scholarly journals BIODYNAMIC AGRICULTURE – OLD TRADITIONS AND MODERN PRACTICES

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (Suppl.1) ◽  
pp. 530-536
Author(s):  
Rositsa Beluhova-Uzunova ◽  
Dimo Atanasov
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Alternative Farming ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
Biodynamic Agriculture

The concerns regarding food security and safety, environmental challenges and resource scarcity remodel the prospects of agriculture. Therefore biodynamic farming as an alternative method for sustainable production becomes an object of growing scientific interest in the past 20 years. Biodynamic farming is one of the oldest organic systems and its roots could be found in the beginning of 20th century. Although the skepticism, biodynamic agriculture evolved over the years and nowadays is considered as an opportunity to address various environmental, social and economic issues. The aim of the paper is to introduce the concept and features of biodynamic agriculture and observe different case studies and surveys on the effect of this farming system upon yields, profitability and sustainability. The analysis is based on different research methods. The paper applies monographic, historical and comparative methods. The results indicate that biodynamic farms have higher soil quality, lower crop yields, and equal or greater net returns than conventional agricultural holdings. The long-term effect of biodynamic farming on the economic performance, however, needs further research and investigation. The studies prove that biodynamic agriculture is important alternative farming system that could provide answers to number of alarming questions associated with viability and sustainable development.

scholarly journals Soil fertility and crop yields in long-term organic and conventional cropping systems in Eastern Nebraska

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 200-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam E. Wortman ◽  
Tomie D. Galusha ◽  
Stephen C. Mason ◽  
Charles A. Francis
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Conventional System ◽  
Organic System ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Conventional Systems

AbstractOrganic agriculture aims to build soil quality and provide long-term benefits to people and the environment; however, organic practices may reduce crop yields. This long-term study near Mead, NE was conducted to determine differences in soil fertility and crop yields among conventional and organic cropping systems between 1996 and 2007. The conventional system (CR) consisted of corn (Zea maysL.) or sorghum (Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench)–soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr.)–sorghum or corn–soybean, whereas the diversified conventional system (DIR) consisted of corn or sorghum–sorghum or corn–soybean–winter wheat (wheat,Triticum aestivumL.). The animal manure-based organic system (OAM) consisted of soybean–corn or sorghum–soybean–wheat, while the forage-based organic system (OFG) consisted of alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.)–alfalfa–corn or sorghum–wheat. Averaged across sampling years, soil organic matter content (OMC), P, pH, Ca, K, Mg and Zn in the top 15 cm of soil were greatest in the OAM system. However, by 2008 OMC was not different between the two organic systems despite almost two times greater carbon inputs in the OAM system. Corn, sorghum and soybean average annual yields were greatest in either of the two conventional systems (7.65, 6.36 and 2.60 Mg ha−1, respectively), whereas wheat yields were greatest in the OAM system (3.07 Mg ha−1). Relative to the mean of the conventional systems, corn yields were reduced by 13 and 33% in the OAM and OFG systems, respectively. Similarly, sorghum yields in the OAM and OFG systems were reduced by 16 and 27%, respectively. Soybean yields were 20% greater in the conventional systems compared with the OAM system. However, wheat yields were 10% greater in the OAM system compared with the conventional DIR system and 23% greater than yield in the OFG system. Alfalfa in the OFG system yielded an average of 7.41 Mg ha−1annually. Competitive yields of organic wheat and alfalfa along with the soil fertility benefits associated with animal manure and perennial forage suggest that aspects of the two organic systems be combined to maximize the productivity and sustainability of organic cropping systems.

scholarly journals A Review of Long-Term Organic Comparison Trials in the U.S.

