AGRIS - 

Data provenance by Country

2013

Simbarashe, Gukurume

This article explores the impact of climate change and variability on agricultural productivity in the communal area of Bikita. The article further examines the adaptation and mitigation strategies devised by farmers to deal with the vagaries of climate change and variability. The sustainability of these is also interrogated in this article. This study juxtaposed qualitative and quantitative methodologies albeit with more bias on the former. A total of 40 farmers were sampled for unstructured interviews and focus group discussions. This article argues that the adverse impacts of climate change and variability are felt heavily by the poor communal farmers who are directly dependent on agriculture for livelihood. From the study, some of the widely reported signs of climate variability in Bikita included late and unpredictable rains, high temperatures (heat waves), successive drought, shortening rainfall seasons and seasonal changes in the timing of rainfall. The paper argues that climate change has compounded the vulnerability of peasant farmers in the drought - prone district of Bikita plunging them into food insecurity and abject poverty. It emerged in the study that some of effects of climate variability felt by communal farmers in Bikita included failure of crops, death of livestock and low crop yields, all of which have led to declining agricultural productivity. Findings in this study however established that communal farmers have not been passive victims of the vagaries of climate change and variability. They have rationally responded to it through various adaptation and mitigation strategies both individually and collectively.

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iVolga Press - Russian Federation

2013

Aldesuquy Heshmat S. | Abbas Mohmed A. | Abo-Hamed S.A. | Elhakem Abeer H.

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the beneficial effect of foliar application of glycine betaine (10mM), grain presoaking in salicylic acid (0.05 M) and their interaction on drought tolerance of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (sensitive, Sakha 94 and resistant, Sakha 93). Osmotic pressure, some osmolytes concentration and grain yield were determined. Water stress caused an increase in osmotic pressure, proline, total soluble nitrogen, total soluble sugars, organic acids, ions (Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2 and Cl-) content as well as Na+/K+ ratio in cell sap flag leaves of both wheat cultivars. The resistant variety had higher values of osmotic pressure, proline, organic acids and ions content than the sensitive one. On the other hand, water stress induced marked decrease (P

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Russian Academy of Sciences - Russian Federation

2013

Nageshbabu R. | Usha . | Jyothi M.N. | Sharadamma N. | Rai D.V. | Devaraj V.R.

Plants respond to the environmental cues in various ways, recent knowledge of RNA interference in conferring stress tolerance had become a new hope of developing tolerant varieties. Here we attempt to unfold the molecular mechanism of stress tolerance through miRNA profiling and expression analysis in Finger millet (Eleusine coracona) under salt and drought stress conditions. The expression analysis of 12 stress specific conserved miRNAs was studied using semi-quantitative real time PCR and Northern blot assay. Our studies revealed that, although most of the miRNAs responded to the stresses, the expression of particular miRNA differed with the nature of stress and the tissue. The expression analysis was correlated with the existing data of their target genes. Abiotic stress up-regulated miRNAs are expected to target negative regulators of stress responses or positive regulators of processes that are inhibited by stresses. On the other hand, stress down-regulated miRNAs may repress the expression of positive regulators and/or stress up-regulated genes. Thus the current study of miRNAs and their targets under abiotic stress conditions displays miRNAs may be good candidates to attribute the stress tolerance in plants by transgenic technology.

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Russian Academy of Sciences - Russian Federation

2013

Ibrahim A.H. | El-Shahaby O.A. | Abo-Hamed S.A. | Younis M.E.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of drought stress and drought with defoliation on yield parameters of three sorghum varieties (Giza 15, Dorado and Hybrid 113). Also, the effect of these parental stress treatments on drought performance of progeny of the most drought tolerant variety was investigated. Application of drought stress in the vegetative stage non significantly affected panicles number, grain yield and harvest index of all cultivars. Drought stress in the reproductive stage of Giza 15 and Hybrid 113 cultivars caused a two fold increase in length of lateral branch and panicles number. However, grain yield and total panicles weight were significantly reduced in all cultivars due to this stress. Application of drought with defoliation in the vegetative stage reduced shoot and straw weights, and grain yield in sorghum in comparison with drought stress only. Protein-N and polysaccharides content were decreased in parent grains in response to water stress. The stress intensity index (SII) of progeny from drought- subjected parents was about 30-fold greater than SII of progeny from control parents. Further, SII of progeny from parents exposed to drought stress in the reproductive stage was higher than the SII of progeny from parents subjected to drought stress in the vegetative stage . A strong negative correlation appeared between the stress intensity index of the progeny and polysaccharides content of parent grains. Based on our research parental defoliation did not improve the drought resistance of sorghum progeny.

