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Using conservation tillage to grow crops that enhance soil quality, such as legumes, seems to be one of the best solutions for sustainable agriculture. The field study was conducted to identify the effect of soil cultivation technology and fertilization, via strip-tilling (reduced) vs. plowing (conventional), on the availability and uptake of NPK and Mg, as well as on the growth of shoots and roots and yield of green peas (Pisum sativum L.). The research was carried out in central Poland (53°05′16.8″ N, 19°06′14.4″ E) over two growing seasons of green peas in 2016 and 2017. Our study has shown that the spatial distribution of macroelements in the soil is influenced by the tillage method. The availability and nutrient uptake by green peas, their growth parameters, and yield were also influenced by the tillage system. However, the effect was observed mainly in the first year of the study, which had less precipitation and higher temperatures. In general, in our study, the strip-till has a positive impact on the nutrient uptake by plants, contributing to longer shoots and roots and higher biomass accumulation, especially in the first part of the growing season. In 2016, with less rainfall, green peas under strip-tilling produced more pods per plant and the yield was higher than under plowing (by 13.8%). In 2017, with higher precipitation, an increase in yield under strip-tilling compared to plowing was also observed (by 9.1%), but this difference was not statistically significant. To sum up, strip-tillage seems to have a positive impact on the spatial distribution of macroelements, growth parameters, and yield of green peas, and can be recommended as a technology for the sustainable production of this crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using conservation tillage to grow crops that enhance soil quality, such as legumes, seems to be one of the best solutions for sustainable agriculture. The field study was conducted to identify the effect of soil cultivation technology and fertilization, via strip-tilling (reduced) vs. plowing (conventional), on the availability and uptake of NPK and Mg, as well as on the growth of shoots and roots and yield of green peas (Pisum sativum L.). The research was carried out in central Poland (53°05′16.8″ N, 19°06′14.4″ E) over two growing seasons of green peas in 2016 and 2017. Our study has shown that the spatial distribution of macroelements in the soil is influenced by the tillage method. The availability and nutrient uptake by green peas, their growth parameters, and yield were also influenced by the tillage system. However, the effect was observed mainly in the first year of the study, which had less precipitation and higher temperatures. In general, in our study, the strip-till has a positive impact on the nutrient uptake by plants, contributing to longer shoots and roots and higher biomass accumulation, especially in the first part of the growing season. In 2016, with less rainfall, green peas under strip-tilling produced more pods per plant and the yield was higher than under plowing (by 13.8%). In 2017, with higher precipitation, an increase in yield under strip-tilling compared to plowing was also observed (by 9.1%), but this difference was not statistically significant. To sum up, strip-tillage seems to have a positive impact on the spatial distribution of macroelements, growth parameters, and yield of green peas, and can be recommended as a technology for the sustainable production of this crop.

The effect of chemically synthesized selenium (Se) nanocomposites (NCs) based on the natural polymer matrices arabinogalactan (AG), carrageenan (CAR), and starch (ST) on potato tuber traits, storage, and crop structure was studied in a field trial. Parental potato tubers were sprayed by Se/AG NC, Se/ST NC, and Se/CAR NC 14 days before planting in the field. The results showed that Se/AG NC and Se/CAR NC increased the number and weight of tubers in the first generation (F1) obtained from the plants grown from the treated tubers. It was found that Se/AG NC and Se/ST NC decreased the median weight of shoots after 230 days of storage of the F1 tubers, preventing their premature germination, and Se/AG NC decreased the number of rotten tubers. All three Se NCs significantly improved the storage by increasing the number of healthy scab-, dry-pitted-rot-, and wireworm-free tubers in the F1 after 230-day-long storage, except Se/CAR NC regarding dry pitted rot. Selenium/ST NC significantly increased the number of tubers, and Se/CAR NC their mass, and both decreased the number of rotten tubers in the second generation (F2). Selenium NCs affected crop structure in both generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of cytokinins is a good tool to promote axillary buds in many species, but plant decapitation or leaf cut-back are also suitable methods. This research aims to establish a strategy for artichoke cutting production using a combination of chemical and mechanical treatments. Two experiments were conducted in Tunisia to investigate the effect of 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) on shoot outgrowth in globe artichoke combined with the leaf cut-back at collar level one week after BAP treatment. The first trial was tested in a spring offshoot nursery and the second one in a field of micro-propagated mother plants grown for two years. Five treatments were tested in both experiments: BAP 0 ppm + no cut-back (T1), BAP 0, 100, 200, and 300 ppm + cut-back (T2, T3, T4, and T5 respectively). Regarding growth aspects, the highest number of offshoots was obtained in T4 for both trials with an increase of 49.2% and 37.8% compared to T2 nursery and field values, respectively. T4 also showed a faster rhythm of shoot emission and the biggest shoot size compared to the other treatments. Significant interactions between BAP treatments and offshoot size were recorded for morphological and weight parameters. Regarding the offshoot mineral composition, relevant differences were observed among BAP treatments; moreover, the higher BAP concentrations induced a significant decrease of NaCl plant uptake. Therefore, the combination of BAP 200 ppm and the leaf cut-back could be a potential method to enlarge the cutting production of globe artichoke also reducing some stressful conditions.

The application of cytokinins is a good tool to promote axillary buds in many species, but plant decapitation or leaf cut-back are also suitable methods. This research aims to establish a strategy for artichoke cutting production using a combination of chemical and mechanical treatments. Two experiments were conducted in Tunisia to investigate the effect of 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) on shoot outgrowth in globe artichoke combined with the leaf cut-back at collar level one week after BAP treatment. The first trial was tested in a spring offshoot nursery and the second one in a field of micro-propagated mother plants grown for two years. Five treatments were tested in both experiments: BAP 0 ppm + no cut-back (T1), BAP 0, 100, 200, and 300 ppm + cut-back (T2, T3, T4, and T5 respectively). Regarding growth aspects, the highest number of offshoots was obtained in T4 for both trials with an increase of 49.2% and 37.8% compared to T2 nursery and field values, respectively. T4 also showed a faster rhythm of shoot emission and the biggest shoot size compared to the other treatments. Significant interactions between BAP treatments and offshoot size were recorded for morphological and weight parameters. Regarding the offshoot mineral composition, relevant differences were observed among BAP treatments; moreover, the higher BAP concentrations induced a significant decrease of NaCl plant uptake. Therefore, the combination of BAP 200 ppm and the leaf cut-back could be a potential method to enlarge the cutting production of globe artichoke also reducing some stressful conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]