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Delate ◽  
Cynthia Cambardella ◽  
Craig Chase ◽  
Robert Turnbull
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
The U.S

<p>Long-term organic farming system trials were established across the U.S. to capture baseline agronomic, economic and environmental data related to organic conversion under varying climatic conditions. These sites have proven useful in providing supporting evidence for successful transition from conventional to organic practices. All experiments chosen for this review were transdisciplinary in nature; analyzed comprehensive system components (productivity, soil health, pest status, and economics); and contained all crops within each rotation and cropping system each year to ensure the most robust analysis. In addition to yield comparisons, necessary for determining the viability of organic operations, ecosystem services, such as soil carbon capture, nutrient cycling, pest suppression, and water quality enhancement, have been documented for organic systems in these trials. Outcomes from these long-term trials have been critical in elucidating factors underlying less than optimal yields in organic systems, which typically involved inadequate weed management and insufficient soil fertility at certain sites. Finally, these experiments serve as valuable demonstrations of the economic viability of organic systems for farmers and policymakers interested in viewing farm-scale organic operations and crop performance.</p>

LONG-TERM EFFECT OF DEEP PLOWING SOLONETZIC SOIL ON CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CROP YIELD

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. McANDREW ◽  
S. S. MALHI
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Soil Chemical Properties ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Solonetzic Soil ◽  
Ap Horizon ◽  
Deep Plowing

Deep plowing (DP) has been investigated as a possible ameliorative procedure for Solonetzic soils, but the long-term effects of DP on soil properties are not known. Soil sampling to determine the long-lasting effects of DP on some soil chemical properties and crop yields was conducted at four sites with Solonetzic soils in east-central Alberta. The soils had been deep plowed 11–29 yr prior to sampling. Compared to adjacent unplowed (check) treatments, DP resulted in significant improvements in soil chemical properties at most of the sites. The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of the AB horizon (12- or 15- to 30-cm depth) was lower after DP at all four sites. Extractable and soluble Ca increased in the Ap horizon (0–12 cm) of DP soils, whereas extractable Na decreased in the Ap or AB horizons at three sites. The pH of the Ap horizon increased from acidic to neutral at three sites, while EC of the Ap horizon decreased at two sites. Crop yield increased due to DP at the three sites where yields were measured. The results indicate a long-term amelioration of Solonetzic soils by DP. Key words: Amelioration, deep plowing, deep tillage, sodic soil

Factors influencing the economic potential for alternative farming systems: Case analyses in South Dakota

1988 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Dobbs ◽  
Mark G. Leddy ◽  
James D. Smolik
Keyword(s):  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Alternative System ◽  
Alternative Farming ◽  
Conventional Systems ◽  
Farm Program

AbstractResults of calculations on the economic potential for alternative (low input, sustainable) farming systems in a small grain-row crop region of the Northern Plains are reported. Two sets of alternative farming systems, in which no chemical fertilizers or herbicides are used, are compared with various conventional and reduced till systems. In Farming Systems Study I (FSS1), an alternative rotation consisting of oats, alfalfa, soybeans, and corn is compared with conventional and ridge till rotation systems composed of corn, soybeans, and spring wheat. In Farming Systems Study II (FSS2), three systems with an emphasis on small grains are compared. An alternative system rotation consisting of oats, sweet clover, soybeans, and spring wheat is compared with conventional and minimum till rotation systems comprised of soybeans, spring wheat, and barley. Results of baseline economic analyses show that alternative farming systems can be competitive with more conventional systems in at least some situations. The alternative systems entail markedly lower direct costs, and the alternative system in FSS2 has approximately the same net returns as the comparable conventional and minimum till systems. The FSS1 alternative system has positive but somewhat lower net returns than the comparable conventional and ridge till systems. Sensitivity analyses were conducted with alternative system crop yields, chemical fertilizer and herbicide prices, and varying assumptions about future Federal farm program support levels and acreage set aside requirements. The yield sensitivity analyses show that one alternative farming system requires yields about 5–10 percent above those of the comparable conventional system to produce the same net returns. However, the other alternative system is competitive with a conventional system even with yields 5 percent lower. Analyses varying chemical fertilizer and herbicide prices reveal that the alternative farming system in FSS1 becomes competitive with more conventional systems when fertilizer and herbicide prices rise by 50 percent. The alternative farming system in FSS2 is already competitive at current fertilizer and herbicide prices. In some cases, sensitivity analyses with Federal farm program provisions indicate that reductions in farm program benefits increase the economic competitiveness of alternative farming systems. However, important exceptions occur. Results indicate that not only the level of future farm program benefits, but also the form of program provisions and compliance requirements, will affect the relative competitiveness of alternative farming systems.

