A comparison of ley and arable farming systems

1960 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. Lewis ◽  
John Procter ◽  
A. E. M. Hood
Keyword(s):  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Wheat Grain ◽  
Arable Crops ◽  
Weed Growth ◽  
Arable Farming

1. Alternate husbandry systems containing 1-, 2- and 3-year grazed leys were compared with continuous arable cropping at Jealott's Hill during the period 1945–56. Kale and wheat were used as successive test crops to measure the fertility accruing from the following crop sequences: (a) 3-year ley; (b) wheat, 2-year ley; (c) wheat, barley, 1-year ley; (d) wheat, barley, barley. A study was also made of the effect on crop yields of compost, dung and N fertilizer dressings applied to kale.2. The yields of kale and wheat were improved considerably by 1-, 2- and 3-year leys. Increments were: 5·2 tons fresh kale per acre and 8·7 cwt. wheat grain per acre from 1-year ley, 9·0 tons kale and 13·5 cwt. wheat per acre from 2-year ley and 9·2 tons kale and 15·0 cwt. wheat per acre from 3-year ley. Two- and 3-year leys were markedly superior to 1-year ley in their effects on kale and wheat. The slight benefit apparent in wheat yields from 3-year ley compared with 2-year ley was not significant and so the 2- and 3-year leys may be considered equal in their effect on the succeeding arable crops. In the third arable crop, wheat, the 2-year ley was still effective to the extent of 3·9 cwt. grain per acre but the residual effect of the 1-year ley had largely disappeared. Yields under the all-arable system were considered to have been reduced by the poor physical and nutrient status of the soil, by increased incidence of ‘take-all’ in wheat and by more weed growth.3. The response of kale to dung averaged only 1·1 tons per acre over all four rotations but this was largely obtained in the ley systems and little after all-arable cropping. Compost was generally ineffective on kale with some signs of detrimental effect, especially in the arable system. Wheat following kale benefited equally from dung and compost applied in the previous year; the average response to organics was 1·6 cwt. grain per acre and this was unaffected by rotation. The residual value of dung on subsequent crops amounted to an average of 2·0 cwt. grain per acre per annum but compost had no significant effect.4. The response to an additional 0·4 cwt. fertilizer N per acre to kale was greatest after continuous arable cropping and virtually nil after 3-year ley. Wheat grain yields were improved by 1·0 cwt. per acre on average by the addition of the extra 0·4 cwt. fertilizer N per acre to kale in the previous year.5. It was concluded that when mixed farming is practised the aim should be to have the land under grass for at least as long as it is under arable, e.g. 3 years of ley with 3 years of arable.

scholarly journals The economic value of sustainable soil management in arable farming systems – A conceptual framework

2021 ◽  
Vol 129 ◽  
pp. 126334
Author(s):  
M.C. Kik ◽  
G.D.H. Claassen ◽  
M.P.M. Meuwissen ◽  
A.B. Smit ◽  
H.W. Saatkamp
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Sustainable Soil Management ◽  
Arable Farming

scholarly journals The Pitfalls of Relating Weeds, Herbicide Use, and Crop Yield: Don't Fall Into the Trap! A Critical Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Colbach ◽  
Sandrine Petit ◽  
Bruno Chauvel ◽  
Violaine Deytieux ◽  
Martin Lechenet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Arable Farming ◽  
Herbicide Use ◽  
The Impact

The growing recognition of the environmental and health issues associated to pesticide use requires to investigate how to manage weeds with less or no herbicides in arable farming while maintaining crop productivity. The questions of weed harmfulness, herbicide efficacy, the effects of herbicide use on crop yields, and the effect of reducing herbicides on crop production have been addressed over the years but results and interpretations often appear contradictory. In this paper, we critically analyze studies that have focused on the herbicide use, weeds and crop yield nexus. We identified many inconsistencies in the published results and demonstrate that these often stem from differences in the methodologies used and in the choice of the conceptual model that links the three items. Our main findings are: (1) although our review confirms that herbicide reduction increases weed infestation if not compensated by other cultural techniques, there are many shortcomings in the different methods used to assess the impact of weeds on crop production; (2) Reducing herbicide use rarely results in increased crop yield loss due to weeds if farmers compensate low herbicide use by other efficient cultural practices; (3) There is a need for comprehensive studies describing the effect of cropping systems on crop production that explicitly include weeds and disentangle the impact of herbicides from the effect of other practices on weeds and on crop production. We propose a framework that presents all the links and feed-backs that must be considered when analyzing the herbicide-weed-crop yield nexus. We then provide a number of methodological recommendations for future studies. We conclude that, since weeds are causing yield loss, reduced herbicide use and maintained crop productivity necessarily requires a redesign of cropping systems. These new systems should include both agronomic and biodiversity-based levers acting in concert to deliver sustainable weed management.

