scholarly journals Optimized cultivar deployment improves the efficiency and stability of sunflower crop production at national scale

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Casadebaig ◽  
Arnaud Gauffreteau ◽  
Amélia Landré ◽  
Nicolas B. Langlade ◽  
Emmanuelle Mestries ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Optimization Methods ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Crop Performance ◽  
Stress Patterns

AbstractPlant breeding programs design new crop cultivars which, while developed for distinct populations of environments, are nevertheless grown over large areas during their careers. Over its cultivation area, the crop is exposed to highly diverse stress patterns caused by climatic uncertainty and multiple management options, which often leads to decreased expected crop performance.In this study, we aim is to assess how finer spatial management of genetic resources could reduce the genotype-phenotype mismatch in cropping environments and ultimately improve the efficiency and stability of crop production. We used modeling and simulation to predict the crop performance resulting from the interaction between cultivar growth and development, climate and soil conditions, and management practices. We designed a computational experiment that evaluated the performance of a collection of commercial sunflower cultivars in a realistic population of cropping conditions in France, built from extensive agricultural surveys. Distinct farming locations that shared similar simulated abiotic stress patterns were clustered together to specify environment types. Optimization methods were then used to search for cultivars × environments combinations that lead to increased yield expectations.Results showed that a single cultivar choice adapted to the most frequent environment-type in the population is a robust strategy. However, the relevance of cultivar recommendations to specific locations was gradually increasing with the knowledge of pedo-climatic conditions. We argue that this approach while being operational on current genetic material could act synergistically with plant breeding as more diverse material could enable access to cultivars with distinctive traits, more adapted to specific conditions.

scholarly journals Constraints to Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) Production and Farmers’ Approaches to Striga hermonthica Management in Burkina Faso

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8460
Author(s):  
Armel Rouamba ◽  
Hussein Shimelis ◽  
Inoussa Drabo ◽  
Mark Laing ◽  
Prakash Gangashetty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Striga Hermonthica ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Central Plateau ◽  
South Central

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a staple food crop in Burkina Faso that is widely grown in the Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian zones, characterised by poor soil conditions and erratic rainfall, and high temperatures. The objective of this study was to document farmers’ perceptions of the prevailing constraints affecting pearl millet production and related approaches to manage the parasitic weeds S. hermonthica. The study was conducted in the Sahel, Sudano-Sahelian zones in the North, North Central, West Central, Central Plateau, and South Central of Burkina Faso. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions involving 492 participant farmers. Recurrent drought, S. hermonthica infestation, shortage of labour, lack of fertilisers, lack of cash, and the use of low-yielding varieties were the main challenges hindering pearl millet production in the study areas. The majority of the respondents (40%) ranked S. hermonthica infestation as the primary constraint affecting pearl millet production. Respondent farmers reported yield losses of up to 80% due to S. hermonthica infestation. 61.4% of the respondents in the study areas had achieved a mean pearl millet yields of <1 t/ha. Poor access and the high cost of introduced seed, and a lack of farmers preferred traits in the existing introduced pearl millet varieties were the main reasons for their low adoption, as reported by 32% of respondents. S. hermonthica management options in pearl millet production fields included moisture conservation using terraces, manual hoeing, hand weeding, use of microplots locally referred to as ‘zaï’, crop rotation and mulching. These management techniques were ineffective because they do not suppress the below ground S. hermonthica seed, and they are difficult to implement. Integrated management practices employing breeding for S. hermonthica resistant varieties with the aforementioned control measures could offer a sustainable solution for S. hermonthica management and improved pearl millet productivity in Burkina Faso.

scholarly journals Benefits and Limitations of Decision Support Systems (DSS) with a Special Emphasis on Weeds

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Kanatas ◽  
Ilias S. Travlos ◽  
Ioannis Gazoulis ◽  
Alexandros Tataridas ◽  
Anastasia Tsekoura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Systems ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Management Options ◽  
The Right

Decision support systems (DSS) have the potential to support farmers to make the right decisions in weed management. DSSs can select the appropriate herbicides for a given field and suggest the minimum dose rates for an herbicide application that can result in optimum weed control. Given that the adoption of DSSs may lead to decreased herbicide inputs in crop production, their potential for creating eco-friendly and profitable weed management strategies is obvious and desirable for the re-designing of farming systems on a more sustainable basis. Nevertheless, it is difficult to stimulate farmers to use DSSs as it has been noticed that farmers have different expectations of decision-making tools depending on their farming styles and usual practices. The function of DSSs requires accurate assessments of weeds within a field as input data; however, capturing the data can be problematic. The development of future DSSs should target to enhance weed management tactics which are less reliant on herbicides. DSSs should also provide information regarding weed seedbank dynamics in the soil in order to suggest management options not only within a single period but also in a rotational view. More aspects ought to be taken into account and further research is needed in order to optimize the practical use of DSSs for supporting farmers regarding weed management issues in various crops and under various soil and climatic conditions.

