scholarly journals Row Planting under Inter and Mixed Cropping Systems as Sustainable Agricultural Practice in Damot Gale District, Wolaita, Ethiopia

Author(s):  
Nigatu Gebremedhin Enamo
Author(s):  
S. A. S. T. Raveendra ◽  
Sarath P. Nissanka ◽  
Deepakrishna Somasundaram ◽  
Anjana J. Atapattu ◽  
Sylvanus Mensah

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-252
Author(s):  
Josiah Ateka ◽  
◽  
Perez Ayieko Onono-Okelo ◽  
Martin Etyang ◽  
◽  
...  

The inverse farm size and productivity relationship (IR) is a recurring theme in the literature. However, most previous studies were undertaken within a setting of mixed cropping systems. In this article, we investigate the effect of farm size on productivity within the context of a perennial monocropping system, acute competition for farmland, frequent subdivision of farms and declining yields. We apply household survey data of smallholder tea farms in western Kenya and consider both technical efficiency (TE) and the yield per hectare as indicators of productivity. The findings show that the effect of farm size on productivity is nonlinear, with TE initially declining and then rising with farm size. The findings also demonstrate that the farm size and productivity relationship is important for perennial monocrops and that the use of robust measures of productivity is important for the IR. The findings have important implications for agricultural policy in developing countries.


Soil Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Yui Osanai ◽  
Oliver Knox ◽  
Gunasekhar Nachimuthu ◽  
Brian Wilson

Agricultural practices (e.g. tillage, crop rotation and fertiliser application) have a strong influence on the balance between carbon (C) input and output by altering physicochemical and microbial properties that control decomposition processes in the soil. Recent studies suggest that the mechanisms by which agricultural practice impacts soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in the topsoil may not be the same as those in the subsoil. Here, we assessed SOC stock, soil organic fractions and nitrogen availability to 1.0 m in soils under a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)-based cropping system, and assessed the impact of agricultural management (three historical cropping systems with or without maize (Zea mays L.) rotation) on SOC storage. We found that the maize rotation and changes in the particulate organic fraction influenced SOC stock in the topsoil, although the overall change in SOC stock was small. The large increase in subsoil SOC stock (by 31%) was dominated by changes in the mineral-associated organic fraction, which were influenced by historical cropping systems and recent maize rotation directly and indirectly via changes in soil nitrogen availability. The strong direct effect of maize rotation on SOC stock, particularly in the subsoil, suggests that the direct transfer of C into the subsoil SOC pool may dominate C dynamics in this cropping system. Therefore, agricultural management that affects the movement of C within the soil profile (e.g. changes in soil physical properties) could have a significant consequence for subsoil C storage.


2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40
Author(s):  
MS Islam ◽  
MA Islam ◽  
MA Begum ◽  
M Maniruzzaman ◽  
MAU Alam

Mixed crop cultivation of lentil and rapeseed could be a promising technology for yield maximization. The field experiment was carried out at multilocation testing site, Kashinathpur, Pabna during the rabi season of 2011-12 and 2012-13 to verify the performance of rapeseed as mixed crop with lentil at different seeding ratios. The treatment comprises for the experiment were T1: Sole lentil (100%), T2: Sole rapeseed (100%), T3: Lentil (100%) + Rapeseed (10%), T4: Lentil (100%) + Rapeseed (20%), T5: Lentil (100%) + Rapeseed (30%) and T6 :Farmers’ practice :Lentil (100%) + Rapeseed (15%). The highest lentil equivalent yield (2.22 t ha-1 in and 2.48 ) and maximum land equivalent ratios (1.27 and 1.28) were observed in T4 treatment in 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively.. It was noted that all the mixed cropping systems produced higher equivalent yield and LER than that of their corresponding sole crops. . Cost and return analysis showed that the highest net return (Tk. 127774 ha-1) was found in T4 treatment while sole rapeseed gave the lowest net return (Tk. 60540 ha-1). Net return was always higher under mixed cropping system than that of sole cropping. The highest benefit cost ratio 3.48 was recorded from Lentil (100%) + Rapeseed (20%) where as the minimum (1.39) from soli rapeseed.Bangladesh Agron. J. 2014, 17(1): 33-40


2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (6) ◽  
pp. 733-740
Author(s):  
A.G. Dassou ◽  
S.D. Vodouhè ◽  
A. Bokonon-Ganta ◽  
G. Goergen ◽  
A. Chailleux ◽  
...  

AbstractCultivating plant mixtures is expected to provide a higher productivity and a better control of pests and diseases. The structure of the arthropod community is a major driver of the magnitude of natural pest regulations.With the aim of optimizing pest management, a study was carried out to determine the effect of the cropping system type (tomato mono-cropping vs. mixed-cropping) on the diversity and abundance of arthropods from three trophic groups (herbivores, omnivores, predators) and the abundance of Helicoverpa armigera. Therefore, the diversity of cultivated plants and arthropod communities was assessed within tomato fields from 30 farmer's fields randomly selected in South of Benin. Results showed that the arthropod abundance was significantly higher in mixed-cropping systems compared with mono-cropping systems, although the crop type did not alter significantly the arthropod diversity, evenness, and richness. At the level of taxa, the abundances of generalist predators including ants (Pheidole spp., and Paltothyreus tarsatus) and spiders (Araneus spp. and Erigone sp.) were significantly higher in mixed fields than in mono-crop fields. Then, the abundances of omnivore-predator trophic groups have a negative significant effect on the H. armigera abundance. This study allowed better understanding of how plant diversity associated to tomato fields structures arthropod's food webs to finally enhance the ecological management of H. armigera.


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