Impacts of rainfall extremes on wheat yield in semi-arid cropping systems in eastern Australia

Australian agriculture contributes an estimated 16% of all national greenhouse gas emissions, and considerable attention is now focused on management approaches that reduce net emissions. One area of potential is the modification of cropping practices to increase soil carbon storage. Here, we report short–medium term changes in soil carbon under zero tillage cropping systems and perennial vegetation, both in a replicated field experiment and on nearby farmers’ paddocks, on carbon-depleted Black Vertosols in the upper Liverpool Plains catchment. Soil organic carbon stocks (CS) remained unchanged under both zero tillage long fallow wheat–sorghum rotations and zero tillage continuous winter cereal in a replicated field experiment from 1994 to 2000. There was some evidence of accumulation of CS under intensive (>1 crop/year) zero tillage response cropping. There was significant accumulation of CS (~0.35 Mg/ha.year) under 3 types of perennial pasture, despite removal of aerial biomass with each harvest. Significant accumulation was detected in the 0–0.1, 0.1–0.2, and 0.2–0.4 m depth increments under lucerne and the top 2 increments under mixed pastures of lucerne and phalaris and of C3 and C4 perennial grasses. Average annual rainfall for the period of observations was 772 mm, greater than the 40-year average of 680 mm. A comparison of major attributes of cropping systems and perennial pastures showed no association between aerial biomass production and accumulation rates of CS but a positive correlation between the residence times of established plants and accumulation rates of CS. CS also remained unchanged (1998/2000–07) under zero tillage cropping on nearby farms, irrespective of paddock history before 1998/2000 (zero tillage cropping, traditional cropping, or ~10 years of sown perennial pasture). These results are consistent with previous work in Queensland and central western New South Wales suggesting that the climate (warm, semi-arid temperate, semi-arid subtropical) of much of the inland cropping country in eastern Australia is not conducive to accumulation of soil carbon under continuous cropping, although they do suggest that CS may accumulate under several years of healthy perennial pastures in rotation with zero tillage cropping.

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Continuous, alternate and double crop systems on a Vertisol in subtropical Australia

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9960823 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 36 (7) ◽

pp. 823 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

JS Russell ◽

PN Jones

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Green Gram ◽

Carbon Surface ◽

Continuous Cropping ◽

Black Gram ◽

Crop Species ◽

Double Cropping ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

Average Rainfall

Three cropping systems using 5 crop species were compared over a 10-year period on a cracking clay soil (Vertisol) in the sub-humid subtropics of eastern Australia. The 3 cropping systems were continuous (the same crop every year), alternate (the same crop every second year) and double (a winter and summer crop in the one year). There were 2 cereal crops (sorghum and wheat) and 3 grain legumes (chickpea, green gram and black gram). The effect of cropping system was measured in terms of grain and protein yields and changes in soil organic carbon (surface 0-10 cm) and nitrogen concentrations. Summer and winter rainfall was below average in 8 and 5 years out of 10, respectively. Grain yield of cereal monocultures was about twice that of legume monocultures. The potential for double cropping, despite the generally below-average rainfall, was clearly shown with the highest grain and protein yields coming from the combination of green gram (summer) and wheat (winter). Averaged over 10 years, wheat yield (1460 kg/ha. year) was identical in the continuous and alternate cropping systems. Sorghum yields were marginally higher with alternate cropping (1340 kg/ha. year) than continuous cropping (1050 kg/ha. year). With double cropping, average wheat yields were 1081 and 698 kg/ha when combined with green and black gram, respectively. Black gram gave half the average yield of either green gram or chickpea (about 300 v. 600 kg/ha). This was attributed to the indeterminate nature of the crop in an environment with variable rainfall and to the detrimental effect of above-average rainfall during harvest time. Soil nitrogen and carbon levels, with initial values of 0.22 and 2.96%, were reduced at the end of 10 years by 16 and 27% respectively. Their rate of decline did not differ between cropping systems.

