Journal articles on the topic 'Sustainable cropping yields'
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Wang, Huanyuan, Baoguo Li, Liang Jin, and Kelin Hu. "Exploring a Sustainable Cropping System in the North China Plain Using a Modelling Approach." Sustainability 12, no. 11 (June 4, 2020): 4588. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12114588.
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The North China Plain (NCP) is one of the most important grain production regions in China. However, it currently experiences water shortage, severe nonpoint source pollution, and low water and N use efficiencies (WUE and NUE). To explore sustainable agricultural development in this region, a field experiment with different cropping systems was conducted in suburban Beijing. These cropping systems included a winter wheat and summer maize rotation system for one year (WM), three harvests (winter wheat-summer maize-spring maize) in two years (HT), and continuous spring maize monoculture (CS). Novel ways were explored to improve WUE and NUE and to reduce N loss via the alternative cropping system based on the simulation results of a soil-crop system model. Results showed that the annual average yields were ranked as follows: WM > HT > CS. The N leaching of WM was much larger than that of HT and CS. WUE and NUE were ranked as follows: WM < HT < CS. Comprehensive evaluation indices based on agronomic and environmental effects indicated that CS or HT have significant potential for approaches characterized by water-saving, fertilizer-saving, high-WUE, and high-NUE properties. Once spring maize yield reached an ideal level HT and CS became a high-yield, water-saving, and fertilizer-saving cropping systems. Therefore, this method would be beneficial to sustainable agricultural development in the NCP.
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Das, A., Sharma RP, N. Chattopadhyaya, and R. Rakshit. "Yield trends and nutrient budgeting under a long-term (28 years) nutrient management in rice-wheat cropping system under subtropical climatic condition." Plant, Soil and Environment 60, No. 8 (August 10, 2014): 351–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/46/2014-pse.
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We measured the long-term (28 years) sustainability of rice-wheat cropping system under integrated nutrient management practices emphasizing the trends in grain yields, sustainable yield index (SYI) and nutrient budgeting. The data of long-term experiment revealed that grain yield of both rice and wheat declined under control and sub-optimal fertilizer inputs (50% or 75% recommended fertilizer NPK). Negative yield trend (slope) was observed in control plots for rice (–0.0296) and wheat (–0.0070); whereas positive yield trend was observed under treatments receiving organic supplements. The SYI values indicate that rice yields are more sustainable than wheat. Data on apparent nutrient balance showed a deficit of N (–42.2 kg/ha/year), P (–9.1 kg/ha/year) and K (–52.2 kg/ha/year) under control plots. Surprisingly, there was net depletion of K under the organic supplemented plots. Correlation study revealed that apparent balance of K was negatively correlated with SYI (r = –0.921 for rice; r = –0.914 for wheat) and yield slope (r = –0.870 for rice; r = –0.896 for wheat). If the trend of K imbalance is not reversed, the potential to improve N and P fertilizer use efficiency and crop yields will be limited.
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Abdalla, Mohamed, Xiaotong Song, Xiaotang Ju, and Pete Smith. "Evaluation of the DNDC Model to Estimate Soil Parameters, Crop Yield and Nitrous Oxide Emissions for Alternative Long-Term Multi-Cropping Systems in the North China Plain." Agronomy 12, no. 1 (January 2, 2022): 109. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12010109.
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Optimizing crop rotations is one of the proposed sustainable management strategies for increasing carbon sequestration. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model for estimating soil parameters (temperature, moisture and exchangeable NO3− and NH4+), crop yield and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions for long-term multi-cropping systems in Hebei, China. The model was validated using five years of data of soil parameters, crop yields and N2O emissions. The DNDC model effectively simulated daily soil temperature, cumulative soil nitrogen and crop yields of all crops. It predicted the trends of observed daily N2O emissions and their cumulative values well but overestimated the magnitude of some peaks. However, the model underestimated daily water filled pore space, especially in dry seasons, and had difficulties in correctly estimating daily exchangeable NO3− and NH4+. Both observed and simulated cumulative N2O results showed that optimized and alternative cropping systems used less nitrogen fertiliser, increased grain yield and decreased N2O emissions compared to the conventional cropping system. Our study shows that although the DNDC model (v. 9.5) is not perfect in estimating daily N2O emissions for these long-term multi-cropping systems, it could still be an effective tool for predicting cumulative emissions.
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Srivastava, Amit, Cho Mboh, Babacar Faye, Thomas Gaiser, Arnim Kuhn, Engida Ermias, and Frank Ewert. "Options for Sustainable Intensification of Maize Production in Ethiopia." Sustainability 11, no. 6 (March 21, 2019): 1707. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su11061707.
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The agricultural intensification of farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa is a prerequisite to alleviate rural poverty and to improve livelihood. In this modelling exercise, we identified sustainable intensification scenarios for maize-based cropping systems in Ethiopia. We evaluated Conventional Intensification (CI) as continuous maize monocropping using higher Mineral Fertilizer (MF) rates with and without the incorporation of Crop Residues (CR) in the soil. We also evaluated the effect of groundnut in rotation with the maize-based cropping system with the current Farmer’s Practice + Rotation (FP + Rotation) and increased MF application rates (CI + Rotation) combined with CR incorporation. The results suggest that, under CI, there was a positive effect of MF and CR. The incorporation of only CR in the field increased the maize yield by 45.3% compared to the farmer’s yield under current MF rates. CR combined with higher MF (60 kg N ha−1 + 20 kg P ha−1) increased the yield by 134.6%. Incorporating CR and MF was also beneficial under rotation with groundnut. The maize yields increased up to 110.1% depending upon the scenarios tested. In the scenario where CR was not incorporated in the field, the maize yield declined by 21.9%. The Gross Economic Profit suggests that groundnut in rotation with maize is advantageous across Ethiopia in terms of the net return with a few exceptions.
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Cuevas, Julián, Ioannis N. Daliakopoulos, Fernando del Moral, Juan J. Hueso, and Ioannis K. Tsanis. "A Review of Soil-Improving Cropping Systems for Soil Salinization." Agronomy 9, no. 6 (June 6, 2019): 295. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060295.
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A major challenge of the Sustainable Development Goals linked to Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition, under the current global crop production paradigm, is that increasing crop yields often have negative environmental impacts. It is therefore urgent to develop and adopt optimal soil-improving cropping systems (SICS) that can allow us to decouple these system parameters. Soil salinization is a major environmental hazard that limits agricultural potential and is closely linked to agricultural mismanagement and water resources overexploitation, especially in arid climates. Here we review literature seeking to ameliorate the negative effect of soil salinization on crop productivity and conduct a global meta-analysis of 128 paired soil quality and yield observations from 30 studies. In this regard, we compared the effectivity of different SICS that aim to cope with soil salinization across 11 countries, in order to reveal those that are the most promising. The analysis shows that besides case-specific optimization of irrigation and drainage management, combinations of soil amendments, conditioners, and residue management can contribute to significant reductions of soil salinity while significantly increasing crop yields. These results highlight that conservation agriculture can also achieve the higher yields required for upscaling and sustaining crop production.
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Dybro, Niels, and Alan Christopher Hansen. "Sustainable Intensification of Global Agronomic Output." Journal of Agricultural Science 10, no. 3 (February 9, 2018): 30. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v10n3p30.
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Agribusinesses are investigating sustainable ways to meet the predicted increased demand for food production due to an increasing world population and higher living standards. Therefore, there is a strong need to increase agronomic output. This paper will review the current state of agricultural production of the main annual top-five staple grain crops grown around the world, their current yields and harvested area averages and trends. It concludes with a discussion of which changes are needed to increase the yield in lower yielding areas of the world. Finally, there is an assessment of what level of yield increases that could be attained provided the proposed changes are made and its predicted impact on food security by 2050.The current yield trends and trends for harvested area, when extrapolated out to 2050, indicate crop production will increase 106%. This includes an expansion of the total crop production area by 31%. This increase of cropping area can be achieved by increased utilization of available, uncropped land suitable for crop production, increased double cropping, and relay intercropping, allowing for multiple crops in a calendar year.In order to double crop production by 2050, it is necessary to focus on growing crops where the conditions make it possible, adopt the best sustainable crop production practices and implement them as intensively as possible everywhere, and consider improved crop production machine system options to reduce risk of soil compaction, which can reduce crop yields.With proposed changes across the world, it will be possible to exceed a doubling of food production by 2050 relative to 2005 levels, providing a reasonable high level of food security, absent wars and widespread natural disasters.
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Honfy, Veronika, Zoltán Pödör, Zsolt Keserű, János Rásó, Tamás Ábri, and Attila Borovics. "The Effect of Tree Spacing on Yields of Alley Cropping Systems—A Case Study from Hungary." Plants 12, no. 3 (January 29, 2023): 595. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants12030595.
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Alley cropping is a specific agroforestry system, which is regarded as sustainable land use management, that could play a crucial role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Despite its appealing attributes, farmers’ up-take of the system is slow in temperate regions. This study aims to contribute to scaling-up agroforestry through a case study in Hungary and to help to design productive alley cropping systems. We investigated which tree planting pattern of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) results in the most productive alley cropping system when intercropped with triticale (x Triticosecale W.) by statistically analysing the yields of the intercrop and of the trees in nine different layouts and by calculating land equivalent ratios (LER). There was significant difference between the treatments both in triticale and black locust yields. The more trees planted on a hectare, the higher the volume of the stand, and the less yield of triticale was observed, although the latter correlation was weak and in some cases the triticale was more productive between the trees compared with sole crop control. Eight out of nine treatments had favourable LER (0.94–1.35) when the trees were five years old. Black locust and triticale seem to be a good combination for productive alley cropping systems.
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Teasdale, J. R., R. C. Rosecrance, C. B. Coffman, J. L. Starr, I. C. Paltineanu, Y. C. Lu, and B. K. Watkins. "Performance of reduced-tillage cropping systems for sustainable grain production in Maryland." American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 15, no. 2 (June 2000): 79–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0889189300008535.
