Experimental Agriculture 

About: Experimental Agriculture is an academic journal published by Cambridge University Press. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Sowing & Intercropping. It has an ISSN identifier of 0014-4797. Over the lifetime, 3063 publications have been published receiving 58919 citations.

Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis

Abstract: SOIL SAMPLING AND HANDLING, G.T. Patterson and M.R. Carter Soil Sampling Designs, D. Pennock, T. Yates, and J. Braidek Sampling Forest Soils, N. Belanger and K.C.J. Van Rees Measuring Change in Soil Organic Carbon Storage, B.H. Ellert, H.H. Janzen, A.J. VandenBygaart, and E. Bremer Soil Sample Handling and Storage, S.C. Sheppard and J.A. Addison Quality Control in Soil Chemical Analysis, C. Swyngedouw and R. Lessard DIAGNOSTIC METHODS for SOIL and ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, J.J. Schoenau and I.P. O'Halloran Nitrate and Exchangeable Ammonium Nitrogen, D.G. Maynard, Y.P. Kalra, and J.A. Crumbaugh Mehlich 3 Extractable Elements, N. Ziadi and T. Sen Tran Sodium Bicarbonate Extractable Phosphorus, J.J. Schoenau and I. P. O'Halloran Boron, Molybdenum and Selenium, G. M. Hettiarachchi and U. C. Gupta Trace Element Assessment, W.H. Hendershot, H. Lalande, D. Reyes, and D. MacDonald Readily Soluble Aluminum and Manganese in Acid Soils, Y.K. Soon, N. Belanger, and W.H. Hendershot Lime Requirement, N. Ziadi and T. Sen Tran Ion Supply Rates Using Ion Exchange Resins, P. Qian, J.J. Schoenau, and N. Ziadi Environmental Soil Phosphorus Indices, A.N. Sharpley, P.J.A. Kleinman and J.L. Weld Electrical Conductivity and Soluble Ions, J.J. Miller and D. Curtin SOIL CHEMICAL ANALYSES, Y.K. Soon and W.H. Hendershot Soil Reaction and Exchangeable Acidity, W.H. Hendershot, H. Laland,e and M. Duquette Collection and Characterization of Soil Solutions, J.D. MacDonald, N. Belanger, S. Sauve, F. Courchesne, and W.H. Hendershot Ion Exchange and Exchangeable Cations, W.H. Hendershot, H. Lalande, and M. Duquette Non-Exchangeable Ammonium, Y.K. Soon and B.C. Liang Carbonates, T.B. Goh and A.R. Mermut Total and Organic Carbon, J.O. Skjemstad and J.A. Baldock Total Nitrogen, P.M. Rutherford, W.B. McGill, C.T. Figueiredo, and J.M. Arocena Chemical Characterization of Soil Sulphur, C.G. Kowalenko and M. Grimmett Total and Organic Phosphorus, I.P. O'Halloran and B.J. Cade-Menum Characterization of Available P by Sequential Extraction, H. Tiessen and J.O. Moir Extractable Al, Fe, Mn, and Si, F. Courchesne and M.C. Turmel Determining Nutrient Availability in Forest Soils, N. Belanger, David Pare, and W.H. Hendershot Chemical Properties of Organic Soils, A. Karam SOIL BIOLOGICAL ANALYSES, E. Topp and C.A. Fox Cultural Methods for Soil and Root Associated Microorganisms, J.J. Germida and J.R. de Freitas Arbuscular Mycorrhiza, Y. Dalpe and C. Hamel Root Nodule Bacteria and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation, D. Prevost and H. Antoun Microarthropods, J.P Winter and V.M. Behan-Pelletier Nematodes, T.A. Forge and J. Kimpinski Earthworms, M.J. Clapperton, G.H. Baker and C.A. Fox Enchytraeids, S.M. Adl Protozoa, S.M. Adl, D. Acosta-Mercado, and D.H. Lynn Denitrification Techniques for Soils, C.F. Drury, D.D. Myrold, E.G. Beauchamp, and W.D.Reynolds Nitrification Techniques in Soil Systems, C.F. Drury, S.C. Hart, and X.M. Yang Substrate-Induced Respiration and Selective Inhibition as Measures of Microbial Biomass in Soils, V.L. Bailey, J.L. Smith, and H. Bolton Jr. Assessment of Soil Biological Activity, R.P.Beyaert and C.A. Fox Soil ATP, R.P. Voroney, G. Wen, and R.P. Beyaert Lipid-Based Community Analysis, K.E. Dunfield Bacterial Community Analyses by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE), E. Topp, Y.