scholarly journals Technological and institutional lock-in and excessive synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use on North American grain and oilseed farms

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 93-101
Author(s):  
Luke Struckman
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Synthetic Nitrogen Fertilizer

This intervention examines commodity grain and oilseed farmers’ over reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizer in North America. Most grain and oilseed farmers apply synthetic nitrogen fertilizer at rates higher than necessary in order to ensure maximum yields. At the same time, high fertilizer application rates lead to increased farm input expenses and generate significant amounts of water pollution and excessive greenhouse gas emissions. A number of low-cost alternative approaches have been developed which can significantly reduce or eliminate the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizer while maintaining farm profitability. But such practices have only seen limited adoption by Canadian and US farmers. This is despite significant production cost savings and environmental benefits. A number technological and institutional factors work in combination to lock farmers into production models requiring large amounts of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. They include crop varieties bred to thrive in artificially high nitrogen soil conditions, conventional tillage practices, restrictive financial arrangements, largely unenforced water quality laws, and non-diverse marketing outlets. These technological and institutional lock-ins are significant barriers to the adoption of alternative crop production practices that are less reliant upon synthetic nitrogen fertilizer.

Sorption of clopyralid, dicamba and MCPA by two soils with conventional and no-till management

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Shang ◽  
M. A. Arshad
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Soil Matrix ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Soil Systems ◽  
The Difference

Sorption is one of the key processes controlling the fate of agrochemicals in soil systems. The sorption of agrochemicals on a soil matrix can be affected by changes in chemical and physical properties caused by different tillage practices. Clopyralid (3,6-dichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid), dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid), and MCPA ((4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid), weakly acidic herbicides, are commonly used to control broadleaf weeds in crop production. The sorption of the three herbicides by surface soils (0–5 cm) from different tillage systems was studied by batch equilibrium. Of the herbicides used, MCPA was sorbed on soil in the greatest quantity, dicamba was the least sorbed, and the sorption was dependent on the pKa values of herbicides. In a sandy loam soil, more herbicide was sorbed under no-tillage (NT) than conventional tillage (CT). However, in a clay soil the difference in herbicide sorption between the two tillage systems was not consistent. The results can be explained in terms of changes in soil pH and organic matter content. The presence of clopyralid and MCPA lowered the sorption of dicamba, and MCPA was more effective than clopyralid in competing for sorption sites with dicamba. Key words: Herbicide sorption, clopyralid, dicamba, MCPA, tillage

Effect of tillage practices and fertilizer management on the growth and nitrogen efficiency in soybean

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swapan Kumar Roy ◽  
Seong Woo Cho ◽  
Soo Jeong Kwon ◽  
Jong Ho Yang ◽  
Yeong Ju Bae ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Height ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Nitrate Concentration ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Nitrogen Efficiency ◽  
Soybean Seeds ◽  
Fertilizer Management ◽  
Tillage Practices

A field experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of tillage systems and fertilizer management on the growth and nutrient uptake in soybean. The plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of conventional tillage (CT) were much higher those observed for no-tillage (NT). The highest plant height (128.47 cm) was observed in CT with chemical fertilizer. The plant nitrate concentration was higher (2.29%) in NT with green manure than chemical fertilization. However, nitrogen increased steadily in all treatments, and the highest quantity of total nitrogen (476.7 Kg/ha) was observed in NT with green manure. The NO3-N content in the soil decreased gradually just after the vegetative stage. Tillage practices and additional fertilizer application was less effective on the uptake of N, P and K in soybean seeds as compared to NT with green manure. The results postulated that NT strategies with fertilizers might influence the growth characteristics and mineral uptake in soybean.

scholarly journals Conservation Tillage and Pesticide Use in the Cornbelt

1999 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith O. Fuglie
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
Agricultural Chemicals ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Application Rates

AbstractAdoption of conservation tillage can lead to substantial environmental benefits from reduced soil erosion. But benefits may be partially offset if adoption increases reliance on agricultural chemicals. Using area study data from the Cornbelt, this study examines factors affecting adoption of no-till and other conservation tillage systems and their effect on chemical use and corn yield. The results find no evidence that herbicide or fertilizer application rates are higher on fields with conservation tillage systems compared with conventional tillage. However, insecticide use may increase somewhat and yield may be lower. Current demographic trends in U.S. agriculture favor continued diffusion of conservation tillage.