Intercropping fava bean with broccoli can improve soil properties while maintaining crop production under Mediterranean conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariano Marcos-Pérez ◽  
Virginia Sánchez-Navarro ◽  
Raúl Zornoza
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Crop Diversification ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
External Fertilization ◽  
Fava Bean

&lt;p&gt;Including legumes in intercropping systems may be regarded as a sustainable way to improve soil quality, fertility and land productivity, mostly due to facilitation processes and high rhizospheric activity which can mobilize soil nutrients for plants. Improvements in production and soil quality depend on inherent soil properties, climatic conditions, adopted management practices and fertilization, among others. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the association between broccoli (Brassica oleracea var italica) and fava bean (Vicia fava) grown under different intercropping patterns on crop production, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (Nt), soil aggregate stability (SAS) and soil fertility, compared to a broccoli monocrop. We defined a randomised block field experiment with three replications assessing the effect of monocropping, row 1:1 intercropping, row 2:1 intercropping and mix intercropping, with 30% reduction in fertilization in intercropped systems compared to monocrop. Soil sampling took place at harvest in February 2019. Results showed that the broccoli-fava bean intercropping significantly increased the general land production, with similar broccoli yield of 20000 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;-1 &lt;/sup&gt;in all treatments, plus 8000 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; coming from fava bean. Crop diversification and fava bean cultivation even in monocrop significantly increased SOC and Nt compared to broccoli monocrop. SOC and Nt were 1.06% and 0.09%, respectively, for broccoli monocrop, while they had average values of 1.29% and 0.12%, respectively for the intercropped systems. SAS was also significantly affected by crop diversification, with increases in the proportion of the macroaggregates (size &gt;2 mm) with intercropping. Broccoli monocrop showed an average proportion of these macroaggregates of 9.19%, while they increased up to 17.51% in intercropped systems. CEC was not significantly affected by intercropping SAS showing almost same percentage of aggregates independently of the treatment. Available P significantly increased in intercropped systems, likely due to increased microbial activity with the simultaneous growth of the two crop species. However, no significant effect of intercropping was observed with any other nutrient (Ca, Mg, K, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn and B), suggesting that microbial communities activated by the crop association are highly related to P mobilization but not so intensively involved in other nutrients. Thus, intercropping systems like broccoli-fava bean association can be regarded as a viable alternative for sustainable crop production while increasing soil fertility despite reducing the addition of external fertilization. However, more crop cycles are needed to confirm this trend.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals State and Progress of Andean Lupin Cultivation in Europe: A Review

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope J. Bebeli ◽  
Efstathia Lazaridi ◽  
Tilemachos Chatzigeorgiou ◽  
Maria-José Suso ◽  
Waltraud Hein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
Crop Modeling ◽  
Vast Number ◽  
Northern European ◽  
Lupinus Mutabilis ◽  
Andean Countries ◽  
Increasing Demand

Lupinus mutabilis is an important source of protein in different Andean countries, and its use in diets, particularly those of less wealthy individuals, has been observed for thousands of years. There is an increasing demand for protein crops suitable for Europe and this species is a potential candidate. Assessment of Lupinus mutabilis genetic material in European conditions started more than 40 years ago, with the characterization of a vast number of accessions from the Andean region. In this review, abiotic and biotic constraints to L. mutabilis cultivation in European soil and climatic conditions are discussed, and cultivation management practices are suggested. The beneficial interaction of L. mutabilis with Bradyrhizobium strains in the soil and various pollinator species is also discussed, and the effect of abiotic stresses on these interactions is highlighted. Prospects of alternative uses of L. mutabilis biomass in Northern Europe and opportunities for breeding strategies are discussed. In conclusion, the different approach to crop modeling for Southern and Northern European climatic conditions is highlighted.

