Biological farming for sustainable agricultural production

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 849 ◽  
Author(s):  
CM Penfold ◽  
MS Miyan ◽  
TG Reeves ◽  
IT Grierson
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Soil Available Phosphorus ◽  
Term Trial ◽  
Biological Farming

In 1989, funding was provided to establish a large-scale (16-ha), long-term trial at Roseworthy campus. The trial aims to compare organic, biodynamic, integrated, and conventional broadacre farming systems for attributes of sustainability. It is overseen by a 13-member management committee comprising farmers with experience in each practice, agronomists, and soil scientists. Through the monitoring of indicators such as soil physical, chemical, and biological changes, product quality, economics, crop water usage, and energy requirements, the comparative advantages or disadvantages of each system are being evaluated in terms of productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability. After 6 years, significant differences between systems are apparent in economic returns and soil available phosphorus (P) levels. The biodynamic treatment has the highest gross margins, followed by conventional, organic, and integrated. Conversely, available P levels on the biodynamic and organic treatments have declined 12 and 9%, respectively, since the start of the trial, while both the integrated and conventional treatments have increased soil P levels. In summary, it is too early in the trial to state categorically that any one system is more sustainable than another, although trends are now emerging. Weed management remains the main impediment to high production levels on the organic and biodynamic treatments, while input costs, variable yields, and low returns for grazed pastures are major constraints to high economic returns on the integrated and conventional systems.

Soil-available phosphorus as evaluated by desorption techniques and chemical extractions

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Ziadi ◽  
R R Simard ◽  
T S Tran ◽  
G. Allard
Keyword(s):  
Anion Exchange ◽  
High Capacity ◽  
P Uptake ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Anion Exchange Membranes ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Soil Available Phosphorus ◽  
Chemical Extractions ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
P Desorption

The P-supplying power of the fine-textured soils from Abitibi-Temiscaming (Quebec, Canada) has never been investigated. Anion exchange membranes (AEM), the electro-ultrafiltration (EUF) technique and chemical extractions were used to describe their P status. Phosphorus was desorbed from four soils that had received 52.4 kg P ha–1 yr–1 from 1994 to 1996 and from unfertilized soils. The cumulative amount of P desorbed in 75 min by EUF from unfertilized soils varied from 10 to 69 mg P kg–1. Averaged over all sites and treatments, the amount of soil P extracted by different methods ranged from 1.0 to 18.9 mg P kg–1. The cumulative grass P uptake was significantly related to P desorbed by all methods (0.39 < r < 0.84). A close relationship between grass P uptake and PAEMs indicated the adequacy of the AEMs to determine plant-available P in Abitibi-Temiscaming soils. A high degree of linearity (0.97 < R2 < 0.99) of the EUF-P desorption curves at 200 V and 20°C with time was obtained. This indicates that soils have a high capacity to buffer removal of P from soil solution with reserve P. The EUF technique has shown that these soils hold very large inorganic P reserves and this may explain the lack of grass response to P fertilizers. Key words: Anion exchange membranes, grass-P uptake, P-desorption, Mehlich3-P, Olsen-P.

scholarly journals Estimating Soil Available Phosphorus Content through Coupled Wavelet–Data-Driven Models

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 2150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jalal Shiri ◽  
Ali Keshavarzi ◽  
Ozgur Kisi ◽  
Sahar Mohsenzadeh Karimi ◽  
Sepideh Karimi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression Programming ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
The Other ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Discrete Wavelet ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Soil Available Phosphorus

