An approach to crop yield improvement through diagnostic systems research in a winter-dominant rainfall environment

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (9) ◽  
pp. 922 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. K. Anderson ◽  
R. M. McTaggart ◽  
N. C. McQuade ◽  
D. Carter ◽  
T. Overheu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Diagnostic Systems ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Yield Responses

Crop production in the high-rainfall zone of Western Australia (>450 mm average annual rainfall) is an increasing proportion of the state’s total farming system since the 1990s, when the profitability of animal production based on improved pastures was threatened. However, the yields of the dominant crops barley, canola and oats have often been insufficient to maintain whole-farm productivity in the changed system. The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic approach to agronomic research as a means of increasing crop yields. Experiments were conducted at two farm sites over 5 years with treatments applied according to an initial diagnosis of the factors that may have been limiting production. The diagnosis of limiting factors was based on soil physical and chemical tests, plant tissue analyses and the observations of the farmers. The diagnostic tests were assessed against agreed standards. The highest yields in each year were compared with an estimate of the rainfall-limited potential yields. In both experiments, more than one factor was considered likely to be limiting crop and pasture production; therefore, factorial combinations of treatments were used, including deep-placed lime, deep-placed potassium and claying at one site, and deep ripping, raised beds and gypsum at the other. Split doses of nitrogen were applied to half of the plots after waterlogging events in some years. The yield responses to the treatments changed each year but the highest yields were close to the calculated potential yield after taking account of estimated losses of water. Interactions between the factors were not often significant. That is, the responses were additive and independent, so they can be applied sequentially. No single factor could be identified as the most limiting at either site over the 5 years. However, the results suggested a hierarchy of measures that could be taken according to the least cost or the most profit principle, or according to farmer preference and convenience.

scholarly journals Diagnosing the Climatic and Agronomic Dimensions of Rain-Fed Oat Yield Gaps and Their Restrictions in North and Northeast China

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chong Wang ◽  
Jiangang Liu ◽  
Shuo Li ◽  
Ting Zhang ◽  
Xiaoyu Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Northeast China ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Yield Gap ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
Yield Gaps

Confronted with the great challenges of globally growing populations and food shortages, society must achieve future food security by increasing grain output and narrowing the gap between potential yields and farmers’ actual yields. This study attempts to diagnose the climatic and agronomic dimensions of oat yield gaps and further to explore their restrictions. A conceptual framework was put forward to analyze the different dimensions of yield gaps and their limiting factors. We quantified the potential yield (Yp), attainable yield (Yt), experimental yield (Ye), and farmers’ actual yield (Ya) of oat, and evaluated three levels of yield gaps in a rain-fed cropping system in North and Northeast China (NC and NEC, respectively). The results showed that there were great differences in the spatial distributions of the four kinds of yields and three yield gaps. The average yield gap between Yt and Ye (YG-II) was greater than the yield gap between Yp and Yt (YG-I). The yield gap between Ye and Ya (YG-III) was the largest among the three yield gaps at most sites, which indicated that farmers have great potential to increase their crop yields. Due to non-controllable climatic conditions (e.g., light and temperature) for obtaining Yp, reducing YG-I is extremely difficult. Although YG-II could be narrowed through enriching soil nutrients, it is not easy to improve soil quality in the short term. In contrast, narrowing YG-III is the most feasible for farmers by means of introducing high-yield crop varieties and optimizing agronomic managements (e.g., properly adjusting sowing dates and planting density). This study figured out various dimensions of yield gaps and investigated their limiting factors, which should be helpful to increase farmers’ yields and regional crop production, as long as these restrictions are well addressed.

Trends in grain production and yield gaps in the high-rainfall zone of southern Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Robertson ◽  
John Kirkegaard ◽  
Allan Peake ◽  
Zoe Creelman ◽  
Lindsay Bell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Eastern Australia

