Input Use and Productivity across Farm Sizes: A Comparison of the Two Punjabs

1988 ◽  
Vol 27 (4II) ◽  
pp. 595-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eshya Mujahid Mukhtar ◽  
Hanid Mukhtar
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Land Distribution ◽  
Input Use ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Ideal Framework ◽  
Productivity Gains

Agricultural production depends upon certain crucial inputs e.g., water, fertilizer etc. In the less developed regions of South Asia in general, and the indo-Pakistan sub-continent in particular, the use of these inputs depends not only upon the financial affordability but also upon the institutional accessibility of farmers to these inputs. Besides high economic costs, bureaucratic controls and corruption regarding the distribution of inputs have created problems of limited accessibility, especially to the small farmers. In the absence of any credit, information and/or input distribution networks, the use of these inputs, and related productivity gains, become confined to that class of farmers which not only has better access to these inputs but is capable of using them in the best possible way e.g. use of water and fertilizer in the appropriate amount and at the appropriate time. This paper attempts to study how input use and input productivity vary across farm sizes, with some reference to the infrastructural and institutional factors, whose development play an important role in improving the distribution and productivity of inputs. For such an analysis, a comparison of the two Punjabs i.e. Pakistani and Indian Punjabs, presents an ideal framework, Separated by a national boundary since 1947, the two Punjabs enjoy a common history and culture, similar agricultural practices and agro-climatic conditions, Government policies in the two Punjabs, however, have not only differed between the two provinces at the same time, but also over time in the same province. It may be noted that due to certain policy measures, land distribution, tenancy conditions, promotion of agricultural co-operatives and provision of infrastructural features, such as roads and electricity, are relatively more improved in Indian than Pakistani Punjab.

scholarly journals A Fumonisin Prevention Tool for Targeting and Ranking Agroclimatic Conditions Favoring Exposure in French Maize-Growing Areas

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 214
Author(s):  
Agathe Roucou ◽  
Christophe Bergez ◽  
Benoît Méléard ◽  
Béatrice Orlando
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Fusarium Verticillioides ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Agricultural Cooperatives ◽  
Mixed Model Approach ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Model Approach

The levels of fumonisins (FUMO)—mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides—in maize for food and feed are subject to European Union regulations. Compliance with the regulations requires the targeting of, among others, the agroclimatic factors influencing fungal contamination and FUMO production. Arvalis-Institut du végétal has created a national, multiyear database for maize, based on field survey data collected since 2003. This database contains information about agricultural practices, climatic conditions and FUMO concentrations at harvest for 738 maize fields distributed throughout French maize-growing regions. A linear mixed model approach highlights the presence of borers and the use of a late variety, high temperatures in July and October, and a water deficit during the maize cycle as creating conditions favoring maize contamination with Fusarium verticillioides. It is thus possible to target a combination of risk factors, consisting of this climatic sequence associated with agricultural practices of interest. The effects of the various possible agroclimatic combinations can be compared, grouped and classified as promoting very low to high FUMO concentrations, possibly exceeding the regulatory threshold. These findings should facilitate the creation of a national, informative and easy-to-use prevention tool for producers and agricultural cooperatives to manage the sanitary quality of their harvest.

scholarly journals Effect on nitrate concentration in stream water of agricultural practices in small catchments in Brittany: I. Annual nitrogen budgets

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Ruiz ◽  
S. Abiven ◽  
P. Durand ◽  
C. Martin ◽  
F. Vertès ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Nitrate Concentration ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Nitrogen Budgets ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Nitrate Concentrations ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Small Catchments

