In field experiments at Pantnagar, India during 1968–70, evapo-transpiration (ET) in wheat was significantly correlated with U.S.W.B. class A pan evaporation (E0) when the crop was in an active stage of growth and moisture was non-limiting (50 or 25% depletion of available moisture). The estimated ET was higher than E0, probably due to ‘oasis’ and ‘clothesline’ effects. When ET measurements were made at varying distances from the upwind side during the subsequent three years, it was found that ET decreased with increasing distance downwind with a conspicuous border effect up to about 25 m distance. In the absence of advective heating, i.e. in extreme downwind locations, the actual ET was 480, 533 and 530 mm during 1970–71, 1971–72 and 1972–73 respectively.

Ethephon substantially increased pod numbers of a rust-susceptible cultivar, by inducing leaf fall and a second flowering, but had no such effect on a rust-resistant cultivar. The treatment reduced seed number per pod in both cultivars. B-9 increased pod number in the rust-resistant cv. but reduced mean pod weight and seed number per pod.

While dairy production has the potential to diversify smallholder agriculture and increase incomes, there are multiple constraints. One is the consistent provision of quality feed. High protein, leguminous fodder shrubs – also referred to as Fodder Tree Technology (FTT) – can help address this constraint, yet adoption levels are generally low. Implemented in Kenya and Malawi, the Shrubs for Change (S4C) project is employing several approaches to address this situation, including those informed by behavioral science. Given that approximately 500 shrubs per cow are needed to generate enough leaf matter to bolster milk production, promoting FTT at scale necessitates the production, distribution, and successful planting of large numbers of shrub seedlings. We implemented a field experiment in Malawi’s Southern Region in late 2021 to test the effectiveness of a social learning intervention intended to motivate dairy farmers to significantly scale up the production of FTT seedlings. This intervention involved meeting with dairy farmers in 39 randomly selected milk production zones to review the numbers of seedlings being produced vis-à-vis local demand, coupled with the development of action plans to address identified production gaps. While we find that this intervention increased the setting up of private nurseries by 10% (p < 0.05), it only increased overall seedling production by an average of 20 additional seedlings per dairy farmer (p > 0.1). We offer several explanations for this lower than expected and statistically insignificant result, which point to the need for iterative rounds of engagement with farmers when supporting them to take up FTT and other complex agronomic and sustainable land management innovations.

A major problem faced by small-scale farmers in northern Ethiopia is reduced crop yield due to increasing soil degradation resulting from repeated tillage and inadequate agronomic management practices. These practices have left soils and rainfed crops susceptible to hazardous climatic events such as droughts. Sustainable farm practices such as minimum tillage and surface residue retention have been shown to improve soil health and crop productivity. The objectives of this field study were thus to evaluate the impacts of conservation agriculture (CA) practices on crop yield and economic productivity over 6 years in the eastern Tigray region of northern Ethiopia. Using a barley–wheat rotation from 2010 to 2016, the applied treatments were (i) permanent raised beds (PRB); (2) semi-permanent raised beds (SPB) and (3) conventional tillage (CT). Average barley and wheat biomass and grain yields in PRB and SPB treatments were consistently greater than yields under CT each year. In addition, the highest marginal rate of return was obtained in PRB and SPB compared to CT in all years (2010–2016). These results suggest that the CA practices of PRB and SPB can improve crop yield and profit compared to CT practices in the Tigray region.

The effects of water and nitrogen on growth, yield and yield components of tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) were evaluated at Tucson, Arizona in 1987 and the effects of water and intercrop competition with Sonoran panicgrass (Panicum sonorum) in 1988. Total shoot biornass and reproductive yield were significantly reduced by lack of water in both seasons. Addition of nitrogen had no significant effect on total shoot biomass or reproductive yield in 1987. Intercrop competition significantly reduced total shoot biomass and reproductive yield of tepary bean in 1988. Yield component responses varied slightly depending on treatment and year.