Influencing incentives for precision agricultural technologies within European arable farming systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 66-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.P. Barnes ◽  
I. Soto ◽  
V. Eory ◽  
B. Beck ◽  
A.T. Balafoutis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Farming Systems ◽  
Agricultural Technologies ◽  
Arable Farming

An experiment begun in 1958 measuring effects of N, P and K fertilizers on yield and N, P and K contents of grass:2. Residual effects on arable crops, 1968–76

1980 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Penny ◽  
F. V. Widdowson
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Wheat Grain ◽  
K Uptake ◽  
Arable Crops ◽  
Soil P ◽  
K Fertilizer ◽  
K Depletion

SUMMARYAn experiment at Rothamsted during 1958–67 measured effects on yield, on K uptake and on soil K of applying all combinations of 38, 75 and 113 kg N and 0, 31 and 62 kg K/ha per cut to grass leys, which were cut and removed. Soil K was depleted most where most N and least K were given. Annual applications of 0, 33 and 66 kg P/ha were also tested; soil P was not depleted. The grass was then ploughed.In 1968, residual effects were measured by spring wheat. In 1969 and in 1970 104 kg/ha of fresh K was applied on half of each plot; potatoes (1969) and spring wheat (1970) valued residual and fresh effects of K.In 1971 potatoes tested 0, 104 and 208 kg/ha of fresh K, cumulatively with the three amounts given to the grass and also extra K (104 kg/ha) on half-plots, cumulatively with that given in 1969 and 1970. In 1972 winter wheat, and in 1974 and 1975 spring barley, measured residues of all treatments previously applied (the site was fallowed in 1973).Finally, in 1976, potatoes tested 0, 156 and 312 kg/ha of fresh K on whole plots, cumulatively with the previous dressings of K, and also 156 kg/ha of extra K on half-plots, again cumulatively. All these test crops were given basal N.Yields and K contents of wheat at ear emergence and yields of wheat grain were largest after grass given 38 kg N and 62 kg K/ha per cut, because here soil K depletion was least. Wheat grain yields benefited consistently from fresh K. K content of the wheat at ear emergence was a good indicator of the need for K, but K content of grain was not, because it was unaltered by K fertilizer. Barley was a poor test crop for K, because yields of grain were little affected by previous treatments.Percentage K in potato leaves (in July in 1969 and 1971, in August in 1976) and yield of tubers were well correlated. Largest yields in 1969, 1971 and 1976 came where the leaves contained 3·43, 3·76 and 2·82% K, respectively, i.e. from soil containing most exchangeable K, plus most fresh K. There was no indication that maximum yields had been obtained, so the largest amounts (kg/ha) of fresh K tested (104 in 1969, 312 in 1971 and 468 in 1976) were insufficient to counteract depletion of soil K by the grass. Because the grass did not deplete soil P, the test crops benefited only little from either residual or fresh P.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the performance of three advisory methods for nitrogen fertilization of sugar beet and potatoes.

1989 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. Neeteson
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Current Method ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Potato Tubers ◽  
Current Recommendation ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Fertilizer Recommendation ◽  
The Difference

The performances of 3 different N fertilizer recommendation methods were retrospectively tested with data obtained from 150 trials with sugarbeet and 98 trials with potatoes in the Netherlands in 1973-82. The recommendations consisted of applying a fixed N rate in all situations (126 kg N/ha for sugarbeet and 286 kg N/ha for potatoes), the current Dutch method, which takes only the amount of mineral N present in the soil in early spring into account, and a refinement of the current method, which also takes soil type and recent applications of organic manures into account. On av., significantly lower amounts of fertilizer N were recommended with the current method. The difference from the other methods was on av. 25 kg N/ha for sugarbeet and 30 kg N/ha for potatoes. With the refined current method the highest crop yields were obtained but the difference from the other methods was not significant and averaged only 0.3-0.4 t/ha for sugarbeet and 0.1-0.2 t/ha for potatoes. The recovery of fertilizer N by the potato tubers was 2% higher with the current method than with the other methods. Based on these findings it is concluded that the current recommendation method is preferable to the other methods. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

scholarly journals 72 Estimating the supply and movement of feed for beef production in Alberta, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 46-46
Author(s):  
Genet Mengistu ◽  
Marcos Cordeiro ◽  
Getahun Legesse ◽  
Sarah Pogue ◽  
Amanda Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Red Deer ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Wheat Grain ◽  
Beef Industry ◽  
Livestock Feed ◽  
Environmental Footprints ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Statistics Canada

