Continuous, alternate and double crop systems on a Vertisol in subtropical Australia

Three cropping systems using 5 crop species were compared over a 10-year period on a cracking clay soil (Vertisol) in the sub-humid subtropics of eastern Australia. The 3 cropping systems were continuous (the same crop every year), alternate (the same crop every second year) and double (a winter and summer crop in the one year). There were 2 cereal crops (sorghum and wheat) and 3 grain legumes (chickpea, green gram and black gram). The effect of cropping system was measured in terms of grain and protein yields and changes in soil organic carbon (surface 0-10 cm) and nitrogen concentrations. Summer and winter rainfall was below average in 8 and 5 years out of 10, respectively. Grain yield of cereal monocultures was about twice that of legume monocultures. The potential for double cropping, despite the generally below-average rainfall, was clearly shown with the highest grain and protein yields coming from the combination of green gram (summer) and wheat (winter). Averaged over 10 years, wheat yield (1460 kg/ha. year) was identical in the continuous and alternate cropping systems. Sorghum yields were marginally higher with alternate cropping (1340 kg/ha. year) than continuous cropping (1050 kg/ha. year). With double cropping, average wheat yields were 1081 and 698 kg/ha when combined with green and black gram, respectively. Black gram gave half the average yield of either green gram or chickpea (about 300 v. 600 kg/ha). This was attributed to the indeterminate nature of the crop in an environment with variable rainfall and to the detrimental effect of above-average rainfall during harvest time. Soil nitrogen and carbon levels, with initial values of 0.22 and 2.96%, were reduced at the end of 10 years by 16 and 27% respectively. Their rate of decline did not differ between cropping systems.

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Accumulation of soil carbon under zero tillage cropping and perennial vegetation on the Liverpool Plains, eastern Australia

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr08104 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 273 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

R. R. Young ◽

B. Wilson ◽

S. Harden ◽

A. Bernardi

Keyword(s):

Field Experiment ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Annual Rainfall ◽

Continuous Cropping ◽

Zero Tillage ◽

Accumulation Rates ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

Perennial Vegetation ◽

Semi Arid

Australian agriculture contributes an estimated 16% of all national greenhouse gas emissions, and considerable attention is now focused on management approaches that reduce net emissions. One area of potential is the modification of cropping practices to increase soil carbon storage. Here, we report short–medium term changes in soil carbon under zero tillage cropping systems and perennial vegetation, both in a replicated field experiment and on nearby farmers’ paddocks, on carbon-depleted Black Vertosols in the upper Liverpool Plains catchment. Soil organic carbon stocks (CS) remained unchanged under both zero tillage long fallow wheat–sorghum rotations and zero tillage continuous winter cereal in a replicated field experiment from 1994 to 2000. There was some evidence of accumulation of CS under intensive (>1 crop/year) zero tillage response cropping. There was significant accumulation of CS (~0.35 Mg/ha.year) under 3 types of perennial pasture, despite removal of aerial biomass with each harvest. Significant accumulation was detected in the 0–0.1, 0.1–0.2, and 0.2–0.4 m depth increments under lucerne and the top 2 increments under mixed pastures of lucerne and phalaris and of C3 and C4 perennial grasses. Average annual rainfall for the period of observations was 772 mm, greater than the 40-year average of 680 mm. A comparison of major attributes of cropping systems and perennial pastures showed no association between aerial biomass production and accumulation rates of CS but a positive correlation between the residence times of established plants and accumulation rates of CS. CS also remained unchanged (1998/2000–07) under zero tillage cropping on nearby farms, irrespective of paddock history before 1998/2000 (zero tillage cropping, traditional cropping, or ~10 years of sown perennial pasture). These results are consistent with previous work in Queensland and central western New South Wales suggesting that the climate (warm, semi-arid temperate, semi-arid subtropical) of much of the inland cropping country in eastern Australia is not conducive to accumulation of soil carbon under continuous cropping, although they do suggest that CS may accumulate under several years of healthy perennial pastures in rotation with zero tillage cropping.

