scholarly journals LOW-INPUT PINEAPPLE CROPS WITH HIGH QUALITY FRUIT: PROMISING IMPACTS OF LOCALLY INTEGRATED AND ORGANIC FERTILISATION COMPARED TO CHEMICAL FERTILISERS

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 286-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARIE DARNAUDERY ◽  
PATRICK FOURNIER ◽  
MATHIEU LÉCHAUDEL
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Export Market ◽  
Mucuna Pruriens ◽  
Low Input ◽  
Organic Fertilisation ◽  
Organic Fertilisers

SUMMARYFruit and vegetable farming generally involves high levels of chemical inputs despite the fact that consumers are increasingly concerned about the sanitary and organoleptic aspects of fruit quality. Pineapple is largely subject to these issues since it is dominated by conventional monocropping with high levels of agrochemical inputs due to nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilisation, weed management, crop protection and flowering induction. However, low-input pineapple cropping systems are both rare and little documented. Our study aimed at replacing all or part of the chemical fertilisers used with local organic fertilisers. It was conducted on the cultivar ‘Queen Victoria’, without pesticides or herbicides, in Reunion Island. We compared the impacts of three fertilisation treatments on pineapple growth and yield, fruit quality traits, symptoms of two major fungal diseases in fruit and production costs and labour times: (i) conventional: NPK fertiliser at recommended doses (265.5 kg ha−1 N–10.53 kg ha−1 P–445.71 kg ha−1 K); (ii) integrated: Mucuna pruriens green manure (240.03 kg ha−1 N, 18.62 kg ha−1 P, 136.11 kg ha−1 K) incorporated into the soil and a half-dose of NPK fertiliser and (iii) organic: M. pruriens green manure incorporated into the soil and foliar applications of sugarcane vinasse from a local distillery, rich in K (14.44 g L−1). Our results showed that NPK fertilisation could be replaced by organic fertilisers as well as by integrated fertilisation. ‘D’-leaf analysis showed that vinasse supplies a largely sufficient K level for growing pineapples. With organic fertilisation, pineapple growth was slower, 199 days after planting vs. 149 days for integrated or conventional fertilisations, and fruit yield was lower, 47.25 t ha−1 vs. 52.51 and 61.24 t ha−1, probably because M. pruriens green manure provided an early increase in soil mineral N, whereas N requirements are much higher four months after planting. However, the fruit weight (709.94 ± 123.53 g) was still within the size range required for the export market (600–900 g). Interestingly, organic fertilisation significantly reduced Leathery Pocket disease and produced the best quality fruit with the highest total soluble solids contents (TSS) and the lowest titratable acidity (TTA). Fruit quality was also significantly improved with integrated fertilisation, with fruit weight similar to that of conventional fertilisation. To conclude, these findings have implications for the sustainability of pineapple production and could lead to low-input innovative cropping systems that reduce production costs and develop local organic inputs.

Effect of fallow frequency, flexible rotations, legume green manure, and wheat class on the economics of wheat production in the Brown soil zone

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 413-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
F. Selles ◽  
P. G. Jefferson ◽  
R. Lemke
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Soil Zone ◽  
Summer Fallow ◽  
Legume Green Manure