Abstract This study estimated movement of feed between regions of Alberta to meet the needs of the beef sector in 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016, and included barley and wheat grain, grass hay and grass-legume hay, which can be cost-effectively transported. Feed demands of beef and other livestock (i.e., dairy cattle, chickens, pigs, sheep, bison, horses, turkeys and other poultry) were estimated using county-level inventories from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development and Statistics Canada, and aggregated to 7 land-use regions: Lower Athabasca, Upper Athabasca, Lower Peace, Upper Peace, North Saskatchewan, Red Deer and South Saskatchewan. Feed requirements were sourced from literature and expert opinion pertinent to Canadian context, and feed demand estimated using annualized feeding days and dry matter (DM) intake. Feed available for beef production was estimated from crop yields minus other livestock feed use. Average feed demand for beef production across Alberta was (tons of DM) 2.71 M, 0.68 M, 2.21 M, and 1.95 M for barley and wheat grain, grass hay, and grass-legume hay, respectively. North Saskatchewan, Red Deer and South Saskatchewan accounted for 90% of the total demand for barley and wheat grain and 81% of grass hay and grass-legume hay. South Saskatchewan had the largest feed deficit and required feed movement in all years. Across years, barley grain deficits ranged from -94% to -31%, grass hay deficit from -142% to a surplus of 1.6% and grass-legume hay deficits from -167% to -15%. Unmet deficits at provincial level occurred for barley grain (2006), grass hay (2001) and grass-legume hay (2001, 2006). Wheat was surplus in all years, ranging from 17% to 90%. Feed movement is critical to support beef production in Alberta, and is highly variable depending on crop yield in different regions. This analysis enables the beef industry to assess provincial feed sourcing and environmental footprints.

Perspectives on nutrient management in arable farming systems

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Wivstad ◽  
A.S. Dahlin ◽  
C. Grant
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Arable Farming

Conservation agriculture for climate smart agriculture in smallholder farming systems in Kenya.

2022 ◽  
pp. 431-442
Author(s):  
Alfred Micheni ◽  
Patrick Gicheru ◽  
Onesmus Kitonyo
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
Adequate Food ◽  
Labour Requirement ◽  
Smart Agriculture

Abstract Climate change is any significant change in climatic conditions. Such changes may negatively affect productivity of the rain-fed agriculture practised by over 75% of the smallholder Kenyan farmers. The effect leads to failure to sustainably provide adequate food and revenue to famers. It is on this basis that an almost 8-year field study was conducted to evaluate and scale climate resilient agricultural technological options associated with Conservation Agriculture (CA) systems and practices (no-till; maintenance of permanent soil cover; and crop diversification - rotations and associations), complemented with good agricultural strategies. The activities involved were targeted to sustainably increase productivity of maize-legumes farming systems while reducing environmental risks. The results showed improved soil properties (physical, chemical and health) and consequently increased crop yields and human nutrition by over 30%. Such benefits were attributed to cost savings arising from NT and reduced labour requirement for weed control. This was further based on enhanced crop soil moisture and nutrients availability and use efficiency leading to over 25% yield increase advantage. Apart from the field trials, the study used the Agricultural Production Simulator (APSIM) computer model to simulate CA scenario with the aim of providing potential quick answers to adopting CA practices for farm system productivity. The results were inclusively shared, leading to over 21% increase in the number of farmers adopting the CA practices within and beyond the project sites. The study's overall recommendation affirmed the need to integrate the CA practices into Kenyan farming systems for sustainable agricultural livelihoods and economic opportunities.

A LONG-TERM FIELD EXPERIMENT WITH COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS AND MANURE: I. Fertility levels and crop yields in a rotation of swedes, oats and hay

1960 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. B. MacLeod ◽  
R. F. Bishop ◽  
L. P. Jackson ◽  
C. R. MacEachern ◽  
E. T. Goring
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Cation Exchange Capacity ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Exchangeable Potassium ◽  
Soluble Phosphorus ◽  
Initial Content ◽  
Term Field

In a field experiment, conducted from 1936 to 1957, a rotation of swedes, oats and hay was followed and treatments included commercial fertilizers and manure.Changes in the chemical composition of the soil during the experiment included significant decreases in soil organic matter, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity. In no case was the initial content of exchangeable potassium maintained and although changes in adsorbed and easily acid-soluble phosphorus were negligible with a number of treatments only one resulted in a significant increase.The treatments were applied in the swede year and yield differences with this crop were greater than for either the oats or hay. Data for the latter two crops indicated that with most of the treatments there was a tendency for yields to decline as the experiment progressed. This was not the case with swedes where variation in yields with rotation cycles was greater than it was in the case of oats or hay. There was a considerable residual effect from manure, and phosphorus had a greater effect on yields than either nitrogen or potassium.

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