scholarly journals 640 Sustainable Cropping Systems

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 558A-558
Author(s):  
Chad M. Hutchinson ◽  
Milton E. McGiffen
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Green Waste

The goals of sustainable agriculture include decreased reliance on synthetic nutrients and pesticides and improved environmental quality for the long-term benefit of the land, livelihood of growers, and their communities. Cropping systems that maximize these goals use alternative fertility and pest control options to produce crops with minimal soil erosion and nutrient leaching. Cropping system elements that can help achieve these goals include: reduced tillage, cover crops, and organic soil amendments. Cover crops are grown before the cash crop and used to replenish the soil with nitrogen and organic matter. Cover crops often also influence pest populations and can be selected based on site-specific growing conditions. Cover crops can be mulched on the soil surface to prevent erosion and weed emergence or can be tilled directly into the soil to incorporate nitrogen and organic matter. Green waste mulch is an increasingly used soil amendment. Many municipalities are encouraging farmers to use green waste mulch in farming systems as an alternative to green waste disposal in landfills. Reduced tillage was once restricted to large-seeded field crops but recent technical advances have made it a feasible option for vegetables and other horticultural crops. Alternative farming practices; however, are still only used by a small minority of growers. Increases in price for organic produce and changes in laws governing farming operations may increase adoption of alternatives to conventional agriculture.

Using active fractions of soil organic matter as indicators of the sustainability of Ferrosol farming systems

Soil Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Bell ◽  
P. W. Moody ◽  
S. A. Yo ◽  
R. D. Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Critical Concentrations ◽  
Aggregate Breakdown ◽  
Eastern Australia

Chemical and physical degradation of Red Ferrosols in eastern Australia is a major issue necessitating the development of more sustainable cropping systems. This paper derives critical concentrations of the active (permanganate-oxidisable) fraction of soil organic matter (C1) which maximise soil water recharge and minimise the likelihood of surface runoff in these soils. Ferrosol soils were collected from commercial properties in both north and south Queensland, while additional data were made available from a similar collection of Tasmanian Ferrosols. Sites represented a range of management histories, from grazed and ungrazed grass pastures to continuously cropped soil under various tillage systems. The concentration of both total carbon (C) and C1 varied among regions and farming systems. C1 was the primary factor controlling aggregate breakdown, measured by the percentage of aggregates <0·125 mm (P125) in the surface crust after simulated rainfall. The rates of change in P125 per unit change in C1 were not significantly different (P < 0·05) for soils from the different localities. However, soils from the coastal Burnett (south-east Queensland) always produced lower P125 (i.e. less aggregate breakdown) than did soils from the inland Burnett and north Queensland locations given the same concentration of C1. This difference was not associated with a particular land use. The ‘critical’ concentrations of C1 for each region were taken as the C1 concentrations that would allow an infiltration rate greater than or equal to the intensity of a 1 in 1 or 1 in 10 year frequency rainfall event of 30 min duration. This analysis also provided an indication of the risk associated with the concentrations of C1 currently characterising each farming system in each rainfall environment. None of the conventionally tilled Queensland Ferrosols contained sufficient C1 to cope with rainfall events expected to occur with a 1 in 10 frequency, while in many situations the C1 concentration was sufficiently low that runoff events would be expected on an annual basis. Our data suggest that management practices designed both to maximise C inputs and to maintain a high proportion of active C should be seen as essential steps towards developing a more sustainable cropping system.

Herbicide-soil interactions in reduced tillage and plant residue management systems

Weed Science ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin A. Locke ◽  
Charles T. Bryson
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Plant Residue ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Agricultural Community ◽  
Weed Emergence

Recent changes in technology, governmental regulation and scrutiny, and public opinion have motivated the agricultural community to examine current management practices from the perspective of how they fit into a sustainable agricultural framework. One aspect which can be incorporated into many existing farming systems is plant residue management (e.g., reduced tillage, cover crops). Many residue management systems are designed to enhance accumulation of plant residue at the soil surface. The plant residue covering the soil surface provides many benefits, including protection from soil erosion, soil moisture conservation by acting as a barrier against evaporation, improved soil tilth, and inhibition of weed emergence. This review summarizes recent literature (ca. last 25 yr) concerning the effects of plant residue management on the soil environment and how those changes impact herbicide interactions.

