Brachiaria and Panicum maximum in an integrated crop–livestock system and a second-crop maize system in succession with soybean

AbstractOwing to its contribution to the maintenance of carbon stocks, soil nitrogen and nutrient cycling for subsequent crops, the integrated systems become increasingly important for agricultural conservation. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass production of and total nutrient in Brachiaria spp. and Panicum maximum forage grasses used as mulch and soybean yields in an integrated crop–livestock system and second-crop maize succession system. The treatments consisted of the following cropping systems: Xaraes palisadegrass intercropped with soybean, Congo grass intercropped with soybean, Mombaça guinea grass intercropped with soybean, Tamani guinea grass intercropped with soybean and a soybean/maize succession system. The forage grasses were established during the soybean R6–R7 stage. Compared with Congo grass, Xaraes palisadegrass, Mombaça guinea grass and Tamani guinea grass produced more biomass and equivalent amounts of fertilizer returned to the soil and resulted in greater nutrient cycling, indicating the benefits of these grasses for use as mulch in integrated production systems. Maize had a greater C/N ratio, but the forage grasses also exhibited high potential by protecting the soil until the end of the soybean development cycle. The use of an integrated crop–livestock system combined with a forage cropping system provided greater soil nutrient cycling than the maize cropping system did, which resulted in increased soybean yields, thus contributing to the sustainability of agricultural systems.

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

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1993.0475 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 28 (3-5) ◽

pp. 691-700 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

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.

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iHSD Mill Efficacy on the Seeds of Australian Cropping System Weeds

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2017.95 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 103-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Michael J. Walsh ◽

John C. Broster ◽

Stephen B. Powles

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

High Efficacy ◽

Weed Seed ◽

Rigid Ryegrass ◽

Mill Speed ◽

Wheat Chaff

AbstractIn Australia, widespread evolution of multi-resistant weed populations has driven the development and adoption of harvest weed seed control (HWSC). However, due to incompatibility of commonly used HWSC systems with highly productive conservation cropping systems, better HWSC systems are in demand. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the integrated Harrington Seed Destructor (iHSD) mill on the seeds of Australia’s major crop weeds during wheat chaff processing. Also examined were the impacts of chaff type and moisture content on weed seed destruction efficacy. Initially, the iHSD mill speed of 3,000 rpm was identified as the most effective at destroying rigid ryegrass seeds present in wheat chaff. Subsequent testing determined that the iHSD mill was highly effective (>95% seed kill) on all Australian crop weeds examined. Rigid ryegrass seed kill was found to be highest for lupin chaff and lowest in barley, with wheat and canola chaff intermediate. Similarly, wheat chaff moisture reduced rigid ryegrass seed kill when moisture level exceeded 12%. The broad potential of the iHSD mill was evident, in that the reductions in efficacy due to wide-ranging differences in chaff type and moisture content were relatively small (≤10%). The results from these studies confirm the high efficacy and widespread suitability of the iHSD for use in Australian crop production systems. Additionally, as this system allows the conservation of all harvest residues, it is the best HWSC technique for conservation cropping systems.

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Impact of Cover Crops on the Soil Microbiome of Tree Crops

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8030328 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 328 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Antonio Castellano-Hinojosa ◽

Sarah L. Strauss

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Sustainable Management ◽

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Soil Microbiome ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Tree Crops

Increased concerns associated with interactions between herbicides, inorganic fertilizers, soil nutrient availability, and plant phytotoxicity in perennial tree crop production systems have renewed interest in the use of cover crops in the inter-row middles or between trees as an alternative sustainable management strategy for these systems. Although interactions between the soil microbiome and cover crops have been examined for annual cropping systems, there are critical differences in management and growth in perennial cropping systems that can influence the soil microbiome and, therefore, the response to cover crops. Here, we discuss the importance of cover crops in tree cropping systems using multispecies cover crop mixtures and minimum tillage and no-tillage to not only enhance the soil microbiome but also carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling compared to monocropping, conventional tillage, and inorganic fertilization. We also identify potentially important taxa and research gaps that need to be addressed to facilitate assessments of the relationships between cover crops, soil microbes, and the health of tree crops. Additional evaluations of the interactions between the soil microbiome, cover crops, nutrient cycling, and tree performance will allow for more effective and sustainable management of perennial cropping systems.

