Improved Cropping Systems for the Deep Vertisols of the Indian Semi-arid Tropics

SUMMARYA series of experiments was designed to evaluate a wide range of possible cropping systems for deep Vertisols of the Indian semi-arid tropics. The introduction of a rainy season maize crop, compared with traditional fallowing, had little effect on the yields of post-rainy season crops of sorghum, chickpea and pigeonpea. Introducing a rainy season sorghum crop caused severe yield reductions of post-rainy season crops in one year but only slight reductions in two subsequent years. Intercrop systems of maize/pigeonpea or sorghum/pigeonpea, and a three-crop system of maize/pigeonpea/chickpea, appeared very promising. Gross returns were usually much higher for the improved systems that utilized both the rainy and post-rainy seasons, though differences in net returns were not quite so great because of the extra costs of growing the additional rainy season crops.

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Impact of Land Configuration and Strip-Intercropping on Runoff, Soil Loss and Crop Yields under Rainfed Conditions in the Shivalik Foothills of North-West, India

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13116282 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 6282

Author(s):

Anil Khokhar ◽

Abrar Yousuf ◽

Manmohanjit Singh ◽

Vivek Sharma ◽

Parminder Singh Sandhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rainy Season ◽

Soil Loss ◽

Strip Width ◽

Research Station ◽

Maize Crop ◽

North West ◽

Net Returns ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Benefit Cost ◽

Strip Intercropping

Maintaining sustainable crop production on undulating, sloppy, and erodible soils in Shivalik foothills of North-west India is a challenging task. Intercropping is accepted as a highly sustainable system to reduce soil erosion and ensure sustainable production by making efficient use of resources. Field experiments were conducted in the rainy season (July to September) during 2015, 2016, and 2017 to evaluate the effect of land slopes and maize and cowpea strip-intercropping on productivity and resource conservation at the Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri located in the Shivalik foothills. During three years of experimentation, a total of 23–26 runoff events were observed in the maize crop grown in the rainy season. The results from this 3-year field study indicate that maize grain yield was significantly higher on a 1% slope and cowpea on a 2% slope. This accounted for significantly higher net returns (US$ 428 ha−1) with a benefit-cost (BC) ratio of 2.0 on a 1% slope. Runoff, soil, and nutrient losses were higher on a 3% slope as compared to 1% and 2% slopes. N, P, and K loss on a 3% slope were 3.80, 1.82, and 4.10 kg ha−1 higher, respectively than a 1% slope. The adoption of a strip-intercropping system with a 4.8 m maize strip width and 1.2 m cowpea strip width resulted in significantly higher maize equivalent yield than sole maize and other strip-intercropping systems. This system showed the highest land equivalent ratio value (1.24) indicating a 24% yield advantage over sole cropping systems of maize and cowpea, and fetched the highest net returns (US$ 530 ha−1) with a benefit-cost ratio (BC ratio) of 2.09. This system also reduced runoff and soil loss by 10.9% and 8.3%, respectively than sole maize crop. On all the land slopes, maize and cowpea strip-intercropping systems showed a significant reduction in N, P, K, and organic carbon loss as compared to sole maize. Thus, on sloping land, the maize and cowpea strip-intercropping system decreases surface runoff, soil, and nutrient loss, and increases yield and income of the farmers as compared to a sole maize crop.

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Seedling survival of Handroanthus impetiginosus (Mart ex DC) Mattos in a semi-arid environment through modified germination speed and post-germination desiccation tolerance

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/1519-6984.23413 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 75 (4) ◽

pp. 812-820 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. R. Martins ◽

A. A. S. Edvaldo ◽

A. A. Alvarenga ◽

A. C. Rodrigues ◽

D. E. Ribeiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Tolerance ◽

Desiccation Tolerance ◽

Rainy Season ◽

Additional Stress ◽

Tolerance Mechanism ◽

Wide Range ◽

Stress Avoidance ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Handroanthus Impetiginosus ◽