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AbstractSustainable production systems are needed to maintain soil resources and reduce environmental contamination on erodible lands that are incompatible with tillage-intensive operations. A long-term cropping systems comparison was established at Beltsville, Maryland, on a site with 2 to 15% slope to evaluate the efficacy of sustainable strategies compatible with reduced-tillage systems. All systems followed a 2-year rotation of corn the first year and winter wheat followed by soybean the second year. Treatments included (1) no-tillage system with recommended fertilizer and herbicide inputs, (2) crownvetch living mulch system with similar inputs to the no-tillage system, (3) cover crop system including a hairy vetch cover crop before corn and a wheat cover crop before soybean with reduced fertilizer and herbicide inputs, and (4) manure system including crimson clover green manure plus cow manure for nutrient sources, chisel plow/disk for incorporating manure, and rotary hoe plus cultivation for weed control. Results from the initial 4 years demonstrated the relative productivity of these systems. Corn yields were similar in the no-tillage and cover crop systems in each year; both systems averaged 7.8 Mg ha-1 compared to 5.7 Mg ha-1 in both the crownvetch and manure systems. Wheat yields were highest in the manure system in the first 2 years and in the crownvetch system in the last 2 years. Soybean yields were highest in the cover crop system in all years. The manure system usually had lower yields than the highest yielding systems, partly because of competition from uncontrolled weeds. Several measures of the efficiency of grain production were evaluated. The no-tillage system produced the most grain per total vegetative biomass throughout the rotation. The cover crop system produced the most grain per unit of external nitrogen input and, along with the no-tillage system, had the highest corn water-use efficiency. The cover crop system also recycled the most vegetative residues and nutrients of all systems. No single system performed best according to all measures of comparison, suggesting that trade-offs will be required when choosing production systems.
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Manoj, Konapura Nagaraja, Bommalapura Gundanaik Shekara, Shankarappa Sridhara, Prakash Kumar Jha, and P. V. Vara Prasad. "Biomass Quantity and Quality from Different Year-Round Cereal–Legume Cropping Systems as Forage or Fodder for Livestock." Sustainability 13, no. 16 (August 22, 2021): 9414. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13169414.
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The quantity and quality of forage and fodder crops is the major drawback of the livestock sector in the country. There is a need to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of fodder through the adoption of specific sustainable fodder production strategies. The field experiments were conducted during kharif (rainy, June–October), rabi (post-rainy, October–February), and summer (March–May) seasons of 2018–19 and 2019–20 to identify a sustainable fodder cropping system module in randomized complete block design with fifteen fodder cropping systems in three replications. The main objective of this research was to identify the most productive cereal–legume cropping system, both in terms of quantity and quality of biomass, to reduce the gap between supply and demand of quality livestock feed around the year. Among cropping systems, Bajra–Napier hybrid intercropped with lucerne, cowpea, and sesbania recorded significantly higher green fodder (163.6, 155.2, and 144.0 t/ha/year, respectively) and dry matter yields (32.1, 30.8, and 31.3 t/ha/year, respectively). Similarly, the same perennial systems also recorded higher quality yield and ash content. However, higher crude protein content was noticed in monocrop legumes, with the highest in sesbania (22.32%), while higher ether extractable fat was found in monocrop sesbania (3.78%). The monocrop oats recorded higher non-fiber carbohydrates (36.90%) while a monocrop of pearl millet recorded higher total carbohydrates (80.75%), however they were on par with other monocrop cereal cropping systems. Cultivation of legumes as a monocrop, and their inclusion as an intercrop with cereals resulted in lower fiber fractions and improved crude protein in intercropping systems. Furthermore, this improved the dry matter intake and digestibility of fodder. With higher sustainable yield index values and land-use efficiency, perennial intercropping systems were also found to be sustainable. Thus, cultivation of the Bajra–Napier hybrid with either lucerne, cowpea, or sesbania as an intercrop will help livestock farmers to achieve higher productivity in terms of quantity and quality, and forms a viable option for overcoming livestock feed scarcity.
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Sutardi, Yayan Apriyana, Popi Rejekiningrum, Annisa Dhienar Alifia, Fadhlullah Ramadhani, Valeriana Darwis, Nanik Setyowati, et al. "The Transformation of Rice Crop Technology in Indonesia: Innovation and Sustainable Food Security." Agronomy 13, no. 1 (December 20, 2022): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010001.
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The growth of the Indonesian population has led to an increase in the demand for rice, which the country has yet to satisfy. Indonesia needs a comprehensive strategy that integrates meaningful efforts to increase its agricultural production. This study aims to review the examined trends in rice yield in Indonesia for 70 years after Indonesia’s independence (1945–2016) followed by the identification of the application technology and factors that contribute to increasing rice yields to forecast sustainable food security scenarios up to 2030. This article reviews the results of research on rice production technology in Indonesia from 1945 to 2016, and the outlook for 2030. This paper examines the main points of the Indonesian transformation of rice technology: improvement of rice varieties, integrated crop management, innovations in agricultural machinery, and the Integrated Cropping Calendar Information System (ICCIS). We found that transformation has helped Indonesia increased its rice yields from 3 t ha−1 prior to 1961 to 4.6 t ha−1 in 1985, stagnated in 1990, and increased again in 2017 to 5,46 t ha−1. The increase in yield was sustained by an increase in the harvested area owing to cropping index (CI) innovation. Food security and sustainable development remain the primary goals of Indonesia’s agricultural sector. The application of appropriate technologies and institutional innovations can assist Indonesia in achieving its food security. Therefore, the transformation of technological innovations will continue to be an essential driver of future agricultural growth, including greater use of crop varieties, machinery, and land/institutional reforms.
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Shankar, Tanmoy, Ganesh Chandra Malik, Mahua Banerjee, Sudarshan Dutta, Sagar Maitra, Subhashisa Praharaj, Masina Sairam, et al. "Productivity and Nutrient Balance of an Intensive Rice–Rice Cropping System Are Influenced by Different Nutrient Management in the Red and Lateritic Belt of West Bengal, India." Plants 10, no. 8 (August 6, 2021): 1622. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants10081622.
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Rice is the lifeline for more than half of the world population, and in India, in view of its huge demand in the country, farmers adopt a rice–rice cropping system where the irrigation facility is available. As rice is a nutrient-exhausting crop, sustainable productivity of rice–rice cropping system greatly depends on appropriate nutrient management in accordance with the inherent soil fertility. The application of an ample dose of fertilizer is the key factor for maintaining sustainable rice yields and nutrient balance of the soil. Considering the above facts, an experiment was conducted on nutrient management in a rice–rice cropping system at the university farm of Visva-Bharati, situated in a sub-tropical climate under the red and lateritic belt of the western part of West Bengal, India, during two consecutive years (2014–2016). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Completely Block Design with 12 treatments and three replications, with different rates of N:P:K:Zn:S application in both of the growing seasons, namely, kharif and Boro. The recommended (ample) dose of nutrients was 80:40:40:25:20 and 120:60:60:25:20 kg ha−1 of N:P2O5:K2O:Zn:S in the Kharif and Boro season, respectively. A high yielding variety, named MTU 7029, and a hybrid, Arize 6444 GOLD, were taken in the Kharif and Boro seasons, respectively. The results clearly indicated that the application of a recommended dose of nutrients showed its superiority over the control (no fertilizer application) in the expression of growth characters, yield attributes, yields, and nutrient uptake of Kharif as well as Boro rice. Out of the all treatments, the best result was found in the treatment where the ample dose of nutrients was applied, resulting in maximum grain yield in both the Kharif (5.6 t ha−1) and Boro (6.6 t ha−1) season. The corresponding yield attributes for the same treatment in the Kharif (panicles m−2: 247.9; grains panicle−1: 132.0; spikelets panicle−1: 149.6; test weight: 23.8 g; and panicle length: 30.6 cm) and Boro (panicles m−2: 281.6; grains panicle−1: 142.7; spikelets panicle−1: 157.2; test weight: 24.8 g; and panicle length: 32.8 cm) season explained the maximum yield in this treatment. Further, a reduction or omission of individual nutrients adversely impacted on the above traits and resulted in a negative balance of the respective nutrients. The study concluded that the application of a recommended dose of nutrients was essential for proper nutrient balance and sustainable yields in the rice–rice cropping system.
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Sariah, John, and Daniel Rodriguez. "Technology Package for Sustainable Productivity and Resiliency to Climate Variability: The Proof from SIMLESA Studies in Tanzania." Proceedings 36, no. 1 (April 7, 2020): 168. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2019036168.
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The agricultural sector in Tanzania is mainly dryland and dominated by smallholder farmers. Unreliable rainfall, short than normal duration of cropping season and fluctuations of onset and end of cropping season are main challenges facing farmers. The increased frequency and intensity of droughts, unpredictability of weather, shorter than normal duration of cropping seasons have significant impact on farmers’ productivity, profitability and resilience. This paper report study on Conservation agriculture for Sustainable Intensification (CASI) technology package tested on farm for productive, resilient and sustainable smallholder maize-legume cropping systems across five districts in Tanzania. Three practices namely Conservation practice (CA), Current applied recommended practice (CONV. or sometimes referred to as IMPROV) and primitive farmers practice (FP) were compared in experimental plots on farmers’ fields. Improved (DT maize and Pigeonpeas) was intercropped in all practices. Only CA and CONV practices were statistically compared, whereas FP was for farmer’s visual observations and comparisons. Data recorded were, soil carbon, moisture, yields and economic analysis. Results showed that, the average maize yields for four seasons in CA and CONV doubled and for tripled. An average of 30.5% hours of labour were saved in CASI relative to non CASI practice. The benefit cost ratio of maize-pigeonpea intercrops under CASI was 2.1 as compared to 1.4 in conventional agriculture investments. The institutionalization of CASI at local and national policy decision levels will be required for the scaling of CASI technologies across Tanzania.
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Nigussei, Ashenafi. "The Influence of Cropping systems and Tillage practices on Growth, Yield, and Yield Components of Maize (Zea may L.) in Shalla District, West Arsi Ethiopia." Agronomy & Agricultural Science 5, no. 1 (August 2, 2022): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.24966/aas-8292/100031.
