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Crop and Pasture Science Crop and Pasture Science Society
Plant sciences, sustainable farming systems and food quality
Table of Contents

Volume 74 Number 12 2023

CP22295Phenotypic, genotypic and nutritional divergence in cowpea and implications for drought tolerance breeding: a review

Bogaleng Milcah Masemola 0000-0002-8423-4503, Abe Shegro Gerrano 0000-0001-7472-8246, Maryke Labuschagne 0000-0003-0593-2678, Adre Minnaar-Ontong and Ntombokulunga W. Mbuma 0000-0003-1566-7580
pp. 1105-1115

Cowpea is a highly nutrient-dense, underutilised orphan legume crop with high potential to address malnutrition and food security in the world. Cowpea crop can withstand drought and high-temperature conditions, however, lasting exposure to severe droughts will result in significant yield reduction and poor grain quality. Thus, understanding the variation present in the available cowpea accessions will assist in breeding superior cowpea varieties that can withstand the ever-changing climate.

CP22385Role of small RNAs in plant stress response and their potential to improve crops

Raphael Dzinyela 0000-0003-4869-6337, Abdul Razak Alhassan, Ali Kiani-Pouya, Fatemeh Rasouli, Liming Yang 0000-0002-8826-9711 and Ali Movahedi 0000-0001-5062-504X
pp. 1116-1127

This review suggests that small RNA (sRNA) based technologies are promising strategies for increasing plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, thereby helping to address global food insecurity. The technology has the potential to improve plant resistance to pests, diseases and other environmental stresses, resulting in increased crop yield and reliability. A focus on sRNA-based technology and its potential applications for plant improvement suggests a brighter future for agriculture.

CP23009Response of canola and cereals to amendment of subsurface soil acidity and a hardpan

Mark K. Conyers 0000-0001-9811-4679, J. Sergio Moroni, Graeme J. Poile, Albert A. Oates, Richard Lowrie, Antony D. Swan, John F. Angus, Mark B. Peoples 0000-0001-6060-3290, Peter Hamblin and John A. Kirkegaard 0000-0001-5982-9508
pp. 1128-1141

Recorded apparent declines in canola grain yield have been associated with abnormal canola roots. We investigated the amelioration of low subsurface soil pH and hardpans by deep lime placement and deep ripping. Despite increased soil pH and lower soil strength in the subsurface soil, there were no significant grain yield responses in either canola or cereals during drier than normal years.

Selecting the best perennial crop varieties requires accurate genetic prediction, from multiple assessments on variety selection trials, in which spatial and temporal trends need to be modelled. Current analysis approaches involve rigid models that assume the same spatial correlation parameters at each time. We present more flexible models allowing for differing spatial parameters over time that are a significant improvement on current methods, thereby improving accuracy of genetic prediction.

Knowledge gaps exist for the interference of Avena ludoviciana and Argemone mexicana in chickpea in Australia. About 50% yield reduction of chickpea occurred at 10 and 17 plants m−2 of A. ludoviciana and A. mexicana, respectively. High seed retention in A. mexicana and A. ludoviciana in chickpea suggests the possibility to manage these two weeds through harvest weed seed control for strengthening integrated weed management.

CP22339Development of improved genotypes for extra early maturity, higher yield and Mungbean Yellow Mosaic India Virus (MYMIV) resistance in soybean (Glycine max)

Shivakumar Maranna 0000-0002-3461-4225, Giriraj Kumawat, Vennampally Nataraj, Balwinder S. Gill, Raghavendra Nargund, Avani Sharma, Laxman Singh Rajput, Milind B. Ratnaparkhe and Sanjay Gupta
pp. 1165-1179

Genes conferring economically important traits, like disease resistance, were successfully introgressed from wild type soybean Glycine soja. We developed improved genotypes with resistance to mungbean yellow mosaic India virus, and high grain yield, within the genetic background of a more widely adaptable soybean variety; and developed the earliest-maturing soybean breeding material (71 days). The resulting genotypes are suitable for intercropping with sugarcane and have implications for enhancing soybean production in India.

