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Background: Cover cropping is an agricultural practice that uses secondary crops to support the growth of primary crops through various mechanisms including erosion control, weed suppression, nutrient management, and enhanced biodiversity. Cover crops may elicit some of these ecosystem services through chemical interactions with the soil microbiome via root exudation, or the release of plant metabolites from roots. Phytohormones are one metabolite type exuded by plants that activate the rhizosphere microbiome, yet managing this chemical interaction remains an untapped mechanism for optimizing plant-soil-microbiome interactions. Currently, there is limited understanding on the diversity of cover crop phytohormone root exudation patterns and our aim was to understand how phytochemical signals selectively enrich specific microbial taxa and functionalities in agricultural soils. Results: Here, we link variability in cover crop root exudate composition to changes in soil microbiome functionality. Exudate chemical profiles from 4 cover crop species (Sorghum bicolor, Vicia villosa, Brassica napus, and Secale cereal) were used as the chemical inputs to decipher microbial responses. These distinct exudate profiles, along with a no exudate control, were amended to agricultural soil microcosms with microbial responses tracked over time using metabolomes and genome-resolved metatranscriptomes. Our findings illustrated microbial metabolic patterns were unique in response to cover crop exudate inputs over time, particularly by sorghum and cereal rye amended microcosms. In these microcosms, we identify novel microbial members (at the genera and family level) who produced IAA and GA4 over time. Additionally, we identified cover crop exudates exclusively enriched for bacterial nitrite oxidizers, while control microcosms were discriminated for nitrogen transport, mineralization, and assimilation, highlighting distinct changes in microbial nitrogen cycling in response to chemical inputs. Conclusions: We highlight that root exudate amendments alter microbial community function (i.e., N cycling) and microbial phytohormone metabolisms, particularly in response to root exudates isolated from cereal rye and sorghum plants. Additionally, we constructed a soil microbial genomic catalog of microorganisms responding to commonly used cover crops, a public resource for agriculturally relevant microbes. Many of our exudate-stimulated microorganisms are representatives from poorly characterized or novel taxa, revealing the yet to be discovered metabolic reservoir harbored in agricultural soils. Our findings emphasize the tractability of high-resolution multi-omics approaches to investigate processes relevant for agricultural soils, opening the possibility of targeting specific soil biogeochemical outcomes through biological precision agricultural practices that use cover crops and the microbiome as levers for enhanced crop production. BPG5Z_iDvqR4KrAs2TcSTi Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Vicia villosa protein isolate (VVPI), with a high and valuable protein source, was used to create an edible coating containing ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to investigate the effect of active coating on the quality of chicken breast fillets during refrigerated storage. The results showed a low growth rate in total viable count (TVC) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in coated samples. Moreover, as ZnO NPs concentration increased, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) decreased in the coated samples. In addition, the acid value and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) in the coated samples were significantly lower than the control group. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum confirmed the chemical interactions of the coating components. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a homogeneous layer of coating on the surface of the coated chicken meat. Organoleptic indicators including color, smell, texture and overall acceptability were acceptable in all coated samples. These findings showed that the coating based on protein isolate containing ZnO NPs has a good potential to increase the safety and shelf life of chicken meat.

Rotylenchulus reniformis (reniform nematode, RN) is among the most important nematodes affecting cotton. Cultural practices, such as rotation and soil amendment, are established methods for managing RN. Management may be enhanced if crop residue has biofumigant properties against RN. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of winter crop amendments for managing RN in the greenhouse. Reniform nematode-infested soil was amended with dry or fresh organic matter (OM, 2% w/w) from winter crops – canola, carinata, hairy vetch, oat, or no crop. Cotton was subsequently grown in this soil. Independent of the crop, dry OM amendments were more effective than no amendment at managing RN, while fresh OM amendments were not. Soil and root RN abundances and reproduction factors were generally lower in Trials 1 and 3 for dry OM than fresh OM amendments or control without OM. In Trial 2, none of the OM treatments reduced RN parameters compared with no OM control. In general, when compared to plants without RN or OM, RN did not produce significant changes in growth parameters but did affect physiology (Soil Plant Analysis Development, or SPAD, values). In conclusion, dry OM amendments can help manage RN, crop growth does not always relate to RN abundances, and SPAD values could help indicate RN presence.

Rotylenchulus reniformis (reniform nematode, RN) is an important pathogen in cotton production. Cultural practices such as crop rotation and biofumigation—management of soil pathogens by biocidal compounds from crop residues—may help manage RN. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of winter crops for RN management through combinations of rotation and crop residue incorporation in a cotton greenhouse experiment. A total of 10 treatments were evaluated in soil inoculated with RN: three winter crops (carinata, oat, or hairy vetch) grown in rotation with no shoot organic matter (OM) incorporated (1–3), fresh shoot OM incorporated (4–6), or dry shoot OM incorporated (7–9), and a fallow control (10). Roots were re-incorporated in all treatments except fallow. Subsequently, cotton was grown. Oat and fallow were better rotation crops to lower soil RN abundances at winter crop termination than hairy vetch and carinata. After the OM incorporation treatments and cotton growth, oat was generally more effective at managing RN in cotton than carinata or hairy vetch. Within each crop, incorporation treatment generally did not affect RN management. Cotton growth was not consistently affected by the treatments.

The data described support the research article entitled “Interseeded cover crop mixtures influence soil water storage during the corn phase of corn-soybean-wheat no-till cropping systems”. Data were collected during the corn (Zea mays L.) phase from rotations with four different cover crop (CC) treatments. The study was conducted at the USDA research facility in Beltsville, MD from 2017 through 2020. The data are available from a repository at Ag Data Commons. Descriptions of crop rotations, soil water and temperature sensors, placement, and frequency of measurements are provided in the manuscript and repository. Hourly volumetric soil water content (m3 m−3) (VWC) and soil temperature (°C) data for each soil depth (0-12, 25-35, 50-60, 75-85 cm) are available from the repository. In the manuscript, daily values of soil water storage were used to estimate daily evapotranspiration (ET) and infiltration. A text file of meta information is provided in the repository describing data collection procedures, estimation of ET and infiltration, and methods used to replace sensor data having errors. Daily precipitation, maximum and minimum temperatures, net solar radiation, and windspeed collected at a nearby weather station are provided for estimating growing degree days and potential ET. Cover crop biomass (kg ha−1) prior to corn planting and corn yields are provided by replication and cover crop system treatment for the four years.