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Effect of Different Pulse and Oilseed based Cropping Systems on Yield and Nutrient Budgeting under Rainfed Conditions of Jammu

Legume Research - An International Journal ◽

10.18805/lr-4603 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rakesh Kumar ◽

B.C. Sharma ◽

Neetu Sharma ◽

Brij Nanadan ◽

Akhil Verma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Block Design ◽

Cropping System ◽

Field Pea ◽

Green Gram ◽

Black Gram ◽

Available Nitrogen ◽

Pulse Crops ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Dryland Ecosystems

Background: Maize-wheat is the predominant cropping system of dryland ecology of Jammu region, but due to their comparatively higher input requirements especially of nutrients and water under the fragile ecology of these dry lands an untenable threat has been posed to their factor productivities. Therefore, all cropping sequences that suit and sustain better on the natural resources of the dryland ecosystems for a longer period of time needs to be explored.Methods: The treatments consisted of two oilseeds i.e. mustard) and gobhi sarson and two pulse crops i.e. chickpea and field pea taken during rabi were followed by two oilseed i.e. soybean and sesame and two pulse crops i.e. green gram and black gram grown during kharif. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four replications.Result: Significantly higher chickpea equivalent yield of green gram was observed with field pea- green gram sequence (10.26 q/ha) which was at par with the chickpea – green gram and field pea - black gram system. The available nitrogen status was significantly influenced and recorded highest (166.82kg/ha) under field pea- green gram system. Further overall nutrient mining by this system was quite low as compared to other systems.

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Impact of subsoil physicochemical constraints on crops grown in the Wimmera and Mallee is reduced during dry seasonal conditions

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr09075 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 125 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

J. G. Nuttall ◽

R. D. Armstrong

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Crop Production ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Soil Layer ◽

South Australia ◽

Continuous Cropping ◽

Alkaline Soils ◽

Yield Variation ◽

Eastern Australia

Subsoil physicochemical constraints can limit crop production on alkaline soils of south-eastern Australia. Fifteen farmer paddocks sown to a range of crops including canola, lentil, wheat, and barley in the Wimmera and Mallee of Victoria and the mid-north and Eyre Peninsula of South Australia were monitored from 2003 to 2006 to define the relationship between key abiotic/edaphic factors and crop growth. The soils were a combination of Calcarosol and Vertosol profiles, most of which had saline and sodic subsoils. There were significant correlations between ECe and Cl– (r = 0.90), ESP and B (r = 0.82), ESP and ECe (r = 0.79), and ESP and Cl– (r = 0.73). The seasons monitored had dry pre-cropping conditions and large variations in spring rainfall in the period around flowering. At sowing, the available soil water to a depth of 1.2 m (θa) averaged 3 mm for paddocks sown to lentils, 28 mm for barley, 44 mm for wheat, and 92 mm for canola. Subsoil constraints affected canola and lentil crops but not wheat or barley. For lentil crops, yield variation was largely explained by growing season rainfall (GSR) and θa in the shallow subsoil (0.10–0.60 m). Salinity in this soil layer affected lentil crops through reduced water extraction and decreased yields where ECe exceeded 2.2 dS/m. For canola crops, GSR and θa in the shallow (0.10–0.60 m) and deep (0.60–1.20 m) layers were important factors explaining yield variation. Sodicity (measured as ESP) in the deep subsoil (0.80–1.00 m) reduced canola growth where ESP exceeded 16%, corresponding to a 500 kg/ha yield penalty. For cereal crops, rainfall in the month around anthesis was the most important factor explaining grain yield, due to the large variation in rainfall during October combined with the determinant nature of these crops. For wheat, θa in the shallow subsoil (0.10–0.60 m) at sowing was also an important factor explaining yield variation. Subsoil constraints had no impact on cereal yield in this study, which is attributed to the lack of available soil water at depth, and the crops’ tolerance of the physicochemical conditions encountered in the shallow subsoil, where plant-available water was more likely to occur. Continuing dry seasonal conditions may mean that the opportunity to recharge soil water in the deeper subsoil, under continuous cropping systems, is increasingly remote. Constraints in the deep subsoil are therefore likely to have reduced impact on cereals under these conditions, and it is the management of water supply, from GSR and accrued soil water, in the shallow subsoil that will be increasingly critical in determining crop yields in the future.