Producers in the semiarid Brown soil zone of Saskatchewan have historically produced spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in fallow-based rotations because these cropping systems are profitable and risk efficient; however, their use has also been most damaging to soil quality. New wheat types and management methods have been developed that may offer wheat producers opportunities to enhance economic returns, while improving environmental sustainability. This study compares the economic merits of reducing fallow (F) frequency, using an annual legume green manure (LGM) crop as a summer fallow replacement, adopting a flex-cropping approach based on available soil water reserves (if water) or the need to control problem weeds (if weeds), and the production of Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat (W) versus the higher yielding Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) wheat class (HY). The results are based on 15 yr of data from seven crop rotations included in an ongoing experiment being conducted on an Orthic Brown Chernozem at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The crop rotations included F-W-W, LGM-W-W, F-HY-HY, F-W-W-W, continuous W (Cont W), Cont W (if water), and Cont W (if weeds). Cropping systems were managed using conservation tillage practices. They were fertilized with recommended rates of N and P based on soil tests, and crop residue was maintained as tall as possible (usually > 30 cm) to enhance snow trapping. The 1988–2002 study period was characterized by above normal growing season precipitation; thus, grain yields were also above average for this region. Results showed that producers will earn the highest net return with Cont W ($41 ha-1), despite this rotation having the highest production costs. Net returns ranked second highest for F-W-W-W, F-HYHY, and the flex-crop rotations (about $15 ha-1 less than Cont W), and ranked lowest for F-W-W and LGM-W-W (about $25 ha-1 less). However, since 1993, when the LGM was managed more effectively than in the first 6 yr, LGM-W-W was more profitable than F-W-W. On average, it was more profitable to produce CPS compared with CWRS wheat when the CPS/CWRS price ratio was greater than 0.8. Producers who are highly averse to risk would still choose cropping systems that included some summer fallow, while those with lower risk aversion would choose Cont W, but with all-risk crop insurance. In the absence of an all-risk crop insurance program, producers would typically choose Cont W (if water), F-W-W-W, or F-W-W. We concluded that area producers, who practice conservation tillage management and use tall stubble for snowtrapping, can enhance farm income by moving to more intensive cropping systems, and while doing so, they will foster improved environmental sustainability. Key words: Crop rotations, wheat, summer fallow, legume green manure, flex-cropping, production costs, net returns, income variability

scholarly journals Extreme Grain-Based Cropping Systems: When Herbicide-Free Weed Management Meets Conservation Tillage in Northern Climates

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 204-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Légère ◽  
Steven J. Shirtliffe ◽  
Anne Vanasse ◽  
Robert H. Gulden
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Low Input ◽  
No Till ◽  
Green Manure Crops

The challenges associated with the adoption of conservation tillage and/or low-input cropping systems, whether organic or herbicide-free, across Canada are shaped by scale, environment, and local practices. A study in eastern Canada captured the challenges of introducing low-input cropping systems in mature (20+ yr) tillage treatments in a barley/red clover/corn/soybean rotation. Each mature tillage system came with its own weed problems, but this did not affect crops such as barley and red clover, which produced similar yields across high and low input systems. However, some form of primary tillage was needed to achieve adequate weed control and yield in organic (ORG) and herbicide-free (HF) systems. The HF and ORG systems with no-till actually failed to produce a corn crop but produced soybean yields that were half or less than that for other treatments. The successful combination of conservation tillage practices and low-input systems in eastern Canada would thus appear to be crop-specific, being easier to achieve in competitive cereal crops. In western Canadian organic agriculture, tillage is practiced with low-disturbance chisel plows instead of inversion plows. However, green manure crops (summer cover crops) are often terminated with tandem discs. Both roller crimpers and mowing can successfully kill annual green manure crops such as field pea and rye, and usually result in reduced weed growth following termination. However, the lack of tillage can result in lower crop yields in wheat following green manure terminated by roller crimping compared to tillage. Challenges for no-till organic practices include perennial weed control and soil fertility. Overall, flexible crop production programs such as the former Manitoba Pesticide Free Production program and the “Agriculture raisonnéeTM” program in Québec are more likely to promote sustained environmental, economic, and social prosperity than rigid adherence to organic or no-till practices.