Soil phosphorus (P) is a vital but limited element which is usually leached from the soil via the drainage process. Soil phosphorus as a soluble substance can be delivered through agricultural fields by runoff or soil loss. It is one of the most essential nutrients that affect the sustainability of crops as well as the energy transfer for living organisms. Therefore, an accurate simulation of soil phosphorus, which is considered as a point source pollutant in elevated contents, must be performed. Considering a crucial issue for a sustainable soil and water management, an effective soil phosphorus assessment in the current research was conducted with the aim of examining the capability of five different wavelet-based data-driven models: gene expression programming (GEP), neural networks (NN), random forest (RF), multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS), and support vector machine (SVM) in modeling soil phosphorus (P). In order to achieve this goal, several parameters, including soil pH, organic carbon (OC), clay content, and soil P data, were collected from different regions of the Neyshabur plain, Khorasan-e-Razavi Province (Northeast Iran). First, a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) was applied to the pH, OC, and clay as the inputs and their subcomponents were utilized in the applied data-driven techniques. Statistical Gamma test was also used for identifying which effective soil parameter is able to influence soil P. The applied methods were assessed through 10-fold cross-validation scenarios. Our results demonstrated that the wavelet–GEP (WGEP) model outperformed the other models with respect to various validations, such as correlation coefficient (R), scatter index (SI), and Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (NS) criteria. The GEP model improved the accuracy of the MARS, RF, SVM, and NN models with respect to SI-NS (By comparing the SI values of the GEP model with other models namely MARS, RF, SVM, and NN, the outputs of GEP showed more accuracy by 35%, 30%, 40%, 50%, respectively. Similarly, the results of the GEP outperformed the other models by 3.1%, 2.3%, 4.3%, and 7.6%, comparing their NS values.) by 35%-3.1%, 30%-2.3%, 40%-4.3%, and 50%-7.6%, respectively.

Weed Management in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) with Phosphorus in Southern Rajasthan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harikesh Jat ◽  
M.K. Kaushik ◽  
J.L. Choudhary ◽  
V.K. Meena ◽  
S.K. Meena
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll Content ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Total Chlorophyll ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Total Chlorophyll Content ◽  
Soil Available Phosphorus ◽  
Food And Nutritional Security ◽  
Phosphorus Application

Background: Agriculture sector is vital for food and nutritional security of the nation. Contrary to great stride in cereals and millets production during last few decades, desired rise in production of oilseeds has yet to be achieved though India has 14 and 9 per cent of global acreage and production.Methods: The present investigation was conducted during kharif seasons of 2016 and 2017, at Instructional farm, MPUAT, Udaipur to access the effect of different pre - post herbicides for weed control in groundnut under phosphorus application. This experiment was operated with six weed management practices and four phosphorus levels thus, 30 treatment combinations; all were evaluated in split-plot design with three replications.Result: Our investigations results revealed that herbicidal treatments as well as weed free check significantly control weed population and recorded the highest values of N, P, K concentration in weeds, kernel, biological yields and total chlorophyll content over weedy check while, significantly maximum N, P, K uptake and soil available phosphorus were noted under weedy check over rest of the treatments. Further, the results also showed that application of phosphorus exhibit significant increase in nutrient concentration and their uptake by weeds, kernel, biological yields, total chlorophyll content and soil available phosphorus over control during the course of investigation.

scholarly journals Vertical distribution of soil available phosphorus and soil available potassium in the critical zone on the Loess Plateau, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanyang Tian ◽  
Jiangbo Qiao ◽  
Yuanjun Zhu ◽  
Xiaoxu Jia ◽  
Ming’an Shao
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Exponential Model ◽  
Critical Zone ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Soil Core ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Soil Available Phosphorus

AbstractSoil available phosphorus (SAP) and soil available potassium (SAK) are important elements in the growth of plants. However, limited data are available regarding the vertical distribution of SAP and SAK in deep soil profiles. In this study, we investigated the vertical variations in SAP and SAK in the critical zone on the Loess Plateau (50–200 m), China, by using classical statistical and geostatistical methods. The soil samples were collected from the top of the soil profile down to the bedrock by soil core drilling at five typical sites. SAP decreased throughout the profile. Whereas the SAK exhibited an increasing trend at all sites. The mean SAP concentration ranged from 0.94 to 32.56 mg kg–1 at the sampling sites and the SAK concentration ranged from 44.51 to 229.31 mg kg–1. At all of the sampling sites, SAK was significantly positively correlated with the depth and clay content, but there was a significantly negative correlation between the SAK and the sand content. The exponential model could fit most variograms of SAP and SAK at all sampling sites. The results obtained in this study to improve our comprehension of the SAP or SAK distribution conditions on the Loess Plateau, which is important for reasonable fertilizer application and vegetation planting practices.

scholarly journals An integrated life cycle and water footprint assessment of nonfood crops based bioenergy production

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Li ◽  
Fengyin Xiong ◽  
Zhuo Chen
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Integrated Analysis ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
Bioenergy Production ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Hybrid Pennisetum