Environment impact of nitrogen losses from agriculture under different management practices

2020 ◽  
pp. 138-149
Author(s):  
Pooja LR ◽  
Renu Singh ◽  
Manoj Shrivastava ◽  
Ruma Das ◽  
Seema Sangwan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Environment Impact ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
The Right

Nitrogen (N) fertilization is playing a vital role in increasing crop production and ensuring food security. The global population which is growing exponentially has reached nearly 7.5 billion in 2015 (from 1.65 billion in 1900).The sole reason behind this is synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, it alone supported 3.5 billion people otherwise it would be somewhere around 3.5-4 billion. Imbalanced use of N fertilizer leads to N deficient condition which affects plants growth and development also in N surplus condition it has a huge negative impact on environment and human welfare. It includes negative effects on biodiversity, eutrophication, nitrate accumulation in waters, acidification of soil and water bodies, nitrous oxide emissions and risks to human health due to exposure to ozone and particulate matter. In agricultural systems, when fertilizer is applied to crop is mainly prone to losses through ammonia (NH3) volatilisation, nitrate (NO3-) leaching and denitrification. Loss of N in the form of NH3 and NO3- mainly depends on various factors like temperature, soil pH, soil moisture, soil properties, plant characteristics, seasonal fluctuations. An integrated approach is must to minimize N losses and increase crop yield. In broader sense, options to minimize NH3 volatilization and NO3 leaching are fertilizer, soil and irrigation based management strategies. Fertilizer management options like 4R nutrient stewardship concept applying the Right Source of nutrients, at the Right Rate, at the Right Time and in the Right Place. Managing soil by practicing conservational tillage with crop based scheduled irrigation. This small change in nutrient, soil and irrigation management find way to make improvements in the nutrient use efficiency, profitability in farming, environmental safety and sustainable ecosystem with fertilizers in the developing world.

Daily rainfall above 75mm is a major trigger to landslides in the Muhunguzi, western Burundi

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clairia Kankurize ◽  
Gervais Rufyikiri ◽  
Bruno Delvaux
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Daily Rainfall ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Waterborne Diseases ◽  
East African ◽  
African Rift ◽  
The Impact

&lt;p&gt;Located in the East African Rift Valley, western Burundi is often threatened by landslides during the rainy season. Damage can be seen both in the mountains, the sites of the landslides, and in the plain where sediments are deposited: environmental degradation, loss upstream and downstream of cultivated land, destruction of infrastructures, loss of life, waterborne diseases, floods of streams laden with sludge and stones torn off during landslides... The magnitude of these shifts justifies the need for studies to understand the factors that cause this part of Burundi to be vulnerable to landslides.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here we highlight the relationship between the environmental context and the process of landslides in this region. To analyze the impact of geomorphological, geological, soil and climatic conditions as well as anthropogenic factors, we carried out an inventory of landslides in the Muhunguzi watershed, a survey of the local population and an analysis of rainfall over the period 1935-2014.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Of 7 Muhunguzi sub-watersheds with a total area of 21.2 km&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;, 43 landslides were identified, 29 of which were on a single sub-watershed. Most landslides were shallow. Geomorphology was characterized by steep escarpments interspersed with valleys. The landslides were located on the lower slopes and most affected the rivers. The lithology was dominated by shale inclined parallel to the slope. Landslides were located on rocky, black or red soils, identified as Nitisols. The majority of landslides occurred on cultivated fields. Daily precipitations ranging between 75mm and 100mm with a return period of 5.3 years are strongly correlated to shallow landslides in the studied area. Such intense daily rain thus appears here as a major trigger to these landslides. In addition, relief, geological and soil conditions are predisposing factors while population density and the resulting land pressure worsen land instability.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We conclude that further studies are needed to understand the impact of soil processes and human activity in order to identify adequate management practices preventing landslides in Muhunguzi area.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Evaluation of Hydroclimatic Variability and Prospective Irrigation Strategies in the U.S. Corn Belt

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orduña-Alegria ◽  
Schütze ◽  
Niyogi
Keyword(s):  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Corn Belt ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Irrigation Technologies ◽  
The U.S

Changes in climate, land use, and population growth has put immense pressure on the use of water resources in agriculture. Non-irrigated fields suffer from variable water stress, leading to an increase in the implementation of irrigation technologies, thus stressing the need to analyze diverse irrigation practices. An evaluation of 17 sites in the U.S. Corn Belt for two temporal climaticconditions was carried out. It consisted of the analysis of critical hydroclimatic parameters, and the evaluation of seven diverse irrigation strategies using the Deficit Irrigation Toolbox. The strategies included rainfed, full irrigation, and several optimizations of deficit irrigation. The results show a significant change in the hydroclimatic parameters mainly by increased temperature and potential evapotranspiration, and a decrease in precipitation with an increase in intense short rainfall events. Consequently, the simulations indicated the potential of deficit irrigation optimization strategies to increase water productivity above full irrigation and rainfed conditions. In particular, GET-OPTIS for wet soil conditions and the Decision Tables for dry soil conditions seasons. The presentstudy highlights the contributions of atypical weather to crop production and the implications for future management options, and allows specialized regionalization studies with the optimal irrigation strategy.

