348 Integration of Nutrition with Air and Water Environmental Concerns

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 195-195
Author(s):  
Alan Rotz
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Ammonia Emission ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Nutrient Excretion ◽  
Important Concern

Abstract The dairy and beef cattle industries face a number of environmental challenges related to air and water quality as well as the use of limited resources such as water and fossil energy. Mitigation strategies are available and being developed to reduce environmental impacts, but economical solutions remain a challenge. Assessment of mitigation strategies requires a comprehensive evaluation to assure that benefits in one component are not offset by harm in another. Process-based modeling and life cycle assessment provide tools for conducting this type of integrated evaluation. The most cost-effective strategies often begin with animal feeding. The diet of the animal affects resource use and nutrient excretion where the amount and form of nitrogen and phosphorus excreted affect air and water emissions. National assessments of the U.S. beef and dairy industries indicate where mitigation is most needed. Although greenhouse gas emissions receive most of the concern today, water consumption is another important concern, particularly for producers in drier regions such as the western United States. Over 90% of the water consumed in beef and dairy production is used in irrigated feed-crop production. Therefore, animal diets that use byproduct or other feeds not related to irrigated production can provide large reductions in the water footprint of beef and dairy products. Another emerging concern is that of ammonia emission where beef and dairy cattle may contribute more than half of the national emission inventory. Efficient protein feeding is the most economical and effective step that can be taken to reduce this environmental impact. Simulation of mitigation strategies using production system models provides comprehensive evaluation and prioritization among available and possible options, giving direction toward more sustainable ruminant animal production systems.

scholarly journals Impact of Cover Crops on the Soil Microbiome of Tree Crops

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 328 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Biological Approaches for Control of Root Pathogens of Strawberry

2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (12) ◽  
pp. 1356-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. N. Martin ◽  
C. T. Bull
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Root Pruning ◽  
Microbial Inoculants ◽  
Pathogen Control ◽  
Production Problems

Soil fumigation with methyl bromide plus chloropicrin is used as a preplant treatment to control a broad range of pathogens in high-value annual crop production systems. In California, fumigation is used on approximately 10,125 ha of strawberry production to control pathogens ranging from Verticillium dahliae to root pruning pathogens such as Pythium, Rhizoctonia, or Cylindrocarpon spp. In addition to pathogen control, fumigation also causes an enhanced growth response of the plant and reduces weed pressure. The development of successful, long-term cost effective biocontrol strategies most likely will require the development of an integrated systems approach that incorporates diverse aspects of the crop production system. Although application of single microbial inoculants may provide some level of control for specific production problems, it will be a challenge to provide the broad spectrum of activity needed in production fields.

scholarly journals Diverse Approaches to Herbicide-Resistant Weed Management

Weed Science ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (SP1) ◽  
pp. 570-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micheal D. K. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Herbicide Resistant ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Evolution Of Resistance ◽  
Complexity Cost

Herbicides have been the principal means of weed control in developed countries for approximately 50 yr because they are the most cost-effective method. Such general use of herbicides has resulted in weed resistance to herbicides, which continues to be a growing problem. Within the past decade, the evolution of resistance to the once-dominant herbicide glyphosate has resulted in major concerns about the future ability to control weeds in many crop systems. Moreover, many weed species have evolved resistance to multiple mechanisms of herbicide action. Given the dearth of new herbicides with novel mechanisms of action, it appears inevitable that weed management programs will need to be supplemented by the use of tactics other than herbicides. However, the inclusion of more diversity for weed management also introduces complexity, cost, and time constraints to current crop production systems. This paper describes broadly the considerations, opportunities, and constraints of diverse weed management tactics to address the burgeoning problems with herbicide resistance.

scholarly journals Development of a Push-Type Liquid Fertilizer and Pesticide Sprayer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fadeyibi, A., ◽  
Akpenpuun, T. D. ◽  
Issah, A. M.
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Effective Field ◽  
Rotating Shaft ◽  
Liquid Fertilizer ◽  
Materials Used

Low yield, insect, pest and weeds competing with crops are challenges in crop production systems in Nigeria. This research was carried out to design and developed a push-type wheel operated liquid fertilizer/ pesticide sprayer. The materials used for fabrication were selected based on the design assumptions, calculations and sourced locally. The sprayer was mechanically operated through the rotating shaft of the cartwheels using a slider-cranks mechanism. An accumulator was provided to create the required pressure of continuous spraying action. The sprayer possesses two tanks of 16 L each, a wheel, a coup-able stand, eight nozzles and an adjustable height depending on the crop height. The sprayer can cover 4.8 hectares per day, effective field capacity of 1.13 ha/h, theoretical field capacity of 1.24 ha/h. and field efficiency of 91%. The developed sprayer consumes less time, cost effective, high efficiency and the users will just have to pull the cart and the whole mechanism will be operated with ease.