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Effects of Seven Diversified Crop Rotations on Selected Soil Health Indicators and Wheat Productivity

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10020235 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 235 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lin Wang ◽

Yingxing Zhao ◽

Mahdi Al-Kaisi ◽

Jia Yang ◽

Yuanquan Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Sweet Potato ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Soil Health ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Summer Maize ◽

System Productivity ◽

Double Cropping

Diversified cropping systems can enhance soil condition and increase system productivity worldwide. To reduce the negative effects that accompany the continuous winter wheat–summer maize (WM) double-cropping in the North China Plain (NCP), diversified crop rotation (DCR) needs to be considered. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of DCR on soil health and wheat productivity as compared to a continuous WM double-cropping. A field experiment (37°41′ N, 116°37′ E) was established in the NCP including a traditional WM double-cropping as a baseline. During 2016/2017–2017/2018, the control is winter wheat–summer maize→winter wheat–summer maize (WM→WM) and seven DCRs as follow: fallow→winter wheat–summer maize (F→WM); spring maize→winter wheat–summer maize (Ms→WM); winter wheat→winter wheat–summer maize (W→WM); sweet potato→winter wheat–summer maize (Psw→WM); spring peanut→winter wheat–summer maize (Pns→WM); winter wheat–summer peanut→winter wheat–summer maize (WPn→WM) and potato–silage maize→winter wheat–summer maize (PMl→WM). Our results indicated that DCRs significantly changed certain soil health indicators in 2016/2017 compared with the control, where F→WM rotation significantly decreased soil pH by 2.7%. The DCRs, especial Psw→WM and Pns→WM rotations showed a potential positive effect on soil health indicators at the end of the second year (2017/2018) compared with the control, where sweet potato increased soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), urease activity (UA) and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) in 2017/2018 by 5.1%, 5.3%, 13.8%, 9.4%, and 13.5%, respectively. With the spring peanut, TN, AP, and soil APA were increased by 2.1%, 13.2%, and 7.7%, respectively. Although fertilizer and irrigation input of DCRs were lower than the control, no significant decrease was observed on actual wheat yield as compared to the control (7.79 Mg/ha). The finding of this study highlights the value of DCRs, especially, Psw→WM and Pns→WM rotations over WM double-cropping in the NCP.

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Identification of Biological Efficient and Profitable Cropping Systems in Central Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science ◽

10.9734/ijpss/2021/v33i1130478 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 30-37

Author(s):

Rentapalli Balaji ◽

Karam Husain ◽

Uma Shankar Tiwari

Keyword(s):

Production Efficiency ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Green Gram ◽

Black Gram ◽

System Productivity ◽

Land Use Efficiency ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Crop Sequence ◽

Potato Onion

A field experiment was executed with ten crop sequences during 2016-17 at C.S.Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. All these sequences were evaluated for their system productivity, production efficiency, land use efficiency and economic analysis. Highest system productivity 320.43 q REY /ha was obtained through maize + black gram – potato – onion crop sequence followed by maize – garlic – green gram (291.1 q REY /ha). Highest land use efficiency (90.1%) measured through Scented rice – wheat –okra crop sequence while maximum production efficiency 121.83 kg/ha/ day was achieved by maize + black gram – potato – onion crop sequence. The highest net return of Rs.282799.0 /ha, crop profitability of Rs. 1075.28 /ha / day and system profitability of Rs. 774.79 /ha/day was obtained through maize + black gram – potato – onion followed by maize – garlic – green gram (G+R) crop sequence, while highest return per rupee investment (1:3.24) was computed on hybrid rice- wheat cropping system followed by maize – mustard- onion crop sequence (1: 3.21). Electrochemical properties were also evaluated in each cropping sequence. On the basis of different biological indices and economical analysis maize + black gram – potato – onion crop sequence observed as biological efficient followed by maize – garlic – green gram (G+R) crop sequence over all other cropping systems.

