To develop appropriate bioenergy production systems to match site-speci c situations, establishment and yield were evaluated for switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), intermediate wheatgrass [ inopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth and D.R. Dewey], tall wheatgrass [ inopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Z.-W. Liu and R.-C. Wang], and three binary mixtures at four sites in North Dakota from 2006 to 2011. One year a er seeding in 2007, intermediate wheatgrass, tall wheatgrass, a binary mixture of tall wheatgrass and intermediate wheatgrass, and a binary mixture of tall wheatgrass with 'Sunburst' switchgrass (dominated by tall wheatgrass) stand canopy cover was above 85% at all four sites. Sunburst switchgrass and its binary mixture with big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) stand canopy cover reached 100% at Carrington, the most eastern site; and below 35% at Williston, the most western site, 1 yr a er seeding. Meanwhile, their stand canopy cover was more than 70% at Minot and Streeter, the north central and south central sites, respectively, 2 to 3 yr a er seeding. Sunburst switchgrass produced the highest biomass at Carrington (10.6 ± 1.8 Mg ha -1 ), whereas intermediate wheatgrass was the highest at Williston (3.0 ± 1.0 Mg ha -1 ). e binary mixture of tall wheatgrass with Sunburst switchgrass had the highest yield at Minot (8.5 ± 2.5 Mg ha -1 ) and Streeter (6.7 ± 1.9 Mg ha -1 ). Yields of binary mixtures were at least comparable to and sometimes higher than those of their compositional component monocultures.
Growth analysis of crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst. ex R. E. Fries) is important for the use of proper production practices and adequate pest management strategies. This study evaluated the heat unit requirements and quantitative characteristics of crambe growth [leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), yield, and total biomass] and the impact of defoliation on yield using artificial infestation with diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) (DBM) in 1993 and 1994 and manual defoliation in 1995. The heat unit accumulation from planting to physiological maturity was approximately 1350 degree-days (DD) above 2.5 °C. The maximum LAI and generally the maximum daily increase of biomass occurred at the onset of flowering. The yield was proportional to LAD: 238 g m~2 versus 1187 DD in 1993, 190 g m~2 versus 1010 DD in 1994, and 117 g m~2 versus 774 DD in 1995. No reduction in yield or thousand seed weight was observed in any of the infestation or defoliation experiments. The artificial defoliation experiment showed that crambe can withstand substantial injury after the start of anthesis (25-50% of leaf area lost) without a significant yield loss.
Hard red spring wheat in North America must be high in protein in order to avoid costly discounts when marketed. Many newer cultivars have higher yield potential but produce relatively lower grain protein levels. A post-anthesis foliar application of urea-ammonium nitrate mixed with equal part water at 33 kg·ha −1 nitrogen (N) can increase grain protein levels by up to one percent. This increase can be profitable when market premiums/discounts for protein are moderate to high. Nitrogen applied post-anthesis consistently increased grain protein content more than the application of the same rate of N to the soil prior to planting. Milling and baking analysis reveals augmenting the protein in this way does not diminish its functionality.
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