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Russian Academy of Sciences - Russian Federation

2013

Sergeev, V.V., Ershov Experimental Station of Irrigated Agriculture, Saratov region

The results of comparative tests carried out in 2009-2012 have shown that the new varieties and breeding lines of spring soft wheat, adapted for arid conditions even during the critical moisture years. On the boghara the most droughtproof and heat-resistant varieties of Saratov selection are Saratovskaya 68, Saratovskaya 73, Belyanka and lines 2-10, 4-10 , 3-10 and 23-10 bred by Ershov Experimental Station of Irrigated Agriculture, exceeding significantly the standard at 0,8–2,6 cwt/ha (13–42%). Even in extreme climatic conditions in 2010, when the average yield of spring wheat after comparative testing was only 0,4 cwt/ha, breeding lines 2-10 and 4-10 showed a significant excess grain yield over standard Prokhorovka. Saratovskaya 73 stood out as consistently giving high yields of grain, including extreme heat and drought 2010. In favorable conditions of the intensive background (irrigation + fertilizer) the most productive varieties were as follows: Saratovskaya 68, Saratovskaya 73, Albidum 32, Prokhorovka, Yugo-Vostochnaya 2 and breeding line 3-10, which gave reliable increase in productivity by 0,9–2,2 cwt/ha (7–17%) in comparison with the standard. It is found out that the most promising varieties for Saratov Zavolzhye are Ershovskaya 36, Saratov lines L2207, A2191 , G2193, L671 and Ershov lines 38-11, 2-10, 4-10. However, it is difficult to achieve increasing the productivioty of wheat by in a breeding way only.. The introduction of new varieties must be accompanied by the improvement of cultivation zone methods. | Результаты сравнительных испытаний, проведенных в 2009-2012 гг., показали, что новые сорта и селекционные линии яровой мягкой пшеницы, адаптированные к засушливым условиям, даже в критические по влагообеспеченности годы при существующих технологиях возделывания способны превышать среднюю продуктивность культуры в Саратовском Заволжье в 2–2,5 раза. На богарном фоне наиболее засухоустойчивыми и жаростойкими из достижений саратовской селекции являются сорта Саратовская 68, Саратовская 73, Белянка и линии 2-10, 4-10, 3-10 и 23-10 Ершовской ОСОЗ, достоверно превышающие стандарт на 0,8–2,6 ц/га (13–42%). Даже в экстремальном по климатическим условиям 2010 г., когда средняя урожайность яровой пшеницы по конкурсному испытанию составила всего лишь 0,4 ц/га, селекционные линии 2-10 и 4-10 показали существенное превышение урожайности зерна над стандартом Прохоровка. Сорт Саратовская 73 выделился как стабильно дающий высокую урожайность зерна, в том числе и в экстремальном по жаре и засухе 2010 г. В благоприятных условиях интенсивного фона (орошение + удобрения) наиболее продуктивными были сорта Саратовская 68, Саратовская 73, Альбидум 32, Прохоровка, Юго-Восточная 2 и селекционная линия 3-10, давшие достоверные прибавки урожайности по сравнению со стандартом в 0,9–2,2 ц/га (7–17%). Установлено, что наиболее перспективны для условий Саратовского Заволжья сорт Ершовская 36, саратовские линии Л2207, А2191, Г2193, Л671 и ершовские линии 38-11, 2-10, 4-10. Однако повышения продуктивности пшеницы только селекционным путем добиться сложно. Внедрение новых сортов должно сопровождаться совершенствованием зональных приемов возделывания.