An experiment at the University of Queensland studied the response of Crotalaria juncea to a single cut above node 4 or 10 at 6, 8 or 10 weeks after planting under long or short (inductive) daylengths. Initial deleterious effects of cutting on plant parts were in the sequence nodules > roots > shoots. Subsequent greater regrowth from plants cut earliest and at the higher node was associated with higher residual leaf area and negative growth rates were inferred below 90 cm2 pot−1. Redistribution of assimilate from stem to leaf production followed cutting; in inductive daylengths of 11.4 hours, flowering was delayed and the proportion of leaf increased from 21.0 to 32.4%. The high nitrogen content of leaf (3.5–5.3%) compared to stem (0.6–1.7%) indicated that early cutting was important in producing good quality hay.

Little is known about the adaptability of longan (Dimocarpus longan) to acidic soils high in aluminum (Al). A two-year field study was conducted to determine the effects of various levels of soil Al on dry matter production, plant growth and nutrient content in shoots of four cultivars of longan. Soil Al and cultivars were statistically different for all variables measured in the study. Total leaf, petiole, stem and root dry weights significantly decreased at soil Al concentrations ranging from 5.1 to 12.1 cmol kg−1 but this reduction was of a smaller magnitude in roots than in other organs. Increments in soil Al resulted in a significant reduction in the concentration of leaf Ca and a significant increase in leaf Al in all cultivars. Shoot content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and Al declined with increase in soil Al. The result of this study demonstrates that longan is highly susceptible to acid soils.

An experiment to investigate the effect of planting pattern, time of planting the cowpea, and insecticide application on the yield of intercropped cotton and cowpea showed that insecticide applied to the cotton controlled cowpea pests best when the crops were planted in alternating single rows. I n wet seasons, delayed planting of the cowpea reduced its yield but its performance was better in alternating single rows than in other planting patterns. In drier seasons, cowpea yield was unaffected by time of planting and yields were similar with alternating single or double rows. Cotton yield was reduced by 47% when the planting pattern was changed to a one cotton:two cowpea row configuration.

Artificial defoliation of okra 4, 6 and 8 weeks after sowing generally delayed flowering, decreased plant height and stem girth at flowering and reduced the harvest duration. Pod length, pod diameter, mean pod weight and number of pods plant−1 were also decreased by defoliation but pod yield ha−1 was not.

The removal of leaves from the upper half of the stem only had a similar effect to complete defoliation whereas the removal of leaves from the lower half only had no significant effect, indicating that the leaves on the upper stem contributed more to growth and yield than those lower down. Significant time × degree of defoliation interactions occurred for most growth and yield parameters.

This paper offers guidelines for the presentation of statistical material in scientific journals and project reports. Emphasis is given to the importance of planning a study so that the various components of statistical material can be linked to ensure the full efficiency of the work; if this is done well, the presentation of the results of the study, including the statistical components, can be achieved with greater ease.

Low-cost methods for enhancement of seed longevity may facilitate biodiversity conservation especially in resource constrained situations. Longevity of 13 cucurbitaceous seed lots belonging to 12 species with mean moisture contents 9.3±0.7% was studied in hermetic storage (HS) and in a liquid consisting of 20% (w/w) CaCl2 in glycerol, following seed to preservative ratio of 1:1 (v/v), at ambient temperature for 24 years. The liquid preservative (LP) was not absorbed by the seeds over the storage period and was harmless to them, drying seeds to about 5% of moisture and maintaining them at this state throughout the storage period. The seeds lost viability in HS in 3.8±0.4 years, while in LP viability was lost in 14–16 years in eight species and the seeds were still viable in five species after 24 years. LP-preserved seeds and also fresh seeds of three species were planted under field conditions. The results validated the use of LP in seed storage for 24 years. The liquid preservation extended longevity of the cucurbit seeds at ambient temperature by drying them and probably maintaining them in oxygen-free environment.

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea Gaud.), which can provide fodder in addition to bast fibre, was supplied with nitrogen in three different forms: as neem cake coated urea (NCU), lac coated urea (LCU) and standard urea, at rates of 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 kg N ha−1 annually in four equal applications. The ramie was cut four times a year for two years. NCU increased fresh weight, leaf dry matter yield and leaf protein at almost every cutting compared with the other forms of nitrogen, and there was an indication of increased residual nitrogen in the soil. Leaf dry matter and protein content increased with increasing levels of nitrogen up to 180 kg ha−1. It is suggested that coating urea with neem cake makes it a better source of nitrogen for ramie leaf production.