The high-rainfall zone (HRZ) of southern Australia is the arable areas where annual rainfall is between 450 and 800 mm in Western Australia and between 500 and 900 mm in south-eastern Australia, resulting in a growing-season length of 7–10 months. In the last decade, there has been a growing recognition of the potential to increase crop production in the HRZ. We combined (1) a survey of 15 agricultural consultants, each of whom have ~40–50 farmer clients across the HRZ, (2) 28 farm records of crop yields and area for 2000–2010, (3) 86 wheat and 54 canola yield observations from well managed experiments, and (4) long-term simulated crop yields at 13 HRZ locations, to investigate recent trends in crop production, quantify the gap between potential and actual crop yields, and consider the factors thought to limit on-farm crop yields in the HRZ. We found in the past 10 years a trend towards more cropping, particularly in WA, an increased use of canola, and advances in the adaptation of germplasm to HRZ environments using winter and longer-season spring types. Consultants and the farm survey data confirmed that the rate of future expansion of cropping in the HRZ will slow, especially when compared with the rapid changes seen in the 1990s. In Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia the long-term water-limited potential yield in HRZ areas, as measured by experimental yields, consultant estimates and simulations for slow developing spring cultivars of wheat and canola was 5–6 and 2–3 t/ha for a decile 5 season. For Western Australia it was 4–5 and 2–3 t/ha, where yields were less responsive to good seasons than in the other states. The top performing farmers were achieving close to the water-limited potential yield. There are yield advantages of ~2 t/ha for ‘winter’ over ‘spring’ types of both wheat and canola, and there is scope for better adapted germplasm to further raise potential yield in the HRZ. Consultants stated that there is scope for large gains in yield and productivity by encouraging the below-average cropping farmers to adopt the practices and behaviours of the above-average farmers. The scope for improvement between the below- and above-average farmers was 1–3 t/ha for wheat and 0.5–1.5 t/ha for canola in a decile 5 season. They also stated that a lack of up-to-date infrastructure (e.g. farm grain storage) and services is constraining the industry’s ability to adopt new technology. Priorities for future research, development and extension among consultants included: overcoming yield constraints where growing-season rainfall exceeds 350 mm; adaptation of winter and long-season spring types of cereals and canola and management of inputs required to express their superior yield potential; and overcoming barriers to improved planning and timeliness for crop operations and adoption of technology.

Developing the role of perennial forages for crop–livestock farms: a strategic multi-disciplinary approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (10) ◽  
pp. 945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick S. Llewellyn ◽  
Michael J. Robertson ◽  
Richard C. Hayes ◽  
David Ferris ◽  
Katrien Descheemaeker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Perennial Species ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Farmer Participatory Research ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Livestock Farms

Developing new and improved grazing systems for crop–livestock farms where crop production is the major driver of farm management decisions presents a unique research and development challenge. In southern Australia, a substantial proportion of animal production from grazing comes from regions and farms where cropping is the major enterprise. In this paper, we describe a multi-disciplinary farming-systems research approach (EverCrop) aimed at improving farm profitability, risk management and environmental impacts through the development and integration of new grazing options with an emphasis on perennial species. It has been used to analyse and target new opportunities for farmers to benefit from perennial species across dry Mediterranean-type and temperate regions of southern Australia. It integrates field experimentation, on-farm trialling, farmer participatory research, soil–plant–climate biophysical modelling, whole-farm bioeconomic analysis and evaluations of adoptability. Multi-functional roles for summer-active grasses with winter cropping, integration of forage shrubs and establishment of new mixes of perennial grasses in crop rotations to improve farming system performance are identified, along with an analysis of factors likely to affect rate of uptake by farmers.

Dryland mediterranean farming systems in Australia

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 801 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Rovira
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Nutrition ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Boron Toxicity ◽  
Nutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Root Diseases ◽  
Dryland Farming

The mediterranean region of Australia extends from Geraldton in Western Australia across southern Australia into western and northern Victoria. This region experiences hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, with 300-600 mm annual rainfall. In the dryland farming zone, the cereal-livestock farming system dominates and produces 30-35% of Australia's total agricultural production. The major soils in the region are deep, coarse-textured sands and sandy loams, duplex soils with coarse-textured sands over clay (generally low in nutrients and organic matter), and fine-textured red-brown earths of low hydraulic conductivity. Major soil problems in the region include sodicity, salinity, soil structural degradation, nutrient deficiencies, boron toxicity, acidity, waterlogging, inadequate nitrogen nutrition, water-repellence, and root diseases. These problems have been exacerbated by excessive clearing of trees, increased frequency of cropping, reduced area sown to pastures, declining pasture production, and a decline in nutrient levels. With improved soil management there is potential for increased productivity from dryland farming areas of the region and improved ecological sustainability.