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Central Scientific Agricultural Library - Russian Federation

2013

Kislov, A.V. | Kascheev, A.V. | Didenko, V.N. | Grekova, N.V., Orenburg State Agrarian Univ.

The purpose of the study is to select crops with stable yielding capacity as well as high economic and ecological efficiency when sown on fallows under the conditions of South Urals steppe zone. The field trials were conducted on the experimental field of crop rotation stationary of the Orenburg State Agrarian University in 2012 - 2013. Seven crop rotations with different crops sown on black fallow, among them: 1 - winter rye, 2 - winter wheat, 3 - winter triticale, 4 - winter wheat-grass, 5 - winter false flax, 6 - soybean, 7 - pea have been studied. The soils was the heavy loamy south chernozem with humus content of 4.1 - 4.4%. The sown area of plots was 10.8 x 45 m, the accounting area was 81 square m. During the vegetation period observations for soil humidity, arable layer structure and crops weed infestation have been carried out. During the observed unfavorable weather conditions winter crops used precipitation more effectively than spring crops. Among winter crops rye was the most yielding one - 2.74 t/ga, as compared with wheat - 2.06 t/ha, triticale - 2.16 t/ha and wheat grass - 1.95 t/ha. Soybeans yielding 1.3-1.5 t/ha when sown on fallows is promising crop for combined feed production for swine and poultry breeding farm in Orenburg region. Soybeans demonstrated higher drought-resistance as compared with pea and its yielding capacity and grain quality surpassed those of pea at 1.5 times. The grain protein content was about 30-35% and that of fat reached 20-25%. It is ascertained that besides winter rye and winter wheat, planting winter triticale and soybeans in the steppe zone of South Urals is really actual, effective and prospective. | Цель исследований - подбор для степной зоны Южного Урала стабильно урожайных при посеве по пару культур, обеспечивающих высокую экономическую и экологическую эффективность. Полевые опыты проводили в 2012 - 2013 гг. в многолетнем стационаре по севооборотам на опытном поле Оренбургского государственного аграрного университета. Изучали 7 севооборотов с посевом различных культур по чёрному пару: 1 - озимая рожь, 2 - озимая пшеница, 3 - озимая тритикале, 4 - озимая житница, 5 - озимый рыжик, 6 - соя, 7 - горох. Почва - чернозём южный, тяжелосуглинистый с содержанием гумуса 4,1 - 4,4%. Посевная площадь делянок - 10,8 х 45 м, учётная - 81 кв.м. Повторность 4-кратная, расположение вариантов в 2 яруса. Применяли рекомендуемую для центральной зоны Оренбургской обл. агротехнику. В течение вегетации вели наблюдения за влажностью почвы, строением пахотного слоя, засорённостью посевов. Учёт урожая проводили комбайном "Сампо-500". В наблюдавшихся неблагоприятных погодных условиях озимые культуры более эффективно использовали осадки, чем яровые. Самую высокую урожайность среди озимых культур обеспечила рожь - 27,4 ц/га, существенно уступали ей пшеница - 20,6 ц/га, тритикале - 21,6 ц/га и житница - 19,5 ц/га. Средняя урожайность озимого рыжика составила 11,3 ц/га, но по холодостойкости культура не уступала ржи, отличалась скороспелостью, имела слабую осыпаемость семян. Озимый рапс полностью погиб после перезимовки. Соя показала себя более засухоустойчивой по сравнению с горохом и по урожайности в 1,5 раза превосходила его при более высоком качестве зерна. Содержание белка в зерне достигало 30 - 35% и более, жира - 20 - 25%. При урожайности 13 - 15 ц/га по пару соя имеет хорошие перспективы для производства комбикормов в крупных свиноводческих и птицеводческих комплексах Оренбуржья. Сделаны предварительные выводы, что возделывание в степной зоне Южного Урала по пару в дополнение к озимым ржи и пшенице озимой тритикале и сои актуально, эффективно и перспективно.

