Competition between drought-tolerant upland rice cultivars and weeds under water stress condition

The objective of this study was to evaluate the competitiveness of two cultivars of upland rice drought-tolerant, cultured in coexistence with weed S. verticillata, under conditions of absence and presence of water stress. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Experimental Station of the Universidade Federal de Tocantins, Gurupi-TO Campus. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 2 x 2 x 4 with four replications. The treatments consisted of two rice cultivars under two water conditions and four densities. At 57 days after emergence, were evaluated in rice cultivars and weed S. verticillata leaf area, dry weight of roots and shoots and total concentration and depth of roots. Was also evaluated in rice cultivars, plant height and number of tillers. Water stress caused a reduction in leaf area, the concentration of roots and vegetative components of dry matter (APDM, and MSR MST) of rice cultivars and Jatoba Catetão and weed S. verticillata. The competition established by the presence of the weed provided reduction of all vegetative components (MSPA, and MSR MST) of cultivars and Jatoba Catetão. It also decreased the number of tillers, the concentration of roots and leaf area. At the highest level of weed competition with rice cultivars, a greater decrease in vegetative components and leaf area of culture, regardless of water conditions.

Competition periods of crabgrass with rice and soybean crops

Determining the periods of weed competition with crops helps the producer to choose the most appropriate time to use weed control practices. This strategy allows for the reduction of the number of herbicide applications, reducing costs and the environmental impact of pesticides. The objectives were to determine the period before the interference (PBI) of crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris) competing with flooded rice, the critical period of interference prevention (CPIP) of crabgrass with soybean and the effects of competition on the grains yield and their components. Experiments were conducted with the coexistence of BRS Querência rice cultivar with crabgrass, for periods of 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 110 days after emergency (DAE) and Fundacep 53RR soybean cultivar, whose periods of coexistence and control of crabgrass were 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 156 DAE. Rice can grow with crabgrass infestation until 18 DAE, while soybean should remain free from the presence of crabgrass in the period between 23 and 50 DAE. The grain yield and its components, in the crops studied, are affected when grown with crabgrass.

Wild onion (Asphodelus tenuifolius) competition in rainfed chickpea-chickpea cropping system

Chickpea yield potential is limited by weed competition in typical chickpea growing areas of Pakistan where zero tillage crop grown on moisture conserved from rains received during the months of September and August. The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth and yield characteristics of chickpea grown in coexistence with increasing densities of wild onion (Asphodelus tenuifolius). The experiment was comprised of six density levels viz. zero, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 plants m-2 of A. tenuifolius. A decrease in chickpea primary and secondary branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and seed yield was observed due to more accumulation of dry matter per increasing densities of A. tenuifolius. The increase in A. tenuifolius density accelerated chickpea yield losses and reached the maximum values of 28, 35, 42, 50, 58 and 96% at 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 A. tenuifolius plants m-2, respectively. The yield loss estimation model showed that chickpea losses with infinite A. tenuifolius density were 60%. Yield reduction could be predicted by 2.52% with increase of one A. tenuifolius plant m-2. It is concluded that A. tenuifolius has a strong influence on chickpea seed yield and showed a linear response at the range of densities studied.

WATER USE EFFICIENCY, GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT CULTIVATED UNDER COMPETITION WITH Setaria

ABSTRACT Understanding the critical period of weed competition is indispensable in the development of an effective weed management program in field crops. Current experiment was planned to evaluate the critical growth period ofSetaria and level of yield losses associated with delay in weeding in rain-fed drip irrigated wheat production system of Saudi Arabia. Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of weeding interval (07-21, 14-28, 21-35, 28-42 and 35-49 days after sowing) and drought stress (75% and 50% of field capacity) on Setaria growth, wheat yield and water use efficiency. Season long weedy check and wellwatered (100% FC) plots were also maintained for comparison. Weeding interval and drought stress significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected the growth and yield of Setaria and wheat. Drought stress from 75% to 50% FC resulted in reductions of 29-40% in Setaria height, 14-27% in Setaria density and 11-26% in Setaria dry biomass. All weeding intervals except 35-49 DAS significantly suppressedSetaria growth as compared with control. Delay in weeding increased weed-crop competition interval and reduced wheat yield and yield contributors. Therefore, the lowest yield of 1836 kg ha-1 was attained for weeding interval of 35-49 DAS at 50% FC. Water use efficiency and harvest index increased with decreasing FC levels but reduced with delay in weeding. Correlation analysis predicted negative association ofSetariadensity with wheat yield and yield contributors and the highest negative association was for harvest index (-0.913) and water use efficiency (-0.614). Early management of Setaria is imperative for successful wheat production otherwise yield losses are beyond economical limits.