The study was to improve the yield and nutritional quality of grasses in winter fallow field in Karst area, the experiment of different mixed sowing ratios of Lolium multiflorum and Vicia villosa was carried out in Karst area. Seven treatments were set up in the experiment, including Lolium multiflorum 100% (L100), Vicia villosa 100% (V100), Lolium multiflorum 30% + Vicia villosa 70% (L30V70), Lolium multiflorum 40% + Vicia villosa 60% (L40V60), Lolium multiflorum 50% + Vicia villosa 50% (L50V50), Lolium multiflorum 60% + Vicia villosa 40% (L60V40), Lolium multiflorum 70% + Vicia villosa 30% (L70V30), and measured plant height, grass yield, relative growth rate and interspecific competitiveness. The results showed that the plant height of Lolium multiflorum was 0.08%~10.20% higher than that of L100, plant height of Vicia villosa was 1.56%~20.58 % higher than that of L100 except L60V40. The total height of mixed Lolium multiflorum was 1.01%~5.00% higher than that of L100. The grass yield of L40V60 and L60V40 was higher than that of Lolium multiflorum monoculture L100. The grass yield of the first stubble accounted for 35.40%~42.86% of grass yield, the grass yield of the second stubble accounted for 24.02%~30.21%, and the grass yield of the third stubble accounted for 30.60%~35.02%. The grass yield of the first and third stubbles was higher than that of the second stubble, and the grass yield of L100 was decreasing. In the mixed sowing ratio of L30V70, there was fierce competition for resources between Lolium multiflorum and Vicia villosa, and there was a certain degree of antagonism. The grass yield was lower than that of Lolium multiflorum monoculture L100. The study indicates that the L60V40 mixed sowing ratio (13.5 kg/hm² Lolium multiflorum + 24.0 kg/hm² Vicia villosa) has the highest grass yield, with hay yield of 17 136.67 kg/hm² and land utilization rate increased by 21%. It is better to select 60% of Lolium multiflorum and 40% of Vicia villosa in Karst area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vicia villosa, a high-quality green manure crop, helps to increase the content of soil phosphorus (P) by returning to the field. Soil P deprivation is a severe constraint on crop productivity that triggers the low P stress response in plants, which is controlled by various transcriptional regulatory network pathways. Identifying key genes from these transcriptional regulatory networks can help in developing low P-tolerant crops. In this study, we performed physiological observations and transcriptome sequencing of seedlings from the two Vicia villosa varieties, Xu Shao 3 and Soviet Vicia villosa, under P starvation conditions. The results showed that the main root length, plant height, shoot dry weight, root acid phosphatase activity, and inorganic P content of Xu Shao 3 were significantly higher than those of Soviet Vicia villosa under low P conditions. Based on transcriptome data analysis, 183 (shoot) + 144 (root) differential genes (DEGs) between the two varieties were identified; 144 (shoot) + 79 (root) were upregulated, and 69 (shoot) + 65 (root) were downregulated. KEGG analysis found that DEGs in shoots were significantly enriched in photosynthesis pathways, such as vitamin B6 and riboflavin metabolism. Meanwhile, DEGs in roots were enriched in plant signal transduction, fatty acid degradation, citric acid cycle, pentose, glucuronic acid conversion, etc. GO enrichment analysis suggested that DEGs in shoots were significantly enriched in biological processes, including cell response to P stress, intracellular ion homeostasis, etc., and molecular functions, including phosphate ester hydrolase, phosphatase, acid phosphatase activity, etc. Furthermore, DEGs associated with low P tolerance included three acid phosphatases, a phosphoesterase, a sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol synthase, a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, six phosphate transporters and glycerol-3-phosphate transporters, eight SPX, and two PHL genes. In conclusion, Xu Shao 3 exhibited stronger inorganic P accumulation ability and a lesser effect on growth than Soviet Vicia villosa under low P conditions, which might result from photosynthesis, sugar, and P metabolism differences between the two varieties. Acid phosphatase, phosphoesterase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol synthase, phosphate transporter, glycerol-3-phosphate transporter, and SPX were key DEGs leading to the difference in low P stress tolerance between the two varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis, RN) is one of the most important yield-robbing pathogens in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). In the southeast United States, carinata (Brassica carinata) is an emerging winter crop, but its host status for RN has not been studied. This information is foundational for the establishment of carinata as a crop and for RN management in the region. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the relative host suitability of carinata to RN when compared to poor hosts of RN--oat (Avena sativa), canola (B. napus), and peanut (Arachis hypogaea)--or good hosts of RN--hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) and cotton. This objective was investigated in a repeated greenhouse experiment with the first trial conducted in 2020 and the second in 2021. In both trials, carinata had reproduction factor values (final population density/initial population density) of less than one, and the abundance of RN per gram of roots and per root system was less for carinata than good hosts of RN. For other crops, results were consistent with the RN host status previously defined. Based on these results, carinata is a poor RN host, and therefore, it may be a useful management option for RN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High tunnels are an important season extension tool for horticultural production in cold climates, however maintaining soil health in these intensively managed spaces is challenging. Cover crops are an attractive management tool to address issues such as decreased organic matter, degraded soil structure, increased salinity, and high nitrogen needs. We explored the effect of winter cover crops on soil nutrients, soil health and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) crop yield in high tunnels for 2 years in three locations across Minnesota. Cover crop treatments included red clover (Trifolium pratense) monoculture, Austrian winter pea/winter rye biculture (Pisum sativum/Secale cereale), hairy vetch/winter rye/tillage radish (Vicia villosa/S. cereale/Raphanus sativus) polyculture, and a bare-ground, weeded control. Cover crop treatments were seeded in two planting date treatments: early planted treatments were seeded into a standing bell pepper crop in late Aug/early September and late planted treatments were seeded after bell peppers were removed in mid-September At termination time in early May, all cover crops had successfully overwintered and produced biomass in three Minnesota locations except for Austrian winter pea at the coldest location, zone 3b. Data collected include cover crop and weed biomass, biomass carbon and nitrogen, extractable soil nitrogen, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon, permanganate oxidizable carbon, soil pH, soluble salts (EC), and pepper yield. Despite poor legume performance, increases in extractable soil nitrogen and potentially mineralizable nitrogen in the weeks following cover crop residue incorporation were observed. Biomass nitrogen contributions averaged 100 kg·ha−1 N with an observed high of 365 kg·ha−1 N. Cover crops also reduced extractable soil N in a spring sampling relative to the bare ground control, suggesting provision of nitrogen retention ecosystem services.