Conservation cropping systems for the semi-arid tropics of North Queensland, Australia

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 515 ◽  
Author(s):  
AL Cogle ◽  
RJ Bateman ◽  
DH Heiner
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Semi Arid

A farming systems project was commenced in the semi-arid tropics of north-eastern Australia to assess the cropping potential and reliability of a newly developing region. Emphasis was placed on evaluation of conservation cropping systems, since it was expected that these would be the most successful and protective uses of the land. This paper discusses the agronomy of peanuts, maize and sorghum grown under different conservative cropping practices (reduced tillage, no tillage, ley) on the soil (red earth) most likely to be developed for large-scale cropping in the region. Crop yields with all practices were limited by establishment difficulties including high soil temperatures, poor weed control and climatic variability. Reduced tillage was more successful than no tillage due to higher yields in dry years; however, in wet years no tillage produced similar yields. The ley cropping system may have some advantages in this environment for integrated production and resource protection.

scholarly journals Effects of Temporal Crop β Diversification of a Cereal-Based Cropping System on Generalist Predators and Their Biocontrol Potential

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Antonio Puliga ◽  
Jan Thiele ◽  
Hauke Ahnemann ◽  
Jens Dauber
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Biocontrol Potential ◽  
Natural Pest Control ◽  
Predation Rates

In agroecosystems, crop diversification plays a fundamental role in maintaining and regenerating biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as natural pest control. Temporal diversification of cropping systems can affect the presence and activity of natural enemies by providing alternative hosts and prey, food, and refuges for overwintering. However, we still lack studies on the effects of temporal diversification on generalist predators and their biocontrol potential conducted at field scale in commercial agricultural settings. Here, we measured proxies of ecosystem functions related with biological pest control in 29 commercial agricultural fields characterized by cereal-based cropping system in Lower-Saxony, northern Germany. The fields differed in the number of crops and cover crops cultivated during the previous 12 years. Using the Rapid Ecosystem Function Assessment approach, we measured invertebrate predation, seed predation and activity density of generalist predators. We aimed at testing whether the differences in the crop rotations from the previous years would affect activity of predators and their predation rates in the current growing season. We found that the length of the crop rotation had neutral effects on the proxies measured. Furthermore, predation rates were generally lower if the rotation comprised a higher number of cover crops compared to rotation with less cover crops. The activity density of respective taxa of predatory arthropods responded differently to the number of cover crops in the crop rotation. Our results suggest that temporal crop diversity may not benefit the activity and efficiency of generalist predators when diversification strategies involve crops of very similar functional traits. Adding different resources and traits to the agroecosystems through a wider range of cultivated crops and the integration of semi-natural habitats are aspects that need to be considered when developing more diverse cropping systems aiming to provide a more efficient natural pest control.

scholarly journals Identification of Economically Viable Cropping Systems for Vertisols of Northern Telangana Zone

2020 ◽  
pp. 98-106
Author(s):  
Firdoz Shahana ◽  
M. Goverdhan ◽  
S. Sridevi ◽  
B. Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Bt Cotton ◽  
Black Gram ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Lower Productivity ◽  
Randomized Block Design

