Soybean and maize cultivation in South America: Environmental comparison of different cropping systems

Aflatoxins are carcinogenic chemical metabolites produced by Aspergillus spp. of the section Flavi. In Kenya, Aspergillus flavus is the most prevalent and has been associated with several acute and chronic aflatoxin outbreaks in the past. In this study, we evaluated the occurrence of A. flavus in soils from two agro-ecological regions with contrasting climatic conditions, aflatoxin contamination histories and cropping systems. Aspergillus spp. were first isolated from soils before the identification and determination of their aflatoxigenicity. Further, we determined the occurrence of Pseudomonas and Bacillus spp. in soils from the two regions. These bacterial species have long been associated with biological control of several plant pathogens including Aspergillus spp. Our results show that A. flavus occurred widely and produced comparatively higher total aflatoxin levels in all (100%) study sites from the eastern to the western regions of Kenya. For the western region, A. flavus was detected in 4 locations (66.7%) that were previously under maize cultivation with the isolates showing low aflatoxigenicity. A. flavus was not isolated from soils under sugarcane cultivation. Distribution of the two bacterial species varied across the regions but we detected a weak relationship between occurrence of bacterial species and A. flavus. We discuss these findings in the context of the influence of climate, microbial profiles, cropping systems and applicability in the deployment of biological control remedies against aflatoxin contamination.

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Microsatellite typing of ancient maize: insights into the history of agriculture in southern South America

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2006.3747 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 274 (1609) ◽

pp. 545-554 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Verónica V Lia ◽

Viviana A Confalonieri ◽

Norma Ratto ◽

Julián A. Cámara Hernández ◽

Ana M. Miante Alzogaray ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Ancient Dna ◽

Microsatellite Loci ◽

Southern South America ◽

Maize Cultivation ◽

High Incidence ◽

Close Relationship ◽

History Of ◽

Frequent Allele ◽

Positive Results

Archaeological maize specimens from Andean sites of southern South America, dating from 400 to 1400 years before present, were tested for the presence of ancient DNA and three microsatellite loci were typed in the specimens that gave positive results. Genotypes were also obtained for 146 individuals corresponding to modern landraces currently cultivated in the same areas and for 21 plants from Argentinian lowland races. Sequence analysis of cloned ancient DNA products revealed a high incidence of substitutions appearing in only one clone, with transitions prevalent. In the archaeological specimens, there was no evidence of polymorphism at any one of the three microsatellite loci: each exhibited a single allelic variant, identical to the most frequent allele found in contemporary populations belonging to races Amarillo Chico, Amarillo Grande, Blanco and Altiplano. Affiliation between ancient specimens and a set of races from the Andean complex was further supported by assignment tests. The striking genetic uniformity displayed by the ancient specimens and their close relationship with the Andean complex suggest that the latter gene pool has predominated in the western regions of southern South America for at least the past 1400 years. The results support hypotheses suggesting that maize cultivation initially spread into South America via a highland route, rather than through the lowlands.

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Prehistoric Human Occupations of the Western Venezuelan Llanos

American Antiquity ◽

10.2307/279364 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 182-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Alberta Zucchi

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Amazon Basin ◽

Archaeological Research ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Very Old ◽

Maize Cultivation ◽

Venezuelan Llanos ◽

Seasonally Flooded

AbstractRecent archaeological research in the western Venezuelan llanos has provided very old dates related to maize cultivation. The evidence obtained at Mound I, at the site Hato de la Calzada, indicates that these seasonally flooded savannas were occupied from 920 B.C. to A.D. 500 by the Caño del Oso people who practiced hunting, fishing, and maize farming. Around A.D. 500 manioc cultivation and artificial earthworks were introduced in this area. Both elements were probably obtained from the Arauquinoid people who inhabited the Orinoco riverbanks. The available data regarding the antiquity of manioc, based on agricultural systems in seasonally flooded savannas of South America, suggests that such systems developed in the Amazon Basin.