Germinated Seeds

Abstract Uniform rapid seed germination generally forms a great risk for the plant population if subsequent intermittent precipitation causes desiccation and seedling death. Handroanthus impetiginosus can be found commonly in a wide range of biomes within Brazil including those that are semi-arid. Germination and early growth was studied to understand how germinated seeds survive under these stringent conditions. Accessions were sampled from four seasonally dry biomes in Brazil. Precipitation at the start of the rainy season in the Caatinga, a semi-arid biome, is less predictable and the number of successive dry days per dry interval in the first four months of the rainy season was higher than in the other studied biomes. Plants from the Caatinga produced thicker seeds and this trait concurred with slow germination and stronger osmotic inhibition of germination across the accessions, forming a stress avoidance mechanism in the Caatinga. Post-germination desiccation tolerance was high in the Caatinga accession, could be re-induced in accessions from biomes with more regular precipitation (Cerrado and transition zone), but remained poor in the Cerradão accession; thus forming a stress tolerance mechanism. Production of adventitious roots ascertained survival of all tested individuals from all four locations, even if protruded radicles did not survive desiccation, forming an additional stress tolerance mechanism. A sequence of stress avoidance and stress tolerance mechanisms in seeds and germinated seeds was associated with precipitation patterns in different biomes. These mechanisms purportedly allow rapid seedling establishment when conditions are suitable and enable survival of the young seedling when conditions are adverse.

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Financial Returns of Maize and Bean Production under Selected Tillage Practices in Semi-arid Area of Mwala Sub County, Kenya

Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension Economics & Sociology ◽

10.9734/ajaees/2020/v38i1030424 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 11-23

Author(s):

Anne N. Karuma ◽

Patrick T. Gicheru ◽

Charles K. K. Gachene

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Financial Returns ◽

Marginal Analysis ◽

Short Term ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Net Returns ◽

Cropping Seasons ◽

On Farm ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Plot Design

An on-farm experiment was carried out to assess the short term financial returns over four cropping seasons of selected tillage practices and cropping systems in semi-arid Mwala Sub County of Kenya. The tillage treatments were Disc Ploughing (DP), Disc Ploughing and Harrowing (DPH), Ox-ploughing (OX), Subsoiling – Ripping (SSR), Hand hoeing with Tied Ridges (HTR), and Hand hoeing (H) only. There were three cropping systems of Sole Maize (SM), Sole Bean (SB), and Maize - Bean intercrop (M + B), which were investigated in a Split-Plot Design with four replications. Input and output prices were obtained from the local markets and used to compute the financial returns. Across the tillage practices, higher net returns were realized in DPH (USD 1165), DP (USD 1014), and SSR (USD 866). In the cropping systems, the intercrop (USD 1051) and sole bean (USD 954) reported higher benefits than sole maize (USD 692). Based on marginal analysis, it is economically viable to recommend the SSR with sole bean systems to farmers in Mwala Sub County as it produced the higher BCR (> 2) and an MRR (> 100 %) which is comfortable to most farmers.

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Effects of input management and crop diversity on economic returns and riskiness of cropping systems in the semi-arid Canadian Prairie

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170510000591 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 208-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

R.P. Zentner ◽

P. Basnyat ◽

S.A. Brandt ◽

A.G. Thomas ◽

D. Ulrich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Crop Insurance ◽

Crop Diversity ◽

Risk Averse ◽

High Input ◽

Canadian Prairie ◽

Price Premiums ◽

Net Returns ◽

Semi Arid

AbstractProducers in the semi-arid Dark Brown Chernozemic (Typic Boroll) soil zone of the Canadian Prairie are contemplating changes to land-use practices, moving away from conventional high-input production systems that specialize in one or two annual grain crops to more diversified and extended cropping systems that use reduced-input and organic management practices. This study examined the economic merits of nine cropping systems, consisting of a factorial combination of three input management methods and three levels of cropping diversity. It was conducted over the 1996–2007 period on a loam soil at Scott, Saskatchewan. The input treatments were: (1) high input (HIGH), which used conventional tillage and full recommended rates of fertilizers and pesticides ‘as required’; (2) reduced input (RED), which used conservation tillage and integrated weed and nutrient management practices in an effort to lower requirements for fuel, fertilizers and pesticides; and (3) organic input (ORG), which used tillage, non-chemical pest control, higher seeding rates, delayed seeding and legume crops to replenish soil nutrients. The crop diversity treatments included: (1) a fallow-based rotation with low crop diversity (LOW); (2) a diversified annual rotation of cereal, oilseed and pulse grains (DAG); and (3) a diversified rotation using annual grains and perennial forages (DAP). All crop rotations were 6 years in length. At the 2007 input costs and prices, average net returns and 12-year net present values were higher for organic than for non-organic treatments, with the ORG input/LOW crop diversity system being the most profitable (net returns=$234 ha−1yr−1and net present value=$1953 ha−1). Net returns averaged about 10% less for ORG/DAG compared to the most profitable system, and about 22% less for HIGH/DAG and RED/DAG (the best non-organic systems). The DAP treatments that included forage were not economically competitive with the other treatments, often producing economic losses. The relative profitability of the organic treatments was highly dependent on the existence of organic price premiums. When price premiums for organic crops were reduced to less than 70% of the 2007 levels, the organic treatments were less profitable than the comparable non-organic treatments. The organic treatments also experienced significantly lower (and often negative) net returns compared to the non-organic treatments during completion of the 3-year organic certification period. We estimated that it required 5–7 years after completion of certification for the organic treatments to break even with the comparable non-organic treatments. Thereafter the organic treatments produced consistently higher net earnings. Production costs averaged 16% lower with ORG management compared to the HIGH-input treatments, but we found little difference in total costs between the respective HIGH- and RED-input treatments. The organic treatments also displayed lower income variability than the non-organic treatments, with the ORG/LOW system being preferred by risk-averse producers, who do not subscribe to all-risk crop insurance, and with the ORG/LOW and ORG/DAG systems preferred by low and medium risk-averse producers when having the added financial protection from the Canada/Saskatchewan all-risk crop insurance program.