-C. Tien, and A. Hartmann Indicators of Soil Food Web Properties, T.A. Forge and M. Tenuta SOIL ORGANIC MATTER ANALYSES, E.G. Gregorich and M.H. Beare Carbon Mineralization, D.W. Hopkins Mineralizable Nitrogen, Denis Curtin and C.A. Campbell Physically Uncomplexed Organic Matter, E.G. Gregorich and M.H. Beare Extraction and Characterization of Dissolved Organic Matter, M.H. Chantigny, D.A. Angers, K. Kaiser, and K. Kalbitz Soil Microbial Biomass C, N, P and S, R.P. Voroney, P.C. Brookes, and R.P. Beyaert Carbohydrates, M.H. Chantigny and D.A. Angers Organic Forms of Nitrogen, D.C. Olk Soil Humus Fractions, D.W. Anderson and J.J Schoenau Soil Organic Matter Analysis by Solid-State 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, M. J. Simpson and C. M. Preston Stable Isotopes in Soil and Environmental Research, B.H. Ellert and L. Rock SOIL PHYSICAL ANALYSES, D.A. Angers and F.J. Larney Particle Size Distribution, D. Kroetsch and C. Wang Soil Shrinkage, C.D. Grant Soil Density and Porosity, X. Hao, B.C. Ball, J.L.B. Culley, M.R. Carter, and G.W. Parkin Soil Consistency: Upper and Lower Plastic Limits, R.A. McBride Compaction and Compressibility, P. Defossez, T. Keller and G. Richard Field Soil Strength, G.C. Topp and D.R. Lapen Air Permeability, C.D. Grant and P.H. Groenevelt Aggregate Stability to Water, D.A. Angers, M.S. Bullock, and G.R. Mehuys Dry Aggregate Size Distribution, F.J. Larney Soil Air, R.E. Farrell and J.A. Elliott Soil-Surface Gas Emissions, P. Rochette and N. Bertrand Bulk Density Measurement in Forest Soils, D.G. Maynard and M.P. Curran Physical Properties of Organic Soils and Growing Media: Particle Size and Degree of Decomposition, L.E. Parent and J. Caron Physical Properties of Organic Soils and Growing Media: Water and Air Storage and Flow Dynamics, J. Caron, D.E. Elrick, J.C. Michel, and R. Naasz SOIL WATER ANALYSES, W.D. Reynolds and G.C. Topp Soil Water Analyses: Principles and Parameters, W.D. Reynolds and G.C. Topp Soil Water Content, G.C. Topp, G.W. Parkin, and Ty P.A Ferre Soil Water Potential, N.J. Livingston and G.C. Topp Soil Water Desorption and Imbibition: Tension and Pressure Techniques, W.D. Reynolds and G.C. Topp Soil Water Desorption and Imbibition: Long Column, W.D. Reynolds and G.C. Topp Soil Water Desorption and Imbibition: Psychrometry, W.D. Reynolds and G.C. Topp Saturated Hydraulic Properties: Laboratory Methods, W.D. Reynolds Saturated Hydraulic Properties: Well Permeameter, W.D. Reynolds Saturated Hydraulic Properties: Ring Infiltrometer, W.D. Reynolds Saturated Hydraulic Properties: Auger-Hole, G.C. Topp Saturated Hydraulic Properties: Piezometer, G.C. Topp Unsaturated Hydraulic Properties: Laboratory Tension Infiltrometer, F.J. Cook Unsaturated Hydraulic Properties: Laboratory Evaporation, O.O. B. Wendroth and N. Wypler Unsaturated Hydraulic Properties: Field Tension Infiltrometer, W.D. Reynolds Unsaturated Hydraulic Properties: Instantaneous Profile, W.D. Reynolds Estimation of Soil Hydraulic Properties, F.J. Cook and H.P. Cresswell Analysis of Soil Variability, B.C. Si, R.G. Kachanoski, and W.D. Reynolds APPENDIX Site Description, G.T. Patterson and J.A. Brierley General Safe Laboratory Operation Procedures, P. St-Georges INDEX

