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Heat stress during the grain filling is one of most critical factors impacting grain yield in winter wheat. In a two-year field experiment, we studied the effects of 24-Epicastasterone and KH2PO4 on heat-stressed wheat applied during different times. A completely randomized block design was used with three reagents, that is, 24-Epicastasterone, KH2PO4 and H2O and three spraying times, that is, pre-heat, under-heat and post-heat. Two cultivars, that is, Huaimai 33 and Annong 0711 were subjected to a 7 d post-flowering heat stress using plastic tents. Our study suggests that greater grain weight in heat-stressed plants was achieved through sustaining leaf greenness and higher assimilates supplies to grains. When heat-stressed plants sprayed either with 24-Epicastasterone or KH2PO4 could sustain a relatively higher leaf photosynthetic capacity by up-regulating antioxidant enzymes with reduced damage on lipid membranes and leaf chlorophyll. We also found that KH2PO4 was relatively more effective in improving leaf physiology and grain yield of heat-stressed plants than 24-Epicastasterone. Further analysis showed that pre-heat or post-heat was more pronounced in protecting plants from heat injury than spraying the plants under heat stress. Thus, spraying KH2PO4 either prior to or post stress incidence is recommended to protect wheat crops from terminal heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although accurate forecasting of the production of major cereal crops is important to make policy decisions related to their supply, demand and import/export, very little work has been done in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to develop the best performing trend models for area, production, and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter], and maize (Zea mays L.) in Ethiopia, and to provide forecasts for 2019 to 2023. For each crop, the best-performing model was selected among linear, quadratic, exponential growth, and S-curve trend models using five performance measures (mean absolute percent error [MAPE], mean absolute deviation [MAD], mean squared deviation [MSD], coefficient of efficiency [E], and index of agreement [d]). Quadratic trend model was the best for area of wheat and teff, production of wheat, teff, and maize, and wheat and maize yields. S-curve and Linear trend models were the best for area of maize and yield of teff, respectively. Forecasts for 2019 to 2023 using the best-performing model revealed that cultivated area for these three cereals will decrease by 3,581 ha in Ethiopia, but their combined total production will increase by 4,896,630 tons, and productivity of wheat, teff, and maize will increase by 20.3%, 13.2%, and 13.8%, respectively, which is slightly higher than the projected population growth (10.9%) during this time. Although these results indicate that Ethiopia is on track to meet the second SDG, government policymakers and other stakeholders can use these findings to ensure sustainable food and nutrition security in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noodles have been a staple food in Asian countries for more than 4,000 years, and almost 40% of wheat cultivated in Asia is consumed in the form of noodles. Existing standard for inspection and evaluation systems focus on the quality of ingredients, dough, semi-finished and final products of flour products with high moisture content (such as bread). However, Asian noodles are flour products with low moisture content, and no unified method is available for evaluating the quality of noodle-making process. This review summarizes the current process of making Asian noodles and the various methods to evaluate the quality of ingredients, semi-finished, and finished products. The methods for analyzing the quality of special flour, processing of crumbly dough and dough sheets, dried, semi-dried and cooked Asian noodles are also described. Overall, important directions and recommendations for the research and development in terms of efficient processing and quality control of Asian noodles are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is one of the main cereals grown around the world and is the basis for several foods such as bread, cakes and pasta. The consumption of these foods raises a concern with food safety, as toxic substances such as acrylamide, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are formed during their processing. To assess the occurrence of processing contaminants in wheat-based foods, a systematic search was carried out in four databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus. Of the 1479 results, 28 were included for a meta-analysis. Most studies (69.7%) evaluated acrylamide in bread, cookies, and pasta, while PAHs (26.2%) were determined mainly in wheat grains and pasta. HMF was the least determined contaminant (4.1%), with only four studies on cookies included in the meta-analysis. The highest concentration was for acrylamide (136.29 µg·kg−1) followed by HMF (70.59 µg·kg−1) and PAHs (0.11 µg·kg−1). Acrylamide is the main processing contaminant researched, and no studies on the subject have been found in commercial samples in some regions of the world. This result shows a gap in the dates available about process contaminants in wheat-based foods and how the levels can change depending on the process parameters and the ingredients used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat germ protein is a potential resource to produce bioactive peptides. As a cheap, safe, and healthy nutritional factor, wheat germ-derived bioactive peptides (WGBPs) provide benefits and great potential for biomedical applications. The objective of this review is to reveal the current research status of WGBPs, including their preparation methods and biological functions, such as antibacterial, anti-tumor, immune regulation, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, etc. We also reviewed the information in terms of the preventive ability of WGBPs to treat serious infectious diseases, to offer their reference to further research and application. Opinions on future research directions are also discussed. Through the review of previous research, we find that there are still some scientific issues in the basic research and industrialization process of WGBPs that deserve further exploration. Firstly, based on current complex enzymolysis, the preparation and production of WGBPs need to be combined with other advanced technology to achieve efficient and large-scale production. Secondly, studies on the bioavailability, biosafety, and mechanism against different diseases of WGBPs need to be carried out in different in vitro and in vivo models. More human experimental evidence is also required to support its industrial application as a functional food and nutritional supplement. The purification and identification of wheat germ-derived bioactive peptides. The main biological activities and potential mechanisms of wheat germ hydrolysates/peptides. Possible absorption and transport pathways of wheat germ hydrolysate/peptide. Wheat germ peptide shows a variety of health benefits according to its amino acid sequence. Current food applications and future perspectives of wheat germ protein hydrolysates/peptide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term, excessive application of synthetic N fertilizers will reduce soil aggregate stability and N supply capacity in corn–wheat (Zea mays L. – Triticum aestivum L.) rotation. This study aimed to determine the effects of soybean (Glycine max L.) on soil aggregation, soil organic N (SON) and net amount of N mineralization (NANM) in wheat season compared with corn. Three rotation systems, corn–wheat (C-W), soybean–wheat (S-W) and soybean inoculated with Rhizobium-wheat (SR-W) were established in 2017. In wet screening, compared with C-W rotation, the mass proportions of large macro-aggregates (LM%) + small macro-aggregates (SM%) at 0–20 cm was increased by 51.9% and 16.6% under S-W and SR-W rotations, respectively, and was increased by 50.6% and 59.8%, respectively, in the 20–40 cm. The proportions of LM + SM-associated N (LMN% + SMN%), ammonium N (AN) and amino acid N (AAN) were higher under the S-W and SR-W rotations. Furthermore, the NANM of S-W and SR-W rotations increased by 34.1% and 28.6% compared with C-W rotation, respectively, and the non-N benefits of soybean played an important role. In conclusion, the improvement degree of soil aggregation by soybean is an important factor affecting soil N mineralization in wheat season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain yield and protein concentration are critical traits determining wheat economic value and are dependent on nitrogen (N) supply and crop N status. However, application of N fertilisers is costly and has a large environmental footprint. We assessed the effect of slow-release rock mineral fertiliser (RMF) with or without microbial consortium inoculant (MI) on growth, grain yield and protein content of winter wheat grown in a low-fertility soil. The experiment was set up with three factors [RMF rates (0, 10 and 20 mg N kg−1 soil), MI (with and without) and two wheat genotypes] replicated four times and harvested twice (anthesis and maturity). The addition of MI increased root biomass at anthesis, but there was no effect at maturity. The shoot and grain nutrient content and protein yield were highest in plants treated with 20 mg N kg−1 soil. The plants treated with MI resulted in lower grain protein concentration than without MI. