This paper examines factors determining farmers‘ adoption decision for improved maize varieties in the maize-common bean intercropping practices in two districts of East Hararghe zone, Eastern Ethiopia. It is based on data collected from 129 farm households using structured questionnaire. Descriptive results revealed that adopters of improved maize varieties had better food and nutrition security status. Furthermore, logit model output indicated that the decision to adopt improved maize varieties is influenced by location (district) dummy, education status of the household head, age of the household head, distance from the main road, and the number of plots owned. Major recommendations include improving the rural road infrastructure, educating and training farmers, organizing experience sharing events among farmers, and raising awareness about the food and nutrition security benefits of sustainable agricultural intensification practices like intercropping improved maize with improved common bean varieties.

Boron is an important micronutrient for growth and development of crop plants. Plant species differ in their requirement of boron for growth. This study was conducted to determine the effect of boron application on the plant characteristics of maize during early leaf stages. The experiments were conducted in Tel – Kaliş agricultural research area at the Mustafa Kemal University in 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. The field experiments were arranged in a split plot design with three replications. Four boron dosages (control, 4, 6 and 8 mg/m2) were applied at three growing stages (V2, V4 and V2V4 (at V2 and V4 stages in two equal parts) as foliar spray. The results revealed that the effects of foliar application of B were positive but statistically insignificant on plant characteristics. Further researches should be conducted for suitable boron application time at different growth stages of maize.

To examine polyamines (PAs) effect in modulating the drought induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings (variety Khoibhutta, 8 day seedlings grown in petri dish in incubator) were subjected to 20% PEG (polyethylene glycol) followed by 20 µmol PAs, Putrescine (Put), Spermidine (Spd) and Spermine (Spm) with PEG solution for 48 hours. Sharp decrease in Relative Water Content (RWC), Chl a, Chl b, carotenoid (Car) and total pigment content was observed under drought compared to control condition, while PAs application reversed their decreasing trends. PEG significantly increased Reactive Oxidative Species (ROS) [superoxide (O2•−) and H2O2], Methyl Glyoxal (MG), Melondialdehyde (MDA) and Lipoxigenase (LOX) activity, while Pas decreased the contents considerably (except MG) as compared to those under drought. Drought increased proline content, which was further augmented in PA treatments. PAs failed to incline glyoxalase’s (Gly-I and Gly-II) activities, reduced under PEG. The activity and western blot confirmed the accumulation of Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) under drought, but PAs failed to augment the activity. Ascorbic Acid (AsA) and Glutathione (GSH) got oxidized into Dehydroascorbate (DHA) and oxidized Glutathione (GSSG) under drought but PAs effectively maintained homeostasis. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Peroxidase (POD), Ascorbate Peroxidase (APX), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX), Monodehydroascorbatereductase (MDHAR), Dehydroascorbatereductase (DHAR), and Glutathione Reductase (GR) inclined in drought stressed seedlings, while Catalase (CAT) activity decreased under drought. PAs addition increased SOD, POD, GPX, CAT, MDHAR, and GR activities, but declined DHAR activity. These findings suggested important role of PAs in increasing tolerance under short term drought by modulating antioxidant effect.

Maize is a very important cereal all over the world and generally cultivated in irrigated agricultural areas. Salinity affects adversely maize productivity in these areas. Maize is known as a salt sensitive species. The salt tolerance level identification in the large genetic resources and breeding populations is an important research topic for solving the salinity problem. The effects of NaCl stress on germination and seedling growth of fifteen maize genotypes were investigated in this study. Electrical conductivity (EC) values of the NaCl were settled 0 (distilled water), 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 dS m-1. This investigation was performed as factorial arrangement of completely randomized design with four replications. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that genotypes, salinity levels and interaction between genotype x salinity were significant for all the investigated treatments emergence index (EI), root dry weight (RDW), shoot dry weight (SDW), root length (RL), shoot length (SL), and salt tolerance indexes (STI). Results also revealed that the highest reduction in emergence index (59.7%) were obtained in the highest level (12 dS m-1) of salinity. The results further revealed that the cultivars named DKC 6589, PR31G98, and PR31A34 were the most tolerant genotypes than the others under NaCI stress.