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Nassary, Eliakira Kisetu, Frederick Baijukya, and Patrick Alois Ndakidemi. "Assessing the Productivity of Common Bean in Intercrop with Maize across Agro-Ecological Zones of Smallholder Farms in the Northern Highlands of Tanzania." Agriculture 10, no. 4 (April 8, 2020): 117. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10040117.
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Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important grain legume for food and cash of the smallholder farmers worldwide. However, the total potential benefits to be derived from the common bean as a source of food and income, its complementarities with non-legume food crops, and significance to the environment are underexploited. Intensification of common bean could provide approaches that offer new techniques to better manage and monitor globally complex systems of sustainable food production. Therefore, this study tried to assess the productivity of common bean bushy varieties when are involved as part of an intercrop with maize (Zea mays L.) in varying agro-ecological zones. The factors evaluated were the cropping seasons/years (S) (2015 and 2016), agro-ecological zones (A) above sea level (lower 843 m, middle 1051 m, upper 1743 m), and cropping systems (C) (sole, intercrop). The data collected were the total biomass, number of pods per plant and seeds per pod, 100-seed weight as yield components, and grain yield. Bean and maize grain yields were used to calculate the partial (P) and total land equivalent ratio (LER). Results indicated that the main effects of S, A, C, and the interaction effects of S × A, S × C, S × A × C were significant on bean grain yields. Interactions of S × A × C were also significant on all measured variables. Results also indicated that continuous intercropping of bean with maize over two cropping seasons resulted in the increase of bean grain yields from 1.5 to 2.3 t ha−1 in the lower altitude, 2.0 to 2.3 t ha−1 in the middle altitude, and 1.8 to 2.9 t ha−1 in the upper altitude. Land utilization advantage of intercrops over monocultures yielded a total LER of 1.58, whereas the average partial land equivalent ratio (PLER) of individual beans was 1.53.
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PALA, M., J. RYAN, J. DIEKMANN, and M. SINGH. "BARLEY AND VETCH YIELDS FROM DRYLAND ROTATIONS WITH VARYING TILLAGE AND RESIDUE MANAGEMENT UNDER MEDITERRANEAN CONDITIONS." Experimental Agriculture 44, no. 4 (October 2008): 559–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0014479708006960.
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SUMMARYWith increasing land-use pressure in semi-arid, dryland Middle Eastern agriculture, fallow-based cereal production has given way to cropping intensification, including legume-based rotations along with conservation tillage and on-farm straw disposal. Such agronomic developments can only be biologically and economically assessed in multi-year trials. Thus, this 10-year study examined the influence of tillage systems (conventional and shallow or conservation) and variable stubble management, including compost application, on yields of barley and vetch grown in rotation. Barley yielded higher with compost applied every two or four years than with burning or soil-incorporating the straw and stubble. Barley straw and grain yields were generally higher with the mouldboard plough. Similarly with vetch, treatments involving compost application yielded significantly higher than burning or incorporating the straw and stubble. Despite yearly differences between crop yields, the pattern of treatment differences was consistent. Thus, the cereal–vetch rotation system is sustainable, while excess straw could be used as compost with benefit to the crop. Though there was no clear advantage of the shallow conservation-type tillage, the energy costs are less, thus indicating its possible advantage over conventional deep tillage in such rotational cropping systems
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Liu, Meiying, Leilei Min, Yanjun Shen, and Lin Wu. "Evaluating the Impact of Alternative Cropping Systems on Groundwater Consumption and Nitrate Leaching in the Piedmont Area of the North China Plain." Agronomy 10, no. 11 (October 23, 2020): 1635. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10111635.
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The overexploitation of groundwater and the excessive application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer under the intensive double cropping system are responsible for the groundwater level decline and potential contamination in the North China Plain (NCP). Alternative cropping systems have the potential to alleviate current groundwater and N problems in the region, while there are limited studies simultaneously focusing on the impact of a change of cropping systems on crop yields, groundwater consumption, and N leaching. In this study, Field observed experiments of double-cropping system (i.e., winter wheat–summer maize) and mono-cropping system (early sowing maize) were used to calibrate and validate the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2). Then, the validated RZWQM2 model was used to evaluate the long-term crop growth and environmental impact under the local winter wheat–summer maize rotation system with practical irrigation (WW-SM_pi) and auto-irrigation (WW-SM_ai), and three alternative cropping systems (single early maize, SEM; winter wheat–summer maize and single early maize, WW-SM-SEM; winter wheat-summer maize and double single early maize, WW-SM-2SEM). The net consumption of groundwater and N leaching under WW-SM_pi were 226.9 mm yr−1 and 79.7 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Under the local rotation system, auto-irrigation could increase crop yields and N leaching. Compared with the WW-SM_ai, the alternative cropping systems, WW-SM-SEM, WW-SM-2SEM, and SEM, significantly decreased the net consumption of groundwater by 49.3%, 63.0%, and 97.8%, respectively (147.5–292.9 mm), and N leaching by 53.5%, 67.5%, and 89.6%, respectively (50.0–83.7 kg ha−1). However, the yields of the three alternative cropping systems were reduced by less than 30% (12.2%, 20.1%, and 29.7%, respectively). The simulated results indicated that appropriately decreasing the planting frequency of winter wheat is an effective approach to reduce groundwater overexploitation and N contamination with a relatively limited reduction in grain yields. The results could provide a scientific basis for cropping system adjustment in guaranteeing sustainable regional water and grain policy.
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RYAN, J., M. SINGH, M. PALA, R. MAKHBOUL, S. MASRI, H. C. HARRIS, and R. SOMMER. "Crop sequences, nitrogen fertilizer and grazing intensity in relation to wheat yields in rainfed systems." Journal of Agricultural Science 148, no. 2 (January 21, 2010): 205–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859609990566.
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SUMMARYThe Mediterranean region is experiencing unrelenting land-use pressure, largely driven by population growth. Long-term cropping system trials can guide crop and soil management options that are biophysically and economically sustainable. Thus, an extensive cereal-based rotation trial (1983–98) was established in northern Syria, to assess various two-course rotations with durum wheat (Triticum turgidum Desf.). The alternative rotations were: continuous wheat, fallow, chickpea (Cicer arietinum), lentil (Lens culinaris), medic (Medicago spp.), vetch (Vicia sativa) and watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) as a summer crop. Ancillary treatments were: nitrogen (N) fertilizer application to the cereal phase (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N/ha) and variable stubble grazing management (zero or stubble retention, moderate and heavy grazing). Both phases of the rotation trial occurred each year. The soil is a fine clay, thermic Calcixerollic Xerochrept. Seasonal rainfall was the dominant factor in influencing overall yields. Rotations significantly influenced yields, being highest for fallow (2·43 t/ha), followed by watermelon (similar to fallow), vetch, lentil, medic and chickpea, and least for continuous wheat (1·08 t/ha). Overall, yields increased consistently with added N, but responses varied with the rotation. The various stubble grazing regimes had little or no effect on either grain or straw yields. While the trial confirmed the value of fallow and the drawbacks of continuous cereal cropping, it also showed that replacing either practice with chickpea or lentil, or vetch for animal feed, was potentially a viable option. Given favourable economics, legume-based rotations for food and forage could contribute to sustainable cropping throughout the Mediterranean region.
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Babec, Brankica, Srđan Šeremešić, Nada Hladni, Nemanja Ćuk, Dušan Stanisavljević, and Miloš Rajković. "Potential of Sunflower-Legume Intercropping: A Way Forward in Sustainable Production of Sunflower in Temperate Climatic Conditions." Agronomy 11, no. 12 (November 24, 2021): 2381. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122381.
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The ongoing climate change, coupled with the transformations of cultivation practices and land use in sole crop production, may cause a significant decline in sunflower yield stability. Considering that the sunflower is the third oilseed in the world oilseed market, with 45 million tons of grain per year, and that it takes the fourth position in the vegetable oil market, the implementation of sustainable growing technology in sunflower production is a necessity. Considering the above, the goal of the research was to analyze and recommend sustainable sunflower production technology in intercropping systems. A four-year trial was conducted in Serbia’s agroecological conditions (45∘34′23.2′′ N 19∘86′18.9′′ E) using a split-plot design. Two oil-type hybrids and one confectionary-type hybrid were intercropped with common vetch, red clover, and alfalfa. Common vetch × sunflower intercropping resulted in the decrease in almost all sunflower traits. Moreover, sunflower × alfalfa intercropping proved to be the most appropriate. The yield of NS Gricko and Rimi PR were statistically on the same level with sole cropping, while alfalfa biomass had better results after alfalfa was intercropped with NS Gricko, as compared to sole cropping. In view of the prevailing belief that yields are more stable in intercropping than in sole cropping, further research is needed in this respect, in addition to further research of the time and method of sowing.
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Somasundaram, J., M. Salikram, N. K. Sinha, M. Mohanty, R. S. Chaudhary, R. C. Dalal, N. G. Mitra, et al. "Conservation agriculture effects on soil properties and crop productivity in a semiarid region of India." Soil Research 57, no. 2 (2019): 187. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr18145.
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Conservation agriculture (CA) including reduced or no-tillage and crop residue retention, is known to be a self–sustainable system as well as an alternative to residue burning. The present study evaluated the effect of reduced tillage coupled with residue retention under different cropping systems on soil properties and crop yields in a Vertisol of a semiarid region of central India. Two tillage systems – conventional tillage (CT) with residue removed, and reduced tillage (RT) with residue retained – and six major cropping systems of this region were examined after 3 years of experimentation. Results demonstrated that soil moisture content, mean weight diameter, percent water stable aggregates (>0.25mm) for the 0–15cm soil layer were significantly (P<0.05) affected by tillage practices. Soil penetration resistance was significantly higher for RT than CT. Irrespective of soil depth, there was higher soil organic carbon (SOC) for RT than CT. The SOC fractions followed in the order: non-labile>moderately labile>less labile. At the 0–15cm depth, the contributions of moderately labile, less labile and non-labile C fractions to total organic C were 39.3%, 10.3% and 50.4% respectively in RT and corresponding values for CT were 38.9%, 11.7% and 49.4%. Significant differences in different C fractions were observed between RT and CT. Soil microbial biomass C concentration was significantly higher in RT than CT at 0–15cm depth. The maize–chickpea cropping system had significantly (P<0.05) higher soybean grain equivalent yield of 4.65 t ha–1 followed by soybean+pigeon pea (2:1) intercropping (3.50 t ha–1) and soybean–wheat cropping systems (2.97 t ha–1). Thus, CA practices could be sustainable management practices for improving soil health and crop yields of rainfed Vertisols in these semiarid regions.