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation was higher in treatment with than without MI. The application of RMF at 20 mg N kg−1 soil produced higher plant growth, nutrient content, grain and protein yield compared to control in nutrient-poor sandy soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated uptake of two organic compounds including hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and exogenous caffeine by tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), corn (Zea mays L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The plants were grown in a growth chamber under recommended conditions and then were exposed to these compounds for 19 days. The uptake of the compounds was measured by sap concentration factor. The plant samples (stem transpiration stream) and solution in the exposure media were taken and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The plant stem samples were analyzed after a freeze-thaw centrifugation process. The average sap concentration factor for the RDX by tomato, wheat, and corn was 0.71, 0.67, and 0.65. The average sap concentration factor for the exogenous caffeine by tomato, wheat, and corn was 0.72, 0.50, and 0.34. These relatively high sap concentration factor values were expected as available predictive models offer high sap concentration factor values for moderately hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds. The generated sap concentration factor values for the RDX and exogenous caffeine are important for improving the accuracy of previously developed machine learning models predicting the uptake and translocation of emerging contaminants. The uptake of two organic compounds (RDX and exogenous caffeine) was examined in three crop plants (corn, wheat, and tomato). There have not been any uptake studies on exogenous caffeine and also we do not have good data for the uptake of RDX by these three crop plants. The estimated sap concentration factor from these experiments fills the gap in the data for developing predictive models for uptake of emerging contaminants. A novel rapid freeze–thaw/centrifugation extraction method followed by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of nitrogen and potassium levels in biomass production and efficiency in water consumption of wheat BRS 394 in brazilian Cerrado. The experiment consisted of fractioned factorial combination of five levels of (N): (0, 70, 140, 210 and 280 kg ha−1) and five levels of potassium (K): (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha−1), randomized block design and four replications. The shoot biomass, the number of spikelets per ear and the efficiency of water use for biomass production were evaluated as a function of the N and K levels used in the present study. Analysis of variance at 5% and 10% was performed using F test for the surface response model and when not significant to the first and second degree regression using the R software. The combination of N(238 kg ha−1) and K(97 kg ha−1) increased spikelet yield per spike (15.5), during 2019 harvest. The fertilization with N(115 and 125 kg ha−1) in an isolated way guaranteed maximum shoot biomass yield(5827 kg ha−1) and wheat water use efficiency (32.9 g L−1), during 2018 harvest, respectively. The N provided isolated increases in number of spikelets per spike in 2018 harvest, as well as for shoot biomass and water use efficiency in 2019. The main use of nitrogen fertilization and its combination with potassium provide gains in the production of shoot biomass and water use efficiency of wheat BRS 394 in brazilian Cerrado. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High soil pH constrains the availability of many plant nutrients including phosphorus (P). Sulfur (S) application to soil is a commonly used method to reduce the soil pH in the plant root zone, increase the availability of nutrients and thus obtain a higher yield. However, the particle size of the S is the most important factor in decreasing the soil pH. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different doses of micronized S application (0, 125, 250, and 375 kg ha−1) on the chemical properties of calcareous soil and the yield and nutrient contents of two wheat cultivars (Burgos and Zhivago). The results indicated that soil pH and CaCO3 content of soil decreased with increasing doses of S application. Soil organic carbon content slightly increased with all S applications in Burgos wheat variety. The highest increase was recorded in the 375 kg ha−1 S application, but no significant difference was determined in the Zhivago variety. The available Cu content in soil varied between 3.43 and 3.55 mg kg−1, Fe content was between 13.86 and 14.93 mg kg−1, Mn content was between 22.73 and 25.65 mg kg−1, and Zn content was between 0.53 and 0.62 mg kg−1. The results revealed that soil pH and CaCO3 content decreased with liquid micronized S applications, however, the effect of S applications on exchangeable cations and heavy metal content was not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on development has long underscored the importance of knowledge-based assets and innovation for economic growth and competitiveness. This paper explores an apparent paradox: why did Argentine regulators initially demur in approving the commercialization of genetically-modified (GM) wheat, one of very few products innovated by the country's biotech sector? The answer lies in risk mitigation, but the risks Argentine regulators sought to avoid were not the environmental and health risks typically associated with GM products. Rather, they worried about possible disruptions to agricultural trade if exports were found to be contaminated by an unapproved GM product. I define the kind of risk that Argentine regulators sought to minimize as structural risk—that is, risk issuing from structural constraints a country faces given an unfavorable or dependent position in trade relations. By illuminating how risks emanating from structural constraints particular to Southern states shape regulatory frameworks, this analysis advances our understanding of the Regulatory State of the South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elymus magellanicus (É.Desv.) Á.Löve is a foliage accent plant that found in South America. In this study, the mitochondrial genome of E. magellanicus was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. The complete circular mitogenome of E. magellanicus is 583,450 bp in length and the overall G + C content of mitogenome is 42.27%. It harbors 39 protein-coding genes, 64 transfer RNA genes, eight ribosomal RNA genes, and 20 simple sequence repeats. Phylogenetic analysis indicates a relatively close relationship of E. magellanicus to Hordeum vulgare subsp. Spontaneum, Aegilops speltoides, Triticum aestivum, and T. aestivum cv. Chinese Yumai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the scarcity of information about inoculum sources of Pyricularia oryzae pathotype Triticum (PoT) under field conditions, this study quantified the conidia of PoT on wheat leaves during the crop cycle and linked them with the presence of blast in the spikes. The study was conducted involving two different production environments: nine commercial wheat fields and an experimental plot under sprinkler irrigation. Throughout the crop season, leaves were collected monthly and processed to quantify the number of conidia present in each gram of dry leaves. At physiological maturity of the crop, the fields were sampled to quantify the number of infected spikes/m2. Significant differences in the quantity and persistence of the pathogen during the cycle were seen under both environments. A strong positive correlation between the number of conidia present on the leaves during the crop growth cycle and the percentage of damaged spikes was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the implications of long-term farm yard manure (FYM) use on chemical and microbial properties of Inceptisol in the North-Western Plain Zone of India, and their correlation with yield and protein content of wheat grains. FYM was used at four different doses (0, 10, 20, 30 t ha−1) with recommended dose of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) as standard practice before sowing of both rice and wheat