Higher Seed Rates Enlarge the Effects of Wide-Belt Sowing on Root Length Density, Thereby Improving Nitrogen Uptake and Use Efficiencies in Winter Wheat.

The optimized sowing method and appropriate seed rate can improve wheat N use efficiency. However, the interactive effect of the sowing method and seed rate on N use efficiency, particularly N uptake and root length density, are unclear. A field experiment was conducted for two growing seasons in southern Shanxi province, China, using a split-plot design with the sowing method as the main plot (wide-belt sowing, WBS, and conventional narrow-drill sowing, NDS) and seed rate as the sub-plot (100-700 m-2). Our results showed that WBS had a significant and positive effect on N use efficiency (yield per unit of available N from the fertilizer and soil, by 4.7-15.4%), and the relatively higher seed rates (>300 or 400 m-2) enlarged the effects. The N use efficiency increases under WBS were mainly attributed to the increases in N uptake before anthesis, resulting from the promoted nodal roots per plant and per unit area, and root length density in the top layer(s). WBS promoted N translocation and the N harvest index, resulting in equivalent grain protein concentration and processing quality compared to NDS. Thus, adopting higher seed rates (>300 m-2) combined with WBS is recommended for achieving greater N efficiencies while maintaining the grain protein concentration and processing quality of winter wheat.

Appropriate seed source and rate enhanced the productivity of bread wheat varieties under irrigated conditions in North Mecha, Amhara region, Ethiopia.

Bread wheat is a strategic cereal crop produced ndederunder both irrigation and main rainy season in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. However, its productivity is low due to unreliable seed sources, inappropriate seed rate, and unavailability of adaptable improved varieties for a wide range of agro-ecologies. Therefore, an experiment aimed at evaluating the influence of seed sources, rates, and varieties on yield and yield-related traits under irrigated conditions was conducted during 2021 at North Mecha, Amhara region, Ethiopia, to provide information and knowledge for bread wheat researchers and producers. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in a factorial arrangement of two varieties (Kakaba and Ogolcho), three seed sources (Ethiopia Seed Enterprise (ESE), Ediget Bandinet Seed Producing Cooperative Union (EBSPCU), and farmers with three seed rates (125, 150, and 175 kg ha-1). Basic agronomic and yield data were collected. The data were analyzed using SAS software. The results showed that productive tiller numbers, 50 % heading, number of kernels per spike, and plant height were significantly influenced by the interaction of seed source with variety. Interaction of variety with seed rate had also significantly influenced productive tiller number and 50 % heading. The highest grain yield (4.99 t/ha) was recorded on Kakaba variety sourced from Ediget Bandinet seed producing union sown at a rate of 150 kg ha-1 followed by Ethiopia seed enterprise (4.31 t ha-1) sown at the same seed rate. Kakaba seeds sourced from farmers produced the least grain yield. Therefore, using Kakaba seeds from the formal seed system like Edget Bandinet seed producing union sown at a rate of 150 kg ha-1 could be recommended to increase the productivity of bread wheat under irrigated condition in north Mecha. It is also necessary to conduct experiments considering a greater number of seed sources, seed rates, and varieties in more than one cropping season and location to strengthen the current result.

Higher Seed Rates Enlarge Effects of Wide-Belt Sowing on Canopy Radiation Capture, Distribution, and Use Efficiency in Winter Wheat.

The optimized winter wheat sowing method comprising wide-belt sowing (WBS) can improve the ears number and biomass to increase the grain yield, compared with conventional narrow-drill sowing (NDS). The seed rate and the interaction between the sowing method and seed rate also affect yield formation. However, the effects of the sowing method and seed rate, as well as their interaction on biomass production, particularly the interception of solar radiation (ISR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE), are unclear. A field experiment was conducted for two seasons in southern Shanxi province, China, using a split-plot design with sowing method as the main plot (WBS and NDS) and seed rate as the sub-plot (100-700 m-2). Our results showed that while WBS had a significant and positive effect, increasing the yield by 4.7-15.4%, the mechanism differed between seed rates. Yield increase by WBS was mainly attributed to the increase in total biomass resulting from both the promoted pre- and post-anthesis biomass production, except that only the increase in post-anthesis biomass mattered at the lowest seed rate (100 m-2). The higher biomass was attributed to the increased ISR before anthesis. After anthesis, the increased ISR contributed mainly to the increased biomass at low seed rates (100 and 200 m-2). In contrast, the increased RUE, resulting from the enhanced radiation distribution within canopy and LAI, contributed to the higher post-anthesis biomass at medium and high seed rates (400 to 700 m-2). The greatest increases in total biomass, pre-anthesis ISR, and post-anthesis RUE by WBS were all achieved at 500 seed m-2, thereby obtaining the highest yield. In summary, WBS enhanced grain yield by increasing ISR before anthesis and improving RUE after anthesis, and adopting relatively higher seed rates (400-500 m-2) was necessary for maximizing the positive effect of WBS, and thus the higher wheat yield.