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Participatory research in dryland cropping systems — monitoring and simulation of soil water and nitrogen in farmers' paddocks in Central Queensland

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea02205 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 321 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

M. A. Foale ◽

M. E. Probert ◽

P. S. Carberry ◽

D. Lack ◽

S. Yeates ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Service Providers ◽

Production Systems ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Cropping System ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Mineral Nitrogen ◽

Soil Behaviour ◽

On Farm

Collaboration of researchers and service-providers with farmers in addressing crop and soil management, using on-farm experiments and cropping system simulation, was negotiated in 2 districts in Central Queensland, Australia. The 2 most influential variables affecting crop productivity in this region (soil water and mineral nitrogen contents) and the growth of sown crops, were monitored and simulated for 3 years beginning in December 1992. Periodic soil sampling of large experimental strips on 3 farms, from paddocks that differed in cropping history and soil properties, provided robust datasets of change, over time, of soil water and mineral nitrogen status. Farmers participated in twice-yearly discussions with researchers, informed by the accumulating data, which influenced thinking about soil behaviour and possible new management strategies. As the study period coincided with a prolonged drought, so that cropping opportunities were few, the objectives of the work were modified to concentrate almost exclusively on the soil variables.The contribution of the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator, which was used to simulate the measured changes in soil water and mineral nitrogen, was found by all participants to be useful. The APSIM output generally demonstrated close correspondence with field observations, which raised confidence in its applicability to local cropping systems. Exploration of hypothetical situations of interest to farmer participants, in the form of what-if scenarios, provided insights into the behaviour of the production system for a range of soil and seasonal conditions. The informed speculation of the simulator became a substitute for the farmers' own, more tentative, efforts.The regular participative review sessions proved to be highly effective in stimulating the learning of both farmers and researchers. The farmers were able to feel comfortable as owners of the collaborative experiments and custodians of the learning environment. Clear evidence for the ongoing learning of these farmers appeared in post-collaboration practices and experiences.

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Effects of slope position, aspect and cropping system on soil nutrient variability in hilly areas

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr14113 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 53 (3) ◽

pp. 338 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yu Gou ◽

Hui Chen ◽

Wei Wu ◽

Hong-Bin Liu

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Sweet Potato ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Western China ◽

Red Pepper ◽

Available P ◽

Slope Position ◽

Available N

Human activities and topography are main factors affecting soil nutrient variation. However, the relationships between these factors are both site- and scale-specific. In hilly areas of south-western China, the dominant cropping systems are rice, vegetables, oranges, Chinese red pepper and maize–sweet potato intercropping. In the present study, slope position (valley, low slope, flat slope, middle slope, upper slope, ridge) and aspect (north, east, south, west) were derived to investigate the relationships among cropping system, terrain, and soil nutrients at county scale. Crops were mainly planted at middle or flat slope positions. Rice and orange plants were evenly distributed across the aspects whereas vegetables were mostly planted on the northern aspect. Red pepper and maize–sweet potato plants were mainly grown on the western and southern aspects. Rice sites had higher contents of organic matter and available nitrogen (N) and lower contents of available phosphorus (P) and available potassium (K). For dryland cropping systems, vegetable sites had higher contents of organic matter, available N, and available P. Red pepper sites had higher contents of available K. Contents of organic matter and available N were generally higher at lower landscape positions. Contents of available K were higher at lower and flat slope positions. Contents of available P were higher at higher landscape positions. Contents of organic matter and available N were higher on the northern and eastern, and lower on the western aspects. Contents of available P were higher on the western and lower on the northern aspects. No significant differences were found for available K across the aspects. Classification tree algorithms indicated that relative importance of the variables on soil nutrient variation was in the order: (i) cropping system, (ii) slope position, and (iii) aspect.

