Diversified crop rotations enhance groundwater and economic sustainability of food production

Abstract Earth’s water resources are critical for supporting livelihoods and food security but are being increasingly overexploited to support global agriculture. Diversifying cropping systems could potentially resolve unsustainable water use but trade-offs with other aspects of sustainability and food security have not yet been assessed. We perform a detailed meta-analysis to systematically compare 31 different crop rotations in China– in terms of actual evapotranspiration (ETa), effect on groundwater depth, grain yield, economic output, and water use efficiency (WUE) – and identify configurations that can achieve co-benefits across multiple dimensions. We find that a combination of lowering the cropping index (i.e., harvest frequency), incorporating fallow periods, and introducing higher value crops into the currently dominant winter wheat-summer maize double cropping system can reduce growing season ETa by as much as 31%, mitigate groundwater decline by 19% or more, and increased economic output and economic WUE by more than 11% and 3%, respectively. We also find that multiple diversified wheat-maize–based rotations– all with rotation lengths greater than two years– achieve co-benefits across all evaluated dimensions. This study provides new empirical evidence of the opportunities for diversified crop rotations to balance the multiple objectives of food production, sustainable groundwater use and farmer profitability. Extending this solution to other water-stressed agricultural regions could be an effective strategy in achieving more sustainable food production globally.

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Benefits and Trade-Offs of Tillage Management in China: A Meta-Analysis

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11081495 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 1495

Author(s):

Yingcheng Wang ◽

Hao Ying ◽

Yulong Yin ◽

Hongye Wang ◽

Zhenling Cui

Keyword(s):

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Cropping System ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Net Profit

In China, deep tillage (DT; to >20 cm soil depth) has increased crop yields by improving soil properties, while no-tillage (NT) has been recommended to reduce the labor and machinery costs. Local farmers are willing to adopted rotary tillage (RT; harrowing to 10–15 cm depth) for easy management. However, the effects of these tillage management methods on agronomic productivity, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, and economic return have not been quantified systematically, and their effectiveness remains in question. Here, we present a meta-analysis of the effects of these methods using 665 paired measurements from 144 peer-reviewed studies. The results indicated that DT significantly increased crop yields by 7.5% relative to RT, and even greater increases were observed in regions with low temperatures and with a wheat cropping system. In contrast, NT resulted in a yield reduction of 3.7% relative to RT, however, controlling for the appropriate temperature and long extension duration (>15 yr) could reduce yield losses and even increase the yield. Both DT and NT significantly enhanced SOC sequestration relative to RT. Adoption of DT would lead to both higher total GHG emissions (N2O and CH4) and increased energy costs, while NT reduced GHG emissions. DT management exhibited a positive net profit for all cropping systems; NT decreased the net profit for rice and wheat but increased the profit for maize. Our study highlighted the agronomic, environmental, and economic benefits and trade-offs for the different tillage methods and should enable investors and policymakers to ensure the best tillage management decisions are made depending on the location-specific conditions.

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Quantifying synergies and trade-offs in the water-land-energy-food-climate nexus using a multi-model scenario approach

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-15192 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jonathan Doelman ◽

Tom Kram ◽

Benjamin Bodirsky ◽

Isabelle Weindle ◽

Elke Stehfest

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Sustainable Development ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Production ◽

Large Scale ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Integrated Assessment Model ◽

Assessment Model ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Development Goals

The human population has substantially grown and become wealthier over the last decades. These developments have led to major increases in the use of key natural resources such as food, energy and water causing increased pressure on the environment throughout the world. As these trends are projected to continue into the foreseeable future, a crucial question is how the provision of resources as well as the quality of the environment can be managed sustainably.Environmental quality and resource provision are intricately linked. For example, food production depends on availability of water, land suitable for agriculture, and favourable climatic circumstances. In turn, food production causes climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions, and affects biodiversity through conversion of natural vegetation to agriculture and through the effects of excessive fertilizer and use of pesticides. There are many examples of the complex interlinkages between different production systems and environmental issues. To handle this complexity the nexus concept has been introduced which recognizes that different sectors are inherently interconnected and must be investigated in an integrated, holistic manner.Until now, the nexus literature predominantly exists of local studies or qualitative descriptions. This study present the first qualitative, multi-model nexus study at the global scale, based on scenarios simultaneously developed with the MAgPIE land use model and the IMAGE integrated assessment model. The goal is to quantify synergies and trade-offs between different sectors of the water-land-energy-food-climate nexus in the context of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Each scenario is designed to substantially improve one of the nexus sectors water, land, energy, food or climate. A number of indicators that capture important aspects of both the nexus sectors and related SDGs is selected to assess whether these scenarios provide synergies or trade-offs with other nexus sectors, and to quantify the effects. Additionally a scenario is developed that aims to optimize policy action across nexus sectors providing an example of a holistic approach that achieves multiple sustainable development goals.The results of this study highlight many synergies and trade-offs. For example, an important trade-off exists between climate change policy and food security targets: large-scale implementation of bio-energy and afforestation to achieve stringent climate targets negatively impacts food security. An interesting synergy exists between the food, water and climate sectors: promoting healthy diets reduces water use, improves water quality and increases the uptake of carbon by forests.

