Surface application of gypsum in low acidic Oxisol under no-till cropping system

The conditions in which a favorable response to a gypsum application can be expected on crop yields are not clear. A 3-year field trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of gypsum application on soil chemical attributes and nutrition and yield of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) on a clayey Typic Hapludox of high fertility and low acidity under no-till in Guarapuava, Parana State, Brazil. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications, and consisted of gypsum application on the soil surface at 4, 8, and 12 Mg ha-1. Gypsum application increased the P content in the soil most superficial layer (0.0 - 0.1 m) and also the exchangeable Ca and S-SO4(2-) contents and the Ca/Mg ratio in the soil profile (0.0 - 0.6 m). Gypsum also caused leaching of Mg and K exchangeable in the soil. An increase in Ca concentrations in the corn leaves, and in P and S concentrations in the corn and soybean leaves occurred following the gypsum application. A yield response of corn to initial application of gypsum was found, but subsequent soybean crops did not respond. Gypsum application proved to be an effective practice to maximize no-till corn grain yield.

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No-tillage sorghum and garbanzo yields match or exceed standard tillage yields

California Agriculture ◽

10.3733/ca.2021a0017 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 112-120

Author(s):

Jeffrey P. Mitchell ◽

Anil Shrestha ◽

Lynn Epstein ◽

Jeffery A. Dahlberg ◽

Teamrat Ghezzehei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Surface ◽

San Joaquin Valley ◽

Agricultural Water Use ◽

No Till ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Crop System

To meet the requirements of California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, there is a critical need for crop production strategies with less reliance on irrigation from surface and groundwater sources. One strategy for improving agricultural water use efficiency is reducing tillage and maintaining residues on the soil surface. We evaluated high residue no-till versus standard tillage in the San Joaquin Valley with and without cover crops on the yields of two crops, garbanzo and sorghum, for 4 years. The no-till treatment had no primary or secondary tillage. Sorghum yields were similar in no-till and standard tillage systems while no-till garbanzo yields matched or exceeded those of standard tillage, depending on the year. Cover crops had no effect on crop yields. Soil cover was highest under the no-till with cover crop system, averaging 97% versus 5% for the standard tillage without cover crop system. Our results suggest that garbanzos and sorghum can be grown under no-till practices in the San Joaquin Valley without loss of yield.

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Interactive Effects of Biochar and Sewage Sludge on Bioavailability and Plant Uptake of Cu, Fe, and Zn, and Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Yields under Wastewater Irrigation

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10121901 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 1901

Author(s):

Ugele Majaule ◽

Oagile Dikinya ◽

Bruno Glaser

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Spinacia Oleracea ◽

Block Design ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

High Rate ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Yield Response ◽

Yield Increase ◽

Spinacia Oleracea L

Biochar can influence bioavailability of micronutrients and crop yields in sewage sludge-treated soils, but the mechanisms of its effects remain poorly understood. Therefore, this field experiment was conducted on a Luvisol and Cambisol to investigate the bioavailability and uptake of some micronutrients and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) yields grown in soil amended with biochar and sewage sludge. Ten treatments arranged in randomized complete block design with three levels of biochar (0, 2.5, 5 t/ha) and sewage sludge (0, 6, 12 t/ha) and combinations thereof were applied. High rate of sole sewage sludge, and its combination with biochar significantly (p < 0.05) increased yield on the Luvisol. On the Cambisol, only marginal yield increase resulted from high rates of sole organic amendments and chemical fertilizer, while co-applications decreased yields. Co-amendments generally increased bioavailability of micronutrients relative to sole amendments in the order Fe > Cu = Zn, with greater increase on the Cambisol, but uptake of micronutrients decreased with co-application rates of amendments. Contents of micronutrients in plant leaves were within the normal range, except for a combination of highest dosage of co-amendments on the Cambisol (Fe; 560 mg/kg), which resulted in leaf necrosis and 7% yield depression. The results showed greater yield response of spinach to co-application of amendments on the Luvisol.