Abstract. The hydrological and biogeochemical monitoring of catchments has become a common approach for studying the effect of the evolution of agricultural practices on water resources. In numerous studies, the catchment is used as a "mega-lysimeter" to calculate annual input-output budgets. However, the literature reflects two opposite interpretations of the trends of nitrate concentration in streamwater. For some authors, essentially in applied studies, the mean residence time of leached nitrate in shallow groundwater systems is much less than one year and river loads reflect annual land use while for others, nitrate is essentially transport limited, independent of soil nitrate supply in the short term and annual variations reflect changes in climatic conditions. This study tests the effect of agricultural land-use changes on inter-annual nitrate trends on stream water of six small adjacent catchments from 0.10 to 0.57 km2 in area, on granite bedrock, at Kerbernez, in Western Brittany (France). Nitrate concentrations and loads in streamwater have been monitored for nine years (1992 to 2000) at the outlet of the catchments. An extensive survey of agricultural practices from 1993 to 1999 allowed assessment of the nitrogen available for leaching through nitrogen budgets. For such small catchments, year-to-year variations of nitrate leaching can be very important, even when considering the 'memory effect' of soil, while nitrate concentrations in streamwater appear relatively steady. No correlation was found between the calculated mean nitrate concentration of drainage water and the mean annual concentration in streams, which can even exhibit opposite trends in inter-annual variations. The climatic conditions do not affect the mean concentration in streamwater significantly. These results suggest that groundwater plays an important role in the control of streamwater nitrate concentration. Keywords: nitrate, diffuse pollution, agricultural catchment, nitrogen budget, leaching, Kerbernez catchments

scholarly journals ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF TABLE GRAPEVINE VARIETIES’ CULTIVATION

Russian vine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 85-89
Author(s):  
N.A Tikhomirova ◽  
◽  
M.R. Beibulatov ◽  
N.A. Urdenko ◽  
R.A. Buival ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Cost Of Care ◽  
Important Condition ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Care Technology ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Grape Varieties ◽  
Intensive Development

The economic efficiency of the cultivation of grapes as a branch of agriculture depends on the adaptation of grape varieties to the soil and climatic conditions of the place of growth. When developing new agricultural practices and technological solutions for the cultivation of grapes, it is necessary to assess the econom-ic efficiency of the proposed innovative ap-proaches. The cultivation of such grape varie-ties is becoming important and relevant, which, with high productivity and the use of differen-tiated care technology, require minimal costs when servicing the bushes and harvesting. In-creasing labor productivity in the viticulture industry is the most important condition for the intensive development of production. One of these conditions today is the formation of a bush according to the technology element, the shape of a bush AZOS-1, which allows to re-duce the cost of care and harvesting of grapes. The conducted research on the technology of cultivation of table grape varieties in connec-tion with the use of a new form of bush made it possible to economically substantiate the economic efficiency of growing grapes.

scholarly journals Estimation of Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield Per Harvest Area: Appropriate Methods

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliane Ngoune Tandzi ◽  
Charles Shelton Mutengwa
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Yield Estimation ◽  
Yield Parameters ◽  
Attainable Yield ◽  
Complex Methods

Standardization of crop yield estimation methods at various levels of farming helps to obtain accurate agricultural statistics as well as assessing the suitability of agricultural practices under various production conditions. The current paper reviews various maize yield estimation methods, taking into account available yield parameters, and it also analyses the yield gap between maize potential and attainable yield. The easiest and more reliable methods of yield estimation are based on yield parameters collected from the field. However, farmer estimation methods are cheaper and faster compared to any other method of yield estimation from farmers’ fields. This paper also elaborates on the importance of the use of more complex methods for yield estimation, such as remote sensing and crop modelling. These complex methods are more accurate and can predict yield before field harvest with less deviation from the exact harvest yield. However, they are very expensive and not efficient for small plots of land (less than 1 ha). Factors that contribute to the gap between potential and actual yield include poor implementation of agricultural policies, strict regulation of fertilizer inputs, vulnerability of smallholder cropping systems to adverse climatic conditions, occurrence of biotic and abiotic constraints, as well as unavailability of seeds and labor.

scholarly journals Establishment of production of special wheel and track technology for extreme natural-climate conditions of the Arctic