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Hanson, Eric, Brent Crain, and Joshua Moses. "Cropping on Primocanes and Floricanes Increases Yields of Organic Raspberries in High Tunnels." HortScience 54, no. 3 (March 2019): 459–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.21273/hortsci13632-18.
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Red raspberry cultivars that produce fruit on current season canes (primocanes) can produce additional fruit the following year on floricanes. The primocane-fruiting raspberries ‘Himbo Top’, ‘Joan J’, and ‘Polka’ were grown organically in high tunnels and pruned to different floricane densities to determine the effects on fruit yield (primocane, floricane, total) and harvest times. Floricane densities were 0, 2.4, or 4.8 canes per meter of row length in 2015, and 0, 4.9, or 9.8 canes per meter in 2016 and 2017. Total yield (floricane plus primocane) was significantly greater with low floricane density (17 t·ha−1) or high density (19 t·ha−1) compared with no floricanes (12 t·ha−1). Floricane density did not affect primocane yield or harvest times. Primocanes of ‘Polka’ were taller when floricanes were present, but primocanes of other cultivars were unaffected. Results indicate that producing fruit on both primocanes and floricanes (double cropping) can improve sustainable overall yields.
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Somasundaram, J., M. Salikram, N. K. Sinha, M. Mohanty, R. S. Chaudhary, R. C. Dalal, N. G. Mitra, et al. "Corrigendum to: Conservation agriculture effects on soil properties and crop productivity in a semiarid region of India." Soil Research 57, no. 2 (2019): 200. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr18145_co.
Full textAbstract:
Conservation agriculture (CA) including reduced or no-tillage and crop residue retention, is known to be a self–sustainable system as well as an alternative to residue burning. The present study evaluated the effect of reduced tillage coupled with residue retention under different cropping systems on soil properties and crop yields in a Vertisol of a semiarid region of central India. Two tillage systems – conventional tillage (CT) with residue removed, and reduced tillage (RT) with residue retained – and six major cropping systems of this region were examined after 3 years of experimentation. Results demonstrated that soil moisture content, mean weight diameter, percent water stable aggregates (>0.25mm) for the 0–15cm soil layer were significantly (Pmoderately labile>less labile. At the 0–15cm depth, the contributions of moderately labile, less labile and non-labile C fractions to total organic C were 39.3%, 10.3% and 50.4% respectively in RT and corresponding values for CT were 38.9%, 11.7% and 49.4%. Significant differences in different C fractions were observed between RT and CT. Soil microbial biomass C concentration was significantly higher in RT than CT at 0–15cm depth. The maize–chickpea cropping system had significantly (P–1 followed by soybean+pigeon pea (2:1) intercropping (3.50 t ha–1) and soybean–wheat cropping systems (2.97 t ha–1). Thus, CA practices could be sustainable management practices for improving soil health and crop yields of rainfed Vertisols in these semiarid regions.
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Westerdahl, B. B. "Scenarios for sustainable management of plant parasitic nematodes." Indian Phytopathology 74, no. 2 (May 6, 2021): 469–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s42360-021-00370-y.
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AbstractPlant parasitic nematodes cause significant yield reductions worldwide. Before development of soil fumigation, sustainable practices were developed for nematode management; but were utilized with limited success. The restricted availability of fumigants and other nematicides, has stimulated a return to research into more sustainable management scenarios. In recent years, new tools have been developed that improve the successful utilization of sustainable methods including: nematode resistant crop varieties, trap cropping, biofumigation, molecular identification techniques, databases that can be accessed online to search for crops resistant to nematodes, relatively inexpensive soil temperature dataloggers, nematode degree-day models, research on nematode biology and population cycling, development of less toxic chemicals, and development of new soil amendments and natural products. Combining these with a strong nematode control and certification program for nursery crops, have made it possible to develop promising scenarios to reduce damaging nematode populations and increase yields.
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Dapeng, Wang, Zheng Liang, Gu Songdong, Shi Yuefeng, Liang Long, Meng Fanqiao, Guo Yanbin, Ju Xiaotang, and Wu Wenliang. "Soil nitrate accumulation and leaching in conventional, optimized and organic cropping systems." Plant, Soil and Environment 64, No. 4 (April 20, 2018): 156–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/768/2017-pse.
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Excessive nitrogen (N) and water input, which are threatening the sustainability of conventional agriculture in the North China Plain (NCP), can lead to serious leaching of nitrate-N (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup>-N). This study evaluates grain yield, N and water consumption, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup>-N accumulation and leaching in conventional and two optimized winter wheat-summer maize double-cropping systems and an organic alfalfa-winter wheat cropping system. The results showed that compared to the conventional cropping system, the optimized systems could reduce N, water consumption and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup>-N leaching by 33, 35 and 67–74%, respectively, while producing nearly identical grain yields. In optimized systems, soil NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup>-N accumulation within the root zone was about 80 kg N/ha most of the time. In the organic system, N input, water consumption and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup>-N leaching was reduced even more (by 71, 43 and 92%, respectively, compared to the conventional system). However, grain yield also declined by 46%. In the organic system, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup>-N accumulation within the root zone was generally less than 30 kg N/ha. The optimized systems showed a considerable potential to reduce N and water consumption and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup>-N leaching while maintaining high grain yields, and thus should be considered for sustainable agricultural development in the NCP.
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Prasai, H. K., S. K. Sah, A. K. Gautam, and A. P. Regmi. "Effect of conservation agriculture on grain yield and income of maize under maize based cropping system in far western Nepal." Agricultural Science and Technology 10, no. 4 (2018): 320–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.15547/10.15547/ast.2018.04.060.
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Abstract. The adoption of Conservation agriculture (CA) contributes to sustainable production and its advantages include lower inputs and stable yields. This study was conducted in the research field of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Bhagetada, Dipayal, Doti during 2014 and 2015 to identify the effect of CA on grain yield and income of maize in Maize based cropping system. Both conservation and conventional agricultural (ConvA) practices were evaluated on two maize based cropping systems namely maize-wheat-mungbean (M-W-MB) and maize-lentil-mungbean (M-L-MB). For this purpose two maize varieties namely Raj Kumar and Arun-2 were used. The average productivity of maize under M-L-MB cropping system was 1.6% higher (5.75 t/ha) than M-W-MB cropping system (5.66 t/ha). The average grain yield of maize under CA was 16.7% higher (6.15 t/ha) than ConvA (5.27 t/ha). Rajkumar produced 43% higher average grain yield (6.73 t/ha) than Arun-2 variety (4.69 t/ha). The average net benefit was slightly higher (US$ 597.33/ha) under M-L-MB cropping system than M-W-MB cropping system (US$ 573.89/ha). Similarly, the average net benefit from CA was 102% higher (US$ 783.67/ha) than ConvA (US$ 386.79/ha). Rajkumar variety gave 127% higher average net benefit (US$ 813.49/ha) than Arun-2 (US$ 357.81/ha). The average benefit - cost (B:C) ratio of M-L-MB cropping system was slightly higher (1.72) than the average B:C ratio of M-W-MB cropping system (1.70). The average B:C ratio of CA was 42% higher (2.01) than ConvA (1.41). The average B:C ratio of Rajkumar variety was found 33% higher (1.95) than Arun-2 (1.46). The higher grain yield, net profit and B:C ratio were found in CA practices under M-L-MB cropping system and Rajkumar variety. This study suggests that hybrid maize planting and the adoption of M-L-MB cropping system should be used to increase grain yield and economic performance under CA practices.
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Mollah, MRA, Najrul Islam, and MAR Sarkar. "Integrated Nutrient Management for Potatomungbean- T.Aman Rice Cropping Pattern Under Level Barind Agroecological Zone." Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research 36, no. 4 (September 2, 2012): 711–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v36i4.11761.
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A field experiment was conducted at the Multiplication Testing Site (MLT), Joypurhat Sadar upazila with Potato- Mugnbean T. Aman rice cropping pattern during November/2007 to November/2008 to verify different nutrient management approaches and to determine the economic dose of fertilizer for the said cropping pattern. The experiment was designed with five treatments for whole of the cropping pattern in a randomized complete block design with six replications. The treatments were, soil test based fertilizer dose for moderate yield goal, soil test based fertilizer dose for high yield goal, integrated plant nutrient management, farmers practice, and control. Cowdung was applied at the first crop potato only in the cropping sequence. The varieties for potato, mungbean and T. Aman rice were Diamant, BARI Mung-6, and BR11, respectively. The results demonstrated that the tuber yield of potato, seed yield of mungbean, and grain yield of T. Aman rice were significantly influenced by the different treatments. The highest tuber yield (25.01 t/ha) was obtained from integrated plant nutrient management treatment. In mungbean, the highest seed yield (1384 kg/ha) was also recorded from NPKS for high yield goal with residual cowdung treatment. The results of NPKS application for high yield goal with residual cowdung had a positive effect on seed yield of mungbean. Grain and straw yields of T. Aaman rice were also significantly influenced by different treatments. The highest grain yield (5.68 t/ha) and straw yield (5.82 t/ha) were also observed in NPKS for high yield goal with residual cowdung treatment. The results also indicated that the residual cowdung had a positive effect on grain and straw yields of T. Aman rice. Cost and return analysis of different nutrient management packages for the whole cropping pattern showed that the highest marginal benefit cost ratio (8.64), gross return (Tk. 3,79,960/ha) and gross margin (Tk. 3,43,360/ha) were obtained from integrated plant nutrient management treatment and the lowest from soil test based fertilizers for moderate yield goal treatment. So, considering crop productivity, economic return, and soil fertility, integrated plant nutrient management for high yield goal with 5 t/ha cowdung could be recommended for the Potato-Mungbean-T Aman rice cropping pattern at Joypurhat and similar soils of Level Barind agroecological zone for sustainable higher yield DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v36i4.11761 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 36(4): 711-722, December 2011
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Smith, Richard G., and Katherine L. Gross. "Weed community and corn yield variability in diverse management systems." Weed Science 54, no. 1 (February 2006): 106–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1614/ws-05-108r.1.