AbstractBiomass gasification, especially distribution to power generation, is considered as a promising way to tackle global energy and environmental challenges. However, previous researches on integrated analysis of the greenhouse gases (GHG) abatement potentials associated with biomass electrification are sparse and few have taken the freshwater utilization into account within a coherent framework, though both energy and water scarcity are lying in the central concerns in China’s environmental policy. This study employs a Life cycle assessment (LCA) model to analyse the actual performance combined with water footprint (WF) assessment methods. The inextricable trade-offs between three representative energy-producing technologies are explored based on three categories of non-food crops (maize, sorghum and hybrid pennisetum) cultivated in marginal arable land. WF results demonstrate that the Hybrid pennisetum system has the largest impact on the water resources whereas the other two technology options exhibit the characteristics of environmental sustainability. The large variances in contribution ratio between the four sub-processes in terms of total impacts are reflected by the LCA results. The Anaerobic Digestion process is found to be the main contributor whereas the Digestate management process is shown to be able to effectively mitigate the negative environmental impacts with an absolute share. Sensitivity analysis is implemented to detect the impacts of loss ratios variation, as silage mass and methane, on final results. The methane loss has the largest influence on the Hybrid pennisetum system, followed by the Maize system. Above all, the Sorghum system demonstrates the best performance amongst the considered assessment categories. Our study builds a pilot reference for further driving large-scale project of bioenergy production and conversion. The synergy of combined WF-LCA method allows us to conduct a comprehensive assessment and to provide insights into environmental and resource management.

scholarly journals Effects of crop type on soil microbial properties in the cropland of the Jianghan plain of China

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 421-426
Author(s):  
Li Jun ◽  
Liu Lixin ◽  
Zhang Chunlei ◽  
Chen Chang ◽  
Lu Guangyuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Invertase Activity ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Jianghan Plain ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
Microbial Properties ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Soil Available Phosphorus ◽  
Soil Microbial Properties

Soil microbial properties are varied by growing different crops, ultimately reflecting the growth and reproduction of crops. In this study, two types of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. ZS11 and ZY821) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ZM9023) were planted in the Jianghan plain of China. Rhizosphere soil samples were collected three months after sowing. Soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities and microbial diversity were determined. The results showed that soil available phosphorus significantly increased from 25.57 mg/kg (ZM9023) to 33.20 mg/kg (ZS11) and 35.72 mg/kg (ZY821), respectively. Invertase activity of ZS821 (0.86 mg glucose/g) was significantly lower than in ZS11 (1.04 mg glucose/g). Acid phosphatase activity under planting rapes was significantly higher than that under wheat. Urease activities significantly increased from 40.88 mg NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N/g soil/24 h (NFP) to 49.04 mg NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N/g soil/24 h (FNP) and 51.28 mg NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N/g soil/24 h (ZM9023), 51.60 mg NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N/g soil/24 h (ZY821) and 52.28 mg NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N/g soil/24 h (ZS11), respectively. The ACE (abundance based coverage estimator) and Chao1 indexes of bacteria of ZS11 were lower than ZY821, which were similar to ZM9023. Fertilization increased soil bacterial ACE and Chao1 indexes. However, ACE and Chao1, Shannon and Simpson indexes of soil fungi for ZS11 were significantly higher than in ZY821, which were similar to ZM9023 (except for the Shannon index).

scholarly journals Large-Scale Laboratory Experiments on Mussel Dropper Lines in Ocean Surface Waves

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Rebekka Gieschen ◽  
Christian Schwartpaul ◽  
Jannis Landmann ◽  
Lukas Fröhling ◽  
Arndt Hildebrandt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Blue Mussel ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Quality Parameter ◽  
Large Wave ◽  
Marine Aquaculture ◽  
Ocean Surface Waves ◽  
Wave Flume ◽  
Waves And Currents