under rice-wheat cropping system. Application of FYM at 30 t ha−1 significantly enhanced the electrical conductivity (36.36%), nitrogen (29.79%), phosphorus (216.75%), potassium (280.15%), zinc (186.90%), copper (24.23%), organic carbon (130.77%), organic matter (132.43%), operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of top 30 bacterial classes (82.27%), genera (73.95%), plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB, 86.00%) and lignocellulose degrading bacteria (LDB, 109.14%) over recommended NPK at p value of 0.05. Significantly high plant biomass (14.21 t ha−1) and grain yield (5.69 t ha−1) were obtained in recommended NPK treatment, followed by 30 t ha−1 FYM treatment, whereas significantly higher grain protein was obtained in 30 t ha−1 FYM treatment at p value of 0.05. The abundance of top 30 bacterial classes was highest under 30 t ha−1 FYM (100117), while lowest under recommended NPK treatment (54928). This treatment also witnessed highest presence of all beneficial bacterial classes, top 30 bacterial genera, PGPB and LDB. Highest up-regulated bacterial genes in recommended NPK, and superior soil quality parameters (nutrient profile and microbial diversity) in 30 t ha−1 FYM, indicate that sustainable yields and quality are achievable by using a balanced amount of inorganic fertilizers and organic manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) is of particular concern compared to the other commonly cultivated cereals. This study was conducted to determine the effects of zinc (Zn) and nitrogen (N) applications on grain Cd concentration of durum wheat grown in a Cd contaminated soil. The experimental design consisted of randomized plots with four replications. The treatments included low and adequate (0.05 and 5 mg kg−1) Zn doses, and inadequate, optimal and high (200, 400 and 600 mg kg−1) N doses. Cadmium application rates were 0 and 5 mg kg−1. The findings demonstrated that Cd application caused a significant increase in grain Cd concentrations, and a decrease in straw and grain yields under low and adequate doses of Zn and all N doses. However, increasing N applications with adequate soil Zn caused an increase in the straw and grain yields and a significant decrease in grain Cd concentration. The grain Cd concentration in low Zn and optimum N treatment under Cd application was 6206 µg kg−1, while the grain Cd concentration decreased by 26.3% (4574 µg kg−1) in the Zn and optimum N treatment. In addition, the grain Zn concentration of durum wheat under low soil Zn conditions was decreased in Cd application, whereas the grain Zn concentration increased in Cd application under adequate soil Zn concentration. The results revealed that combined application of N and Zn in Zn deficient soils is highly effective at decreasing Cd accumulation in wheat grains compared to individual applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To maximize crop yield, farmers use a wide array of herbicides. These chemicals have different mechanisms of action such as inhibition of photosynthesis and synthesis of aminoacids, lipids, and carotenoids in plant organs. The action of herbicides is often accompanied by the release of ROS (reactive oxygen species) in cells, and under their effect, modification of physiological processes occur in non-target plant organs, leading to the reduction of crop yields. To overcome stress conditions, plants react through the production of specific metabolites in their cell organelles, synthesizing detoxifying metabolites, among which glutathione (γ-glutamylcisteinylglycine, GSH) and its derivates are the most important. The detoxifying ability of crops varies between species and even between cultivars. Glutathione plays a major role in the detoxification pathways, and its quantity indicates the plant's capability to metabolize herbicide. In wheat cultivation, the tribenuron-methyl herbicide is widely used. A study on short-term effect of tribenuron-methyl different concentrations (0.5 M, 1 M, 1.5 M) in three wheat cultivars (Pobjeda, Adelajde, and Dajti) and two ancestors Aegilops (accessions Ardenica and Borshi), by evaluating the GSH and pigment content was conducted in 2018 in Albania. A difference in both component content between the control and treated plants was observed. Among the cultivars assessed, Dajti showed the best ability to tolerate herbicide-induced stress. Knowledge on the plants' reaction under herbicide treatments contributes to the identification of tolerance trait, selection of the right treatment formulation, and development of more effective herbicide safeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foliar fertilization is an important agricultural practice. How crop plants considerably response to small amounts of foliar-applied minerals is not fully understood. In this study, we tested whether foliar-applied potassium (K) stimulates soil K uptake by plant roots. Firstly, K uptake from nutrient solution by wheat seedling was investigated with and without foliar application of K. To dissect net K uptake, quantified amount of foliar-applied K (∼19.2 mg pot−1), and K uptake by non-foliar-fertilized plants was subtracted from whole plant K uptake (foliar-treated). In the second set of experiment, maize was grown in soil, and 2% K2SO4 (∼45.4 mg K pot−1) was foliar-applied to dissect soil indigenous K uptake. In addition to elevated K level in both crops, the net K uptake via wheat and maize roots quantified ∼23% and 55%, respectively higher with foliar application of K. It is coupled with improving phenotypic observations, comprising root biomass (32–56%), root-to-shoot ratios (7–38%), and water contents (13–15%) by plotting multivariate analysis. Further, the elevated leaf gas exchange measurements and chlorophyll contents by 10% in wheat and 14% in maize ensured the optimum photosynthetic activity in foliar-applied seedlings. Notably, after crop harvesting, ∼10% lower biological available K in the soil of foliar-applied maize was found. In sum, our findings provide scientific basis that foliar K fertilization improves soil K uptake by wheat, maize, and probably, closely related to cereal crops. It also suggests a novel aspect for further investigation to understand the underlying signaling pathway(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High grade rock phosphates (HGRP) are only used to prepare phosphorus (P) fertilizers. But the finite reserve of HGRP is pushing the agricultural sectors to use low grade rock phosphates (LGRP) for growing crops. In this study an attempt was made to treat LGRP with oxalic acid and use it as a supplement to P fertilizer for growing wheat in Inceptisol. Incubation study revealed that oxalic acid treated rock phosphate (RP) can significantly increase soil available P status as compared to inert untreated RP treatment. Pot study established that oxalic acid treated RP (@60 mg P2O5 kg−1) under DAP30+ RP60(OA) treatment has supplemented 50% P fertilizer without affecting wheat yields and P uptake. DAP30+ RP60(OA) treatment also had maintained significantly higher Saloid-P, organic-P and statistically at par available P, dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activities as compared to chemical fertilizer treatment (DAP60). Thus it can be inferred that, application of oxalic acid treated LGRP (@ 60 mg P2O5 kg−1) can supplement 50% of the P fertilizer demand to grow wheat in Inceptisol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N), the most vital nutrient, undergoes a transformation in the soil and was subjected to loss through ammonia volatilization, nitrate leaching, and denitrification, which lower the soil fertility, crop yield and pollute the environment. Integrated nutrient management (INM) improves the nutrient supply system by integrating recommended dose fertilizers and biofertilizers, lessens the nitrogen losses, and synchronizes with the nutrient demand of the crop. To evaluate the impact of INM on minimization of N losses and improvement of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and growth parameters, a field experiment was conducted with different combinations of biofertilizers along with the recommended dosage of fertilizers. Application of NPK + Azotobacter + mycorrhiza (Tram) in combination was found to improve soil nitrogen dynamics, availability of P, K, microbial activity, root growth, urease activity, and nitrogen use efficiency as compared to NPK (Tr) only. The cumulative emission from ammonia flux in the INM plot varied from 10.2 to 10.6 kg ha−1 and denitrification losses varied from 2.4 to 2.5 kg ha−1. At the same time, these were recorded significantly higher in Tr plot. The yield obtained under the INM plot receiving Tram was recorded as 6.4 t ha−1, which is higher than other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria are among the most frequently studied microorganisms in plant growth-promoting traits and fighting against