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Central Scientific Agricultural Library - Russian Federation

2013

Medvedev, I.F. | Sirenko, F.V. | Efimova, V.I. | Derevyagin S.S., Research and Development Inst. of Agriculture of the South-East, Saratov

The most important ecological and soil indicators influencing formation of root system of spring soft wheat under condition of extreme drought have been revealed. The investigation was carried out in two crop rotations during 27 years. One of them was grain-fallow (fallow, winter wheat, spring wheat, millet, spring wheat for two years - GFCR), the other was grain-grass (perennial grasses awnless bromegrass and alfalfa for 3 years, spring wheat for 3 years - GGCR). Under extreme spring weather conditions primary root system of spring soft wheat well developed in both crop rotations and reached a depth of one meter due to winter stock of productive moisture. Perennial legumes improve hydrophysical and agrochemical properties of the soil, so the weight of roots per a plant at the tillering stage reached 0.313 g in GFCR, and 0.336 g in GGCR. The secondary root system fully developed only in the GGCR, where the negative effects of extreme spring and summer drought on the rate of rise and the mass of the root system was less expressed. In the end of tillering the mass of roots in GFCR was 73.8% of the total plant biomass and in GGCR this index was 60.8%. In earing phase their share declined to 38.0% and 34.4%, correspondingly, and in the phase of full maturity – up to 21.3% and 19.4%. The bulk of roots in GFCR was in the soil layer 0-60 cm (69%), and in grain-grass one – in the layer 30-80cm (70%). Mass of roots of spring wheat in GGCR was higher by 28.5% and the yield was 2.2 times higher than in grain-fallow rotation. It took 7.1 mm of moisture in GGCR and 9.5 mm in grain-fallow one to form one centner of grain of spring wheat. Under condition of severe drought the factors, which determine the development of the root system of spring wheat, in GFCR can be ranked on the decrease in the following order: temperature of soil, nitrate nitrogen, moisture, pH, soil density, mobile phosphorus and potassium; in GGCR: soil temperature, pH, moisture, mobile phosphorus and potassium, soil density, nitrate nitrogen. | Выявляли наиболее важные эколого-почвенных показатели, влияющие на формирование корневой системы мягкой пшеницы в условиях экстремальной засухи, Исследования проводили в 2 севооборотах, соблюдаемых в течение 27 лет: зернопаровой (пар, озимая пшеница, яровая пшеница, просо, 2 года яровая пшеница - ЗПС) и зернотравяной (3 года многолетние травы костер безостый + люцерна синегибридная, 3 года яровая пшеница - ЗТС) В экстремальных весенних погодных условиях первичная корневая система яровой мягкой пшеницы благодаря зимним запасам продуктивной влаги хорошо развивается в обоих севооборотах и достигает глубины 1 м. Многолетние бобовые травы улучшают водно-физические и агрохимические свойства почвы, поэтому масса корней на растение в фазе кущения в ЗПС составила 0,313 г, в ЗТС – 0,336 г. Вторичная корневая система полностью сформировалась только в ЗТС, где негативное влияние экстремальной весенне-летней засухи на темпы нарастания и массу корневой системы было менее выражено. К завершению фазы кущения масса корней в ЗПС составляла 73,8% от общей биомассы растения, а в зЗТС – 60,8%. В фазе колошения их доля сократилась соответственно до 38,0 и 34,4%, а в фазе полной спелости – до 21,3 и 19,4%. Основная масса корней в ЗПС размещалась в слое почвы 0-60 см (69%), в ЗТС – в слое 30-80 см (70%). Масса корней яровой пшеницы в ЗТС была выше, чем в ЗПС, на 28,5%, а урожайность – в 2,2 раза. На формирование 1 ц зерна яровой пшеницы в ЗТС потребовалось 7,1 мм влаги, в ЗПС – 9,5 мм. В условиях острой засухи факторы, определяющие развитие корневой системы яровой мягкой пшеницы, в ЗПС можно ранжировать по убыванию в следующем порядке – температура почвы, нитратный азот, влага, pH, плотность почвы, подвижный фосфор и калий; в ЗТС – температура почвы, pH, влага, подвижный фосфор и калий, плотность почвы, нитратный азот.