An effective measure for controlling the most harmful wintering and winter weed species, such as Apera spica-venti, Galium aparine, Veronica persica, Consolida regalis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Descurainia Sophia, Vicia villosa, etc. in winter wheat crops is the autumn application of herbicides, especially in the early stages of crop development, starting from the seed germination stage, when it is most sensitive to their presence. The study presents the results of two-year studies on the biological effectiveness of applying the herbicide Pledge 50, WP in different stages of development of winter wheat (BBCH 00, 11, 12, 14, and 16) independently and in a mixture with herbicides partners: Zenkor Liquid 600, SC, Marathon, SC, Granstar Gold 75, WG, Grodil Maxi 375, OD, and adjuvant Skaba, EC. As a result, it is identified that the biological effectiveness of the drugs under study against Apera spica-venti and other winter and wintering weeds substantially differed depending on the phase of development of winter wheat during the period of herbicide application. Pre-emergence application of herbicides does not ensure proper control of Apera spica-venti and other winter and wintering weeds. In particular, during the spring resumption of vegetation, the control of Apera spica-venti with the use of 0.1 kg/ha Pledge 50, WP was 69.0%, with an overall efficiency of 68.0%. Application of 0.4 l/ha Sencor Liquid 600, CS provided indicators of 66.1 and 71.4%, respectively. The introduction of 0.1 kg/ha of Pledge 50, WP in the BBCH 11 development phase provided high efficiency in controlling Apera spica-venti and all weeds in general with indicators of 91.2 and 87.6%, respectively. The use of a reduced rate of 0.08 kg/ha Pledge 50, WP in the BBCH 12 phase did not reduce both the overall effectiveness against weeds – 87.4%, and Apera spica-venti in particular – 93.1%. The use of Pledge 50, WP (0.1 kg/ha) in the BBCH 16 phase had a worse, but acceptable effect with efficiency indicators of 84.2% against Apera spica-venti and 83.6% overall. The best control of Apera spica-venti and all weeds, in general, was obtained by using a mixture of Pledge 50, WP + Granstar Gold 75, WG + adjuvant Skaba, EC (0.06 kg/ha + 0.025 l/ha + 0.05 l/ha) in the BBCH 14 phase – 97.5 and 99.2%, which is at the level of Sencor Liquid 600, SC + Grodil Maxi 375, OD (0.35 l/ha + 0.11 kg/ha). The highest yield of winter wheat in the experiment was obtained by applying a mixture of Pledge 50, WP + Granstar Gold 75, WG + adjuvant Skaba, EC (0.06 kg/ha + 0.025 l/ha + 0.05 l/ha) in the BBCH 14 phase – 7.56 t/ha, which is 59.8% better than the control

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of organic fertilizers on micronutrients status of soil and yield of sesame. Research was performed in split-plot design based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental treatments included animal manure as main factor at three levels (0, 10, and 20 t ha−1) and application of green manures as sub factor at four levels (no green manure, Berseem clover, Fenugreek, and Vicia villosa). The results showed by application of animal manure, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and ferrous (Fe) contents in the treatment of 20 t ha−1 of animal manure were about 27, 22, 7.5, and 6% higher than the control treatment, respectively. The soil analysis showed in the post-harvesting stage of sesame 2.7% Cu and 29% Zn were stored in the soil. While the amounts of Fe 11% and Mn 71% in the soil were less than pre-planting of sesame. In general, fenugreek green manure application increased the amounts of micronutrients of soil more than the other green manures and animal manure individually. The highest total dry weight (10720.0 kg ha−1), grain yield (1929.4 kg ha−1) and oil yield (946.8 kg ha−1) were observed in the 20 t ha−1 of animal manure and Fenugreek of green manure treatments, which were about 44, 52 and 50% higher than the non-application of animal and green manures treatments, respectively. In general, the application of organic manures increased sesame yield by improving the physico-chemical properties and the amount of soil micronutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Associated grass-legume pastures have advantages over grass monoculture; in order to evaluate them the association of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) with winter vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) was analysed. The objective of the study was to evaluate forage yield, the botanical, morphological, and chemical composition of black oat in monoculture and in association with winter vetch, at different crop heights and residual stubble heights. Eighteen treatments were evaluated in randomized complete blocks with divided plots. In large plots, the culture type (monoculture or association); and in small plots, nine harvest management options (combinations) of three crop heights (Ch: 40, 50 and 60 cm) and three residual stubble heights (Rsh: 8, 14 and 20 cm). Forage yield was higher (p ≤ 0.05) in Ch50-Rsh8, Ch60-Rsh8 and Ch60-Rsh14 during the second crop cycle, with an average 8555 kg DM ha-1. In monoculture and in association, more cuts were made (three to four) with Ch40-Rsh14 and Ch40-Rsh20 and fewer cuts (one to two) with Ch60- Rsh8, Ch60-Rsh14 and Ch60-Rsh20. Crude protein concentration was 19 % higher (p ≤ 0.05) in monoculture than in association (19.2 and 16.2 %); the highest concentrations (p ≤ 0.05) of crude protein were obtained in Ch40-Rsh8, Ch40-Rsh14 and Ch40-Rsh20 (average 20.5 %), and the lowest was recorded in Ch60-Rsh8 (13.2 %). The forage with the least neutral detergent fibre (p ≤ 0.05) was harvested in Ch40-Rsh8, Ch40-Rsh14 and Ch50-Rsh14 (average 43.4 %), and the highest (49.3 %) was obtained in Ch60-Rsh20. In monoculture and in association, a greater amount of forage was harvested, distributed in at least two harvests, with Ch of 50 and 60 cm in combination with 8 and 14 cm of Rsh. However, the forage did not have the best composition, due to higher concentrations of neutral detergent fibre and lower crude protein concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vicia villosa, a high-quality green manure crop, helps to increase the content of soil phosphorus (P) by returning to the field. Soil P deprivation is a severe constraint on crop productivity that triggers the low P stress response in plants, which is controlled by various transcriptional regulatory network pathways. Identifying key genes from these transcriptional regulatory networks can help in developing low P-tolerant crops. In this study, we performed physiological observations and transcriptome sequencing of seedlings from the two Vicia villosa varieties, Xu Shao 3 and Soviet Vicia villosa, under P starvation conditions. The results showed that the main root length, plant height, shoot dry weight, root acid phosphatase activity, and inorganic P content of Xu Shao 3 were significantly higher than those of Soviet Vicia villosa under low P conditions. Based on transcriptome data analysis, 183 (shoot) + 144 (root) differential genes (DEGs) between the two varieties were identified; 144 (shoot) + 79 (root) were upregulated, and 69 (shoot) + 65 (root) were downregulated. KEGG analysis found that DEGs in shoots were significantly enriched in photosynthesis pathways, such as vitamin B6 and riboflavin metabolism. Meanwhile, DEGs in roots were enriched in plant signal transduction, fatty acid degradation, citric acid cycle, pentose, glucuronic acid conversion, etc. GO enrichment analysis suggested that DEGs in shoots were significantly enriched in biological processes, including cell response to P stress, intracellular ion homeostasis, etc., and molecular functions, including phosphate ester hydrolase, phosphatase, acid phosphatase activity, etc. Furthermore, DEGs associated with low P tolerance included three acid phosphatases, a phosphoesterase, a sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol synthase, a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, six phosphate transporters and glycerol-3-phosphate transporters, eight SPX, and two PHL genes. In conclusion, Xu Shao 3 exhibited stronger inorganic P accumulation ability and a lesser effect on growth than Soviet Vicia villosa under low P conditions, which might result from photosynthesis, sugar, and P metabolism differences between the two varieties. Acid phosphatase, phosphoesterase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol synthase, phosphate transporter, glycerol-3-phosphate transporter, and SPX were key DEGs leading to the difference in low P stress tolerance between the two varieties.

