scholarly journals ON-FARM EXPERIMENTATION ON CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN MAIZE-LEGUME BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN KENYA: WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. MICHENI ◽  
F. KANAMPIU ◽  
O. KITONYO ◽  
D. M. MBURU ◽  
E.N. MUGAI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
System Productivity ◽  
Use Efficiency

SUMMARYConservation agriculture (CA) is a promising technology for controlling soil degradation, mitigating drought, increasing crop yield and reducing production costs. We hypothesized that adopting CA system would improve system productivity and efficiency, hence resulting in higher profits. To test the hypothesis, we designed a study to evaluate water use efficiency (WUE) and the economic benefits (yield and gross margins) of CA in the upper and lower midlands agro-ecological zones of eastern Kenya. Four tillage treatments, including farmers’ practice (residues removed), conventional tillage (residues removed) and two CA practices with residue retention (zero tillage and furrow–ridge), were laid out in 22 farmers’ fields where each farm was treated as a replicate. The results are based on four consecutive seasons farmer–researcher managed trials during the period 2010 and 2012. CA significantly improved crop yields after the first season of experimentation. Joint use of zero tillage and furrow–ridge provided higher WUE and yield advantage (25–34%) in the third and fourth seasons compared to the conventional practices. The lower midlands zone gave higher WUE values, which can be explained by the effects of water harvesting and retention for longer period on CA treatments. CA practices have increased income on average by 12% resulted from labour cost reduction and yield increment. Weeding costs for conventional tillage were USD 88 ha−1 compared to USD 24 ha−1 for herbicide application under CA. Practicing CA will certainly increase crop yields, WUE, generate more revenue and diversify risks during poor seasons. However, these benefits may not necessarily be earned in the first season, but will accrue in subsequent seasons.

WHEAT YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY UNDER CONTRASTING RESIDUE AND TILLAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN A SEMIARID AREA OF MOROCCO

2002 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Mrabet
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Partial Removal ◽  
No Till ◽  
Management Technology ◽  
Use Efficiency

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) production using no-tillage is becoming an increasingly accepted management technology. Major obstacles to its adoption in Morocco, however, are exportation of wheat straw from the field and stubble grazing. Among pertinent solutions is the control of these practices. A four-year field study was conducted to determine the effect of residue level under no-tillage on wheat grain and total dry-matter yields, water use and water-use efficiency, and to compare this with conventional tillage systems. The aim was to evaluate whether all the straw produced is needed for no-till cropping or whether partial removal of straw from the field is possible without any adverse effect on production. No-tillage and deep tillage with disk plough performed equally well and subsurface tillage with an off-set disk produced the lowest yields. Both bare and full no-tillage covers depressed wheat production. Uo to 30% of straw produced under no-tillage can be removed without jeopardizing wheat crop performance.

scholarly journals Control of Substrate Water Availability Using Soil Sensors and Effects of Water Deficit on the Morphology and Physiology of Potted Hebe andersonii

Agronomy ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 206
Author(s):  
Daniel Bañón ◽  
Beatriz Lorente ◽  
Sebastián Bañón ◽  
María Fernanda Ortuño ◽  
María Jesús Sánchez-Blanco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Adjustment Process ◽  
Seasonal Temperature ◽  
Soil Sensors ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Substrate Moisture

Many plant producers tend to overwater crops to prevent water stress and salt-induced damage. These practices waste irrigation water and cause leaching that harms the environment and increases production costs. In order to optimize water consumption and minimize the environmental impact of plant production, this study aimed to determine the physiological and morphological responses of Hebe andersonii to three substrate volumetric water contents (49%, 39%, and 32%). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with an irrigation protocol that consisted of adding small volumes of water to avoid leaching while monitoring substrate moisture with dielectric soil sensors. The results showed that moderately low substrate moisture improved the water-use efficiency, while growth was significantly reduced under more severe water deficit conditions (but without leaf chlorosis or abscission). The photosynthetic activity of Hebe was primarily controlled by the stomatal aperture, which was co-determined by the substrate moisture and seasonal temperature. Hebe leaves promoted non-photochemical quenching when carbon assimilation was limited by a water deficit, and accumulated solutes through an osmotic adjustment process (especially Cl−, Na+, and K+) to maintain their water status. Overall, Hebe andersoni cv. Variegata could successfully grow and improve its water-use efficiency in low substrate moisture and under a non-draining irrigation regime.