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Maximizing Yields, Nutrient Uptake and Balance for Mustard-Mungbean-T. Aman Rice Cropping Systems through Nutrient Management Practices in Calcareous Soils

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v9n9p210 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 210 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. A. Quddus ◽

M. J. Abedin Mian ◽

H. M. Naser ◽

M. A. Hossain ◽

S. Sultana

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Uptake ◽

Management Practices ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Block Design ◽

Calcareous Soils ◽

Cropping System ◽

Soil Test ◽

Positive Balance

The experiment was conducted to measure crop yields, nutrient concentration, nutrient uptake and balance by using different nutrient management practices for mustard-mungbean-T. aman rice cropping system in calcareous soil of Madaripur, Bangladesh. Different nutrient management practices were absolute nutrient control (T1); farmer’s practice (T2); AEZ based nutrient application (T3) and soil test based nutrient application (T4). The practices were compared in a randomized completely block design with three replications over two consecutive years. The average yield through application of soil test based nutrient (T4) was showed effective to get highest yields of mustard (1530 kg ha-1), mungbean (1632 kg ha-1) and T. aman rice (4729 kg ha-1). The same practices (T4) exhibited the greatest nutrients uptake by the test crops. The apparent balance of N and K was negative; however it was less negative and less deficiency detect in T4 treatment. Positive balance of P observed in all practices except in T1. There was a positive S balance (7.60 kg ha-1) in T4 but negative in T1, T2 and T3. Zinc balance was found positive in T3 and T4 and negative in T1 and T2. Boron balance in the system was neutral or slightly positive in T1 and negative in T2 but positive in T3 and T4. Organic matter, N, P, S, Zn and B status in soil was improved by T4 treatment. The results suggested that the soil test based nutrient application is viable and sustainable for mustard-mungbean-T. aman rice cropping system in calcareous soils of Bangladesh.

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Decomposition and Nutrient Release of Tree Legumes in an Agroforest System

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v10n8p417 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 417

Author(s):

Larissa Brandao Portela ◽

Anagila Janenis Cardoso Silva ◽

Gustavo André de Araújo Santos ◽

Joab Luhan Ferreira Pedrosa ◽

Conceição De Maria Batista de Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Leucaena Leucocephala ◽

Alley Cropping ◽

Block Design ◽

Acacia Mangium ◽

Cropping System ◽

Nutrient Release ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Gliricidia Sepium ◽

Plant Residues ◽

Randomized Block Design

The research compared biomass production and nutrient release in an alley cropping system in two collection methods, the litterbag method and the direct collection method (Morley, Bennett, & Clark, 1964). The system was implemented in 2015 at 2017, at the Maranhão Federal University, Maranhão, Brazil. The experiment was a randomized block design with four treatments, consisting of leucaena+sombreiro (Leucaena leucocephala and Clitoria fairchildiana), leucena+acacia (Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia mangium), gliricidia+sombreiro (Gliricidia sepium and Clitoria fairchildiana) and gliricidia+acacia (Gliricidia sepium and Acacia mangium). In order to determine the remaining dry matter, nutrient release (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Mn), the decomposition constants and the half-lives times of plant residues, 100 g of fresh material were conditioned in litterbags (50 g of each species), arranged on the soil surface. The second method was done by randomly throwing a collector on each plot in the same dimensions of the litterbags (0.40 x 0.40 m) and collecting the litter. For the two methods samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after the start of the experiment. The litterbags method showed a higher C/N ratio at day 30 up to 120 days, which implies that this method is providing a different environment from the litter, where it would be overestimating the C/N ratio and retarding the decomposition. The G+S and G+A combinations were more rapidly decomposed than the combinations of L+S and L+A. The following order of release was established for the litterbags method: P > N > K > Ca > Mn > Mg, and for the method of collecting the litter: N > P > Ca > Mg > K > Mn.

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Oxygen measurements in the root zone facilitated by TDR

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s99-037 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 80 (1) ◽

pp. 33-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

G.C. Topp ◽

B. Dow ◽

M. Edwards ◽

E. G. Gregorich ◽

W. E. Curnoe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Root Zone ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Carbon Dioxide Flux ◽

No Till ◽

Oxygen Measurement ◽

Oxygen Measurements ◽

Temperature Water

Deleterious soil structural conditions, as from compaction, can reduce plant growth and yields by reducing aeration and oxygen in the rooting environment. Using a double-membrane oxygen cathode in each of four corn plots, we measured soil oxygen concentrations in duplicate at depths of 5, 10, 20 and 30 cm during the growing season. In addition, temperature, water content and bulk density determinations allowed the monitoring of O2 concentration trends under no-till and conventional-till corn management. Carbon dioxide flux from the soil surface was measured weekly. Temporal patterns of O2 levels fluctuated in response to rainfall at all depths but much less so at 30-cm depth. At 30 cm the O2 concentration remained inadequate for optimum plant growth (<0.01 kg m−3) for over 2 mo after planting under no-till with poorly timed trafficking. Under conventional till and appropriately timed trafficking adequate aeration occurred more than a month earlier than under no-till. The CO2 output was generally lower by 10 to 30% in no-till than that in conventional till, indicating measurably lower levels of biological activity. The relative magnitudes of mid-season O2 concentrations and CO2 flux densities showed the same pattern as the crop yields for all tillage treatments. More analyses of seasonal O2 consumption patterns are required to determine if lack of O2 is a causal factor for the reduced crop yield. Key words: TDR, aeration, oxygen measurement, carbon dioxide, tillage, root zone

