Agronomic, genetic and environmental influences on oat grain quality were investigated. Nitrogen application at the boot stage of crop development did not generally affect physical characteristics of oat grain. Groat protein content increased with the application of nitrogen at the boot stage of crop development but oil content tended to decrease while $ beta$-glucan content was generally not affected. Delayed seeding usually reduced oat grain quality and usually increased protein and $ beta$-glucan contents. Heritability of $ beta$-glucan content, groat percentage and rust resistance were all low; hence, breeding to improve these traits may be difficult. Results of experiments on the inheritance of $ beta$-glucan were not conclusive but it appears that $ beta$-glucan content is under the influence of the endosperm genome. Genotype by environment interactions were significant for grain yield and for protein, oil and $ beta$-glucan contents. The cultivars Ultima and Sylva were superior in mean grain yield across environments compared to other cultivars. The cultivars Laurent and Nova were superior for mean protein content across environments and the cultivar Marion QC was superior for mean oil and $ beta$-glucan contents. AMMI (Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) analysis would be favoured over the other genotype by environment analyses used in this study because AMMI afforded more information about the genotype by environment interactions.

Thesis (MTech (Agriculture))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is an important grain and fodder legume grown around the world. It is a dual purpose grain legume crop, providing food for man and livestock. Cowpea is identified as a potential crop to diversify food production, minimize production input by improving soil fertility and improve micronutrients of seed, therefore, improving human nutrition. There is limited information available on cowpea production and suitable agronomic practices including planting date to best suit different environmental conditions in South Africa. The objective of this study was therefore to i) evaluate two soil types (sandy and clay soil) and its effect on cowpea, yield components and mineral composition, ii) the effect of different planting date and iii) assess the effect of zinc fertilizer application rate on vegetative, reproductive parameters and mineral content of cowpea seed. A field trial was conducted in Agricultural Research Council (ARC), in two locations Nietvoorbij (clay loam soil) and Bien Donne’ (sandy soil) during the 2015 summer planting season. The trial layout was conducted in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with five replicates. The factors of the study include three cowpea lines: Cowpea Veg1, M217 and Qukawa with zinc application rate of (0, 15 and 30 kg/ha) through soil application and two planting date (2 October and 2 November 2015). The following agronomic variables were collected, in both locations: germination rate, number of leaves, number of branches, plant height, number of seed per pod, number of pods per plant, pod length, pods per treatment, pod weight, 100 seed weight, morphological traits, moisture content and seed mineral content. Vegetative data was collected on a fourth-night basis on six middle plants per treatment and reproductive parameters were taken after harvest. The variables were subjected to ANOVA using software SAS (2012). Treatments were tested at 5% level of significance and differences between treatments were separated using LSD and DMRT of the SAS 2012 test. The results indicated that vegetative and reproductive parameters measured varied significantly among cowpea lines in each location and across locations due to different cowpea lines and soil type. Line Cowpea Veg1 and Qukawa were the best performing line in both vegetative and yield parameters across the two planting dates in 2015. These lines significantly obtained higher plant height than line M217. Yield and yield parameters were significantly affected by cowpea line. Qukawa obtained the highest seed yield at Bien Donne’ with a mean of 1184.2 kg/ha and seed yield of 686.25 kg/ha for Cowpea Veg1 at Nietvoorbij. The second planting date (2 November 2015) improved germination of plants across the two locations, therefore improving vegetative growth. Zinc (Zn) fertilizer significantly improved plant height across all treatments. An inconsistent response to yield parameters due to Zn application rate was observed. However, though not significant, Zn application of 15 kg/ha increased most of the measured parameters. It was concluded that line Cowpea Veg1 and Qukawa were the best performing lines. The second planting date (2 November) increase germination rate for both locations. It is therefore, recommended that future research should evaluate Zn fertilizer time of application.

No description available.

Several crops are being touted as a renewable energy source. Sweet sorghum is adapted to many areas, grows relatively rapidly, has moderate water and nutrient requirements, and develops high levels of fermentables. A long term supply of fermentables is needed to make ethanol production economically feasible. Short term availability of fermentables results in unfavorable returns from investments in equipment and crop production. Two planting dates (15 May and 1 June) and eight harvest dates (30 Sep. to 15 Mar.) were used in efforts to to extend the availability of sweet sorghum fermentables. Respiration of sweet sorghum tissue was measured with an infrared gas analyzer before and after freezing to quantify loss of fermentables associated with delayed harvests. Vital stains were used before and after freezing to estimate cell mortality. No significant difference was found in the level of fermentables in sorghum from the two planting dates. Delay-ing harvest caused fermentables to decline significantly (30%) by mid-November and to continue to drop through March. Respiration dropped 90% after exposure to -8 C, but resumed the same rate after 1 week. Vital stai!1ing showed cells die upon freezing. Relatively high respiration rates in the dead tissue suggests saprophytic microbes are responsible for the large decline in fermentables after freezing. Eleven cultivars and lines were tested for yield of fermentables. Wray was superior in yield of fermentables, while Sumac and Sugardrip were inferior. / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1965 R215 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 A47 / Master of Science / Agronomy

