Four upland rice varieties namely Norin 26 (Japonica type), Yar 2 (Indica type) and NERICA 1 and NERICA 4 were grown in nutrient solutions separately deficient of one of the following elements: N,P,K,Ca and Mg, to examine deficiency symptoms as well as the effects on growth and grain yield. All varieties showed similar response to any of the deficient nutrient element at different levels. P and N deficiencies were the most growth limiting factors at the early growth period of all varieties. NERICA 1 and NERICA 4 varieties recorded the lowest yield reduction due to nutrient deficiencies. The results indicate that NERICA varieties which are interspecific hybrids of Oryza sativa L. and Oryza glaberrima Steud have relative advantage over their cultivated rice parent O. sativa L., which was represented by Norin 26 and Yar 2, for cultivation under nutrient deficient low fertile soil of the upland ecosystems.

The effect of Nutrient Composition and Tomatos Variety on the Growth and Yield of Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) in Substrate System HydroponicsABSTRACT. This study was aimed at determining nutrient composition and tomato varieties, and the interaction between these two factors on the growth and yield of tamato in substrate system hydroponics. The experimental design used was completely factorial randomized design. There were 2 factors studied, nutrient composition (Nutrisi Hara Spesial/ NHS, Hartuse and Growmore formulas) and tomatos varieties (Epoch (S-901), Jelita and Donna). Variables observed in this study were plant height, stem diameter, fruit diameter, fruit number and weight of the total fruit crop per plant. The result showed that the nutrient composition significantly affect the plant height at 15 and 30 DAT, stem diameter increment at 15, 30 and 45 DAT, fruit diameter, fruit number and weight of the total fruit crop per plant. The significant effect on plant height 45 days after planting was also found. The best growth and yield of tomato plants were found in nutrient composition of NHS. Tomatos variety had a very significant effect on plant height at 45 DAT, significantly affected plant height age 30 DAT and the number of fruit per plant. The growth and yield tomato variety was Jelita. There was no significant interaction between nutrient compositions treatment on tomatos varieties on all the observed variables.

Field experiments conducted during summer, 2003–04 through kharif 2004 to study the incidence of yellow stem borer (YSB) in response to rice varieties and NPK nutrient levels with and without Zn in protected and unprotected conditions revealed that the incidence of YSB was more in kharif than in summer season. The variety Surendra sustained least damage by YSB during both the seasons. The extent of damage by YSB increased with increase in doses of NPK. The nutrient level 60: 30: 30 kg NPK/ha with ZnS0₄ (F₃) recorded minimum borer incidence irrespective of varieties and insecticidal treatment. The insecticide ‘triazophos’ also proved effective in minimizing the dead heart (DH) incidence significantly at nutrient above level F₃. The moderately resistant variety Surendra treated with triazophos could be effectively protected from YSB attack at reproductive stage during kharif, 2004 when the crop was raised under same nutrient level.

This study investigated changes in accumulation and partitioning of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) with harvest dates of early, middle, and late maturity sweet sorghum varieties in 2006 and 2007 in North China. All the varieties exhibited an obvious trend of decrease in concentrations of N, P and K in aboveground plants from elongation to 60 days after anthesis (DAA). The reduction in nutrient concentrations was found in the order of K (14.5−4.5gkg⁻¹)>N (13.3−7.4gkg⁻¹)>P (2.40−0.96gkg⁻¹). Conversely, N, P, and K accumulation significantly increased from elongation to anthesis, and continued to increase until 40 DAA. The accumulation of N, P, and K at maturity (40 DAA) was 128–339kgha⁻¹, 30–75kgha⁻¹ and 109–300kgha⁻¹, respectively. Between elongation and anthesis, the middle and late maturity varieties had a higher ratio of N (50–82%), P (55–83%), and K (62–88%) accumulation than the early varieties (51–64% for N, 40–62% for P, and 55–75% for K). Sweet sorghum exhibited only one important K uptake stage from elongation to thesis according to the accumulation ratio (percentage of the nutrient accumulated at a given stage relative to that at physiological maturity) and rate (kilogram of nutrient accumulated per day per hectare). The stage from anthesis to grain maturity was the second important N and P uptake period. During the delay harvest period between 40 and 60 DAA, the early varieties exhibited significant increases in N accumulation; and the late varieties exhibited the reverse. P accumulation did not decrease significantly, whereas K accumulation decreased for all varieties in both years. Although of the N and P concentrations in straw were significantly lower than in grains, the N, P and K accumulation in straw was 2.2–9.3, 1.7–7.7, and 8.1–30.5 times higher than in grains, respectively. The concentrations of N and P in leaves were higher than in stems after anthesis. We found significantly higher accumulation of P and K in stems than in leaves, with a comparable N accumulation. The findings are helpful to make a fertilization regime recommendation for sweet sorghum production as a bioethanol crop in North China. It also suggests a further genetic improvement for optimizing nutrient use.