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Performance of Zero-till Bio-mulching on Different Pulses under Maize-legume Sequence

Legume Research - An International Journal ◽

10.18805/lr-4395 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

J. K. Dey ◽

B. K. Saren ◽

B. Duary ◽

K. Pramanik

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Water Hyacinth ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Low Cost ◽

Block Design ◽

Cropping System ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Paddy Straw ◽

The Individual

Background: After harvesting of kharif crops, lack of sufficient soil moisture availability limit the cultivation of rabi crops in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. So a huge area remains fallow during the rabi season mainly because of infrastructure to harvest and to utilize the bountiful rains of the monsoon. So, agronomic measures to conserve the soil moisture are very suitable for the region because of their low cost and capability to reduce soil erosion. In this region, maize stalk are not used as fodder for animals and are usually burnt or kept outside the field. Similarly, during rainy season, there is plenty of water hyacinth and paddy straw found around cultivated areas. Retention of crop residues and weed biomass on the soil surface in combination with zero tillage initiates process that lead to improve soil quality and overall enhancement of resource use efficiency. Methods: The trials were conducted for consecutive two years (2017-18 and 2018-19) in split plot design with three main plot treatments as cropping system after Maize, viz, i) Maize-chickpea (CS1) ii) Maize-lentil (CS2) iii) Maize-lathyrus (CS3); with five sub-plot treatments as mulching i) No-mulching (Residue Removal) (M0) ii) In-situ Maize stalk mulching (M1) iii) In-situ maize stalk mulch + Water hyacinth (5 t/ha) (M2) iv) In-situ maize stalk mulch + Paddy straw (5 t/ha) (M3) v) In-situ maize stalk mulch + Water hyacinth (2.5 t/ha) + Paddy straw (2.5 t/ha) (M4) but the individual rabi crop’s data were analyzed in Randomized Block Design (RBD) as the individual crops have different growth characteristics. Result: Experiments result revealed that mulching with M3- In-situ maize stalk mulch + Paddy straw (5 t/ha) is the best practice for growing pulses under zero-till condition after Maize in Maize-legume cropping system. Growing of pulses in different cropping system under zero-till condition not only will increase the cropping intensity and production of pulses in the country but also will increase the fertility of the soil.

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Cover Crop as Living Mulch: Effects on Energy Flows in Mediterranean Organic Cropping Systems

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10050667 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 667

Author(s):

Francesco Montemurro ◽

Alessandro Persiani ◽

Mariangela Diacono

Keyword(s):

Energy Balance ◽

Total Energy ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Energy Output ◽

Living Mulch ◽

No Till ◽

Energy Inputs

Sustainability of agricultural practices is one of the most important issues in organic agriculture and its assessment is crucial. To this aim, evaluating the balance between the energy inputs and outputs in crop rotations could be a valuable tool. Therefore, we compared different management strategies in a four-year organic cropping system, by estimating the energy balance of crop production. Two different living mulches with no-till (B1) and green manure (B2) were compared with a cropping system without cover crop (B3), performing both energy analysis and energy balance. Energy parameters were also evaluated. The energy input of fertilizers and water was more than 55% of the total energy required by the cropping systems, suggesting that these agronomic practices should be tailored by farmers to decrease total energy inputs. The potential energy output was significantly higher in the B1 than the B2 and B3 cropping systems (20% and 54%, respectively). Results indicated that B1 and B2 could enhance the energy outputs without negatively affecting the energy consumption, since these cropping systems also showed higher energy efficiency. The introduction of the cover crop as living mulch combined with no-till could be a powerful tool to enhance systems sustainability, without compromising the crop yields.

