No description available.

No description available.

Agriculture is facing increasing pressures to produce food that meets specific market and/or nutrition requirements, while using inputs in such a way that can ensure economic and environmental goals more efficiently. Two field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 at the Royal Agricultural University’s Harnhill’ Manor Farm, Cirencester, UK to evaluate the influence of selected cultivation techniques, N fertilisation and undersowing legumes on spring wheat growth and development. To explore, in particular, the yield components contributing to grain yield and quality, as well as weed pressure influences together with changes in soil mineral N (SMN) content. Cultivation techniques included conventional tillage (CT), high intensity non-inversion tillage (HINiT) and low intensity non-inversion tillage (LINiT); mineral N fertilisation rates of 0, 70, 140 and 210 kg N ha-1 and two undersown legume species, black medic and white clover, plus no undersowing treatment. The performance of the management practices was strongly influenced by the weather. In 2013, under dry weather conditions, LINiT seems to be a suitable alternative to CT, while N fertilisation did not encourage greater grain yield. In 2014, CT appears to be a more reliable practice, while the application of up to 140 kg N ha-1 seemed to be enough to increase grain yield. Dry weather conditions at the time of broadcasting did not allow the undersowing species to be fully established, resulting in no effects on weed control and crop growth. In 2013, the initial poor plant establishment and slow crop growth under LINiT was compensated for by the soils ability to retain moisture, and thereby reducing crop water stress during the dry periods. This finally resulted in statistically similar grain yield to CT. In 2014 when water was not a limiting factor, poor plant establishment and crop growth, low SMN content and high weed pressure under LINiT resulted in lower grain yield than CT. In both years, HINiT resulted in low SMN content and high weed pressure resulting in poor grain yield. Across experiments, HINiT and LINiT saved energy-use and production costs, but CT could be more energy-use efficient and have high economic return if higher grain yield is assured. N fertilisation significantly promoted wheat growth, although under dry conditions with higher residual soil N, the N fertilisation did not increase yield. Under low SMN level applying up to 140 kg N ha-1 increased grain yield produced, but N fertilisation is energy consuming and its use does not always ensure a higher economic return.

No description available.

Fertility-building crops (FBCs) offer the opportunity to alleviate the costs of inorganic fertiliser by providing an alternative supply of available nitrogen (N) in soils. A survey of relevant literature reviewed the types of FBCs, their nitrogen accumulation potentials, residue characteristics, and subsequent release patterns. It also identified a paucity of data concerning the response of different species to UK climatic, soil, and management conditions. In order to investigate these relationships further pot and field trials were established in 2007 at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester (SP 00481 01382) and at Coates Manor Farm (SO 98473 00402) on Sherborne series (typical Cotswold) soils, to investigate the biology and morphology of FBCs potentially suitable for short term fertility-building, their accumulation of N under field conditions, and its subsequent recovery within test crops. Data so obtained was used as a verification and refinement tool for the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003), a simple, commercially applicable, rotation-based model which can be applied to both organic and conventional production systems. Nine leguminous and two non-leguminous FBC treatments were established in April 2007 by straight sowing, followed by mulching at the conclusion of the nitrogen accumulation phase and by undersowing in spring barley (Hordeum sativum). The recovery test crops (winter and spring wheat Triticum aestivum L.) were established in September 2007 and March 2008. All FBCs established successfully. Above-ground dry matter (DM) yield and residue quality (C:N ratio) of FBCs varied significantly (P<0.05) between crops and cropping regimes with a significant correlation (r2=0.418) between DM yields and C:N ratios. FBCs and cropping regimes had significant effects (P<0.001 and P<0.05 respectively) on potential mineralisable nitrogen (PMN) levels in the soil and on the grain yields of winter and spring wheat test crops. Straight sown Lupinus albus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens and a legume mixture resulted in higher winter wheat grain yields. However, the opportunity cost associated with straight sowing (i.e. the gross margin foregone from a spring barley crop) meant that the rotation would probably not be viable economically. Undersown Medicago lupulina, Vicia villosa, T. pratense, T. repens and the legume mixture gave worthwhile yield increases in spring wheat without incurring a yield penalty in the spring barley cover crop. Following enhancement and using actual data from the trials, the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003) provided encouraging predictions (R>0.6) for soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) and key parameters were identified for future use. It was concluded that FBCs established for short term soil fertility building could provide a worthwhile enhancement of soil N levels and grain yields in a conventional arable rotation, particularly in spring wheat following FBCs undersown in spring barley. It was also concluded that the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003), following further enhancement, and using additional data from these and other similar trials, could provide reasonably accurate estimates of SMN to aid more precise applications of N fertiliser in the future.

