Climatic information and decision-making in maize crop production systems of the Argentinean Pampas

Farmers in the lower Bengal Delta around the city of Khulna, Bangladesh, are particularly vulnerable to hydro-climatic variability. Phenomena such as heavy rain, drought and salt intrusion increasingly affect their crop production, with far-reaching socio-economic and environmental impacts. Reliable hydro-climatic information service received in a timely manner could help farmers improve their responses to hydro-climatic variability, thus improving their agricultural decision-making. However, significant challenges persist regarding information uptake and the role of information from the available sources. We designed an explorative research framework combining different participatory methods and analysis of climate data. Our aim was to examine three key research questions: (i) what information is currently available to farmers for agricultural practices and decision-making? (ii) what is the perceived quality of the available hydro-climatic information in response to water and weather related stresses? (iii) how does the available information influence farmers’ decision-making? We found that farmers had access to information from five main sources: informal contacts, formal contacts, education and training programs, traditional media (like television) and modern ICT tools/social media. However, informal contacts, particularly with peer farmers and private input suppliers, were the farmers’ main source, in addition to their own previous experiences. Farmers perceived hydro-climatic variability as high and the quality of available hydro-climatic information as poor. They indicated a need for more accurate, time-specific, trusted and actionable information for improving agricultural decision-making. We conclude that there is high potential and need for hydro-climatic information services tailored for farmers in the study area.

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Pigeon Pea and Cowpea-Based Cropping Systems Improve Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonisation of Subsequent Maize on the Alfisols in Central Malawi

International Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1155/2017/2096314 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Keston O. W. Njira ◽

Ernest Semu ◽

Jerome P. Mrema ◽

Patson C. Nalivata

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Pigeon Pea ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Fungal Colonisation ◽

Short Rotation ◽

Vesicular Arbuscular

Mycorrhizal associations contribute to the sustainability of crop production systems through their roles in nutrient cycling and other benefits in the soil-plant ecosystems. A two-year study was conducted on the Alfisols of Lilongwe and Dowa districts, Central Malawi, to assess the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungal colonisation levels in pigeon pea, cowpea, and maize grown in sole cropping, legume-cereal, and legume-legume intercropping systems and in the maize grown in short rotation (year 2) as influenced by the previous cropping systems and N fertilizer application. The gridline intersect method was used to assess the VAM fungal colonisation levels. Results showed that all treatments that included legumes whether grown as sole crop, in legume-cereal or in legume-legume cropping systems in the previous year, had significantly higher (P < 0.05) VAM fungal colonisation of the rotational maize crop roots by a range 39% to 50% and 19% to 47% than those in maize supplied and not supplied with N fertilizer, respectively, in a maize-maize short rotation, at the Lilongwe site. A similar trend was reported for the Dowa site. Furthermore, there were positive correlations between VAM fungal colonisation and the plant P content, dry matter yield, and nodule numbers. Further studies may help to assess the diversity of VAM fungal species in Malawi soils and identify more adaptive ones for inoculation studies.

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INTERCROPPING OF GRASSES OR LEGUME SPECIES IN MAIZE CROP IN THE CERRADO

Revista Brasileira de Milho e Sorgo ◽

10.18512/rbms2020v19e1096 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 18

Author(s):

ANDERSON TERUO TAKASU ◽

ORIVALDO ARF ◽

FLÁVIA CONSTANTINO MEIRELLES ◽

EDER NUNES DE LIMA MILHOSSI ◽

JOSÉ ROBERTO PORTUGAL ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Soil Management ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Management Systems ◽

Legume Species ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

Grain Crop ◽

Red Latosol

In grain crop production systems, the cultivation of maize intercropped with grasses or legumes, together with soil management, can provide sustainability without reducing maize yield in the low altitude Cerrado. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of sowing maize intercropped with grasses or legume species, in two soil management systems, on the agronomic characteristics and yield of maize, in the first crop season in physically limited soil in the Cerrado. The experiment was developed in the agricultural years of 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18, in the municipality of Selvíria, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in typical dystrophic Red Latosol, with clay texture. The randomized block experimental design was used, in a 2x5 factorial scheme, consisting of soil management systems (no-tillage and minimum tillage) and maize intercropped or not (sole maize; maize + Urochloa ruziziensis; maize + U. brizantha; maize + Crotalaria spectabilis; and maize + Cajanus cajan). The intercropping of maize with legumes or grasses sown simultaneously in the interrow spacing, when implemented and conducted properly, did not affect the average maize yield. Regardless of soil management and maize intercropping systems, the high soil density and penetration resistance, observed in the experimental area, were not impediments to satisfactory maize grain yield.