The effect of seed and nitrogen-phosphorous fertilizer rates on growth and yield components of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Burie District, Northwestern Ethiopia: Dataset article.

In the absence of a recommended optimal seed rate and nitrogen-phosphorous (NP) fertilizers application for a specific area, achieving maximum bread wheat productivity becomes challenging. To address this issue, this field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed and NP fertilizer rates on growth, yield, and yield components of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Factorial combinations of four levels of seed rates of bread wheat (100, 120, 150, and 200 kg ha-1) and four levels of NP fertilizers rates (64-46, 87-46, 96-69, and 119-69 kg ha-1 of N and P2O5) were laid down in randomized complete block design with three replications. The remaining necessary agronomic practices and crop management activities were undertaken uniformly. The data presented in this dataset article includes phenological, growth, yield, and yield component parameters that were collected timely following their standard methods and procedures. All the collected data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) which was carried out using the SAS version 9.0 software computer program's General Linear Model (GLM) procedure [1]. the residuals were evaluated, as described in Montgomery [2], to confirm the normal distribution and homogeneous variance model assumptions on the error terms for each response variable. The independence assumption is upheld due to the randomization of the sixteen (16) treatment combinations within each block. In cases where a treatment effect was found to be significant, a multiple means comparison was conducted at a 5% significance level using Fisher's LSD method to create letter groupings. Additionally, correlation analysis was carried out using the Pearson correlation procedure in SAS. This dataset article provides insights into how seed rate and NP fertilizer rates impact bread wheat productivity, as well as the economic viability of optimal seed rate and NP fertilizer rates on bread wheat productivity. The information presented can serve as a valuable resource for researchers looking to examine the supplementary data and methods in detail, potentially leading to new research avenues. Furthermore, it has the potential to foster collaborations and enhance the credibility of the current research data within the scientific community, making it accessible for wider use.

Organic seed priming with curtailed seed rate compensated wheat grains productivity by upgrading anti-oxidant status against terminal drought at flowering and milking.

Terminal irrigation drought stress is one of the most drastic abiotic stress to diminish the wheat crop development and grains yield in arid regions of the world. The use of moringa leaf extract (MLE30) via seed priming technique is investigated as an organic and sustainable approach for the mitigation of drought stress along with curtailed seed rate in wheat crop. The study investigated the interaction of organic seed priming: control (dry seeds), hydro-priming, MLE30-priming, seed rate: recommended @ 125 kg ha-1, curtailed @ 25 kg ha-1, and terminal irrigation drought (TID): normal irrigation, mild-TID, severe-TID in wheat crop at agronomic research station, Bahawalpur, Pakistan during the wheat winter season of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. The application of organic MLE30-priming with curtailed seed rate enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity especially total soluble proteins by 15%, superoxide dismutase by 68%, peroxidase by 16%, catalase by 70%, ascorbic acid by 17% and total protein contents by 91% under severe-TID. Yield and yield-related morphological attributes performed better in MLE30-priming as compared to hydro-priming. An effective trend was observed in the plant's chlorophyll contents, K+, and water use efficiency after being treated with MLE30-priming followed by hydro-priming under curtailed seed rate. The higher benefit-cost ratio and net income return were observed with the application of MLE30-priming with curtailed seed rate under mild-TID and severe-TID. So, it is suggested to adopt the MLE30-priming technique along with a curtailed seed rate for improving the crop establishment, stress regulation, and economic return under limited availability of irrigation water. The project findings recommended that the application of exogenous application of organic MLE30-seed priming favored and compensated the maximum wheat grains production under curtailed seed rate @ 25 kg ha-1 and induced terminal drought stress at flowering and milking conditions.

Optimizing Nitrogen and Seed Rate Combination for Improving Grain Yield and Nitrogen Uptake Efficiency in Winter Wheat.

Nitrogen (N) supply and seed rate (SR) are two essential factors that affect the accumulation and partitioning of N and dry matter (DM) and, therefore, grain yield (GY) and N use efficiency (NUE). The objective of this experiment was to optimize N application and SR to regulate wheat growth and increase both GY and NUE. The results revealed that net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), chlorophyll content, and activities of metabolic enzymes (NR and GS) significantly increased with increasing of N levels while decreasing SR. Plant tillers, GY, DM before anthesis, and N translocation, N agronomic efficiency (NAE), N recovery efficiency (NRE), and N uptake efficiency (NUPE) were highest in a combined treatment of N235 and SR180. However, N levels beyond 235 kg ha-1 significantly decreased NAE, NRE, and NUPE. By increasing SR from 135 to 180 kg ha-1 an increase of 12.9 % and 9.1% GY and NUPE, respectively, was observed. Based on this result, we estimate that 1 kg N ha-1 might be replaced by an increase of approximately 0.6 kg ha-1 SR. Our study suggested that using a combination of N and SR (N235 + SR180) could attain maximum GY and improve NUE parameters.

Sowing methods and seeding rates effects on yield and yield components of Tef(Eragrostis tef [Zucc.] Trotter) at Adet, North West Ethiopia.

