450 Impacts of Alternative Cropping Systems on Soil Physical Properties, Crop Productivity and Quality, and Water Management in California's Sacramento Valley

The Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems (SAFS) Project was established in 1988 to study the transition from conventional to low-input and organic farm management in California's Sacramento Valley. We evaluated the effects of these alternative farming systems on soil compaction, water-holding capacity, infiltration, and water storage in relation to tomato yield and fruit quality within the SAFS cropping systems comparison 10 years after it had been established. Soil bulk density (0-15, 15-30, 30-45, and 45-60 cm) was not significantly different among the farming systems. In situ water-holding capacity at 24, 48 and 72 h after water application was significantly higher in the organic system at all times and depths except 45-60 cm. Cumulative water infiltration after 3 h in the organic and low-input cover crop-based plots was more than twice that of the conventional system. The more rapid infiltration in the low-input and organic systems resulted in increased total irrigation needs, more water stored in the soil profile throughout the 30 days before harvest, and lower fruit soluble solids and titratable acidity in these systems relative to the conventional system. Yields were not significantly different in the organic, low-input, and conventional systems during either 1997 or 1998.

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537 Impacts of Farming Systems and Soil Characteristics on Processing Tomato Fruit Quality

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.3.488b ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 488B-488

Author(s):

Giuseppe Colla ◽

Jeff Mitchell ◽

Durga Poudell

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Soluble Solids Content ◽

Conventional System ◽

Organic System ◽

Low Input ◽

Solids Content

A 2-year field study was conducted within the Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems Project at the Univ. of California, Davis, to evaluate the effects of long-term conventional (CONV), low-input (LOW), and organic (ORG) production practices on processing tomato fruit mineral composition and quality. To establish relationships between soil chemical properties, soil water content, fruit mineral composition, and quality, this study characterized soil chemical properties and monitored soil water content through each tomato season. Soil total C, N, soluble P, exchangeable Ca, K,and Na were higher in the organic system than in the conventional system. Higher soil electrical conductivity was found in the CONV system compared to the other systems. Low input plots had soil characteristics intermediate to the other farming systems. Marketable and unmarketable yields were similar among the farming systems. Fruit N and Na were lower in the organic and low-input systems than in the conventional system. Fruit P and Ca contents were higher in the organic system than in the conventional system as a result of 11 years of manure applications. Soluble solids content, titrable acidity, color, and soluble solids yield were lower in 1998 in the organic system than in the conventional system, while no differences were found in 1999. Soil water content during the ripening stage was the major factor affecting the soluble solids content of the organic system. In the low input and conventional systems soluble solids content was most related to soil exchangeable Ca and EC, respectively.

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Crop-yield and economic comparisons of organic, low-input, and conventional farming systems in California's Sacramento Valley

American Journal of Alternative Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0889189300008225 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 109-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Sean Clark ◽

Karen Klonsky ◽

Peter Livingston ◽

Steve Temple

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Farming System ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Conventional Farming ◽

Management Options ◽

Organic System ◽

Low Input ◽

Sacramento Valley

AbstractWe compared the crop yields and economic performance of organic, lowinput, and conventional farming systems over an eight-year period based on research from the Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems (SAFS) Project in California's Sacramento Valley. The SAFS Project consisted of four farming-system treatments that differed in material input use and crop rotation sequence. The treatments included four-year rotations under conventional (conv-4), low-input, and organic management, and a conventionally-managed, two-year rotation (conv-2). The four-year rotations included processing tomato, safflower, corn, and bean and a winter grain and/or legume doublecropped with bean. The conv-2 treatment was a tomato and wheat rotation. In the lowinput and organic systems, inorganic fertilizer and synthetic pesticide inputs were reduced or eliminated largely through crop rotation, legume cover crops, composted manure applications, and mechanical cultivation.All crops, except safflower, demonstrated significant yield differences across farming systems in at least some years of the experiment. Yields of tomato and corn, the most nitrogen (N)-demanding crops in the rotations, responded most years to the farming-system years treatments, while bean and the winter grain/legume displayed treatment differences less often and instead tended to vary more with yearly growing conditions. Nitrogen availability and/or weed competition appeared to account for lower crop yields in the organic and low-input systems in some years. The economics of all farming systems depended mainly on the costs and profits associated with tomato production. The most profitable system was the conv-2 system due to the greater frequency of tomato in that system. Among the four-year rotations, the organic system was the most profitable. However, this system's dependence on price premiums leads to some concern over its long-term economic viability. Among the low-input cropping systems, corn demonstrated clear agronomic and economic advantages over conventional production methods. Based upon these findings, we suggest that future research on organic and low-input farming systems focus on developing cost-effective fertility and weed management options based upon improved understanding of N dynamics and weed ecology.