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Yield response and economic implications of soybean (Glycine max (L.). Merrill) – lowland-upland rice sequential cropping in the rainforest/savanna transitory ecosystem

Acta agriculturae Slovenica ◽

10.14720/aas.2017.109.3.05 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 109 (3) ◽

pp. 529

Author(s):

Paul Abayomi Sobowale SOREMI ◽

Olalekan Sulaimon SAKARIYAWO ◽

Kehinde Adebayo OKELEYE ◽

Victor Idowu O. OLOWE ◽

Jamiu Oladipupo AZEEZ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Upland Rice ◽

Block Design ◽

Cropping System ◽

Field Trials ◽

Yield Response ◽

Economic Implications ◽

Glycine Max L ◽

Main Plot ◽

Conventional Ct ◽

Sequential Cropping

A sequential cropping system of soybean-lowland (NERICA L-42)-upland (NERICA 2) rice was established at Abeokuta and Ibadan (Nigeria) to evaluate the performance of the cropping system. Field trials were in split-split plot arrangement fitted into randomised complete block design and replicated three times. The first sequence had in the main plot tillage [minimum (MT) and conventional (CT)]. Soybean varieties TGx 1448-2E (V1) and TGx 1740-2F (V2) in sub-plot and spacing in sub-sub plot were 60 cm × 5 cm (R1), 60 cm × 10 (R2) and 60 cm × 15 cm (R3). Individual rice plots were established by dry dibble (DD) seeding and transplanting and sub-sub plot spacing were 15 cm × 15 cm (S1), 20 cm × 20 and 25 cm (S2) × 25 cm (S3). The sequence soybean (V1 CT R3); lowland and upland rice (S3 CT DD) was the most economically efficient (N 1,754 ha-1 day-1) in Abeokuta, while soybean (V1 MT R1) and lowland and upland rice (S1 DD MT) was the most economically efficient (N 1,858 ha-1 day-1) in Ibadan.

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Occasional soil tillage, liming, and nitrogen fertilization on long-term no-tillage system

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2018000700007 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (7) ◽

pp. 833-839

Author(s):

Renato Yagi

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Block Design ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Soil Surface ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Residual Effects ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

No Tillage ◽

Tillage System

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the residual effects of occasional soil tillage in a 17-year-old, no-tillage system, associated with liming and nitrogen fertilization, on the crop yields and chemical properties of a very clayey Oxisol in the South of Brazil. A randomized complete block design in split-split plots was used, with two soil managements (with or without plowing), two liming treatments (with or without the required dose to raise base saturation to 70%), five N doses applied on side-dress (0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 times the recommended amounts), and four replicates. A rotation system was used with corn and soybean in the summer, and with wheat and black oats in the winter. The residual effects of occasional soil tillage in a consolidated no-tillage system do not supplant those of liming applied on soil surface, in periods of water deficit, which subsidizes the recommendation to maintain the system consolidated. Excess N fertilization in no-tillage, with liming applied only on soil surface, may harm wheat yield, acidifying the topsoil and leaching Mg2+ to the subsurface soil layers. Without liming, soil acidification is more intense with N fertilization, which, however, favors the accumulation of organic matter on soil surface in a consolidated no-tillage system.

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Assessing the Impacts of Tillage and Mulch on Soil Erosion and Corn Yield

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10010063 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 63 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Devraj Chalise ◽

Lalit Kumar ◽

Reena Sharma ◽

Paul Kristiansen

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Total Nitrogen ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Block Design ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Corn Yield ◽

No Till ◽

Soil Losses

Conventional tillage practices have been regarded as the major reason for the loss of fertile topsoil in the sloping agricultural lands of the middle hills of Nepal. Reports on the effects of no-till and mulch on soil and corn yield in these regions are scarce, although these farming practices have been recommended to reduce soil erosion and increase crop yields. To assess the impacts of tillage (with +T, without −T) and mulch (with +M, without −M) on soil and soil nutrient losses, and corn yield, we conducted an experiment with five treatments: −T+M, −T−M, +T+M, +T−M, and bare fallow (BF), replicated four times each in an unbalanced complete random block design in Salyan district of Nepal. The results showed the presence of corn and no-till significantly lowered the soil losses. Losses of soil organic matter (SOM) and total nitrogen were also significantly reduced by the presence of corn, no-till, and mulch. However, no effects of mulch on soil losses, and no effects of tillage, mulch and corn on soil phosphorus losses were observed. Soil loss was found to be significantly and positively correlated with total seasonal rainfall, monsoon being the most severe season for soil erosion. While no-till and mulch did not affect corn height, cob height, and stover yield, no-till significantly increased the corn yield by 0.52 Mg ha−1 compared to conventional till. We confirm the synergistic interaction of mulch with tillage to reduce the losses of SOM and total nitrogen, and effectiveness of no-till to reduce the soil losses and increase the corn yield in the middle hills of Nepal. As this study is based on the results of two year’s data, long-term studies are required to identify the long-term impacts of no-till and mulch on soil losses and corn yield across the country.

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