Tef is one of the most important staple cereal crops in Ethiopia. However, the production and productivity of the crop remain low due to lack of appropriate agronomic recommendations. Lack of optimum sowing methods and seed rates are key agronomic factors limit the productivities of the crop. Hence, field experiment was conducted to study the effects of seed rates and sowing methods on growth, yield and yield components of tef. The treatments contains factorial combination of two sowing methods (row and broadcast) and five seeding rates (5, 7.5,10, 12.5, and 15 kg ha-1in randomized factorial complete block design with three replications. Days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, spike length, total number of tiller, total number of effective tiller, above ground dry biomass yield, grain yield and straw yield collected and subjected to analysis of variance using SAS system. The main effect seed rate significantly affect days to physiological maturity, plant height, panicle length, and straw yield and the maximum values of these parameters were recorded at the seed rate of 5 kg ha-1. Similarly, number of total tillers, fertile tillers, total biomass, grain yield, and lodging percent were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by interaction effect of sowing methods and seeding rates. The highest grain yield (2.301 kg/ha) and other growth parameters recorded at the interaction effect of 5 kg ha-1 of seed rate and row planting method compared to other treatments. Maximum net benefit (795,689.21ETB) with acceptable marginal rate of return (104.32) also recorded at the interaction effect of 5 kg ha-1 of seeding rate and row planting. Hence, 5 kg ha-1 seed rate with row planting method could be recommended for maximum yield of tef in Adet soil and climatic conditions.

Transforming labor requirement, crop yield, and profitability with precision dry-direct seeding of rice and integrated weed management in Eastern India.

In many parts of Eastern India that have a very high prevalence of rural poverty and food insecurity, the prevailing rice establishment practice of 'beushening' is characterized by low yields and modest profitability, while labor and energy inputs are high. Beushening consists of broadcasting ungerminated rice seed at high rates (>100 kg ha-1) prior to the onset of monsoon rain, followed by ploughing at 4-6 weeks after crop emergence to control weeds with subsequent manual gap filling through seedling redistribution to ensure stand uniformity. Dry-direct seeding of rice (DSR), both drill-DSR and precision broadcast-DSR in combination with integrated weed management (IWM) may offer a pathway for simultaneously reducing costs and markedly increasing productivity. On-farm trials were conducted from 2016 to 2018 in four districts of Odisha (Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, Bhadrak, and Puri) to evaluate the yield and economic performance of dry-DSR (drill and precision broadcast), coupled with herbicide-based IWM strategies, in comparison with conventional beushening. Drill-DSR with IWM increased grain yield by 1.7 t ha-1 in Mayurbhanj and 1.3 t ha-1 in Cuttack, but not in Bhadrak, compared to beushening. The combination of increased yield and lower variable cost in drill-DSR increased net benefit by 550, 395, and 166 US$ ha-1 in Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, and Bhadrak, respectively. For farmers without access to seed drills, precision broadcast-DSR with IWM increased yields by 0.91, 1.22 and 0.60 t ha-1, and net benefits by 270, 312, and 188 US$ ha-1 in Mayurbhanj, Puri, and Bhadrak, respectively. Among the IWM practices evaluated in dry-DSR, application of pretilachlor + safener @ 500 g ai ha-1 as pre-emergence, followed by bispyribac-sodium @ 20 g ai ha-1 at 15-25 days after sowing as post-emergence, and then one spot hand weeding at 30-35 days after sowing was effective in controlling weeds. These results suggest that rice yield gaps in eastern India can be reduced, and farmers' income from rice can be increased by more than 50 % by replacing beushening with drill-DSR or precision broadcast-DSR. The results could be applicable to approximately 6.4 million ha of lowland rice where beushening is currently practiced in Eastern India.

Grassland habitat restoration: lessons learnt from long term monitoring of Swanworth Quarry, UK, 1997-2014.

Habitat restoration projects are often conducted when prior use or extraction of natural resources results in land degradation. The success of restoration programmes, however, is variable, and studies that provide evidence of long term outcomes are valuable for evaluation purposes. This study focused on the restoration of vegetation within a limestone quarry in Dorset, UK between 1997 and 2014. Using a randomised block design, the effect of seed mix and seed rate on the development of community assemblage was investigated in comparison to a nearby target calcareous grassland site. We hypothesised that seed mix composition and sowing rate would influence both the trajectory of the grassland assemblage and final community composition. We found that species composition (in relation to both richness and community assemblage) was strongly influenced by time and to some extent by seed rate and seed mix. However, no treatments achieved strong resemblance to the calcareous grassland target vegetation; rather they resembled mesotrophic communities. We conclude that (as with previous studies) there is no "quick fix" for the establishment of a grassland community; long-term monitoring provides useful information on the trajectory of community development; sowing gets you something (in our case mesotrophic grassland), but, it may not be the target vegetation (e.g., calcicolous grassland) you want that is difficult to establish and regenerate; it is important to sow a diverse mix as subsequent recruitment opportunities are probably limited; post-establishment management should be explored further and carefully considered as part of a restoration project.