CP22359Identification and prediction of functions for drought-responsive microRNAs in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris)

Chunlei Zou 0000-0003-1651-0067, Zhiqiang Guo, Shanshan Zhao and Jishuai Chen
pp. 1180-1192

There is insufficient knowledge about the roles of non-coding RNAs in sugar beet drought response. In this work, microRNAs from leaves of sugar beet under drought and well-watered conditions were assessed by high-throughput sequencing combined with bioinformatics to investigate their genome-wide quantity and possible drought response regulatory effects. The study enhances understanding of the biological processes involved in the drought response of sugar beet and may lead to new insights for breeding stress-resistant genotypes.

Herbicide-resistant weeds are a major threat to crop production, with wild oats, brome grass and barley grass being species of concern in Australia. Surveys of south-eastern Australia conducted over a 5-year period found >20% of wild oats samples to be resistant to Group 1 ‘fop’ herbicides. For both brome grass and barley grass, resistance was highest to the Group 2 sulfonylurea herbicides, at 24% and 19%, respectively.

CP22388Defoliation management and nitrogen fertiliser rate affect canopy structural traits of grazed guineagrass (Megathyrsus maximus) cv. Zuri under rotational stocking

Otávio Goulart de Almeida 0000-0003-3003-2591, Carlos Guilherme Silveira Pedreira 0000-0001-5935-854X, Juliana Aparecida de Assis, Bruno Carneiro Pedreira 0000-0003-4663-954X, Fagner Júnior Gomes and Renata La Guardia Nave 0000-0002-6872-8079
pp. 1201-1209

Proper defoliation management by grazing or clipping combined with nitrogen (N) fertilisation can increase forage production in tropical grasses. Optimum pre-graze canopy height for Zuri guineagrass was determined as 75 cm rather than 55 cm, unless higher N rates (300 vs 150 kg N ha−1 year−1) are used. These forage management guidelines should optimise forage-based livestock systems with Zuri guineagrass.

CP22397Agronomic responses and herbage nutritive value of elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus) genotypes grown as monocrops and mixed with butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea)

Pedro H. F. da Silva 0000-0002-0794-4499, Mércia V. F. dos Santos, Alexandre C. L. de Mello, Tafnes B. Sales Silva, Djalma E. Simões Neto, Valdson J. da Silva 0000-0001-5650-9648, José C. B. Dubeux, Janerson J. Coelho 0000-0003-1570-9461, Evaristo J. O. de Souza and Márcio V. da Cunha
pp. 1210-1222

This manuscript discusses herbage production and nutritive value of two tall and two dwarf genotypes of elephant grass grown as monocrops or mixed with butterfly pea legume. Herbage production showed less variation over harvest times in intercrops than in grass monocrops, and dwarf Mott displayed better nutritional value than dwarf Taiwan elephant grass. Adding butterfly pea to elephant grass-based systems reduces seasonal effects on herbage production over harvest times while providing good nutritional value.

CP22145Untangling the complex mix of agronomic and economic uncertainties inherent in decisions on rainfed cotton

Sosheel S. Godfrey 0000-0001-5705-8201, Thomas L. Nordblom 0000-0002-9892-5102, Muhuddin Rajin Anwar 0000-0003-4226-746X, Ryan H. L. Ip 0000-0001-8636-1891, David J. Luckett 0000-0002-1687-5413 and Michael P. Bange 0000-0001-7728-2219
pp. 1223-1237

We highlight key points of uncertainty common in rainfed cotton production and quantify these variable conditions to facilitate clearer decision-making on sowing dates and row configurations. The potential profits at six locations in Australia were derived by combining simulated yields and historical cost data, and were compared under different growing conditions. Given appropriate data on growing conditions and responses, our methodology can be applied in other locations around the world, and to other crops.


