Previous Issues

Department of Botany, Meerut University,  Meerut 250 005, India

ABSTRACT

Net energy conversion rate and energy-conserving efficiency have been studicd in maize and wheat, two cropland ecosystems. The calorific values of the wheat crop are greater than those of the maize crop, while thc calorific values of the weeds of the wheat field are less than those of the weeds of the maize field. The energy content of the above ground standing crop gradually increased from the time of emergence to harvesting in both crops. There is a positive correlation between biomass and biocontent. Net energy-convcrsion rate and energy-conserving efficiency (%) of crop plants and weeds follow the same trends as shown by productivity. The average energy-conserving efficiency of maize plants (8.3%) is lower than that of wheat plants (10.26%). This indicates a more efficient use of solar energy by the wheat cropland ecosystem.