scholarly journals INFLUENCE OF BOTANICALS ON SOIL FERTILITY POTENTIALS, SEED GERMINATION AND PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS) VARIETIES UNDER LOW FERTILE CONTINUOUSLY-CROPPED SOIL CONDITIONS

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 400-413
Author(s):  
Babajide Peter ◽  
OpasinaIfeoluwa ◽  
Ajibola Adijat ◽  
Noah ◽  
Oyedele Temitope ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Plant Residues ◽  
Maize Varieties

It is not unreasonable to state that, even before the introduction of organic agriculture, African local farmers have numerous of undocumented environment-friendly, nature-inclined indigenous techniques for boosting soil fertility and enhancing crop yield. However, despite the versatility of indigenous knowledge, setback is always experienced from western science, which tags such knowledge as being non-scientific and not worthy of scholarly engagements. A field experiment was carried out in the year 2013, at the Teaching and Research Farms, LadokeAkintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, to assess the soil fertility and yield promoting potentials of some indigenous plant species’ botanicals used as pre-planting treatments on different maize varieties. It was a 3 by 5 factorial experiment. The treatments introduced were: Three (3) maize varieties (V1 = ACR-DMR-SR-Y, V2 = Local EM-W and V3 = Suwan Solo Yellow and five (5) other treatments (comprising pre-sowing botanical treatments of: Kigeliaafricana only, Glyphea brevis only, combination of Kigeliaafricana and Glyphea brevis only, NPK fertilizer application (as a reference) and the control (treated with ordinary water only). The trial was laid out in Split Plot in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), replicated three times. Data were collected on growth and yield parameters, and the data collected were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Means were compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). All the botanical treatments significantly influenced germination, growth, yield and nutrient uptakes of maize, compared to the control. Either of the botanicals tested (with ordinary basal manure application of the pre-existing plant residues on the field), competed effectively with NPK fertilized plants. Hence, since maize responded better to sole treatments of either Kigeliaafricana or Glyphea brevis extracts, irrespective of varieties than the combined treatment of the two botanicals, any of the maize varieties is therefore recommended as being suitably compatible with either of the sole botanical treatments, in the study area. Thus, this research is reasonable, particularly in the aspects of fertilizer economy, environment-friendliness, organic farming and more profitable crop production in the tropics, where soils are continuously cropped and marginal.

scholarly journals Sorptivity of an Inceptisol under Conventional and Reduced Tillage Practices

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-154
Author(s):  
Achmad Rachman ◽  
Ratri Ariani ◽  
Arief Budiyanto
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Lower Surface ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Water Stable Aggregates ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Tillage Treatment

The amount of water captured and stored in the soil profile until the next precipitation events is of great importance in dryland agro-ecosystem for successful crop production. The soil’s ability to rapidly capture and store water precipitation can be accessed through measuring soil sorptivity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of tillage, i.e. reduced and conventional tillages, on soil sorptivity, and to understand how sorptivity is related to surface soil bulk density and water stable aggregates. The experiment was conducted on a site, which has been continuously planted with corn twice a year for more than 10 years.  The predominant soil in the study site is Typic Haplusteps. Ponded infiltration measurements were used to determine soil sorptivity.  Six positions, 15 meters a part, were chosen within each treatment to measure sorptivity, bulk density and water stable aggregates.  Conventional tillage resulted in higher sorptivity (p<0.05), lower surface bulk density (p<0.05), and significantly lower water stable aggregates (p<0.01) than reduced tillage treatment. Sorptivity was negatively correlated to bulk density and positively correlated to water stable aggregates. Better correlations were found between sorptivity and both bulk density (R2 = 0.67) and water stable aggregates (R2= 0.81) under reduced tillage than under conventional tillage treatment.  Conventional tillage was found to enhance soil sorptivity in comparison to reduced tillage system. Appropriate soil management is important to maintain proper soil porosity in the field for better rainfall harvesting and plant growth especially in the dryland ecosystem. 

scholarly journals Components of Sustainable Production Systems for Vegetables-Conserving soil Moisture

1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald D. Morse
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Planting Dates ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Strip Tillage

