Crop rotational diversity impacts soil physical and hydrological properties under long-term no- and conventional-till soils

Soil Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Alhameid ◽  
Jasdeep Singh ◽  
Udayakumar Sekaran ◽  
Ekrem Ozlu ◽  
Sandeep Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Crop Species

Diversification of crop species and minimum mechanical soil disturbance are the interlinked principles of conservation agriculture that are beneficial in improving soil physical and hydrological properties, and hence crop productivity. The present study was conducted to assess the long-term impacts of crop rotational diversity and tillage on soil water infiltration (qs), soil water retention (SWR), pore size distribution (PSD), bulk density (ρb) and soil penetration resistance (SPR). The study was established in 1991 at Beresford, South Dakota, and included three crop rotation systems (2-year, maize (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.); 3-year, maize–soybean–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.); and 4-year, maize–soybean–wheat–oat (Avena sativa L.)) and two tillage systems (NT, no-tillage; and CT, conventional tillage). Soil samples were collected only under maize and soybean phases of the crop rotations. Our results showed that NT with 4-year rotation had the lowest ρb under maize and soybean phases (1.21 and 1.19 g cm–3 respectively) compared with the CT system. Similarly, NT with 4-year rotation decreased SPR by 20% compared to CT with 4-year rotation in the soybean phase. Soils managed under NT with 4-year rotation in the soybean phase retained 27, 28, 28, 32, 33, 31 and 26% more water compared with CT and 4-year system at 0–7.5 cm depth at 0, –0.4, –1.0, –2.5, –5.0, –10 and –30 kPa matric potentials respectively. A similar trend was observed for qs under the same treatments, in which it was 31% higher under NT than under CT, both with 4-year rotation. Data from this study showed that diversified crop rotation under NT enhanced soil physical and hydrological properties compared with CT with less diverse systems (e.g. maize–soybean).

Conservation agriculture in Southern Africa: Advances in knowledge

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 328-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Thierfelder ◽  
Leonard Rusinamhodzi ◽  
Amos R. Ngwira ◽  
Walter Mupangwa ◽  
Isaiah Nyagumbo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Soil Parameters

AbstractThe increasing demand for food from limited available land, in light of declining soil fertility and future threats of climate variability and change have increased the need for more sustainable crop management systems. Conservation agriculture (CA) is based on the three principles of minimum soil disturbance, surface crop residue retention and crop rotations, and is one of the available options. In Southern Africa, CA has been intensively promoted for more than a decade to combat declining soil fertility and to stabilize crop yields. The objective of this review is to summarize recent advances in knowledge about the benefits of CA and highlight constraints to its widespread adoption within Southern Africa. Research results from Southern Africa showed that CA generally increased water infiltration, reduced soil erosion and run-off, thereby increasing available soil moisture and deeper drainage. Physical, chemical and biological soil parameters were also improved under CA in the medium to long term. CA increased crop productivity and also reduced on-farm labor, especially when direct seeding techniques and herbicides were used. As with other cropping systems, CA has constraints at both the field and farm level. Challenges to adoption in Southern Africa include the retention of sufficient crop residues, crop rotations, weed control, pest and diseases, farmer perception and economic limitations, including poorly developed markets. It was concluded that CA is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution and often needs significant adaptation and flexibility when implementing it across farming systems. However, CA may potentially reduce future soil fertility decline, the effects of seasonal dry-spells and may have a large impact on food security and farmers’ livelihoods if the challenges can be overcome.

scholarly journals Conservation Agriculture as a System to Enhance Ecosystem Services

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 718
Author(s):  
Somasundaram Jayaraman ◽  
Yash P. Dang ◽  
Anandkumar Naorem ◽  
Kathryn L. Page ◽  
Ram C. Dalal
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Local Conditions

Conservation agriculture (CA) is considered a sustainable practice with the potential to maintain or increase crop productivity and improve environmental quality and ecosystem services. It typically improves soil quality and water conservation; however, its effect on crop productivity is highly variable and dependent on local conditions/management. Crop residue retention plays a crucial role in CA and can help to improve overall soil health and ultimately crop productivity and sustainability. However, weed control, herbicide resistance, and weed shift under residue retained fields is a major challenge. Moreover, CA can increase water infiltration and reduce soil loss and runoff. This reduces the surface transport of nitrate and phosphorus from agricultural fields and the eutrophication of water bodies, although leaching of nitrate to groundwater can potentially increase. In addition, CA has been proposed as one of the components in climate-smart agriculture, owing to its reduced period to seed/plant next crop, reduced soil disturbance and low consumption of fossil fuels. Therefore, compared to the conventional intensive tillage, CA has a greater potential for soil C sequestration, favors higher soil biodiversity, lowers greenhouse gas emission, and can assist in mitigating climate change. However, not all experiments report a positive impact. The understanding and decoding the site-specific complexities of CA system is important and requires a multidisciplinary approach.

