Dynamic land capability model: a case history

1990 ◽  
Vol 329 (1255) ◽  
pp. 411-419 ◽  

A computer simulation approach has been developed that quantifies land capability in terms of crop productivity under different conditions of climate, soil, drainage or irrigation and farm management. This model deals with: (i) the dates and number of days in spring when soil moisture content falls sufficiently to permit soil cultivation and sowing or planting (farm management aspect); (ii) duration of germination and time of emergence in relation to soil moisture and temperature; (iii), water uptake, development, growth and harvest of the crop; (iv) number and time of soil workable days available for the harvest of root crops in autumn (farm management aspect). The model was applied to compute effects of land drainage (15 combinations of drain depth and distance) on the yield of potatoes and spring cereals growing during 30 years (1952-81) on eight different soil types in the Netherlands. The outcome of this study was used as a basis for a nationwide system for evaluating the effects of soil and drainage upon crop yields. The methodology of the integrated model approach can be applied in other climates for a variety of crops growing on different soil types. It can be used to evaluate not only drainage effects on yield, but also those of irrigation and soil improvement. The approach is applicable to land evaluation studies in general.

Author(s):  
C. Sudharshana ◽  
Mallikarjun Dhotre ◽  
Vijay Kumar Didal

Scientific evaluation of the land is essential in order to understand the suitability for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes and identification of capabilities and constraints of the land for various crops and their cultivation helps in appropriate and sustainable usage. In order to uplift the production, productivity as well as profitability from a farm land, the knowledge regarding various land resources and soil properties become pre-requisites. In this, direction, a land inventorization was carried out using RS and GIS techniques. The prime objective was to carry out land evaluation studies based on land based on land capability classification and suitability of lands for commonly cultivated crops in the region. Soil morphological features, physical, physico-chemical and fertility properties of the land were analysed and the results indicated that the soils are good in inherent properties even with the slight variation in the morphological and physicochemical properties. Land evaluation based on Land Capability Classification (LCC) revealed that, all the blocks fall under Class-IV with some of the limitations like, erosion, texture and low organic carbon content in soils. Suitability of land to the crops indicated that there are limitations with respect to erosion, slope and soil fertility. Based on the obtained results, corrective measures were suggested for all the blocks to reduce the erosion losses improve the soil properties for higher productivity of the cultivated crops. The study concludes that variation in soils in all blocks is due to the close relationship between soils, physiography and climate which are interrelated.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
PREM K. SUNDARAM ◽  
BIKAS SARKAR ◽  
PAWAN JEET ◽  
SANJAY KUMAR PATEL ◽  
ANUKUL P ANURAG ◽  
...  

The production levels of agriculture have remained low in eastern region of India mainly due to lack of location-specific production technologies, natural calamities like floods, water logging, drought, inadequate timely supply of critical inputs and social constraints. Bihar is one of the important agrarian states of Eastern India. The crop yields are low and almost stagnating in Bihar compared to the north-western and other parts of the country. To improve the productivity in this region mechanization of farms is of critical importance. The farm power availability in Bihar in 2017 is 2.80 kW/ha and is more than the national average of 2.03 kW/ha. Still there are 14 districts in Bihar which is below national average. The number of marginal farmers has increased from 84.18 to 91.21 during 2014-17, an increase of 7.03 percent. Increase in Small and fragmented land will further hindrance the farm mechanization process. The present study was conducted to understand dynamics of farm power availability in Bihar, so as to take substantial measures for improved mechanization and in turn crop productivity in the region.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Colbach ◽  
Sandrine Petit ◽  
Bruno Chauvel ◽  
Violaine Deytieux ◽  
Martin Lechenet ◽  
...  

