scholarly journals Modeling Regional Crop Yield and Irrigation Demand Using SMAP Type of Soil Moisture Data

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 904-916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Husayn El Sharif ◽  
Jingfeng Wang ◽  
Aris P. Georgakakos
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Crop Model ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Irrigation Amount ◽  
Soil Moisture Data ◽  
Efficient Data ◽  
Type Data

Abstract Agricultural models, such as the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer cropping system model (DSSAT-CSM), have been developed for predicting crop yield at field and regional scales and to provide useful information for water resources management. A potentially valuable input to agricultural models is soil moisture. Presently, no observations of soil moisture exist covering the entire United States at adequate time (daily) and space (~10 km or less) resolutions desired for crop yield assessments. Data products from NASA’s upcoming Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission will fill the gap. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the usefulness of the SMAP soil moisture data in modeling and forecasting crop yields and irrigation amount. A simple, efficient data assimilation algorithm is presented in which the agricultural crop model DSSAT-CSM is constrained to produce modeled crop yield and irrigation amounts that are consistent with SMAP-type data. Numerical experiments demonstrate that incorporating the SMAP data into the agricultural model provides an added benefit of reducing the uncertainty of modeled crop yields when the weather input data to the crop model are subject to large uncertainty.

ECONOMIC AND PHYSICAL MODELING OF LAND USE IN GCAM 3.0 AND AN APPLICATION TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, LAND, AND TERRESTRIAL CARBON

2014 ◽  
Vol 05 (02) ◽  
pp. 1450003 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARSHALL WISE ◽  
KATE CALVIN ◽  
PAGE KYLE ◽  
PATRICK LUCKOW ◽  
JAE EDMONDS
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Terrestrial Carbon ◽  
Global Change Assessment Model ◽  
The Impact

The release of the Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM) version 3.0 represents a major revision in the treatment of agriculture and land-use activities in a model of long-term, global human and physical Earth systems. GCAM 3.0 incorporates greater spatial and temporal resolution compared to GCAM 2.0. In this paper, we document the methods embodied in the new release, describe the motivation for the changes, compare GCAM 3.0 methods to those of other long-term, global agriculture-economy models and apply GCAM 3.0 to explore the impact of changes in agricultural crop yields on global land use and terrestrial carbon. In the absence of continued crop yield improvements throughout the century, not only are cumulative carbon emissions a major source of CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere, but bioenergy production remains trivial — land is needed for food. In contrast, the high crop yield improvement scenario cuts terrestrial carbon emissions dramatically and facilitates both food and energy production.

The relationship between extreme weather and low crop yields

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matias Heino ◽  
Weston Anderson ◽  
Michael Puma ◽  
Matti Kummu
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
The United States ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Yield Variability ◽  
Weather Events

<p>It is well known that climate extremes and variability have strong implications for crop productivity. Previous research has estimated that annual weather conditions explain a third of global crop yield variability, with explanatory power above 50% in several important crop producing regions. Further, compared to average conditions, extreme events contribute a major fraction of weather induced crop yield variations. Here we aim to analyse how extreme weather events are related to the likelihood of very low crop yields at the global scale. We investigate not only the impacts of heat and drought on crop yields but also excess soil moisture and abnormally cool temperatures, as these extremes can be detrimental to crops as well. In this study, we combine reanalysis weather data with national and sub-national crop production statistics and assess relationships using statistical copulas methods, which are especially suitable for analysing extremes. Further, because irrigation can decrease crop yield variability, we assess how the observed signals differ in irrigated and rainfed cropping systems. We also analyse whether the strength of the observed statistical relationships could be explained by socio-economic factors, such as GDP, social stability, and poverty rates. Our preliminary results indicate that extreme heat and cold as well as soil moisture abundance and excess have a noticeable effect on crop yields in many areas around the globe, including several global bread baskets such as the United States and Australia. This study will increase understanding of extreme weather-related implications on global food production, which is relevant also in the context of climate change, as the frequency of extreme weather events is likely to increase in many regions worldwide.</p>

scholarly journals Responses of N<sub>2</sub>O and CH<sub>4</sub> fluxes to fertilizer nitrogen addition rates in an irrigated wheat-maize cropping system in northern China

