TRADE-OFFS BETWEEN BIOMASS USE AND SOIL COVER. THE CASE OF RICE-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN THE LAKE ALAOTRA REGION OF MADAGASCAR

SUMMARYFarmers in the Lake Alaotra region of Madagascar are currently evaluating a range of conservation agriculture (CA) cropping systems. Most of the expected agroecological functions of CA (weed control, erosion control and water retention) are related to the degree of soil cover. Under farmers’ conditions, the grain and biomass productivity of these systems is highly variable and the biomass is used for several purposes. In this study, we measured biomass production of cover crops and crops in farmers’ fields. Further, we derived relationships to predict the soil cover that can be generated for a particular quantity of mulch. We used these relationships to explore the variability of soil cover that can be generated in farmers’ fields, and to estimate how much of the biomass can be removed for use as livestock feed, while retaining sufficient soil cover. Three different kinds of cropping systems were investigated in 91 farmers’ fields. The first two cropping sequences were on the hillsides: (i) maize + pulse (Vigna unguiculata or Dolichos lablab) in year 1, followed by upland rice in year 2; (ii) the second crop sequence included several years of Stylosanthes guianensis followed by upland rice; (iii) the third crop sequence was in lowland paddy fields: Vicia villosa or D. lablab, which was followed by rice within the same year and repeated every year. The biomass available prior to rice sowing varied from 3.6 t ha−1 with S. guianensis to 7.3 t ha−1 with V. villosa. The relationship between the mulch quantity (M) and soil cover (C) was measured using digital imaging and was well described by the following equation: C = 1 − exp(−Am × M), where Am is an area-to-mass ratio with R2 > 0.99 in all cases. The calculated average soil cover varied from 56 to 97% for maize + V. unguiculata and V. villosa, respectively. In order to maintain 90% soil cover at rice sowing, the average amount of biomass of V. villosa that could be removed was at least 3 t ha−1 for three quarters of the fields. This quantity was less for other annual or biennial cropping systems. On average the V. villosa aboveground biomass contained 236 kg N ha−1. The study showed that for the conditions of farmers of Malagasy, the production and conservation of biomass is not always sufficient to fulfil all the above-cited agroecological functions of mulch. Inventory of the soil cover capacity for different types of mulch may help farmers to decide how much biomass they can remove from the field.

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Earthworm Inoculation Improves Upland Rice Crop Yield and Other Agrosystem Services in Madagascar

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11010060 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 60

Author(s):

Onja Ratsiatosika ◽

Malalatiana Razafindrakoto ◽

Tantely Razafimbelo ◽

Michel Rabenarivo ◽

Thierry Becquer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Upland Rice ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Rice Grain ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Ecological Transition ◽

Earthworm Activity ◽

Endogeic Earthworms ◽

Plant Properties

The effects of earthworm inoculation and cropping systems on upland rice systems were examined over a four-year period in the Highlands of Madagascar. Each year, endogeic earthworms Pontoscolex corethrurus (Rhinodrilidae) were inoculated (EW+) at a density of 75 ind m−2 or were not inoculated (EW0). Inoculation was tested in three cropping systems: conservation agriculture (CA) and traditional tillage with or without residues restitution. Soil and plant properties were measured during the first three years while soil biological properties were assessed at the fourth year. At the end of the experiment, earthworm density was three-fold higher in EW+ than in EW0, demonstrating the success of the inoculation. Earthworm density was more important in CA than in tillage systems. Earthworm inoculation had higher significant effects on soil and plant properties than cropping systems. Earthworm inoculation had positive effects on soil macroaggregation (+43%), aboveground biomass (+27%), rice grain yield (+45%), and N grain amount (+43%). Intensifying earthworm activity in field conditions to meet the challenge of ecological transition is supported by our study.

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Combining crop diversification practices can benefit cereal production in temperate climates

Agronomy for Sustainable Development ◽

10.1007/s13593-021-00703-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Carolina Rodriguez ◽