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Componentes agronômicos e produtividade do milho em diferentes sistemas de produção

Revista Verde de Agroecologia e Desenvolvimento Sustentável ◽

10.18378/rvads.v11i1.3825 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 90

Author(s):

Durval Nolasco Neves Neto ◽

Antonio Clementino dos Santos ◽

Perlon Maia dos Santos ◽

Aridouglas Dos Santos Araujo ◽

Leonardo Bernardes Taverny Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Additional Treatment ◽

Integrated System ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Significance Level ◽

Maize Productivity ◽

Rotation System ◽

Dunnett Test ◽

Urochloa Brizantha

A crescente competitividade no setor rural exige a substituição do modelo produtivo tradicional por sistemas que possibilitem a maximização do uso do solo. Objetivou-se avaliar os componentes produtivos da cultura do milho em diferentes sistemas de produção em dois anos agrícolas. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por milho solteiro no sistema convencional e via integração com cultivares de Urochloa brizantha e sistema de rotação de cultura milho/milheto no primeiro ano agrícola e milho no segundo. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 3x2+1, com quatro repetições. As variáveis avaliadas foram: tamanho e diâmetro de espiga, número de linhas e grãos por espiga, peso de mil grãos, estande final de plantas e produção de grãos de milho por planta e hectare. Os dados quando significativos foram comparadas pelo teste F ao nível de 5% de probabilidade de erro. Em relação ao tratamento adicional, foi utilizado o teste de Dunnett a 5% de significância. Os sistemas integrados com cultivares de Urochloa brizanthae e o sistema com rotação de cultura não promoveram alterações nos componentes produtivos da cultura do milho, além de melhorar a produtividade ao longo do tempo e promovem melhorias nas características químicas do solo. A Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu e Piatã demonstraram seu potencial e viabilidade em sistema em sistema integrado em Neossolo Quartzarênico.Agronomic components and maize productivity in different production systemsAbstract: Growing competitiveness in the rural sector requires the replacement of the traditional productive model with systems that make it possible to maximize land use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production components of corn in different production systems in two years. The treatments consisted of single maize in the conventional system and via integration with cultivars of Urochloa brizantha and rotation system of maize/millet crop in the first agricultural year and corn in the second. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 3x2+1 factorial scheme, with four replications. The variables evaluated were: spike size and diameter, number of rows and grains per ear, weight of one thousand grains, final plant stand and corn grain yield per plant and hectare. The significant data were compared by the F test at the 5% error probability level. Regarding the additional treatment, the Dunnett test was used at 5% significance level. The integrated systems with cultivars of Urochloa brizanthae and the system with crop rotation did not promote changes in the maize crop production components, besides improving productivity over time and promoting improvements in soil chemical characteristics. The Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu and Piatã demonstrated their potential and viability in an integrated system in Quartzarenic Neosol.

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Semi-Transparent Organic Photovoltaics Applied as Greenhouse Shade for Spring and Summer Tomato Production in Arid Climate

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11061152 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1152

Author(s):

Rebekah Waller ◽

Murat Kacira ◽

Esther Magadley ◽

Meir Teitel ◽

Ibrahim Yehia

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Organic Photovoltaics ◽

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

High Light ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Control Group ◽

Tomato Crop ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Control Section

Recognizing the growing interest in the application of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with greenhouse crop production systems, in this study we used flexible, roll-to-roll printed, semi-transparent OPV arrays as a roof shade for a greenhouse hydroponic tomato production system during a spring and summer production season in the arid southwestern U.S. The wavelength-selective OPV arrays were installed in a contiguous area on a section of the greenhouse roof, decreasing the transmittance of all solar radiation wavelengths and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) wavelengths (400–700 nm) to the OPV-shaded area by approximately 40% and 37%, respectively. Microclimate conditions and tomato crop growth and yield parameters were measured in both the OPV-shaded (‘OPV’) and non-OPV-shaded (‘Control’) sections of the greenhouse. The OPV shade stabilized the canopy temperature during midday periods with the highest solar radiation intensities, performing the function of a conventional shading method. Although delayed fruit development and ripening in the OPV section resulted in lower total yields compared to the Control section (24.6 kg m−2 and 27.7 kg m−2, respectively), after the fourth (of 10 total) harvests, the average weekly yield, fruit number, and fruit mass were not significantly different between the treatment (OPV-shaded) and control group. Light use efficiency (LUE), defined as the ratio of total fruit yield to accumulated PAR received by the plant canopy, was nearly twice as high as the Control section, with 21.4 g of fruit per mole of PAR for plants in the OPV-covered section compared to 10.1 g in the Control section. Overall, this study demonstrated that the use of semi-transparent OPVs as a seasonal shade element for greenhouse production in a high-light region is feasible. However, a higher transmission of PAR and greater OPV device efficiency and durability could make OPV shades more economically viable, providing a desirable solution for co-located greenhouse crop production and renewable energy generation in hot and high-light intensity regions.