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Combining Legume Groundcovers and Low Nitrogen Fertilization in a Short-rotation Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri) Cropping System: Effect on Productivity, Soil Fertility, and Nutrient Leaching

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.46.3.481 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 481-486 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yingqian Lin ◽

Alexa R. Wilson ◽

Pascal Nzokou

Keyword(s):

White Clover ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Growth Response ◽

Production Systems ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

N Leaching ◽

Abies Fraseri ◽

Nitrate N ◽

Legume Cover Crops

High rates of inorganic fertilizers are used in conventional intensive production systems such as Abies fraseri (fraser fir) cropping systems for Christmas trees. Groundcovers can be used as green mulches, help reduce the use of farm chemicals, and provide several environmental benefits. We investigated the performance of a low-input cropping system by combining two legume cover crops [Dutch white clover (Trifolium repens) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa)] in combination with low rates of inorganic fertilizers as a step toward a more sustainable production system. The randomized block design comprised one cover crop and one of three applications of reduced rate inorganic fertilizer (75%, 50%, and 25% of the recommended rate). A conventional system using herbicides for weed control and the 100% rate of inorganic fertilizer was used as a control. Parameters measured included tree morphology, foliar nitrogen concentration, soil mineral nitrogen, and nitrate-N leaching below the root zone. A significant positive growth response (height and diameter) was obtained in all alfalfa-based cropping systems. This was accompanied by foliar nutrient concentrations similar to conventional plots and a reduction in nitrate-N leaching. However, in white clover-based cropping systems, the growth response was reduced (both height and diameter), suggesting competition for soil resources. In addition, the total nitrate-N leaching was higher in this system, suggesting an imbalance between mineral nitrogen availability and use in white clover-based cropping systems. We conclude that if the potential competition between cover crops and trees can be properly managed, legume cover crops can be effectively used to make intensive production tree-based systems more sustainable. Further studies related to mineralization and macronutrient flows are needed before any definite recommendation can be made about the use of these systems in large-scale production systems.

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Performance of American cotton-legumes based intercroppingsystem on nutrient uptake and soil nutrient status

Agricultural Science Digest - A Research Journal ◽

10.18805/asd.v36i3.11450 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Ravindra Kumar ◽

A. B. Turkhede ◽

Shrimohan Meena ◽

R. K. Nagar

Keyword(s):

Field Experiment ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Block Design ◽

Cropping System ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Soil Nutrient Status ◽

Available N ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Npk Uptake

The field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2014-15. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design, replicated thrice with eleven cropping systems. Significantly highest NPK uptake (38.97, 13.39 and 34.85 kg ha-1 respectively) was recorded in the cropping system of sole cotton. Significantly highest available N (222.75 kg ha-1) was recorded in sole blackgram and maximum available P (21.52 kg ha-1) was recorded in cotton + cowpea intercropping system. Cotton + clusterbean intercropping system was recorded significantly highest available K (355.60 kg/h

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Modelling Yield and Seasonal Soil Salinity Dynamics in Rice-Grasspea Cropping System for the Coastal Saline Zone of West Bengal, India

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/proceedings2019036146 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 146

Author(s):

Sukamal Sarkar ◽

Donald S Gaydon ◽

Koushik Brahmachari ◽

Manoj Kumar Nanda ◽

Argha Ghosh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Salinity ◽

Field Experiments ◽

West Bengal ◽

Production Systems ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Grass Pea ◽

Two Factors ◽

Winter Crops ◽

Saline Zone

Due to seasonal dry-season salt accumulation in the coastal saline zone (CSZ) of West Bengal, India, the cultivation of winter crops (following summer rice) is rare. To address this issue, field experiments were conducted over two years (2016–18) in the CSZ to study the feasibility of cropping system intensification through incorporating grass pea into the dominant rice-fallow rotation. The experiment was conducted in strip plot design with two factors namely, Factor A: Six dates of rice sowing (at one-week intervals—2nd week of June to 3rd week of July) and Factor B: Two land situations (Medium-upland and Medium-lowland). The experiment was simulated using APSIM (Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator) utilizing the APSIM-SWIM water balance module to understand the mechanisms of seasonal soil salinity dynamics and the associated crop responses. The results suggest that irrespective of land situation, early sown rice (2nd week of June) produces higher dry matter and yield compared to late sown crops. This early rice sowing also facilitated better subsequent grass pea performance, by avoiding the worst of the salinity build-up and drought stress later in the winter. The model performed well in simulating the observed rice and grass pea yields (R2 = 0.97 with low bias (slope, α = 0.93, intercept, β = 149 kg ha−1), RMSE = 558 kg ha−1). It may be concluded that ASPIM-SWIM is an effective tool to understand, assess and predict the complex bio-physical mechanisms of ground water and soil salinity dynamics in rice-pulse-based cropping systems of CSZ of West Bengal.