The maize germplasm variation is valuable for breeders to develop elite hybrids with increased mineral contents in the maize grain to eliminate mineral malnutrition, which is referred as HIDEN HUNGER. Therefore, we aimed to determine mineral element diversity of maize landraces collected from different geographical regions of Turkey. There was huge diversity for all mineral traits and other quality traits. Turkish maize landraces showed high variation for Zn (17-41.34 mg kg-1), Fe (13.52-29.63 mg kg-1), Cu (0.77-3.34 mg kg-1), Mn (5.68-14.78 mg kg-1), Protein (6.6-11.6%), starch content (73.3-80.0%), oil content (3.15-4.7%) and thousand grain weight (177.0-374.9g). There were significant positive and negative associations among mineral elements and quality traits. The principal component analysis differentiated some maize landraces from the rest, and these diverse landraces could be used in the maize breeding program with biofortification purpose.

An experiment was carried out at the ICAR-KVK Research farm, HansRoever Campus, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India during the Kharif season (July to October), 2020 to study the effect of agronomic biofortification through integrated nutrient management on hybrid maize (biofortified and non-biofortified). The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design having 36 treatment combinations of hybrids and nutrients and replicated thrice. The treatment sources consisted of two main plots of maize hybrids (M1: Non-biofortified and M2: biofortified), and six sub-plots of nutrients (S1: 100 % Recommended Dose of Fertilizer RDF through Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, S2: 100 % RDF through Farm Yard Manure, S3: 50% RDF through NPK + 50% RDF through FYM, S4: S1+ Iron and Zinc as foliar application @0.5% conc, S5: S2 + Iron and Zinc as foliar application @0.5% conc, S6: S3 + Iron and Zinc as foliar application @0.5% conc.). The recommended dose of fertilizer was NPK 150:75:75 kg ha-1. Application of 50% RDF through NPK + 50% RDF through FYM with Fe and Zn as foliar application @0.5% conc (S6) at 45 (active vegetative stage) and 90 (grain filling stage) days after sowing, significantly increased all the growth and yield attributes, grain and stover yield, quality attributes and nutrient uptake by maize. Among the nutrient levels, higher grain yield (8.2 t ha-1) and stover yield (10.16 t ha-1), quality attributes, and nutrient uptake were recorded with the application of 50% RDF through NPK + 50% RDF through FYM with Fe and Zn as foliar application @0.5% conc (S6). Similarly, significant net return (INR 78,767) and benefit cost ratio (3.07) were noted with the application of 100% RDF through NPK (S1) followed by 50% RDF through NPK + 50% RDF through FYM with Fe and Zn as foliar application @0.5% conc (S6). Hence, integrated nutrient management with agronomic biofortification @0.5% conc., at 45th and 90th DAS should be adopted to obtain maximum grain yield, net profit, and nutrient uptake by Kharif maize.

Weed-competitive cultivars are desired in the wake of growing popularity of organic farming, environmental pollution and evolution of herbicide resistance in weeds. This research work evaluated the weed competitive ability of three forage maize cultivars (ADA-523, AGA and SASA-5) against the noxious weed barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv.). The study was conducted in spring 2018 and repeated in summer 2018. Results of this study showed that maize-barnyardgrass competition significantly decreased the growth of forage maize plants. For instance, barnyardgrass decreased the maize plant height by 11.9-16.9%, leaf length by 13.3-20.2%, leaf width by 20.2-27.4%, and number of leaves by 14.3-25.0%. Fresh and dry weights of maize plants were also significantly decreased as a result of weed-crop competition. Barnyardgrass decreased the shoot fresh weight (30.7-60.6%), shoot dry weight (33.3-52.2%), leaf fresh weight (33.4-56.5%) and leaf dry weight (31.9-50.0%) of the maize plants. An interactive effect of weed × maize cultivars was found non-significant. Forage maize cultivars also varied occasionally for their traits. Nevertheless, ADA-523 had a higher plant height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf fresh weight and leaf dry weight than the cultivars AGA and SASA-5. On the other hand, the cultivar SASA-5 had a higher shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight and root fresh weight than the other cultivars in the study. This research work concluded that the forage maize cultivars in the study did not vary for the weed-competitive ability. Further, barnyardgrass-maize competition could decrease the growth and development of the maize cultivars.