different pathogens. Actinobacteria are prokaryotic organisms that produce mycelium, spores, and can form various secondary metabolites, especially antibiotics. In our study, free-living and endophytic Actinobacteria were isolated from rhizosphere soils and plant parts of olive (Olea europaea L.) and walnut (Juglans regia L.) trees, which are commercially essential agricultural products for Turkey. The study aimed to explore the plant growth-promoting activities of these Actinobacteria as biological fertilizers. Some of the properties of purified Actinobacteria that regulate the plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits; phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid, siderophore, ammonia, protease, beta-galactosidase, chitinase production, and antagonistic activities against various plant-pathogen fungi were investigated. As a result, 422 Actinobacteria were isolated, and 88 Actinobacteria determined to be possible plant bio-fertilizers were identified as Streptomyces spp. (70), Amycolatopsis spp. (12), Micromonospora spp. (four) and Nocardiopsis spp. (two) after the sequencing of their 16S rRNA genes. Moreover, four Streptomyces spp. and two Amycolatopsis spp. were used in hydroponic germination of wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum L.), and plant growth in terms of root and stem parts increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight integrated crop management (ICM) practices were evaluated for six years consecutively, which are ICM1&2: 'business-as-usual' (conventional transplanted rice fb flatbed wheat), ICM3&4: conventional direct seeded rice (DSR) fb furrow irrigated raised-bed wheat without residues, ICM5&6: conservation agriculture (CA)-based zero-tilled (ZT) DSR fb ZT wheat with the wheat and rice residues and ICM7&8: CA-based ZTDSR fb ZT wheat with the wheat, mungbean and rice residues. ICM7-8 produced 9.6–16.4% and 9.4–9.9% greater system rice equivalent yield (REY) than the ICM1-4 and ICM5-6, respectively. Residue-retained CA-based ICM5-8 had 23.2% and 58.5% greater N and P balance, respectively, than the residue removed (ICM1-4); subsequently, negative K balance (–53 to –115.5 kg ha−1) was recorded in ICM1-4. ICM5-8 consumed ~60-78% of total energy and produced the highest energy output (Eo) in rice (11.5–12.6%)/wheat (7.3–13%) than ICM1-4. In contrast, ICM1-4 had a greater energy use efficiency (EUE) compared to ICM5-8 due to lesser energy input (EI) through indirect renewable sources. At a soil depth of 0.0–0.45 m, the ICM5-8 contributed 7.9% and 20.2% greater active and passive OC pools over the ICM1-4. Thus, CA-based ICM in rice-wheat rotation (RWR) could be a possible substitute for the positive nutrient balance, system yields and energy and carbon dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Irish distilling industry is rapidly expanding, diversifying its growth with an increased interest in using different grains in whiskey production. To effectively use Irish-grown wheat in distillation, the identification of cultivars that are suited to the Irish climate and provide high alcohol yields, via a quick screening test for grain alcohol yield that is consistent with Irish industry standards, is required. The current study used response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize mashing parameters, enzyme dosage rate (α-amylase and amyloglucosidase), time, temperature, and malt inclusion rate, using a hard wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Costello). By optimizing all factors, a maximum alcohol yield (AY) of 471 LA/tonne dry weight basis was achieved, equating to previous research. The enzyme, α-amylase plays a critical part in the process, of converting starch to sugars, and 48 U/g α-amylase was used to reach maximum alcohol yield. Furthermore, an optimal protocol was evaluated on soft wheat cultivars, producing alcohol yields in the range of 483–496 LA/tonne, suggesting the applicability of this product for use across multiple varieties and grain endosperm types. In summary, an optimal alcohol yield methodology was created, with increased AY across four distinct varieties, demonstrating the possibility for Irish cultivated wheat to be used in Irish distilleries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The procurement of food grains from farmers and their transportation to regional level has become decisive due to increasing food demand and post-harvest losses in developing countries. To overcome these challenges, this paper attempts to develop a robust data-driven supply chain model for the efficient procurement of food grains in India. Following the data collected from three leading wheat producing Indian regions, a mixed-integer linear programming model is formulated for minimising total supply chain network costs and determining number and location of procurement centres. The NK Hybrid Genetic Algorithm (NKHGA) is employed to cluster the villages, along with a novel density-based approach to optimise the supply chain network. Sensitivity analysis indicates that policymakers should focus on creating an adequate number of procurement centres in each surplus state, well before the start of the harvesting season. The study is expected to benefit food grain supply chain stakeholders such as farmers, procurement agencies, logistics providers and government bodies in making an informed decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the effects of soil-applied different molybdenum concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 2.5, 12.5 or 62.5 mg kg−1) in the form of sodium molybdate on growth performance, seed production, biochemical parameters, and uptake of Mo in wheat were investigated. Results indicate that Mo doses higher than 2.5 mg kg−1 of soil were observed to be toxic to wheat and retarded the growth as well as seed production. The change in biochemical constituents were correlated with soil Mo concentrations. Chlorophyll and carbohydrate contents increased under lower concentrations of Mo applied. In turn, Mo concentrations beyond 2.5 mg kg−1 significantly increased soluble proteins, total phenolic compounds, and free proline contents. The contents of Mo in root and shoot of wheat plants increased with increased Mo concentrations in the soil. Among the various concentrations of Mo studied, 2.5 mg kg−1 was moderately toxic while 12.5 and 62.5 mg kg−1 were highly toxic and induced stress responses to confer tolerance in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of nanotechnology in agriculture has become an area of great interest for soil scientists. Therefore, it is important and necessary to investigate the effects of nanoparticles on plant growth and its nutritional interactions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acid modified rice husk (MRH) and nano-Silicon (Si) derived from rice husk on the growth and phosphorus uptake and phosphorus use efficiency in Si accumulator wheat and non-accumulator lettuce plants. MRH and nano-Si were applied at 200 mg kg−1 and P was applied 100 mg kg−1 for wheat and 200 mg kg−1 for lettuce plants. The highest dry weight was obtained with the application of nano Si + P treatment; while both MRH and nano-Si had no significant effect over the applied 100 mg P kg−1. Phosphorus fertilization significantly reduced Si concentrations in both plants of wheat and lettuce. However, the decrease in Si concentration was partly compensated by nano-Si treatment. When P was applied together with nano-Si, its uptake and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) significantly increased in wheat plants as compared to other treatments. Nano-Si derived from rice husk is a sustainable waste biomass and is an important alternative Si fertilizer source, which can be a valid strategy for the effective use of P fertilizers. The depletion of available Si in soil can be recovered by applying nano-Si as a fertilizer. The overall results obtained from the current research were promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy temperature is used as an indicator of plant water stress. In recent years, technological advances have allowed improved applications in agriculture from temperature sensors clamped on leaves to short-range remote-sensing, such as infrared thermometry and thermal imaging. There are many scientific studies on the use of thermal imaging to determine crop water stress; however, no study on wheat crops has been found in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the detectability of water stress in wheat by using thermal images. In the experiment, drainage-type, weighable lysimeters were used to make precise irrigations and obtain components of the water budget for calculating the plant water consumption. Wheat crops were grown under four different irrigation levels including no water stress as control (I100), mild water stress (I75), moderate water stress (I50), and severe water stress (I25). When the thermal images were examined, it can be seen that pre-irrigation images reflect water stress conditions better than post-irrigation. The warm color distribution was more evident under severe water stress, whereas cold colors were dominant under no water stress. During the experimental period, the plant leaf temperatures varied from 17.5 to 34.2°C, while the spike temperatures ranged from 26.6°C to 36.3°C. The lowest plant leaf and spike temperature values were observed under control, whereas the highest values were obtained under severe water stress. It can be said that thermal cameras that provide fast and contactless data acquisition have the potential to be used in detecting water stress in wheat crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research was carried out to evaluate the impact of treating wheat (Triticum aestivum c.v Sakha 93) seeds and irrigation water magnetically in combination with different sources and rates of nitrogen on wheat productivity and grain quality under saline soil conditions. Two field experiments were carried out during the winter seasons 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 in a split split randomized complete block design with four replicates at El-Rabaa village, Bir Al-Abd, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt. Main plots were assigned to N-sources, urea, and compost; sub-plots were N-rates 0, 119, 179, and 238 Mg N ha−1, while magnetic treatment of irrigation water and wheat grains was in sub-subplots. The highest chlorophyll and carbohydrate contents (3.12 mg g−1 f.w. and 783 g kg−1, respectively) were observed due to compost, N4+ (MS + MW) treatment representing an increasing percentage of 189% and 220%, respectively. The maximum plant height, spike length, No. spike plant−1, and spike weight values were 82.0 cm, 15.1 cm, 13.9, and 24.9 g plant−1. The results were due to the addition of compost at a rate of 238 kg N ha−1 in combination with magnetized seeds and water treatment with 224, 643, 546, and 845% over the untreated treatment. The maximum straw and grain yields (11.7 and 7.29 Mg ha−1, respectively) were achieved due to the application of compost at a rate of N3 + (MS + MW), and the corresponding increments over the non-treatment plants were 718 and 846%, respectively. However, treatment of compost (179 Mg N ha−1 + magnetized seeds and water) resulted in the maximum increases in the No. grains spike−1, grains weight, 1000-grains weight, protein content, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, and Zn-uptake by grains. Soil pH and EC values were decreased, especially for plants treated with compost (238 kg N ha−1 + magnetized seeds and water treatment). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global wheat yields must increase to meet current and rising global demand despite the increasing threats to production resulting from climate change. One climate change adaptation strategy in wheat production in the Western Cape of South Africa is conservation agriculture (CA). Using a data set of 1,043 plot-level wheat observations collected at Langgewens and Tygerhoek research farms from 2002 to 2020, this study conducts a stepwise Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to estimate the environmental and economic impacts of switching from conventional wheat production to CA's zero tillage (zero-till) and no-tillage (no-till) systems. The results indicate that CA is more profitable and has a higher environmental efficiency, than conventional tillage wheat production. In Langgewens, zero-till and no-till are respectively 113% and 55% more efficient than conventional tillage when comparing the environmental impact of producing one kg of wheat. Findings also suggest that, compared to 100% conventional tillage wheat production, the adoption of CA systems has led to reductions in environmental damage valued between R269.2 and R402.5 million in the Western Cape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although boron (B) is essential micronutrient, higher soil B concentrations become toxic to the plants in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Very little is known about the pH related nutrient solubility, including transpiration-mediated B uptake by plants. The effects of high B (200 μM) and low to high pH (3.0–10.0) on B toxicity, transpiration and nutrient uptake by wheat and rapeseed were studied. Plants were grown for 5 weeks under greenhouse conditions and analyzed for elements concentrations. Regardless of high B or not, low pH favored in the higher B accumulation in roots and shoots of both plant species. However, both plant species exhibited a differential B uptake pattern in roots and shoots. Both low and high pH levels in combination with high B decreased the plant biomass, transpiration, N and Mg concentrations, whereas increased the K, Ca, S, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn concentrations. With the increase in pH 3.0–10.0, excess B decreased the Cl concentrations in wheat and rapeseed. In conclusion, low pH and high B supply enhanced the transpiration-assisted B uptake by plants although pH alone had little effects on B concentrations. Furthermore, nutritional disorder caused by high B in conjunction with low to high pH (3.0–10.0) inhibited the plant growth and transpiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of nitrogen (N) supply on photosynthesis and N, P, and K status of wheat, particularly ancient wheats lacks clarity. Hence, clarification of post-anthesis photosynthesis and N, P, and K status of ancient emmer compared to the improved durum and bread wheats was aimed at. Five field-grown ancient emmer, one improved durum and an improved bread wheat exposed to a wide range of N fertilizer (i.e. 0, 25, 50, and 75 kg ha−1 N) were tested in two consecutive years. Chlorophyll and carotenoids concentrations of the emmer and improved wheats were increased by 39–63% and 29–45%, respectively in response to N supply. Mesophyll conductance and net photosynthetic rate of the improved bread wheat were increased by 150% and 60%, respectively, with increase in N supply, but those of the emmer wheats were decreased in response to the medium (0–43%) and high N (0–37%) supplies. Emmer wheat out-numbered the improved wheats in terms of mesophyll conductance and net photosynthetic rate under the low N supply but the reverse was true with the high N supply. Leaf (1–2.2, 3.2–7.7, and 16.8–35 mg g−1, respectively) and grain (2.38–6.4, 5.6–12.1, and 20.5–28.9 mg g−1, respectively) P, leaf N, and grain K concentrations responded positively to the N supply and emmer wheats equaled or exceeded those of the improved wheats particularly when grown in the absence of high N supplies. The presented data indicates that ancient emmer wheats are potent to be employed to incorporate nutrient-acquiring traits into the modern wheats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the foliar application of B, Zn, and Mn nano-chelates in separate and combined forms and determine what level of nano-chelates fertilizer treatment most significantly enhances the grain yield of wheat (Azar-2 cultivar) under rainfed and supplementary irrigation conditions. The experiment was performed as a split-plot experiment with three replications in two crop years (2014–2015). The main plot included two irrigation regimes ((I1) rainfed irrigation and (I2) supplementary irrigation) during two stages of development (spike emergence and grain filling). The sub-plot had eight foliar application levels: B, Zn, Mn, B + Zn, B + Mn, Zn + Mn, B + Zn + Mn, and distilled water (control). The foliar application of B, Zn, and Mn nano-chelates combined with supplementary irrigation or its sole application dramatically increased wheat's resistance to drought stress. Thousand kernel weight and the number of kernels per spike play a decisive role in grain yield. Therefore, the foliar application of nano-fertilizers can increase grain yield by improving these components. The highest grain yield (2528.33 kg/ha−1) was obtained in the supplementary irrigation condition after the combined foliar application of B + Mn + Zn nano-chelates. This condition led to a 41% increase compared to the highest grain yield obtained under rainfed conditions after the foliar application of Zn nano-chelates (1490 kg/ha−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst)) and powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt)) are important diseases of wheat in Canada and worldwide. Molecular detection methods permit spore detection of few spores; therefore, there is a need to determine initial inoculum thresholds for pathogens to cause disease under both controlled environments and in the field. Susceptible wheat cultivars 'Avocet' and 'AC Barrie' were inoculated with different quantities of spores (0, 103, 104, 105, 106, and 107) of Pst and Bgt. Disease incidence, severity and infection type were