2018 ◽  
Vol 224 ◽  
pp. 02096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex S. Diakov ◽  
George O. Kotiev
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Zone ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Transport Problems ◽  
Natural Climate

The complex natural and climatic conditions of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (AZ of the RF) make it necessary to put forward special requirements for all types of ground equipment used to solve transport problems in this region. At present, the increase in economic costs in the operation of machinery is primarily due to the mismatch of the design of the vehicles used in the climatic zone. A set of measures for land transport that allows to ensure the socio-economic development of the AZ RF.

scholarly journals Nitrogen Utilization in a Cereal-Legume Rotation Managed with Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariangela Diacono ◽  
Paola Baldivieso-Freitas ◽  
Francisco Sans Serra
Keyword(s):  
Green Manure ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Farmyard Manure ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Practices ◽  
N Use

Optimization of the nitrogen (N) inputs and minimization of nutrient losses strongly affect yields in crop rotations. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of agricultural practices on yield and N use in a 4-year cereal-legume rotation in organic farming and to identify the best combination of these practices. The following treatments were compared: conventional plough (P) vs. reduced chisel (RC) tillage; composted farmyard manure (F) vs. unfertilized control (NF); and green manure (GM) vs. no green manure (NoM). No significant differences were found for N use efficiency between P and RC in each crop. The results suggested that legumes in the tested rotation do not need supplemental N fertilization, particularly if combining GM and F. The use of composted farmyard manure should be considered in a long-term fertilization plan for cereals, to allow a higher efficiency in N use. The residual effect of fertilization over time, along with the site-specific pedo-climatic conditions, should also be considered. In both tested tillage approaches, soil N surplus was the highest in plots combining GM and F (i.e., more than 680 kg N ha−1 in combination with RC vs. about 140 kg N ha−1 for RC without fertilization), with a risk of N losses by leaching. The N deficit in NoM–NF both combined with P and RC would indicate that these treatment combinations are not sustainable for the utilized crops in the field experiment. Therefore, the combination of the tested practices should be carefully assessed to sustain soil fertility and crop production.

scholarly journals The timing of agricultural production in hazard-prone areas to prevent losses at peak-risk periods: A case of Malawi, Madagascar and Mozambique

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandri Kruger
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Residual Moisture ◽  
Resilient Communities ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Hazard-prone areas in southern Africa experience many natural hazards, which include cyclones, floods and droughts. The severe climatic conditions of southern Africa have an especially large impact on the agricultural practices of small-scale farmers. These hazards should be mitigated to ensure more resilient communities and food security. This study mainly focuses on the timing of agricultural production in hazard-prone areas to prevent losses at peak-risk periods by adapting the agricultural cycle. This study focuses on the agricultural activities of small-scale farmers in Malawi, Madagascar and Mozambique. A literature review is presented, and a mixed-method research design were followed to determine the timing of production followed by these small-scale farmers and its impact on production and food security. Although this study found that the small-scale farmers generally plant with the first rains, it is recommended by literature that early planting should be practised to ensure optimal production. It is also recommended that small-scale farmers should implement watermanagement techniques for dry periods, and when farmers practice late planting, the use of residual-moisture retention should be utilised as a mitigation measure. This will in effect ensure that the communities are less vulnerable during peak-risk periods by improving or ensuring food security. Therefore, adapting the planting and production time in these hazardprone areas at peak-risk periods could limit losses and increase communities’ resilience.

scholarly journals Short-term demand forecast using a bank of neural network models trained using genetic algorithms for the optimal management of drinking water networks

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hector Rodriguez Rangel ◽  
Vicenç Puig ◽  
Rodrigo Lopez Farias ◽  
Juan J. Flores
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithms ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Water Networks ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Water Network ◽  
Demand Forecast ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Neural Network Models ◽  
Efficient Management