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Conservation cropping systems for the semi-arid tropics of North Queensland, Australia

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9910515 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 515 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

AL Cogle ◽

RJ Bateman ◽

DH Heiner

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Climatic Variability ◽

Cropping System ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Reduced Tillage ◽

No Tillage ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

Semi Arid

A farming systems project was commenced in the semi-arid tropics of north-eastern Australia to assess the cropping potential and reliability of a newly developing region. Emphasis was placed on evaluation of conservation cropping systems, since it was expected that these would be the most successful and protective uses of the land. This paper discusses the agronomy of peanuts, maize and sorghum grown under different conservative cropping practices (reduced tillage, no tillage, ley) on the soil (red earth) most likely to be developed for large-scale cropping in the region. Crop yields with all practices were limited by establishment difficulties including high soil temperatures, poor weed control and climatic variability. Reduced tillage was more successful than no tillage due to higher yields in dry years; however, in wet years no tillage produced similar yields. The ley cropping system may have some advantages in this environment for integrated production and resource protection.

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Wheat Yield Improvement in Eroded Semi-Arid Areas of China

Outlook on Agriculture ◽

10.5367/000000003101294415 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 155-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Deng Xi-Ping ◽

Shan Lun ◽

Inanaga Shinobu ◽

Keren Rami

Keyword(s):

Water Conservation ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Global Climate ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Wheat Growth ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Semi Arid

The greatest fear from global climate change is drought, and water is the most important factor influencing wheat growth. Soil and water conservation are, therefore, key requirements for sustaining productivity and environmental quality in semi-arid cropping systems. Great attention has been paid to the management of, demand for, and more efficient use of water. The comprehensive technical strategies reviewed in this paper include conserving water to combine both increased agricultural productivity and resource conservation; enquiries into how wheat plants respond to drought through morphological, physiological and metabolic modifications that occur in all plant organs; breeding for drought tolerance where there is a delineated stress environment and genotype × environment interactions are stable; and effective conservation of rainfall and high efficiency of use. Valuable techniques such as conservation tillage, mulch cultivation, limited irrigation, introduction of drought-tolerant varieties and rotation systems can be adjusted to local agricultural practices.

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Water and temperature stress define the optimal flowering period for wheat in south-eastern Australia

10.1101/115287 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

B.M. Flohr ◽

J.R. Hunt ◽

J.A. Kirkegaard ◽

J.R. Evans

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Supply And Demand ◽

Maximum Yield ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Flowering Period ◽

Critical Determinant ◽

South Eastern ◽

Flowering Date ◽

Systems Model ◽

Eastern Australia

AbstractAcross the Australian wheat belt, the time at which wheat flowers is a critical determinant of yield. In all environments an optimal flowering period (OFP) exists which is defined by decreasing frost risk, and increasing water and heat stress. Despite their critical importance, OFPs have not been comprehensively defined across south eastern Australia’s (SEA) cropping zone using yield estimates incorporating temperature, radiation and water-stress. In this study, the widely validated cropping systems model APSIM was used to simulate wheat yield and flowering date, with reductions in yield applied for frost and heat damage based on air temperatures during sensitive periods. Simulated crops were sown at weekly intervals from April 1 to July 15 of each year. The relationship between flowering date and grain yield was established for 28 locations using 51-years (1963-2013) of climate records. We defined OFPs as the flowering period which was associated with a mean yield of ≥ 95% of maximum yield from the combination of 51 seasons and 16 sowing dates. OFPs for wheat in SEA varied with site and season and were largely driven by seasonal water supply and demand, with extremes of heat and temperature having a secondary though auto-correlated effect. Quantifying OFPs will be a vital first step to identify suitable genotype x sowing date combinations to maximise yield in different locations, particularly given recent and predicted regional climate shifts including the decline in autumn rainfall.