evaluated. Results of controlled environment studies showed that the minimum number of spores necessary to cause appreciable incidence and severity for Pst was at higher spore concentrations of 105–106 spores. Conversely, low incidence and severity levels were observed at 103–104 spores for Bgt. Despite occurrence of natural Pst infection, results of field studies in 2016 and 2017 in Southern Alberta demonstrated that significant increases in severity levels were observed following application of 1.2 × 107 spores. Collectively, these results demonstrated that stripe rust severities increased with increasing spore concentration only at high spore levels. In contrast, Bgt severity increased with spore concentration from 103 to 107 spores mL−1. In vitro and in vivo spore germination tests demonstrated germination rates of Pst spores were reduced at lower spore concentrations compared to germination rates at the higher concentrations. Understanding of minimum spore numbers required for disease development will be a prerequisite for predicting epidemics and devising fungicide control measures for future sustainable agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endophytic fungi Simplicillium lamellicola and Clonostachys rosea were assayed for their ability to induce resistance in wheat against disease caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe in growth room and outdoor tests. Agar inoculum of the endophytes was applied 4 days before agar inoculum of F. graminearum was applied to adjacent leaves. Simplicillium lamellicola or C. rosea treatments applied on one leaf significantly reduced the disease on another leaf by between 68 and 70% in growth room tests at 11 days post pathogen inoculation and by between 43 and 49% in outdoor tests at 9 days after inoculation compared to pathogen-inoculated controls with no biocontrols. Simplicillium lamellicola is a promising biocontrol agent since it systemically induced disease resistance in wheat against Fusarium graminearum. Future work is needed to investigate the mode of action of the defence responses and the proper formulation and application of this biocontrol agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating disease of wheat in Canada and disease surveillance is a critical component of integrated disease management, disease forecasting, prioritizing research and breeding efforts, grain handling, and cleaning post harvest. We report on the recent trends of FHB in Canadian wheat including incidence and severity from 1995 to 2021 based on data from 208,247 samples. Our results show a steady increase in FHB incidence from 1995, with an epidemic year in 2016, followed by several years of low incidence. Results also indicated that FHB severity has been stable over time, but not always correlated with incidence. Data from the analysis of 26,538 samples from 2018 to 2021 demonstrate a strong positive correlation between the number of Fusarium damaged kernels (severity) and concentrations of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol. Together, our results provide the most robust survey of FHB in Canada to date, which complement national and international disease monitoring and management efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of phosphorus (P) dose application effects on bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield, mineral nutrients concentration and soil C (C) and nitrogen (N) concentration. From 1998to date, the same soil plots (200 m2) have been fertilized regularly with the same P fertilizer doses, namely 0 (PO), 50 (P50), 100 (P100), 200 (P200) kg P2O5 ha−1 as triple superphosphate (TSP). For the current study, fertilization was done 1 week before seed planting in 2013. Wheat yield increased with increasing P dose applications under long-term field conditions. Compared to the control treatment, 50, 100 and 200 P2O5 ha−1 application significantly increased wheat yield by 60%, 85% and 138%, respectively. Agronomic efficiency decreased with P-level increases. Indigenous root infection results and number of spore count decreased due to increasing P fertilizer application. With increasing fertilizer doses, soil organic C and N increased as well. It was concluded that since plants grow better with high P doses application, it may have a positive impact on organic matter (OM) remaining in the soil and increased soil C and N concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation interception, radiation use efficiency (RUE) and harvest index (HI) are the key determinants of grain yield in cereal species. However, little is known about how these traits affect grain yield among spring wheat genotypes grown under low and optimum nitrogen (N) fertiliser supply. We used two experiments, in a field (Experiment 1; 2017–2018) and glasshouse (Experiment 2; 2018–2019) to investigate the effects of these traits on grain yield. Grain yield increased by 35% with increasing N fertiliser supply to 8.80 t/ha in Experiment 1 and 151% to 8.33 t/ha in Experiment 2. Grain yield was lowest for 'Reliance' and highest for 'Discovery' in both experiments. Differences in grain yield were not associated with HI. As the RUE did not differ among genotypes, the yield differences were attributed to the different amounts of radiation intercepted; a result of the faster leaf area expansion rate (LAER) and subsequent higher maximum green leaf area index (GLAI), and a longer leaf area duration (LAD). The differences in LAER and maximum GLAI among the genotypes were associated with a differences in specific leaf area (cm2/g). Our results suggest that improved grain yields in spring wheat can be achieved by focusing breeding efforts on canopy characteristics to increase radiation interception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of Triticum vulgare (TVE) alone or combined with therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) on wound healing in a diabetic rat model. A total of 72 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group Control, wounded rats without treatment; Group TUS, wounded rats with TUS application; Group TVE, wounded rats treated with TVE; and Group TVE + TUS, wounded rats treated with TVE + TUS. Wound healing was assessed using wound area calculation and thermographic, biochemical, histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence analyses on post-wounding days 7, 14, and 21. On day 21, the wound surface area was significantly decreased in Group TVE + TUS (0.18 ± 0.07 cm2) compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). A significant increase in wound area temperature was recorded on days 7, 14, and 21 in all groups compared to day 0 (p < 0.001). On day 21, Group TVE + TUS (35.4 ± 0.2 °C) had the most significantly highest wound area temperature compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). The highest histopathological scores were recorded in Group TVE + TUS on days 7, 14, and 21 (p = 0.04). The highest vascular endothelial growth factor expression was observed in Group TVE + TUS (82.53 ± 1.98) on day 7 (p = 0.03). In conclusion, treatment with a combination of TVE and TUS effectively enhanced wound healing in diabetic rats compared with other treatment groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to isolate potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB) and evaluate their capacity to mobilize available potassium (K) from soil to plants. Screening of KSB for plant growth-promoting (PGP) properties and K-solubilizing efficiency resulted in the selection of nine potential strains. Identification of the 16S rRNA gene of KSB confirmed that these isolates belong to the genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas. Optimization of physicochemical parameters revealed that pH 7 and 37 °C were the most suitable conditions for K solubilization by all test strains. The K-mobilizing activity was also observed at pH 7 and 25 °C, followed by pH 4 and 37 °C. However, the isolates did not solubilize K at pH 9 after incubation under the tested conditions (25 °C, 37 °C and 40 °C). The PGP effect of these strains was confirmed by an increase in root length of wheat seedlings by 16.0-40.0%. A significant enhancement (2-3 times) in biomass (both fresh and dry weight) was also observed in plants propagated from seedlings that were previously treated with KSB strains, in comparison with control plants. Apart from the growth enhancement, KSB strains mobilized 53.6-304.8% K from natural soil to wheat seedlings under optimized conditions in a greenhouse setup. However, the influx of K upon treatment with strains showing extreme mobilization capacity was negatively correlated with the chlorophyll content of the plants. Overall, four isolates, KSB9 (B. fungorum), KSB7 (P. aeruginosa), KSB20 (B. paramycoides), and KSB18 (P. aeruginosa) exhibited efficient PGP properties with optimum K-mobilizing potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While