Comparison of alternative farming systems. II. Earthworm population density and species diversity

1993 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin C. Berry ◽  
Douglas L. Karlen
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays L ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Lumbricus Terrestris ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Aporrectodea Trapezoides ◽  
Alternative Farming ◽  
Earthworm Population ◽  
Octolasion Tyrtaeum

Effects of soil fauna on soil quality are largely unknown. Our objective was to learn whether long-term soil management has significantly affected earthworm species and populations at two Iowa locations. Soil cores were collected in fall 1989, spring 1990, and fall 1990 from a long-term tillage study in Polk County, Iowa, involving monoculture of corn (Zea mays L.) with either no-tillage, fall disking, fall chisel plowing, or fall moldboard plowing. Species found were Lumbricus terrestris (L), Octolasion tyrtaeum (Savigny), Aporrectodea trapezoides (Duges), A. turgida (Eisen), and A. tuberculata (Eisen), with O. tyrtaeum dominant across all treatments. As the amount of tillage increased, the number of earthworms generally decreased. InBoone County, Iowa, we compared the populations of mature and immature earthworms and cocoons on two adjacent fields, one managed conventionally, the other managed with an alternative farming system for more than 20 years. The predominant species was A. tuberculata. Regardless of management practice, the most worms were found in Canisteo soil on the toeslope landscape position.

Long term effect of legume intensified crop rotations and tillage practices on productivity and profitability of maize vis-a-vis soil fertility in North-Western Indo-Gangetic Plains of India

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Yadav ◽  
C. M. Parihar ◽  
S. L. Jat ◽  
A. K. Singh ◽  
Rakesh Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Western India ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Stover Yield ◽  
North Western

The present study was planned to evaluate the long term effect of legume intensified maize based crop rotations and tillage practices on productivity, profitability of maize vis-a-vis soil health. The experiment consisted of three tillage practices i.e. zero tillage (ZT), permanent bed (PB) and conventional tillage (CT) as main plot treatments and four crop rotations (MWMb; maize-wheat-mungbean, MCS; maize-chickpea-Sesbania, MMuMb; maize-mustard-mungbean, MMS; maize-maize-Sesbania) as sub plot treatments. Results revealed that ZT and PB resulted into significantly (P less than 0.05) improvement in grain (7.7-14.2%) and stover yield (7.4-13.0%) of maize over CT. Similarly, maize grain and stover yield were invariably higher in MCS and MWMb systems compared to MMuMb and MMS rotations. The total soil carbon (TSC) content increased by 15.4-17.4 and 20.32-20.91% with ZT and PB over CT in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depths, respectively. However, MCS and MWMb rotations registered 11.3-18.0% (0-15 cm) and 8.4-11.0% (15-30 cm) higher TSC over MMuMb rotation. Similarly, ZT and PB resulted into significantly (P less than 0.05) improvement in available soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) compared to CT. ZT/PB under MCS crop rotations registered higher net returns and BC ratio compared to rest of the treatment combinations. Interaction effect of tillage and crop rotations were significant (P less than 0.05) for stover yield, net returns, BC ratio and TSC and all these parameters were reported maximum with ZT-MCS. Thus, the present study suggests that CA based crop management practices can be advocated as sustainable intensification strategy in north-western India.