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The effects of crop rotation and management system on annual variability in weed communities and crop yields were assessed in a 4-yr study in Michigan. Variability of the weed community and corn yields were assessed using the coefficient of variation (CV) and a multivariate dissimilarity index (Bray-Curtis) that accounted for changes in both weed species abundance and composition. The treatments included two rotations: continuous corn and a corn–corn–soybean–wheat rotation, and two management systems: conventional (CONV) and organic-based (ORG). Weed biomass was significantly higher in the ORG system; however, there was no effect of crop rotation on weed biomass or number of weed species in a treatment (species richness). Annual variability in weed community composition and structure was affected by both crop rotation and management system and was highest in the ORG rotation. In contrast to the weed community, variability in corn yield was highest in the least-diverse cropping system (CONV monoculture), despite that system having a more constant weed community. Corn yield in the ORG rotation was not significantly different from that in the CONV monoculture. Results of this study suggest that management aimed at increasing cropping system diversity may have additional effects on weed communities and crop yields beyond those commonly reported, and these may have important implications for the development of more efficient and sustainable weed and crop management practices.
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Xu, Cailong, Ruidong Li, Wenwen Song, Tingting Wu, Shi Sun, Weiliang Shen, Shuixiu Hu, Tianfu Han, and Cunxiang Wu. "Integrating Straw Management and Seeding to Improve Seed Yield and Reduce Environmental Impacts in Soybean Production." Agronomy 11, no. 6 (May 21, 2021): 1033. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061033.
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Multiple cropping systems boost grain yields and have an immense potential to increase land productivity. In such cropping systems in China, soybean is directly seeded after the wheat harvest in early June. After the wheat harvest, the farmland has low amounts of soil moisture and contains large amounts of wheat straw, which negatively affect soybean growth and yields. To address these challenges, an integrated management practice (IMP) than can achieve precise direct seeding and straw mulching return, was developed. In this study, differences in the soil temperature and moisture, seedling quality, dry matter accumulation, soybean yield, and greenhouse gas emissions were investigated between IMP and the farmers’ practices (FP). Compared with the FP treatment, IMP significantly increased the soil moisture and decreased the soil temperature in the topsoil layer. In addition, under the IMP treatment, the rate of emergence and developmental uniformity of soybean plants significantly increased by 21.7% and 99.5%, respectively, thus increasing the leaf area index by 30.0% and dry matter accumulation by 12.0% and, in turn, increasing soybean yields by 24.7%. A principal component analysis showed that the dry matter weight, relative water content, leaf area index, and developmental uniformity were strong sensitivity indices for the IMP treatment. In addition, the intensity of emission of N2O and greenhouse gases under IMP both decreased significantly by 25.1% and 28.9% compared with the FP, respectively. Thus, it was concluded that IMP is a suitable farming practice for sustainable agricultural production, and it has broad prospects for application in wheat–soybean double cropping systems in China and other similar areas globally.
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Aguiar, Alana das Chagas Ferreira, Andreia Pereira Amorim, Katia Pereira Coêlho, and Emanoel Gomes de Moura. "Environmental and agricultural benefits of a management system designed for sandy loam soils of the humid tropics." Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 33, no. 5 (October 2009): 1473–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s0100-06832009000500037.
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A sustainable management of soils with low natural fertility on family farms in the humid tropics is a great challenge and overcoming it would be an enormous benefit for the environment and the farmers. The objective of this study was to assess the environmental and agronomic benefits of alley cropping, based on the evaluation of C sequestration, soil quality indicators, and corn yields. Combinations of four legumes were used in alley cropping systems in the following treatments: Clitoria fairchildiana + Cajanus cajan; Acacia mangium + Cajanus cajan; Leucaena leucocephala + Cajanus cajan; Clitoria fairchildiana + Leucaena leucocephala; Leucaena leucocephala + Acacia mangium and a control. Corn was used as a cash crop. The C content was determined in the different compartments of soil organic matter, CEC, available P, base saturation, percentage of water saturation, the period of the root hospitality factor below the critical level and corn yield. It was concluded that alley cropping could substitute the slash and burn system in the humid tropics. The main environmental benefit of alley cropping is the maintenance of a dynamic equilibrium between C input and output that could sustain up to 10 Mg ha-1 of C in the litter layer, decreasing atmospheric CO2 levels. Alley cropping is also beneficial from the agricultural point of view, because it increases base saturation and decreases physical resistance to root penetration in the soil layer 0 - 10 cm, which ensures the increase and sustainability of corn yield.
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Han, Le, Yunrui Li, Yonghao Hou, Hao Liang, Puyu Feng, and Kelin Hu. "Improvement of Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiencies by Alternative Cropping Systems Based on a Model Approach." Plants 12, no. 3 (January 29, 2023): 597. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants12030597.
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The conventional double cropping system of winter wheat and summer maize (WW-SUM) in the North China Plain (NCP) consumes a large amount of water and chemical fertilizer, threatening the sustainable development of agriculture in this region. This study was based on a three-year field experiment of different cropping systems (2H1Y—two harvests in one year; 3H2Y—three harvests in two years; and 1H1Y—one harvest in one year). The 2H1Y system had three irrigation–fertilization practices (FP—farmer’s practice; RI—reduced input; and WQ—Wuqiao pattern in Wuqiao County, Hebei Province). A soil–crop system model (WHCNS—soil water heat carbon nitrogen simulator) was used to quantify the effects of different cropping systems on water and nitrogen use efficiencies (WUE and NUE, respectively), and to explore the trade-offs between crop yields and environmental impacts. The results showed that annual yield, water consumption, and the WUE of 2H1Y were higher than those of the 3H2Y and 1H1Y systems. However, local precipitation during the period of crop growth could only meet 65%, 76%, and 91% of total water consumption for the 2H1Y, 3H2Y and 1H1Y systems, respectively. Nearly 65% of irrigation water (groundwater) was used in the period of wheat growth that contributed to almost 40% of the annual yield. Among the three patterns of the 2H1Y system, the order of the WUE was 2H1Y_RI > 2H1Y_WQ > 2H1Y_FP. Compared to 2H1Y_FP, the total fertilizer N application rates in 2H1Y_WQ, 2H1Y_RI, and 3H2Y were reduced by 25%, 65%, and 74%, respectively. The 3H2Y system had the highest NUE of 34.3 kg kg−1, 54% greater than the 2H1Y_FP system (22.2 kg kg−1). Moreover, the 3H2Y system obviously reduced nitrate leaching and gaseous N loss when compared with the other two systems. The order of total N loss of different cropping systems was 2H1Y (261 kg N ha−1) > 1H1Y (78 kg N ha−1) > 3H2Y (70 kg N ha−1). Considering the agronomic and environmental effects as well as economic benefits, the 3H2Y cropping system with optimal irrigation and fertilization would be a promising cropping system in the NCP that could achieve the balance between crop yield and the sustainable use of groundwater and N fertilizer.
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Bharti, Chandrabhan, Bulbul Ahmed, and Alok Maurya. "A review on conservation agriculture (CA) and sustainable food production." Journal of extension systems 37, no. 1 (2021): 21–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.48165/jes.2021.37103.
Full textAbstract:
Conservation agriculture (CA) is a set of practices and procedures that ensures higher agricultural productivity and profitability along with the improvement of soil health and the sustainable environment. CA provides opportunities to reduce the cost of production, save water and nutrients, increase yields, increase crop diversification, improve efficient use of resources and benefits the environment. With CA, growers can save from 30% to 40% of time and energy as compared to conventional cropping. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop policy frameworks and strategies to promote CA region wise for the prevention of soil degradation, improvement of soil fertility and moisture.
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Rahman, MM, W. Parvin, N. Sultana, and SAM Tareq. "Impact of crop diversification on livelihood improvement and sustainable land management in Chattogram Hill Tracts of Bangladesh." Journal of Biodiversity Conservation and Bioresource Management 6, no. 1 (January 12, 2021): 1–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbcbm.v6i1.51325.
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The study was conducted at Sorai union of Lama Upazilla under Bandarban district of Chattogram Hill Tracts. It was found that total 19 plant species including bamboos, timbers and fruit crops have been widely cultivated in the area. Among the species five bamboo (Mitinga, Baijja Muli, Borak and Kali), six timbers (Acacia, Eucalyptus, Garjon, Teak, Gamar and Rubber) and eight fruits (Mango, Olive, Papaya, Guava, Coconut, Hog pulm, Orange and Betel nut) were recorded. Bamboo based agro-forestry modules were developed and practiced which produced a very good cropping diversification to sustain the crop productivity, protection of land sliding, soil erosion, water shade and soil fertility in the hill areas. It has been observed that farmers’ have a very good positive attitude and perception in diversified cropping system to get better yields than mono cropping agricultural practice at their home- stead and farm- lands. It has a very good opportunity to make the crop diversification for sustainable production of hill farming and resource management.
J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2020, 6(1): 1-8
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Quddus, Md Abdul, Md Babul Anwar, Md Khairul Alam, Razu Ahmed, Khokan Kumer Sarker, Md Anarul Islam, Md Torikul Islam, Mohamed I. Kobeasy, Ahmed Gaber, and Sharif Ahmed. "Modification of Nutrient Requirements for a Four Crop-Based Cropping System to Increase System Productivity, Maintain Soil Fertility, and Achieve Sustainable Intensification." Sustainability 14, no. 12 (June 12, 2022): 7194. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su14127194.