Nitrate Leaching to a Shallow Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain Aquifer as Influenced by Conventional No-Till and Low-Input Sustainable Grain Production Systems

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 691-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Craig ◽  
R. R. Weil
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Atlantic Coastal Plain ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Low Input ◽  
No Till

In December, 1987, the states in the Chesapeake Bay region, along with the federal government, signed an agreement which called for a 40% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to the Bay by the year 2000. To accomplish this goal, major reductions in nutrient loadings associated with agricultural management practices were deemed necessary. The objective of this study was to determine if reducing fertilizer inputs to the NT system would result in a reduction in nitrogen contamination of groundwater. In this study, groundwater, soil, and percolate samples were collected from two cropping systems. The first system was a conventional no-till (NT) grain production system with a two-year rotation of corn/winter wheat/double crop soybean. The second system, denoted low-input sustainable agriculture (LISA), produced the same crops using a winter legume and relay-cropped soybeans into standing wheat to reduce nitrogen and herbicide inputs. Nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in groundwater were significantly lower under the LISA system. Over 80% of the NT groundwater samples had NO3-N concentrations greater than 10 mgl-1, compared to only 4% for the LISA cropping system. Significantly lower soil mineral N to a depth of 180 cm was also observed. The NT soil had nearly twice as much mineral N present in the 90-180 cm portion than the LISA cropping system.

Analysis of phenotypic diversity of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) accessions from Jammu and Kashmir, India

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Showkat A. Zargar ◽  
Aijaz A. Wani ◽  
M. I. S. Saggoo
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Quantitative Traits ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Kernel Weight ◽  
Prunus Armeniaca ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Jammu And Kashmir ◽  
Fruit Length ◽  
Upgma Dendrogram ◽  
Fruit Quality Traits

Abstract Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is a world-wide highly appreciated fruit, with its attractive colour, soft texture and typical flavour. In the current investigation, 68 apricot accessions collected from Jammu and Kashmir, India were analysed to determine the measure of variation using 12 qualitative and 16 quantitative traits with an aim to identify superior apricot accessions with excellent fruit quality traits. High phenotypic variability was observed among the studied apricot accessions with significant differences among most of the qualitative and quantitative traits. Fruit-related characteristics including fruit weight, fruit length, fruit ratio, fruit firmness, fruit shape, fruit suture, stone weight, kernel weight and stone shape were the most diverse with a high coefficient of variation (>30%). One way analysis of variance showed significant differences (P < 0.0001) among all the quantitative traits. Significant positive and negative correlations were observed between all the agronomically important fruit quality traits. The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that 75.34% of the variability was defined by the first eight components. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram, based on all traits measured grouped the accessions into two main clusters with several sub-clusters. Both UPGMA dendrogram and PCA scatter plot formed a cluster of 14 accessions, having the highest values regarding most important fruit quality traits such as fruit weight, fruit length and width, fruit ratio, stone weight and kernel weight can be treated as potentially superior accessions. These accessions can be used directly for cultivation and in future apricot breeding programmes. The present findings are promising for genetic resource management, cultivar improvement and commercial applications of apricot in Jammu and Kashmir, India.

scholarly journals High-density linkage map construction and identification of loci regulating fruit quality traits in blueberry

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Molla F. Mengist ◽  
Hamed Bostan ◽  
Elisheba Young ◽  
Kristine L. Kay ◽  
Nicholas Gillitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linkage Map ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
High Density ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Total Soluble Solids ◽  
Fruit Quality Traits ◽  
High Density Linkage Map

AbstractFruit quality traits play a significant role in consumer preferences and consumption in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L). The objectives of this study were to construct a high-density linkage map and to identify the underlying genetic basis of fruit quality traits in blueberry. A total of 287 F1 individuals derived from a cross between two southern highbush blueberry cultivars, ‘Reveille’ and ‘Arlen’, were phenotyped over three years (2016–2018) for fruit quality-related traits, including titratable acidity, pH, total soluble solids, and fruit weight. A high-density linkage map was constructed using 17k single nucleotide polymorphisms markers. The linkage map spanned a total of 1397 cM with an average inter-loci distance of 0.08 cM. The quantitative trait loci interval mapping based on the hidden Markov model identified 18 loci for fruit quality traits, including seven loci for fruit weight, three loci for titratable acidity, five loci for pH, and three loci for total soluble solids. Ten of these loci were detected in more than one year. These loci explained phenotypic variance ranging from 7 to 28% for titratable acidity and total soluble solid, and 8–13% for pH. However, the loci identified for fruit weight did not explain more than 10% of the phenotypic variance. We also reported the association between fruit quality traits and metabolites detected by Proton nuclear magnetic resonance analysis directly responsible for these fruit quality traits. Organic acids, citric acid, and quinic acid were significantly (P < 0.05) and positively correlated with titratable acidity. Sugar molecules showed a strong and positive correlation with total soluble solids. Overall, the study dissected the genetic basis of fruit quality traits and established an association between these fruit quality traits and metabolites.