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Evaluations of Alternate Cropping Systems for Alfisols of the Indian Semi-arid Tropics

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s001447970001262x ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 271-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. S. Reddy ◽

R. W. Willey

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

The Other ◽

Average Yield ◽

Cropping Intensity ◽

Macrotyloma Uniflorum ◽

Sole Crop ◽

Short Season ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Crop System

SUMMARYA three-year experiment examined the possibility of increasing the cropping intensity of a medium-deep Alfisol (red soil) by using sequential, relay, ratoon or intercropping systems. It was found that a short-season mungbean (Vigna radiata) crop could be taken before the commonly-grown castor crop but that castor yields were reduced by the delayed sowing. If the castor was sown after the harvest of mungbean in a sequential system the profits were less than from a sole castor system. Relay-sowing the castor 20 days before the harvest of mungbean gave 9 $US ha−1 greater profit than sole castor, but this is probably not enough to justify the more intensive double crop system. On the other hand a reasonable yield of horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) could be produced after an early pearl millet crop, giving a worthwhile extra profit of 21 $US ha−1 compared with sole pearl millet. Ratooning the sorghum gave ratoon yields that averaged only 14% of the first crop, so this system was not considered suitable for these lighter Alfisols.Intercropping systems of pearl millet/groundnut, sorghum/pigeonpea and groundnut/pigeonpea gave average yield increases of 24, 47 and 46%, respectively, compared with both component crops grown separately. Compared with growing only the higher value sole crop, increases in profits were 16, 82 and 120 $US ha−1 for the same three systems, respectively. It is concluded that intercropping systems provide the best opportunity for increasing cropping intensity on medium-deep Alfisols.

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COMPETITIVE STATUS OF UKRAINE

International scientific journal Internauka Series Economical Sciences ◽

10.25313/2520-2294-2020-9-6311 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Olena Zayats ◽

Keyword(s):

National Economy ◽

Financial System ◽

Product Market ◽

Global Competitiveness ◽

Innovation Potential ◽

Wide Range ◽

Ict Adoption ◽

World Economic ◽

Global Competitiveness Index ◽

One Year

The article examines the competitive status and competitive positions of Ukraine. It proves that in the current context the competitive status of the national economy is determined by the presence of a strong global competitive force that provides dynamic growth based on innovation potential, developed institutions, infrastructure, ICT adoption, macroeconomic stability, health, skills, product market, labor market, financial system, market size, business dynamism rather than by traditional factors (natural resources, geopolitical situation). It has been identified that a wide range of factors in global competitive force establishment suggests the complexity of its assessment. It has been noted that in world economic practice the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum is predominantly used to assess the competitive status of the national economy. It has been determined that according to this index, in the overall ranking among 141 countries in 2019, Ukraine ranked 85th (2009-2010 – 82/133; 2018 – 83/140). The article analyzes of the competitive status of Ukraine in the international arena in terms of twelve pillars of the studied index and in the context of components of the said pillars. The dynamics of Ukraine's global competitive force in recent years shows that there has not been any build up. However, if one analyzes it in terms of the criteria of the global competitive force of the domestic economy, their assessment is volatile: the main regression can be traced in the sphere of the financial system, where Ukraine dropped by 19 positions in one year (2018 – 117/140, 2019 – 136/141), and the greatest progress is observed in the product market, where Ukraine rose by 16 positions in one year (2018 – 73/140, 2019 – 57/141). Analysis of the components of Ukraine’s global competitive force criteria shows that the worst positions in terms of such components are as follows: non-performing loans (% of gross total loans) – 139/141 and soundness of banks – 131/141. The best positions are in terms of the following components: costs of starting a business – 14/141 and attitude towards entrepreneurial risk – 18/141.