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RELATIVE PRODUCTIVITY, PROFITABILITY AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF CROPPING SYSTEMS IN HOT ARID INDIA

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479714000052 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 549-572 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

V. S. RATHORE ◽

N. S. NATHAWAT ◽

B. MEEL ◽

B. M. YADAV ◽

J. P. SINGH

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Mung Bean ◽

Crop Production ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Arid Environment ◽

Application Rate ◽

Cluster Bean ◽

Use Efficiency

SUMMARYThe choice of an appropriate cropping system is critical to maintaining or enhancing agricultural sustainability. Yield, profitability and water use efficiency are important factors for determining suitability of cropping systems in hot arid region. In a two-year field experiment (2009/10–2010/11) on loam sandy soils of Bikaner, India, the production potential, profitability and water use efficiency (WUE) of five cropping systems (groundnut–wheat, groundnut–isabgol, groundnut–chickpea, cluster bean–wheat and mung bean–wheat) each at six nutrient application rate (NAR) i.e. 0, 25, 50, 75, 100% recommended dose of N and P (NP) and 100% NP + S were evaluated. The cropping systems varied significantly in terms of productivity, profitability and WUEs. Averaged across nutrient application regimes, groundnut–wheat rotation gave 300–1620 kg ha−1 and 957–3365 kg ha−1 higher grain and biomass yields, respectively, than other cropping systems. The mean annual net returns were highest for the mung bean–wheat system, which returned 32–57% higher net return than other cropping systems. The mung bean–wheat and cluster bean–wheat systems had higher WUE in terms of yields than other cropping systems. The mung bean–wheat system recorded 35–63% higher WUE in monetary terms compared with other systems. Nutrients application improved yields, profit and WUEs of cropping systems. Averaged across years and cropping systems, the application of 100% NP improved grain yields, returns and WUE by 1.7, 3.9 and 1.6 times than no application of nutrients. The results suggest that the profitability and WUEs of crop production in this hot arid environment can be improved, compared with groundnut–wheat cropping, by substituting groundnut by mung bean and nutrients application.

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Three Decades of Changes in Brazilian Municipalities and Their Food Production Systems

Land ◽

10.3390/land9110422 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 422

Author(s):

Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva ◽

Mateus Batistella ◽

James D. A. Millington ◽

Emilio Moran ◽

Luiz A. Martinelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Production ◽

Crop Production ◽

Census Data ◽

Production Systems ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Farm Size ◽

Socioeconomic Outcomes ◽

Economic Output ◽

Trade Offs

Agricultural systems are heterogeneous across temporal and spatial scales. Although much research has investigated farm size and economic output, the synergies and trade-offs across various agricultural and socioeconomic variables are unclear. This study applies a GIS-based approach to official Brazilian census data (Agricultural Censuses of 1995, 2006, and 2017) and surveys at the municipality level to (i) evaluate changes in the average soybean farm size across the country and (ii) compare agricultural and socioeconomic outcomes (i.e., soybean yield, agricultural production value, crop production diversity, and rural labor employment) relative to the average soybean farm size. Statistical tests (e.g., Kruskal–Wallis tests and Spearman’s correlation) were used to analyze variable outcomes in different classes of farm sizes and respective Agricultural Censuses. We found that agricultural and socioeconomic outcomes are spatially correlated with soybean farm size class. Therefore, based on the concepts of trade-offs and synergies, we show that municipalities with large soybean farm sizes had larger trade-offs (e.g., larger farm size was associated with lower crop diversity), while small and medium ones manifest greater synergies. These patterns are particularly strong for analysis using the Agricultural Census of 2017. Trade-off/synergy analysis across space and time is key for supporting long-term strategies aiming at alleviating unemployment and providing sustainable food production, essential to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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Assessing Crop and Water Productivity Performance of Different Crops and Cropping Systems