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Postharvest quality of strawberry fruits produced in organic and conventional systems

Horticultura Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0102-05362011000400022 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 577-583 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Letícia KP Camargo ◽

Juliano Tadeu V de Resende ◽

Tânia T Tominaga ◽

Sonia Maria Kurchaidt ◽

Cristhiano K Camargo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Titratable Acidity ◽

Physicochemical Characteristics ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Postharvest Quality ◽

Conventional System ◽

Organic System ◽

Camino Real ◽

Sensorial Attributes ◽

Solids Content ◽

Conventional Systems

The aim of this study was to determine some physicochemical characteristics of fruits of eight strawberry cultivars (Aromas, Camino Real, Campinas, Dover, Oso Grande, Toyonoka, Tudla-Milsei and Ventana) cultivated in organic and conventional systems. The evaluated characteristics were soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/AT ratio and anthocyanins. Evaluated sensory characteristics were flavor and appearance. The cultivars had a differential performance between themselves and among the systems for the evaluated characteristics. Generally, the conventional system produced fruit with higher levels of soluble solids and, organic system produced higher concentrations of anthocyanins. The fruits of the cultivar Toyonoka had the best soluble solids content in both systems and the anthocyanins content of 'Tudla-Milsei' and 'Camino Real' were proeminent in comparison to the other cultivars. The fruits from the organic system of production were preferred by judges on the sensorial attributes. The highest notes were given to the appearance of the cultivar Ventana in the conventional system and 'Tudla-Milsei' in the organic system.

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The performance of organic and conventional cropping systems in an extreme climate year

American Journal of Alternative Agriculture ◽

10.1079/ajaa200345 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 146-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 140

Author(s):

D.W. Lotter ◽

R. Seidel ◽

W. Liebhardt

Keyword(s):

Root Zone ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Lower Yield ◽

Crop Season ◽

Natural Systems ◽

Primary Mechanism ◽

Crop Root ◽

Related Stress ◽

Water Holding

AbstractThe 1999 severe crop season drought in the northeastern US was followed by hurricane-driven torrential rains in September, offering a unique opportunity to observe how managed and natural systems respond to climate-related stress. The Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial has been operating since 1981 and consists of three replicated cropping systems, one organic manure based (MNR), one organic legume based (LEG) and a conventional system (CNV). The MNR system consists of a 5-year maize–soybean–wheat–clover/hay rotation, the LEG of a 3-year maize–soybean–wheat–green manure, and the CNV of a 5-year maize-soybean rotation. Subsoil lysimeters allowed quantification of percolated water in each system. Average maize and soybean yields were similar in all three systems over the post-transition years (1985–1998). Five drought years occurred between 1984 and 1998 and in four of them the organic maize outyielded the CNV by significant margins. In 1999 all crop systems suffered severe yield depressions; however, there were substantial yield differences between systems. Organic maize yielded 38% and 137% relative to CNV in the LEG and MNR treatments, respectively, and 196% and 152% relative to CNV in the soybean plots. The primary mechanism of the higher yield of the MNR and LEG is proposed to be the higher water-holding capacity of the soils in those treatments, while the lower yield of the LEG maize was due to weed competition in that particular year and treatment. Soils in the organic plots captured more water and retained more of it in the crop root zone than in the CNV treatment. Water capture in the organic plots was approximately 100% higher than in CNV plots during September's torrential rains.

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

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170511000317 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 200-216 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

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.

