Crop rotation is a simple and effective part of an Integrated Weed Management (IWM) system. This approach makes it possible to rotate herbicides with different modes of action (MOA), avoiding or ...postponing herbicide resistance. Besides all the known advantages and benefits, it is still not widely used in maize (Zea mays L.) production. In Serbia, about 20% of total maize production is a continuous cropping. The aim of this research was to test the benefits of growing maize in crop rotation with winter wheat (Triticum vulgare L.) compared with a continuous cropping, combined with pre-emergence herbicide application. Field trials started in 2009, and five maize-winter wheat rotations have been completed. Weeds were controlled with a herbicide mixture of isoxaflutole and S-metolachlor, applied at either the full label rate or half rate, while one plot was kept weed free (manually), and one was a control. Integrating crop rotation and PRE herbicides decreased the biomass of weeds and their density by 98% and 99%, respectively. In continuous maize, perennial weeds became dominant after the first rotation. Crop rotation significantly influenced maize productive parameters, decreasing the variation in leaf area index and grain yield, increasing values with the number of cycles. The biggest differences in the analyzed parameters were observed in 2015, 2017 and 2019, indicating many positive long-term benefits of crop rotation on maize leaf area index and grain yield.
Display omitted
•Maize - winter wheat rotation significantly reduced weeds density and biomass.•A decreasing tendency of perennial weeds was reported in crop rotation.•Crop rotation with Isoxaflutole and S-metolachlor reduced weeds up to 99%.•In crop rotation appying 1/2 of herbicide rate could be as effective as the full rate.•Maize leaf area and grain yield were significantly higher in crop rotation.
Cover crops play an important role in low-input cropping systems, increasing the use of agro-ecosystem services. Due to the lack of information about the impact of cover crops and bio-fertilizers on ...popcorn maize (
Sturt.) growth and yield quality, especially the popping volume and nutritive quality, such as concentrations of protein and mineral elements, this research aimed to provide essential information. The interrelation between popcorn maize productivity and quality with important groups of soil microorganisms presents additional novelty. The results demonstrated that field pea is a beneficial cover crop, especially when combined with a bio-fertilizer, supporting the accumulation of maize biomass, chlorophyll, yield potential, and the concentrations of protein, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn. In addition, field pea residues promoted N-fixing bacteria, and the number of total microorganisms, especially actinomycetes and decomposing bacteria, which could promote nutrient uptake and grain quality. Residues of cover crop mixtures, common vetch + winter oats and field pea + winter oats, promoted the total number of microorganisms in the soil, and up to the end of vegetation, a greater number of decomposition and ammonification microorganisms were found, especially when the bio-fertilizer was applied, which consequently could support greater maize biomass. Popping volume, as a main trait of popcorn maize, had the highest value in the common vetch + winter oats variant, supporting again the statement that quality traits could be enhanced in sustainable production. Unlike living cover crops, mulch mainly affected soil microbial communities and promoted the development of actinomycetes and cellulolytic microorganisms during the growing season. The results of this research could contribute to the development of sustainable popcorn maize production for improved grain quality. They could also serve as a basis for isolating beneficial soil microorganisms to develop new bio-fertilizers that could improve maize production in synergy with cover crops.
Popcorn is a specialty maize variety with popping abilities. Although considered a snack, popcorn flakes provide a variety of benefits for the human diet. To evaluate the change in content of ...bioactive compounds in response to microwave popping, the kernels and flakes of twelve popcorn hybrids were assayed. Accordingly, the content of phytic acid, glutathione, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and tocopherols, as well as the antioxidant activity, were evaluated. In all evaluated popcorn hybrids, the most pronounced significant average decrease of 71.94% was observed for GSH content, followed by 57.72% and 16.12% decreases for lutein + zeaxanthin and phytic acid content, respectively. In response to popping, in the majority of the evaluated hybrids, the most pronounced significant average changes of a 63.42% increase and a 27.61% decrease were observed for DPPH, followed by a 51.52% increase and a 24.48% decrease for
-carotene, as well as, a 48.62% increase and a 16.71% decrease for α-Tocopherol content, respectively. The applied principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses revealed the distinct separation of popcorn hybrids' kernels and flakes, indicating the existence of a unique linkage of changes in bioactive compound content in response to popping.