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Representing crop rotations in life cycle assessment: a review of legume LCA studies

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment ◽

10.1007/s11367-020-01812-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (10) ◽

pp. 1942-1956

Author(s):

Marcela Porto Costa ◽

David Chadwick ◽

Sophie Saget ◽

Robert M. Rees ◽

Michael Williams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Nutrient Cycling ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Substitution Effects ◽

N Leaching ◽

Legume Crop ◽

Functional Units

Abstract Purpose There is an imperative to accurately assess the environmental sustainability of crop system interventions in the context of food security and climate change. Previous studies have indicated that the incorporation of legumes into cereal rotations could reduce overall environmental burdens from cropping systems. However, most life cycle assessment (LCA) studies focus on individual crops and miss environmental consequences of inter-annual crop sequence and nutrient cycling effects. This review investigates state-of-the-art representation of inter-crop rotation effects within legume LCA studies. Methods A literature review was undertaken, starting with a search for all peer-reviewed articles with combinations of ‘LCA’, ‘legumes’ and ‘rotations’ or synonyms thereof. In total, 3180 articles were obtained. Articles were screened for compliance with all of the following requirements: (i) reporting results based on LCA or life cycle inventory methodology; (ii) inclusion of (a) legume(s); (iii) the legume(s) is/are analysed within the context of a wider cropping system (i.e. rotation or intercropping). Seventy articles satisfying these requirements were analysed. Results and discussion We identified three broad approaches to legume LCA. Most studies involved simple attributional LCA disregarding important interactions across years and crops in rotations. N-fertilizer reduction through legume residue N carryover is either disregarded or the benefit is attributed to the following crop in such studies, whilst N leaching burdens from residues are usually attributed to the legume crop. Some studies applied robust allocation approaches and/or complex functional units to enable analysis of entire rotation sequences, accounting for nutrient cycling and break crop effects. Finally, a few studies applied consequential LCA to identify downstream substitution effects, though these studies did not simultaneously account for agronomic effects of rotational sequence changes. Conclusions We recommend that LCA studies for legume cropping systems should (i) evaluate entire rotations; (ii) represent nitrogen and ideally carbon cycling; (iii) for attributional studies, define at least two functional units, where one should encompass the multifunctional outputs of an entire rotation and the other should enable product footprints to be calculated; (iv) for CLCA studies, account for both agronomic changes in rotations and markets effects; (v) include impact categories that reflect hotspots for agricultural production.

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Assessment of Soil Nutrient Status under Different Cropping Systems in Khotang, Nepal

International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology ◽

10.3126/ijasbt.v7i3.25697 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 341-346

Author(s):

Pawan Devkota ◽

Dipendra Aryal ◽

Baburam Khanal

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Block Design ◽

Cropping System ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Land Use Pattern ◽

P Content ◽

Huge Impact

Availability of plant nutrients in rhizosphere is directly influenced by types of crop grown and land use pattern. The experiment was conducted in Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality, Khotang, Nepal to assess the soil nutrients dynamics as influenced by different cropping system. Five different cropping systems (Rice – Wheat, Maize – Millet, Maize – Vegetables, Ginger and Cardamom) were selected as treatments and all treatments were replicated for five times for blocking in Randomized Complete Block Design. Soil samples from 0-15 cm depth were collected from each site and evaluated for soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), and available potassium (K). All the tested parameters except N were found to be significantly affected by cropping system. Soil in all five cropping systems were found acidic (pH<6.5) in nature with pH ranging from 5.180-6.640. The SOC was recorded highest (3.102%) from Cardamom based system and lowest amount of SOC was observed in Ginger based system. The highest amount of P (32.14 mg/kg) was reported in Maize – Vegetables cropping system and lowest P content (5.72 mg/kg) was recorded from Cardamom based system. P content in Ginger based system (31.51 mg/kg) was statistically at par with that of Rice – Wheat system. The highest K content (306.50 mg/kg) was recorded from Maize – Vegetable cropping system and lowest K content (34.80 mg/kg) was observed in Cardamom based system which is statistically similar to Rice –Wheat (35.70 mg/kg) and Maize –Millet systems (77.20 mg/kg). The result indicated that cropping systems have huge impact on plant nutrient dynamics in soil. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 7(3): 341-346

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