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An economic comparison of conventional and reduced-chemical farming systems in Iowa

American Journal of Alternative Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0889189300004215 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 168-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Craig Chase ◽

Michael Duffy

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Production Costs ◽

Chemical System ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Conventional System ◽

Economic Returns ◽

Average Return ◽

Labor Requirements ◽

Conventional Systems

AbstractLabor requirements, production costs, yields, and economic returns were evaluated for conventional and reduced-chemical cropping systems in northeast Iowa from 1978 to 1989. Continuous corn (C-C) and corn-soybean (C-Sb) rotations represented the conventional system; a corn-oat-meadow (C-O-M) rotation represented the reducedchemical system. The C-C and C-Sb rotations used both commercial pesticides and fertilizers. The C-O-M rotation used manure for fertilization and applied pesticides only in emergencies. Operations for all systems were implemented by one farm manager. The C-Sb rotation had the highest corn yield over the 12-year period, and the C-O-M rotation the lowest. The corn within the C-O-M rotation, however, produced the second highest average return to land, labor, and management. With costs of production substantially lower than the conventional systems, the C-O-M corn crop had competitive returns despite lower yield. The C-Sb average return to land, labor, and management was significantly higher than for the other systems. Hourly labor charges of $4, $10, $20, and $50 had little effect on the rankings of economic returns. Because of unusually high alfalfa reseeding costs and low average oat yields, returns to the C-O-M rotation were significantly lower than C-Sb but comparable to C-C. With better alfalfa establishment and higher average oat yields, the reduced-chemical system might have been competitive with the C-Sb conventional system.

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Compost and Rubber Tire Chips as Peat Substitutes in Nursery Container Media: Effects on Chemical and Physical Media Properties

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898-14.3.122 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 122-129

Author(s):

Beth R. Jarvis ◽

James B. Calkins ◽

Bert T. Swanson

Keyword(s):

Bulk Density ◽

Water Holding Capacity ◽

Water Infiltration ◽

Control Medium ◽

Infiltration Capacity ◽

Tire Chips ◽

Rubber Tire ◽

Water Ph ◽

Lamiastrum Galeobdolon ◽

Water Holding

Abstract Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Dart's Gold’, Forsythia x ‘Meadowlark’, Spiraea x billiardii, Juniperus chinensis ‘Seagreen’, J. sabina ‘Mini Arcade’, J. horizontalis ‘Hughes’, and Lamiastrum galeobdolon were grown in container media amended with three yard waste (YW) composts, one municipal solid waste (MSW) compost and shredded rubber tire chips. Each of the five amendments was used to replace 50% or 100% of the sphagnum peat in a standard container medium resulting in eleven media treatments. Effects of peat replacement with compost or tire chips were compared relative to chemical and physical media characteristics. Amendments evaluated had limited long term nutritional value. Initial pH was increased when peat was replaced with compost or rubber tire chips; the increase in pH was proportional to the amount of peat replaced (50 or 100%). Over time, pH of all media equilibrated with irrigation water pH. Soluble salts were reduced for media amended with rubber tire chips while peat replacement with compost had variable effects on soluble salt levels based on compost source. Media amended with compost exhibited increased bulk density and decreased porosity, water infiltration capacity and water holding capacity compared to the standard, peat-based control medium. Peat replacement with rubber tire chips increased bulk density and porosity and decreased water holding capacity compared to the standard control medium. Water infiltration capacity was greatly increased and water holding capacity decreased when peat was replaced 100% with rubber tire chips.

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Weed communities and wheat yield are modified by cropping systems and climate conditions

10.1101/2020.07.09.190488 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tim Seipel ◽