This study was conducted to identify the current problems of cereal crops like wheat and corn producers and to suggest solutions for overcoming those problems in Amik Plain (Antakya, Kirikhan, Kumlu, Reyhanli districts) in Hatay province of Turkey. In this study, the primary data was obtained by face-to-face survey from 100 cereal producers in Amik plain. All variables are given as frequency and percentage distribution, and numerical variables as mean. The survey assessed the level of education of grain producers, the number of individuals in the farm, record keeping, social security, crops (wheat and corn) growing area, yield, sowing and harvest date ranges, property and leasehold land use, cultural practices and grain production. The data were analysed using simple statistical analysis methods (frequency, averages, percentage distribution). The results indicated that about 50% of the cereal producers had higher educational degree. It was determined that producers had an average of 12.3 ha of wheat and 15 ha of corn cultivated area. Moreover, cereal production is well known as one of the cultural practices in the study area. The main problem of grain producers is that the low cereal prices. In addition, the Turkish Grain Board (TMO) does not purchase the production at the time of harvesting. Moreover, high production costs and corn irrigation are considered other problems that cereal producers are facing.

The aim of this study was to find potential PGPR from sub-forest soil located different region soils of Turkey. Previous research indicated that the existing bacteria in arable soil are not capable to represent their individual performance most probably due to the competition. To overcome this phenomenon, soils are collected from sub-forest soil of Adana (Ad), Antalya (An), Hatay (Ha), Isparta (Is), Ordu (Or) and Sivas (Si) provinces. Experiment was carried out on the soil existing in Isparta in a greenhouse condition. Four fast growing bacteria colonies in tryptic soy (CASO) agar medium from each province were isolated and then, each isolate cultivated at liquid CASO broth until they reach 106 cfu ml-1. Experiments were carried out with a total of 24 bacteria including 6 province and 4 bacteria cultures from each region. The effects of those bacteria on biomass development and nutrient uptake of maize (Zea mays) were investigated. Sterile broth was applied treatment defined as control. The results revealed that 23 isolates out of 24 stimulated plants shoot dry weight. The highest value observed in the Or1 and Is4 isolates as 12.8 and 12.7 g plant-1 which around 77% higher than control whereas the lowest was in Or2 as 6.45 g plant-1. Plant nutrient concentrations were also influenced from inoculates where An1, Ad1, Or1, Is1 and Is3 significantly increased macro nutrients uptake where total N, available P, K, Ca and Mg were higher by 19%, 14%, 14%, 59% and 41% over the control, respectively. The Fe concentration was found 48% higher in Ad3 isolate. The Cu, Mn and Zn were the highest in Si3 as 43%, 30% and 31%, respectively. In general 4 out of 24 isolates were selected as promising PGPR for both plant development and nutrient uptake of maize.

The study was designed to asses the residual effect of organic N (Poultry Manure) and mineral N on maize crop in field experiments carried out on silty clay loam soil at NIFA, Tarnab, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Pakistan during 2014-15. Combined dose of N from both sources were 120 kg ha-1 applied to wheat crop alone and in different combination making six treatments. Maize variety (Azam) was sown in Randomized complete block (RCB) design with four replications. Agronomic data, grains ear-1, 1000 grain weight, biomass grain yield data, N-uptake in maize grain and straw were recorded. Results showed that maximum grain ear−1, 1000 grain weight, biomass and grain yield was obtained from treatment where 25% N applied from poultry manure + 75% from mineral N source applied to previous wheat crop. Agronomic efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency were also found maximum in treatment where 75% poultry manure + 25% mineral N was applied. It was concluded from the study that residual effect of organic manure with mineral N in different ratios enhances crop productivity and soil fertility.