Evaluation of the Pollination Efficiency of Apple Trees by Osmia excavata Alfken (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae).

The mason bee Osmia excavata Alfken is an apple pollinating insect widely distributed in northern China, in order to effectively utilize the mason bee and improve the pollination rate of apples, there is a need to evaluate the pollination efficiency of the bees. This study evaluated the pollination efficiency of the mason bee on apple orchards in Jinan and Yantai, Shandong Province, China. The study compared natural pollination areas and pollination areas with different release densities of O. excavata in terms of the effects of bee density, timing of pollination, and distance effects on fruit set rate, fruit shape index, fruit shape skewness, fruit soluble solids content, and fruit firmness. The optimal release density of bees was 6000 cocoons per hectare, resulting in the highest fruit setting rate of apple lateral flowers. From 07:00 to 14:00 was the best time for bee pollination. The optimal distance of hives from apple trees for pollination by O. excavata was 60 m. Single fruit weight was significantly higher and fruit unsymmetrical rate, partial slope and hardness were all significantly lower at the release densities of 6000 or 12000 cocoons per hectare compared with 3000 cocoons per hectare or under natural pollination conditions. There was no significant difference in the content of soluble solids under different release densities. Thus, the radius of 60 m from the hive was the effective pollination range and 6000 cocoons per hectare of mason bees could ensure the fruit quality of apple.

Response of chickpea to foliar supply of Hoagland's solution under rain-fed conditions / Resposta do grão-de-bico ao fornecimento foliar da solução de Hoagland em condições de chuva

Under rain-fed conditions, foliar application of nutrients is an efficient tool to eliminate the adverse effects of nutrients shortage and helpful to catch the maximum yield of any crop. Field experiments were executed to evaluate the effect of foliar spray of different strengths and application times of Hoagland's solution on growth and yield characteristics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under rain-fed conditions. The treatments consisted of distilled water (control), 25, 50, and 75% strength of Hoagland's solutions prayed at 7, 14, and 21 days after crop emergence (DACE) on two chickpea cultivars C-44 and CM-72. In terms of growth and yield, CM-72 showed superiority over C-44. The 75% strength of Hoagland's solution showed an improvement of 32.9, 37.9, 35.3, 13.5, and 35% in dry weight, plant height, 100-seed weight, seed yield, and biological yield, respectively when sprayed at 21 DACE than distilled water. However, the lower strength (25%) of Hoagland's solution produced similar results to distilled water. It is recommended that under rain-fed conditions chickpea cultivar CM-72 should be cultivated with a foliar supply of 75% strength of Hoagland's solution at 21 DACE to obtain the maximum growth and yield.

Sob condições de chuva, a aplicação foliar de nutrientes é uma ferramenta eficiente para eliminar os efeitos adversos da falta de nutrientes e útil para obter o rendimento máximo de qualquer cultura. Experimentos de campo foram executados para avaliar o efeito do spray foliar de diferentes forças e tempos de aplicação da solução de de Hoagland sobre as características de crescimento e rendimento do grão de bico (Cicer arietinum L.) e m condições de chuva. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por água destilada (controle), 25, 50 e 75% da solução de Hoagland pulverizada aos 7, 14 e 21 dias apósa emergência da colheita (DACE) em duas cultivares de grão de bico (C-44 e CM-72). Em termos decrescimento e rendimento, o CM-72 mostrou superioridade em relação ao C-44. A aplicação de 75%da solução de de Hoagland mostrou uma melhoria de 32,9, 37,9, 35,3, 13,5 e 35% em peso seco, altura da planta, peso de 100 sementes, rendimento de sementes e rendimento biológico, respectivamente, quando pulverizados a 21 DACE do que a água destilada. No entanto, a menor dose(25%) da solução dede Hoagland produziu resultados semelhantes aos da água destilada. Recomenda-se que, em condições de chuva, a cultivar CM-72 seja cultivada com suprimento foliar de 75% da solução de de Hoagland em21 DACE para obter o máximo crescimento e rendimento.

Response of chickpea to foliar supply of Hoagland's solution under rain-fed conditions / Resposta do grão-de-bico ao fornecimento foliar da solução de Hoagland em condições de chuva

Under rain-fed conditions, foliar application of nutrients is an efficient tool to eliminate the adverse effects of nutrients shortage and helpful to catch the maximum yield of any crop. Field experiments were executed to evaluate the effect of foliar spray of different strengths and application times of Hoagland's solution on growth and yield characteristics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under rain-fed conditions. The treatments consisted of distilled water (control), 25, 50, and 75% strength of Hoagland's solutions prayed at 7, 14, and 21 days after crop emergence (DACE) on two chickpea cultivars C-44 and CM-72. In terms of growth and yield, CM-72 showed superiority over C-44. The 75% strength of Hoagland's solution showed an improvement of 32.9, 37.9, 35.3, 13.5, and 35% in dry weight, plant height, 100-seed weight, seed yield, and biological yield, respectively when sprayed at 21 DACE than distilled water. However, the lower strength (25%) of Hoagland's solution produced similar results to distilled water. It is recommended that under rain-fed conditions chickpea cultivar CM-72 should be cultivated with a foliar supply of 75% strength of Hoagland's solution at 21 DACE to obtain the maximum growth and yield.(AU)

Sob condições de chuva, a aplicação foliar de nutrientes é uma ferramenta eficiente para eliminar os efeitos adversos da falta de nutrientes e útil para obter o rendimento máximo de qualquer cultura. Experimentos de campo foram executados para avaliar o efeito do spray foliar de diferentes forças e tempos de aplicação da solução de de Hoagland sobre as características de crescimento e rendimento do grão de bico (Cicer arietinum L.) e m condições de chuva. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por água destilada (controle), 25, 50 e 75% da solução de Hoagland pulverizada aos 7, 14 e 21 dias apósa emergência da colheita (DACE) em duas cultivares de grão de bico (C-44 e CM-72). Em termos decrescimento e rendimento, o CM-72 mostrou superioridade em relação ao C-44. A aplicação de 75%da solução de de Hoagland mostrou uma melhoria de 32,9, 37,9, 35,3, 13,5 e 35% em peso seco, altura da planta, peso de 100 sementes, rendimento de sementes e rendimento biológico, respectivamente, quando pulverizados a 21 DACE do que a água destilada. No entanto, a menor dose(25%) da solução dede Hoagland produziu resultados semelhantes aos da água destilada. Recomenda-se que, em condições de chuva, a cultivar CM-72 seja cultivada com suprimento foliar de 75% da solução de de Hoagland em21 DACE para obter o máximo crescimento e rendimento.(AU)