Quantification of Biomass Feedstock Availability to a Biorefinery Based on Multi-Crop Rotation Cropping Systems Using a GIS-Based Method

AbstractConservation agriculture has been promoted to sustainably intensify food production in smallholder farming systems in southern Africa. However, farmers have rarely fully implemented all its components, resulting in different combinations of no-tillage, crop rotation, and permanent soil cover being practiced, thus resulting in variable yield responses depending on climatic and soil conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the effect of conservation agriculture components on yield stability. We hypothesized that the use of all three conservation agriculture components would perform the best, resulting in more stable production in all environments. We evaluated at, eight trial locations across southern Africa, how partial and full implementation of these components affected crop yield and yield stability compared with conventional tillage alone or combined with mulching and/or crop rotation. Grain yield and shoot biomass of maize and cowpea were recorded along with precipitation for 2 to 5 years. Across different environments, the addition of crop rotation and mulch to no-tillage increased maize grain by 6%, and the same practices added to conventional tillage led to 13% yield increase. Conversely, adding only mulch or crop rotation to no-tillage or conventional tillage led to lower or equal maize yield. Stability analyses based on Shukla’s index showed for the first time that the most stable systems are those in which mulch is added without crop rotation. Moreover, the highest yielding systems were the least stable. Finally, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis allowed clarifying that mulch added to no-tillage gives stable yields on sandy soil with high rainfall. Similarly, mulch added to conventional tillage gives stable yield on sandy soil, but under low rainfall. This is the first study that highlighted the crucial role of mulch to enhance the stability and resilience of cropping systems in southern Africa, supporting their adaptability to climate change.

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Mapping and Analysis of Biomass Supply Chains in Andalusia and the Republic of Ireland

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12114595 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 4595

Author(s):

Jennifer Attard ◽

Helena McMahon ◽

Pat Doody ◽

Johan Belfrage ◽

Catriona Clark ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Critical Role ◽

Value Chains ◽

Biomass Feedstock ◽

Mapping Model ◽

Biomass Feedstocks ◽

Biomass Resource ◽

Wet Weight ◽

The Republic ◽

Biomass Availability ◽

Feedstock Availability

The bioeconomy can play a critical role in helping countries to find alternative sustainable sources of products and energy. Countries with diverse terrestrial and marine ecosystems will see diverging feedstock opportunities to develop these new value chains. Understanding the sources, composition, and regional availability of these biomass feedstocks is an essential first step in developing new sustainable bio-based value chains. In this paper, an assessment and analysis of regional biomass availability was conducted in the diverse regions of Andalusia and Ireland using a bioresource mapping model. The model provides regional stakeholders with a first glance at the regional opportunities with regards to feedstock availability and an estimate of the transportation costs associated with moving the feedstock to a different modelled location/region for the envisioned biorefinery plant. The analysis found that there were more than 30 million tonnes of (wet weight) biomass arisings from Ireland (84,000 km2) with only around 4.8 million tonnes from the Andalusian region (87,000 km2). The study found that Cork in Ireland stood out as the main contributor of biomass feedstock in the Irish region, with animal manures making the largest contribution. Meanwhile, the areas of Almería, Jaén, and Córdoba were the main contributors of biomass in the Andalusia region, with olive residues identified as the most abundant biomass resource. This analysis also found that, while considerable feedstock divergence existed within the regions, the mapping model could act as an effective tool for collecting and interpreting the regional data on a transnational basis.

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Soil microbial biomass and function are altered by 12 years of crop rotation

10.5194/soil-2016-39 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marshall D. McDaniel ◽

A. Stuart Grandy

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

Microbial Biomass ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Soil Microbial Biomass ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Growing Season ◽

Plant Biodiversity ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Catabolic Potential ◽

