The study is focused on the microbial and chemical parameters of green compost in which composites based on acetylated wheat B-starch and maltodextrin (patented procedure) were biodegraded and also on the parameters of lettuce grown on this compost before and after the biodegradation. With a load of up to 1 g of composites per 1 l of compost, and with a storage period of 0, 7-14, 15-20 and 21-147 days, mixture of compost wiped off the surface both of well-preserved composites and of the immediate surroundings of their residues was evaluated. Microbial biomass, basal respiration (BR), metabolic quotient, dehydrogenase and arylsulfatase activity (ARS) and the parameters of the lettuce growth on this compost did not show any negative changes. On the contrary acetylated wheat B-starch and maltodextrin stimulated both ARS and BR. ARS showed the most rapid onset among all tests. The height of the aboveground parts of the lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata) grown on green compost was significantly better, compared to commercial peat-based substrates.

The four-year trial was conducted in north-western Slavonia (main arable crop producing region in Croatia) to evaluate the effects of different tillage systems on the water content of silty loam soil (Albic Luvisol) and yields of maize (Zea mays L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The tillage systems compared were: conventional tillage; reduced conventional tillage; conservation tillage I; conservation tillage II (CM); no-tillage (NT). During the study period, there were one dry, two wet and one average season. Soil water content (SWC) was measured at 0-5, 15-20 and 30-35 cm depths on a monthly basis. Tillage systems had significant (P < 0.05) effects on SWC and yields. The highest average SWC in all seasons was measured under the NT system, followed by the CM system. In the second season, the highest yield was measured under the NT system while in all other seasons, it was under the CM system.

This study compares the effect of application of digestate, straw, cattle slurry and inorganic fertilizers on crop yield and soil organic matter content. Total organic carbon (C), total organic nitrogen (N), hot water soluble C, microbial biomass C and hydrophobic soil components were evaluated in soil from the field experiment in Prague-Ruzyně (Orthic Luvisol, clay loam) with winter wheat. All fertilized treatments significantly increased grain yield above the level of non-fertilized control (5.68 t/ha), and the sequence was as follows: digestate (9.88 t/ha) > NPK(9.80 t/ha) > cattle slurry (9.73 t/ha) > digestate + straw (9.35 t/ha). Average organic C content in the soil ranged from 1.668-1.704% and the effect of different fertilization was not significant. The highest increase of microbial biomass C was recorded in digestate + straw (43.2% increase compared to control). Highly significant correlations were found between hydrophobic soil components and hot water soluble C (r = 0.988; P ≥ 0.05) and microbial biomass C (r = 0.964; P ≥ 0.05). Total organic N content ranged from 0.157-0.160% and differences among treatments were insignificant. Fertilization with digestate itself brings an effect in increasing crop yield, but does not improve the level of soil organic matter significantly.

IFPRI1; Markets and Trade | Discussion paper | The Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture attempted to lower distortions in the global agricultural markets. However, the significant fall in commodity prices in late 1990s may have reduced the incentives for both developed and developing countries to better integrate into the world markets. This study analyzes price linkages and adjustment between developed and developing countries during the post-Uruguay Round period. Prices of two key commodity markets, long-grain rice and medium-hard wheat, are assembled for major exporters and producers. Results from the multivariate cointegration analysis suggest partial market integration between developed and developing countries in the post-Uruguay Round period. Developed countries are found to be price leaders in these two markets, and in most cases, the changes in their prices have relatively large impacts on those of the developing countries. The new entrants into world markets (Vietnam and Argentina) have faced considerable price adjustment due to changes in the developed countries’ prices. | Non-PR | MTID

The study was undertaken in three villages of district Peshawar by taking a sample of 234 respondents using a proportional allocation technique. The selected three villages are Regi, Lakaray and Putwar. Main objective of the study was to find out the cost and return from wheat production and to compare the yield of wheat in respect of education, certified seed and flood affected area. Cost and returns of wheat production were estimated through simple budgeting method, and the profit function was estimated through regression analysis. In estimating the cost of wheat production, land preparation cost, seed cost, fertility inputs cost, irrigation cost and labor cost were taken in to account. Total cost incurred in the production of wheat was Rs. 28286.84 per acre. Fertility input, land rent and land preparation cost were 35.2, 30.30 and 15.18 percent respectively of the total cost of production of wheat in the study area. The average yield of wheat per acre is 1554.63 kg and the average net return from wheat production is Rs. 22465.5 per acre, was recorded in the study area. Farmer's net return is largely determined by output price, cost incurred and total wheat production. The net revenue of the wheat growers is estimated by profit function. The results show that there is a positive relationship between profit and price of wheat, quantity of wheat, price of by-product, and quantity of by-product and also show a negative relationship of profit with the total cost. The effect of literacy, certified seed and flood affected area of the farmers has been estimated. The literate farmers produced 99.9 kg more wheat yield per acre than the illiterate farmers. Farmers who used certified seed have 127.41 kg more yield per acre than the farmers who didn't use certified seed. Similarly for flood affected area the farmers produce 54.8 kg les yield per acre as compare to the non-flood area.