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 9577-9607 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Liu ◽  
K. Wang ◽  
X. Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Fertilizer Rate ◽  
Irrigated Wheat ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

Abstract. Model and field studies generally posit that when the application rates of nitrogen fertilizer exceed crop needs, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions will increase nonlinearly, though linear responses are also extensively reported by field studies. We conducted year-round measurements of crop yield, N2O and methane (CH4) fluxes for treatments of six nitrogen levels (0, 135, 270, 430, 650 and 850 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in the form of urea) in a typical irrigated wheat-maize rotation field in northern China. Linear models characterized the responses of cumulative N2O emissions to fertilizer rates well; therefore, the calculated N2O emission factors of 0.17 ± 0.03%, 0.73 ± 0.07% and 0.49 ± 0.06% for the wheat season, maize season and annual scale, respectively, were appropriate for the different fertilizer rates. The cumulative CH4 uptake by the soil tended to be enhanced at higher fertilizer rates (≥350 kg N ha−1) in the maize season whereas no effect was observed for the wheat season. The crop yields stopped increasing at fertilizer rates greater than 650 kg N ha−1 yr−1. When the annual fertilizer rates increased from 270 to 430, from 270 to 650 and from 270 to 850 kg N ha−1 yr−1, the crop yields increased only 4–15% (0.6–2.2 t ha−1 yr−1), but cumulative N2O emissions increased 36–115 % (0.9–3.0 kg N ha−1 yr−1). We recommend 270 kg N ha−1 yr−1 as the locally optimum fertilizer rate. Considering the N inputs by fertilization (270 kg N ha−1 yr−1), irrigation (4.3 ± 0.2 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and deposition (wet deposition: 30.5 ± 1.5 kg N ha−1 yr−1), the slightly positive soil N balance could maintain the current crop yield (>14 t ha−1 yr−1) and reduce the present high N2O emissions (>3.51 kg N ha−1 yr−1) of the local farmers' practice (fertilizer rate: >430 kg N ha−1 yr−1).

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

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.

scholarly journals Improving early warning of drought-driven food insecurity in Southern Africa using operational hydrological monitoring and forecasting products

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shraddhanand Shukla ◽  
Kristi R. Arsenault ◽  
Abheera Hazra ◽  
Christa Peters-Lidard ◽  
Randal D. Koster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Drought Event ◽  
Antecedent Soil Moisture ◽  
Monitoring And Forecasting

Abstract. The region of southern Africa (SA) has a fragile food economy and is vulnerable to frequent droughts. In 2015–2016, an El Niño-driven drought resulted in major maize production shortfalls, food price increases, and livelihood disruptions that pushed 29 million people into severe food insecurity. Interventions to mitigate food insecurity impacts require early warning of droughts – preferably as early as possible before the harvest season (typically, starting in April) and lean season (typically, starting in November). Hydrologic monitoring and forecasting systems provide a unique opportunity to support early warning efforts, since they can provide regular updates on available rootzone soil moisture (RZSM), a critical variable for crop yield, and provide forecasts of RZSM by combining the estimates of antecedent soil moisture conditions with climate forecasts. For SA, this study documents the predictive capabilities of a recently developed NASA Hydrological Forecasting and Analysis System (NHyFAS). The NHyFAS system's ability to forecast and monitor the 2015/2016 drought event is evaluated. The system's capacity to explain interannual variations in regional crop yield and identify below-normal crop yield events is also evaluated. Results show that the NHyFAS products would have identified the regional severe drought event, which peaked during December–February of 2015/2016, at least as early as 1 November 2015. Next, it is shown that February RZSM forecasts produced as early as 1 November (4–5 months before the start of harvest and about a year before the start of the next lean season) correlate fairly well with regional crop yields (r = 0.49). The February RZSM monitoring product, available in early March, correlates with the regional crop yield with higher skill (r = 0.79). It is also found that when the February RZSM forecast produced on November 1 is indicated to be in the lowest tercile, the detrended regional crop yield is below normal about two-thirds (significance level ~ 86 %) of the time. Furthermore, when the February RZSM monitoring product (available in early March) indicates a lowest tercile value, the crop yield is always below normal, at least over the sample years considered. These results indicate that the NHyFAS products can effectively support food insecurity early warning in the SA region.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the effect of maize-legume intercropping on soil moisture improvement in arid area of Bena-Tsemay district, South omo zone, Southern Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-86
Author(s):  
HM Ayele
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Nutrient Balance ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Crop Failure