Field experiments conducted during summer, 2003 04 through kharif 2004 to study the incidence of yellow stem borer (YSB) in response to rice varieties and NPK nutrient levels with and without Zn in protected and unprotected conditions revealed that the incidence of YSB was more in kharif than in summer season. The variety Surendra sustained least damage by YSB during both the seasons. The extent of damage by YSB increased with increase in doses of NPK. The nutrient level 60: 30: 30 kg NPK/ha with ZnS04 (F3) recorded minimum borer incidence irrespective of varieties and insecticidal treatment. The insecticide 'triazophos' also proved effective in minimizing the dead heart (DH) incidence significantly at nutrient above level F3. The moderately resistant variety Surendra treated with triazophos could be effectively protected from YSB attack at reproductive stage during kharif, 2004 when the crop was raised under same nutrient level.

Vitamins are essential for human health and are mainly obtained from dietary sources. Cantaloupe and honeydew melons are abundant in provitamin A and vitamin C. California is one of the leading producers of cantaloupe and honeydew melons in the United States. Because melon is a warm-season crop, cantaloupe and honeydew melons are also imported to the United States from other countries to ensure year-around consumption. Nutrient content often varies among different melon varieties as well as among melons grown and harvested from different locations. To provide detailed nutrient information on domestic and imported melons, provitamin A and vitamin C contents of six California-grown and four imported melon varieties were determined by HPLC analysis and compared to the nutrient data published in the USDA nutrient database. Overall, California-grown and imported melons analyzed in the current work have higher vitamin A activity than values reported in the USDA database. Differential accumulation of provitamin A and vitamin C was observed among California-grown and imported melons. In addition, cantaloupe melons accumulate up to 60-fold more β-carotene than honeydew melons.

The Chapter discusses the efficiency of nutrient and energy use in organic farming, regarding the pressing need to make efficient use of natural resources. Nutrient recycling, the use of adapted plant varieties and energy-saving through the ban of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer are organic farming practices that enhance resource efficiency.

Six varieties of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) and two commercially available millets were investigated in the present study. In order to explore the nutritional potential, major nutrient composition, mineral composition, antioxidant capacity, total phenols content (related to the antioxidant capacity) and dietary fibre content were determined. The effects of decortication on these components were examined. In addition, protein profile of the varieties and amylose/amylopectin ratio of the starch were examined. The range of the values measured for major nutrient composition corresponds with data of other millet species published in earlier studies. Remarkable differences were found among the protein contents of the varieties (11.58–14.80%). Although the concentration of minerals was low in the varieties examined, in comparison with other cereals wholegrain millet seems to be nutritionally valuable because of their high dietary fibre content. Decortication had no effect on the protein and fat content of millets, however, it significantly decreased the content of crude fibre, dietary fibre, minerals, total phenols content and antioxidant capacity. Consequently the applicability of millets as functional food decreases. Decortication had no effect on the amylose/amylopectin ratio of millet. No varietal differences were found in terms of protein characteristics.

Six varieties of proso millet (<i>Panicum miliaceum</i> L.) and two commercially available millets were investigated in the present study. In order to explore the nutritional potential, major nutrient composition, mineral composition, antioxidant capacity, total phenols content (related to the antioxidant capacity) and dietary fibre content were determined. The effects of decortication on these components were examined. In addition, protein profile of the varieties and amylose/amylopectin ratio of the starch were examined. The range of the values measured for major nutrient composition corresponds with data of other millet species published in earlier studies. Remarkable differences were found among the protein contents of the varieties (11.58–14.80%). Although the concentration of minerals was low in the varieties examined, in comparison with other cereals wholegrain millet seems to be nutritionally valuable because of their high dietary fibre content. Decortication had no effect on the protein and fat content of millets, however, it significantly decreased the content of crude fibre, dietary fibre, minerals, total phenols content and antioxidant capacity. Consequently the applicability of millets as functional food decreases. Decortication had no effect on the amylose/amylopectin ratio of millet. No varietal differences were found in terms of protein characteristics.

The effect of nutrient concentration on sunflower grown using hydroponic system under greenhouse conditions was investigated. Plug transplants of three hybrid sunflower varieties, Opera, Pacific 77 and Artuel, were grown in 40 L-rectangular plastic tray container supplied with 10L of 'Enshi' nutrient solution. Three concentrations, 0.25X, 0.5X and 1X of the full strenth Enshi solution were evaluated weekly for 4 weeks in term of dry weight of leaf, stem and root, number of leaf, leaf area per plant, plant height, root length, stem diameter, chlorophyll content using SPAD-502 meter and NPK content in plant. The experiment was conducted using split-plot (main plots were concentrations and subplots were varieties) in RCB [randomized complete block design] with 4 replications. The result indicated that the effect of the concentration of Enshi solution on dry weight of leaf, stem and root, number of leaf, leaf area per tree, SPAD value and nutrient accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus in leaf and stem were greatest at 1X of the full strength solution. In conclusion, the full strength of Enshi solution is the optimal nutrient concentration for culturing sunflower seeding in hydroponic system under greenhouse condition.