Agricultural Science Digest - A Research Journal ◽

10.18805/ag.d-5481 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Ramesh Kumar ◽

R.S. Yadav ◽

Amit Kumawat ◽

Vinay Nangia ◽

N.D. Yadava ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Water Use ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Water Productivity ◽

N Uptake ◽

Indian Mustard ◽

Cropping System ◽

Bt Cotton ◽

Natural Ecosystems ◽

Study Region

Background: Freshwater in sufficient quantity and adequate quality is a prerequisite for human societies and natural ecosystems. To adequately feed 9.3 billion people in 2050, consumptive water use (i.e. transpired water) by all food and fodder crops needs to increase from its present estimated level of 7000 km3/year to 12,586 km3/year. However, fresh water resources are increasingly getting scarce because of increased competition among a multitude of users. Getting agriculture to perform with progressively smaller allocation of renewable water resources will remain a challenge on global scale. To meet the challenge there is an urgent need to improve the crop water productivity to ensure the sustainability of agriculture. Methods: An experiment was carried out at village Menawali, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan during both kharif and rabi seasons to assess productivity, economics, N-uptake and water use of different crops. An area of 187 ha comprising 25 farmers irrigated by common irrigation channels were selected to collect the information. The information required i.e. soil, crop management, growth, phonological, yields, water balance, N-uptake and water use efficiency of each crops were collected from 15 farmers. Bt-cotton and clusterbean of kharif and wheat and Indian mustard in rabi were prominent crops, cotton-wheat, cotton-mustard, clusterbean-wheat and clusterbean-mustard were major cropping sequences of the study region. Result: In kharif season, Bt-cotton gave higher economic yields than clusterbean and amongst rabi season crops, economic yields of wheat and mustard were 4255, 1778 kg/ha, respectively. The economic yield of cropping sequences varied from 3741-6514 kg/ha and were higher for cotton-wheat (6218 kg/ha), intermediate for clusterbean-wheat (5785 kg/ha) and lower for cotton-mustard (3741 kg/ha) and clusterbean-mustard (3308 kg/ha). The cotton-wheat (₹1181.2 mm) sequence had highest water use. Clusterbean-wheat cropping system recorded highest water productivity (16.5 kg/ha mm) followed by clusterbean-mustard (14.9 kg/ha mm). The clusterbean-mustard (₹456/ha mm) cropping sequence was most profitable and fetched highest net return followed by clusterbean-wheat (₹383/ha mm).

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Resilient rainfed technologies for drought mitigation and sustainable food security

MAUSAM ◽

10.54302/mausam.v67i1.1174 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 169-182

Author(s):

CH. SRINIVASA RAO ◽

K. A. GOPINATH

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Production ◽

Rainwater Harvesting ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Action Plan ◽

Soil Health ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Rainfed Agriculture ◽

Drought Mitigation ◽

Drought Preparedness

Even though drought is one of the most common features affecting rainfed agriculture, it is necessary to consider it as an extreme climatological event that requires different types of alleviating strategies for overcoming it. The risk involved in successful cultivation of crops depends on the nature of drought (chronic and contingent), its probable duration, and frequency of occurrence within the season. These aberrations are expected to further increase in future. A significant fall in food production is often noticed with increase in intensity or extension in duration of drought prevalence. Drought affects not only the food production at farm level but also the national economy and overall food security. Location-specific rainfed technologies are available to cope with different drought situations. Much of the research done in rainfed agriculture in India relates to conservation of soil & rainwater and to drought proofing. The key technologies for drought mitigation are in situ moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting and recycling, resilient crops and cropping systems including contingency crop plans, foliar sprays, and integrated farming systems. However, drought preparedness and real time implementation of contingency measures at field level needs well structured institutional support for farmers with strong government policy and convergence among various institutions. Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, needs to facilitate the convergence process of various government schemes such as MGNREGA, RKVY, Mega Seed Project, NFSM, NHM, IWMP, Soil health schemes etc. for drought preparedness. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), one among the missions under the Prime Minister National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC) may take a lead role in implementation of contingency, by inclusion of this activity in State Action Plans (SAP) with a dedicated Nodal Institution /officers and budget provision.