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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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Comparative Effect of Groundnut (Arachis hypogea l.) Genotypes on Yield and N Fixation in Sudan and Northern Guinea Savannahs of Nigeria

10.36265/njss.2019.290208 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 61-67

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Research ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Block Design ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Field Trials ◽

Yield Potential ◽

N Fixation ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Significant Interaction Effect ◽

Pod Yield

Recognition of high yielding and nitrogen (N) fixing groundnut genotypes and desegregating them in the cereal-based cropping systems common in savannah regions will enhance food security and reduce the need for high N fertilizers hence, minimize the high cost and associated environmental consequences. Field trials were conducted during the 2015 growing season at the Research Farms of Bayero University Kano (BUK) and Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru-Zaria to assess the yield potential and Biolog- ical N fixation in 15 groundnut genotypes (ICG 4729, ICGV-IS 07823, ICGV-IS 07893, ICGV-IS 07908, ICGV- SM 07539, ICGV- SM 07599, ICGV-IS 09926, ICGV-IS 09932, ICGV-IS 09992, ICGV-IS 09994, SAMNUT-21, SAMNUT-22, SAMNUT-25, KAMPALA and KWANKWAS). The groundnut genotypes and reference Maize crop (SAMMAZ 29) were planted in a randomized complete block design in three replications. N difference method was used to estimate the amount of N fixed. The parameters determined were the number of nodules, nod- ule dry weight, shoot and root dry weights, pod, and haulm yield as well as N fixation. The nodule dry weight, BNF, haulm, and pod yield were statistically significant (P<0.01) concerning genotype and location. Similarly, their interac- tion effect was also highly significant. ICGV-IS 09926 recorded the highest nod- ule dry weight of 2.07mg /plant across the locations while ICGV-IS 09932 had the highest BNF value of 140.27Kg/ha. Additionally, KAMPALA had the high- est haulm yield, while ICGV-IS 07893 had the highest pod yield across the loca- tions with a significant interaction effect. The result shows that ICGV-IS 07893 and ICGV-IS 09932, as well as ICGV-IS 09994 and SAMNUT – 22, were the best genotypes concerning BNF, haulm and pod yield in the Northern Guinea and Sudan Savannahs of Nigeria respectively with the potential for a corresponding beneficial effect.

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Research of the activity and viability of spermatozoa at different concentrations and proportions of diluents after incubation

Pig breeding the interdepartmental subject scientific digest ◽

10.37143/0371-4365-2020-74-11 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 88-95

Author(s):

Svitlana Lobchenko ◽

Tetiana Husar ◽

Viktor Lobchenko

Keyword(s):

Plasma Concentration ◽

Incubation Time ◽

Coefficient Of Variation ◽

Incubation Medium ◽

Wide Range ◽

Series Of Experiments ◽

The Subject ◽

Boar Spermatozoa ◽

Native Plasma ◽

Better Than

The results of studies of the viability of spermatozoa with different incubation time at different concentrations and using different diluents are highlighted in the article. (Un) concentrated spermatozoa were diluented: 1) with their native plasma; 2) medium 199; 3) a mixture of equal volumes of plasma and medium 199. The experiment was designed to generate experimental samples with spermatozoa concentrations prepared according to the method, namely: 0.2; 0.1; 0.05; 0.025 billion / ml. The sperm was evaluated after 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours. The perspective of such a study is significant and makes it possible to research various aspects of the subject in a wide range. In this regard, a series of experiments were conducted in this area. The data obtained are statistically processed and allow us to highlight the results that relate to each stage of the study. In particular, in this article it was found out some regularities between the viability of sperm, the type of diluent and the rate of rarefaction, as evidenced by the data presented in the tables. As a result of sperm incubation, the viability of spermatozoa remains at least the highest trend when sperm are diluted to a concentration of 0.1 billion / ml, regardless of the type of diluent used. To maintain the viability of sperm using this concentration of medium 199 is not better than its native plasma, and its mixture with an equal volume of plasma through any length of time incubation of such sperm. Most often it is at this concentration of sperm that their viability is characterized by the lowest coefficient of variation, regardless of the type of diluent used, which may indicate the greatest stability of the result under these conditions. The viability of spermatozoa with a concentration of 0.1 billion / ml is statistically significantly reduced only after 6 or even 8 hours of incubation. If the sperm are incubated for only 2 hours, regardless of the type of diluent used, the sperm concentrations tested do not affect the viability of the sperm. Key words: boar, spermatozoa, sperm plasma, concentration, incubation, medium 199, activity, viability, rarefaction.

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