A survey of green manure productivity on dryland organic grain farms in the eastern prairie region of Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 772-776
Author(s):  
Joanne R. Thiessen Martens ◽  
Derek H. Lynch ◽  
Martin H. Entz
Keyword(s):  
Plant Tissue ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Green Manures ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Legume Plant ◽  
Soil Test P

Little is known about legume green manure productivity on organic farms. Soil and plant tissue were sampled in annual, biennial, and perennial green manures on 41 fields in the eastern prairies. Green manure biomass averaged 4572 kg ha−1; 53% was legume plant material and 18% was weeds. Soil test P and plant tissue P concentrations were below critical levels in about half of all green manures. Mean N fixation was estimated at 71 kg ha−1. This observational study provides a baseline for future research to optimize green manure and nutrient management in organic grain production systems.

Nutrient balances and nutrient availability of organic cash crop farms in Austria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juergen K. Friedel ◽  
Anne Leonhard ◽  
Christopher Schöpf
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Phosphorus Availability ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Nutrient Balances ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Cash Crop ◽  
Class B ◽  
Class C

<p>For stockless organic farms an adequate nutrient supply is in many ways a challenge. In order to assess the nutrient management of Austrian organic stockless farms, farm gate-balances for nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus of 15 organic stockless farms located in Austria’s main arable production areas were calculated. Two of the farms were located in Wald- und Mühlviertel (Northern Upper and Lower Austria), two in the Carinthian Basin (Carinthia), two in the Pre-alpine Region (Southern Upper and Lower Austria), two in the South-Eastern Lowlands (Eastern Styria and Burgenland), four in the Marchfeld region (Eastern Lower Austria) and three in the Weinviertel (North-Eastern Lower Austria). The farms were managed according to organic farming guidelines for at least five years at the time of assessment. Nutrient balances were calculated over a period of five years, subtracting all farm outputs (nutrients in sold products) from all farm inputs (seeds and fertilizers, biological N fixation). Yields were assessed in questionnaires from the farmers, nutrient contents were taken from standardized tables.</p><p>Nitrogen balances (n = 14 farms) were -14.6 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup> on average, ranging from -61 to +34 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>. Nitrogen balances were strongly negative for one farm, slightly negative for 10 farms, even for one farm and slightly positive for 2 farms. Phosphorus balances (n = 15 farms) were -8.3 kg P ha<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup> on average, ranging from -23 to -3 kg P ha<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>. Phosphorus balances were strongly negative for one farm, slightly negative for 12 farms and even for 2 farms. Potassium balances (n = 15 farms) were -15.6 kg K ha<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup> on average, ranging from -31 to -8 kg K ha<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup>. Potassium balances were slightly negative for 5 farms and even for 10 farms.</p><p>Plant available potassium contents (K<sub>CAL</sub>) on the farm fields ranged from 74 to 378 mg K kg<sup>-1</sup>. Two farms were moderately supplied (class B of the Austrian classification scheme), 10 farms were optimally supplied (class C) and 3 farms were over-supplied (class E). Plant available phosphorus contents (P<sub>CAL</sub>) on the farm fields ranged from 21 to 102 mg P kg<sup>-1</sup>. Two farms were classified as undersupplied (class A), 5 farms were moderately supplied (class B) and 8 farms were optimally supplied (class C).</p><p>Potassium availability and potassium balances on the farms were not correlated (r = 0.192, P = 0.899), phosphorus availability and phosphorus balances neither (r = -0.210, P = 0.881). Potassium and phosphorus availability were not significantly correlated to the duration of organic farming as well.</p><p>Stockless organic farms in Austria are very diverse, concerning their production conditions and nutrient management. The results indicate no adverse short-term effects on soil fertility for most of the farms. In the long term though, nutrient management should be improved to secure yields and to ensure the sustainability on organically managed cash crop farms. Meaningful options are e.g. farm partnerships with fodder-manure exchange and the use of recycled fertilizers like struvite. This, however, requires an adjustment of organic farming guidelines.</p>

Integrating green manure and grazing systems: A review

2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 811-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Thiessen Martens ◽  
Martin Entz
Keyword(s):  
Green Manure ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Green Manures ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Loss Mitigation ◽  
Farmer Adoption ◽  
Grazing Systems

Thiessen Martens, J. R. and Entz, M. H. 2011. Integrating green manure and grazing systems: A review. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 811–824. Green manuring, also referred to as cover cropping, is an ancient practice that is gaining popularity, especially in ecologically integrated farming systems. Much green manure research in Canada has focused on legumes, where green manure plant material is incorporated into soil. This review focuses on the role of livestock in utilizing traditional and novel green manure crops adapted to the Canadian prairies. Legume and non-legume green manure plant species are discussed in terms of suitability to grazing management by different livestock species. Integrating grazing livestock into green manure systems affects nutrient cycling and potential nitrogen (N) loss pathways. However, losses may not be substantially different from other production systems, especially when loss mitigation practices are employed. Grazing green manures may also affect soil biological and physical properties. We conclude that grazing green manures may provide economic as well as biological advantages over the traditional approach of soil incorporation. For example, a green manure biomass yield of 5000 kg ha−1 is sufficient to produce 175 kg ha−1 of animal live weight gain, providing a gross revenue of $385 to $770 ha−1 at April 2011 prices, while returning at least 75% of N and other nutrients to the field. Barriers to farmer adoption of grazed green manure systems include a lack of livestock management knowledge and infrastructure.