scholarly journals Pembuatan Mikroorganisme Lokal Bonggol Pisang pada Kelompok Tani Tunas Harapan Distrik Walelagama, Jayawijaya, Papua

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-194
Author(s):  
Sumiyati Tuhuteru ◽  
Inrianti
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Banana Weevil ◽  
Result Show ◽  
Organic Farming System ◽  
Continuous Use

One efforts to increase crop production include improvements in cultivation systems, for examples the application of sustainable organic farming, such as use of the liquid organic fertilizers. The continuous use of liquid organic fertilizer on the soil serves to increase soil fertility. Provision of fertilizers can add nutrients to the growing media. The application of fertilizer can be in the form of organic or inorganic fertilizers. One alternative to maintain and improve crop yields is by providing liquid organic fertilizer. The purpose of this study was to provide additional knowledge related to the forms of liquid organic fertilizer and the benefits of using liquid organic fertilizer through the manufacture of Micro-Organism (MOL) banana weevil which is one form of liquid organic fertilizer that is easily obtained by the community. The activity through KKN-PPM is to provide socialization and training in making MOL of banana weevil. The result show that the community in the Walelagama District can develop knowledge related to organic fertilizers can beincrease plant productivity through the use MOL of banana weevil, whose ingredients are easily obtained so that the community can improve the existing organic farming system.

Rubisco, the Key to Improved Crop Production for a World Population of More Than Eight Billion People?

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Long
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Green Revolution ◽  
Higher Plant ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
Canopy Development ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
The Past ◽  
Intercepted Radiation

Despite great advances in understanding of photosynthesis in crops, photosynthesis research has contributed little to improvement of crop production in the past. Does it have a future role in the task of feeding a world of 8 billion? In this chapter I argue that modification of the primary carboxylase of photosynthesis (Rubisco) promises very significant increases in potential crop yields. Plant breeding over the past three decades has produced remarkable worldwide increases in the potential yields of many crops, most notably improvements in the small grain cereals of the “green revolution” (Beadle and Long, 1985; Evans, 1993). Potential yield is defined as the yield that a genotype can achieve under optimal cultivation practice and in the absence of pests and diseases. What are the physiological bases of these increases? Following the principles of Monteith (1977), the potential yield (Y) of a crop at a given location is determined by . . . y = St- εi- εe- η/k (1) . . . where St is the integral of incident solar radiation (MJ m-2), εi the efficiency with which that radiation is intercepted by the crop; εe the efficiency with which the intercepted radiation is converted into biomass; η the harvest index or the efficiency with which biomass is partitioned into the harvested product; and k the energy content of the biomass (MJ g-1). St is determined by the site and year, while k varies very little across higher plant species (Roberts et al., 1993). Potential yield is therefore determined by the combined product of three efficiencies, each describing broad physiological properties of the crop: εi, εe, and η. εi is determined by the speed of canopy development and closure, and by canopy longevity and architecture. εe is a function of the combined photosynthetic rate of all leaves within the canopy less crop respiratory losses. In the context of equation 1, increase in potential yield over the past 30 years has resulted almost entirely from large increases in η.

Crop production in the high rainfall zones of southern Australia — potential, constraints and opportunities

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Zhang ◽  
N. C. Turner ◽  
M. L. Poole ◽  
N. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
Genetic Constraints ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Large Yield

Annual cropping has been expanding in the high rainfall zone of southern Australia. The higher rainfall and longer growing season compared with the traditional wheatbelt contribute to a much higher yield potential for major crops. Potential yields range from 5 to 8 t/ha for wheat and 3 to 5 t/ha for canola, although current crop yields are only about 50% of those potentials. The large yield gap between current and potential yields suggests that there is an opportunity to lift current yields. Both genetic constraints and subsoil constraints such as waterlogging, soil acidity, sodicity, and high soil strength contribute to the low yields. Waterlogging is a widespread hidden constraint to crop production in the region. Controlling waterlogging using a combination of raised beds and surface or subsurface drains is the first step to raise the productivity of the land. Increasing root growth into the subsoil remains a key to accessing more water and nutrients for high yield through early planting, deep ripping, liming and use of primer crops to ameliorate the subsoil. In order to realise the high yield potential, it is essential to achieve higher optimum dry matter at anthesis and high ear number through agronomic management, including early sowing with appropriate cultivars, a high seeding rate and application of adequate nitrogen along with other nutrients. Current cultivars of spring wheat may not fully utilise the available growing season and may have genetic limitations in sink capacity that constrain potential yield. Breeding or identification of long-season milling wheat cultivars that can fully utilise the longer growing season and with the ability to tolerate waterlogging and subsoil acidity, and with disease resistance, will give additional benefits. It is concluded that improving crop production in the high rainfall zone of southern Australia will require attention to overcoming soil constraints, particularly waterlogging, and the development of longer-season cultivars.

