Compost and Compost Tea from On-Farm Composted Agro-Wastes Improve the Sustainability of Horticultural Organic Cropping Systems

Collaboration of researchers and service-providers with farmers in addressing crop and soil management, using on-farm experiments and cropping system simulation, was negotiated in 2 districts in Central Queensland, Australia. The 2 most influential variables affecting crop productivity in this region (soil water and mineral nitrogen contents) and the growth of sown crops, were monitored and simulated for 3 years beginning in December 1992. Periodic soil sampling of large experimental strips on 3 farms, from paddocks that differed in cropping history and soil properties, provided robust datasets of change, over time, of soil water and mineral nitrogen status. Farmers participated in twice-yearly discussions with researchers, informed by the accumulating data, which influenced thinking about soil behaviour and possible new management strategies. As the study period coincided with a prolonged drought, so that cropping opportunities were few, the objectives of the work were modified to concentrate almost exclusively on the soil variables.The contribution of the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator, which was used to simulate the measured changes in soil water and mineral nitrogen, was found by all participants to be useful. The APSIM output generally demonstrated close correspondence with field observations, which raised confidence in its applicability to local cropping systems. Exploration of hypothetical situations of interest to farmer participants, in the form of what-if scenarios, provided insights into the behaviour of the production system for a range of soil and seasonal conditions. The informed speculation of the simulator became a substitute for the farmers' own, more tentative, efforts.The regular participative review sessions proved to be highly effective in stimulating the learning of both farmers and researchers. The farmers were able to feel comfortable as owners of the collaborative experiments and custodians of the learning environment. Clear evidence for the ongoing learning of these farmers appeared in post-collaboration practices and experiences.

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Linking on-station research with on-farm testing: The case of agroforestry and organic matter-based cropping systems for the Rwanda farming systems improvement project

Agroforestry Systems ◽

10.1007/bf02344763 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 6 (1-3) ◽

pp. 271-281 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Charles F. Yamoah ◽

Ron Grosz

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Improvement Project ◽

On Farm

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Evaluating a Crop Circle active sensor-based in-season nitrogen management algorithm in different winter wheat cropping systems

Advances in Animal Biosciences ◽

10.1017/s2040470017000292 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 364-367 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

L. Zhou ◽

G. Chen ◽

Y. Miao ◽

H. Zhang ◽

Z. Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Cropping System ◽

Management Algorithm ◽

Active Sensor ◽

Partial Factor Productivity ◽

N Management ◽

Partial Factor ◽

On Farm

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a Crop Circle sensor-based precision nitrogen (N) management (PNM) strategy in different winter wheat cropping systems under on-farm conditions in North China Plain (NCP). Four farmer’s fields were selected for on-farm experiments in Laoling County, Shandong Province of NCP in 2015-2016. In each field, the PNM strategy was evaluated in two winter wheat cropping systems: farmer’s conventional management (FCM) and regional optimum crop management (ROCM). In each cropping system, there were two N management strategies: 1) FCM or ROCM; 2) PNM. The results indicated that the PNM strategy significantly increased partial factor productivity (PFP) by 29% in the FCM system, but did not have any significant improvement in the ROCM system. The ROCM system, using either regional optimum N management or PNM, significantly increased both grain yield and PFP than the FCM system.

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Increased Crop Yield Affected the Improved Cropping System in Agriculture Dry Land

Journal of Experimental Agriculture International ◽

10.9734/jeai/2020/v42i630545 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 105-110

Author(s):

. Rohit ◽

Jitendra Singh

Keyword(s):

Crop Yield ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Dry Land ◽

Chick Pea ◽

Net Returns ◽

Horizontal Spread ◽

On Farm

The present study evaluate and disseminate the improved rainfed cropping systems, on farm trials and demonstration was conducted at National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) village Nagla Dulhe Khan. Yield of dry land crops is very low due to various reasons. Farm trials were conducted to evaluate different cropping system practices at village Nagla Dulhe Khan. Trials and demonstrations were carried out at farmer’s field to show the worth of improved cropping system practices for horizontal spread of improved agro-technologies. 54.5 percent increased in the yield was found by adopting intercropping of chick pea and mustard (5:1). Improved cropping system practiced resulted in higher yield, higher net returns and higher B: C ratio over farmers practice.

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Cropping systems based on farm-derived, renewable resources

Agricultural Systems ◽

10.1016/0308-521x(88)90080-7 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 67-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Charles A. Francis ◽

James W. King

Keyword(s):

Renewable Resources ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

On Farm

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Response of Peanut to Fungicide and Phosphorus in On-station and On-farm Tests in Ghana

Peanut Science ◽

10.3146/ps08-017.1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 157-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. B. Naab ◽

P. V. V. Prasad ◽

K. J. Boote ◽

J. W. Jones

Keyword(s):

Leaf Spot ◽

New Technologies ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Limiting Factors ◽