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Sustainable and resilient cropping intensity is now a global focus to address the food demand and nutrition security of the growing population. For sustainable intensification, maintaining soil fertility is a key concern. The nutrient management for the recently developed four crop-based cropping system in Bangladesh has not yet been studied. Hence, field experiments were conducted on the nutrient management of the four crop-based cropping system [Aus (pre-monsoon rice), Aman (monsoon rice), lentil, and mungbean] in calcareous soil in Bangladesh during the years of 2016/17 and 2017/18 to determine the appropriate fertilizer management package to improve crop productivity and sustain soil fertility. The experiment had six treatments assigned in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments included T1 = control (without synthetic fertilizer), T2 = 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), T3 = 75% RDF, T4 = 100% RDF, T5 = 125% RDF, and T6 = farmers’ practice (FP). The results revealed that the 125% RDF significantly contributed to higher yields of all four crops. The rice equivalent yield (REY) was the highest for the fertilizer management of 125% RDF, which was 45.5%, 9.4%, and 12.2% higher than the control (T1), 100% RDF (T4), and FP, respectively. Considering the uptake of nutrients (N, P, K, S, Zn, and B) by the crops in the cropping system, the 125% RDF was superior to the other treatments. The nutrient management practices had a positive influence on the apparent nutrient recovery (ANR) efficiency of the cropping system. The fertilizer management of 125% RDF was also economically more profitable due to the increment in the cost–benefit ratio of 26.8%, 4.4%, and 4.9% over the control, 100% RDF, and FP, respectively. The results indicate that the current fertilizer recommendations and FP for aus, aman, lentil, and mungbean are not adequate for the change from the three crop to the four crop-based pattern, and an increased dose of fertilizer is required to increase the yield of each individual crop as well as the total system’s productivity. The fertilizer use efficiency is also higher for 125% RDF than the 100% RDF and FP indicating that to sustain the soil fertility in the four crop-based system, the current RDF and FP are not sufficient. This finding will help intensive cropping areas in preventing nutrient deficiencies that would lead to a reduction in the crop yield.
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Kim, Sumin, Ho Young Rho, and Sojung Kim. "The Effects of Climate Change on Heading Type Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. Pekinensis) Economic Production in South Korea." Agronomy 12, no. 12 (December 14, 2022): 3172. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12123172.
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Since Chinese cabbage is consumed fresh, its wholesale price varies with the total amount supplied on the market. However, in these days, climate variability presents a large threat to sustainable Chinese cabbage production in South Korea. To manage Chinese cabbage production well under unexpected weather conditions, it is important to study the impacts of climate variability on Chinese cabbage economic yields in South Korea. In this study, 2-year field trials were conducted in multiple locations across seven provinces in South Korea. The collected morphological data from 24 different varieties were used to develop a yield prediction model using a machine learning technique. Three Chinese cabbage groups were carried out through the clustering analysis, and a yield model was developed for each cluster group. The developed model was used to predict the cabbage economic yields under different combinations of climate change and cropping management plans. According to simulation results, Group 1 had the shortest growing degree days and produced higher yields than the other two groups. However, the overproduction of Group 1 led to a price reduction in the market of (USD(0.04–0.08) per kg), which suggested that producing Group 2 of (USD(0.31–0.96) per kg) is more beneficial to farmers. Based on the production results of the groups, their revenue varied by location and cropping management. The results of this study provide farmers with a better understanding of the relationship between production and economic benefits in future climate change scenarios.
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Kumar, Vikash, Manoj Kumar Singh, Nikhil Raghuvanshi, and Monalisa Sahoo. "Rice (Oryza sativa L.)–Baby Corn (Zea mays L.) Cropping System Response to Different Summer Green Manuring and Nutrient Management." Agronomy 12, no. 9 (September 4, 2022): 2105. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12092105.
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The nutrient and biomass supply capacity of green manure (GM) and its complimentary and synergistic relationship with chemical nutrients is needed for a sustainable rice–baby corn cropping system in the eastern part of North India. A two-year field study was performed to assess the effect of GM and nitrogen management (NM) on yield attributes (YA), the yield of rice, and their residual (R) effect with the half-recommended dose of fertilizers on the succeeding baby corn crop. The combination of GM and N levels had significant effects on rice yield, which also influenced the succeeding baby corn crop. A higher number of tillers/m2, panicle length (cm), number of grains/panicles, panicle weight (g), grain yield (Mg/ha), straw yield (Mg/ha), and biological yield (Mg/ha) were found with Sesbania aculeata incorporated at 45 DAS (SA), which was statistically on par with water hyacinth 5 t/ha dry weight basis (WH) during both years of the field study. Among the rates of nitrogen fertilizers, 100% RDN (50% N through FYM + 50% N through inorganic) (RDN100) was the best treatment with a corresponding increase in all YA and yields of rice. It has been proven that integrated nitrogen management (INM), or the use of organic material along with fertilizer, is an effective way of managing nitrogen. In the present investigation, green manuring and integrated nitrogen management on rice sustainably increased the yield attributes and yield of the succeeding baby corn. These results illustrated the complementary effects of summer green manuring in conjunction with INM in maximizing the yield attributes and yields of rice, its residual effect on succeeding baby corn, and the economics of the system.
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KASHYAPI, A. "Influence of meteorological parameters on performance of rainfed cropping systems." MAUSAM 53, no. 4 (January 13, 2022): 465–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.54302/mausam.v53i4.1661.
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Rainfall, its distribution along with distribution of temperature. relative humidity (RH), bright sunshine hours (SSH) suggest the possible growing season and crop performance in a given area. Field experiments on five economically feasible, sustainable, rainfed crop sequences viz. fallow (i.e. no crop) – rice-lentil, jute-rice-lentil, direct seeded rice-rice-lentil, mungbean-rice-lentil and sesame-rice-lentil were conducted at Kalyani Farm, W.B., during 1989-91. Mean monthly meteorological parameters viz. rainfall, potential evapotranspiration (PET), SSH, temperature (max. and min.) and RH (at 0700 and 1400 hrs LMT) were obtained from selected agrometeorological observatories (viz. Chinsurah, Haringhata and Barrackpore), adjacent to the Kalyani Farm located in Gangetic alluvial region. The relative yield performance of crops and sequences as influenced by meteorological parameters were studied. In Gangetic alluvial region early rain, moderate to high temperature with high RH during April/May resulted in good pre-kharif crop establishment. Heavy, well distributed precipitation during monsoon months along with moderate temperature and very high RH showed scope for rainfed transplanted kharif rice as the pivot of crop rotation. Kharif rice yields were high especially after jute or mungbean. Profile stored residual moisture along with low rainfall, low temperature and high RH during rabi season resulted in good performance of lentil. Among the five sequences studied, performance of' jute-rice-lentil and mungbean-rice-lentil were the best with sustainable production and net return.
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Cho, Y. S., B. Z. Lee, Z. R. Choe, and S. E. Ockerby. "An evaluation of a no-tillage, unfertilised, direct-sown, wheat - rice cropping system in Korea." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, no. 1 (2001): 53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea00060.
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A no-tillage, direct-sown, unfertilised, wheat–rice relaying cropping system has major advantages over a conventional transplanted-rice system. For example, when rice is sown simultaneously with the wheat harvest, there are savings in labor and costs as a result of eliminating the tillage required to prepare the seedbed and for transplanting. A field experiment was conducted between 1996 and 1998 at Hadong, Korea. The experiment compared the soil microbial-N status, the soil physical and chemical characteristics, and rice growth and yield in a long-term conventional rice system with those in a no-tillage, unfertilised, direct-sown, wheat–rice, relay cropping system. The wheat–rice system was imposed for 2, 4 and 7 years to identify the time course of responses in the soil and crop. Agricultural chemicals including fertilisers were not applied in the wheat–rice cropping system. Rice crop yields after 2, 4 and 7 years of a direct-sown, wheat–rice cropping system were similar to those in the conventional rice system. Rice yields were high, ranging from 4.7 to 6.9 t/ha. Since 110 kg N/ha was applied to the conventional rice system, a large amount of N was mineralised during the wheat–rice system. The pattern of rice growth and yield formation, however, differed between the 2 systems. Rice in the wheat–rice system generally had more panicles, fewer spikelets per panicle and heavier grains. These responses reflected temporal changes in the N content and greenness of the rice leaf and were related to soluble N levels in the soil. Generally the soil was fertile with a high initial organic matter content. Organic matter increased by 30% during the 7 years of wheat–rice cropping. Other soil physical measures, bulk density and permeability to air and water, indicated that soil structure improved in response to wheat–rice cropping. Problems of pathogens and perennial weeds associated with new cultural practices in the wheat–rice cropping were minor; however, a higher rate of seeding was necessary to achieve satisfactory seedling establishment. Benefits to weed control and soil moisture conditions during crop establishment were derived from the increased level of crop mulch. The wheat–rice cropping system was found to be high yielding and sustainable over the 7-year period of experimentation.
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Rapholo, Edith, Jude J. O. Odhiambo, William C. D. Nelson, Reimund P. Rötter, Kingsley Ayisi, Marian Koch, and Munir P. Hoffmann. "Maize–lablab intercropping is promising in supporting the sustainable intensification of smallholder cropping systems under high climate risk in southern Africa." Experimental Agriculture 56, no. 1 (July 1, 2019): 104–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0014479719000206.
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AbstractIdentifying options for the sustainable intensification of cropping systems in southern Africa under prevailing high climate risk is needed. With this in mind, we tested an intercropping system that combined the staple crop maize with lablab, a local but underutilised legume. Grain and biomass productivity was determined for four variants (i) sole maize (sole-maize), (ii) sole lablab (sole-lablab), (iii) maize/lablab with both crops sown simultaneously (intercropped-SP) and (iv) maize/lablab with lablab sown 28 days after the maize crop (intercropped-DP). Soil water and weather data were monitored and evaluated. The trial was conducted for two seasons (2015/2016 and 2016/2017) at two sites in the Limpopo Province, South Africa: Univen (847 mm rainfall, 29.2 °C maximum and 18.9 °C minimum temperature average for the cropping season over the years 2008–2017) and Syferkuil (491 mm rainfall, with 27.0 °C maximum and 14.8 °C minimum temperature). Analysis revealed three key results: The treatment with intercropped-SP had significantly lower maize yields (2320 kg ha−1) compared with maize in intercropped-DP (2865 kg ha−1) or sole-maize (2623 kg ha−1). As expected, maize yields in the El Niño affected in season 2015/2016 were on average 1688 kg ha−1 lower than in 2016/2017. Maize yields were significantly lower (957 kg ha−1) at Univen, the warmer site with higher rainfall, than at Syferkuil. In 2015/2016, maximum temperature at Univen exceeded 40 °C around anthesis. Furthermore, soil water was close to the estimated permanent wilting point (PWP) for most of the cropping season, which indicates possible water limitations. In Syferkuil, the soil water was maintained well above PWP. Lablab yields were low, around 500 ha−1, but stable as they were not affected by treatment across season and site. Overall, the study demonstrated that intercropped-DP appears to use available soil water more efficiently than sole maize. Intercropped-DP could therefore be considered as an option for sustainable intensification under high climate risk and resource-limited conditions for smallholders in southern Africa.