Regional differences in tree - crop competition due to soil, climate and management

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil I. Huth ◽  
Michael J. Robertson ◽  
Perry L. Poulton
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Agronomic Practices ◽  
Tree Crop ◽  
Soil Climate ◽  
Production Losses ◽  
Crop Competition

Large areas of trees are being planted in Australian agricultural lands for a range of environmental, ecological and economic reasons. In the medium to low rainfall zones, these plantings can negatively impact upon adjacent agricultural production through competition for soil moisture. The nature of the tree–crop competition zone and the means of managing it have been studied in the main southern cropping zones. However, the differences in soil, climate and agronomic systems in Australia’s northern dryland cropping zones could lead to differences in the competition processes and the management options needed to minimise them. In this study, the competition for soil moisture and resultant impacts on crop production were studied for a Eucalyptus argophloia windbreak on a farm near Warra, Queensland (26.93°S, 150.93°E). The results indicate well defined inner and outer competition zones, the extents of which agree with those found elsewhere in Australia and overseas. However, while the extent of the competition is comparable with other regions, local agronomic practices developed for variable climatic conditions and deep clay soils allow trees to extract soil water stored during fallow periods resulting in relatively higher production losses.

scholarly journals The Cereal Extraction Territorial Analysis of Lithuania in 2000–2014 Years

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 47-63
Author(s):  
Ieva Žvigaitytė ◽  
Izolda Ona Bražukienė
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Agricultural Industries

From the ancient times crop production perceived as one of the most important Lithuanian activities in relation to cereals extraction growing. The Crop Production – is “basis for agriculture" (Kaluina, 1993), in a long time this basis has formed the current agricultural situation in Lithuania. This scientific object is cereal extraction in Lithuania. The objective is to carry out cereal extraction territorial dispersion analysis in Lithuania 2000–2014 year. This article scientific must tasks: review of scientific literature on the theme of cereal crops extraction; analyze grain extraction determinants; examine grain extraction territorial dispersion characteristics; assess grain production development prospects in Lithuania. All the time scientists are interested cereal crops extraction in Lithuania. Scientists analyzed a lot of things, these are development stages of cereal crops, natural and social economic conditions, which caused these cultures emergence of a certain territory and dissemination. The most important factors are natural and socio-economic. These factors are very much connected. Also, the modern territorial system of cereal extraction growing has developed under the influence of the following other factors: soil conditions; agricultural traditions formation within a certain time; the internal market demand; mastering new technologies; the Government’s support and policy in agricultural industries; the European Union structural funds support and policy in agricultural. In Lithuania cereal crops extraction has increased from 2000 to 2014 years. An improving situation observed after accession to the European Union. Record harvest was fixed in 2014 year. It was influenced by technological million tonnes break in the Lithuanian grain farms. The Middle Lithuanian height intensive zone (area) for grain crops extraction. Here are good soil potential possibilities cereal crops (high yield) and here are a lower cost cultivation of cereal crops extraction. The condition for cereal crops extraction is bad in the Western and Eastern Lithuanian zones (areas). This area is characterized by worse natural – climatic conditions. In recent years, huge volumes of the growing cereals harvest, improving yields and growing conditions for crop areas form optimistic cereal crops for production in future. In our country economic situation will improve every years and this is an impact on improving agricultural situation.

scholarly journals Micronutrients in Food Production: What Can We Learn from Natural Ecosystems?

Soil Systems ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Denton-Thompson ◽  
Emma J. Sayer
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Nutrient Mobilization ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Effective Manner

Soil micronutrients limit crop productivity in many regions worldwide, and micronutrient deficiencies affect over two billion people globally. Microbial biofertilizers could combat these issues by inoculating arable soils with microorganisms that mobilize micronutrients, increasing their availability to crop plants in an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective manner. However, the widespread application of biofertilizers is limited by complex micronutrient–microbe–plant interactions, which reduce their effectiveness under field conditions. Here, we review the current state of seven micronutrients in food production. We examine the mechanisms underpinning microbial micronutrient mobilization in natural ecosystems and synthesize the state-of-knowledge to improve our overall understanding of biofertilizers in food crop production. We demonstrate that, although soil micronutrient concentrations are strongly influenced by soil conditions, land management practices can also substantially affect micronutrient availability and uptake by plants. The effectiveness of biofertilizers varies, but several lines of evidence indicate substantial benefits in co-applying biofertilizers with conventional inorganic or organic fertilizers. Studies of micronutrient cycling in natural ecosystems provide examples of microbial taxa capable of mobilizing multiple micronutrients whilst withstanding harsh environmental conditions. Research into the mechanisms of microbial nutrient mobilization in natural ecosystems could, therefore, yield effective biofertilizers to improve crop nutrition under global changes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document