The fungus Macrophomina phaseolina is the causal agent of several diseases of mungbean (Vigna radiata). One of these diseases, known as charcoal rot, causes spoilage of germinating seed lots, and occurs when seed contaminated with M. phaseolina is used for sprouting. The detection of the pathogen during seed testing prior to export leads to downgrading of the seed and a resultant financial penalty to the grain grower. The aims of this research were: to determine the location of M. phaseolina in diseased and symptomless tissue of mungbean plants; to determine the mode, site and timing of seed colonisation of mungbean; to determine the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on seed colonisation; to conduct an assessment of genotypic variation of M. phaseolina within single plants; to determine modes of transport of inoculum that contribute to foliage infection and seed colonisation of mungbean; and to assess both pre- and post-harvest management strategies in order to reduce or prevent seed colonisation, or to minimise the process of seed transmission. The location of M. phaseolina in mungbean plants was determined through serial sectioning of, and subsequent isolation from, naturally infected host tissue. A large proportion of the mungbean tissue infected by M. phaseolina was found to be symptomless. Moreover, there were large areas of ostensibly pathogen-free tissue separating infection foci, thus indicating a strong likelihood of independent aerial infections. A selection of 14 isolates obtained from serial sectioning were assessed for genotypic variation with six primers using RAPD analysis. Of the 36 bands that were scored, 78% were polymorphic and as a result, 12 distinct genotypes were detected. Polymorphisms were also detected amongst isolates obtained from the same discrete infection area on single plants, which strongly suggests the occurrence of multiple aerial infections. Various methods of controlled inoculation including soil infestation, pod and foliar inoculations, and artificial seed infestation, were used to determine how mungbean seeds are colonised by M. phaseolina. Additionally, most of these inoculation methods were coupled with a series of abiotic treatments (temperature regimes, watering regimes, application of herbicides) that were designed to initiate stress conditions within infected plants, and possibly trigger growth of M. phaseolina from the infection courts and colonise seed. Seed colonisation was established in vitro and in vivo when immature pods were directly inoculated with microsclerotia of M. phaseolina. At least two days exposure at 100% relative humidity (RH) was necessary to establish seed infection in detached mungbean pods that were inoculated with microsclerotia of M. phaseolina. Extensive seed infection was still obtained when one or more days of 100% RH was interrupted by up to three days at low humidity. All except one of the other methods of controlled inoculation failed to produce colonised seed even when combinations of stresses were applied. Only when the bipyridylium herbicide ‘Spray Seed 250’ was applied to plants following the inoculation of mungbean stems within 13 cm of the pods, was seed colonised by M. phaseolina. This result raises the possibility that delayed harvesting of desiccated mungbean crops may promote further colonisation of mungbean tissue, including seed. Very strong evidence for the colonisation of mungbean seeds after deposition of soil-splashed inoculum of M. phaseolina onto pods was obtained through field and laboratory-based studies. Soil-splashed inoculum (most likely microsclerotia) was also found to be the source of inoculum responsible for the development of Macrophomina leaf blight of mungbean at several regional sites. To further investigate this finding, areas of several mungbean crops growing in naturally infested soil were covered in hessian cloth to prevent soil-splash and assessments of the levels of seed colonisation between covered and uncovered areas were made. Although colonisation of seed in the covered areas was significantly lower than in the uncovered areas, covering the soil did not eliminate colonisation of seed. This result suggests that inoculum dispersal, leading to pod infection and subsequent seed colonisation, occurs not only in splashed-soil but also by other means. Soil transported to the extra-floral nectaries of mungbeans by ants was found to contain infective inoculum of M. phaseolina. Furthermore, air-borne debris and dust collected in a trap contained viable microsclerotia of the pathogen. Isolates of M. phaseolina collected from both sources were pathogenic on mungbean seedlings, and suspensions of ant-transported soil and air-borne dust/debris infected mungbean pods and seed. This is the first report of both modes of inoculum dispersal. All three modes undoubtedly contribute to the total level of colonised seed, but their relative importance remains to be determined. Several options for the management of charcoal rot in mungbean seeds were investigated. Application of the fungicide carbendazim to mungbean plants after flowering significantly decreased, but did not prevent, colonisation of mungbean seed by M. phaseolina. Consequently, this method of management holds little promise for mungbean growers. A large number of weeds common in Australian mungbean fields were newly reported as hosts of M. phaseolina. Isolates obtained from the infected, but symptomless weeds were pathogenic on mungbean seedlings, thus indicating a lack of host-specificity toward mungbean. It is strongly suspected that the use of herbicides to control weeds in reduced and zero-tillage farming systems is increasing the risk of infection in subsequent mungbean crops through the build-up of inoculum in soil. This increased risk of infection may be further exacerbated by retaining stubble infested with M. phaseolina on the soil surface, thereby increasing the amount of inoculum that could be splashed onto plant organs. Surface sterilisation, using sodium hypochlorite, significantly reduced colonisation levels in heavily colonised mungbean seed lines, but the process was not enhanced when a partial-vacuum was introduced to the process. In some seed lots, up to 32% of the seed was colonised only on the seed coat (defined here as contamination), whereas the remainder was internally infected. Surface sterilisation also reduced the overall colonisation of 132 commercial lines by approximately one-third. Storage of seed for one month at either 4°C or 15°C significantly reduced colonisation levels in seed, whereas freezing treatments did not. Eradication of M. phaseolina from mungbean seed was possible through thermotherapy. However, the conditions required for eradication also contributed to large increases in abnormal germination levels and large losses in overall germination - an unacceptable trade-off for sprouters. A combination of thermotherapy and surface sterilisation of colonised mungbean seed may provide a more efficient process of seed treatment.