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) and Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) are transmitted by the wheat curl mite (WCM, Aceria tosichella), and coinfections of wheat by these viruses are common in the field. Previous work has shown that mite genotypes vary in their ability to transmit TriMV. However, the degree to which coinfection of wheat modifies WCM vector competence has not been studied. The objective was to determine whether mite genotypes differed in virus transmission ability when feeding on wheat coinfected by WSMV and TriMV. First, WCM genotype type 2 was used to determine virus transmission rates from mock-, WSMV-, TriMV-, and coinfected wheat plants. Transmission rates were determined by using single-mite transfers from replicated source plants. Coinfection reduced WSMV transmission by type 2 WCM from 50 to 35.6%; however, coinfection increased TriMV transmission from 43.3 to 56.8%. Mite survival on single-mite transfer test plants indicates that the reduction in WSMV transmission may result from poor mite survival when TriMV is present. In a second study, two separate colonies of WCM genotype type 1 were tested to assess the impact of coinfection on transmission. Type 1 mites did not transmit TriMV from coinfected plants but the two colonies varied in transmission rates for WSMV (20.9 to 36.5%). Even though these changes in mite transmission rates are moderate, they help explain the high relative incidence of TriMV-positive plants that are coinfected with WSMV in field observations. These findings begin to demonstrate the complicated interactions found in this mite–virus complex.

Economic conditions are forcing farmers to grow crops with high revenue leading to cereal-dominated crop rotations with increasing risk due to unfavourable preceding crops or preceding crop combinations. Based on a long-term field trial (1988–2001) with 15 different rotations including winter oilseed rape (OSR), winter wheat, winter barley, spring peas and spring oats, the effects of different preceding crops, pre-preceding crops and crop rotations on the grain yield of mainly OSR, winter wheat and winter barley were quantified. In the subsequent 2 years (2001/2002 and 2002/2003), winter wheat was grown on all plots in order to test the residual effects of the former crops (as preceding crops in 2002 and as pre-preceding crops in 2003) and crop rotations on growth, grain yield and yield components. Unfavourable preceding crops significantly decreased yield of OSR, wheat and barley by 10% on average, however, with a large year-to-year variation. In addition, break-crop benefits in both crops, wheat and OSR, persisted to the second year. Wheat as preceding crop mainly decreased the thousand grain weight, and to a lesser extent, the ear density of the subsequent wheat crop. The amount of wheat yield decrease negatively correlated with the simple water balance (rainfall minus evapotranspiration) in May–July. In 2001/2002 and 2002/2003, the preceding crop superimposed the crop rotation effects, thus resulting in similar effects as observed in 1988–2001. Our results clearly reveal the importance of a favourable preceding crop for the yield performance of a crop, especially wheat and OSR.

Climate change is expected to increase future temperatures, potentially resulting in reduced crop production in many key production regions. Research quantifying the complex relationship between weather variables and wheat yields is rapidly growing, and recent advances have used a variety of model specifications that differ in how temperature data are included in the statistical yield equation. A unique data set that combines Kansas wheat variety field trial outcomes for 1985–2013 with location-specific weather data is used to analyze the effect of weather on wheat yield using regression analysis. Our results indicate that the effect of temperature exposure varies across the September−May growing season. The largest drivers of yield loss are freezing temperatures in the Fall and extreme heat events in the Spring. We also find that the overall effect of warming on yields is negative, even after accounting for the benefits of reduced exposure to freezing temperatures. Our analysis indicates that there exists a tradeoff between average (mean) yield and ability to resist extreme heat across varieties. More-recently released varieties are less able to resist heat than older lines. Our results also indicate that warming effects would be partially offset by increased rainfall in the Spring. Finally, we find that the method used to construct measures of temperature exposure matters for both the predictive performance of the regression model and the forecasted warming impacts on yields.

Wheat (Triticum spp.) is one of the most important and fundamental crop used as a source of food all over the world. It is the third most cultivated cereal, having lofty nutritive value and second largest cultivated crop in the world. It is grown in Pakistan in almost in every area. It is the principal source of food. It provides 20% proteins to humans. It belongs to the family Poaceae. However, its production is limited due to some biotic and abiotic stresses. Drought is one of the important stresses which decrease the wheat yield. A pot experiment was conducted in the Botanical Garden of University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Three varieties of wheat (SH-95, Punjab-2011 and Galaxy-2013) were grown in pots under drought conditions. Drought stress was applied by withholding water up to 60% of field capacity. Under drought stress conditions, the physiological and morphological processes were also affected. Chlorophyll content decreases which indicate oxidative stress that result in degradation of chlorophyll contents. The process of Photosynthesis was also affected under drought stress. The shoot and root growth of wheat decreased under drought stress. A completely randomized design along with three replicates was applied. Various physiological characteristics (such as relative water contents, fresh and dry biomass, osmotic potential, chlorophyll content, carotenoids and proline) were recorded to observe the effect of drought on these wheat varieties. The variety showing tolerance to drought stress was selected.

Due to uncertain weather conditions, i.e. climate change, agriculture has become the riskiest profession in the world. Their is need to build up conditions for enhanced crop productivity in this climate change scenario. This can be done by making such policies which can tackle the climate change conditions, adopting mitigation strategies according to the degrees of vulnerability.