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Development of new microsatellite markers for DNA fingerprinting pattern of black gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) and green gram (Vigna radiate L. Wilckzek)

Genetika ◽

10.2298/gensr2003161p ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 1161-1179

Author(s):

Kaushik Panigrahi ◽

Puranjaya Panigrahi ◽

Ayesha Mohanty ◽

Purandar Mandal ◽

Basudeba Satapathy

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Microsatellite Markers ◽

Banding Pattern ◽

Growth Period ◽

Green Gram ◽

Black Gram ◽

Crop Species ◽

Genetic Studies ◽

Ssr Primers

SSR markers are considered to be the most ideal marker for genetic studies because they are multi-allelic, abundant, randomly and widely distributed throughout the genome, co-dominant that could differentiate plants with homozygous or heterozygous alleles, simple to assay, highly reliable, reproducible. Microsatellite markers are highly polymorphic and informative and could be successfully used for genome analysis in black gram & green gram. Microsatellite markers were used to evaluate genetic diversity in 17 indigenous cultivars of pulse crops (11 cultivars of green gram and 6 cultivars of black gram respectively). They are subjected to variability analysis with 26 microsatellite markers for identification efficient primers to conclude the nature of molecular diversity present among the pulses. The SSR primer G228 showed 63.63% of polymorphism followed by MB-SSR 238 (45.45%) and G006 (36.36%). The 12 microsatellite markers produced 15.90 % polymorphism with banding ranged up to 7 with an average of 2.3 polymorphic banding patterns per SSR primer. Similarly for black gram, three random microsatellite primers G006 (50%) and G166 and G204 (33.33%) revealed considerable DNA polymorphism. The 14 random SSR primers produced 8.33% of polymorphism with banding ranged up to three with an average of 1.28 polymorphic banding pattern per SSR primer. The Distinguish Power (D), Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) value and Marker Index (MI) values revealed some SSR primers like G006, G204 and G166 can alone amplified distinct banding pattern, where as a combination of (G228+G006), (G228+G304) for green gram and the combination (G006+G166) can be used for black gram for ascertaining genetic diversity at any stage of crop growth period for green gram or black gram. From the present study we can conclude that selective microsatellite markers are highly polymorphic, informative and easily reproducible, which can be successfully used either as single or with combination for molecular characterization of crop species belonging to Vigna species.

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Wheat yield as a measure of the residual fertility after 20 years of forage cropping systems with different manure management in Northern Italy

Italian Journal of Agronomy ◽

10.4081/ija.2019.1359 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 142-146

Author(s):

Luciano Pecetti ◽

Lamberto Borrelli

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Italian Ryegrass ◽

Wheat Crop ◽

Residual Soil ◽

Mineral N ◽

Silage Maize ◽

Double Cropping ◽

Term Trial

After 20 years of application of different manure types, cropping systems and additional nitrogen (N) levels, their residual fertility effects were compared by measuring the yield of a following unfertilised wheat crop (Experiment 1), which was sown on exactly the same plots of the previous long-term trial. All previously applied factors caused significant differences in wheat yield. Wheat yielded more on plots that had received farmyard manure (FMY) compared to those where semi-liquid manure (SLM) was previously applied. Long-term application of a semi-intensive rotation, with three years of annual double cropping of autumnsown Italian ryegrass and spring-sown silage maize followed by three years of mown lucerne (R6), resulted in higher wheat yield than application of just the annual double cropping of Italian ryegrass and silage maize (R1). Application of further mineral N fertilisation to previous cropping systems caused higher yield of the subsequent wheat crop. The difference in wheat yield between the R6 and R1 systems was greater with SLM (+28%) than FYM application (+11%) resulting in a significant manure × system interaction. A companion experiment (Experiment 2) was carried out to compute the nitrogen agronomic efficiency (NAE) from the yield of wheat plots that were sown after ploughing a nearby 20- year unfertilised grassland and received four levels of mineral N fertilisation. NAE was further used to empirically estimate the productive advantage (PA) conferred by previous manure-systemmineral nitrogen combinations in the long-term trial. PA was measured as equivalent kg of mineral N to be applied to wheat to achieve the yield level recorded after any previous combination. The estimated PA values were much higher when wheat followed FYM compared to SLM application, and when it followed R6 compared to R1 system. The SLM-R1 combination had negative PA values, indicating a productive disadvantage on wheat of this preceding combination. The enhancement of residual soil fertility by long-term application of FYM compared to SLM could be attributed to greater nutrient provision during the years by FYM than by SLM. However, further fertility advantages of FYM are discussed. Despite lower nutrient supply by organic fertilisers in R6 than in R1 system, the former had higher residual fertility. The presence of lucerne in the R6 rotation likely enriched the soil in nitrogen and increased its availability for following cropping. Possible benefits of the legume on the soil suppressiveness might have been a further asset of the R6 system.