Role of magnesium in food production: an overview

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Dechen ◽  
Q. A. C. Carmello ◽  
F. A. Monteiro ◽  
R. C. Nogueirol
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Production Factors ◽  
Fertiliser Use

The Second International Symposium on Magnesium was held in São Paulo, Brazil, in November 2014. An overview of the role of magnesium in food production was the theme of the opening session of that meeting. This paper considers agricultural production systems, mainly in terms of sustainability, fertiliser-use efficiency and food security, with emphasis on soils of tropical regions. Magnesium in soils and plants, as well as in relation to other nutrients and to other agricultural production factors, is especially covered. Finally, the role of magnesium is considered in terms of plant and animal health, nutrient management and the need of future research.

scholarly journals Organic Vegetable Crop Production in Controlled Environments Using Soilless Media

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary A. Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Technical Information ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Soilless Media ◽  
Organic Vegetable Production ◽  
Controlled Environments ◽  
National Organic Program

Organic vegetables produced in greenhouses and other controlled environments may fill a unique market niche as consumers demand local, high vegetables year round. However, limited technical information supports these production systems and more research is needed to provide recommendations for appropriate substrate mixes and nutrient management. Compost can be used as a substitute for peat-based media, and research results vary widely based on feedstock, compost method, and proportion used in mixes. Most studies consider compost in terms of peat-substitute or replacement and not as a source of fertility in soilless systems. Common challenges in using compost in soilless media are due to immaturity of the compost, poor water holding capacity, and unbalanced salinity and pH. It is possible to certify organic soilless production systems; however, the National Organic Program (NOP) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has not yet provided clear rules and requirements supporting these systems. The objective of this article is to review the literature on soilless organic vegetable production, summarize results from the more widely studied topic of vegetable transplant production, and point to future research for organic agriculture.

scholarly journals Selective Harvesting Robotics: Current Research, Trends, and Future Directions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert Kootstra ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Pieter M. Blok ◽  
Jochen Hemming ◽  
Eldert van Henten
Keyword(s):  
Review Paper ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Selective Harvesting ◽  
Important Solution ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Current Systems

Abstract Purpose of Review The world-wide demand for agricultural products is rapidly growing. However, despite the growing population, labor shortage becomes a limiting factor for agricultural production. Further automation of agriculture is an important solution to tackle these challenges. Recent Findings Selective harvesting of high-value crops, such as apples, tomatoes, and broccoli, is currently mainly performed by humans, rendering it one of the most labor-intensive and expensive agricultural tasks. This explains the large interest in the development of selective harvesting robots. Selective harvesting, however, is a challenging task for a robot, due to the high levels of variation and incomplete information, as well as safety. Summary This review paper provides an overview of the state of the art in selective harvesting robotics in three different production systems; greenhouse, orchard, and open field. The limitations of current systems are discussed, and future research directions are proposed.

scholarly journals Effects of green-manure and tillage management on soil microbial community composition, nutrients and tree growth in a walnut orchard

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ningguang Dong ◽  
Guanglong Hu ◽  
Yunqi Zhang ◽  
Jianxun Qi ◽  
Yonghao Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Rhizosphere Soil ◽  
Green Manures ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Nutrient Contents ◽  
Walnut Tree

AbstractThis study characterized the effect of green manures (February orchid, hairy vetch, rattail fescue and a no-green-manure control) and the termination method (flail or disk) on nutrient contents, enzyme activities, microbial biomass, microbial community structure of rhizosphere soil and vegetative growth of walnut tree. All three selected green manures significantly enhanced the water content, organic C, total N and available P. The rattail fescue significantly decreased the mineral N. Total organic C, total N, mineral N and available P were significantly greater under flail than under disk. Hairy vetch and February orchid significantly improved levels of soil β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and acid phosphatase activity, whereas rattail fescue improved only β-glucosidase activity. All of the green manures significantly decreased phenoloxidase activity. β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and acid phosphatase activities were significantly greater under flail relative to disk. The termination method had no significant effect on phenoloxidase activity. The different types of green manures and termination methods significantly altered the soil microbial biomass and microbial community structure. The green-manure treatments were characterized by a significantly greater abundance of Gram-positive (Gram +) bacteria, total bacteria and saprophytic fungi compared to the control. Hairy vetch significantly decreased the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) while February orchid and rattail fescue increased their abundance compared to the no-green-manure treatment. The abundance rates of Gram+ bacteria, actinomycetes, saprophytic fungi and AMF were significantly greater in soils under flail than under disk. In terms of vegetative growth of walnut tree, hairy vetch showed the greatest positive effects. The growth of walnut tree was significantly greater under flail relative to disk. Our results indicate that green-manure application benefits the rhizosphere soil micro-ecology, rhizosphere soil nutrient contents and tree growth. Overall, the hairy vetch and flail combined treatment is recommended for walnut orchards in northern China.