eliminating their deficiency, leaf consumption of micronutrients enhances the quantitative and qualitative yield of the plant. To examine the impact of irrigation regimes and foliar application of zinc, boron, and iron on wheat yield and yield components, an experiment was conducted in the form of split plots in Varamin (Iran) over two crop years 2016–17 and 2017–18. The main factor of irrigation regimes included three levels (Tr: regular irrigation, Ts: irrigation interruption at the onset of stem growth and Tss: irrigation interruption at the onset of stem growth and seed filling) and the secondary factor included foliar application of micronutrients at eight levels (MC: control), MB: foliar application of boron (B), MZ: zinc (Zn), MI: iron (Fe), MZB: Zn + B, MBI: Fe + B, MZI: Zn + Fe and MZBI: Zn + B + Fe). Irrigation interruption at the onset of stem growth and seed filling (Tss) led to a significant reduction in seed yield and its components. With an average of 6788 kg ha−1, the highest seed yield belonged to normal irrigation treatment. With an average of 6549 kg ha−1, Fe + Zn + B treatment had the highest seed yield, indicating a 17% increase compared to the control treatment. Given the positive effect of iron, zinc, and boron micronutrients on wheat agronomic characteristics, these treatments under normal irrigation and drought stress conditions are suggested to be applied for the development of wheat cultivation in cold temperate areas with semi-arid climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the role of nurseries in the Green Revolution. Nurseries were sets of seeds assembled to test particular traits and sent to breeders around the world to trial. Focusing on wheat nurseries of the 1960s and 70s, I highlight the materials that were central to their distribution, as well as the breeders who planted them. Through this analysis, I trouble the common narrative of the Green Revolution as emerging from centers of international agricultural science, showing the networks of expertise, seed transfer, field trials, and data collection that underpinned this process of agricultural transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual purpose wheat i.e., for grain as well as for green fodder purposes is a novel concept in the world. In view of this, the experiment was conducted on Research Farm of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during rabi season of 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 to study the effect of different seed rates and fertilizer levels on green fodder, grain productivity and economics of dual purpose wheat in western Haryana. The field experiment was laid out in split plot design with two varieties i.e., C 306 and WH 1105 with cutting management practices in main plots and different seed rates with various fertilizer levels in sub plots. Significantly higher green fodder yield, yield attributes, NPK, protein and crude protein content of green fodder were observed in cultivar WH 1105 over C 306 and wheat supplied with 130% RDF over 115 and 100% RDF with either seed rate. Cultivation of C 306 under cut management practices sown at 125 kg/ha seed rate with 130% RDF was observed more economical with higher B-C ratio than WH 1105 and no cut management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer-use efficiency (20 − 50%) is low in wheat fields in India. Coated urea can increase N-use efficiency in wheat, but a desirable coating for use with urea is not widely accepted yet. Therefore, to study the efficacy of coated urea on productivity and economics of wheat, an experiment was conducted at Research Farm of SKUAST-J, India, during winter season of 2017 − 2018 and 2018 − 2019. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 11 treatment combinations, replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of various doses of different types of coated urea viz prilled urea, Neem coated urea (NCU), Zinc coated urea (ZnCU), and Neem + Zinc coated urea (NCU + ZnCU). Different doses of coated urea fertilizers showed significant effect on the growth, yield, economics, and nutrient uptake of wheat crop. Application of 100% of recommended (Rec.) nitrogen (N) through ZnCU + Rec. Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) and Zinc (Zn) (T8) showed significantly better growth, yield attributing characters and grain and straw yield, during both the years of study and remained statistically at par with the application of 85% of Rec. N through ZnCU + Rec. P, K, & Zn (T7), 100% of Rec. N through NCU + ZnCU + Rec. P, K, & Zn (T11), 85% of Rec. N through NCU + ZnCU + Rec. P, K, & Zn(T10) and 100% of Rec. N through NCU + Rec. P, K, & Zn (T5).Similarly, nutrient uptake (N, K and Zn), net returns, and B:C ratio were also observed to be significantly higher with the application of 100% of Rec. N through ZnCU + Rec. P, K, & Zn than other treatments. However, maximum mean Agronomic use efficiency (AUE) and Recovery use efficiency (RUE) of 36.2% and 30.0%, respectively, were found with the application of 85% of Rec. N through ZnCU + Rec. P, K, & Zn (T7) over the application of100% of Rec. N through urea + Rec. P, K, & Zn(T2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of humic acid (HA) on the nutritional value and quality of wheat grain and flour has rarely been studied. A field experiment to determine the effect of fertigation of HA and Azotobacter chroococcum UT1 (AZ) on nutrient elements (P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu), dry gluten, protein and essential amino acids of two wheat cultivars (Chamran and Kouhdasht), comparing four treatments (control, HA, AZ and HA × AZ) using randomized complete block design with four replicates was conducted at the research station of Chardavol in Iran. The 2 years data during 2019 and 2020 indicated that the fertigation of HA and its interaction with AZ (HA × AZ) improved the nutrient elements, dry gluten and protein concentration of wheat grain and flour in both wheat cultivars in comparison with the control treatment. Inoculation of AZ reduced dry gluten of flour in the Kouhdasht cultivar by 6.34%. The application of HA × AZ also significantly enhanced the concentration of essential amino acids of wheat grain and flour in both wheat cultivars by 7.24–11.6%. In similar treatments, the concentration of nutrient elements, dry gluten, protein and essential amino acids of the Chamran cultivar were higher than those in Kouhdasht cultivar. Therefore, it can be concluded that the combined application of HA and AZ can be a suitable recommendation for improving wheat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of a dose of fertilizer nitrogen (N) at sowing of wheat is a widely adopted management strategy in Egypt and several wheat growing regions in the world. The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of delaying the application of this dose on yield and N use efficiency. The treatments in the field experiment conducted in 2018/19 consisted of applying 150, 200, 250 and 300 kg N ha−1 in three equal split doses. In the second experiment conducted in 2019/20, 200 and 250 kg N ha−1 were applied in three unequal split doses. In both the experiments, the first split dose was applied at 0, 10 or 20 days after sowing (DAS) while second and third split doses were applied at 30 and 50 DAS, respectively. The data indicated that applying the first dose of N at 0 DAS resulted in highest N uptake levels at 20 DAS. However, N uptake at later stages dramatically changed to reach highest when applying the first dose at 20 or 10 DAS. This was significantly reflected on grain yield and N use efficiency. For example, when a total of 250 kg N ha−1 was applied in the second season, postponing the first dose from 0 to 20 DAS resulted in an increase of 10.5% in grain yield and 10% in N recovery efficiency. Thus, this study reveals that delaying application of the first dose of fertilizer N up to 20 DAS of wheat can result in increased fertilizer use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the efficiency of fertilizers was improved by coating the fertilizers with a hydrogel formed by the polymerization of itaconic acid (IA), maleic acid (MA), acrylic acid (AA), and potassium persulfate (KPS) to form a synergistic fertilizer and improve its slow-release performance. The effect of synergistic fertilizers on the changes in soil nutrients in wheat fields was studied through field and soil column experiments using ordinary and commercial synergistic fertilizers as controls and different application rates of 'synergistic fertilizers as treatments. The results revealed that the alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (N) and total N contents were significantly higher in T1 than that in CK, and the treatments were ranked as T3 > T2 > T5 > T1 > CK > T4. The difference in the alkali-hydrolyzed N and total N contents between CK and T3 was significant. In terms of