Usually crop failure due to moisture shortage in soils is very much common due to high evaporation. Sometimes famers try to combat this problem by using mulches of crop residues in the study area. However, this is also highly challenged shortage because the crop residues used as feed for animals. Therefore, using the advantage and opportunity of cover legumes as an intercrop is the solution of the problems simultaneously in addition to their contribution improving soil nutrient balance and other many fold benefits. Therefore, this study aimed for evaluating the effect of maize-legume covers intercropping on soil moisture improvement and crop yield in moisture stress areas of the study area. The entire grain yield of maize and legumes, as well as soil moisture data were collected. The result on soil moisture revealed that intercropping of maize with cowpea had better soil moisture contents during active crop development (15.98%) and after harvest (16.70%) in average as compared to the others. The current finding also showed that adopting intercropping of maize with cowpea-boosted yield by 5256.24 kg ha-1 maize and 977.45 kg ha-1 cowpea in average with higher moisture improvement as compare to the other treatments. Therefore, intercropping of maize with cowpea is important to farmers since it would provide additional crop yield with the same piece of land. However, to get considerable changes on soil and water balances, other soil physic-chemical properties and crop yields, conducting similar studies in more than two years period at permanent field plots is paramount in the future. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(1): 80-86, June 2020

Water in the circular economy: using recycled water for sub-irrigation purposes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruud P. Bartholomeus ◽  
Marjolein H.J. van Huijgevoort ◽  
Arnaut van Loon
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Groundwater Availability

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Agricultural crop yields depend largely on soil moisture conditions in the root zone. Climate change leads to more prolonged drought periods that alternate with more intensive rainfall events. With unaltered water management practices, reduced crop yield due to drought stress will increase. Therefore, both farmers and water management authorities search for opportunities to manage risks of decreasing crop yields. Available groundwater sources for irrigation purposes are increasingly under pressure due to the regional coexistence of land use functions that are critical to groundwater levels or compete for available water. At the same time, treated wastewater from industries and domestic wastewater treatment plants are quickly discharged via surface waters towards sea. Exploitation of these freshwater sources may be an effective strategy to balance regional water supply and agricultural water demand. We present results of a pilot study in a drought sensitive region in the Netherlands, concerning agricultural water supply through reuse of industrial treated wastewater. The Bavaria Beer Brewery discharges treated wastewater to the surface water. Nevertheless, neighboring farmers invest in sprinkler irrigation to maintain their crop production during drought periods. Doing so, increasing pressure is put on the regional groundwater availability. Within a pilot study, a sub-irrigation system has been installed, by using subsurface drains, interconnected through a collector drain, and connected to an inlet control pit for the treated wastewater to enter the drainage system. Sub-irrigation is a subsurface irrigation method that can be more efficient than classical, aboveground irrigation methods using sprinkler installations. Additionally, sub-irrigated water that is not used for plant transpiration recharges the groundwater. We combine both process-based modeling of the soil-plant-atmosphere system and field experiments to i) investigate the amount of water that needs to be and that can be sub-irrigated, and ii) quantify the effect on soil moisture availability and herewith reduced needs for aboveground irrigation from groundwater.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Modeling agriculture in the Community Land Model

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 495-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Drewniak ◽  
J. Song ◽  
J. Prell ◽  
V. R. Kotamarthi ◽  
R. Jacob
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
The United States ◽  
Crop Model ◽  
Planting Date ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Temperature Threshold ◽  
Community Land Model

