Influence of planting dates and fertilizer modules on yield of chrysanthemum and soil health.

BACKGROUND: Optimum planting date and appropriate fertilizer module are essential facets of chrysanthemum cultivation, to enhance quality yield, and improve soil health. A field-based study was undertaken over multiple growing seasons in 2022 and 2023, where six different planting dates, viz., P1:June 15, P2:June 30, P3:July 15, P4:July 30, P5:August 15 and P6:August 30 and two fertilizer modules, FM1:Jeevamrit @ 30 ml plant-1 and FM2:NPK @ 30 g m-2 were systematically examined using a Randomized Block Design (factorial), replicated thrice. RESULTS: P6 planting resulted in early bud formation (44.03 days) and harvesting stage (90.78 days). Maximum plant height (79.44 cm), plant spread (34.04 cm), cut stem length (68.40 cm), flower diameter (7.83 cm), stem strength (19.38˚), vase life (14.90 days), flowering duration (24.08 days), available soil N (314 kg ha-1), available P (37 kg ha-1), available K (347 kg ha-1), bacterial count (124.87 × 107 cfu g-1 soil), actinomycetes count (60.72 × 102 cfu g-1 soil), fungal count (30.95 × 102 cfu g-1 soil), microbial biomass (48.79 µg g-1 soil), dehydrogenase enzyme (3.64 mg TPF h-1 g-1 soil) and phosphatase enzyme (23.79 mol PNP h-1 g-1 soil) was recorded in P1 planting. Among the fertilization module, minimum days to bud formation (74.94 days) and days to reach the harvesting stage (120.95 days) were recorded with the application of NPK @30 g m-2. However, maximum plant height (60.62 cm), plant spread (23.10 cm), number of cut stems m-2 (43.88), cut stem length (51.34 cm), flower diameter (6.92 cm), stem strength (21.24˚), flowering duration (21.75 days), available soil N (317 kg ha-1), available P (37 kg ha-1) and available K (349 kg ha-1) were also recorded with the application of NPK @300 kg ha-1. Maximum vase life (13.87 days), OC (1.13%), bacterial count (131.65 × 107 cfu g-1 soil), actinomycetes count (60.89 × 102 cfu g-1 soil), fungal count (31.11 × 102 cfu g-1 soil), microbial biomass (51.27 µg g-1 soil), dehydrogenase enzyme (3.77 mg TPF h-1 g-1 soil) and phosphatase enzyme (21.72 mol PNP h-1 g-1 soil) were observed with the application of Jeevamrit @ 30 ml plant-1. CONCLUSION: Early planting (P1) and inorganic fertilization (NPK @ 30 g m-2) resulted in improved yield and soil macronutrient content. The soil microbial population and enzymatic activity were improved with the jeevamrit application. This approach highlights the potential for improved yield and soil health in chrysanthemum cultivation, promoting a more eco-friendly and economically viable agricultural model.

Effects of planting date, environments and their interaction on grain yield and quality traits of maize hybrids.

Maize is one of the most important staple food crops for most low-income households in the Southern African region. Erratic and inconsistent rainfall distribution across maize-growing areas is a major threat to maize production. Late rains in recent years have forced farmers to plant later than the optimal planting dates, leading to poor maize quality being reported by industry, which raised the question of the influence of later planting dates on grain yield and quality traits of maize. Three yellow and three white maize hybrids were evaluated at three planting dates in three different production environments for three consecutive seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The second and third planting dates caused a significant yield decrease of 23.37 % and 53.73 % from the first planting date across environments, respectively. Planting date three was associated with decreased grain yield, starch content, and increased protein but no significant change in fat and fiber content. Some hybrids yielded relatively well at all planting dates. In conclusion, the early planting date was the most suitable for maize grain yield and starch production in the maize-growing areas of the country. However, planting in January should be avoided at all costs, as it leads to very low yield and poor grain quality.

Increasing Air Temperatures and Its Effects on Growth and Productivity of Tomato in South Florida.

Florida ranks first among US states in fresh-market tomato production with annual production exceeding one-third of the total annual production in the country. Although tomato is a signature crop in Florida, current and future ambient temperatures could impose a major production challenge, especially during the fall growing season. This problem is increasingly becoming an important concern among tomato growers in south Florida, but studies addressing these concerns have not been conducted until now. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the impacts of the present ambient temperature conditions and planting dates on tomato productivity in south Florida. The study was conducted using crop simulation model CROPGRO-Tomato of DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agricultural Transfer) version 4.7. Five treatments were evaluated, and included AT (simulated treatment using 14 years of actual daily weather conditions at the study location) while other treatments were conducted based on a percentage (-20%, -10%, +10%, +20%) of AT to simulate cooler and warmer temperature regimes. The results suggested that under the current temperature conditions during the fall growing season in south Florida, average tomato yield was up to 29% lower compared to the cooler temperature regimes. Tomato yield further decreased by 52% to 85% at air temperatures above the current condition. Yield reduction under high temperature was primarily due to lower fruit production. Contrary to yield, both tomato biomass accumulation and leaf area index increased with increase in temperature. Results also indicated that due to changes in air temperature pattern, tomato yield increased as planting date increased from July to December. Therefore, planting date modification during the fall season from the current July-September to dates between November and December will reduce the impacts of heat stress and increase tomato productivity in south Florida.