Suzanne L. Ishaq ◽

Fabian D. Menalled

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Cropping System ◽

Conventional System ◽

Organic System ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

No Till ◽

Weed Communities ◽

The Impact

SummaryUnderstanding the impact of biological and environmental stresses on crop performance is essential to secure the long-term sustainability of agricultural production. How cropping systems modify weed communities and wheat yield in response to predicted climate conditions is unknown. We tested the effect of warmer, and warmer and drier conditions on weed biomass, weed community characteristics, and winter wheat yields in three contrasting cropping systems: a no-till chemically managed system, a tilled organic system, and an organic system that used grazing to reduce tillage. Weed communities in the organic systems were more diverse and more variable than the no-till conventional system, though the grazed organic and no-till conventional systems had more similar relative species abundance. Cropping system affected weed biomass and weed species composition recorded in 0.75 m2 split-plots, with the most biomass recorded in grazed organic system (38 g ±23.4 SE) compared to the tilled-organic (17 g ±10.3 SE) and no-till chemically managed systems (<1 g ±0.02). Climate conditions had relatively minor impacts on weed communities compared with cropping systems. Wheat yield was highest in the no-till conventional system but declined in response to warmer and drier conditions despite its low weed biomass. Yield was lower in the tilled organic and grazed organic cropping system but declines in warmer and drier conditions were more variable among years. In the Northern Great Plains, predicted climate scenarios have the potential to alter weed communities and reduce wheat yield, and designing resilient cropping systems is essential to mitigate these negative impacts.

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Healthiness and fungus composition of barley roots under organic, integrated and conventional farming systems

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2002.002 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

pp. 17-26

Author(s):

Anna Baturo ◽

Czesław Sadowski ◽

Jan Kuś

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Spring Barley ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Bipolaris Sorokiniana ◽

Integrated System ◽

Maturity Stage ◽

Conventional Farming ◽

Conventional System ◽

Organic System ◽

Disease Symptoms

The researched material was healthiness of roots and fungus composition of spring barley cultivated under organic, integrated and conventional farming systems. The studies were carried out in 1998-2001 on experimental fields in Osiny near Puławy, south-eastern Poland. In the emergence stage the roots health status was the lowest in organic system however in the end of vegetation season, in dough maturity stage the most disease symptoms were stated in conventional system. The mycological analyses revealed the occurrence of two important pathogens: Bipolaris sorokiniana and Fusarium spp. Despite of root healthiness macroscopic analyses showed their lower health status in organic system only in emergence stage and the most quantity of plants with disease symptoms in dough maturity stage were observed in conventional system, but pathogens like Bipolaris sorokiniana and Fusarium spp. were mostly isolated in organic system in both phases. It can suggest that disease symptoms in conventional system can be caused by different than fungus factors. The lowest percent of mentioned pathogens was stated in integrated system. It is worth to notice that organic conditions could be favourable to Gliocladium roseum. Because of growing interest in ecology, giving up of using pesticides and more and more popular biological disease control, these fungi of Gliocladium genus be used in this system due to their antagonistic properties.

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Vine water status as a parameter of the « terroir » effect under the non-irrigated conditions of the Vaud viticultural area (Switzerland)

OENO One ◽

10.20870/oeno-one.2011.45.3.1496 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 139 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jean-Sébastien Reynard ◽

Vivian Zufferey ◽

Geneviève-Clara Nicol ◽

François Murisier

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Water Status ◽

Water Holding Capacity ◽

Sensory Characteristics ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Natural Factor ◽

Soil Water Holding Capacity ◽

Close Relationship ◽

The Impact ◽

Water Holding

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess whether, for vineyards in Vaud (Switzerland), vine water status might be a major natural factor in determining wine sensory characteristics, i.e., responsible for the so-called « terroir » effect.Methods and Results: The impact of vine water status on fruit and wine characteristics was examined for 23 non-irrigated locations with different soil water holding capacities during three seasons (2007-2009). In 2009, a close relationship was observed between δ13C and soil water holding capacity. Furthermore, the level of vine water status influenced both fruit and wine composition. Berry weight was strongly correlated to vine water status. The highest grape soluble solids content (SSC) at harvest was reached when water deficit was mild. Wine colour was related to vine water status: wine made from grapevines with low water status showed a significantly higher colour density. However, sensory analysis did not discriminate between wines from different water conditions.Conclusion: In a dry year like 2009, vine water status was related to soil water holding capacity and determined grape and wine characteristics. However, no clear relationship was observed between wine sensory characteristics and vine water status.Significance and impact of the study: This study confirms the importance of soil in determining grape and wine characteristics through its effect on vine water status.

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