Vicia villosa)V. villosa (seed is considered a good source of protein, fiber, and minerals (iron, magnesium, potassium, etc.) and is helpful for human health. This study focused on optimizing the extraction of V. villosa seed protein and investigating the physicochemical and functional properties of V. villosa protein isolate (VVPI) as a food additive. The response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the extraction process of protein isolate using the face central composite design (FCCD). The optimal conditions for maximum protein yield (12.47%), protein content (87.90 %), and protein solubility (8.17 mg/mL(were obtained under conditions of pH 11 and extraction time of 26 min. The primary VVPI amino acids glutamine (Glu) and asparagine (Asp) were 16.4% and 10.16%, respectively. The results indicated that VVPI had significant solubility, foaming, and emulsifying properties, which the lowest of these properties were observed at the isoelectric point (pI). Also, VVPI showed that it has water holding capacity (WHC) and oil absorption capacity adequate. The denaturation temperature (76.17 °C) of VVPI was determined by using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that VVPI has a rough surface. Regarding the good nutritional and functional properties of VVPI, it can be recommended to be used in various food formulations as an additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Homand Absard Rangeland Research Station is located 70 km northeast of tehran and 15 km southeast of Damavand with an altitude of 1972 m a.s.l., an average annual rainfall of 333 mm, and a cold semi-steppe climate. In order to compare the seed production of Vicia villosa under different cultivation seasons and methods, the seeds were initially collected from natural habitats similar to the mentioned station. Afterwards, seed characteristics such as viability, and seed vigorwere examined. Two sowing methods, namely row seeding and seeding with rainfall storage, through crescent contour trenches and spring and autumn sowing dates, were considered in a complete randomized block design with three replications. Statistical analysis was performed by independent t-test using SPSS 21 software. According to the obtained results, no establishment was recorded for spring sowing; furthermore, in autumn sowing, the two cultivation methods were not significantly different in terms of establishment (p

This study was carried out in Samsun province between 2013 and 2014 to investigate the effects of some cover crops, used for weed control in the persimmon orchards, on yield and quality of the fruits. The study was conducted according to the randomized complete blocks design with four replications. The research was carried out with 9 different applications; cover crop plots with Trifolium repens, Festuca rubra rubra, Festuca arundinacea and a 40 + 30 + 30 percent mixture of these species, Vicia villosa, Trifolium meneghinianum, mechanical control plots, herbicides control plots and weedy control plots. As a result of the research, it was determined that the applications affected the persimmon yield. The highest yield per decare was obtained from V. villosa plots with 1617.5 kg da-1, while the lowest yield per decare was obtained from weed control plots with 355.7 kg da-1. The highest fruit size of 69.0 mm was obtained from herbicide control plots, whereas the lowest fruit size was obtained from F. rubra rubra plots with 45.2 mm. Two groups were obtained for fruit width. F. arundinacea, F. rubra rubra, and herbicide control plots were in the higher group with 74.7 mm, 71.5 mm, and 71.3 mm of fruit width respectively. As for the shape index, the highest rate of 1.15 was observed at the T. meneghinianum plots and the lowest rate of 0.80 was observed at the F. arundinacea plots. The highest fruit weight of 165.5 g was obtained from the F. arundinacea plots and the lowest fruit weight of 109.9 g was from the plots with the mixture of T. repens, F. rubra rubra, F. arundinacea. Water-soluble dry matter (WSDM) rates were found to be the highest for the plots with the mixture of T. repens, F. rubra rubra, F. arundinacea with a value of 21.2%, whereas the lowest WSDM rates were obtained from V. villosa plots with a value of 18.3%. According to the results of the study, it has been determined that the cover crops can be recommended as an alternative in weed control agents since they do affect the yield and quality in persimmon orchards.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Vicia villosa supplementation to the basal diet of desho grass hay on feed intake, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of the Arsi-Bale sheep. Twenty-four lambs were assigned by stratified randomization based on their initial body weight into six blocks consisting of four lambs per block to four dietary treatments. Desho grass hay was fed free choice to all experimental lambs whereas 0, 150, 300 and 450 g of Vicia villosa was supplemented to animals. The results showed that the daily DM intake and daily body weight gain of experimental sheep showed significant improvement (P < 0.05) with increased level of inclusion of Vicia villosa into the basal ration. It can be concluded that the supplementation of 450 g of Vicia villosa hay to desho grass hay had a positive effect on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Arsi-Bale sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A utilização de culturas de cobertura no inverno melhora as condições químicas, físicas e biológicas do solo, além de reduzir os problemas com plantas espontâneas nas culturas de verão. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a emergência e o crescimento de plantas espontâneas, bem como a produtividade do milho submetido à competição com infestantes, em diferentes quantidades de palha de ervilhaca sobre o solo. Para isso, foi conduzido um experimento na safra 2002/03. As quantidades de palha de ervilhaca utilizadas foram: ausência de palha, 4,7t/ha e 9,4t/ha. Avaliaram-se a densidade e o acúmulo de massa aérea pelas plantas espontâneas, a produtividade e os componentes do rendimento do milho. Houve menor emergência e crescimento de plantas espontâneas na presença de 9,4t/ha de palha, tratamento que também proporcionou maior produtividade de grãos de milho em relação aos demais.