The fungus Macrophomina phaseolina is the causal agent of several diseases of mungbean (Vigna radiata). One of these diseases, known as charcoal rot, causes spoilage of germinating seed lots, and occurs when seed contaminated with M. phaseolina is used for sprouting. The detection of the pathogen during seed testing prior to export leads to downgrading of the seed and a resultant financial penalty to the grain grower. The aims of this research were: to determine the location of M. phaseolina in diseased and symptomless tissue of mungbean plants; to determine the mode, site and timing of seed colonisation of mungbean; to determine the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on seed colonisation; to conduct an assessment of genotypic variation of M. phaseolina within single plants; to determine modes of transport of inoculum that contribute to foliage infection and seed colonisation of mungbean; and to assess both pre- and post-harvest management strategies in order to reduce or prevent seed colonisation, or to minimise the process of seed transmission. The location of M. phaseolina in mungbean plants was determined through serial sectioning of, and subsequent isolation from, naturally infected host tissue. A large proportion of the mungbean tissue infected by M. phaseolina was found to be symptomless. Moreover, there were large areas of ostensibly pathogen-free tissue separating infection foci, thus indicating a strong likelihood of independent aerial infections. A selection of 14 isolates obtained from serial sectioning were assessed for genotypic variation with six primers using RAPD analysis. Of the 36 bands that were scored, 78% were polymorphic and as a result, 12 distinct genotypes were detected. Polymorphisms were also detected amongst isolates obtained from the same discrete infection area on single plants, which strongly suggests the occurrence of multiple aerial infections. Various methods of controlled inoculation including soil infestation, pod and foliar inoculations, and artificial seed infestation, were used to determine how mungbean seeds are colonised by M. phaseolina. Additionally, most of these inoculation methods were coupled with a series of abiotic treatments (temperature regimes, watering regimes, application of herbicides) that were designed to initiate stress conditions within infected plants, and possibly trigger growth of M. phaseolina from the infection courts and colonise seed. Seed colonisation was established in vitro and in vivo when immature pods were directly inoculated with microsclerotia of M. phaseolina. At least two days exposure at 100% relative humidity (RH) was necessary to establish seed infection in detached mungbean pods that were inoculated with microsclerotia of M. phaseolina. Extensive seed infection was still obtained when one or more days of 100% RH was interrupted by up to three days at low humidity. All except one of the other methods of controlled inoculation failed to produce colonised seed even when combinations of stresses were applied. Only when the bipyridylium herbicide ‘Spray Seed 250’ was applied to plants following the inoculation of mungbean stems within 13 cm of the pods, was seed colonised by M. phaseolina. This result raises the possibility that delayed harvesting of desiccated mungbean crops may promote further colonisation of mungbean tissue, including seed. Very strong evidence for the colonisation of mungbean seeds after deposition of soil-splashed inoculum of M. phaseolina onto pods was obtained through field and laboratory-based studies. Soil-splashed inoculum (most likely microsclerotia) was also found to be the source of inoculum responsible for the development of Macrophomina leaf blight of mungbean at several regional sites. To further investigate this finding, areas of several mungbean crops growing in naturally infested soil were covered in hessian cloth to prevent soil-splash and assessments of the levels of seed colonisation between covered and uncovered areas were made. Although colonisation of seed in the covered areas was significantly lower than in the uncovered areas, covering the soil did not eliminate colonisation of seed. This result suggests that inoculum dispersal, leading to pod infection and subsequent seed colonisation, occurs not only in splashed-soil but also by other means. Soil transported to the extra-floral nectaries of mungbeans by ants was found to contain infective inoculum of M. phaseolina. Furthermore, air-borne debris and dust collected in a trap contained viable microsclerotia of the pathogen. Isolates of M. phaseolina collected from both sources were pathogenic on mungbean seedlings, and suspensions of ant-transported soil and air-borne dust/debris infected mungbean pods and seed. This is the first report of both modes of inoculum dispersal. All three modes undoubtedly contribute to the total level of colonised seed, but their relative importance remains to be determined. Several options for the management of charcoal rot in mungbean seeds were investigated. Application of the fungicide carbendazim to mungbean plants after flowering significantly decreased, but did not prevent, colonisation of mungbean seed by M. phaseolina. Consequently, this method of management holds little promise for mungbean growers. A large number of weeds common in Australian mungbean fields were newly reported as hosts of M. phaseolina. Isolates obtained from the infected, but symptomless weeds were pathogenic on mungbean seedlings, thus indicating a lack of host-specificity toward mungbean. It is strongly suspected that the use of herbicides to control weeds in reduced and zero-tillage farming systems is increasing the risk of infection in subsequent mungbean crops through the build-up of inoculum in soil. This increased risk of infection may be further exacerbated by retaining stubble infested with M. phaseolina on the soil surface, thereby increasing the amount of inoculum that could be splashed onto plant organs. Surface sterilisation, using sodium hypochlorite, significantly reduced colonisation levels in heavily colonised mungbean seed lines, but the process was not enhanced when a partial-vacuum was introduced to the process. In some seed lots, up to 32% of the seed was colonised only on the seed coat (defined here as contamination), whereas the remainder was internally infected. Surface sterilisation also reduced the overall colonisation of 132 commercial lines by approximately one-third. Storage of seed for one month at either 4°C or 15°C significantly reduced colonisation levels in seed, whereas freezing treatments did not. Eradication of M. phaseolina from mungbean seed was possible through thermotherapy. However, the conditions required for eradication also contributed to large increases in abnormal germination levels and large losses in overall germination - an unacceptable trade-off for sprouters. A combination of thermotherapy and surface sterilisation of colonised mungbean seed may provide a more efficient process of seed treatment.