The Concept of a ‘Land Equivalent Ratio’ and Advantages in Yields from Intercropping

Abstract: Criteria for evaluating different intercropping situations are suggested, and the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) concept is considered for situations where intercropping must be compared with growing each crop sole. The need to use different standardizing sole crop yields in forming LERs is discussed, and a method of calculating an ‘effective LER’ is proposed to evaluate situations where the yield proportions achieved in intercropping are different from those that might be required by a farmer. The possible importance of effective LERs in indicating the proportions of crops likely to give biggest yield advantages is discussed.

On-farm seed priming in semi-arid agriculture: development and evaluation in maize, rice and chickpea in india using participatory methods

Abstract: Poor crop establishment was identified as a major constraint on rainfed crop production by farmers in the tribal villages of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh served by the Krishak Bharati Cooperative (KRIBHCO) Indo-British Rainfed Farming Project (KRIBP). On-farm seed priming with water was chosen as a low cost, low risk intervention appropriate to the farmers' needs. In vitro screening of the effects of priming on the germination of seeds of local and improved varieties of maize, upland rice and chickpea provided ‘safe limits’ – the maximum length of time for which farmers should prime seeds and which, if exceeded, could lead to seed or seedling damage. Recommended safe limits were 24 h for maize and rice and 10 h for chickpea, with only minor varietal differences. These recommendations were then tested in on-station trials in Dahod, Gujarat. Farmer-managed trials were conducted for chickpea in three villages in the rabi (post-monsoon) season in 1995–96; for maize and upland rice in eight villages in the kharif (monsoon) season in 1996; and for maize and chickpea in 15 villages in the 1996--97 rabi season. Farmers modified these recommendations to ‘overnight’ for all three crops. Evaluation of the technology by farmers involved focus group discussions, matrix ranking exercises and two workshops. Direct benefits in all three crops included faster emergence, better stands and a lower incidence of re-sowing, more vigorous plants, better drought tolerance, earlier flowering, earlier harvest and higher grain yield. Indirect benefits reported were earlier sowing of rabi crops because of the shorter duration of the preceding kharif crop, earlier harvesting of rabi crops that allowed earlier migration from the area, with better chance of obtaining off-season work, and increased willingness to use fertilizers because of reduced risk of crop failure. In matrix ranking exercises in four villages in the kharif 1996, 95% of farmers indicated that, even after only one exposure to the technology, they would prime seed in the following season. Similar exercises in four villages in rabi 1996–97 revealed that 100% of collaborating farmers intended to continue seed priming. From 21 villages, 246 farmers attended two workshops to share their experiences of seed priming and resolved to continue with the technology.

A competitive ratio for quantifying competition between intercrops.

Abstract: A simple competitive ratio (CR) is proposed as a measure of intercrop competition, to indicate the number of times by which one component crop is more competitive than the other. Intercropping data show that this CR term could be useful in (i) comparing the competitive ability of different crops, (ii) measuring competitive changes within a given combination, (iii) identifying which plant characters are associated with competitive ability, and (iv) determining what competitive balance between components is most likely to give maximum yield advantages.