Conservation tillage systems offer distinct advantages for crop production under erosive and droughty soil conditions. This report contains 4 years of data on the effects of in situ cereal rye and wheat mulches on yield of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) grown under limited-irrigation, conservation-tillage systems. Three tillage systems were studied: conventional plow-disk (CT); strip tillage (ST) and no-tillage (NT). The summers of 1987 and 1990 were characterized by below-average total rain and periods of prolonged (45 days) of dry weather during head enlargement; cabbage yields were highest in the mulched ST and NT plots. In contrast, the 1988 and 1989 growing seasons were above average in total rain and there were no prolonged periods of dry weather. Cabbage yields were unaffected by tillage treatments in 1988, while, in 1989, yields with NT were 65% and 60% lower than with CT and ST, respectively. A combination of abundant rain, soil compaction, and delayed planting retarded plant growth in the 1989 NT plots, resulting in smaller, less-productive plants than in the tilled ST and CT plots. These data show that: 1) conservation tillage and particularly strip tillage systems are viable options for production of cabbage; and 2) rain-irrigation patterns, site selection, and planting dates are major determinants of the relative advantages of conservation tillage compared to conventional tillage systems.

scholarly journals Climate-Smart Initiatives in Sri Lankan Agriculture Sector: Experience and Perspectives in Solar Powered Water Pumping for Sustainable Crop Production

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bandara Rotawewa ◽  
Erandathie Lokupitiya
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
Water Pumping ◽  
Solar Powered

The availability of low cost and long-lasting water pumping technology is a dream of every farmer. In Sri Lanka, fuel or electricity-powered water pumps are used to irrigate thousands of hectares of field crops, Vegetables, and fruits. Based on the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) survey conducted in the year 2000, there are about 50,000 agro-wells in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. More than 110,000 pumps are used to pump water from those wells. The fuel cost is the biggest burden for the farmers, which results in a high cost of production. The use of solar energy for water pumping is a promising alternative to conventional electricity and fuel-based water pumping systems. Solar-powered water pumping is based on photovoltaic (PV) technology that converts solar energy into electrical energy to run a DC or AC type water pump. This paper presents a comparative analysis of economic and environmental benefits associated with solar water pumping systems against fuel-based water pumping systems.  The analyses were based on practical experience over 50 acres of land cultivated for export-oriented Green Cucumber by 100 members of Tempitiya Farmer Organization in Ampara District of Sri Lanka. It concluded that the solar water pumping system is advantageous compared to a fuel-based pump in terms of economic and environmental aspects.  

scholarly journals Productivity of Cotton as Affected by Tillage Practices, Fertilizer Rates and Intercropping Systems in the Guinea Savannah Agroecology, Ghana

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Philip Ghanney ◽  
Joseph Xorse Kugbe ◽  
Benjamin Kongyeli Badii ◽  
Daniel Asomning Odoom
Keyword(s):  
Seed Yield ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Ecological Zone ◽  
Fertilizer Rate ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Fertilizer Application Rate ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

Extensive areas of bare, compacted, and nutrient-poor soils hinder crop production in the Guinea Savannah Agro-ecological zone of Ghana. Resolving this challenge can be effected by developing sustainable land management strategies that can adequately improve soil nutrient status and enhance crop yield. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the productivity of cotton as affected by tillage practices, fertilizer rates and intercropping systems in the Guinea Savanna agroecology of Ghana, during the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons. Treatments consisted of 2 tillage practices (ploughing and direct seeding [sole cotton]), 2 fertilizer application rates (54-30-30 kg/ha NPK and 0-0-0 kg/ha NPK) and 3 intercropping systems (sole cotton, cowpea intercrop and soybean intercrop) which were laid in split-split plot design with three replications. The tillage practices, fertilizer rates and the intercropping systems were respectively allocated as the main plot, sub-plot and sub-sub plot treatment respectively. Unlike the three-way interaction effect which did not significantly influence variation in growth, yield and yield components of cotton, the two-way interaction  and the single factors were however influential. The combined impact of the NPK fertilizer application rate at 54-30-30 kg/ha and ploughing resulted in higher seed yield of cotton. Comparatively, seed yield of cotton was 35.78% higher when 54-30-30 kg/ha fertilizer rate (1.29 t/ha) was applied compared with 0-0-0 kg/ha fertilizer rate (0.61 t/ha). It is however recommended that resource-poor farmers in the Guinea Savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana adopt to the use of 54-30-30 kg/ha fertilizer rate and ploughing for cotton seed yield maximization.