Chemical weed control in oil-seed poppy (Papaver somniferum)

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (88) ◽  
pp. 837 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJ Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Chenopodium Album ◽  
Papaver Somniferum ◽  
Significant Interaction Effect ◽  
North West ◽  
Oil Seed ◽  
Yield Responses

Field experiments were conducted in north-west Tasmania to assess the herbicides diquat and nitrofen, used singly and in combination, for selective post-emergence weed control in oil-seed poppies (Papaver somniferum). The species of weeds infesting the crop influenced yield responses to the herbicides. In the absence of fat hen (Chenopodium album) and fumitory (Fumaria muralis), crop production increased linearly with rate of diquat. The highest rate of diquat (280 g ha-1) produced a yield that was not significantly different (P = 0.05) from the hand-weeded control. In the presence of these two weeds, linear yield responses to rates of both diquat and nitrofen were obtained. There was no significant interaction effect on crop yields between these two herbicides, but a mixture of both chemicals was required for effective weed control. The tolerance of the crop to the herbicides was measured in the absence of weed competition. No effects on crop yields were obtained, although some treatments retarded the growth of the crop and caused a significant (P = 0.05) reduction in the height of the crop at flowering.

Variation in Cold Resistance and Growth in Eucalyptus viminalis

1982 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 221-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siroos T. Jahromi
Keyword(s):  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
International Paper ◽  
Eucalyptus Viminalis ◽  
Significant Damage ◽  
Paper Company ◽  
Actual Yield ◽  
Individual Trees

Abstract To isolate frost-hardy, fast-growing provenances of E. viminalis for the Southeastern United States, 98 seed lots were tested by International Paper Company during 1972-80. Annual rainfall and its seasonal distribution were not believed to be limiting factors in growing eucalypts in this region. However, freezing temperatures and their duration and fluctuations caused significant damage to many of the provenances. The degree of damage varied greatly among the provenances with the most frost-hardy sources not necessarily the best growers. Some individual trees performed well in both characteristics. Due to high variation in frost hardiness and growth, the actual yield of E. viminalis is much below the potential yield in the Southeast. Commerical reforestation using this species is not recommended unless more frost-hardy strains are developed through a genetic improvement program.

Effects of initial clover seeding rate and length of ley on pasture production, soil nitrogen and crop yields in a ley farming system

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (81) ◽  
pp. 484 ◽  
Author(s):  
ER Watson ◽  
P Lapins ◽  
RJW Barron
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Ley Farming

Several factors relating to the use of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) in a ley farming system were studied at Kojonup in the south-west of Western Australia viz; the effect of seeding rates of clover on the botanical composition and herbage production of a grazed pasture over five years; the build-up of soil nitrogen over this period, and the effect of 5, 8 and 11 years of clover on wheat yield and on subsequent regeneration of the pasture. In the final year (year 12) the effects of lime on mineralization of soil nitrogen and on crop yields were also studied. Seeding rates of clover in excess of 6 kg ha-1 affected botanical composition in the first year, and yield of pasture in the first two years only. Build-up of soil nitrogen over the first five years (when all plots were grazed) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) where clover had been sown at the higher rates (< 6 kg ha-1) but this did not result in increased wheat yields at the end of this period. In the 12th year, when all plots were cropped, there were no significant differences in grain yield between treatments cropped for the first time (after 11 years of clover) and those cropped either once or twice in the preceding six years. Cropping reduced pasture production in the early part of the post crop year but the proportion of clover in the pasture increased. The application of lime (in year 12) resulted in a significant increase in grain, and straw yields and nitrogen uptake on all treatments. The results suggest that crop yields can be sustained in short term rotations provided there is sufficient clover present in the pasture phase.

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