An Agronomic and Economic Study of Intercropping Brussels Sprouts and Summer Cabbage

1985 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Salter ◽  
Jayne M. Akehurst ◽  
G. E. L. Morris

SUMMARYIntercropping Brussels sprouts with cabbage was studied in two experiments comparing four different intercropping systems with sole crop production. Intercropping presented no agronomic or management problems because both crops had compatible cultural and crop protection requirements. Analysis of Land Equivalent Ratios and Relative Value Totals showed that the four intercropping systems gave consistently larger yields than the sole crops. In one experiment profitability, measured by the gross margin, was higher from all of the intercropping systems and costs per unit of produce were reduced. Similar results were obtained with one intercropping system in the other experiment. Alternative methods of evaluating the results in economic terms are discussed, together with the implications of intercropping in high-input systems of vegetable production.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinaykumar Rachappanavar ◽  
Arushi Padiyal ◽  
Jitender Kumar Sharma ◽  
Satish Kumar Gupta ◽  
Narender Negi

Abstract Silicon (Si) is the most abundant element after oxygen on the earth crust surface. It plays essential role in crop production by stimulating the growth and development. Very substantial efforts have been performed to better explore Si derived benefits for horticulture crops. In the present review, molecular and physiological mechanisms explaining the observed beneficial effects plant derive from the Si supplementations, more particularly in horticultural species have been discussed. In general, horticulture crops need extensive management and higher crop protection measures compared to agronomical crops. Therefore, integrated approaches including Si supplementations will help to improve plant resilience under biotic and abiotic stresses. Application of Si to plants promotes cell walls strength and provides additional support through increased mechanical and biochemical support. Horticultural crop production is frequently subjected to the naturally occurring different biotic and abiotic stresses that can substantially reduce the absorption and translation of essential elements and ultimately decrease the crop yield. Fruit and vegetable production in Drought, salinity, high and low temperature, toxic metals and pest infection prone areas is the key to meet the world minimum nutrients demand. Here, molecular mechanism involved in the Si uptake by root and subsequent transport to areal tissues is also illustrated. However, Si uptake mechanism at molecular level poorly studied in horticulture crops. Here we described the role of Si and its transporters in mitigating abiotic stress condition in horticultural plants.


2021 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1015-1028
Author(s):  
Mladen Petrović ◽  
Bojan Savić ◽  
Vojin Cvijanović

In the structure of agricultural production in the Republic of Serbia, crop production is dominant, while the share of vegetables in crop production is small (about 3.5%). According to the research conducted by the Institute for the Application of Science in Agriculture during 2015-2019, one of the most profitable vegetable production is pepper production. The aim of this paper is to investigate the financial aspects of pepper (Capsicum annuum L) production as one of the most common vegetable crop in the Republic of Serbia, and to assess its economic viability. The following methods were used: survey, comparison, desk research, gross margin calculation and sensitivity analysis. Sensitivity analysis showed that in addition to the yield, the price also has a great influence on the amount of the gross margin. The price risk would be reduced if there were "contracted agricultural production", which would improve the profitability and sustainability of pepper production.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 377
Author(s):  
Marcin Barański ◽  
Dominika Średnicka-Tober ◽  
Leonidas Rempelos ◽  
Gultakin Hasanaliyeva ◽  
Joanna Gromadzka-Ostrowska ◽  
...  

Recent human cohort studies reported positive associations between organic food consumption and a lower incidence of obesity, cancer, and several other diseases. However, there are very few animal and human dietary intervention studies that provide supporting evidence or a mechanistic understanding of these associations. Here we report results from a two-generation, dietary intervention study with male Wistar rats to identify the effects of feeds made from organic and conventional crops on growth, hormonal, and immune system parameters that are known to affect the risk of a number of chronic, non-communicable diseases in animals and humans. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used to separate the effects of contrasting crop protection methods (use or non-use of synthetic chemical pesticides) and fertilizers (mineral nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizers vs. manure use) applied in conventional and organic crop production. Conventional, pesticide-based crop protection resulted in significantly lower fiber, polyphenol, flavonoid, and lutein, but higher lipid, aldicarb, and diquat concentrations in animal feeds. Conventional, mineral NPK-based fertilization resulted in significantly lower polyphenol, but higher cadmium and protein concentrations in feeds. Feed composition differences resulting from the use of pesticides and/or mineral NPK-fertilizer had a significant effect on feed intake, weight gain, plasma hormone, and immunoglobulin concentrations, and lymphocyte proliferation in both generations of rats and in the second generation also on the body weight at weaning. Results suggest that relatively small changes in dietary intakes of (a) protein, lipids, and fiber, (b) toxic and/or endocrine-disrupting pesticides and metals, and (c) polyphenols and other antioxidants (resulting from pesticide and/or mineral NPK-fertilizer use) had complex and often interactive effects on endocrine, immune systems and growth parameters in rats. However, the physiological responses to contrasting feed composition/intake profiles differed substantially between the first and second generations of rats. This may indicate epigenetic programming and/or the generation of “adaptive” phenotypes and should be investigated further.


Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 1807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silke Hemming ◽  
Feije de Zwart ◽  
Anne Elings ◽  
Isabella Righini ◽  
Anna Petropoulou

The global population is increasing rapidly, together with the demand for healthy fresh food. The greenhouse industry can play an important role, but encounters difficulties finding skilled staff to manage crop production. Artificial intelligence (AI) has reached breakthroughs in several areas, however, not yet in horticulture. An international competition on “autonomous greenhouses” aimed to combine horticultural expertise with AI to make breakthroughs in fresh food production with fewer resources. Five international teams, consisting of scientists, professionals, and students with different backgrounds in horticulture and AI, participated in a greenhouse growing experiment. Each team had a 96 m2 modern greenhouse compartment to grow a cucumber crop remotely during a 4-month-period. Each compartment was equipped with standard actuators (heating, ventilation, screening, lighting, fogging, CO2 supply, water and nutrient supply). Control setpoints were remotely determined by teams using their own AI algorithms. Actuators were operated by a process computer. Different sensors continuously collected measurements. Setpoints and measurements were exchanged via a digital interface. Achievements in AI-controlled compartments were compared with a manually operated reference. Detailed results on cucumber yield, resource use, and net profit obtained by teams are explained in this paper. We can conclude that in general AI performed well in controlling a greenhouse. One team outperformed the manually-grown reference.


1994 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. O. Olasantan

Nigeria is an agricultural country, most of the vegetable needs of its people being provided by small farmers who seldom use high-input technology. Over the last 20 years, there has been an encouraging upward trend in inorganic fertilizer consumption, but it is very difficult to estimate how much of this chemical fertilizer is used for vegetable production. There is a need for information which could be used to monitor national trends in fertilizer use on vegetables so that the government can predict future needs and advise manufacturing industry and farmers accordingly. Although increases in the yield and mineral content of vegetables through the use of chemical fertilizers have been recorded, several problems still preclude their use. Possible ways to overcome the problem and benefit vegetable growers are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 580-593
Author(s):  
M A. Bryzgalina ◽  

The demand for organic food is a prerequisite for the formation and development of organic agriculture, and the task of promoting it on domestic and foreign markets is among the priority ones. A serious problem in the sale of this category of goods to the domestic food markets of the country is the distrust of potential consumers. It is possible to solve this problem through certification and the use of a well-known brand. Certification of manufacturers of environmentally friendly products is a rather complicated and expensive procedure, therefore it is not available for most agricultural producers in the Saratov region. However, basing on the fact that today the task of developing the organic agriculture industry is set at the level of the government of the country, it is possible to solve this problem with the support of the state. The article examines the enterprises of the Saratov region of various legal forms, which do not use fertilizers and chemical means of crop protection in the production of crop production. Using the example of agricultural organizations and farms in the region, a mechanism for subsidizing certification of the most promising producers of organic wheat (winter and spring) is proposed, which includes the allocation of targeted subsidies for its implementation. As a criterion for the selection of applicants for this type of state support, as well as the distribution of budgetary resources between them, it is proposed to use the average indicator (potential) of the annual volume of organic production in the work. As a result, direct participants in certification subsidies were selected from the compiled sample of the studied enterprises that do not use chemical plant protection products and mineral fertilizers and the total annual volume of their marketable wheat was determined. The author determined the maximum cost of quality confirmation procedures for one enterprise, taking into account the increasing coefficients per one day of inspection, and also established the largest amount of budgetary resources that may be spent on the implementation of the proposed measure. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed certification subsidy mechanism, the author developed formulas for determining the selling price of products in the promising organic segment, taking into account its increase by the level of premium premiums.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Sekgopa T. Kealeboga ◽  
Lagat K. Job ◽  
Tselaesele M. Nelson

Government determination to eradicate extreme poverty and food insecurity among Batswana through small scale vegetable production program appears not to transform their economic stance. Rural households that are part of Poverty Eradication Programme were investigated to determine if backyard gardens were profitable enough to improve incomes, reduce extreme poverty, and increase food security. The study aimed at analysing profitability and identifying factors that affect profitability of backyard gardening. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to collect data from 100 rural households who are part of the backyard garden scheme. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and regression analysis. Results indicated that backyard gardening was a viable activity though profitability was affected by amount of fertilizer applied, market availability and area planted. Beneficiaries indicated that the production and marketing constraints they faced included pests and diseases, lack of water, lack of market and poor prices. Program leaders must recognize the production and marketing constraints themselves as well as plan for the possibility that continual financial support for investment in the initial years of operation.


EDIS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lincoln Zotarelli ◽  
Peter J. Dittmar ◽  
Nicholas S. Dufault ◽  
Bonnie Wells ◽  
Johan Desaeger ◽  
...  

This chapter covers production of cole crops and Asian crucifers, including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese broccoli, Chinese cabbage, Chinese mustard (bok choy), kohlrabi, lobok/daikon, collards, kale, mustard, and turnip.


Author(s):  
Mohini S. Lohakare

Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) has direct & indirect negative effects, as crop loss, and livestock loss in India. For crop protection many technical security systems are available thaw they are technologically feasible are not viable financially for the poor land holders working for crop production. Fault removal or maintenance of available techniques are The issues as barrier for the rural people .The proposed work is aimed to reduce the crop vandalization using less complex and cheaper protection system. Solar photovoltaic energy source supported Arduino base circuit is used in this system there for useful for off grid locations too.


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