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Precision agriculture and geospatial techniques for sustainable disease control

Indian Phytopathology ◽

10.1007/s42360-021-00334-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel P. Roberts ◽

Nicholas M. Short ◽

James Sill ◽

Dilip K. Lakshman ◽

Xiaojia Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Big Data ◽

Disease Control ◽

Crop Production ◽

Plant Disease ◽

Production Systems ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Data Driven ◽

Agricultural Community ◽

Plant Disease Control ◽

Crop Germplasm

AbstractThe agricultural community is confronted with dual challenges; increasing production of nutritionally dense food and decreasing the impacts of these crop production systems on the land, water, and climate. Control of plant pathogens will figure prominently in meeting these challenges as plant diseases cause significant yield and economic losses to crops responsible for feeding a large portion of the world population. New approaches and technologies to enhance sustainability of crop production systems and, importantly, plant disease control need to be developed and adopted. By leveraging advanced geoinformatic techniques, advances in computing and sensing infrastructure (e.g., cloud-based, big data-driven applications) will aid in the monitoring and management of pesticides and biologicals, such as cover crops and beneficial microbes, to reduce the impact of plant disease control and cropping systems on the environment. This includes geospatial tools being developed to aid the farmer in managing cropping system and disease management strategies that are more sustainable but increasingly complex. Geoinformatics and cloud-based, big data-driven applications are also being enlisted to speed up crop germplasm improvement; crop germplasm that has enhanced tolerance to pathogens and abiotic stress and is in tune with different cropping systems and environmental conditions is needed. Finally, advanced geoinformatic techniques and advances in computing infrastructure allow a more collaborative framework amongst scientists, policymakers, and the agricultural community to speed the development, transfer, and adoption of these sustainable technologies.

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Effects of cereal rye seeding rate on waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) emergence and soybean growth and yield

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2021.28 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-25

Author(s):

Mandy Bish ◽

Brian Dintelmann ◽

Eric Oseland ◽

Jacob Vaughn ◽

Kevin Bradley

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Soil Seed Bank ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Seeding Rate ◽

Early Season ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Herbicide Resistant ◽

Growing Seasons

Abstract The evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds has resulted in the necessity to integrate non-chemical control methods with chemicals for effective management in crop production systems. In soybean, control of the pigweed species, particularly herbicide-resistant waterhemp and Palmer amaranth, have become predominant concerns. Cereal rye planted as a winter cover crop can effectively suppress early-season weed emergence in soybean, including waterhemp, when planted at a rate of 123 kg ha−1. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of different cereal rye seeding rates (0, 34, 56, 79, 110, and 123 kg ha−1) on early-season waterhemp suppression and soybean growth and yield. Soybean was planted into fall-seeded cereal rye, which was terminated within four days of soybean planting. The experiment was conducted over the 2018, 2019, and 2020 growing seasons in Columbia, Missouri. Effects of cereal rye on early-season waterhemp suppression varied by year and were most consistent at 56 kg ha−1 or higher seeding rates. Linear regression analysis of cereal rye biomass, height, or stand at soybean planting showed inverse relationships with waterhemp emergence. No adverse effects to soybean growth or yield were observed at any of the cereal rye seeding rates relative to plots that lacked cereal rye cover. Result differences among the years suggest that the successfulness of cereal rye on suppression of early-season waterhemp emergence is likely influenced by the amount of waterhemp seed present in the soil seed bank.