Due to unsustainable production and consumption patterns that cause climate changes, current socio-technical systems, such as the agro-food system, must rapidly undergo sustainability transitions. To transition socio-technical systems is however complex and it usually takes decades, and it is therefore crucial to study how socio-technical systems can transition faster.  Aim – This study aims to investigate under what circumstances a sustainability transition through an increased cultivation of grain-legumes in Sweden can take place and be accelerated. In order to guide the study and thus fulfil the purpose, two research questions have been formulated: 1)  “What are the current main factors that hinder a sustainability transition in terms of an increased cultivation of grain-legumes in the current agricultural value chain of crop production in Sweden?” 2)  “What prerequisites are required to accelerate sustainability transitions in the agricultural value chain of crop production in terms of an increased cultivation of grain-legumes in Sweden?” Method – The methodology used is a qualitative case study of the Swedish agricultural value chain of crop production. The data was collected through interviews, literature review and webinars. The data collected through interviewing was analyzed by using a thematic analysis.  Findings – One main hindering factor refer to the absence of certain value chain processes, both when it comes to actors that can provide Swedish plant-based food producers with extracted proteins from grain-legumes and when it comes to actors that can receive, sort, peel and pack grain-legumes for human consumption at an industrial level. Other main hindering factors regards the lack of financial incentives at several levels as well as a structured and stabilized agricultural socio-technical regime characterized by path dependencies and lock-ins. The found prerequisites required in order to accelerate sustainability transitions include for instance having certain value chain processes to come into place, steer large investments and educated people in the right direction to drive innovation and development as well as an increased sustainability transitioning pressure from the civil society in Sweden.   Implications – The findings of this thesis can increase the knowledge of actors engaged in the agricultural value chain of crop production, but also provide valuable insights for the whole Swedish agro-food sector. This study also provides insights regarding how a sustainability transition can be accelerated based on the findings from the studied case. Another implication is that a larger focus, when researching sustainability transitions, should be put on the role of civil society to understand and facilitate faster sustainability transitions in socio-technical systems. Limitations – The political perspective is not considered, the internal strategies of actors have not been investigated and the focus has only been at the environmental dimension of sustainability, not on the social or economic dimensions.