A field experiment was conducted during 2016-17 at AICRP on Integrated Farming Systems, Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, Rudrur to diversify existing rice-rice cropping system with less water requiring crops under irrigated dry conditions for vertisols of Northern Telangana Zone. The experiment was laid out with twelve cropping systems as treatments in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The twelve combinations of cropping systems tested during kharif and rabi seasons were rice – rice (check), maize + soybean (2:4) – tomato, maize + soybean (2:4) - rice, maize - sunflower + chickpea (2:4), maize - chickpea, Bt cotton + soybean (1:2) on broadbed – sesame + groundnut (2:4), Bt cotton - sesame + blackgram (2:4), soybean – wheat, soybean – sunflower + chickpea (2:4), turmeric – sesame, turmeric + soybean (1:2) on flat bed – bajra and turmeric + soybean (1:2) on broadbed – sesame + blackgram (2:4). On system basis, significantly higher productivity in terms of rice equivalent yield (REY) of 23830 kg ha-1 was recorded with turmeric+soybean (1:2) BBF– sesame+blackgram (2:4) turmeric – sesame cropping sequence. However it was on par with turmeric – sesame and turmeric + soybean (1:2) on flat bed – bajra crop sequence with productivity of 23332 kg ha-1 and 21389 kg ha-1 respectively. Lower productivity was recorded with rice-rice cropping system (10725 kg ha-1). Significantly higher system net returns were recorded with Bt. cotton – sesame + black gram (2:4) on BBF (Rs222838 ha-1) closely followed by Bt Cotton + Soybean (1:2) (BBF) - Sesamum + Groundnut (2:4) (Rs221160 ha-1) and Maize+soybean (2:4)–tomato (Rs212909 ha-1). Lower system net returns were recorded in conventional rice-rice system (Rs88179 ha-1). Bt. cotton – sesame + black gram (2:4) and Bt Cotton + Soybean (1:2) (BBF)- Sesamum + Groundnut ((2:4) and Maize+soybean (2:4)–tomato were economically superior with REE of 152.71%, 150.81% and 141.45%. Rice- Rice cropping adopted by majority of farmers is less productive and economically inferior indicating wider scope of diversifying existing rice- rice cropping system with high productive, economically viable cropping systems in vertisols of Northern Telangana Zone.

Nitrogen fixation in summer-grown soybean crops and fate of fixed-N over a winter fallow in subtropical sugarcane systems

Soil Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 845
Author(s):  
Lee J. Kearney ◽  
Emma Dutilloy ◽  
Terry J. Rose
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Soybean Residue ◽  
Glycine Max L ◽  
Winter Fallow

Legumes including soybeans (Glycine max L.) can provide substantial nitrogen (N) inputs into cropping systems when grown as a part of a rotation. However, in the wet subtropics where land is fallowed for 4–6 months after soybean crops before planting of sugarcane (Saccharum L. spp. hybrids), climatic conditions over winter can be conducive to rapid mineralisation of N from residues with consequent N losses through nitrate leaching or denitrification processes. Using 15N natural abundance methodology, we estimated N2 fixation in 12 summer-grown soybean crops in the Australian wet subtropics, and tracked the fate of soybean residue-N from brown manure crops (residue from plants at late pod-filling left on the soil surface) using 15N-labelled residue in three of these fields over the winter fallow period. Disregarding two poor crops, N2 fixation ranged from 100–290 kg N ha–1 in shoots at mid pod-filling, equating to 170–468 kg N ha–1 including estimated root N contributions. Following the winter fallow, 61 and 68% of soybean residue-N was recovered in clay and peat soils respectively, to 0.9 m depth at one location (Coraki) but only 55% of residue-N could be accounted for to 0.9 m depth in a sandy soil at another location (Ballina). In addition, around 20% of the recovered 15N at this site was located at 0.3–0.6 m depth in the soil profile. Our results indicate that substantial loss of soybean residue-N can occur during winter fallows in the wet subtropics, suggesting that winter cover crops may be necessary to retain N in fields and minimise losses to the environment.

Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 1049-1072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne R. Thiessen Martens ◽  
Martin H. Entz ◽  
Mark D. Wonneck
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Canadian Prairie ◽  
Research Education

Thiessen Martens, J. R., Entz, M. H. and Wonneck, M. D. 2015. Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 1049–1072. Redesign of agricultural systems according to ecological principles has been proposed for the development of sustainable systems. We review a wide variety of ecologically based crop production practices, including crop varieties and genetic diversity, crop selection and rotation, cover crops, annual polyculture, perennial forages, perennial grains, agroforestry systems, reducing tillage, use of animal manures and green manures, soil biological fertility, organic production systems, integrated crop–livestock systems, and purposeful design of farm landscapes (farmscaping), and discuss their potential role in enhancing the profitability, environmental sustainability, and resilience of Canadian prairie cropping systems. Farming systems that most closely mimic natural systems through appropriate integration of diverse components, within a context of supportive social and economic structures, appear to offer the greatest potential benefits, while creating a framework in which to place all other farming practices. Our understanding of ecological relationships within agricultural systems is currently lacking, and a major shift in research, education, and policy will be required to purposefully and proactively redesign Canadian prairie agricultural systems for long-term sustainability.

EFFECT OF REDUCED TILLAGE AND MINERAL FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON MAIZE AND SOYBEAN PRODUCTIVITY

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. KIHARA ◽  
A. BATIONO ◽  
B. WASWA ◽  
J. M. KIMETU ◽  
B. VANLAUWE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Residue ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Continuous Maize

SUMMARYReduced tillage is said to be one of the potential ways to reverse land degradation and ultimately increase the productivity of degrading soils of Africa. We hypothesised that crop yield following a modest application of 2 t ha−1 of crop residue in a reduced tillage system is similar to the yield obtained from a conventional tillage system, and that incorporation of legumes in a cropping system leads to greater economic benefits as opposed to a cropping system involving continuous maize. Three cropping systems (continuous maize monocropping, legume/maize intercropping and rotation) under different tillage and residue management systems were tested in sub-humid western Kenya over 10 seasons. While soybean performed equally well in both tillage systems throughout, maize yield was lower in reduced than conventional tillage during the first five seasons but no significant differences were observed after season 6. Likewise, with crop residue application, yields in conventional and reduced tillage systems are comparable after season 6. Nitrogen and phosphorus increased yield by up to 100% compared with control. Gross margins were not significantly different among the cropping systems being only 6 to 39% more in the legume–cereal systems relative to similar treatments in continuous cereal monocropping system. After 10 seasons of reduced tillage production, the economic benefits for our cropping systems are still not attractive for a switch from the conventional to reduced tillage.

scholarly journals Epigeal fauna and soil attributes in a cover-cropped organic vegetable system

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Santana de Lima ◽  
Dérique Biassi ◽  
Cyndi dos Santos Ferreira ◽  
Priscila Silva Matos ◽  
Lucas Vasconcelos Rocha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Solanum Melongena ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Forest Site

ABSTRACT: This study assessed the effect of cover crop biomass on the epigeal fauna of an organic eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cropping system. A randomized block design was used, with four cover crop treatments: brachiaria, crotalaria, millet, and cocktail (brachiaria, crotalaria and millet). The epigeal faunal indices were determined at each plot. The epigeal fauna of a secondary forest site was also assessed for comparison. Epigeal individuals were collected using pitfall traps at two sampling periods (110 and 180 days after mowing cover crops). Soil samples were collected for determination of physical and chemic properties. 2032 individuals were captured in the first sampling and 3806 individuals in the second. The highest values of wealth in the first collection were observed in the millet and cocktail areas. Cluster analysis showed similarity of epigeal faunal groups between millet and brachiaria plots at the first sampling and between cocktail and crotalaria sites at the second sampling. Co-inertia analysis showed a significant covariance between epigeal fauna at the second sampling and soil properties. The cover crops management had a beneficial influence on the activity, wealth and ecological indexes, in both sampling periods. The positive association observed between epigeal faunal groups and soil physical and chemical properties demonstrates the efficiency of cover crops in improving soil quality in organic cropping systems.

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