scholarly journals Soil Properties and Soil Management Practices in Commercial Organic and Conventional Vegetable Farms in Kathmandu Valley

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
Gautam Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Kathmandu Valley ◽  
Organic Farm ◽  
Organic Farmers ◽  
Conventional Farm

Soil management practices determine the long term productivity of soil. A comparative study of commercial organic and conventional vegetable farming systems was carried out to find out impact of different farming systems on soil properties. This study was executed in Kathmandu valley (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts) among 30 organic and 30 conventional commercial vegetable farmers. Semi-structured questionnaire survey and soil physical and chemical analysis were performed to gather the required information. Results showed that bulk soil pH was significantly higher in the organic field than in the conventional field. Soil organic matter and available soil potassium were significantly higher in amount in the organic farm than in the conventional farm. Total soil nitrogen content and available soil nitrogen content were significantly higher in amount in the conventional farm than in the organic farm. Conventional farmers were applied significantly higher amount of chicken manure and biozyme as compared to organic farmers. Organic farmers applied significantly higher amount of urban compost and bone meal as compared to conventional farmers.  Farmers perceived productivity was increasing in trend in the organic farms whereas it was declining in the conventional farms.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v15i1.12005 Nepal Journal of Science and TechnologyVol. 15, No.1 (2014) 13-22

scholarly journals Economic analysis of commercial organic and conventional vegetable farming in Kathmandu Valley

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 58-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal Shrestha ◽  
Gautam Shrestha ◽  
Pradyumna R Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Kathmandu Valley ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Output Price ◽  
Organic Farm ◽  
Vegetable Farming ◽  
Vegetable Farm ◽  
Conventional Farm

Economics of a farming system is the key determinant of its sustainability. Organic and conventional farming systems are two distinct types of production systems having contrasting farm management practices and output price as well. Furthermore, organic farming system is promoted for environmental protection and conventional farming system is cursed for the environmental degradation. The present study was conducted to compare the economics of organic and conventional vegetable production in Kathmandu valley. Thirty farmers each involved in commercial organic and conventional vegetable farming were selected randomly for the study. Data were collected through survey method using semi-structured questionnaire. The estimated per ropani per year cost of cultivation of vegetables in the organic farm (NPR 69,170) was lesser than in conventional farm (NPR 1,00,562). The gross return per ropani in a year in the organic vegetable farm (NPR 1,01,536) was significantly lesser than from conventional farms (NPR 1,35,747). Benefit to cost ratio (BCR) was higher in organic farm (1.47:1) in comparison to conventional farm (1.35:1). This study revealed that organic vegetable farming was more profitable than conventional vegetable farming in Kathmandu valley. To expand commercial agriculture: quality inputs, input and output price stability, co-operative or corporative marketing should be promoted.

scholarly journals Cropping system effects on soil quality in the Great Plains: Synthesis from a regional project

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.J. Wienhold ◽  
J.L. Pikul ◽  
M.A. Liebig ◽  
M.M. Mikha ◽  
G.E. Varvel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Soil Functions ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Environmental Function

AbstractSoils perform a number of essential functions affecting management goals. Soil functions were assessed by measuring physical, chemical, and biological properties in a regional assessment of conventional (CON) and alternative (ALT) management practices at eight sites within the Great Plains. The results, reported in accompanying papers, provide excellent data for assessing how management practices collectively affect agronomic and environmental soil functions that benefit both farmers and society. Our objective was to use the regional data as an input for two new assessment tools to evaluate their potential and sensitivity for detecting differences (aggradation or degradation) in management systems. The soil management assessment framework (SMAF) and the agro-ecosystem performance assessment tool (AEPAT) were used to score individual soil properties at each location relative to expected conditions based on inherent soil-forming factors and to compute index values that provide an overall assessment of the agronomic and environmental impact of the CON and ALT practices. SMAF index values were positively correlated with grain yield (an agronomic function) and total organic matter (an agronomic and environmental function). They were negatively correlated with soil nitrate concentration at harvest (an indicator of environmental function). There was general agreement between the two assessment tools when used to compare management practices. Users can measure a small number of soil properties and use one of these tools to easily assess the effectiveness of soil management practices. A higher score in either tool identifies more environmentally and agronomically sustainable management. Temporal variability in measured indicators makes dynamic assessments of management practices essential. Water-filled pore space, aggregate stability, particulate organic matter, and microbial biomass were sensitive to management and should be included in studies aimed at improving soil management. Reductions in both tillage and fallow combined with crop rotation has resulted in improved soil function (e.g., nutrient cycling, organic C content, and productivity) throughout the Great Plains.