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Contribution, Utilization, and Improvement of Legumes-Driven Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Agricultural Systems

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems ◽

10.3389/fsufs.2021.767998 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Author(s):

Erana Kebede

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Biological Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Food Production ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Symbiotic Association ◽

Agricultural Practice ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Agronomic Practices ◽

Biological Nitrogen

Legumes improve soil fertility through the symbiotic association with microorganisms, such as rhizobia, which fix the atmospheric nitrogen and make nitrogen available to the host and other crops by a process known as biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Legumes included in the cropping system improve the fertility of the soil and the yield of crops. The advantages of legumes in the cropping system are explained in terms of direct nitrogen transfer, residual fixed nitrogen, nutrient availability and uptake, effect on soil properties, breaking of pests' cycles, and enhancement of other soil microbial activity. The best benefits from the legumes and BNF system can be utilized by integrating them into cropping systems. The most common practices to integrate legumes and their associated BNF into agricultural systems are crop rotation, simultaneous intercropping, improved fallows, green manuring, and alley cropping. However, the level of utilizing nitrogen fixation requires improvement of the systems, such as selecting appropriate legume genotypes, inoculation with effective rhizobia, and the use of appropriate agronomic practices and cropping systems. Therefore, using legumes at their maximum genetic potential, inoculation of legumes with compatible rhizobia, and using appropriate agronomic practices and cropping systems are very important for increasing food production. Importantly, the utilization of legumes as an integral component of agricultural practice in promoting agricultural productivity has gained more traction in meeting the demand of food production of the world populace. Priority should, thus, be given to value the process of BNF through more sustainable technologies and expansion of knowledge to the system.

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Food Security and Transition towards Sustainability

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132212433 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (22) ◽

pp. 12433

Author(s):

Mohammad Fazle Rabbi ◽

Morshadul Hasan ◽

Sándor Kovács

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Production ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Sustainable Food Production ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Production And Consumption ◽

Development Goals

In the light of linkages in various scales and targets, the complex and nuanced design of the sustainable development goals (SDG) raises more challenges in their implementation on the ground. This paper reviewed 25 food security indicators, proposed improvements to facilitate operationalization, and illustrated practical implementation. The research focused on three essential blind spots that arise from the potential interactions between sustainable food production, consumption, and domestic material consumption (DMC). Projection of latent structure regression was applied to link food security and sustainable development goals. Findings revealed that the key target in reducing trade-offs was the integration of DMC with sustainable food production and consumption. DMC was positively correlated with the creation of coherent SDG strategies and sustainable food security. Practical implications were discussed by highlighting how to achieve food security across contrasting development contexts and the challenges of addressing the links between targets and indicators within and beyond SDGs 2 and 12. The results are useful for setting a proper strategy for sustainable production and consumption that can improve the efficient use of resources in the eight Central European countries.

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Agro-Diversity in the Forest-Savannah Transition Zone of Ghana: A Strategy for Food Security against Climatic and Socio-Economic Stressors

Environment and Natural Resources Research ◽

10.5539/enrr.v6n1p1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Jesse S. Ayivor ◽

Opoku Pabi ◽

Benjamin D. Ofori ◽

Dzidzo R. Yirenya-Taiwiah ◽

Chris Gordon

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Transition Zone ◽

Food Production ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Farm Productivity ◽

The Impact

Food security is a major issue affecting about 239 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, local ecosystems-based adaptive strategies for reducing the impact of climate change and other stressors on food production systems are very relevant in the national food security agenda. This study assessed how farmers in communities of the environs of the Kogyae Strict Nature Reserves in the forest-savanna transition zone of Ghana exploit a range of options for food production that spread and reduce risks and ensure sustainability of the local environment. Through a cross-sectional survey involving focus group discussions, institutional data search and on-site observations, the study investigated different ways to which the natural diversity of the environment has been used by farmers to enhance farm productivity and farmer income. The study observed that climate variability, land expropriation for protected area establishment, inappropriate use of farm technology and low pricing for farm produce pose as major threats to sustainable agriculture in the area. These constraints have compelled farmers to adopt a range of agro-diversity practices for increased farm productivity and income. They include introduction of new crop varieties, adoption of innovative farm management practices, diversified farm fields and sequential cropping systems. The study noted that the diversified systems have boosted farmer productivity and incomes and contributed to their socio-cultural needs. The study recommends greater crop intensification through the use of appropriate technologies and improved access to markets to consolidate farmer gains and livelihoods as well as ensuring food and nutritional security.

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