Minimizing irrigation water demand: An evaluation of shifting planting dates in Sri Lanka.

Climate change coupled with increasing demands for water necessitates an improved understanding of the water-food nexus at a scale local enough to inform farmer adaptations. Such assessments are particularly important for nations with significant small-scale farming and high spatial variability in climate, such as Sri Lanka. By comparing historical patterns of irrigation water requirements (IWRs) to rice planting records, we estimate that shifting rice planting dates to earlier in the season could yield water savings of up to 6%. Our findings demonstrate the potential of low-cost adaptation strategies to help meet crop production demands in water-scarce environments. This local-scale assessment of IWRs in Sri Lanka highlights the value of using historical data to inform agricultural management of water resources when high-skilled forecasts are not available. Given national policies prioritizing in-country production and farmers' sensitivities to water stress, decision-makers should consider local degrees of climate variability in institutional design of irrigation management structures.

Agromorphological performance of garlic landraces in Piauí, Brazil / Desempenho agromorfológico de variedades crioulas de alho no Piauí

ABSTRACT: In garlic (Allium sativum L.), genotype evaluation facilitates the search for better varieties. The aim of this study was to use morphoagronomic traits to evaluate three garlic landraces, namely, “Cateto Roxo Local”, “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1” and “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2”. They were planted on May 1, 2014 and May 23, 2014, in the municipality of Sussuapara, State of Piauí, Brazil. These varieties have similar behavior at the vegetative stage. “Cateto Roxo Local” had the highest average bulb mass, clove number per bulb, and clove mass per bulb. “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1” and “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2” had the largest clove diameter per bulb. In Sussuapara - PI, “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1” and “Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2” are recommended for planting in the beginning of May, whereas “Cateto Roxo Local” should be planted in the third week of May.

RESUMO: Na cultura do alho (Allium sativum L.), a atividade de avaliação de genótipos é importante na busca por variedades superiores e adaptadas. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar avaliação agromorfológica em três variedades crioulas de alho, Cateto Roxo Local, Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1 e Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2, em duas épocas de plantio, 1o de maio e 23 de maio de 2014, no município de Sussuapara - Piauí. As variedades apresentam comportamento semelhante na fase vegetativa das plantas, considerando as duas épocas de plantio. Quanto aos caracteres relacionados à produção, Cateto Roxo Local apresentou maior média para massa de bulbos, número e massa de bulbilhos por bulbo, enquanto Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1 e Cateto Roxo Mineiro 2, se destacaram quanto ao diâmetro dos bulbilhos por bulbo. Cateto Roxo Mineiro 1 e 2 devem ser recomendadas para o plantio no início do mês de maio, enquanto para Cateto Roxo Local, o plantio pode ocorrer até a terceira semana de maio, em Sussuapara - PI.

Planting Date and Soybean Cultivar Maturity Group Affect Population Dynamics of Heterodera glycines, and All Affect Yield of Soybean.

Five soybean cultivars, one each from Maturity Groups (MG) III, IV, V, VI, and VII, all susceptible to Heterodera glycines, were planted in H. glycines-infested soil in April, May, June, and July at multiple locations in Arkansas and Missouri. The purpose of the study was to determine whether planting early reduces yield losses due to H. glycines. The population levels of cysts, eggs, and secondstage juveniles of H. glycines were determined from soil samples collected at planting and harvest. Yields were measured from the two middle rows of 4.9 or 6.1-m four-row plots. The population dynamics of the nematode varied with planting date, cultivar, MG, and initial nematode population. Generally, the lowest reproductive factor (Rf = final population/initial population) for any year was on the MG III cultivar, regardless of planting date or field location. Also, the Rf was generally lower on each cultivar planted in April than in June or July. The highest Rf values were on cultivars in MG VI or VII planted in June or July. Yields were not consistently correlated with initial nematode population level. Early planting of late-maturing soybean cultivars may be profitable, but early planting of MG III cultivars, though supporting little if any increase in nematode numbers, did not result in high yields.

Influência da época de plantio na produção de classes de bulbos comerciais de cultivares de alho (Allium sativum L) em Santa Maria, RS / Planting date influence on the yield of bulb quality grades of garlic (Allium sativum L) cultivars in Santa Maria, RS

O experimento foi conduzido na Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, RS, no ano agrícola de 1984, para avaliar a influência de três épocas de plantio no rendimento de bulbos comerciais e de classes de bulbos de 10 cultivares de alho (Allium sativum L.). As épocas de plantio influenciaram o rendimento médio de bulbos comerciais e de classes de bulbos. O plantio de 18/5 agregou incremento no rendimento de bulbos comerciais, tendo sido o mais alto do experimento. As cultivares Gigante Lavínia, Gigante Inconfidentes, São Lourenço e Quitéria apresentaram o melhor desempenho produtivo.

The experiment vás conducted at lhe Federal University of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, during lhe 1984 growing season to determine lhe influence ofplanting dates on lhe yield of marketable bulbs and yield of bulb quality grades of 10 garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivars. Planting dates were April 27, May 18 and July 14. Planting dates influenced lhe average yield of marketable bulbs as wel! as the yield of bulb quality grades. Planting on May 18 effected the highest yields of marketable bulbs m the experiment. The cultivars with the best performances were Gigante Lavínia, Gigante inconfidentes, São Lourenço e Quitéria.