The biggest problem of Hungarian crop farming is mass production and the simple crop rotation based on cereals. There was a decrease in sowing area of protein crops which raises crucial issues in crop rotation and land use. Therefore, growing papilionaceous plants, which are now considered to be alternative plants, should be taken under close examination. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) belongs to the family of papilionaceous plants and it can be grown in light weak soils. In Hungary, hairy vetch was used as green forage at first, but it later became a green manure plant. Nowadays, it is used as a cover crop and its sowing seed has a good export market. In low fertile soils it is able to produce a big amount of green yield (25-40 t ha-1) even in spring while its seed yield could be 0.4-0.5 t ha-1 at farm level. In addition to its morphological characteristics hairy vetch is grown mainly with a supporting plant, i.e. triticale in many cases. Our purpose was to test the harvest index and its agrotechnical and botanical factors of hairy vetch in different cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homand Absard Rangeland Research Station is located 70 km northeast of tehran and 15 km southeast of Damavand with an altitude of 1972 m a.s.l., an average annual rainfall of 333 mm, and a cold semi-steppe climate. In order to compare the seed production of Vicia villosa under different cultivation seasons and methods, the seeds were initially collected from natural habitats similar to the mentioned station. Afterwards, seed characteristics such as viability, and seed vigorwere examined. Two sowing methods, namely row seeding and seeding with rainfall storage, through crescent contour trenches and spring and autumn sowing dates, were considered in a complete randomized block design with three replications. Statistical analysis was performed by independent t-test using SPSS 21 software. According to the obtained results, no establishment was recorded for spring sowing; furthermore, in autumn sowing, the two cultivation methods were not significantly different in terms of establishment (P<0.05). However, the results of mean comparisons showed that in autumn sowing, the crescent seeding with an average seed production of 68.36% was superior to the row seeding with an average seed production of 59.12%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate the quantity and quality of forage when intercropping forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) with lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and using different weed management methods such as double cropping, a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out at the research station of the University of Zanjan over two growing seasons (2015 and 2016). In this experiment, the intercropping of forage sorghum with lathyrus and hairy vetch at six levels with single cropping of forage sorghum, lathyrus, and hairy vetch, and three weed management strategies (no weed control, full weed control, and single weed control) was evaluated. The results showed that most forage sorghum traits were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by different sowing ratios. The highest fresh forage yield of sorghum (77.9 ton/ha) and lowest (49.0 ton/ha) were obtained with sorghum + 33% hairy vetch and sorghum + 100% lathyrus, respectively. Forage qualitative traits were also affected by intercropping and weed management. The highest average acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and total ash percentage (ASH) were obtained with 100% sorghum + 66% lathyrus and 33% hairy vetch. The results showed that sorghum intercropping with 33% lathyrus led to a significant reduction in dry matter intake and relative feed value with no weed control and single weed control. This study demonstrated that, by selecting the appropriate intercropping ratios and forage legumes, we could largely control sorghum weeds in addition to improving the quantitative and qualitative yield of sorghum forage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), like common vetch (V. sativa L.), is one of the most widespread cultivated forage vetches. In Russia, hairy vetch is sown both in spring and winter planting seasons. V. villosa populations may contain spring, semi-spring, semi-winter and winter biotypes. Three hairy vetch varieties (Nezhnostebelnaya, Siverskaya 2 and Ukrainka) were studied in mono- and binary agrophytocoenosis with oat, rape and barley at spring sowing under the conditions of Leningrad Province of the Russian North-West in 2010-2012. Biotype composition of vetch variety populations was determined to identify adaptive biotypes. Some biological and agronomic characters were analysed. Comparative evaluation of hairy vetch variety populations was performed to test the role of agrophytocoenosis (and its phytocomponent) as a possible factor of biotype variability in vetch varieties and their biological and agronomic characters.

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The hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) cultivars 'Purple Bounty' (Reg. no. CV‐12, PI 648342) and 'Purple Prosperity' (Reg. no. CV‐11, PI 654047) were released in 2007 and 2008, respectively, by the USDA–ARS in collaboration with the Rodale Institute and the agricultural experiment stations of Pennsylvania State University and Cornell University. Hairy vetch is a commonly used annual legume cover crop grown for its cold tolerance, fast growth, large biomass production, and ability to fix N2. However, this species has not been selected for the traits needed to optimize its use as a cover crop. Our breeding program focused on developing a cultivar that was both early flowering and had adequate winter survival and therefore adapted to mechanical termination in organic no‐till production in the U.S. Northeast and Mid‐Atlantic. Purple Bounty and Purple Prosperity were developed between 1998 and 2005 using recurrent selection at nurseries in Beltsville and Keedysville, MD. In 2005–2006, selections were evaluated against commercial checks for flowering time in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and in the 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 seasons they were evaluated in 10 locations (12 total site‐years) across the United States for winter survival. Purple Bounty and Purple Prosperity both flowered earlier than the commercial material against which they were tested (significance depended on the date and site); Purple Bounty was the earlier flowering of the two cultivars. Purple Bounty and Purple Prosperity also had equivalent or improved winter survival compared with 'AU Early Cover', an early‐maturing cultivar developed in the southern United States, at all test locations. Purple Prosperity is no longer commercially available, but Purple Bounty is currently licensed and distributed by Allied Seed (Nampa, ID). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almond (Prunus dulcis Mill. [D.A. Webb]) is the third most widely spread crop in Spain and has traditionally been cultivated in marginal areas and shallow soils under rainfed conditions. However, it recently has been progressively introduced in flat irrigated areas. The implementation of cover crops in the inter-rows of woody crops has been proven as a suitable strategy to reduce the runoff and soil erosion but they also can boost soil quality and health. A field experiment was conducted during two-monitoring seasons to examine the soil nitrogen and carbon sequestration potential of three seeded cover crops [barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), and a mixture of 65% barley and 35% vetch] and a control of spontaneous flora in irrigated almond orchards (SW Spain). Here, we show that barley provided the highest biomass amount, followed by mixture covers, vetch, and the control treatment. Also, vetch covered the soil faster in the growing stage, but its residues were decomposed easier than barley and mixture treatments during the decomposition period after mowing, providing less soil protection when the risk of water erosion with autumn rainfall is high. On the other hand, vetch improved soil nitrate content by over 35% with respect to barley and mixture treatments at 0–20 cm soil depth throughout the studied period. In addition, a greater carbon input to the soil was determined in the barley plot. That is, the mixture and barley cover crops had higher potential for carbon sequestration, augmenting the soil organic carbon by more than 1.0 Mg ha−1 during the study period. Thus, taking into consideration the findings of the present experiment, the establishment of a seeded cover crop would be more advisable than spontaneous flora to mitigate soil erosion, enhancing soil fertility and carbon sequestration in irrigated almond plantations in Mediterranean semi-arid regions.