Global animal production and nitrogen and phosphorus flows

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Liu ◽  
Jingmeng Wang ◽  
Zhaohai Bai ◽  
Lin Ma ◽  
Oene Oenema
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
System Level ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Nitrogen Inputs ◽  
Animal Production Systems

Animal production systems provide nutritious food for humans, income and survivability for numerous smallholder farms and transform residues to valuable products. However, animal production is implicated in human health issues (diet-related diseases, zoonosis, antimicrobial resistance) and environmental burdens (ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication of surface waters, biodiversity loss). This paper reviews changes in global animal production and associated nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) flows over the past 50 years, during which time total animal production roughly tripled. Cattle still dominate the world in terms of animal biomass, but the number and total production of pigs and poultry have increased faster. Animal production systems are highly diverse and respond to changes in markets. Specialised systems have become more dominant, especially in developed and rapidly developing countries. The annual production of N and P in manure is similar to the amounts of N and P in synthetic fertiliser produced annually, but manure nutrients are often not recycled effectively and used efficiently by plants. Nutrient losses greatly depend on the system, management and regulations. Nitrogen and P use efficiency (NUE and PUE respectively) at the animal level is in the range 5–45%, depending on animal category, feeding and management. NUE of mixed crop-animal systems may range from 5% to 65% depending on NUE at the animal level, and the utilisation of manure nitrogen and new nitrogen inputs. Potentially, values for PUE are higher than those for NUE. Solutions for improving NUE and PUE in animal production are based on a coherent set of activities in the whole chain of ‘feed production–animal production–manure management’. A high efficiency at the system level is achieved through combination of high NUE and PUE at the animal level and effective recycling and utilisation of manure N and P in crop production. Specific regional regulations (low-emission manure storage and application, proper application limits and timing) greatly contribute to high efficiency at a system level.

scholarly journals Optimizing Sampling and Extraction Methods for Plant-Parasitic and Entomopathogenic Nematodes

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 629
Author(s):  
Mahfouz M. M. Abd-Elgawad
Keyword(s):  
Extraction Method ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Entomopathogenic Nematodes ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Extraction Methods ◽  
The Common ◽  
Biocontrol Potential ◽  
Plant Parasitic

Plant-parasitic and entomopathogenic nematodes (PPNs and EPNs) are key groups in crop production systems. This study aims at optimizing nematode sampling and extraction methods to benefit integrated pest management (IPM) through (a) management of PPNs and (b) use of EPNs. The impacts of these methods on PPNs and EPNs to achieve cost-effective and efficient IPM programs are presented. The common misuses of sampling and extraction methods are discussed. Professionals engaged in IPM should consider sampling the reliability level in the light of the intended goal, location, crop value, susceptibility, nematode species, and available funds. Logical sampling methodology should be expanded to integrate various factors that can recover extra EPN isolates with differential pathogenicity. It should seek for the best EPN-host matching. Merits of repeated baiting for EPN extraction from soil and sieving for PPN recovery from suspensions are presented. Their extraction values may be modelled to quantify the efficiency of nematode separation. The use of proper indices of dispersion to enhance the biocontrol potential of EPNs or save costs in nematicidal applications is ideally compatible with IPM programs. Selecting an extraction method may sometimes require further tests to find the best extraction method of the existing fauna and/or flora. Cons and pros of modern sampling and extraction techniques are highlighted.

scholarly journals Bio-Green Foliar Spray Enhances Rice Growth and Productivity in Cambodia

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Tak Tha ◽  
Ply Preap ◽  
Seyha Sorl ◽  
Pao Srean ◽  
Visalsok Touch
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Rice Variety ◽  
Foliar Spray ◽  
Ammonium Phosphate ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Growing Period

The use of bioproducts as biostimulants to stimulate plant growth and to increase yields as an alternative to chemical fertilizers are currently being promoted for cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices of crop production systems. The objective of the study was to determine plant growth and productivity of rice responded to Bio Green application. A short growing period (90 – 95 days) OM-5451 rice variety was used in this study. The rice plants were cultivated in the randomized-completed block with two treatments and six replications in the plot of 2 m * 2 m.  Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer was applied once at a rate of 100 kg/ha. For treatment, Bio-green with a solution of 1% (v/v) was weekly applied as foliage spray; and without Bio-Green as control. The results showed the grain yield was 3.7 t/ha in the treatment and 2.83 t/ha in the control, indicating that 36.4% of the grain yield was increased. The Bio-Green could be significantly used as plant biostimulants to promote plant growth and grain yield in rice in Cambodia.