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Can a change in cropping patterns produce water savings and social gains: A case study from the Fergana Valley, Central Asia

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics ◽

10.1515/johh-2017-0054 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

pp. 189-201 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Akmal Kh. Karimov ◽

Munir A. Hanjra ◽

Jiří Šimůnek ◽

Botir Abdurakhmannov

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Winter Wheat ◽

Central Asia ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Green Gram ◽

Water Savings ◽

Produce Water ◽

Cropping Patterns ◽

Double Cropping ◽

Evaporation Losses

AbstractThe study examines possible water savings by replacing alfalfa with winter wheat in the Fergana Valley, located upstream of the Syrdarya River in Central Asia. Agricultural reforms since the 1990s have promoted this change in cropping patterns in the Central Asian states to enhance food security and social benefits. The water use of alfalfa, winter wheat/fallow, and winter wheat/green gram (double cropping) systems is compared for high-deficit, low-deficit, and full irrigation scenarios using hydrological modeling with the HYDRUS-1D software package. Modeling results indicate that replacing alfalfa with winter wheat in the Fergana Valley released significant water resources, mainly by reducing productive crop transpiration when abandoning alfalfa in favor of alternative cropping systems. However, the winter wheat/fallow cropping system caused high evaporation losses from fallow land after harvesting of winter wheat. Double cropping (i.e., the cultivation of green gram as a short duration summer crop after winter wheat harvesting) reduced evaporation losses, enhanced crop output and hence food security, while generating water savings that make more water available for other productive uses. Beyond water savings, this paper also discusses the economic and social gains that double cropping produces for the public within a broader developmental context.

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Impacts of rainfall extremes on wheat yield in semi-arid cropping systems in eastern Australia

Climatic Change ◽

10.1007/s10584-018-2170-x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 147 (3-4) ◽

pp. 555-569 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Puyu Feng ◽

Bin Wang ◽

De Li Liu ◽

Hongtao Xing ◽

Fei Ji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

Rainfall Extremes ◽

Semi Arid

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Water and temperature stress define the optimal flowering period for wheat in south-eastern Australia

10.1101/115287 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

B.M. Flohr ◽

J.R. Hunt ◽

J.A. Kirkegaard ◽

J.R. Evans

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Supply And Demand ◽

Maximum Yield ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Flowering Period ◽

Critical Determinant ◽

South Eastern ◽

Flowering Date ◽

Systems Model ◽

Eastern Australia

AbstractAcross the Australian wheat belt, the time at which wheat flowers is a critical determinant of yield. In all environments an optimal flowering period (OFP) exists which is defined by decreasing frost risk, and increasing water and heat stress. Despite their critical importance, OFPs have not been comprehensively defined across south eastern Australia’s (SEA) cropping zone using yield estimates incorporating temperature, radiation and water-stress. In this study, the widely validated cropping systems model APSIM was used to simulate wheat yield and flowering date, with reductions in yield applied for frost and heat damage based on air temperatures during sensitive periods. Simulated crops were sown at weekly intervals from April 1 to July 15 of each year. The relationship between flowering date and grain yield was established for 28 locations using 51-years (1963-2013) of climate records. We defined OFPs as the flowering period which was associated with a mean yield of ≥ 95% of maximum yield from the combination of 51 seasons and 16 sowing dates. OFPs for wheat in SEA varied with site and season and were largely driven by seasonal water supply and demand, with extremes of heat and temperature having a secondary though auto-correlated effect. Quantifying OFPs will be a vital first step to identify suitable genotype x sowing date combinations to maximise yield in different locations, particularly given recent and predicted regional climate shifts including the decline in autumn rainfall.

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