Sustaining productivity of a Vertisol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage or legumes 4. Nitrogen fixation, water use and yield of chickpea

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 667 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. M. Strong ◽  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
J. E. Cooper ◽  
J. A. Doughton ◽  
E. J. Weston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Tillage Practice ◽  
Sowing Time ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Use Efficiency

Summary. Continuous cereal cropping in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales has depleted native soil nitrogen fertility to a level where corrective strategies are required to sustain grain yields and high protein content. The objective of this study was to examine the performance of chickpea in chickpea–wheat rotations in terms of yields, water use and N2 fixation. The effects of sowing time and tillage practice have been studied. Chickpea grain yields varied from 356 kg/ha in 1995 to 2361 kg/ha in 1988; these were significantly correlated with the total rainfall received during the preceding fallow period and crop growth. Almost 48% of total plant production and 30% of total plant nitrogen were below-ground as root biomass. Mean values of water-use efficiency for grain, above-ground dry matter, and total dry matter were 5.9, 14.2 and 29.2 kg/ha.mm, respectively. The water-use efficiency for grain was positively correlated with the total rainfall for the preceding fallow and crop growth period although cultural practices modified water-use efficiency. The potential N2 fixation was estimated to be 0.6 kg nitrogen/ha.mm from 1992 total dry matter nitrogen yields assuming all of the nitrogen contained in chickpea was derived from the atmosphere. Sowing time had a much larger effect on grain yield and N2 fixation by chickpea than tillage practice (conventional tillage and zero tillage) although zero tillage generally increased grain yields. The late May–early June sowing time was found to be the best for chickpea grain yield and N2 fixation since it optimised solar energy use and water use, and minimised frost damage. Nitrogen fixation by chickpea was low, less than 40% nitrogen was derived from atmosphere, representing less than 20 kg nitrogen/ha.year. The potential for N2 fixation was not attained during this period due to below-average rainfall and high soil NO3-N accumulation because of poor utilisation by the preceding wheat crop. Increased soil NO3-N due to residual from fertiliser N applied to the preceding wheat crop further reduced N2 fixation. A simple soil nitrogen balance indicated that at least 60% of crop nitrogen must be obtained from N2 fixation to avoid continued soil nitrogen loss. This did not occur in most years. The generally negative soil nitrogen balance needs to be reversed if chickpea is to be useful in sustainable cropping systems although it is an attractive cash crop. Sowing time and zero tillage practice, possibly combined with more appropriate cultivars, to enhance chickpea biomass, along with low initial soil NO3-N levels, would provide maximum N2 fixation.

scholarly journals Adaptive management of water resources based on an advanced entropy method to quantify agent information

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Cheng ◽  
Shuai Wei ◽  
Qiang Fu ◽  
Wei Pei ◽  
Tianxiao Li
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Adaptive Management ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Entropy Method ◽  
Ecological Benefits ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Use Efficiency

Abstract Adaptive management is currently an important method to optimize the management of complex water resources systems. Regional water resources adaptive management was conducted based on the advanced theory of a complex system multi-agent model; the state of an agent was tracked and modified by information entropy theory, which was improved by using individual standard deviations. With the goal of optimizing the adaptation of each agent of the region, water resources in the major grain production area of China were managed under the constraints of the total annual available water resources and water use efficiency requirements for 2015 and 2030. By introducing the adaptive water resources management in 2015, the domestic benefits and economic benefits increased by 2.90% and 14.81%, respectively, with respect to observed values. The ecological benefits declined by 3.63%, but ecological water demand was fully satisfied, and the ecological water environment was improved. Given the water use efficiency targets in 2030, applying adaptive management resulted in an increase of domestic, economic, and ecological benefits of 34.29%, 21.14%, and 1.78%, respectively. The results show that the adaptive management method presented can help managers to balance the benefits of various agents to determine the direction of water resources management decisions.

AGRONOMIC AND ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF PERMANENT RAISED BEDS, NO TILLAGE AND STRAW MULCHING FOR AN IRRIGATED MAIZE-WHEAT SYSTEM IN NORTHWEST INDIA

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
HARI RAM ◽  
YADVINDER SINGH ◽  
K. S. SAINI ◽  
D. S. KLER ◽  
J. TIMSINA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Straw Mulch ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Northwest India

SUMMARYNo-tillage and raised beds are widely used for different crops in developed countries. A field experiment was conducted on an irrigated maize-wheat system to study the effect of field layout, tillage and straw mulch on crop performance, water use efficiency and economics for five years (2003–2008) in northwest India. Straw mulch reduced the maximum soil temperature at seed depth by about 3 °C compared to the no mulch. During the wheat emergence, raised beds recorded 1.3 °C higher soil temperature compared to the flat treatments. Both maize and wheat yields were similar under different treatments during all the years. Maize and wheat planted on raised beds recorded about 7.8% and 22.7% higher water use efficiency than under flat layout, respectively. Straw mulch showed no effect on water use and water use efficiency in maize. The net returns from the maize-wheat system were more in no tillage and permanent raised beds than with conventional tillage. Bulk density and cumulative infiltration were more in no tillage compared with conventional tillage.