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Singh, Bharat P., and Wayne F. Whitehead. "Winter Legume Cover for Sustainable Tomato Production." HortScience 32, no. 3 (June 1997): 465B—465. http://dx.doi.org/10.21273/hortsci.32.3.465b.
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The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of winter cover cropping with legumes for replacing synthetic N fertilization in tomato production. The following winter/spring fertility treatments were applied: 1) 0 N winter/ 0 N spring, 2) 0 N winter/90 kg·ha-1 N spring, 3) 0 N winter/180 kg·ha-1 N spring, 4) 0 N winter+rye/0 N spring, 5) 0 N winter+hairy vetch/0 N spring, and 6) 0 N winter+crimson clover/0 N spring. In the spring of 1996, tomato cultivar `Mountain Pride' was planted in all plots. The effects of different treatments on plant dry weight and fresh fruit yields were determined. Tomato following legumes or supplied with 90 kg·ha-1 fertilizer N produced highest plant dry weight, while 0 N winter/0 N spring and 0 N winter+rye/0 N spring produced plants with least dry weights. Treatments differed in a similar fashion also for fresh fruit yields. The results suggested that winter legumes were at par with commercial N fertilizer in supplying needed inorganic N to the succeeding tomato crop soil.
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Edwards, Clive A. "The concept of integrated systems in lower input/sustainable agriculture." American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 2, no. 4 (1987): 148–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0889189300009255.
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AbstractConventional agriculture has caused economic problems associated with overproduction of crops, increased costs of energy-based inputs and lessened farm incomes. It has also produced ecological problems such as poor ecological diversity, soil erosion, and soil and water pollution. The adoption of integrated systems of agricultural production involving lower inputs of fertilizer, pesticides and cultivations can alleviate these economic and ecological problems. Such systems are dependent upon a good understanding of the nature of interactions between the four main components of such systems, which are fertilizers, pesticides, cultivations and rotations and how these interactions influence crop yields and farm income. Alternatives to energy-based inputs include legume rotations, use of waste organic matter as well as that from animals and crops, integrated pest management, pest and disease forecasting, biological and cultural pest control, living mulches and mechanical weed control, conservation tillage methods, and specialized innovative cultural techniques, including intercropping, strip cropping, undersowing, trap crops, double-row cropping. Two commercial farms in Europe operated on integrated lower input systems have increased farm incomes by 5–20 percent. Further research on such techniques is needed, as well as computer-aided management systems, appropriate extension aids and farmer education.
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Prasai, Hari Kumar, Shrawan Kumar Sah, Anand Kumar Gautam, and Anant Prasad Regmi. "Conservation agriculture for productivity and profitability of wheat and lentil in maize based cropping system in far western Nepal." Journal of the Bangladesh Agricultural University 16, no. 3 (December 27, 2018): 403–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v16i3.39406.
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Zero tillage with crop residue retention which is principle of conservation agriculture (CA) can be a good practice to achieve sustainable and profitable crop yield without affecting soil fertility. This approach was not tested in wheat and lentil based maize-mungbean system in far western Nepal. The effect of CA in the maize-wheat-mungbean and maize-lentil-mungbean cropping systems with two varieties of each of wheat and lentil was studied at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Bhagetada, Dipayal, Doti district of Nepal for two years (2015 and 2016). The average grain yield of wheat and lentil under the CA system was 5.92% higher (2.86 t ha−1) than that of conventional agriculture (2.70 t ha−1). The CA under maize-wheat-mungbean cropping system produced 7.90% higher grain yield (4.78 t ha−1) compared to conventional agriculture and the CA under maize-lentil-mung bean cropping system gave11.11% higher grain yield (1.00 t ha−1). Maize-wheat-mungbean cropping system, conservation agriculture and WK 1204 variety of wheat produced 9.34% higher yield (4.80 t ha−1) than conventional agriculture whereas maize-lentil-mungbean cropping system, conservation agriculture and Khajura1 variety of lentil recorded 11.96% higher grain yield (1.03 t ha−1) than conventional agricultural. The CA system produced 114% higher net benefit (NRs. 40200 ha−1) than that of conventional agriculture. Higher yields of crops in CA system could be associated with improvement of soil properties for minimum soil disturbance and residue retention and profitable yield for reduced cost of production. Thus, the 2-year study suggests that no tillage with previous crop residues retention and use of higher yielding varieties is a potential crop cultivation approach for the maize based cropping system in light textured soil of river basin area of Nepal in order to sustain soil health, crop yield and farm economy.
J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 16(3): 403–410, December 2018
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GHOSH, P. K., M. C. MANNA, D. DAYAL, and R. H. WANJARI. "Carbon sequestration potential and sustainable yield index for groundnut- and fallow-based cropping systems." Journal of Agricultural Science 144, no. 3 (April 6, 2006): 249–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859606006046.
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Soil organic carbon storage encompasses both soil productivity and environmental capabilities. The influence of fertilizer (nitrogen and phosphorus) levels (0 NP, 0·5 NP, 1·0 NP (recommended standard) or 1·5 NP) on total system productivity, sustainable yield index and soil organic carbon storage in Vertisols (Typic Haplustert) under groundnut and fallow-based cropping systems were examined in a field experiment over 6 years. The aim was to identify a system that provided an acceptable balance between total system productivity and soil organic carbon restoration. The experiment comprised two rainy season crops (groundnut or fallow) and five post-rainy season crops (wheat, mustard, chickpea, sunflower or summer groundnut), each post-rainy season crop with four levels of NP fertilizer. The total system productivity was 130% higher in the groundnut-based than in the fallow-based system and was in the order: groundnut–groundnut>groundnut–chickpea>groundnut–wheat>groundnut–mustard>groundnut–sunflower. The sustainable yield index was highest in the groundnut–groundnut system. The gross C input was relatively higher in the groundnut-based system but the C loss rate was greater. The amount of residue needed per ha per year to compensate for loss of soil organic carbon was estimated to be 4·3 t in the fallow-based and 7·6 t in the groundnut–based cropping system. Though the total system productivity was greater in groundnut–groundnut and groundnut–chickpea systems, soil organic carbon declined. The groundnut–wheat system contributed more C, particularly root biomass C, than other systems, improved the restoration of soil organic carbon and maintained total system productivity. It was concluded that current fertilizer recommendations are adequate for maintaining yields in groundnut-based systems but the addition of crop residues at regular intervals along with fertilizer is necessary to maintain restoration of soil organic carbon.
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Zheng, H. F., L. D. Chen, and X. Z. Han. "Response and adaptation of soybean systems to climate warming in Northeast China: insights gained from long-term field trials." Crop and Pasture Science 62, no. 10 (2011): 876. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/cp11167.
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Developing and assessing successful strategies to alleviate adverse impact of climate warming presents a new opportunity for sustainable agriculture and adaptation investment. Efforts to anticipate adaptation of cropping systems may benefit from understanding the global warming effects within decades. This study quantitatively examines the temperature warming impacts during, respectively, growing season and seed filling on soybean yields by using data from long-term field fertilisation experiments from 1987 to 2004. Here we report that grain yields significantly decreased with rising temperature during growing season, whereas the effects of increasing temperature at seed-filling stage on crop yields were significantly positive. The results indicate that a further temperature increment during seed filling appears to decrease soybean system’s risk of yield reduction. Importantly, we inferred that earlier occurrence of seed filling would increase the temperature of this period. The implication is that advancing the onset of soybean seed filling could be an effective adaptation option to global warming, providing an average yield benefit of ~14% per 10 days before the present date.
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Rawal, Nabin, Rajan Ghimire, and Devraj Chalise. "Crop Yield and Soil Fertility Status of Long-Term Rice-Rice-Wheat Cropping Systems." International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology 5, no. 1 (March 25, 2017): 42–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v5i1.17001.
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Balanced nutrient supply is important for the sustainable crop production. We evaluated the effects of nutrient management practices on soil properties and crop yields in rice (Oryza sativa L.) - rice - wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system in a long-term experiment established at National Wheat Research Program (NWRP), Bhairahawa, Nepal. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block experiment with nine treatments and three replications. Treatments were applied as: T1- no nutrients added, T2- N added; T3- N and P added; T4- N and K added; T5- NPK added at recommended rate for all crops. Similarly, T6- only N added in rice and NPK in wheat at recommended rate; T7- half N; T8- half NP of recommended rate for both crops; and T9- farmyard manure (FYM) @10 Mg ha-1 for all crops in rotation. Results of the study revealed that rice and wheat yields were significantly greater under FYM than all other treatments. Treatments that did not receive P (T2, T3, T7, T8) and K (T2, T4) had considerably low wheat yield than treatments that received NPK (T5) and FYM (T9). The FYM lowered soil pH and improved soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (P), and exchangeable potassium (K) contents than other treatments. Management practices that ensure nutrient supply can increase crop yield and improve soil fertility status.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(1): 42-50
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Ullah, Aman, Ahmad Nawaz, Muhammad Farooq, and Kadambot H. M. Siddique. "Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Rice–Wheat Cropping Systems in South Asia." Sustainability 13, no. 4 (February 11, 2021): 1965. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13041965.