Cannabis is a herbaceous annual plant that belongs to the Cannabaceae family, and is used in the production of fibre, paper and oil. This plant has been used for the treatment of rheumatism, epilepsy, asthma, skin burns, gastrointestinal activity, osteoporosis, schizophrenia, cardiovascular disorders, cancer and metabolic syndrome-related disorders. Generally, our findings showed that these ecotypes had different responses to soil moisture, and some ecotypes were valuable in terms of the production of pharmaceutical metabolites and some in terms of fibre production.

CP22405Screening and field evaluation of white clover rhizobia for New Zealand pastures

Shengjing Shi 0000-0002-8938-1932, Steve Wakelin, Emily Gerard, Sandra Young, Chikako van Koten, John Caradus, Andrew G. Griffiths 0000-0002-0573-1668, Ross A. Ballard 0000-0003-0814-3586 and Maureen O’Callaghan
pp. 1258-1271

Enhancing biological nitrogen fixation through the rhizobia–legume symbiosis is urgent, as concerns over environmental impacts of intensive agriculture increase. Despite the importance of legumes in New Zealand’s pastures, there has been little emphasis placed on rhizobium, and modern white clover cultivars still rely on a commercial inoculant TA1 isolated from 1950s. A few rhizobial isolates identified in this study performed better than TA1 and could be developed into commercial inoculants to improve white clover performance in New Zealand.

CP22410Fate of fertiliser nitrogen in a ryegrass–kikuyu dairy pasture system

Michael Fitzgerald 0000-0003-1605-3513, Deirdre Harvey, Johannes Friedl 0000-0003-0468-916X, David Rowlings, Jason Condon and Warwick Dougherty
pp. 1272-1286

The Australian pasture-based dairy sector is reliant on application of fertiliser nitrogen, which is not used efficiently by the pasture system. We used 15N-labelled fertiliser to track residual plant uptake and total soil and plant recoveries of 15N. Existing and alternative nitrogen and pasture management strategies need to be implemented and explored to reduce nitrogen loss; however, this must be achieved in a manner that does not impact farmer net profit.

Growth and survival of eight pasture species in proximity to the forage shrub tagasaste were quantified in drought-prone hill country. Cocksfoot and subterranean clover were highly productive only in lightly shaded areas, whereas microlaena, although less productive than other grasses, was not significantly affected by shade treatment, and perennial legumes showed negligible survival. Cocksfoot and subterranean clover could be established between trees in a tagasaste silvopasture, with naturalised microlaena maintained beneath the canopy to provide groundcover.

CP22139Inclusion of Egyptian clover improves the value of sorghum-based cropping systems

Sunil Kumar, Anoop Kumar Dixit, Tejveer Singh, Mukesh Choudhary 0000-0001-5277-2780 and Sita Ram Kantwa
pp. 1307-1317

Livestock productivity in India is below potential due to scarcity of green fodder. There is very limited scope to expand the acreage under fodder production, because of other demands on existing cultivable land. Integrating Fahli type Egyptian clover in the sorghum–wheat rotation as a catch crop increases fodder availability without affecting the yield of main crops and has potential as a productive system. Clover can diversify and intensify cropping systems, address food and fodder security and improve soil quality.

CP23088Role of carbon and nitrogen mineralisation of chitosan and crop straws in ameliorating acidity of acidic Ultisols

Jackson Nkoh Nkoh 0000-0001-6708-1886, Peng Guan, Ren-yong Shi, Ru-hai Wang, Jiu-yu Li and Ren-kou Xu 0000-0002-5541-0205
pp. 1318-1333

Chitosan and crop straws, byproducts from fishery and agriculture, can be used to increase soil pH in acidic soils through decarboxylation, decomposition, N immobilisation and ammonification. Combined application of chitosan and crop straws showed greater ameliorating effect on soil acidity than single applications of straw. This practice provides an effective strategy for improving soil acidity, inhibiting soil acidification, regulating N transformation, and reducing N loss in farmlands.

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