scholarly journals Soil water retention and s index after crop rotation and chiseling

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1927-1937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliano Carlos Calonego ◽  
Ciro Antonio Rosolem
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
No Till ◽  
Soil Physical Quality ◽  
Sunn Hemp

Soil compaction can be minimized either mechanically or biologically, using plant species with vigorous root systems. An experiment was carried out with soybean (Glycine max) in rotation with triticale (X Triticosecale) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) in fall-winter associated with pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) or sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) in spring. Crop rotation under no-till was compared with mechanical chiseling. The experiment was carried out in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. Soil quality was estimated using the S index and soil water retention curves (in the layers of 0-0.05, 0.075-0.125, 0.15-0.20, 0.275-0.325, and 0.475-0.525 m deep). Crop rotation and chiseling improved soil quality, increasing the S index to over 0.035 to a depth of 20 cm in the soil profile. The improved soil quality, as shown by the S index, makes the use of mechanical chiseling unnecessary, since after 3 years the soil physical quality under no-tilled crop rotation and chiseling was similar.

scholarly journals Soil water cycle and crop water use efficiency after long-term nitrogen fertilization in Loess Plateau

2012 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Wang ◽  
W. Liu ◽  
Q. Xue ◽  
T. Dang ◽  
C. Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Water Recharge ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
N Management

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) management on soil water recharge, available soil water at sowing (ASWS), soil water depletion, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and water use efficiency (WUE) after long-term fertilization. We collected data from 2 experiments in 2 growing seasons. Treatments varied from no fertilization (CK), single N or phosphorus (P), N and P (NP), to NP plus manure (NPM). Comparing to CK and single N or P treatments, NP and NPM reduced rainfall infiltration depth by 20–60 cm, increased water recharge by 16–21 mm, and decreased ASWS by 89–133 mm in 0–300 cm profile. However, crop yield and WUE continuously increased in NP and NPM treatments after 22 years of fertilization. Yield ranged from 3458 to 3782 kg/ha in NP or NPM but was 1246–1531 kg/ha in CK and single N or P. WUE in CK and single N or P treatments was < 6 kg/ha/mm but increased to 12.1 kg/ha/mm in a NP treatment. The NP and NPM fertilization provided benefits for increased yield and WUE but resulted in lower ASWS. Increasing ASWS may be important for sustainable yield after long-term fertilization.

Assessing the sustainability of wheat-based cropping systems using APSIM: model parameterisation and evaluation

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Moeller ◽  
Mustafa Pala ◽  
Ahmad M. Manschadi ◽  
Holger Meinke ◽  
Joachim Sauerborn
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Soil Water Dynamics ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
N Use

Assessing the sustainability of crop and soil management practices in wheat-based rotations requires a well-tested model with the demonstrated ability to sensibly predict crop productivity and changes in the soil resource. The Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) suite of models was parameterised and subsequently used to predict biomass production, yield, crop water and nitrogen (N) use, as well as long-term soil water and organic matter dynamics in wheat/chickpea systems at Tel Hadya, north-western Syria. The model satisfactorily simulated the productivity and water and N use of wheat and chickpea crops grown under different N and/or water supply levels in the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 experimental seasons. Analysis of soil-water dynamics showed that the 2-stage soil evaporation model in APSIM’s cascading water-balance module did not sufficiently explain the actual soil drying following crop harvest under conditions where unused water remained in the soil profile. This might have been related to evaporation from soil cracks in the montmorillonitic clay soil, a process not explicitly simulated by APSIM. Soil-water dynamics in wheat–fallow and wheat–chickpea rotations (1987–98) were nevertheless well simulated when the soil water content in 0–0.45 m soil depth was set to ‘air dry’ at the end of the growing season each year. The model satisfactorily simulated the amounts of NO3-N in the soil, whereas it underestimated the amounts of NH4-N. Ammonium fixation might be part of the soil mineral-N dynamics at the study site because montmorillonite is the major clay mineral. This process is not simulated by APSIM’s nitrogen module. APSIM was capable of predicting long-term trends (1985–98) in soil organic matter in wheat–fallow and wheat–chickpea rotations at Tel Hadya as reported in literature. Overall, results showed that the model is generic and mature enough to be extended to this set of environmental conditions and can therefore be applied to assess the sustainability of wheat–chickpea rotations at Tel Hadya.