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Growth and Economic Profitability of Castor Cultivation in the Semi-arid Zone of Haryana

Indian Journal of Economics and Development ◽

10.35716/ijed/ns20-011 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 300-305

Keyword(s):

Arid Zone ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Market Price ◽

Transportation Cost ◽

Castor Seed ◽

Production Constraints ◽

Net Profit ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Extract Information

The present study was carried out in three districts viz; Rewari, Sirsa and Hisar of Haryana state. A survey of 60 sampled farms was conducted to extract information pertaining to various expenses incurred in cultivation of castor and output attained as well as to ascertain the perception of farmers for various problems encountered in production and marketing of castor seed. The descriptive analysis was employed to draw valid inferences from the study. The results revealed that net profit accrued from cultivation of castor seed was ₹ 46331 ha -1 in the study area. The value of B: C ratio of castor cultivation was more than one and also higher as compared to prevalent cropping systems indicated that cultivation of castor seed is economical viable entity. However, production constraints like retention of F2 seed in the field over year, grain scattering, shortage of irrigation water, frost effect on crop yield and marketing constraints like absence of MSP, higher transportation cost sale of castor seed in distant markets, frequent fluctuation in market price, non-availability of processing units were observed.

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Yield and water use efficiencies of maize and cowpea as affected by tillage and cropping systems in semi-arid Eastern Kenya

Agricultural Water Management ◽

10.1016/j.agwat.2012.09.002 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 115 ◽

pp. 148-155 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

J.M. Miriti ◽

G. Kironchi ◽

A.O. Esilaba ◽

L.K. Heng ◽

C.K.K. Gachene ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Water Use Efficiencies ◽

Semi Arid

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Economic and management value of weed maps at harvest in semi-arid cropping systems of the US Pacific Northwest

Precision Agriculture ◽

10.1007/s11119-021-09819-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Judit Barroso ◽

Carolina San Martin ◽

John D. McCallum ◽

Dan S. Long

Keyword(s):

Pacific Northwest ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

The Us ◽

Semi Arid

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Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics in Semi-Arid Irrigated Cropping Systems

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11030484 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 484

Author(s):

Andrew M. Bierer ◽

April B. Leytem ◽

Robert S. Dungan ◽

Amber D. Moore ◽

David L. Bjorneberg

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Empirical Data ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

C Sequestration ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Dndc Model ◽

Application Timing ◽

Winter Triticale ◽

Semi Arid

Insufficient characterization of soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in semi-arid climates contributes uncertainty to SOC sequestration estimates. This study estimated changes in SOC (0–30 cm depth) due to variations in manure management, tillage regime, winter cover crop, and crop rotation in southern Idaho (USA). Empirical data were used to drive the Denitrification Decomposition (DNDC) model in a “default” and calibrated capacity and forecast SOC levels until 2050. Empirical data indicates: (i) no effect (p = 0.51) of winter triticale on SOC after 3 years; (ii) SOC accumulation (0.6 ± 0.5 Mg ha–1 year–1) under a rotation of corn-barley-alfalfax3 and no change (p = 0.905) in a rotation of wheat-potato-barley-sugarbeet; (iii) manure applied annually at rate 1X is not significantly different (p = 0.75) from biennial application at rate 2X; and (iv) no significant effect of manure application timing (p = 0.41, fall vs. spring). The DNDC model simulated empirical SOC and biomass C measurements adequately in a default capacity, yet specific issues were encountered. By 2050, model forecasting suggested: (i) triticale cover resulted in SOC accrual (0.05–0.27 Mg ha–1 year–1); (ii) when manure is applied, conventional tillage regimes are favored; and (iii) manure applied treatments accrue SOC suggesting a quadratic relationship (all R2 > 0.85 and all p < 0.0001), yet saturation behavior was not realized when extending the simulation to 2100. It is possible that under very large C inputs that C sequestration is favored by DNDC which may influence “NetZero” C initiatives.

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