Strong allelopathic activities of etiolated seedlings of a leguminous plant, Vicia villosa Roth (hairy vetch), were confirmed by a protoplast co-culture method. The combination of 1% Cellulase RS and 1% Driselase 20 in 0.4 M mannitol solution was used for protoplast isolation. The inhibitory effects of V. villosa protoplasts on the growth of recipient Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) protoplasts were determined using 96-well culture plates with 50 μL of liquid medium consisting of Murashige and Skoog's basal medium containing 1 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 0.1 μM 6-benzyladenine, 3% (w/v) sucrose, and 0.4 M mannitol in each well. The allelopathic activity of V. villosa epicotyl protoplasts (2 × 102 to 105 mL−1), on cell division of lettuce protoplasts (6 × 103 to 5 × 104 mL−1), was stronger than that of roots and was stronger than on cell wall formation. Digital image analysis of co-cultured protoplasts (DIA-PP method) showed the effect of V. villosa protoplasts on the accumulation of a yellow color in lettuce protoplasts. Weaker inhibition was seen than at the cell wall formation and cell division stages. Effects of putative allelochemical, canavanine at 10 μM strongly inhibited division of lettuce protoplasts, whereas putative allelochemical, cyanamide was stimulatory at 10 μM, but inhibitory at 1 mM. A high level of canavanine was found in epicotyl protoplasts using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Canavanine was suggested to be the allelochemical in V. villosa epicotyl protoplasts of etiolated seedlings, although its effect differed with the growth stages of lettuce protoplasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted in 2016 to determine the effect of cereal rye (Secale cereale) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) combination on pest suppression and corn yield in Northwest Missouri. The experiments consisted of six treatments corresponding to cereal rye and hairy vetch combinations, plus a control. The corn treatments included conventional corn and transgenic corn. Harvested ears were assessed for rating on corn earworm damage and fungal damage on ears. Similarly, corn yield was measured across the treatments on randomly selected ears. Visual assessments of weed suppression, pest suppression (corn earworm damage), and fungal ear rots revealed no significant treatment effects. However, relevant trends in higher corn yield were observed with increasing hairy vetch proportion from 33% to 66% level. Delayed termination of hairy vetch caused poor corn growth and higher true armyworm (Mythimna unipuncta) infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We studied the effects of mixing rice straw and hairy vetch plant residues in a subtropical paddy soil, on subsequent carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics.Methods: Using a theoretical framework, we designed two groups of experiments (involving equal amounts of residual C or N addition, referred to as either C or N treatments). Each experiment included mixed residues of rice straw and hairy vetch at different mixing ratios. Soils together with residues were incubated at 25 °C under waterlogged conditions for 100 days. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and soil C and N fractions were measured continuously.Results: Both C and N treatments affected soil C and N dynamics, and these dynamics were quantitatively dependent on residue C/N ratios. The effect of residue mixtures on C and N dynamics could not be predicted from single residues, since there were non-additive effects of residue mixtures. Synergistic effects were generally more frequent than antagonistic effects. Residue mixtures tended to enhance CO2 and CH4 emissions in both C and N treatments but decreased N2O emissions in the N treatment. In the N treatment, dissolved organic C (DOC), dissolved organic N (DON), and microbial biomass C (MBC) concentrations increased. DOC and DON concentrations decreased in the C treatment. Residue mixtures enhanced the global warming potentials (GWP) of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted from soil by non-additive synergistic effects. The C/N ratio of residue mixtures affected the non-additive responses of soil C and N dynamics, for example mixtures with a C/N ratio of 25 had higher CO2 emissions and DOC concentrations than those with a C/N ratio of 35 as a consequence of non-additive effects, however, CH4 emissions and MBC concentrations were higher in mixtures with a C/N ratio of 35 than in mixtures with a C/N ration of 25.Conclusions: These results indicated that non-additive effects can impact soil C and N dynamics and that residue C/N ratios play an important role in influencing non-additive effects. Applying a single residue to paddy soils may be better than residue mixtures from a GWP mitigation perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) was measured following cover crops and poultry litter (PL). • N 2 O emissions increased exponentially with N content of cover crop residue and PL. • Linear emissions factors poorly described N 2 O emissions relative to N inputs. • Mixed grass:legume cover crop residues did not increase N 2 O emissions from PL compared to bare ground. • Effects of N application method and source on N 2 O were complex. Abstract Best management practices to reduce nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions following application of organic sources of N to soils are poorly developed. For example, while cover crops are promoted for their conservation benefits, their impact on N 2 O emissions varies considerably. Subsurface banding of animal manures is promoted to reduce nitrogen losses through ammonia volatilization, but the impact on soil N 2 O emissions is uncertain. To assess the interactive effects of cover crops and subsurface banded poultry litter (SSB PL), we measured annual N 2 O emissions for three years in a field trial of corn (Zea mays L.) in Beltsville, MD, following either winter fallow or mulched cover crops (cereal rye [ Secale cereale L.], hairy vetch [ Vicia villosa Roth.], or a mixture of both species), with four rates of SSB PL (9276 kg plant available N (PAN) ha-1) and