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Revisiting Sulphur—The Once Neglected Nutrient: It’s Roles in Plant Growth, Metabolism, Stress Tolerance and Crop Production

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11070626 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 626

Author(s):

Tinashe Zenda ◽

Songtao Liu ◽

Anyi Dong ◽

Huijun Duan

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Abiotic Stresses ◽

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Plant Phenotyping ◽

Special Importance ◽

Nutrient Deficiencies ◽

Sulphur Nutrition ◽

Physiological Processes

Sulphur plays crucial roles in plant growth and development, with its functions ranging from being a structural constituent of macro-biomolecules to modulating several physiological processes and tolerance to abiotic stresses. In spite of these numerous sulphur roles being well acknowledged, agriculture has paid scant regard for sulphur nutrition, until only recently. Serious problems related to soil sulphur deficiencies have emerged and the intensification of food, fiber, and animal production is escalating to feed the ever-increasing human population. In the wake of huge demand for high quality cereal and vegetable diets, sulphur can play a key role in augmenting the production, productivity, and quality of crops. Additionally, in light of the emerging problems of soil fertility exhaustion and climate change-exacerbated environmental stresses, sulphur assumes special importance in crop production, particularly under intensively cropped areas. Here, citing several relevant examples, we highlight, in addition to its plant biological and metabolism functions, how sulphur can significantly enhance crop productivity and quality, as well as acclimation to abiotic stresses. By this appraisal, we also aim to stimulate readers interests in crop sulphur research by providing priorities for future pursuance, including bettering our understanding of the molecular processes and dynamics of sulphur availability and utilization in plants, dissecting the role of soil rhizospherical microbes in plant sulphur transformations, enhancing plant phenotyping and diagnosis for nutrient deficiencies, and matching site-specific crop sulphur demands with fertilizer amendments in order to reduce nutrient use inefficiencies in both crop and livestock production systems. This will facilitate the proper utilization of sulphur in crop production and eventually enhance sustainable and environmentally friend food production.

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iHSD Mill Efficacy on the Seeds of Australian Cropping System Weeds

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2017.95 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 103-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Michael J. Walsh ◽

John C. Broster ◽

Stephen B. Powles

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

High Efficacy ◽

Weed Seed ◽

Rigid Ryegrass ◽

Mill Speed ◽

Wheat Chaff

AbstractIn Australia, widespread evolution of multi-resistant weed populations has driven the development and adoption of harvest weed seed control (HWSC). However, due to incompatibility of commonly used HWSC systems with highly productive conservation cropping systems, better HWSC systems are in demand. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the integrated Harrington Seed Destructor (iHSD) mill on the seeds of Australia’s major crop weeds during wheat chaff processing. Also examined were the impacts of chaff type and moisture content on weed seed destruction efficacy. Initially, the iHSD mill speed of 3,000 rpm was identified as the most effective at destroying rigid ryegrass seeds present in wheat chaff. Subsequent testing determined that the iHSD mill was highly effective (>95% seed kill) on all Australian crop weeds examined. Rigid ryegrass seed kill was found to be highest for lupin chaff and lowest in barley, with wheat and canola chaff intermediate. Similarly, wheat chaff moisture reduced rigid ryegrass seed kill when moisture level exceeded 12%. The broad potential of the iHSD mill was evident, in that the reductions in efficacy due to wide-ranging differences in chaff type and moisture content were relatively small (≤10%). The results from these studies confirm the high efficacy and widespread suitability of the iHSD for use in Australian crop production systems. Additionally, as this system allows the conservation of all harvest residues, it is the best HWSC technique for conservation cropping systems.

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An Old Pest, a New Solution

Outlook on Agriculture ◽

10.5367/000000005774378793 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 181-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Alan Cork ◽

Malcolm J. Iles ◽

Nazira Q. Kamal ◽

J.C. Saha Choudhury ◽

M. Mahbub Rahman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Cropping System ◽

Environmentally Benign ◽

Mass Trapping ◽

Economic Returns ◽

Collaborative Project ◽

Field School ◽

High Yielding Varieties

Bangladesh is essentially self-sufficient in rice as a result of the successful adoption of new high-yielding varieties and irrigated summer production over traditional deep-water cultivation practices. The sustainability of the cropping system depends on farmers adopting integrated pest management (IPM) practices in preference to relying solely on insecticides for pest and disease control. Yet insecticide consumption in rice is increasing, in common with other crop-production systems in Bangladesh. It is probably only the poor economic returns from rice cultivation that prevent more widespread use of pesticides. Enlightened agrochemical companies such as Syngenta Bangladesh Limited have recognized that insecticide use in rice should be discouraged, and promote IPM options through their farmer field school (FFS) programme. This paper describes the results of a collaborative project to assist Syngenta to develop and incorporate mass trapping with sex pheromones into their FFS programme as an environmentally benign method of controlling the predominant insect pests of rice, stem borers.

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