Northern Ghana ◽

Pod Yield ◽

P Fertilizer ◽

On Farm ◽

Phosphorus Application

Abstract Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important component of cropping systems in West Africa. Identifying production constraints in farmers' fields and evaluating possible management strategies are of prime importance to improve peanut productivity and adoption of new technologies. The objective of our research was to study the influence of fungicides and phosphorus application on severity of leaf spot, dry matter production and pod yield of peanut crops grown in on-station and farmer participatory tests (on-farm conditions) in Northern Ghana. On-station tests to evaluate yield benefits of fungicide sprays and applications of phosphorus were conducted at Wa. On-station tests included two fungicide treatments (no-spray versus fungicide spray) at four P fertilizer levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P ha−1). On-farm tests were conducted in three villages Nakor, Piisi and Janguasi with participation of 6–11 farmers per village. On-farm tests included three treatments: (i) farmers' practice of no-fungicide and no-fertilizer (control), (ii) only fungicide, and (iii) combination of fungicide and phosphorus. The commonly grown Spanish type cultivar Chinese (90-d duration) was selected. Both leaf spot and lack of phosphorus nutrition were yield-limiting factors in on-farm tests. Applications of fungicide were effective in controlling leaf spot and improved peanut pod yield on average by 49% in the three tested field sites in on-farm tests and by 40% in on-station tests. Application of phosphorus to fungicide-treated plots further increased pod yield by 32% when compared to fungicide alone in on-farm tests. Combination of both fungicide and P fertilizer improved peanut pod yield by 95% (ranged from 75 to 120%), when compared to farmers' practice of no-fungicide and no-fertilizer.

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Evaluation of a new cropping option using a participatory approach with on-farm monitoring and simulation: a case study of spring-sown mungbeans

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar99082 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

M. J. Robertson ◽

P. S. Carberry ◽

M. Lucy

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Farming System ◽

Research Approach ◽

Winter Cereal ◽

And Performance ◽

Systems Simulation ◽

On Farm ◽

Winter Fallow

In the northern Australian cropping region, mungbean is commonly sown as an opportunity crop, usually on low soil water after a winter cereal, and consequently has a reputation for being a low yielding, high risk crop. Yield prospects could be improved and risks reduced if it was sown on soils with a higher soil water content, for instance in spring after a winter fallow. However, there is a lack of experience and confidence in alternative roles for mungbean in the farming system. This paper describes a research approach involving researchers, farmers, advisers, and grain traders in which on-farm monitoring of spring-sown commercial crops and cropping systems simulation with APSIM were used to explore yield prospects for a spring-sown crop after a winter fallow. The key elements of the approach are: (1) identification of possible options through simulation of scenarios, (2) testing the new practice with innovative farmers, and (3) monitoring of the management and performance of commercial crops and comparing yields with benchmarks estimated with a model. In this case, after 2 years of on-farm testing, spring-sown mungbean has been shown to have a potential for high returns in the northern cropping systems.

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EXTRA-SHORT-DURATION PIGEONPEA FOR DIVERSIFYING WHEAT-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN THE SUB-TROPICS

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s001447970200011x ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

S.S. Dahiya ◽

Y. S. Chauhan ◽

C. Johansen ◽

R. S. Waldia ◽

H. S. Sekhon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Triticum Aestivum ◽

Empirical Evidence ◽

Seed Size ◽

Short Duration ◽

Cajanus Cajan ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Wheat Crop ◽

Early Maturity ◽

Grain Yields ◽

On Farm

The performance of newly developed extra-short-duration pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) genotypes and traditional short-duration pigeonpea cultivars was compared in rotation with wheat in on-farm trials conducted in 1996–97 and 1997–98 in Sonepat (28° N) district in Haryana, and in 1996–97 at Ludhiana (30° N) district in Punjab, India. At both locations, a wheat crop (Triticum aestivum cv. HD 2329) followed pigeonpea. At Sonepat, an indeterminate extra-short-duration genotype ICPL 88039 matured up to three weeks earlier, yet gave 12% higher yield (1.57 t ha−1) and showed less susceptibility to borer damage than did the short-duration cv. Manak. At Ludhiana, extra-short-duration pigeonpea genotypes, ICPL 88039, ICPL 85010 and AL 201 gave similar grain yields to the short-duration T 21 in spite of maturing three to four weeks earlier. Yields of wheat crops following extra-short-duration genotypes were up to 0.75 t ha−1 greater at Sonepat and up to 1.0 t ha−1 greater at Ludhiana. The results of the study provide empirical evidence that extra-short-duration pigeonpea genotypes could contribute to higher productivity of pigeonpea–wheat rotation systems. Most of the farmers who grew on-farm trials in Sonepat preferred extra-short-duration to short-duration pigeonpea types for their early maturity, bold seed size, and the greater yield of the following wheat crop.

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ON-FARM EXPERIMENTS ON INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN RICE-WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEMS

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479701001077 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 99-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

R. L. YADAV

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Organic C ◽

High Productivity ◽

Net Returns ◽

Long Term Experiment ◽

On Farm

On-farm experiments were conducted between 1990–91 and 1996–97 in the Indian districts of Jalandhar (Punjab) and Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh), on rice-wheat cropping systems. The aim was to compare yields and net returns from three treatments: (i) farmers' nutrient management practices; (ii) integrated use of organic manures and fertilizer; and (iii) NPK fertilizer inputs alone. Productivity of the rice-wheat systems, in terms of grain yield per unit area, was greater in Jalandhar district than in Ghazipur district. In Jalandhar, a high productivity zone, greatest yields were achieved with integrated use of green manure and fertilizer NPK inputs, while in Ghazipur, a low productivity zone, yields were highest with inputs of fertilizer NPK alone. Increases in yield due to these improved practices, over farmers' practice, were 6.98% in Jalandhar and 46.6% in Ghazipur. At both locations, net returns were greater with the use of fertilizer NPK alone. However, benefits from NPK alone over farmers' practice were 6.96% in Jalandhar and 79.6% in Ghazipur. After 11 years of a long-term experiment, at Ludhiana (Punjab) and Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh) soil organic-C and available phosphorus contents have increased, and available potassium content decreased compared with the initial levels.

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