And Function

Abstract. Agriculture-driven declines in plant biodiversity reduce soil microbial biomass, alter microbial functions, and threaten the provisioning of soil ecosystem services. We examined whether increasing temporal plant biodiversity (by rotating crops) can partially reverse these trends and enhance microbial biomass and function. We quantified seasonal patterns in soil microbial biomass, respiration rates, extracellular enzyme activity, and catabolic potential three times over one growing season in a 12-year crop rotation study at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station LTER. Rotation treatments varied from one to five crops in a three-year rotation cycle, but all soils were sampled under corn to isolate historical rotation effects from current crop effects. Inorganic N, the stoichiometry of microbial biomass and dissolved organic C and N varied seasonally, likely reflecting fluctuations in soil resources during the growing season. Soils from biodiverse cropping systems increased microbial biomass C by 28–112 % and N by 18–58 % compared to monoculture corn. Rotations increased potential C mineralization by as much as 64 %, and potential N mineralization by 62 %, and both were related to substantially higher hydrolase and lower oxidase enzyme activities. The catabolic potential of the microbial community, assessed with community-level physiological profiling, showed that microbial communities in monoculture corn preferentially used simple substrates like carboxylic acids, relative to more diverse cropping systems. By isolating plant biodiversity from differences in fertilization and tillage, our study illustrates that crop biodiversity has overarching effects on soil microbial biomass and function that last throughout the growing season. In simplified agricultural systems, relatively small increases in plant biodiversity have a large impact on microbial community size and function.

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Effects of Temporal Crop β Diversification of a Cereal-Based Cropping System on Generalist Predators and Their Biocontrol Potential

Frontiers in Agronomy ◽

10.3389/fagro.2021.704979 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Giovanni Antonio Puliga ◽

Jan Thiele ◽

Hauke Ahnemann ◽

Jens Dauber

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Pest Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Generalist Predators ◽

Activity Density ◽

Biocontrol Potential ◽

Natural Pest Control ◽

Predation Rates

In agroecosystems, crop diversification plays a fundamental role in maintaining and regenerating biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as natural pest control. Temporal diversification of cropping systems can affect the presence and activity of natural enemies by providing alternative hosts and prey, food, and refuges for overwintering. However, we still lack studies on the effects of temporal diversification on generalist predators and their biocontrol potential conducted at field scale in commercial agricultural settings. Here, we measured proxies of ecosystem functions related with biological pest control in 29 commercial agricultural fields characterized by cereal-based cropping system in Lower-Saxony, northern Germany. The fields differed in the number of crops and cover crops cultivated during the previous 12 years. Using the Rapid Ecosystem Function Assessment approach, we measured invertebrate predation, seed predation and activity density of generalist predators. We aimed at testing whether the differences in the crop rotations from the previous years would affect activity of predators and their predation rates in the current growing season. We found that the length of the crop rotation had neutral effects on the proxies measured. Furthermore, predation rates were generally lower if the rotation comprised a higher number of cover crops compared to rotation with less cover crops. The activity density of respective taxa of predatory arthropods responded differently to the number of cover crops in the crop rotation. Our results suggest that temporal crop diversity may not benefit the activity and efficiency of generalist predators when diversification strategies involve crops of very similar functional traits. Adding different resources and traits to the agroecosystems through a wider range of cultivated crops and the integration of semi-natural habitats are aspects that need to be considered when developing more diverse cropping systems aiming to provide a more efficient natural pest control.

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Agronomic Advancement in Tillage, Crop Rotation, Soil Health, and Genetic Gain in Durum Wheat Cultivation: A 17-Year Canadian Story

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy8090193 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 193 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lin Li ◽

Yining Niu ◽

Yuefeng Ruan ◽

Ron DePauw ◽

Asheesh Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Durum Wheat ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Genetic Gain ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Soil Health ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Wheat Cultivation ◽

The World ◽

Research Findings

The global demands for various grains, including durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.), are expected to increase substantially in the coming years, due to the ever-growing human population’s needs for food, feed, and fuel. Thus, providing consistent or increased durum grain to the world market is one of the priorities for policy-makers, researchers, and farmers. What are the major achievements in agronomic advancement for durum wheat cultivation in recent decades? How might the current cropping systems be improved to increase crop yield and quality and improve resource use efficiencies while minimizing input costs and decreasing negative impact on the environment? Canada is one of the major durum wheat producers in the world, as Canada contributes about 50% to global trade of durum grain. Canada’s research achievements in durum wheat might serve as a guide for advancing the cultivation of the crop in other regions/countries on the planet. This review summarizes the major Canadian research findings in the aspects of durum wheat agronomics during the period 2001 to 2017 years. It highlights the main advancements in seeding and tillage, crop rotation and diversification, and use of pulse-induced microbiomes to improve soil health and feedback mechanisms. The genetic gain and breeding for resistance against abiotic and biotic stresses are discussed. Finally, we identified the main constraints and suggested some near-term research priorities. The research findings highlighted in this review will be of use for other areas on the planet to increase durum wheat productivity, improve soil fertility and health, and enhance long-term sustainability.