selected contrasts with surface banded urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN, 150 kg N ha-1) or broadcast incorporated PL (67 kg PAN ha-1). N 2 O emissions increased exponentially with total N input from organic sources (SSB PL + cover crop residue). This relationship differed by cover crop treatment, with lowest emissions following cereal rye, and highest emissions following hairy vetch. The model intercept ranged from 0.3061.371 kg N 2 O-N ha-1 (cereal rye < bare ground = mixture < hairy vetch; p = 0.03, 0.24, 0.01), and the exponential coefficient ranged from 0.003000.00603 kg N 2 O-N kg-1 N (hairy vetch < cereal rye = bare ground = mixture; p = 0.02, p > 0.10). Corn grain yield was similar (mean, 13.8 Mg ha−1) for all cover crops when PL was applied at 135 kg PAN ha−1. SSB PL increased N 2 O emissions relative to tillage-incorporated PL at an equivalent rate following hairy vetch or cover crop mixture (by 76% or 60%, respectively; p < 0.001) while increasing corn yield by 32% or 16%, respectively. SSB PL decreased emissions relative to surface banded UAN at an equivalent rate following the cover crop mixture, but increased emissions following bare ground (by 34% and 45%, respectively; p = 0.002) while having no influence on corn grain yield, which averaged 13.7 Mg ha−1. Our results indicate that grass:legume cover crop mixtures with SSB PL can lower N 2 O emissions compared to legume monoculture with SSB PL while maintaining comparable N inputs and corn grain yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vicia villosa Roth, known as hairy vetch, is an annual forage legume of economic importance. It is often cultivated in mixture mainly with oats for the production of green forage or silage. Given its potential in nitrogen fixation, it can be used as green manure. In this work the biological material consisted of a local registered variety and two accessions received from ICARDA. Our objective is to study the genetic diversity of these accessions using molecular markers (RAPD) and karyotype analysis. Molecular results revealed relatively high levels of genetic diversity within and between accessions of Vicia villosa Roth. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique has proven effective and was able to distinguish the studied accessions. Among 15 primers tested, 4 primers showed variability within and between accessions. Therefore, in this study, we focused on optimistic application of RAPD molecular markers for the conservation of resources, genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships. In conclusion, our results revealed a high level of genetic divergence between and within accessions among the genotypes studied of Vicia villosa. At karyological level, the existence of a single type of chromosomes in all accessions which consists of 7 pairs of submetacentric chromosomes (7sm) showed that their karyotype is symmetrical and consequently less evolved. Nevertheless, variation was observed among accessions for chromosomes size. This variation can be exploited in breeding programs and such characterization is considered as a priority if we want to safeguard and enhance the local forage and pasture plant genetic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of living mulch and stale seedbed has been proposed for weed management in crop production. Field experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of university of Zanjan in 2013 as split block based on randomized complete block design to assess integration of living mulch and stale seedbed for weed management in maize. The main plot was stale seedbed preparation (6 April, 3 May, and 24 May), and sub plot three different living mulch included Vicia villosa, Trifolium alexandrinum, and Lathyrus sativus. Cover crops were planted in the space between two rows at the recommended densities. Weed free and weed infestation, were also included. The results showed that 100-seed weight, biomass and seed yield of maize significantly affected by the time of stale seedbed preparation. However, this treatment had no effect on traits such as plant height, ear diameter, seed row number per ear and weed biomass. The highest maize grain yield (8.7 t.ha-1) was obtained when seedbed prepared on 6 April. Living mulch had significant effects on maize and weed growth. The highest maize grain yield was obtained in weed free plots. The lower weed biomass was produced when T. alexandrinum was used as a cover crop. The interaction of the stale seed bed and living mulch was not significant. These results suggest that living mulch or stale seedbed alone or in combination could not provide reliable weed control in maize; therefore, these methods should be integrated with other efficient weed control measures.

The data described support the research article entitled " Interseeded cover crop mixtures influence soil water storage during the corn phase of corn-soybean-wheat no-till cropping systems ". Data were collected during the corn ( Zea mays L.) phase from rotations with four different cover crop (CC) treatments. The study was conducted at the USDA research facility in Beltsville, MD from 2017 through 2020. The data are available from a repository at Ag Data Commons. Descriptions of crop rotations, soil water and temperature sensors, placement, and frequency of measurements are provided in the manuscript and repository. Hourly volumetric soil water content (m 3 m -3 ) (VWC) and soil temperature (°C) data for each soil depth (0-12, 25-35, 50-60, 75-85 cm) are available from the repository. In the manuscript, daily values of soil water storage were used to estimate daily evapotranspiration (ET) and infiltration. A text file of meta information is provided in the repository describing data collection procedures, estimation of ET and infiltration, and methods used to replace sensor data having errors. Daily precipitation, maximum and minimum temperatures, net solar radiation, and windspeed collected at a nearby weather station are provided for estimating growing degree days and potential ET. Cover crop biomass (kg ha -1 ) prior to corn planting and corn yields are provided by replication and cover crop system treatment for the four years.