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Implications of Bioenergy Cropping for Soil: Remote Sensing Identification of Silage Maize Cultivation and Risk Assessment Concerning Soil Erosion and Compaction

Land ◽

10.3390/land10020128 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 128

Author(s):

Thorsten Ruf ◽

Mario Gilcher ◽

Thomas Udelhoven ◽

Christoph Emmerling

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Arable Land ◽

Soil Health ◽

Spatially Explicit ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Silage Maize ◽

Maize Cultivation ◽

Spatially Explicit Data

Energy transition strategies in Germany have led to an expansion of energy crop cultivation in landscape, with silage maize as most valuable feedstock. The changes in the traditional cropping systems, with increasing shares of maize, raised concerns about the sustainability of agricultural feedstock production regarding threats to soil health. However, spatially explicit data about silage maize cultivation are missing; thus, implications for soil cannot be estimated in a precise way. With this study, we firstly aimed to track the fields cultivated with maize based on remote sensing data. Secondly, available soil data were target-specifically processed to determine the site-specific vulnerability of the soils for erosion and compaction. The generated, spatially-explicit data served as basis for a differentiated analysis of the development of the agricultural biogas sector, associated maize cultivation and its implications for soil health. In the study area, located in a low mountain range region in Western Germany, the number and capacity of biogas producing units increased by 25 installations and 10,163 kW from 2009 to 2016. The remote sensing-based classification approach showed that the maize cultivation area was expanded by 16% from 7305 to 8447 hectares. Thus, maize cultivation accounted for about 20% of the arable land use; however, with distinct local differences. Significant shares of about 30% of the maize cultivation was done on fields that show at least high potentials for soil erosion exceeding 25 t soil ha−1 a−1. Furthermore, about 10% of the maize cultivation was done on fields that pedogenetically show an elevated risk for soil compaction. In order to reach more sustainable cultivation systems of feedstock for anaerobic digestion, changes in cultivated crops and management strategies are urgently required, particularly against first signs of climate change. The presented approach can regionally be modified in order to develop site-adapted, sustainable bioenergy cropping systems.

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Energy Use and Consumption Patterns of Maize Cultivation - A Case Study in Thailand

Environment and Natural Resources Journal ◽

10.32526/ennrj/19/202100086 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Sirikarn Thongmai ◽

◽

Thanakrit Neamhom ◽

Withida Patthanaissaranukool ◽

Supawadee Polprasert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fossil Fuels ◽

Energy Use ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Farmyard Manure ◽

Energy Performance ◽

Dry Season ◽

Consumption Patterns ◽

Net Energy ◽

Wet Season ◽

Maize Cultivation

This study explored energy inputs and consumption patterns to determine energy and economical indices for maize cultivation in Thailand. To assess the energy performance of four used cropping systems, namely, highland cultivation in wet season (HLWS), highland cultivation in dry season (HLDS), plains cultivation in wet season (PLWS), and plains cultivation in dry season (PLDS), data from energy consumed and produced show Net Energy Value (NEV) gains of +77.0, +106.5, +191.6, and +228.5 GJ/ha, respectively. Positive signs indicate that the required energy was less than energy produced which reveals sustainability. Use of fertilizer accounted for the major input energy in all systems, followed by fossil fuels, human labor and seeds. A cost performance analysis demonstrated PLDS production exhibited the highest profit earnings (1,365.2 USD/ha). To establish an alternative way to reduce the amount of energy consumed together with increased profit returns to farmers, the renewable energy from waste manure was used to replace dependence on chemical fertilizers. Scenarios using manure from cows, chickens, and farmyards were considered. Results showed that the use of farmyard manure created greater amounts of energy efficiency and economical return rates. Moreover, the benefits increased with increased amounts of organic material applied.