Linda-Maria Dimitrova Mårtensson ◽

Erik Steen Jensen ◽

Georg Carlsson

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Crop Diversification ◽

Forage Legume ◽

Cereal Crop ◽

Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽

N Acquisition ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Crop Sequence

AbstractDiversifying cropping systems by increasing the number of cash and cover crops in crop rotation plays an important role in improving resource use efficiency and in promoting synergy between ecosystem processes. The objective of this study was to understand how the combination of crop diversification practices influences the performance of arable crop sequences in terms of crop grain yield, crop and weed biomass, and nitrogen acquisition in a temperate climate. Two field experiments were carried out. The first was a 3-year crop sequence with cereal or grain legume as the first crops, with and without undersown forage legumes and forage legume-grass crops, followed by a cereal crop. The second experiment was a 2-year crop sequence with cereal or legume as the first crops, a legume cover crop, and a subsequent cereal crop. For the first time, crop diversification practices were combined to identify plant-plant interactions in spatial and temporal scales. The results partly confirm the positive effect of diversifying cereal-based cropping systems by including grain legumes and cover crops in the crop sequence. Legume cover crops had a positive effect on subsequent cereal grain yield in one of the experiments. Using faba beans as the first crop in the crop sequence had both a positive and no effect on crop biomass and N acquisition of the subsequent cereal. In cover crops composed of a forage legume-grass mixture, the grass biomass and N acquisition were consistently increased after the grain legume, compared to the cereal-preceding crop. However, differences in the proportion of legume to grass in mixture did not influence crop yield or N acquisition in the subsequent cereal. In conclusion, these results support that increased crop diversity across spatial and temporal scales can contribute to resource-efficient production and enhance the delivery of services, contributing to more sustainable cropping systems.

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Conservation agriculture cropping systems reduce blast disease in upland rice by affecting plant nitrogen nutrition

Field Crops Research ◽

10.1016/j.fcr.2017.01.024 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 204 ◽

pp. 208-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Julie Dusserre ◽

Harinjaka Raveloson ◽

Roger Michellon ◽

Eric Gozé ◽

Sandrine Auzoux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Upland Rice ◽

Nitrogen Nutrition ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Blast Disease ◽

Plant Nitrogen ◽

Plant Nitrogen Nutrition

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Role of Different Cover Crops on DTPA-Extractable Micronutrients in an Apricot Orchard

Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology ◽

10.24925/turjaf.v7i5.698-706.2117 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 698 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zeynep Demir ◽

Nihat Tursun ◽

Doğan Işık

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Control Groups ◽

Vicia Villosa ◽

Sustainable Soil Management ◽

Fagopyrum Esculentum Moench ◽

Extractable Micronutrients

This study was conducted to compare the effect of different cover crop treatments on DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) and soil pH in an apricot orchard with clay texture located in Malatya province of Turkey. For this purpose, 5 different experimental groups (Vicia villosa Roth (VV), Vicia pannonica Crantz (VP), Vicia pannonica Crantz and Tritikale mixture (70% + 30%, respectively) (VPT), Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth (PT), Fagopyrum esculentum Moench (FE)) and 3 control groups (mechanically cultivated (MC), herbicide treatment (HC) and bare control plot (BC)) were used in the apricot orchards. The soils were sampled from 0–20 cm and 20-40 cm depths in each plot for soil analyses. According to the obtained results, while cover crop treatments reduced pH values of soils according to the bare control, the cover crops increased the Fe, Mn and Zn contents of soils in the 0-20 cm soil depth. The highest Ext-Fe, Mn and Zn contents were obtained in the VV (14.83mg kg-1, 8.42 mg kg-1, 1.03 mg kg-1, respectively) at the 0-20 cm soil depth. As compared to bare control, highest percent increases in Fe, Mn and Zn contents were determined in the VV 27.73%, 31.69% and 37.54%, respectively. The greatest significant negative correlations in the VV treatment were observed between pH and Fe (-0.985**), between pH and Mn (-0.945**) and between pH and Zn (-0.764*). The greatest significant negative correlations in the VP treatment were observed between pH and Fe (-0.948**), between pH and Mn (-0.928**) and between pH and Zn (-0.722*). It was concluded based on current findings that cover crops, especially Vicia villosa Roth and Vicia pannonica Crantz could be incorporated into cropping systems to improve micronutrients and to provide a sustainable soil management.

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How organic farmers practice conservation agriculture in Europe

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170514000477 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 72-85 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Joséphine Peigné ◽

Marion Casagrande ◽

Vincent Payet ◽

Christophe David ◽

F. Xavier Sans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Soil Cover ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Soil Disturbance ◽