scholarly journals Conservation agriculture and drought-tolerant germplasm: Reaping the benefits of climate-smart agriculture technologies in central Mozambique

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 414-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Thierfelder ◽  
Leonard Rusinamhodzi ◽  
Peter Setimela ◽  
Forbes Walker ◽  
Neal S. Eash
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Tillage Treatment ◽  
Smart Agriculture

AbstractConservation agriculture (CA) based on minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention and crop rotations is considered as a soil and crop management system that could potentially increase soil quality and mitigate the negative effects of climate variability. When CA is combined with drought-tolerant (DT) maize varieties, farmers can reap the benefits of both—genetic improvement and sustainable land management. New initiatives were started in 2007 in Mozambique to test the two climate-smart agriculture technologies on farmers' fields. Long-term trends showed that direct seeded manual CA treatments outyielded conventional tillage treatments in up to 89% of cases on maize and in 90% of cases on legume in direct yield comparisons. Improved DT maize varieties outyielded the traditional control variety by 26–46% (695–1422 kg ha−1) on different tillage treatment, across sites and season. However a direct interaction between tillage treatment and variety performance could not be established. Maize and legume grain yields on CA plots in this long-term dataset did not increase with increased years of practice due to on-site variability between farmer replicates. It was evident from the farmers' choice that, beside taste and good milling quality, farmers in drought-prone environments considered the potential of a variety to mature faster more important than larger potential yields of long season varieties. Population growth, labor shortage to clear new land areas and limited land resources in future will force farmers to change toward more permanent and sustainable cropping systems and CA is a viable option to improve their food security and livelihoods.

scholarly journals Development of a new long-term drought resilient soil water retention technology

2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 154A-160A ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Kavdir ◽  
W. Zhang ◽  
B. Basso ◽  
A. J. M. Smucker
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Soil Water Retention

EPIC estimates of soil water, nitrogen and carbon under semiarid temperate conditions

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Roloff ◽  
R. de jong ◽  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
V. M. Benson
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Support Tool

The Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model is an important support tool for environmental management. Previous tests of the model have determined that it is suitable for long-term yield estimation, but it is less precise in assessing annual yield variability. To determine the reasons for the discrepancies between estimated and measured yields, we tested the ability of EPIC version 5300 to predict soil water and soil nitrogen dynamics, using data from a long-term spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation experiment in the semiarid prairie region of Canada. Potential evapotranspiration (PET) estimates varied among methods tested: Priestley-Taylor and Penman-Monteith methods resulted in PET means that were about twice those obtained with the Hargreaves and Baier-Robertson methods. The higher PET means were associated with an excessive estimation of net radiation. We used the Baier-Robertson method to generate the other estimates reported herein. EPIC generally overestimated total soil water, but it still allowed clear differentiation among rotation phases and times of the year, and provided adequate estimates of water during the critical shot-blade stage. Water estimates by soil layer were also generally overpredicted, especially at depths from 0.15 to 0.60 m, but we were able to differentiate among rotation phases and times of the year. Precision of these latter estimates was generally low, accounting at most for 27% of the variability, and varied by soil layer, rotation phase and time of the year. Nitrate-N estimates tended to be lower than measured values, especially at depths below 0.3 m and during vegetative growth phases. However, the estimates also allowed us to distinguish among the rotation phases and times of the year. Total N and organic C were satisfactorily estimated by EPIC. In general, EPIC provided adequate long-term estimates of the environmental quality indicators tested. Key words: Environmental quality, environmental modelling, sustainability, spring wheat, fallow, potential evapotranspiration methods

Soil water depletion by tall and semidwarf oat and wheat cultivars

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 385-388
Author(s):  
R. M. Gentile ◽  
P. J. de Rocquigny ◽  
M. H. Entz
Keyword(s):  
Triticum Aestivum ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Avena Sativa ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Wheat Cultivars ◽  
Soil Water Depletion ◽  
Water Depletion

Knowledge of soil water use in different crops and among crop cultivars is useful in crop rotation planning. Net seasonal soil water depletion patterns in the 0- to 130-cm soil profile for semidwarf and tall cultivars of oat (Avena sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were compared at 3 site-years in Manitoba. Total soil water depletion was greater for oat than wheat (29–31 mm). This trend was consistent across site-years and N regimes. Greater water use for tall versus semidwarf oat was observed at one of three sites. Key words: Cultivars, oat, semidwarf, soil water depletion, wheat

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