scholarly journals Economic analysis of rice and common bean production in succession to green manure crops and mecahnical soil decompression in Brazilian Savannah

Revista CERES ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vagner do Nascimento ◽  
Orivaldo Arf ◽  
Maria Aparecida Anselmo Tarsitano ◽  
Nayara Fernanda Siviero Garcia ◽  
Mariele de Souza Penteado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Common Bean ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Cajanus Cajan ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Upland Rice ◽  
Green Manures ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Brazilian Savannah ◽  
Soil Scarification ◽  
Mato Grosso Do Sul

ABSTRACT The previous cultivation of green manures and mechanical soil decompression are options to minimize compaction of the topsoil in no-tilage system (NTS) set in different production systems in the Brazilian Savannah. In addition, it is essential to relate these agricultural practices with the economic benefits generated through the production cycles. The objective of this study was to evaluate economically the effect of sporadic mechanical decompression of the soil and previous cultivation of green manure in the production and net gain margin of upland rice and "winter" common bean, under sprinkler irrigation, in NTS in lowland Brazilian savannah. This study was developed in the 2012/13 harvest and 2013 winter in Selvíria, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in an clay texture Oxisol in the savanah in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in a randomized block design arranged in a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement with four replications. The treatments were a combination of five green manures (fallow (control), Cajanus cajan, Crotalaria juncea, Pennisetum glaucum and Urochloa ruziziensis) with and without mechanical soil scarification. The yields of upland rice and common bean grains were not influenced by the previous green manure cultivation; the upland rice grown in succession to Cajanus cajan in the presence of mechanical soil scarification provided greater increase in grain yield and higher gross margin profit. Beans cultivated in succession to Crotalaria juncea and Pennisetum glaucum in the presence of mechanical soil scarification, followed by rice cultivation, provided greater increases in grain yield and gross profit margins.

scholarly journals Folk Theories of Artifact Creation: How Intuitions About Human Labor Influence the Value of Artifacts

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeline Judge ◽  
Julian W. Fernando ◽  
Angela Paladino ◽  
Yoshihisa Kashima
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Industrial Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Folk Theory ◽  
Folk Physics ◽  
Lay Beliefs ◽  
Human Labor ◽  
Sociohistorical Context ◽  
Material Artifacts

What are the consequences of lay beliefs about how things are made? In this article, we describe a Western folk theory of artifact creation, highlighting how intuitive dualism regarding mental and physical labor (i.e., folk psychology) can lead to the perceived transmission of properties from makers to material artifacts (i.e., folk physics), and affect people’s interactions with material artifacts. We show how this folk theory structures the conceptual domain of material artifacts by differentiating the contemporary lay concepts of art/craft and industrial production, and how it influences people’s evaluations of different types of artifacts and their makers. We propose that the folk theory and lay concepts of art/craft and industrial production are best understood within a specific sociohistorical context, and review potential sources of cross-cultural and cross-temporal variation. We conclude by making recommendations for future research and examining the implications for promoting environmental sustainability and social justice in production systems.

scholarly journals The soil N cycle: new insights and key challenges

SOIL ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 235-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. van Groenigen ◽  
D. Huygens ◽  
P. Boeckx ◽  
Th. W. Kuyper ◽  
I. M. Lubbers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
N Cycling ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Gaseous Emissions ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Personal View ◽  
Total N ◽  
N Cycle ◽  
Soil N Cycle

Abstract. The study of soil N cycling processes has been, is, and will be at the centre of attention in soil science research. The importance of N as a nutrient for all biota; the ever-increasing rates of its anthropogenic input in terrestrial (agro)ecosystems; its resultant losses to the environment; and the complexity of the biological, physical, and chemical factors that regulate N cycling processes all contribute to the necessity of further understanding, measuring, and altering the soil N cycle. Here, we review important insights with respect to the soil N cycle that have been made over the last decade, and present a personal view on the key challenges of future research. We identify three key challenges with respect to basic N cycling processes producing gaseous emissions: 1. quantifying the importance of nitrifier denitrification and its main controlling factors; 2. characterizing the greenhouse gas mitigation potential and microbiological basis for N2O consumption; 3. characterizing hotspots and hot moments of denitrification Furthermore, we identified a key challenge with respect to modelling: 1. disentangling gross N transformation rates using advanced 15N / 18O tracing models Finally, we propose four key challenges related to how ecological interactions control N cycling processes: 1. linking functional diversity of soil fauna to N cycling processes beyond mineralization; 2. determining the functional relationship between root traits and soil N cycling; 3. characterizing the control that different types of mycorrhizal symbioses exert on N cycling; 4. quantifying the contribution of non-symbiotic pathways to total N fixation fluxes in natural systems We postulate that addressing these challenges will constitute a comprehensive research agenda with respect to the N cycle for the next decade. Such an agenda would help us to meet future challenges on food and energy security, biodiversity conservation, water and air quality, and climate stability.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document