scholarly journals Water Footprint for Pulse, Cereal, and Oilseed Crops in Saskatchewan, Canada

Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianyuan Ding ◽  
Ying Zhao ◽  
Hui Guo ◽  
Xueyan Li ◽  
Jeff Schoenau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Protein Yield ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
Pulse Crops ◽  
Lower Protein ◽  
Major Factors

The water footprint (WF) of crop production is a friendly approach for the analysis of water resource consumption in agricultural production systems. This study assessed the inter-annual variability of the total WF of three types of main crops, namely, cereal (i.e., spring wheat and barley), oilseed (i.e., canola and sunflower) and pulse (i.e., lentils and chickpea), from the perspective of yield and protein. It also determined the major factors that influence the WFs in Saskatchewan province of Canada. Over the period of 1965–2014, the annual precipitation in Saskatchewan fluctuated considerably but increased slightly with time. The grain yield-based WF ranged between 1.08 and 1.80, 0.90 and 1.38, 1.71 and 2.58, 1.94 and 4.28, 1.47 and 2.37, and 1.39 and 1.79 m3 kg−1; whereas the protein yield-based WF ranged between 7.69 and 10.44, 8.27 and 16.47, 3.79 and 7.75, 4.86 and 11.17, 5.09 and 7.42, and 5.51 and 10.69 m3 kg−1 for spring wheat, barley, canola, sunflower, lentils, and chickpea, respectively. All the WFs of crops generally decreased with time, which could be attributed to precipitation factors. In addition, the scientific and technological progress and agricultural inputs also evidently influenced the grain yield-based WFs of all crops. Pulse crops had a higher grain yield-based WF (an average of 1.59 m3 kg−1 for pulse crops and 1.18 m3 kg−1 for cereal crops) but a lower protein yield-based WF (an average of 6.58 m3 kg−1 for pulse crops and 9.25 m3 kg−1 for cereal crops) than cereal crops. Under conditions of improved protein consumption and healthy living in the future, pulse crops may be a preferred crop.

scholarly journals Fish By-Product Use as Biostimulants: An Overview of the Current State of the Art, Including Relevant Legislation and Regulations within the EU and USA

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moses Madende ◽  
Maria Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Protein Hydrolysates ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Waste Products

Crop production systems have adopted cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices to improve crop yields and the quality of food derived from plants. Approaches such as genetic selection and the creation of varieties displaying favorable traits such as disease and drought resistance have been used in the past and continue to be used. However, the use of biostimulants to promote plant growth has increasingly gained attention, and the market size for biostimulants is estimated to reach USD 4.14 billion by 2025. Plant biostimulants are products obtained from different inorganic or organic substances and microorganisms that can improve plant growth and productivity and abate the negative effects of abiotic stresses. They include materials such as protein hydrolysates, amino acids, humic substances, seaweed extracts and food or industrial waste-derived compounds. Fish processing waste products have potential applications as plant biostimulants. This review gives an overview of plant biostimulants with a focus on fish protein hydrolysates and legislation governing the use of plant biostimulants in agriculture.

scholarly journals Production Costs and Profitability for Selected Greenhouse Grown Annual and Perennial Crops: Partial Enterprise Budgeting and Sensitivity Analysis

HortScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 637-646
Author(s):  
Xuan Wei ◽  
Hayk Khachatryan ◽  
Alicia Rihn
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Price Competition ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Net Income ◽  
Perennial Crop ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Greenhouse Growers

In recent years, growers in the ornamental horticulture industry have experienced declining revenue and shrinking profit margins due to increased consumer spending captured by wholesale stores bypass, price competition at the retail level, as well as relatively low consumer demand. Maintaining cost-effective production practices is critical for nursery and greenhouse growers to stay profitable. However, a recent trend to impose more restrictive labeling polices on pesticide use (i.e., disclosing the use of neonicotinoids) may impact growers’ already tightening production costs. A better understanding of the cost structure and production decision-making can provide insights for profitable operation. Using a partial enterprise budgeting approach, this research aims to evaluate production costs and profitability for 20 individual greenhouse annual and perennial crop production systems. Three primary economic performance indicators (net income, gross margin, and profit margin) were calculated and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to account for potential risks in production. Our results suggest that production costs vary significantly among different crops, thus implying that producers may have different profitability levels depending on the combination of crops grown. Our partial enterprise budgeting estimates serve as a reference point and can assist producers with reducing costs in specific areas, and aids in selecting and adjusting crop combinations to maximize potential profits. Sensitivity analysis scenarios provide insights to producers for evaluation of their entire operations and aid in making decisions on adopting alternative practices.

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