No description available.

L’alimentazione proteica risulta di fondamentale importanza per l’ottimizzazione della produttività e per il benessere degli animali di interesse zootecnico. L’identificazione di fonti vegetali alternative e/o complementari a quelle attualmente utilizzate (soia in primis) nel razionamento degli animali si rende necessaria per motivi economici, ambientali e legislativi, cercando di evitare, tuttavia, penalizzazioni sull’appetibilità della razione e sulla risposta produttiva. La ricerca condotta ha riguardato lo studio della composizione nutrizionale di semi di cece (Cicer arietinum) e lupino azzurro (Lupinus angustifolius), con approfondimenti sul contenuto di composti nutrizionalmente attivi e/o antinutrizionali, la valutazione della fermentescibilità ruminale mediante tecniche in vitro, anche alla luce di possibili interazioni genetiche (varietà e linee genetiche) e colturali (epoca e densità di semina). I risultati ottenuti hanno permesso di comprendere eventuali limiti di utilizzo di tali leguminose per l’alimentazione degli animali, in particolar modo dei ruminanti, e di attribuire le fonti di variabilità per la massimizzazione produttiva e qualitativa. / Ruminants protein nutrition is an essential item for optimizing the productivity and welfare of animals. The identification of pulses sources as alternative or complementary to those currently used (primarily soya) in the ration of ruminants is necessary for economic, environmental and legislative reasons, trying to avoid, however, penalties on palatability and productive response. The research focused on the study of the nutritional composition of seeds of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and blue lupine (Lupinus angustifolius), with insights on the content of nutritionally active compounds and / or antinutritionals, the evaluation of the ruminal fermentability using in vitro techniques, also considering possible genetic interactions (varieties and genetic lines) and farming practices (time and density of sowing). The results of the present study suggest that these pulses could be a potentially good feedstuff contributing at the same time to the energy and protein balance of animal diet. Moreover, the presence of active compounds like tannins at levels that should not be regarded as anti-nutritional, can be useful in ruminant feeding due to the moderating activities exerted by those compounds toward the ruminal degradation of proteins.