Reduced Tillage ◽

No Tillage ◽

Green Manures ◽

Biological Regulation ◽

Control Approach ◽

Organic Farmers

AbstractThe interest of organic farmers in adopting conservation agriculture principles, including minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop rotation has been growing since the early 2000s. However, currently there is no network for organic farmers practicing conservation agriculture, and a lack of knowledge on how organic farmers implement conservation agriculture in practice. Consequently, few technical references are available for organic farmers when they start applying conservation agriculture practices, in particular on controlling weeds without the use of herbicides. The main objectives of this study were: (1) to explore the diversity of conservation agriculture techniques (i.e., reduced tillage, no-tillage and green manures) practiced among European farmers, and (2) to identify farmers’ main strategies for implementing conservation agriculture and the agronomic and environmental factors that determine these strategies. Strategies were identified by analyzing survey results on: (1) the type and degree of use of conservation agriculture practices by farmers, and (2) the effects it produces in terms of soil disturbance and soil cover (low, medium and high). We carried out a survey of 159 European organic farmers and collected 125 data sets on management of winter-sown crops. Among the conservation agriculture practices, reduced tillage was used by 89%, no-tillage by 27% and green manure by 74% of the 159 interviewed farmers. Green manures were more frequently used in northern Europe than in the south (below 45°N). Most of the farmers used crop rotations, with a mean duration of 6 years. A wide diversity of conservation agriculture practices were used, with farmers rarely using all three techniques (no-till, reduced till and green manures) within one system. The range of practices was grouped into five strategies ranging from intensive non-inversion tillage without soil cover to very innovative techniques with no-tillage and intercrops. The five strategies for conservation agriculture could be grouped into two larger categories based on weed control approach: (1) intensification of the mechanical work without soil inversion or (2) biological regulation of weeds with cover crops. The diversity of strategies identified in this study shows that organic farmers use innovative approaches to implement conservation agriculture without herbicides. This study's findings will help organic farmers to experiment with innovative practices based on conservation agriculture principles and also benefit conventional farmers who use conservation agriculture practices and would like to reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides.

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Feasibility and sustainability of agroforestry in temperate industrialized agriculture: preliminary insights from California

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170519000140 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 513-521

Author(s):

Sonja B. Brodt ◽

Nina M. Fontana ◽

Leigh F. Archer

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Systems Design ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Agroforestry Systems ◽

Economic Feasibility ◽

Production Costs ◽

Ecological Intensification ◽

Trade Offs

AbstractIntensive use of external inputs in specialized industrial farming systems has created significant socio-ecological externalities, including water and air pollution from nutrients and pesticides, soil erosion and depletion of carbon stocks, biodiversity loss and rising production costs. Ecological intensification is a strategy for reducing reliance on inputs by intentionally designing agroecosystems to harness biological processes and ecological relationships for the sustainable functioning of the system. Incorporating perennials and diversifying systems are two avenues for achieving ecological intensification, and both are characteristics of agroforestry. This preliminary report uses examples of agroforestry in the US state of California as a proof of concept to explore the agronomic and economic feasibility and sustainability benefits of agroforestry in intensive irrigated and temperate farming systems. An exploratory study of farmers experimenting with agroforestry systems and other agricultural professionals identified eight different variants of agroforestry systems being practiced on prime agricultural land in California, ranging from simple use of winter cover crops in orchards to multi-storied cropping systems with integrated grazing. Respondents noted benefits of reduced inputs and production costs, and better nutrient cycling, soil health and pest control. Trade-offs and challenges included increases in labor requirements and management complexity. Knowledge gaps included lack of guidance in biophysical systems design, lack of clarity about economic tradeoffs, and lack of information about ecosystem services benefits. In light of interviewees’ responses, we discuss the constraints and factors needed to foster the successful expansion of agroforestry systems in California and other regions characterized by industrialized farming.

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Upland rice production under conservation agriculture cropping systems in cold conditions of tropical highlands

Field Crops Research ◽

10.1016/j.fcr.2012.09.011 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 138 ◽

pp. 33-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Julie Dusserre ◽

Jean-Louis Chopart ◽

Jean-Marie Douzet ◽

Jacqueline Rakotoarisoa ◽

Eric Scopel

Keyword(s):

Upland Rice ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Rice Production ◽

Tropical Highlands

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Upland rice under no-tillage preceded by crops for soil cover and nitrogen fertilization

Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo ◽

10.1590/s0100-06832013000600023 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 1669-1677 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Edemar Moro ◽

Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol ◽

Heitor Cantarella ◽

Adriano Stephan Nascente

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Soil Cover ◽

Upland Rice ◽

Nitrification Inhibitor ◽

Nitrogen Sources ◽

No Tillage ◽

Crop Species

The grain yield of upland rice under no-tillage has been unsatisfactory and one reason could be the nitrate/ammonium balance in the soil. Cover crops and nitrogen fertilization can be used to change the nitrate/ammonium relation in the soil and improve conditions for the development of upland rice in the no-tillage (NT) system. The aim was to study the effect of cover crops and nitrogen sources on grain yield of upland rice under no tillage. The study was carried out on the Fazenda Experimental Lageado, in Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in an Oxisol area under no-tillage for six years. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block split-plot design with four replications. The plots consisted of six cover crop species (Brachiaria brizantha, B. decumbens, B. humidicola, B. ruziziensis, Pennisetum americanum, and Crotalaria spectabilis) and the split-plots of seven forms of N fertilizer management. Millet is the best cover crop to precede upland rice under NT. The best form of N application, as nitrate, is in split rates or total rate at topdressing or an ammonium source with or without a nitrification inhibitor, in split doses. When the cover crops C. spectabilis, B. brizantha, B. decumbens, B. humidicola, and B. ruziziensis preceded rice, they induced the highest grain yield when rice was fertilized with N as ammonium sulfate source + nitrification inhibitor in split rates or total dose at topdressing.

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