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DK-RIM: Assisting Integrated Management of Lolium multiflorum, Italian Ryegrass

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10060856 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 856 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mette Sønderskov ◽

Gayle J. Somerville ◽

Myrtille Lacoste ◽

Jens Erik Jensen ◽

Niels Holst

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Support System ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Lolium Multiflorum ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Italian Ryegrass ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

Seeding Density

Lolium multiflorum (annual Italian ryegrass) and other grass weeds are an increasing problem in cereal cropping systems in Denmark. Grass weeds are highly competitive and an increasing number of species develop resistance against the most commonly used herbicide modes of action. A diverse management strategy provides a better overall control of grass weeds and decreases the reliance on herbicides. The bio-economic decision support system, DK-RIM (Denmark-Ryegrass Integrated Management), was developed to assist integrated management of L. multiflorum in Danish cropping systems, based on the Australian RIM model. DK-RIM provides long-term estimations (10-year period) and visual outputs of L. multiflorum population development, depending on management strategies. The dynamics of L. multiflorum plants within the season and of the soil seed bank across seasons are simulated. The user can combine cultural weed control practices with chemical control options. Cultural practices include crop rotation changes, seeding density, sowing time, soil tillage system, and cover crops. Scenarios with increasing crop rotation diversity or different tillage strategies were evaluated. DK-RIM aims at being an actual support system, aiding the farmer’s decisions and encouraging discussions among stakeholders on alternative management strategies.

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Productivity and Profitability of Four Crop Rotations under Limited Irrigation

Applied Engineering in Agriculture ◽

10.13031/aea.13416 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Alan J Schlegel ◽

Yared Assefa ◽

Daniel O’Brien

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Water Use ◽

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Grain Sorghum ◽

Wheat Crop ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Supplementary Irrigation ◽

Corn Grain

Abstract. Selection of optimal crops and cropping systems for most efficient water use specific for local environments can improve global water security. Limited irrigation with ground water is one alternative to alleviate crops from low amount or unevenly distributed water in the growing seasons in semi-arid regions. The main objectives of this research were to quantify yield-water use relationships of three limited irrigated crops, determine effect of crop selection on profitability with limited irrigation, and identify profitable and alternative crop production systems. A field study was conducted at the Kansas State University Southwest Research-Extension Center near Tribune, Kansas, from 2012 through 2017. There were four treatments in the study, two 1-yr systems of continuous corn ( L.) (C-C) and continuous grain sorghum (L.) (GS-GS) and two 2-yr rotations of corn-grain sorghum (C-GS) and corn-winter wheat ( L.) (C-W). Overall corn yield after wheat (C-W) was about 1.4 Mg (ha)-1 greater than C-C. Corn and sorghum yields were similar grown as monoculture or in rotation with each other. Available soil water at corn planting and during the growing season were 20 to 40 mm (240 cm profile-1) less in the C-GS rotation compared with C-C and C-W rotations. Corn yield increased as water use (yield-water use) increased in C-W rotation but yield-water use relationships tended to be negative in C-C and C-GS rotations. Grain sorghum yield increased with water use in both rotations but at a greater rate in GS-GS compared with C-GS. Despite greater corn grain yield in C-W, our economic analysis showed that wheat was the least profitable of the three crops causing the C-W rotation to be least profitable. In this study, the most profitable limited irrigation crop rotation was corn-grain sorghum (C-GS). Keywords: Corn-sorghum-wheat, Crop rotation, Limited irrigation, Profitability, Supplementary irrigation, Sustainability.

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