QUALITY OF PROCESSING TOMATO FRUITS IN COMPETITION WITH Solanum americanum

ABSTRACT Five experiments were conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that Solanum americanum density and time of coexistence affect the quality of processing tomato fruit. The tomato crop was established using either the direct drilling or the transplanting technique. The factors evaluated consisted of weed density (from 0 up to 6 plants m-2) and time of weed interference (early bloom stage, full flowering stage, fruit filling, and harvest time). The effects of competition on tomato fruit quality were analysed using a multiple model. Tomato variables evaluated included industrial fruit types (which depended on ripeness and disease infection) and soluble solids level(obrix). Tomato fruit quality is dependent on the factors tested. Under low densities (< 6 plants m-2) of S. americanum there was a small impact on the quality of the tomato fruits. The percentage of grade A (mature fruit with red color and without pathogen infection) tomato fruits is the variable most affect by the independent variables. The impact of these independent variables on the percentage of grade C (green and/or with more than 15% disease infection) tomato yield was of smaller magnitude and in an inverse trend as the observed for grade A. The level of soluble solids was influenced by the weed interference on only two experiments, but the impact was of small magnitude. The impact of the results on current and future crop management practices is discussed.

Wheat Yield Loss in a Two Species Competition with Emex australis and Emex spinosa

Emex australis and E. spinosa are significant weed species in wheat and other crops. Information on the extent of competition of the Emex species will be helpful to access yield losses in wheat. Field experiments were conducted to quantify the interference of tested weed densities each as single or mixture of both at 1:1 on their growth and yield, wheat yield components and wheat grain yield losses in two consecutive years. Dry weight of both weed species increased from 3-6 g m-2 with every additional plant of weed, whereas seed number and weight per plant decreased with increasing density of either weed. Both weed species caused considerable decrease in yield components like spike bearing tillers, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight of wheat with increasing density population of the weeds. Based on non-linear hyperbolic regression model equation, maximum yield loss at asymptotic weed density was estimated to be 44 and 62% with E. australis, 56 and 70% with E. spinosa and 63 and 72% with mixture of both species at 1:1 during both year of study, respectively. It was concluded that E. spinosa has more competition effects on wheat crop as compared to E. australis.

GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF MAIZE (Zea mays) TO INTER AND INTRA-ROW WEED COMPETITION UNDER DIFFERENT FERTILIZER APPLICATION METHODS

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years to study the effect of fertilizer application methods and inter and intra-row weed-crop competition durations on density and biomass of different weeds and growth, grain yield and yield components of maize. The experimental treatments comprised of two fertilizer application methods (side placement and below seed placement) and inter and intra-row weed-crop competition durations each for 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after emergence, as well as through the crop growing period. Fertilizer application method didn't affect weed density, biomass, and grain yield of maize. Below seed fertilizer placement generally resulted in less mean weed dry weight and more crop leaf area index, growth rate, grain weight per cob and 1000 grain weight. Minimum number of weeds and dry weight were recorded in inter-row or intra-row weed-crop competition for 15 DAE. Number of cobs per plant, grain weight per cob, 1000 grain weight and grain yield decreased with an increase in both inter-row and intra-row weed-crop competition durations. Maximum mean grain yield of 6.35 and 6.33 tha-1 were recorded in inter-row and intra-row weed competition for 15 DAE, respectively.

A Rights Expression Language for Federated Repositories

Poster at Open Repositories 2014, Helsinki, Finland, June 9-13, 2014

Idioms and L2 Learners. The Effect of L1, Transparency and Frequency on Idiom Comprehension by Finnish and Italian Learners of English