Maize is an important staple crop and a significant source of various nutrients. We aimed to determine the macronutrients, antioxidants, and essential elements in maize genotypes (white, yellow, and ...red kernel) using three different fertilizers, which could be used as a basis to increase the nutrient density of maize. The fertilizer treatments used bio- and organic fertilizers as a sustainable approach, urea, as a commonly used mineral fertilizer, and the control (no fertilization). We evaluated the yield, concentration of macronutrient (protein, oil, and starch), nonenzymatic antioxidants (phenolics, yellow pigment, total glutathione (GSH), and phytic phosphorus), and reduction capacity of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, as well as essential elements that are commonly deficient in the diet (Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and S) and their relationships with phytic acid. The genotype expressed the strongest effect on the variability of grain yield and the analyzed grain constituents. The red-kernel hybrid showed the greatest accumulation of protein, oil, phenolics, and essential elements (Ca, Fe, Cu, and S) than a yellow and white hybrid, especially in the biofertilizer treatment. The yellow kernel had the highest concentrations of yellow pigment, GSH, phytic phosphorous, Mg, Mn, and Zn (19.61 µg g
, 1,134 nmol g
, 2.63 mg g
, 1,963 µg g
, 11.7 µg g
, and 33.9 µg g
, respectively). The white kernel had a greater starch concentration (2.5% higher than that in the red hybrid) and the potential bioavailability of essential metals, particularly under no fertilization. This supports the significance of white maize as a staple food in many traditional diets across the world. Urea was important for the enhancement of the antioxidant status (with 88.0% reduction capacity for the DPPH radical) and increased potential Zn bioavailability in the maize kernels (13.3% higher than that in the biofertilizer treatment). This study underlines the differences in the yield potential and chemical composition of red, yellow, and white-kernel maize and their importance as a necessary part of a sustainable human diet. This information can help determine the most appropriate genotype based on the antioxidants and/or essential elements targeted for kernel improvement.
Intensive weed management is required to meet the growing demands of sweet maize production. Herbicide application is inevitable in sweet maize production, while foliar fertilizer is commonly used in ...cropping in order to improve crop yield and quality. The effect of nicosulfuron and mesotrione, with and without foliar fertilizer, on the content of phytochemicals (i.e. carotenoids, tocopherols and free phenolic acids) in the kernels of three sweet maize hybrids was evaluated. Herbicides applied alone mainly improved the nutritive profile of the sweet maize kernel. The application of herbicides in combination with foliar fertilizer showed a high variability in the concentration of carotenoids, tocopherols and free phenolic acids. The significant change in the content of phytochemicals was induced by the applied treatments, but it is also genotype-dependent, which was also confirmed by the Principal Component Analysis.
•First report of herbicides impact on free phenolic acids content in sweet maize kernel.•Assessment of the effects of herbicides plus foliar fertilizer on eleven phytochemicals.•Improved free ferulic acid and α-tocopherol content was noticed.•Applied treatments gave sweet maize higher value in terms of functional foods.
To control weeds and cultivate maize (Zea mays L.) with higher yields, production systems have to include more efficient forms of N and appropriate herbicide treatments. The timing of N release could ...give maize an advantage over weeds in competition for resources, whereas cultivation at lower row spacing often decreases weed biomass. Knowledge about the different factors affecting herbicide efficiency increases the accuracy and reliability of chemical control. This study tested the weed infestation level and the development and productivity of a recently developed maize hybrid grown with the application of several integrated practices. The maize hybrid was sown with application of standard and slow‐releasing urea, with row spacing of 50 and 70 cm and treatment with either a pre‐emergence or a post‐emergence mix of herbicides. The numbers of plants of each weed species and their biomass were lower after the application of herbicides, although N form and row spacing produced no significant differences in the average weed infestation level for 3 yr. The post‐emergence herbicide treatment was more effective than the pre‐emergence treatment for weed biomass reduction and enhancing maize yield parameters. The N form did not influence any measured yield parameter, whereas the 70‐cm row spacing resulted in significantly higher harvest index and grain yield (0.45 and 9.19 Mg ha−1, respectively) than the 50‐cm spacing (0.43 and 7.36 Mg ha−1, respectively). The wider row spacing resulted in higher grain yield through its interaction with N form and herbicide treatment.