The growing recognition of the environmental and health issues associated to pesticide use requires to investigate how to manage weeds with less or no herbicides in arable farming while maintaining crop productivity. The questions of weed harmfulness, herbicide efficacy, the effects of herbicide use on crop yields, and the effect of reducing herbicides on crop production have been addressed over the years but results and interpretations often appear contradictory. In this paper, we critically analyze studies that have focused on the herbicide use, weeds and crop yield nexus. We identified many inconsistencies in the published results and demonstrate that these often stem from differences in the methodologies used and in the choice of the conceptual model that links the three items. Our main findings are: (1) although our review confirms that herbicide reduction increases weed infestation if not compensated by other cultural techniques, there are many shortcomings in the different methods used to assess the impact of weeds on crop production; (2) Reducing herbicide use rarely results in increased crop yield loss due to weeds if farmers compensate low herbicide use by other efficient cultural practices; (3) There is a need for comprehensive studies describing the effect of cropping systems on crop production that explicitly include weeds and disentangle the impact of herbicides from the effect of other practices on weeds and on crop production. We propose a framework that presents all the links and feed-backs that must be considered when analyzing the herbicide-weed-crop yield nexus. We then provide a number of methodological recommendations for future studies. We conclude that, since weeds are causing yield loss, reduced herbicide use and maintained crop productivity necessarily requires a redesign of cropping systems. These new systems should include both agronomic and biodiversity-based levers acting in concert to deliver sustainable weed management.


Author(s):  
Luciana Rossato ◽  
Regina C. dos Santos Alvalá ◽  
José A. Marengo ◽  
Marcelo Zeri ◽  
Ana P. M. do Amaral Cunha ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-133
Author(s):  
Ruslan M. Bischokov

Using computer fuzzy-logical models based on empirical values of climatic characteristics (rainfall, temperature and humidity) of long-term observations (1955-2018) from meteorological stations in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (Nalchik, Baksan, Prokhladny and Terek) and crop yields (winter wheat, spring wheat, corn, sunflower, millet, oats), dependence of crop yields on variations of climatic factors were analyzed and a specific forecast was given. Setting expected values of climatic characteristics in computer model, we received possible values of productivity for the next season. Uniformity assessment (Dixon and Smirnov - Grabbsas criterion), stability (Student and Fischers criterion), statistical importance of parameters of distribution and accidental errors were determined. Originality of the method is in the fact that in the form of input parameters of the model predictors, the previously calculated forecast values of the meteorological parameters for the next agricultural year were used, and at the output, the predicted values of crop productivity were obtained as predictants. Furthermore, recommendations on adoption of management decisions were developed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoting Liang ◽  
Junhui Liu ◽  
Jingmin Zhang ◽  
Jing Guo

Drought has become an important factor limiting crop yields in China. As an important greenhouse horticultural crop in China, the research of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Jinpeng No.10) is of great theoretical and practical significance. In the study, four different relative soil moisture contents (74% to 80%, 55% to 61%, 47% to 52%, and 25% to 30%) were used to induce drought stress. We investigated changes in photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and other related physiological parameters in response to different relative soil moisture contents. Drought inhibited the photosynthesis of tomato significantly, as shown by a clear decline in the net photosynthetic rate. Our results indicated stomatal limitation and nonstomatal limitation were responsible for the photosynthesis reduction.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Minoli ◽  
Jonas Jägermeyr ◽  
Senthold Asseng ◽  
Christoph Müller

<p>Broad evidence is pointing at possible adverse impacts of climate change on crop yields. Due to scarce information about farming management practices, most global-scale studies, however, do not consider adaptation strategies.</p><p>Here we integrate models of farmers' decision making with crop biophysical modeling at the global scale to investigate how accounting for adaptation of crop phenology affects projections of future crop productivity under climate change. Farmers in each simulation unit are assumed to adapt crop growing periods by continuously selecting sowing dates and cultivars that match climatic conditions best. We compare counterfactual management scenarios, assuming crop calendars and cultivars to be either the same as in the reference climate – as often assumed in previous climate impact assessments – or adapted to future climate.</p><p>Based on crop model simulations, we find that the implementation of adapted growing periods can substantially increase (+15%) total crop production in 2080-2099 (RCP6.0). In general, summer crops are responsive to both sowing and harvest date adjustments, which result in overall longer growing periods and improved yields, compared to production systems without adaptation of growing periods. Winter wheat presents challenges in adapting to a warming climate and requires region-specific adjustments to pre and post winter conditions. We present a systematic evaluation of how local and climate-scenario specific adaptation strategies can enhance global crop productivity on current cropland. Our findings highlight the importance of further research on the readiness of required crop varieties.</p>


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