available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents, the treatments were ranked as T1 > T4 > T2 > CK > T3 in all soil layers and T3 > T2 > T5 > T1 > CK > T4 in the soil column. The treatments were ranked as T4>CK>T3>T1>T2 in terms of soil organic matter (SOM) content. Compared with ordinary fertilizers, synergistic fertilizers could significantly increase the soil total N, alkali-hydrolyzed N, available P, and available K contents. Compared with ordinary slow-release fertilizers in the market, the effect of synergistic fertilizers is better in improving the use efficiency of fertilizers. By slowly releasing nutrients, synergistic fertilizers can continuously provide nutrients for the growth and development of wheat and improve the use efficiency of fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective management of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are crucial for increasing crop production and productivity as they are associated with a number of enzymatic and physiological activities in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Field experiments were carried out during the winters of 2019˗˗20 and 2020˗˗21 to study the influence of varying levels of N, P, and K on crop performance, nutrient concentration, and uptake at various growth stages of wheat in mid-hill of Nepal. The study was conducted with factorial combinations of three N levels (100, 125, and 150 kg N ha−1), three P levels (25, 50, and 75 kg P2O5 ha−1) and three K levels (25, 50, and 75 kg K2O ha−1) in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Increasing N and K rates significantly (p <.05) increased total dry matter, grain yield, nutrient concentrations and uptakes in wheat. Pooled means showed significantly higher grain yields of 6.3 t ha−1 were obtained with N @ 125 kg ha−1, and K2O @ 50 kg ha−1 than lower rates. At maturity, average concentrations of N, P, and K in grain were 15.5, 3.6, and 5.8 g kg−1, respectively, and 5.4, 0.9, and 10.9 g kg−1 in straw, respectively, depending on the rate of NPK applied. N and P were mostly accumulated in wheat grain, whereas K was found higher in wheat straw than in grain. The nutrient concentration values of grain and straw can be used as a reference for determining nutrient removal from soil using a yield-based technique in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control of rodent pests with novel rodenticides is an important strategy subsequently they are cost-effective in reduction of agriculture damage in the urban environment. The current field study was conducted to test the efficiency of newly formulated baits of zinc phosphide (2%) and brodifacoum (0.005%) in combination and alone mixed with additives for the control of field rats prevailing wheat-groundnut cropping system of the Pothwar region, Pakistan. Burrow baiting and bait stations were employed at the early flowering stages of the respective crops, and continued through three growth stages (germination, peg formation/flowering and maturity). Treatment efficacy of the trials was assessed through counts of active rodent burrows before and after treatments at the three growth stages of these crops. The results indicated variable degrees of reduction in burrow activities following the three bait applications. The reductions in rodent activity in wheat were 88.8% at germination, 92.0% at flowering/grain formation and 95.5% at maturity stage. In groundnut, the rodent activities were reduced by 91.8%, 93.5% and 95.8% at germination, peg formation, and maturity stages, respectively. The estimated mortality at all three growth stages of both wheat and groundnut ranged between 60 and 85%. A significant impact of three rodenticides treatments on the reduction of rodent burrow density in both wheat and groundnut crops (P < 0.05) was observed. Nonetheless, comparison of the mean values reveals that the number of burrows reduced at the maturity stages (P > 0.05). The results revealed that this combination of rodenticides have more potential in enhancing bait acceptance and could be benefit to the agricultural ecosystem and may reduce the impact of secondary poisoning and environmental risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizobacteria stimulate plant growth, and are profoundly known for increasing crop production and lowering crop input costs by replacing chemical fertilizer applications. The application of PGPR (Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria) not only regulates the nutritional and hormonal balance of plants, but also increases resistance against plant pathogens. The interaction of PGPR with bulk soil or with microbes in the rhizosphere indirectly boosts plant growth rates, and PGPR can be declared a biofertilizer. Therefore, the intent of the study was to analyze the influence of indigenous rhizospheric bacteria and the mode of action of PGPR on improved yield (Triticum aestivum L.) as a biofertilizer under both in vivo and in vitro conditions. Based on their engagement in producing ACC (Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deaminase, phosphorus solubilization, indole acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, potential strains have been identified. PGPR with the recommended dose urea, Diammonium phosphate (DAP) and Muriate of potash (MOP) were utilized. Inoculants of wheat seeds with urea (CH4N2O), DAP [(NH4)2HPO4] and MOP enhanced the growth drastically. For half of the suggested doses of synthetic fertilizers and a strain consortium, the strains were used in various combinations to achieve a maximum yield compared to the single use of the recommended fertilizer dose and a strain consortium.16Sr RNA gene sequencing, fatty acid profile, and biology further established certain strains. An inoculated bacterium has greater capacity and leads to improved crop production, enhanced yield when spread in conjunction under field conditions and therefore can reduce chemical fertilizer use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was carried out to determine the impact of seed priming i.e. non-primed and primed seed with 2.0% KCl for 12 hr and twice foliar nutrition i.e. no spray, 0.5% ZnSO4, 0.5% CaCl2, 0.5% KNO3, and 2.0% urea on yield execution of normal sown (November 28) and late sown (Late sown) wheat. The results revealed that in both years of study, wheat planted on November 28 produced significantly higher grain yield with a comparable difference in number of spikes per square meter, spike length, number of fertile spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, and 1000-grain weight. There was 23.0% and 24.0% decrease in grain yield for the late sowing on Late sown when compared with normal sowing on November 28 in first year and second year, respectively. Primed seeds were not significantly impacted in comparison to the non-primed seed. In contrast with no spray, spraying of various nutrients twice at maximum tillering and 80% flowering recorded significant improvement in yield of wheat crop. Highest yields were recorded with a foliar spray of 2.0% urea followed by 0.5% ZnSO4, 0.5% KNO3, and 0.5% CaCl2. The significant interaction between sowing dates and foliar spraying demonstrates that foliar spray of urea at the rate of 2.0% and ZnSO4 at the rate of 0.5% at maximum tillering and 80% flowering stage were financially more reasonable choices for both the planting dates and can increase grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) induced zinc (Zn) deficiency has emerged as an important nutritional constraint for field crop production, and thus, it is essential to optimize P and Zn levels for balanced fertilizer applications. To study the effects of soil applied P and Zn fertilizers on Zn–P interactions and productivity of wheat crop, the experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, during 2017–2018 and 2018–2019. The experiment, comprised two types of soils viz., low and high in P content, with four Zn levels (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg kg−1) and five P levels (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 mg kg−1), conducted in complete randomized design with three replications. The results indicated that under low P soil, wheat yield, Zn and P uptake increased with Zn addition up to 5 mg kg−1 and P addition up to 10 mg kg−1. However, in high P soil, wheat yield, Zn and P uptake increased with Zn addition of 10 mg kg−1 and with no P addition. Among different treatments, P10Zn5 gave the highest wheat yield, content, and uptake of Zn and P in low P soil. Similarly, in high P soil, treatment P0Zn10 reported the highest wheat yield, Zn and P uptake by wheat. The levels of Zn and P viz., P10Zn5 and P0Zn10 showed synergistic effects in terms of wheat yield, content, and uptake of Zn and P, respectively. Thus, the study is beneficial to optimize levels of P and Zn fertilization under low and high P soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]