Optimization of root traits to provide enhanced ecosystem services in agricultural systems: a focus on cover crops

Thiessen Martens, J. R., Entz, M. H. and Wonneck, M. D. 2015. Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 1049–1072. Redesign of agricultural systems according to ecological principles has been proposed for the development of sustainable systems. We review a wide variety of ecologically based crop production practices, including crop varieties and genetic diversity, crop selection and rotation, cover crops, annual polyculture, perennial forages, perennial grains, agroforestry systems, reducing tillage, use of animal manures and green manures, soil biological fertility, organic production systems, integrated crop–livestock systems, and purposeful design of farm landscapes (farmscaping), and discuss their potential role in enhancing the profitability, environmental sustainability, and resilience of Canadian prairie cropping systems. Farming systems that most closely mimic natural systems through appropriate integration of diverse components, within a context of supportive social and economic structures, appear to offer the greatest potential benefits, while creating a framework in which to place all other farming practices. Our understanding of ecological relationships within agricultural systems is currently lacking, and a major shift in research, education, and policy will be required to purposefully and proactively redesign Canadian prairie agricultural systems for long-term sustainability.

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Root traits for low input agroecosystems in Africa

10.22541/au.162348333.37725366/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mame Sokhatil Ndoye ◽

Jimmy Burridge ◽

Rahul Bhosale ◽

Alexandre Grondin ◽

Laurent Laplaze

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Food Security ◽

Nutrient Uptake ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Root Traits ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Low Input ◽

Small Holder ◽

New Cultivars

In Africa, agriculture is largely based on low-input and small-holder farming systems that use little inorganic fertilizers and have limited access to irrigation and mechanization in comparison to modern agricultural systems. Improving agricultural practices and developing new cultivars adapted to these low-input environments, where production already suffers from climate change, is a major priority for ensuring food security in the future. Root phenes improving water and nutrient uptake could represent a solution toward achieving these goals. In this review, we illustrate how breeding for specific root phenes could improve crop adaptation and resilience in Africa using three case studies covering very contrasted low-input agro-ecosystems. We conclude with a discussion on how these phenes could be validated and made available to breeders and agronomists.

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Agricultural Beneficial Management Practices: A Synthesis of Co-benefits, Tradeoffs, and Co-costs between Crop Yield and Non-provisioning Ecosystem Services

10.32942/osf.io/ycwek ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Andrew Nicholas Kadykalo ◽

Kris Johnson ◽

Scott McFatridge ◽

C. Scott Findlay

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Management Practices ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Agricultural Crop ◽

Beneficial Management Practices ◽

Provisioning Ecosystem Services ◽

The Impact

Although agricultural “best (or beneficial) management practices” (BMPs) first emerged to mitigate agro-environmental resource challenges, they may also enhance ‘non-provisioning’ ecosystem services. The enthusiasm for adopting BMPs partially depends on evidence that doing so will lead to agro-environmental benefits while not substantially reducing crop productivity or farmer income. We survey and synthesize evidence in the existing literature to document the joint effects on agricultural crop yield and 12 ecosystem service (ES) associated with implementation of 5 agricultural BMPs (crop rotations, cover crops, nutrient management, perennial vegetated buffers, reduced or no tillage). We also analyze the prevalence of co-benefits (‘win-win’), tradeoffs, and co-costs (‘lose-lose’) outcomes. On the basis of a set of contextual variables we then develop empirical models that predict the likelihood of co-benefits relative to tradeoffs, and co-costs. We found thirty-six studies investigating 141 combinations of crop yields and non-provisioning ES outcomes (YESs) in the relevant literatures covering the period 1983-2016. The scope of the review is global, but included studies are geographically concentrated in the U.S. Corn Belt (Midwestern United States). In the literature sample, reporting of co-benefits (26%) was much more prevalent than reporting of co-costs (4%) between yields and ES. Tradeoffs most often resulted in a reduction in crop yields and an increase in ES (28%); this was marginally greater than studies reporting a neutral influence on crop yields and an increase in ES (26%). Other Y/ES combinations were uncommon. Mixed-effects models indicated reduced tillage and crop rotations had generally positive associations with YESs. Temporal scale was an informative predictor suggesting studies with longer time scales resulted in greater positive outcomes on YESs, on average. Our results are a step towards identifying those contexts where co-benefits or partial improvement outcomes of BMPs are more likely to be realized, as well as the impact of particular practices on specific ES.