Tämän sivuaineen tutkielman tarkoituksena on selvittää, miten suomalaiset ja italialaiset englannin kielen opiskelijat tunnistavat englanninkielisten idiomien merkityksiä. Erityisesti opiskelijoiden oman äidinkielen vaikutusta idiomien ymmärtämiseen tutkitaan, kuin myös idiomien eri ominaisuuksien vaikutusta. Lisäksi tutkitaan, miten opiskelijat itse ajattelevat osaavansa käyttää idiomeja, ja pitävätkö he idiomien oppimista tärkeänä. Tutkielmaan osallistui 35 suomalaista englannin kielen yliopisto-opiskelijaa ja 34 italialaista englannin kielen yliopisto-opiskelijaa. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin monivalintakyselyn avulla. Idiomit valittiin Collins Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms (2001) -sanakirjasta. Kysely sisälsi 36 idiomia, jotka valittiin kolmesta eri frekvenssiluokasta. Jokaisesta frekvenssiluokasta valittiin neljä idiomia, joille oli vastine sekä suomen että italian kielessä, neljä idiomia, joille oli vastine vain suomen kielessä ja neljä idiomia, joille oli vastine vain italian kielessä. Kullekin idiomille oli annettu neljä merkitysvaihtoehtoa, ja näistä yksi tai kaksi oli sanakirjojen mukaisia oikeita vastauksia. Tutkimuksen tulokset näyttävät osoittavan, että sekä suomalaisilla että italialaisilla oli vaikeuksia idiomien merkitysten tunnistamisessa. Kuitenkin myös suomalaisten ja italiaisten välillä oli tilastollisesti merkittävä ero. Suomalaiset osasivat idiomit huomattavasti paremmin kuin italialaiset. Koehenkilöt ymmärsivät merkittävästi helpommin idiomit joille oli vastine heidän omassa äidinkielessään kuin idiomit joille ei ollut vastinetta. Lisäksi vastaajat näyttivät hyötyvän myös idiomien kuvainnollisen ja kirjaimellisen merkityksen läheisyydestä eli läpinäkyvyydestä. Idiomien frekvenssi sen sijaan ei näyttänyt vaikuttavan niiden ymmärtämiseen. Suomalaisten ja italialaisten englannin opiskelijoiden mukaan idiomien opiskelu on hyödyllistä ja tarpeellista. Tulokset osoittavat, että idiomien ymmärtäminen on haastavaa jopa edistyneille oppijoille. Omalla äidinkielellä näyttää olevan suuri vaikutus idiomien ymmärtämiseen, ja nimenomaan samankaltaisuudesta on hyötyä. Äidinkielen merkitykseen vieraiden kielten oppimisessa ja sanaston oppimisessa täytyisi kiinnittää enemmän huomiota, ja idiomeja sekä muuta kuvainnollista kieltä täytyisi opettaa myös edistyneemmille oppijoille.

Making the impact on research and society : nichesourcing of Uralic language material for the benefit of linguistic research and native-speakers

Presentation at the 12th Bibliotheca Baltica Symposium at Södertörn University Library

Language of the Future, Language of the PRC –Representations of Putonghua in South China Morning Post

As the national language of the PRC, the world's growing economic power and the sovereign of Hong Kong, Putonghua is a language with multiple facets of relevance for the current Special Administrative Region. This paper seeks to explore and explain different representations of Putonghua in Hong Kong's leading English-language newspaper South China Morning Post in articles published between January 2012 and February 2013. The representations are studied in the context of the different discourses in which they appear, some of which feature language(s) as a central theme and some more marginally. An overview is first presented of the scholarly research on the most important developments in Hong Kong's complex language scene from the beginnings of the colony until present day, with the aim of detecting developments and attitudes with potential relevance or parallels to the context of Putonghua today. The paper then reflects on the media and its role in producing and perpetuating discourses in the society, before turning to more practical considerations on Hong Kong's English and Chinese language media and the role of South China Morning Post in it. The methods used in analysing the discourses are those of discourse analysis, with textual analysis as its starting point, in which close attention is paid to linguistic forms as the concrete representations of meanings in a text. Particularly the immediate contexts of the appearances of the word “Putonghua” in the articles were studied carefully to detect vocabulary, grammar and semantical choices as signs of different discourses, potentially also revealing fundamental underlying assumptions and other “hidden meanings” in the text. Some of the most distinctive discourses in which different representations of Putonghua appeared were the Instrumental value for the individual (in which Putonghua was represented as a form of social capital); Othering of the mainlanders (in which Putonghua served as a concrete marker of distinction); Belonging to China (Putonghua as a symbol of unity); and Cultural distinctiveness of Hong Kong (Putonghua as a threat to Hong Kong's history and culture, as embodied in Cantonese). Some of these discourses were more prominent than others, and for example the discourse of Belonging to China was relatively rarely enacted in Hongkongers' voices. In general, the findings were not surprising in the light of the history, but showed a fair degree of consistency with what has been written earlier about the languages and attitudes towards them in Hong Kong. It has often been noted that Putonghua and its relation with Cantonese is a matter linked with the social identity of the colony and its citizens. While it appeared that there were no strict taboos in the representations of Putonghua in the societal context, the possibility of self-censorship cannot be ruled out as a factor toning down political discourses in the representations.

Individual learner, peer group and teacher roles in fostering autonomous language-learning behaviour

Julkaisumaa: Bulgaria

The growing competition in Brazilian science: rites of passage, stress and burnout

Brazil's scientific community is under pressure. Each year there is an increase in its contribution to international science and in the number of students who are trained to do research and teach at an advanced level. Most of these activities are carried out in state and federal universities, but with government funding that has decreased by more than 70% since 1996. Interviews with graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and professors in one university department with a strong research tradition illustrate the level of stress engendered by the conflict between increasing competition and diminishing resources, and serve to underscore the negative effects on creativity and on the tendency to choose science as a career.