Abstract. The potential impact of climate change on agriculture is uncertain. In addition, agriculture could influence above- and below-ground carbon storage. Development of models that represent agriculture is necessary to address these impacts. We have developed an approach to integrate agriculture representations for three crop types – maize, soybean, and spring wheat – into the coupled carbon–nitrogen version of the Community Land Model (CLM), to help address these questions. Here we present the new model, CLM-Crop, validated against observations from two AmeriFlux sites in the United States, planted with maize and soybean. Seasonal carbon fluxes compared well with field measurements for soybean, but not as well for maize. CLM-Crop yields were comparable with observations in countries such as the United States, Argentina, and China, although the generality of the crop model and its lack of technology and irrigation made direct comparison difficult. CLM-Crop was compared against the standard CLM3.5, which simulates crops as grass. The comparison showed improvement in gross primary productivity in regions where crops are the dominant vegetation cover. Crop yields and productivity were negatively correlated with temperature and positively correlated with precipitation, in agreement with other modeling studies. In case studies with the new crop model looking at impacts of residue management and planting date on crop yield, we found that increased residue returned to the litter pool increased crop yield, while reduced residue returns resulted in yield decreases. Using climate controls to signal planting date caused different responses in different crops. Maize and soybean had opposite reactions: when low temperature threshold resulted in early planting, maize responded with a loss of yield, but soybean yields increased. Our improvements in CLM demonstrate a new capability in the model – simulating agriculture in a realistic way, complete with fertilizer and residue management practices. Results are encouraging, with improved representation of human influences on the land surface and the potentially resulting climate impacts.

Effects of Dated Soil Moisture Stress on Crop Yields

1977 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Nairizi ◽  
J. R. Rydzewski
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Relative Sensitivity ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Growth Cycle ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Soil Moisture Stress ◽  
Time Element ◽  
Quantitative Contribution

SUMMARYCrop yield response to soil moisture deficiency varies for different crops and also depends on the time of its occurrence in the growth cycle. Many attempts have been made to derive a single relationship between total water consumption and yield for various crops, but this has proved of limited use, because the effect of time was omitted from such production functions. Jensen (1968) derived two expressions, for determinate and indeterminate crops, bringing the time element into his expressions indirectly by a parameter (λi) which defines the relative sensitivity of the crop to soil moisture stress at different growing stages. The usefulness of this approach depends on the accuracy with which this parameter can be determined. The aim of this paper is to derive λi for a number of crops from available experimental data and subsequently to find a way of computing the quantitative contribution of each single irrigation application to the crop yield. This should lead to a more rational use of irrigation water resources.

Traditional Tillage Systems as Drought Adaptation Strategies of Smallholder Farmers: The Case of Semi-Arid Central Tanzania

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riziki S. Shemdoe ◽  
Idris S. Kikula ◽  
Patrick Van Damme
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
No Till ◽  
Selection Of

This article presents local knowledge on ecosystem management by analyzing and discussing traditional tillage practices applied by smallholder farmers as a response to drought risks in dryland areas of Mpwapwa District, central Tanzania. Farming activities in the area wholly depend on rain-fed systems. Information from key informants and in-depth household interviews indicate that farmers in this area use three different traditional tillage practices—no-till (sesa), shallow tillage (kutifua), and ridges (matuta). Available information suggests that selection of a particular practice depends on affordability (in terms of costs and labor requirements), perceived ability to retain nutrient and soil-water, and improvement of control of erosion and crop yield. In this area, smallholder farmers perceive no-till practice to contribute to more weed species, hence more weeding time and labor are needed than in the other two practices. The no-till practice also contributes to low soil fertility, low soil moisture retention, and poor crop yield. No plans have been made to introduce irrigation farming in these marginal areas of central Tanzania. Thus, improving the ability of the tillage practices to conserve soil moisture and maintain soil fertility nutrients using locally available materials are important tasks to be carried out. This will ensure the selection of practices that will have positive influence on improved crop yields in the area.

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