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Soil microbial functionality in response to the inclusion of cover crop mixtures in agricultural systems

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5424/sjar/2016142-8395 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. e0304 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Diego N. Chavarría ◽

Romina A. Verdenelli ◽

Emiliano J. Muñoz ◽

Cinthia Conforto ◽

Silvina B. Restovich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Agricultural System ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Cash Crop ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Catabolic Diversity ◽

Cash Crops ◽

Physiological Profiles

Agricultural systems where monoculture prevails are characterized by fertility losses and reduced contribution to ecosystem services. Including cover crops (CC) as part of an agricultural system is a promising choice in sustainable intensification of those demanding systems. We evaluated soil microbial functionality in cash crops in response to the inclusion of CC by analyzing soil microbial functions at two different periods of the agricultural year (cash crop harvest and CC desiccation) during 2013 and 2014. Three plant species were used as CC: oat (Avena sativa L.), vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) which were sown in two different mixtures of species: oat and radish mix (CC1) and oat, radish and vetch mix (CC2), with soybean monoculture and soybean/corn being the cash crops. The study of community level physiological profiles showed statistical differences in respiration of specific C sources indicating an improvement of catabolic diversity in CC treatments. Soil enzyme activities were also increased with the inclusion of CC mixtures, with values of dehydrogenase activity and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis up to 38.1% and 35.3% higher than those of the control treatment, respectively. This research evidenced that CC inclusion promotes soil biological quality through a contribution of soil organic carbon, improving the sustainability of agrosystems. The use of a CC mixture of three plant species including the legume vetch increased soil biological processes and catabolic diversity, with no adverse effects on cash crop grain yield.

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Winter Cover Crops for Sustainable Agricultural Systems: Influence on Soil Properties, Water Quality, and Crop Yields

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.32.1.21 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 21-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 83

Author(s):

Upendra M. Sainju ◽

Bharat P. Singh

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Winter Cover ◽

Winter Cover Crops ◽

Sustainable Agricultural Systems

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Sustainable Agricultural Systems: A Bibliometrics Analysis of Ecological Modernization Approach

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12229635 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (22) ◽

pp. 9635

Author(s):

Lucia Rocchi ◽

Antonio Boggia ◽

Luisa Paolotti

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Basic Research ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Farming System ◽

Ecological Modernization ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Current State ◽

Alternative Systems ◽

Diversified Farming Systems ◽

Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Agricultural systems need to be more sustainable. Nowadays, the global food production has a remarkable impact in terms of greenhouse gases production, terrestrial acidification, eutrophication and land consumption. Moreover, one of the effects of unsustainable agriculture is depletion of ecosystem services (ES) on which agricultural systems themselves are dependent. Alternative agricultural systems are possible: the aim of this review was to analyze one of these alternative systems, i.e., strong ecological modernization, to understand relevant topics and current state of the art connected with it. As a result that strong ecological modernization can be considered an ecosystem services-based farming system, we focused on the development of topics related to ecosystem services but also to diversification. The review has been conducted applying a bibliometrics approach to recognize the main papers, authors, organization and countries, as well as trend topics and main themes investigated. The results showed that basic research content involves agrobiodiversity, agroecology and diversified farming systems. At the same time, the review revealed a lack about the social and economic dimensions of sustainability that need to be addressed for promoting a true transition to a strong ecological modernization.

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