The effects of planting date were evaluated on field establishment and flowering of ten southwestern wildflower species combined in a mix. Species tested include Baileya multiradiata, Castilleja lanata, Eschscholtzia californica, Eschscholtzia mexicana, Gaillardia pulchellum, Lesquerella gordonii, Lupinus sparsiflorus, Orthocarpus purpurascens, Penstemon eatonii, and Phacelia campanularia. Seeds of all species were combined in a mix and directly seeded into field plots. All species are native to the southwestern deserts of the United States. Treatments consisted of five planting dates, starting September 30, 1987 and continuing through November 30, 1987, with treatments planted at two week intervals during the ten week period. There were significant differences in both plant stand and flowering between planting dates. The October 15 planting had the optimum plant stand with regard to the largest spectrum of species represented by desirable numbers. Flowering was most pronounced in the September 30 and October 15 plantings.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

"July 2002" Bibliography: leaves 40-46.

O trabalho foi realizado na área experimental da Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Campus Pato Branco, com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do estabelecimentode espécies forrageiras hibernais antes e após a colheita da soja (Glycine max Merrill) e o uso do nitrogênio na produção e valor nutricional de forragem. A semeadura das espécies forrageiras foi realizada a lanço, antes da colheita da soja, quando essa encontrava no estágio fenológico reprodutivo R5, e após a colheita, em linhas com semeadora. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com parcelas subdivididas, distribuídas em um arranjo fatorial 3x3, sendo três espécies forrageiras hibernais e três doses de nitrogênio, com três repetições. Nas parcelas principais foram alocadas as épocas de semeadura, nas subparcelas e subsubparcelas, a combinação entre níveis de nitrogênio e espécies forrageiras. As espécies forrageiras utilizadas foram aveia preta (Avena strigosa Schreb.) cv. IAPAR 61, azevém comum (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) e ervilhaca comum (Vicia sativa L.) com densidade de semeadura de 80, 40 e 35 kg ha-1 de sementes viáveis, respectivamente. As doses de nitrogênio, na forma de uréia, foram de 0, 150 e 300 kg ha-1, aplicadas em cobertura, dividida em duas aplicações. A semeadura das forrageiras antes da colheita da soja possibilita antecipar o primeiro pastejo, obtendo maior produção de massa de forragem por hectare (azevém e aveia) com melhor qualidade, maior eficiência e recuperação do N, além de reduzir o déficit de forragem no outono. O nitrogênio não influencia a produtividade de forragem da ervilhaca e o teor de fibras das 8 forrageiras. As doses de 150 e 300 kg ha-1 de N apresentaram produtividade e qualidade de forragem semelhante, no entanto a dose de 150 kg ha-1 de N apresenta maior recuperação e eficiência de utilização. / The study was conducted in the experimental area of the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR), Campus Pato Branco, with the objective of evaluating the effect of the establishment of cool season forages before and after harvest of soybean (Glycine max Merrill) and nitrogen use production and nutritional value of forage. The seeding of forage species was broadcasted before soybean harvest, when that found in the reproductive phenological stage R5, and after harvest, sowing in rows. The experimental design was completely randomized, split-plot, distributed in a 3x3 factorial arrangement , three cool season forages three nitrogen with three replications. In the main plots were allocated sowing times, subplots and subsubplots, the combination of nitrogen and forage species. The forages used were oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) Cv. IAPAR 61, common ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) to sowing density of 80, 40 and 35 kg ha-1 of viable seeds, respectively. The levels of nitrogen as urea, were 0, 150 and 300 kg ha-1, applied in bands divided into two applications. The sowing of fodder before the soybean harvest is possible to anticipate the first grazing, obtaining higher production of dry matter per hectare (ryegrass and oats) with better quality, greater efficiency and N recovery and reduce the deficit forage in the fall. Nitrogen does not influence forage yield of vetch and fiber content of the forage. Level of 150 and 300 kg ha-1 N in yield and quality of forage similar, but the level of 150 kg N ha-1 shows greater recovery and utilization efficiency.