The rapid growth of marine aquaculture around the world accentuates issues of sustainability and environmental impacts of large-scale farming systems. One potential mitigation strategy is to relocate to more energetic offshore locations. However, research regarding the forces which waves and currents impose on aquaculture structures in such conditions is still scarce. The present study aimed at extending the knowledge related to live blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), cultivated on dropper lines, by unique, large-scale laboratory experiments in the Large Wave Flume of the Coastal Research Center in Hannover, Germany. Nine-months-old live dropper lines and a surrogate of 2.0 m length each are exposed to regular waves with wave heights between 0.2 and 1.0 m and periods between 1.5 and 8.0 s. Force time histories are recorded to investigate the inertia and drag characteristics of live mussel and surrogate dropper lines. The surrogate dropper line was developed from 3D scans of blue mussel dropper lines, using the surface descriptor Abbott–Firestone Curve as quality parameter. Pull-off tests of individual mussels are conducted that reveal maximum attachment strength ranges of 0.48 to 10.55 N for mussels that had medium 3.04 cm length, 1.60 cm height and 1.25 cm width. Mean drag coefficients of CD = 3.9 were found for live blue mussel lines and CD = 3.4 for the surrogate model, for conditions of Keulegan–Carpenter number (KC) 10 to 380, using regular wave tests.

Directions of Economic and Ecological Transformation of Enterprises of the Defence-industrial Complex of Ukraine

2021 ◽  
pp. 211-219
Author(s):  
Oleksii Hutsaliuk ◽  
◽  
Tatiana Obniavko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Industrial Complex ◽  
Military Equipment ◽  
Managerial Decisions ◽  
Current Period ◽  
Cumulative Deterioration ◽  
High Level

Since the beginning of the third millennium, ecological safety has become of paramount importance for Ukraine. The cumulative deterioration of the environment, fixed by the annual official reports on the ecological situation in the country, is fraught with irreparable consequences not only for the present generations, but also for descendants. The authors propose to consider the enterprises of the defence-industrial complex (DIC) of Ukraine as those that make a significant contribution to the development of the economy of the country, while not only not destroying the environment, but also contributing to sustainable development. The defence-industrial complex of Ukraine is the basis of the high-tech sector of the Ukrainian economy, which determines its key importance for the functioning and development of the entire national economy, in the current period of change of technological modes, as the enterprises of the Ukrainian defence-industrial complex have a high level of innovation. One of the key features of the domestic defence-industrial complex is that it has the potential to concentrate various types of resources to achieve breakthrough results not only in addressing the issues of creating the latest weapons and military equipment, but also for implementing large-scale projects of national economic importance. This potential for breakthrough development currently remains underutilized, requiring adjustments not only in industrial, but also in state economic policy as a whole. The current state of development of defence industry enterprises is characterized by insufficient economic and environmental sustainability and requires modernization based on global experience in the greening of the military-defence sphere and NATO environmental standards, which will have environmental and economic effects. The obstacles of economic and ecological transformation of enterprises of the defence-industrial complex of Ukraine were identified and a number of managerial decisions that can become drivers to accelerate the economic and ecological transformation of the defence-industrial complex of Ukraine were proposed.

scholarly journals Automatic controller to water plants

2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 727-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Oliveira Medici ◽  
Hermes Soares da Rocha ◽  
Daniel Fonseca de Carvalho ◽  
Carlos Pimentel ◽  
Ricardo Antunes Azevedo
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Organic Substrate ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Plastic Tube ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Water Plants ◽  
Water Tension

Despite the massive demand of water for plant irrigation, there are few devices being used in the automation of this process in agriculture. This work evaluates a simple controller to water plants automatically that can be set up with low cost commercial materials, which are large-scale produced. This controller is composed by a ceramic capsule used in common domestic water filters; a plastic tube around 1.5 m long, and a pressostate used in domestic washing machines. The capsule and the pressostate are connected through the tube so that all parts are filled with water. The ceramic capsule is the sensor of the controller and has to be placed into the plant substrate. The pressostate has to be placed below the sensor and the lower it is, the higher is the water tension to start the irrigation, since the lower is the pressostate the higher is the water column above it and, therefore, the higher is the tension inside the ceramic cup to pull up the water column. The controller was evaluated in the control of drip irrigation for small containers filled with commercial organic substrate or soil. Linear regressions explained the relationship between the position of pressostate and the maximum water tension in the commercial substrate (p < 0.0054) and soil (p < 0.0001). Among the positions of the pressostate from 0.30 to 0.90 m below the sensor, the water tension changed from 1 to 8 kPa for commercial substrate and 4 to 13 kPa for the soil. This simple controller can be useful to grow plants, applying water automatically in function of the water tension of the plant substrate.

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