scholarly journals The Effect of Weed Competition on Apple Fruit Quality

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ersin ATAY ◽  
Seckin GARGIN ◽  
Ahmet ESITKEN ◽  
N. Pinar GUZEL ◽  
A. Nilgun ATAY ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Apple Orchard ◽  
High Density ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Weed Competition ◽  
Soluble Solids Content ◽  
Solids Content ◽  
Potassium Magnesium

Orchard performance is influenced by weed competition. In this study, the effects of weed competition on nutrient contents, chemical and physical fruit quality properties were sought. The study was carried out in a high-density apple orchard (‘Golden Delicious’/M.9) over two consecutive growing seasons. The effect of weed competition was studied at three different levels: weak, moderate and strong. Fruit firmness, soluble solids content, macronutrients (such as nitrogen, potassium and calcium) and potassium+magnesium/calcium ratio in fruit were significantly affected by weed competition. Strong weed competition negatively affected soluble solids content and potassium+magnesium/calcium ratio. In both trial years, soluble solids content was significantly higher in weak weed competition. In the first year of the study, soluble solids content ranged between 13.77±0.06% (strong weed competition) and 15.20±0.10% (weak weed competition). In the following year, soluble solids content values were determined as 13.13±0.23% in strong weed competition and 13.83±0.21% in weak weed competition. Weak weed competition showed superiority for fruit weight and potassium+magnesium/calcium ratio. As a whole, this study indicates that insufficient weed control in tree rows might be a limiting factor for fruit quality in high-density apple orchards.

Size and composition of weed seedbank in long-term organic and conventional low-input cropping systems

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 52-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Graziani ◽  
Andrea Onofri ◽  
Euro Pannacci ◽  
Francesco Tei ◽  
Marcello Guiducci
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Low Input

scholarly journals Nitrogen fertility in semiarid dryland wheat production is challenging for beginning organic farmers

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drew J. Lyon ◽  
Gary W. Hergert
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
N Fertility ◽  
Summer Fallow

AbstractOrganic farming systems use green and animal manures to supply nitrogen (N) to their fields for crop production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of green manure and composted cattle manure on the subsequent winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) crop in a semiarid environment. Dry pea (Pisum sativumL.) was seeded in early April and terminated at first flower in late June. Composted cattle manure was applied at 0, 11.2 or 22.5 Mg ha−1just prior to pea termination. Winter wheat was planted in mid September following the green manure or tilled summer fallow. No positive wheat response to green manure or composted cattle manure was observed in any of the 3 years of the study. In 2 of the 3 years, wheat yields and grain test weight were reduced following green manure. Green manure reduced grain yields compared with summer fallow by 220 and 1190 kg ha−1in 2009 and 2010, respectively. This may partially be explained by 40 and 47 mm less soil water at wheat planting following peas compared with tilled summer fallow in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Also, in 2008 and 2009, soil nitrate level averaged 45 kg ha−1higher for black fallow compared with green manure fallow when no compost was added. Organic growers in the semiarid Central Great Plains will be challenged to supply N fertility to their winter wheat crop in a rapid and consistent manner as a result of the inherently variable precipitation. Growers may need to allow several years to pass before seeing the benefits of fertility practices in their winter wheat cropping systems.

Design and multicriteria assessment of low-input cropping systems based on plant diversification in southwestern France

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Bonnet ◽  
Noémie Gaudio ◽  
Lionel Alletto ◽  
Didier Raffaillac ◽  
Jacques-Eric Bergez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Low Input ◽  
Multicriteria Assessment ◽  
Plant Diversification
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