David Bond and Jean Picard, two leaders of European legume breeding, died within a few months of each other. On the basis of their agronomic and genetic training, they both met the challenge of breeding faba bean, a protein-rich species that had received little attention from breeders before the 1950s (Picard, 1953; Bond 1957). Both made great strides at modernizing their chosen crop by developing and applying new ideas and techniques, as well as generating new methods and genetic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences is the property of Akdeniz Universitesi Ziraat Fakultesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The experiment was conducted in Mediterranean environments of Turkey (Agricultural Station of Ceylanpinar, Turkey) with four hairy winter vetch's varieties (i.e., 'Aday' ('Ceylan'), 'Efes-79', 'Menemen-79' and 'Selçuklu-2002' during 2011-12. The main objective of the study was to compare varietal performance of quality parameters under Mediterranean environment of Ceylanpinar, Turkey. All the quality parameters of four winter hairy vetch varieties were influenced significantly (p<0.05) by the environmental conditions. Among the quality parameters, water content varied 7.9 to 12.3%, dry matter varied 87.7 to 92.6, crude ash varied 3.60 to 4.35 %, crude protein varied 26.27 to 28.17%, crude oil varied 0.30 to 0.51%, crude cellulose varied 0.19 to 0.23, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) varied 34.78 to 40.09), acid detergent fiber (ADF) varied 12.22 to 15.16% and acid detergent lignin (ADL) varied 2.81 to 3.65% respectively. Considering on the four hairy winter vetch varieties, variety 'Aday' ('Ceylan') was promising in terms of water content (12.3%), crude oil (0.51%), crude protein (28.17%), ADF (15.16%) and ADL (3.65%). While, variety 'Menemen-79' was promising for dry matter (92.6%) and ADL (3.48%). Whereas, variety 'Selçuk-2002' was promising for crude cellulose (0.23%) and 'Efes-79' was for NDF (40.09 %). Therefore, variety 'Aday' ('Ceylan') seemed to be the most suitable for the Mediterranean environments of Turkey as a promising variety regarding their nutrient content and nutritional value for animal nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present study, the physicochemical, functional and pasting properties of starch obtained from commercially used pea were compared with vetch, an underutilized pulse variety. Starch from each cultivar was subjected to sonication (33 kHz for 45 min) and a dual treatment in which sonication was followed by irradiation (5 kGy). Apparent amylose content of the starch from two varieties varied significantly (p > 0.05) from 31.08–27.58 g/100 g. Sonication and dual treatment decreased the amylose content of starches. Syneresis varied more or less insignificantly (p < 0.05) upon sonication. However, upon dual treatment, syneresis decreased significantly (p > 0.05) from 47.82–35.22 g/100 g (pea) and 46.36–26.98 g/100 g (vetch) during the storage period of 120 h. A combined effect of sonication and irradiation treatment significantly (p > 0.05) changed the functional properties and pasting characteristics of starches. The samples that received the sonication treatment alone varied non-significantly from native pea and vetch starch in their physicochemical, functional and pasting properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) is a winter-annual legume that is grown as a cover crop and for forage. Although more winter tolerant than most leguminous winter annuals, it does not reliably overwinter in the upper Midwestern United States. Our objectives were to screen a collection of accessions for winter hardiness and develop a screening method for freezing tolerance in a controlled setting. We evaluated 30 accessions (commercial germplasm and breeding populations) in multiple Minnesota environments. Average winter survival among accessions ranged from 13 to 73% and resembled a bimodal distribution, where two distinct phenotypic groupings were apparent. Commercial VNS (variety-not-stated) accessions were found to be highly variable for winter survival. Seed derived from Minnesota was generally winter hardy (>65% survival), and seed from Oregon was not (<39%). Due to large variation among and within field environments, a method of controlled freezing was developed to supplement winter hardiness evaluations. No differences in freezing tolerance were found among accessions without cold acclimation. However, large differences in freezing tolerance occurred when plants were first grown for 2 wk in greenhouse conditions (22°C, 16-h photoperiod) and then cold acclimated for 4 wk (3°C, 10-h photoperiod). Lethal temperatures were determined from six 24-h programmed freezing treatments, where treatment temperatures ranged from -13 to -21°C. Accessions differed significantly for freezing tolerance, with median lethal temperature values ranging from -8.4 to -16.0°C. This method of controlled freezing correlated highly with winter survival in field evaluations (r = 0.77). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present research was to evaluate the performances of four winter vetch varieties (i.e., 'Aday' ('Ceylan'), 'Efes-79', 'Menemen-79' and 'Selçuklu-2002') grown in two locations viz., Agricultural Stations of Hatay and Ceylanpinar in Turkey during 2010-12. In both the locations, all traits of winter hairy vetch varieties were significant, except for winter hardiness and plant length in Ceylanpinar and winter hardiness and length of the main stem in Hatay. Considering on varieties, variety 'Aday' ('Ceylan') with winter hairy vetch produced the highest dry matter production in both agricultural locations. Therefore, it is assumed that variety 'Aday' ('Ceylan') considerably to be the most appropriate for both the locations to achieved erect growing, high-productivity and winter-resistant, as well as a promising variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of hairy vetch as a winter cover crop for cotton production in Northwest Louisiana has contributed to sustaining cotton production as well as improving soil quality. To test the efficacy of hairy vetch (HV) cultivation as a natural N supplement for cotton production, a long-term field experiment lasting 27 years was evaluated using the Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model. Different N fertilization practices, including 0 kg N ha − 1 (PL_1), HV alone (PL_2), 44.8 kg N ha − 1 (PL_3), and 67.3 kg N ha − 1 (PL_4), were compared to evaluate nitrogen (N) response to cotton yield. Measured crop yield from each treatment was used to calibrate and validate the model. The DNDC model was employed to test the effects of N application scenarios on cotton yields and HV incorporation on N balance under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. In model calibration, statistical indices for the model performance on cotton seed yield showed that PL_1 had a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) value of 24.5%, a model efficiency (ME) value of 0.51, and a correlation coefficient ( r ) of 0.87 ( P < 0.01). The DNDC model was validated with PL_2, PL_3, and PL_4. PL_2, PL_3 and PL_4 had a NRMSE of 18.6%, 16.4% and 15.8% respectively, ME value of 0.19, 0.47 and 0.52 respectively, and an r of 0.75, 0.83 and 0.85 ( P < 0.05) respectively. Estimates of soil organic carbon (SOC) for HV treatment showed double the SOC content during a 27-year long-term experiment, while both treatments of 44.8 kg N ha − 1 and 67.3 kg N ha − 1 showed similar levels of SOC of a 25% increase compared to the control. Based on the scenario analysis, sustainable cotton yields do not require N fertilizer application under HV cultivated fields, and no yield differences were observed between irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural practices affect arthropod communities and, therefore, have the potential to influence the activities of arthropods. We evaluated the effect of cover crop species and termination timing on the activity of ground-dwelling predatory arthropods in a corn-soybean-wheat rotation in transition to organic production in Pennsylvania, United States. We compared two cover crop treatments: 1) hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) planted together with triticale (xTriticosecale Wittmack) after wheat harvest, and 2) cereal rye (Secale cereale Linnaeus) planted after corn harvest. We terminated the cover crops in the spring with a roller-crimper on three dates (early, middle, and late) based on cover crop phenology and standard practices for cash crop planting in our area. We characterized the grounddwelling arthropod community using pitfall traps and assessed relative predation using sentinel assays with live greater waxworm larvae (Galleria mellonella Fabricius). The activity density of predatory arthropods was significantly higher in the hairy vetch and triticale treatments than in cereal rye treatments. Hairy vetch and triticale favored the predator groups Araneae, Opiliones, Staphylinidae, and Carabidae. Specific taxa were associated with cover crop condition (e.g., live or dead) and termination dates. Certain variables were positively or negatively associated with the relative predation on sentinel prey, depending on cover crop treatment and stage, including the presence of predatory arthropods and various habitat measurements. Our results suggest that management of a cover crop by roller-crimper at specific times in the growing season affects predator activity density and community composition. Terminating cover crops with a roller-crimper can conserve generalist predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]