EFFECT OF LONG-TERM USE OF TILLAGE, RESIDUES AND N LEVELS IN SORGHUM (SORGHUM VULGARE (L)) – CASTOR (RICINUS COMMUNIS) CROPPING SYSTEM UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS – CROP RESPONSES AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE – PART I

2013 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. KUSUMA GRACE ◽  
K. L. SHARMA ◽  
D. SUMACHANDRIKA ◽  
K. SRINIVAS ◽  
U. K. MANDAL ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Ricinus Communis ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Long Term Effect

SUMMARYThis experiment was conducted to study the long-term effect of soil management treatments on crop yields, sustainability yield indices (SYI) and soil fertility in rainfed semi-arid tropical Alfisol at Hayathnagar Research Farm, Hyderabad, India, during the period 1995 to 2009. The experiment was conducted in a split–split plot design with conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) as main factors, surface application of sorghum stover @ 2 t ha−1 (SS), fresh Gliricidia loppings @ 2 t ha−1 (GL) and ‘no’ residue (NR) as sub-factors and levels of N viz. 0 (N0), 30 (N30), 60 (N60) and 90 (N90) kg N ha−1 as sub–sub factors in a castor–sorghum two-year rotation. On an average, CT maintained 30.4 and 57.0% higher grain yields of sorghum and castor, respectively, over MT. Between two residues, GL performed well in both the crops. The highest yields of sorghum (1425 kg ha−1) and castor (876 kg ha−1) were recorded at 90 kg N ha−1. CT maintained higher SYI of 0.44 compared to MT (0.38) and higher agronomic efficiency (AE) of 13.5 and 6.76 kg grain kg−1 N for sorghum and castor crop, respectively. Use of crop residue as mulch had an advantage in increasing the yield of both the crops with increase in rainfall under CT even without N application (control), probably by making the soil more receptive to water infiltration, better moisture storage and by reducing the evaporative losses. Using response functions, the optimum fertilizer N requirement was also computed for a given set of tillage and residue combinations. The revised optimum fertilizer N doses for sorghum and castor varied from 45 to 56 kg ha−1 and 46 to 74 kg ha−1, respectively, under different tillage and residue combinations and could be recommended depending upon the soil management practices.

scholarly journals ULTRASOUND, INTERFERENCE CURRENT, AND EXERCISE FOR RECURRENT KNEE PAIN DUE TO OSTEOARTHRITIS

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 647-653
Author(s):  
S. Nikolova-Shopova ◽  
◽  
A. Aleksiev ◽  
A. Zaralieva ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Knee Pain ◽  
Exercise Duration ◽  
Exercise Frequency ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
Low Intensity Exercise ◽  
Frequency Intensity

Introduction:- To study the effectiveness of ultrasound, interference current, and exercise in recurrent knee pain due to osteoarthritis and to find the optimal frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise. Materials and methods:- Twelve outpatients (age 67.16 ± 7.89 years) with recurrent knee pain due to osteoarthritis were followed for one month. They were treated with interference current, ultrasound, and exercise for two weeks. All patients were instructed to perform the exercises as often as possible, for as long as possible, and as intensively as possible at home for one month. The pain was reported on a visual analog scale daily for two weeks and after one month. In the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the month were recorded knee mobility, the periarticular muscle strength, frequency, intensity, and duration of the exercises. Results:- During the two-week course the pain was decreasing every following day (P>0.05). Over the weekend the pain increased (P<0.05). After two weeks and after one month improved the pain (P<0.05), knee mobility (P>0.05), and muscle strength (P>0.05). There was a significant correlation and regression between pain and exercise frequency (P<0.05). If the exercise frequency is greater than five times a day, the pain regressively tends to zero (P>0.05). There was no correlation between pain and exercise intensity (P>0.05) and between pain and exercise duration (P>0.05). Discussion:- The pain decrease during the week and its increase during the weekend show that interference current, ultrasound, and exercise have a short-term analgesic effect. Improving all parameters after two weeks and after one month shows that exercise has a long-term effect. Frequent, short, and low-intensity exercise is recommended due to the correlation with regression between pain and exercise frequency, in the absence of a correlation between pain and intensity or duration of exercise. The recommended frequency of exercise is five times a day, as at this frequency the pain tends to disappear. Conclusion:- The combination of ultrasound, interference current, and exercise is effective in recurrent knee pain due to osteoarthritis. Short and low-intensity exercises with a frequency of more than five times a day are optimal.

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