scholarly journals Polycultural Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.) as Affected by Tillage Practices, Fertilizer Rates and Intercropping Systems in the Guinea Savannah Agroecology, Ghana

2020 ◽  
pp. 10-22
Author(s):  
Philip Ghanney ◽  
Joseph Xorse Kugbe ◽  
Benjamin Kongyeli Badii
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Profit Maximization ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Fertilizer Rate ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

Soil impoverishment remains a major constraint to food crop production in the Guinea Savanna agroecology of Ghana. Most soils identified in this ecology are fragile and deficient in nutrients due to inappropriate management practices. To resolve this challenge, field studies were conducted to assess the polycultural productivity of maize as affected by tillage practices, fertilizer rates and intercropping systems. The study was however conducted in two cropping seasons (2016 and 2017) at Yagaba in the Mamprugu Moaduri District of Northern Ghana. Treatments consisting of 2 tillage practices (direct seeding and ploughing), 2 fertilizer application rates (zero rate [0-0-0 kg/ha NPK] and recommended rate [60-30-30 kg/ha NPK]) and 3 intercropping systems (sole maize, cowpea [Vigna unguiculata L. Walp] and soybean [Glycine max L.]) were factorially examined in three replications using randomized complete block design. Although the maize responded differently to the varied treatments, its exposure to ploughing, 60-30-30 kg/ha fertilizer rate and soybean intercropping system were in general influential in enhancing vegetative growth, yield and yield components. The responsiveness of maize to ploughing and 60-30-30 kg/ha fertilizer rate increased grain yield by 8.60% and 37.68%, respectively than their untreated controls. Regardless of not directly supplying the intercrops with the inorganic fertilizer, nodulation count and effectiveness of cowpea and soybean were improved under ploughed fields treated with 60-30-30 kg/ha fertilizer rate. The combined impact of ploughing, 60-30-30 kg/ha fertilizer rate and soybean integration resulted in higher profit returns. Hence, this study recommends to small-holder farmers in the Guinea Savannah agroecology of Ghana to adapt to the implementation of ploughing, 60-30-30 kg/ha fertilizer rate and soybean intercropping system for yield improvement and profit maximization.

scholarly journals Effects of Tillage and Cropping Sequences On Crop Production And Environmental Benefits in the North China Plain

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Xuan Liu ◽  
Wen-Sheng Liu ◽  
Mu-Yu Yang ◽  
Yu-Xin Wei ◽  
Zhe Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
North China Plain ◽  
North China ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Energy Yield ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
The North ◽  
The North China Plain ◽  
Trade Offs

Abstract The ever-increasing trend of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions is accelerating global warming and threatening food security. Environmental benefits and sustainable food production must be pursued locally and globally. Thus, a field experiment was conducted in 2015 to understand how to balance the trade-offs between agronomic productivity and environment quality in the North China Plain (NCP). Eight treatments consisted of two factors, i.e., (i) tillage practices: rotary tillage (RT) and no-till (NT), and (ii) cropping sequences (CS): maize-wheat-soybean-wheat (MWSW), soybean-wheat-maize-wheat (SWMW), soybean-wheat (SW), and maize-wheat (MW). The economic and environmental benefits were evaluated by multiple indicators including the carbon footprint (CF), maize equivalent economic yield (MEEY), energy yield (EY), carbon sustainability index (CSI), etc. Compared with NT, RT increased the EY and MEEY, but emitted 9.4% higher GHGs. Among different CSs, no significant reduction was observed in CF. The lowest (2.0 Mg CO2-eq ha-1 yr-1) and the highest (5.6 Mg CO2-eq ha-1 yr-1) CF values were observed under MW and SWMW, respectively. However, CSs with soybean enhanced MEEY and the net revenue due to its higher price compared to that of MW. Although the highest CSI was observed under RT-MW, soybean-based crop rotation could offset the decline in CSI under NT when compared to that for RT. These findings suggest that conservation agriculture (CA) could enhance the balance in trade-offs between economic and environmental benefits. Additional research is needed on how to achieve high crop production by establishing a highly efficient conservation agriculture system in the NCP.

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