A greenhouse study was conducted to test the effects of low herbicide dose exposure on different crops measuring visible damages, plant height, leaf area, and dry matter. Seven crops were tested: ...lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cv. Novosadska majska maslena, oil pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duch) cv. Olivija, oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cv. NS Ras, pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cv. Kurtovska kapija, soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) cv. ZP Laura, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cv. NS Kruna, and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. Dunavski Rubin. Herbicide dicamba in the range of 0.14 to 1 155.6 g a.i. (active ingredient)/ha inhibited biomass, height, leaf area, and visual injury of all crops, while glyphosate doses from 0.48 to 3 840 g a.i./ha also reduced the growth of all tested species. A rate of 116 g a.i./ha mesotrione was needed to reach 80% visual injury in oilseed rape, while the same effects on lettuce only required 1.8 g a.i./ha of mesotrione. Tomato and oil pumpkin were also sensitive to low mesotrione doses, where only 1.3 g and 0.5 g a.i./ha of mesotrione was needed for 80% of biomass reduction, respectively. Lettuce was the most sensitive crop of all tested species; biomass was reduced by 80% by dicamba, glyphosate, mesotrione, and nicosulfuron at the low rates of 33 g a.i./ha, 19 g a.i./ha, 1.25 g a.i./ha, and 2.7 g a.i./ha, respectively. Among all herbicides, visible injuries were detected in dicamba at the lowest rates. Soybean was the most tolerant of glyphosate, mesotrione, and nicosulfuron. Based on the available literature and obtained results, herbicide off-target movement must be mitigated to maximise herbicide efficacy and decrease the negative influence on susceptible plants and the environment.
Climate changes are one of the biggest threats to food security. Sustainable agriculture, focused on eco-friendly practices for highly efficient food production, enables greater resilience and ...safety. This study experimented on intercropping and bio-fertilizer application as convenient ecological solutions for crop yield stability and quality. The experiment was conducted during 2018 and 2020 with soybean and common millet sown in three sowing patterns: alternating rows, alternating strips 1 (2 rows of soybean + 2 rows of millet), and alternating strips 2 (2 rows of soybean + 4 rows of millet), as well as sole crops (control), with or without a bio-fertilizer Coveron. Grain yield and nutrient grain yield response were calculated through land equivalent ratio (LER) and element-LER (E-LER), while quality was estimated based on the concentration of antioxidants (phytate phosphorus, total phenolic compounds, and yellow pigment) and elements in grains, including potential bio-availability of essential elements. Results revealed LER values to be >1 for all sowing patterns, with the highest one achieved in alternating strips 1 (1.38) together with a greater level of all antioxidants in millet grain. Intercropping significantly enhanced Fe and Mn accumulation in both crops and simultaneously decreased the concentration of potentially toxic elements (Al, Cr) in millet grain. Potential bio-availability of essential elements, expressed through the ratio between phytic acid and Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn revealed smaller values in intercropped soybean and millet with the bio-fertilizer. The bio-fertilizer also increased the concentration of some micro-elements in millet grain, classifying it as a highly dependent plant to microbial inoculation. Interaction of intercropping and bio-fertilizer was most pronounced for LER, E-LER, and accumulation of Fe and Mn in grains. These results highlighted the benefits of soybean-common millet intercropping, especially in combination with the bio-fertilizer, in light of enhanced land utilization and nutrient absorption, thus increasing the resilience of soybean and millet under dry land conditions and low-input systems toward stability and food security.
Sweet maize has worldwide importance due to its high nutritional value and health benefits. In order to provide valuable health-related information to consumers, the phytochemicals profile of raw ...sweet maize kernels and those exposed to different treatments (cooking, frozen storage before cooking, sucrose addition during cooking, and blanching) was examined herein. Thus, carotenoids, tocopherols and free phenolic acids content was determined by liquid chromatography, while the content of water soluble sugars was analyzed by anion exchange chromatography. In response to immediate cooking, as well as, to blanching prior to shorter frozen storage and cooking afterwards, all hybrids exhibited a significant decrease in carotenoids, and a significant increase in concentration of tocopherols, fructose, glucose, protocatechuic, ferulic and p-coumaric acids, in comparison to the fresh samples. However, treatments with blanching prior to longer frozen storage and cooking afterwards, contributed only to increased tocopherols content. Distinct grouping of processed samples in comparison to their corresponding control samples, revealed the existence of unique linkage between changes in phytochemicals content upon treatment in a hybrid-dependent manner. Combined blanching prior to shorter frozen storage with sucrose addition during cooking is highly recommended as a potent tool for phytochemicals enhancement.
•First report of 13 phytochemicals in sweet maize after cooking and frozen storage.•Significant increase of tocopherols upon sucrose addition during cooking.•Enhanced free ferulic and p-coumaric acids content after cooking treatments.•Antioxidants content increase upon blanching prior to shorter frozen storage.
PDF
