In recent years several reports have indicated an improved crop production on droughty sands treated with a subsurface asphalt layer at depths of about 60 cm. Root growth in these modified soil profiles has not been investigated. This study was initiated to determine the nature and reason of any influence of a subsurface asphalt layer on root growth and distribution in the soil profile. Observations of root distributions of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. ‘Rugosa’) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. var. ‘Commune’) were made in freshly dug pits. Root sections in and out of the asphalt layer were photographed and examined microscopically for morphological effects. The “line‐intercept” method was used to obtain quantitative measurements of root concentration (cm root/cc soil) of field corn (Zea mays L). Tomato roots in the asphalt layer were larger in diameter and showed damage to cells in the cortex. Rooting of all crops was less extensive in soil below the asphalt layer than in soil at the same depth without the asphalt. Concentration of corn roots in the top 60 cm of soil averaged 1.6, 1.7, 2.0, and 2.2 cm/cc for the following respective treatments: control, control with irrigation, asphalt layer, and asphalt layer with irrigation. This compensation effect would limit any reduction in value of the root‐resistant asphalt layer to situations of low rainfall without irrigation.

During the past 5 years improved water management of droughty sandy soils has been attained by constructing, at a depth of 60 cm in the soil profile, a continuous layer of asphalt about 0.3 cm thick. Plots (60.9 × 60.9 m) on a Typic Quartzipsamment (Lakeland fine sand) were treated in 1967 and used in 1970 and 1971 to measure seasonal growth and nutrient uptake of corn (Zeamays L.) in response to the following water management treatments: check, irrigation, asphalt layer, and irrigation with asphalt layer. Responses to fertilizer rate and plant population were also obtained. The asphalt layer increased corn fodder yields above the check and irrigation treatments during the first 11 weeks when moisture stress was moderate. At this time an 11‐day drought caused a severe water stress on the check and asphalt layer treatments resulting in grain yields of 5140 and 5020 kg/ha, respectively, whereas the irrigated and irrigated with asphalt layer treatments produced 7590 and 8164 kg/ha, respectively. The aphalt layer reduced the need for supplemental water and maintained or improved the N and K contents of corn fodder during periods of moderate stress. Fertilizer rates did not affect corn grain yield significantly. The lowest rate, 224‐73‐187 kg/ha of N‐P‐K, produced 6378 kg/ha. The highest yield, 681.5 kg/ha of grain, was obtained for the plant population density of 47,000 plant/ha as compared to 5994 kg/ha and 6552 kg/ha for 32,000 and 81,000 plants/ha, respectively. The seasonal response of corn to water management showed that the asphalt layer system was effective in increasing water use efficiency in well‐drained sandy soils.

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Wheat grains germinated for over a period of 2-3 days is usually called as the wheatgrass. Wheat grass being rich in various nutrients and phytochemicals makes it effective in many chronic diseases like atherosclerosis, anaemia, diabetes, thalassemia, leukaemia, breast cancer, and ulcerative colitis. The present study was conducted with an objective to cultivate wheat grass, to analyse proximate composition of wheat grass powder and chlorophyll content in fresh wheat grass and to develop value added products by incorporating wheat grass juice and wheat grass powder for cancer patients. Four commonly consumed recipes were standardized and 4 variations of each recipe were developed for cancer patients and the recipes were also evaluated for sensory characteristics. The estimated values of proximate composition of wheat grass powder per 100g are 14.3±0.13 (moisture), 4.52±0.33 (Total ash), 1.74±0.08 (Crude fibre), 18.55±0.195 (Protein), 40.29±0.229 (Carbohydrate), 293.26±1.18 (Energy) and estimated value of chlorophyll in 100 g fresh wheat grass was found to be 484.43±12.27.

Nutritional requirements of vegetables grown on noncoastal regions of Guyana have not been established. The present study was conducted on a major soil type in these areas, a Tiwiwid sand (Typic Quartzipsamments) to evaluate the effects of fertilizer rate and placement and fritted trace element (FTE 503)4 rate on nutrient uptake, root distribution, and yield of snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Fertilizer levels were 79‐67‐112 and 158‐67‐224 kg/ha on the area fertilized and were applied on one‐third, two‐thirds, and the full bed. FTE 503 treatments 44.8 kg/ha and no application. Snap bean yields were reduced from 1,008 kg/ha at the lower fertilizer rate to 727 kg/ha at the high rate. With the application of FTE 503 and the low fertilizer level, yields increased with an increase in the width of the fertilizer band. At the high fertilizer rate, yields were reduced with an increase in the width of the fertilizer band. Application of FTE 503 increased the average dry weight of bean plants from 0.55 to 1.07 and from 1.94 to 5.17 g/plant at the flowering and pod set stages, respectively. Yield increases due to FTE 503 applications were from 216 to 1,800 kg/ha and from 26 to 1,428 kg/ha, when fertilizer rates were 79‐67‐112 and 158‐67‐224 kg/ha, respectively. Mean root concentration in the surface 30 cm of soil were increased from 1.39 to 1.82 cm root/cc soil with an application of FTE 503. Results indicated that application of FTE 503 corrected micronutrient deficiencies and improved the availability of soil water and nutrients.