scholarly journals Efeito da Irrigação Suplementar na Produtividade e Eficiência no Uso de Água da Palma Forrageira

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2744
Author(s):  
Elaine Cristina Batista da Silva ◽  
José Romualdo De Sousa Lima ◽  
Antônio Celso Dantas Antonino ◽  
Airon Aparecido Silva de Melo ◽  
Eduardo Soares de Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Promising Technique ◽  
Cactus Pear ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Supplementary Irrigation ◽  
Use Efficiency

A irrigação suplementar pode ser uma técnica promissora para o aumento da produção da palma forrageira, contudo, depende da evapotranspiração (ET). A irrigação e a ET estão estritamente relacionados com a produtividade das culturas (P), de modo que a relação entre P e ET resulta na eficiência no uso de água (EUA). Assim, objetivou-se avaliar P, ET e EUA em palma, sob irrigação suplementar. O experimento foi conduzido em campo, com palma submetida a irrigação por gotejamento com intervalos de reposição de água no solo de 7 (T7), 14 (T14) e 21 (T21) dias, mais o tratamento de sequeiro (T0), em blocos ao acaso, com 4 repetições. O crescimento da palma foi monitorado por meio da medição da largura (LC), do comprimento (CC), da área (AC), do índice de área (IAC) e da espessura dos cladódios (EC). Ao longo do ciclo da cultura também foram monitoradas as condições meteorológicas. A ET foi obtida como termo residual da equação do balanço hídrico. Os tratamentos não tiveram efeitos significativos nas variáveis biométricas e na produtividade da palma forrageira. A menor ET foi obtida no T0 (406,1 mm total e 1,7 mm d‑1), sendo que o T7 apresentou a maior ET (664,4 mm total e 2,8 mm d-1). A maior EUA (392,8 kg MF ha-1 mm-1) foi obtida no tratamento sob sequeiro (T0). Com base na produtividade e na EUA da palma forrageira, recomenda-se, para as condições do município de Garanhuns, que o cultivo da mesma seja realizado sob condições de sequeiro.Effect of the Supplemental Irrigation on Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Cactus Pear A B S T R A C TThe supplementary irrigation may be a promising technique to increase forage cactus yield, however, it depends of evapotranspiration (ET). Irrigation and ET are closely related to crop yields (P), so the relationships between P and ET result in water use efficiency (WUE). Thus, the objective was to evaluate P, ET and WUE in cactus pear, under supplementary irrigation. The experiment was conducted under field conditions with cactus pear submitted to drip irrigation with soil water replacement intervals of 7 (T7), 14 (T14) and 21 (T21) days, plus the rainfed treatment (T0), in blocks with 4 replicates. Cactus pear growth, by the measurements of width (WC), length (LC), area (CA), area index (CAI) and thickness of cladodes (CD), was monitored. Meteorological conditions along the cactus pear cycle were monitored. The ET was quantified by the soil water balance method. The treatments had no effects on the biometric variables and yield of cactus pear. ET was lower in T0 (406.1 mm total and 1.7 mm day-1), with T7 showing the highest values of ET (664.4 mm total and 2.8 mm day-1). It was observed that the largest WUE (392.8 kg MF ha-1 mm-1) was in the rainfed treatment (T0). On the basis of the yield and WUE of the cactus pear, it is recommended, for the conditions of the municipality of Garanhuns that the cultivation of the same be carried out under conditions of rainfed.Key words: Soil moisture; evapotranspiration; water balance.

Yield of spring wheat and field pea seeded into standing and cultivated canola stubble on the semiarid Canadian prairie

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-289
Author(s):  
Herb Cutforth
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Field Pea ◽  
Canadian Prairie ◽  
Use Efficiency

Cutforth, H. 2013. Yield of spring wheat and field pea seeded into standing and cultivated canola stubble on the semiarid Canadian prairie. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 287–289. Previous research in the semiarid prairie showed that crop yields increased as the height of standing cereal stubble increased to ≥45 cm. A 3-yr (2008–2010) study was conducted at Swift Current, SK, to determine how seeding field pea and spring wheat into cultivated and tall (≥45 cm high) canola stubble affected crop yield. Similar to cereal stubble, crop yield and water use efficiency were significantly greater for crops grown in the tall standing canola stubble compared to the cultivated stubble. Water use by each crop was independent of stubble management.

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