce varying concentrations of indole acetic acid (IAA) were tested individually and in consortia for plant growth promotion and fitness-related traits of Cic...

In a runoff irrigation system using levelled basins, the water uptake patterns of different plant species (Acacia saligna (Labill.) H. L. Wend. and Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) with contrasting root and shoot development were compared. Rainfall amounts during 1995 led to enough runoff water for realizing two cropping cycles. The amount of irrigation water was sufficient to fill the moisture-de...

It is assumed that salinity enhances the concentration of valuable metabolites in halophytes. The objective was to find a salt concentration and a point in time at which the yield for the valuable metabolites was maximal. Therefore, three different halophyte species were grown under different salinities and harvested over a period from shortly after stress induction up to three weeks. Various r...

Background Image-based high-throughput phenotyping technologies have been rapidly developed in plant science recently and they provide a great potential to gain more valuable information than traditionally destructive methods. Predicting plant biomass is regarded as a key purpose for plant breeders and ecologist. However, it is a great challenge to find a predictive biomass model across experim...

Current studies elucidate the metal stress attenuation potential of melatonin in Cucumis sativus seedlings growing in cadmium contaminated conditions. Melatonin is an indoleamine molecule, capable of ameliorating environmental stresses and regulate plant growth. Seeds of C. sativus were immersed in different levels of melatonin and grown under cadmium stress for 15 days. Cadmi...

We consider an integrated biomass logistic and energy production problem that arises in long term planning for scenario analysis in the energy sector. It encompasses two decision stages in a national system: one on the purchase of biomass from suppliers and one on the specific production of electricity and heat of each power plant. The rising interest of citizens in environmental issues and the...

We compared the effect of herbivory by two congeneric specialist weevils (Neochetina eichhorniae and Neochetina bruchi) on competition between their host Eichhornia crassipes and another floating aquatic plant (Pistia stratiotes) by experimentally manipulating plant densities, presence of either or both herbivore species, and nutrient levels. Measurements of E. crassipes yield per original plan...

Livestock grazing practices in rangelands are being recognized as management tool for environmental protection and increased livestock productivity. Continuous grazing has been largely reported to reduce pasture productivity and increase environmental degradation. Rotational grazing is an alternative to continuous grazing and is considered to reduce negative environmental effects and provide qu...