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The rice–wheat cropping system is the main food bowl in Asia, feeding billions across the globe. However, the productivity and long-term sustainability of this system are threatened by stagnant crop yields and greenhouse gas emissions from flooded rice production. The negative environmental consequences of excessive nitrogen fertilizer use are further exacerbating the situation, along with the high labor and water requirements of transplanted rice. Residue burning in rice has also severe environmental concerns. Under these circumstances, many farmers in South Asia have shifted from transplanted rice to direct-seeded rice and reported water and labor savings and reduced methane emissions. There is a need for opting the precision agriculture techniques for the sustainable management of nutrients. Allelopathic crops could be useful in the rotation for weed management, the major yield-reducing factor in direct-seeded rice. Legume incorporation might be a viable option for improving soil health. As governments in South Asia have imposed a strict ban on the burning of rice residues, the use of rice-specific harvesters might be a pragmatic option to manage rice residues with yield and premium advantage. However, the soil/climatic conditions and farmer socio-economic conditions must be considered while promoting these technologies in rice-wheat system in South Asia.
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Yamoah, Charles F., J. R. Burleigh, and V. J. Eylands. "Correction of Acid Infertility in Rwandan Oxisols with Lime from an Indigenous Source for Sustainable Cropping." Experimental Agriculture 28, no. 4 (October 1992): 417–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0014479700020123.
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SUMMARYSustainable crop production on Rwandan oxisols is limited by widespread soil acidity caused by high levels of exchangeable aluminium. This study was designed to test the effectiveness of an indigenous lime material in counteracting the acidity and enhancing crop yields. Lime application significantly raised pH, exchangeable calcium and effective cation exchange capacity, and reduced exchangeable aluminium and total acidity. Calcium was directly proportional to effective cation exchange capacity (r = 0.962**) and was inversely related to aluminium (r = −0.955**). Consequently, yields of wheat, beans and potatoes, which served as test crops, were significantly increased by liming. Lime at high rates (4–8 t ha−1) had a longer residual effect than at low rates (less than 2 t ha−1), suggesting frequent applications are needed when low lime rates are used. Simple regression analysis showed an increase in pH of 0.154 units and a decrease in exchangeable aluminium of 0.385 meq 100 g−1 for a tonne of lime applied.
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Tarawali, S. A., and M. Peters. "The potential contribution of selected forage legume pastures to cereal production in crop-livestock farming systems." Journal of Agricultural Science 127, no. 2 (September 1996): 175–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859600077959.
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SUMMARYThe potential of 3-year-old grazed pastures ofStylosanthes hamata, Chamaecrista rotundifoliaandCentrosema pascuorumto contribute to subsequent maize production was investigated in subhumid Nigeria in 1993. All three legume pastures had the ability to give better maize grain yields than native pasture but this was significant only forStylosanthes hamataandChamaecrista rotundifolia. For the legume species, maximum yield of maize per kg of N applied was attained at 60 kgN/ha. The subsequent yields of maize could be related to the legume species used, pasture management and the length of the fallow period.Centrosema pascuorumbehaved as an annual, and as such there was little legume present after 3 years; crop yield was therefore relatively low. Nevertheless, this species could be useful in 1-year fallow/pasture situations. Maize cropping was economically viable for legume plots only with 60 or 120 kgN/ha and not for native pasture. There were no significant differences in the time required to till or to weed legume pastures as compared with native pasture. Forage legume pastures could also have a positive effect on maize residue yields which represent a fodder resource in addition to the herbage understorey remaining after cropping, the quality of which could be enhanced by the presence of the forage legumes. The use of forage legumes for the promotion of both crop and livestock production in sustainable agricultural systems is discussed. The results of the study are used to highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate legume species, pasture management practices and duration of fallow period in relation to the prevailing farming system to maximize benefits from the legumes.
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Farsia Djidjonri, Patient, Nukenine Elias Nchiwan, and Hartmut Koehler. "Comparative Experimental Effects of Intercropping and Cypermethrin on Insect Pest Infestation and Yield of Maize, Cowpea and Okra in Two Cameroonian Agro-Ecological Zones." AgriEngineering 3, no. 2 (June 9, 2021): 383–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering3020025.
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The present study investigates the effect of intercropping (maize-cowpea, maize-okra, maize-okra-cowpea, okra-cowpea) compared to insecticide application on the level of infestation of insect pests and the final yield of maize, cowpea and okra. Field experiments were conducted during the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons in the Guinean Savannah (Dang-Ngaoundere) and Sudano Sahelian (Gouna-Garoua) agro-ecological zones in Cameroon. Our experimental design was a split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block with four replications. The main factor was assigned to the use of insecticide (Cypermethrin) and sub plots were devoted for cropping systems. We compared the efficiency of intercropping to that of Cypermethrin application on the Yield of maize, cowpea and okra as influenced by insect pest damages. The comparison of monocropped sprayed by Cypermethrin to unsprayed showed that, in Dang, insect pests reduced maize yield by 37% and 24% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, whereas in Gouna, it was lower than 8% during the both years. Reduction in seed yield by insect pests on cowpea in Dang represented 47% and 50% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, whereas in Gouna, it was 55% and 63% in 2016 and 2017, respectively. For okra, insect pests reduced okra fruit yield by 25% and 44% in Dang and 23% and 28% in Gouna, respectively, in 2016 and 2017. Crop yield was lower in intercropping compared to monoculture due to competition of plants in association on different resources. Considering the total yields obtained from each intercropping, intercropping trials resulted generally in higher yields compared to mono-culture (LER > 1) in both sites and years but the respective yields were quite different. On the basis of the results obtained, we recommend maize-cowpea intercropping as a sustainable solution to reduce the infestation level of their pest insects.
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Kaluba, Peter, Sydney Mwamba, Dany Pascal Moualeu-Ngangue, Martin Chiona, Kalaluka Munyinda, Etti Winter, Hartmut Stützel, and Benson H. Chishala. "Cropping Practices and Effects on Soil Nutrient Adequacy Levels and Cassava Yield of Smallholder Farmers in Northern Zambia." International Journal of Agronomy 2021 (August 19, 2021): 1–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/1325964.
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Cassava is a staple food and a major source of income for many smallholder farmers. However, its yields are less than 6 t ha−1 compared to a potential yield of 20–25 t ha−1 in Zambia. Understanding cropping practices and constraints in cassava production systems is imperative for sustainable intensification. Therefore, a survey of 40 households each with three fields of cassava at 12, 24, and 36 months after planting (MAP) was conducted. Analyzed soil data, leaf area index (LAI), intercepted photosynthetically active radiation, and management practices from 120 fields were collected and subjected to descriptive statistics. To explain yield differences within the same cassava growth stage group, the data were grouped into low- and high-yield categories using the median, before applying a nonparametric test for one independent sample. Stepwise regressions were performed on each growth stage and the whole dataset to determine factors affecting tuber yield. Cassava intercropping and monocropping systems were the main cropping systems for the 12 and 24–36 MAP, respectively. Cassava yields declined by 209 and 633 kg ha−1 at 12 and 36 MAP due to soil nutrient depletion for each year of cultivation until field abandonment at 8–9 years. Fresh cassava yields ranged from 3.51–8.51, 13.52–25.84, and 16.92–30.98 t ha−1 at 12, 24, and 36 MAP, respectively. For every one unit increment in exchangeable K (cmol (+)/kg soil), cassava yield increased by 435, 268, and 406 kg ha−1 at 12, 24, and 36 MAP, respectively. One unit increment of magnesium (cmol (+)/kg soil) gave the highest yield increase of 525 kg ha−1 at 24 MAP. The low levels of soil organic carbon explained the deficient nitrogen in cassava fields, which limits the LAI growth and consequently reduced intercepted radiation and low yields. The effect of exchangeable K on growth was limited by the moderate availability of Mg and low N, thus the need for balanced fertilizer regimes.
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Barasa, Josephine, Julius Ochuodho, Syphyline Kebeney, and Augustine Wafula Barasa. "The Role of Sorghum Legume Intercroping System in Improving Soil Productivity on Small Holder Farmers in Western Kenya." International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science 06, no. 07 (2022): 01–08. http://dx.doi.org/10.47772/ijriss.2022.6701.
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Declining crops yield in the smallholder farmers cropping systems of sub-Saharan African (SSA) present the need to develop more sustainable production systems. Depletion of essential plant nutrients from the soils have been cited as the main contributing factors due to continues cultivation of cereal crops without application of organic/ inorganic fertilizers. Field experiments to evaluate effect of phosphorus (P) fertilizers, organic and integration of legumes in sorghum cropping systems on soil, available nitrogen (N) and P, were conducted in Busia County of Kenya during the short (SRS) and long rain seasons (LRS) of 2016 and LRS of 2017 respectively. The experiments comprised either soybean, common bean groundnut or sesame grown with sorghum. The design was a split plot in a randomized complete block design. Main plots were fertilizer inputs; Mavuno, FYM or their combination. Subplots comprised of the legume intercrops mentioned above. Application of Mavuno, FYM or their combination resulted in significantly higher legume, sesame crop yields above the control in the second season. Legume crops due to their N-fixation, litter fall and mineralization made availability of P and N. possible. Application of Mavuno, FYM or their combination gave comparable results with respect to the intercrop yields. Since FYM and (Mavuno+FYM) is cheaper than Mavuno, growing either soybean, common bean groundnut or sesame intercropping system with sorghum with application of the above is recommended for improved legume grain yields and soil fertility improvement.
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Norton, MR, R. Murison, ICR Holford, and GG Robinson. "Rotation effects on sustainability of crop production: the Glen Innes rotation experiment." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35, no. 7 (1995): 893. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9950893.
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This study, which commenced in 1921, is the longest running crop rotation experiment in the summer rainfall region of Australia. The 7 rotation treatments comprise various frequencies and combinations of maize and spring oat crops with and without autumn oats and red clover ley. The maize and oat yields are analysed separately using principles described by Paterson (1964). Spline regressions are used to describe the trends of yields with time and to make comparisons amongst the rotations. Yield performance of maize and oats was improved as legume ley duration increased, although as maize cropping became more frequent this effect was reduced. Autumn-sown oats benefited both maize and spring oat yields, independent of the presence of a legume ley. Crop yields were generally maintained in those rotations containing a grazed clover ley. After alteration of ley management in the mid 1960s so that clover crops were subsequently removed as hay, crop yields in these rotations declined. The benefits of clover ley to crop productivity were considered to be primarily due to the maintenance of those soil chemical, physical, and biological properties associated with sustainable crop production.