Efficient management of a drinking water network reduces the economic costs related to water production and transport (pumping). Model predictive control (MPC) is nowadays a quite well-accepted approach for the efficient management of the water networks because it allows formulating the control problem in terms of the optimization of the economic costs. Therefore, short-term forecasts are a key issue in the performance of MPC applied to water distribution networks. However, the short-term horizon demand forecast in a horizon of 24 hours in an hourly based scale presents some challenges as the water consumption can change from one day to another, according to certain patterns of behavior (e.g., holidays and business days). This paper focuses on the problem of forecasting water demand for the next 24 hours. In this work, we propose to use a bank of models instead of a single model. Each model is designed for forecasting one particular hour. Hourly models use artificial neural networks. The architecture design and the training process are performed using genetic algorithms. The proposed approach is assessed using demand data from the Barcelona water network.

scholarly journals The Analysis of Industrial Sickness with Reference to the FCIL

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-39
Author(s):  
Durgaprasad Navulla ◽  
G. Sunitha ◽  
Jhansi Rani Boda
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Development ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Present Situation ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
Preventive Actions ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Cut Problems ◽  
Near Future ◽  
A Company ◽  
Poor Management

Objective - The growth and magnitude of industrial sickness is a dangerous issue, not only for the present situation but also for the near future. There are many reasons that could have caused a company to become sick and the reasons could be internal or external or a combination of both. In that regard, this paper aims to analyse the presence of industrial sickness by reviewing the revival policy measures of the Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited (FCIL), particularly the Ramagundam unit. Methodology/Technique - Data for this paper are extracted from sources such as the Indian Economy reports, the Department of Fertilizers Government of India reports and personal interviews with the employees of the Fertilizers Corporation of India Limited, Ramagundam unit. Findings - The results showed that the FCIL unit became sick mainly because of poor management decisions, feeble human resource management, use of outdated technology, power-cut problems, non-availability of raw materials and wrong government policies. Novelty - This paper highlights why the FCIL has been declared as a sick company and what sort of government policies and preventive actions should be taken for revival or to rehabilitate the company. Type of Paper: Empirical Keywords: Sickness; Revival Measures; Industrial Development; Fertilizers.

scholarly journals LANDFILL URBANISM: OPPORTUNISTIC ECOLOGIES, WASTED LANDSCAPES

Detritus ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
Dan Weissman
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Industrial Ecology ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Conveyor Belt ◽  
Scrap Metal ◽  
The Public ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Interdependent Relationships

"As a child, my father would take my brother and I to the local junkyard. We’d watch, amazed, as the compressor squashed our waste into a dumpster, then scavenge through piles of scrap metal and climb gigantic wheeled Caterpillar earthmovers". For better or worse, this archetypal junkyard has given way to massively controlled spaces of waste disposal. Today, continuously increasing demand for material coupled with a culture of disposability, has coincided with heightened policy measures restricting landfill development. We have a crisis of waste management. Meanwhile, as landfilling has grown from a localized phenomenon into a regional set of distribution networks, neo-industrialization is emerging throughout the Great Lakes megaregion, suggesting new opportunities for re-territorialization of wasted landscapes. This project posits that extraction of existing landfill sites for material and energy is inevitable. Landfill Urbanism suggests that the act of landfill mining, a contentious and stinky proposition, has the capacity to foster a localized, robust industrial ecology, while also recasting the public’s relationship with our waste through tactical deployment of architecture and urban space-making. Directed Robotic Trash Extractors (DRT-E) exhume and cultivate material, as the project’s conveyor-belt infrastructure allows individuals, cooperatives and corporations to safely sort and collect based on their needs: a novel approach to accessing our 21st century resource. By allowing complete engagement with the public, Landfill Urbanism fosters productive interdependent relationships between consumers, as well as offering to its users a series of spectacular didactic, practical, and recreational experiences. Where the public of today consumes, the public of Landfill Urbanism harvests.

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