Two peach cultivars, Redhaven and Royal Glory, grafted on seven different rootstocks (Adesoto, Barrier 1, GF 677, Ishtara, Monegro, Penta, and peach seedling) were analyzed for tree vigor and yield. ...Fruit of similar ripeness (fruit firmness) was analyzed in terms of pomological (fruit weight, soluble solids content) and biochemical parameters (individual sugars, organic acids, phenolic acids in the flesh and peel, as well as flavonols and anthocyanins in the peel). A uniform effect of rootstock on tree size was evident in the cases of both cultivars. The Ishtara rootstock induced weak tree growth; Adesoto, Penta and peach seedling semivigorous growth; and Barrier 1, GF 677, and Monegro vigorous tree growth. We recorded higher yields in the Redhaven cultivar, while no significant differences in yield in the fourth growing season were found among the rootstocks for each cultivar. Rootstock had no effect on soluble solids in the Redhaven cultivar, while in the Royal Glory it did. Penta yielded the highest soluble solids content levels, while Adesoto and Monegro were associated with low levels. In the fruit from both cultivars, the rootstock had a significant influence on individual sugars, organic acids, and phenolic acids in the pulp. We also found that phenolic acids in the pulp and skin were more affected by the rootstock than other secondary metabolites analyzed, regardless of the cultivar.
► Farmer's practice with broadcast fertilisation resulted in the highest yields. ► Frequent precipitation makes application environmentally friendly fertigation difficult. ► The lowest estimated N ...losses (kg
ha
−1) were under fertigation treatment. ► Legislative and monetary endorsement of environmentally friendly practices is imperative.
In the search for new technologies that would ensure optimum yield and environmental sustainability, various irrigation, nitrogen and cropping system management strategies for the production of vegetables with a shorter growing period were assessed at a benchmark site in Slovenia for the years 2006 and 2007. In the studied years four irrigation and fertilization treatments were applied: (1) 50% drip irrigation of plants water requirements
ET
crop
and the farmer's practice of fertilisation (broadcasting), (2) fertilisation and 100% drip irrigation (fertigation), (3) the farmer's practice of irrigation (sprinkler irrigation using water stored in plastic tanks) and fertilisation, and (4) control (the farmer's practice of irrigation but no fertilisation). An equivalent of 80, 80 and 200
kg
ha
−1 of nitrogen (N), 50, 50 and 80
kg
ha
−1 of phosphorous (P) and 120, 120 and 300
kg
ha
−1 of potassium (K) was added for iceberg lettuce, endive and cabbage, respectively. Nitrogen (N) labelled fertilizer (
15N) was applied to trace the movement of the applied N fertiliser. The tested irrigation and fertilisation techniques for the production of vegetables with a shorter growing period in the Slovenian climate showed that environmentally sustainable practices (split application of nutrients compared to broadcast incorporating fertilisation) should be a practice of choice in water protection zones. The results confirm that fertigation and improved irrigation scheduling can be an effective way of minimizing nitrate leaching, and should be considered for vegetable production in or close to groundwater protection zones.
A field experiment was conducted at Rice Research Station, Tonekabon, Iran, to determine the effect of N rate on seed yield, protein and oil content of two canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars. Two ...canola cultivars ('Hayola-308' and 'RGS- 003') and five N rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1), organized into a randomized complete block design with a factorial treatment arrangement and three blocks, were applied to plot areas. Results showed that N rate effect was significant (P < 0.01) for seed yield, protein content and yield, and oil yield but not for oil content. On the other hand, cultivar had only significant (P < 0.01) effect on seed protein and oil content. Moreover, the interaction between N rate and cultivar was significant at P < 0.01 for seed, protein and oil yield, illustrating that cultivars showed different responses to N rates for these traits. In general, the quadratic equation provided a good description of the relationship between seed, protein and oil yield and nitrogen rate. For 'Hayola-308', seed, protein and oil yield increased significantly as N application rate increased from 0 to 150 kg ha-1, but thereafter remained constant. In contrast, for 'RGS-003', seed, protein and oil yield increased significantly as N application rate increased from 0 to 200 kg ha-1. Therefore, at the highest N application rate (200 kg ha-1), 'RGS-003' produced greater seed, protein and oil yield than 'Hayola-308'. Averaged across N application rate, the seed protein content of RGS-003 was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than that of 'Hayola-308', while the opposite result was observed for seed oil content. This study demonstrated the differential response of two canola cultivars to N rate in terms of seed, protein and oil yield.
The current study has been conceived to draw attention to the factors that should be avoided in the production of cereal grains (such as high doses of nitrogen) by analysing differences in cereal ...grain contamination with mycotoxins DON (deoxynivalenol) and ZEA (zearalenone), depending on methods of wheat production. We studied the occurrence of DON and ZEA at very different production intensities in the ‘Reska’ and ‘Savinja’ wheat cultivars which were grown in a long-term field experiment (designed in 1992) at Jable near Ljubljana in the years 2006 and 2008. The cultivars ‘Reska’ and ‘Savinja’ have been considered in crop rotation of wheat-maize-oats in 5 methods of production with variants ranging organic up to intensely conventional. The results obtained have shown that adequately chosen agri-technical measures significantly reduced the risk of contamination of wheat flour by the mycotoxins DON and ZEA. Too abundant N (nitrogen) fertilization of either inorganic or organic origin is to be avoided. The extensive wheat growing reduces considerably the risk of DON and ZEA occurrence in comparison to the intensive one. Cultivar plays an important role in this process. The comparison of both cultivars has shown that the cultivar ‘Savinja’ was more resistant to the contamination with DON and ZEA than the cultivar ‘Reska’.
St. John’s wort (
Hypericum perforatum L.) was grown under different levels of UV-B radiation, with selenium (10
mg
l
−1 Se applied by foliar spraying in the form of sodium selenate) or without ...foliar Se application. The different levels of UV-B radiation comprised an enhanced level simulating 17% ozone depletion, ambient level, and a reduced level of UV-B radiation. The concentration of Se in unsprayed plants was from 20
ng
g
−1 to 120
ng
g
−1. The concentration of Se in the organs of plants foliarly sprayed with Se ranged from 1000
ng
g
−1 to 12,000
ng
g
−1, the highest concentration being detected in plants grown under reduced levels of UV-B radiation. Foliar application of Se fertiliser is feasible and effective in St. John’s wort and results in Se-enriched nutritional supplements.
A research field site (RFS) was established at Sinji Vrh in the western part of Slovenia in order to study flow and solute (particularly pollutant) transport in fractured and karstified rocks, with a ...focus on the unsaturated zone. RFS consists of surface set-up and a research tunnel, 15 m below the surface. Agrometeorological station was installed on the RFS. A special construction (1.5 m long segments) for collecting water seeping from the ceiling of the research tunnel was developed. At the research field site Sinji Vrh fertilizer application experiments were performed for estimation of impact of fertilization on water resources. Results of the fertiliser application experiments have shown that a thin autochtonous soil cover on karstic rock is insufficient to retain nitrate and prevent pollution of groundwater.
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