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Central Scientific Agricultural Library - Russian Federation

2013

Owen Mafongoya

The study investigated the contribution of SAT's agricultural intervention in ward 21 of Bikita in an attempt to improve food security to this drought prone area. The research was largely premised on qualitative methodology and unstructured interviews, focus group discussions and onsite observation were employed as techniques for data gathering. Using these methodological techniques, it was revealed that conservation farming brought by SAT was not smoothly appreciated by the intended beneficiaries. Regardless the fact that the majority of the farmers were given free farming inputs, they failed to fully embrace all the instructions like minimizing soil tillage, reliance on compost manure only to mention but a few. The farmers resisted total participation because the techniques were labor intensive and sometimes contradict their orthodox or indigenous farming techniques. This has resulted in the emergence of an antagonistic relationship between SAT officials and the local farmers on the best method of farming which may improve food security. Also the research revealed that too much reliance on compost manure has created environmental challenges with fears of its depletion since the area was already overpopulated. This led to the emergence of conflicts between the participants, non-participants, owners and non-owners of domestic animals because the forage was under threat. All these events were analyzed using Darendorf's (1959)'s Conflict theory which explains the potential of conflicts outbreak between two or more groups interacting. This can be best explained with the conflicts which existed between the locals on the environment and also between SAT and the locals on the way forward about farming. It was concluded that there was a need for encompassing approach where all stakeholders should sit down together and consider the favorable conditions to make the programme acceptable, successful and sustainable.

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iVolga Press - Russian Federation

2013

Aldesuquy Heshmat S. | Abo-Hamed S.A. | Abbas Mohmed A. | Elhakem Abeer H.

The present study was planned to investigate the possible role displayed by water stress and application of GB, SA or their interaction on some anatomical features in flag leaf at anthesis (after 95 days from sowing) by measuring leaf thickness, ground tissue thickness, number of hairs, metaxylem vessel area, xylem vessel area, phloem tissue area, vascular bundle tissues area, number of motor cells as well as number of opened and closed stomata on both upper and lower epidermis and some anatomical features of peduncle (peduncle diameter, tracheids area, metaxylem vessel area, xylem area, phloem area, vascular area, number of vascular bundle as well as opened and closed stomata) of the two wheat cultivars. Water stress markedly affected the anatomical features in flag leaves of both wheat cultivars. It caused massive decreases (P< 0.05) in the leaf thickness, ground tissue thickness, number of hairs, metaxylem vessel area, xylem vessel area, phloem tissue area, vascular bundle area, number of motor cells as well as number of opened stomata on both upper and lower epidermis. On the other hand, water stress increased (P< 0.05) the number of hairs and closed stomata on both upper and lower epidermis in flag leaves of the two wheat cultivars. The magnitude of decrease in all anatomical features in flag leaf was more pronounced with the sensitive cultivar. Furthermore, water stress led to a marked decrease (P< 0.05) in peduncle diameter, tracheids area, metaxylem vessel area, xylem tissue area, phloem tissue area, vascular tissue area, number of vascular bundles as well as opened stomata but increased the number of hairs and closed stomata on the peduncle surface of the two wheat cultivars. In relation to wheat cultivar, the sensitive was more affected by water stress than the resistant one. The application of GB, SA or their interaction induced some modifications in the anatomical features of the flag leaf and peduncle of main shoot which appeared to be an adaptive response to drought stress

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Russian Academy of Sciences - Russian Federation

2013

Dubravina I. V. | Permyakova S. V.

There was shown the possibility of assessment of hybrid apple-tree posterity on relation to the drought with the help of mathematical modeling. There was worked out the mathematical model of prognosis character on assessment of apple-tree genotypes to the given stressor. There were offered ways of optimization of hybrid posterity selection conducting in modern selection programs

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Kuban State Agrarian University - Russian Federation