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Effects of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) as a Live mulch on weed management in maize cropping

Nigerian Journal of Biotechnology ◽

10.4314/njb.v38i1.7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 61-67

Author(s):

A.I. Woghiren ◽

R. O., Awodoyin ◽

C.I. Antiabong ◽

E.N. Ngonadi ◽

O.R. Jeminiwa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Vigna Unguiculata ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Block Design ◽

Crop Protection ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Weed Species ◽

Environmental Biology ◽

Maize Cultivation

Weed interference is a major constraint in maize cultivation. Living mulch as an alternative weed control strategy has been established to be environmentally safe but has not been widely used in maize cultivation. The aim of this research was to evaluate the weed management attributes of Vigna unguiculata in maize cropping. A field study was carried out in the crop garden of the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The treatments were maize interplanted with Cowpea at 20,000 (M1), 30,000 (M2), 40,000 (M3) plants/hectare, hoe weeding (M4), weedy check (M5) and Primextra-2.5 L/ha (M6). The treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design, each replicated four times. Weed Dry Weight (WDW) and Weed Control Efficiency–WCE (%) were calculated following standardized methods. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. The treatment plots were dominated by weed species in the Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae families. The M5 accounted for the highest WDW (126.30 g). The WCE was highest in M3 (94.8%) and least in M5 (66.4%). Maize and cowpea interplant at 40,000 plants/hectare suppressed weed. Hence, cowpea is an ideal weed suppressant and can be inter-planted as a cover crop in maize cropping systems.

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ADOPTION OF IMPROVED FARM PRACTICES IN MAIZE BY THE FARMERS OF NUAPADA DISTRICT OF ODISHA

International Journal of Advances in Agricultural Science and Technology ◽

10.47856/ijaast.2021.v08i11.006 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 52-59

Author(s):

S FIONA JACQUELINE ◽

Syed H. Mazhar ◽

Dipak Kumar Bose ◽

Jahanara Jahanara

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays L ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Hybrid Seed ◽

Cereal Crop ◽

Descriptive Research ◽

Maize Cultivation ◽

Medium Level ◽

Fact Finding ◽

Present Description ◽

And Training

Maize (Zea Mays L.) is considered as a unique cereal crop for its diversified use and suitability under various cropping systems. In India it is the third largest cereal crop in terms of acreage. The present study was conducted in Khariar block of Nuapada district of Odisha. Descriptive research design was followed, since the present study is fact-finding and present description of the respondents as well as the area. There are 117 villages in the selected block out of that 12 villages were selected through Random sampling based on existence of Maize cultivation. From the above analysis, it was concluded that majority (85.00%) of respondents were male. Majority (45.00%) of the respondents belonged to both the age group of (20-35) years and (36-55) years. Majority (80.00%) of respondents were married. Majority (70.00%) of respondents were having annual income more than 51,000. Majority (35.00%) of respondents were having education qualification up to High School. Majority (60.00%) of respondents were having land holding of 1-2 hectare. Majority (75.00%) of respondents were occupation Maize Farming and other crops farming collectively. Majority (80.00%) of respondents were having joint family. Majority (65.00%) of respondents were having family size of more than 5 members. Majority (45.00%) of respondents were having semi-cemented house. Majority (40.00%) of respondents were having social participation in Farmers Society. Majority (65.00%) of respondents daily used mobile. Majority (70.00%) of respondents were having maize farming experience up to 1-20 years. Majority (45.00%) of respondents were having medium level knowledge regarding Maize Cultivation Practices. Majority the adoption of Improved Production Technology of Maize was found to be high that is 75.00 percent. According to the response from the respondents, non-performance of visit by agricultural personnel time to time ranked I for constraints faced by the respondents, Lack of hybrid seed ranked II, Lack of credit facility at time ranked III, Lack of proper resources and capital ranked IV and so on. According to the suggestions received from the respondents, Hybrid seed should be available in time, Credit should be available earlier and timely, Availability of fertilizers and other inputs should be in time, Technical advice and training should be given at right time and so on.

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