scholarly journals Organic Soils Control Beetle Survival While Competitors Limit Aphid Population Growth

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1323-1330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol L Krey ◽  
Carmen K Blubaugh ◽  
James T Van Leuven ◽  
William E Snyder
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Solanum Tuberosum L ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Colony Growth ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Potato Plants ◽  
Mediated Effects ◽  
Herbivore Species

Abstract Soil chemistry and microbial diversity can impact the vigor and nutritive qualities of plants, as well as plants’ ability to deploy anti-herbivore defenses. Soil qualities often vary dramatically on organic versus conventional farms, reflecting the many differences in soil management practices between these farming systems. We examined soil-mediated effects on herbivore performance by growing potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) in soils collected from organic or conventional commercial farm fields, and then exposing these plants to herbivory by green peach aphids (Myzus persicae Sulzer, Hemiptera: Aphididae) and/or Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Responses of the two potato pests varied dramatically. Survivorship of Colorado potato beetles was almost 3× higher on plants grown in organic than in conventional soils, but was unaffected by the presence of aphids. In contrast, aphid colony growth was twice as rapid when aphids were reared alone rather than with Colorado potato beetles, but was unaffected by soil type. We saw no obvious differences in soil nutrients when comparing organic and conventional soils. However, we saw a higher diversity of bacteria in organic soils, and potato plants grown in this soil had a lower carbon concentration in foliar tissue. In summary, the herbivore species differed in their susceptibility to soil- versus competitor-mediated effects, and these differences may be driven by microbe-mediated changes in host plant quality. Our results suggest that soil-mediated effects on pest growth can depend on herbivore species and community composition, and that soil management strategies that promote plant health may also increase host quality for pests.

scholarly journals Simulating farm income under the current soil management regime in the mid-hills of Nepal

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 27-34
Author(s):  
Gopal Datt Bhatta ◽  
Nilhari Neupane
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Strategy Formulation ◽  
Soil Quality Index ◽  
Management Regime ◽  
Spatial Environment

Farmers in the mid-hills of Nepal follow diverse farming systems. The peri-urban area of this region, where population density is higher, faces several problems in farming. While hills suffer from erosion because they are erodible, the peri-urban areas face the problem of decline in factor productivity, particularly in intensively cultivated farmlands. The present study is concerned with simulating farm income on a regional scale based on soil management practices. Spatial explicit simulation shows that the loss of farm income due to degradation is substantially higher in hills while it is lower in valley bottoms. Strategy formulation and testing in the spatial environment indicates that Geographic Information System is an appropriate methodological tool for simulating the consequences of particular interventions. Key words: Mid hills, Nepal, spatial modeling, soil quality index, farm income DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v6i8.3243 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.6 Issue 8 2010 pp.27-34

scholarly journals Comparing organic versus conventional soil management on soil respiration

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bence Mátyás ◽  
Maritza Elizabeth Chiluisa Andrade ◽  
Nora Carmen Yandun Chida ◽  
Carina Maribel Taipe Velasco ◽  
Denisse Estefania Gavilanes Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Organic Material ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Co2 Production ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Organic Farmers

Soil management has great potential to affect soil respiration. In this study, we investigated the effects of organic versus conventional soil management on soil respiration.  We measured the main soil physical-chemical properties from conventional and organic managed soil in Ecuador. Soil respiration was determined using alkaline absorption according to Witkamp.  Soil properties such as organic matter, nitrogen, and humidity, were comparable between conventional and organic soils in the present study, and in a further analysis there was no statically significant correlation with soil respiration. Therefore, even though organic farmers tend to apply more organic material to their fields, but this did not result in a significantly higher CO2 production in their soils in the present study.

scholarly journals Impact of soil properties on the soil methane flux response to biochar addition: a meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1202-1209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiwei Cong ◽  
Jun Meng ◽  
Samantha C. Ying
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Methane Flux ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Flux Response

In an effort to optimize soil management practices that can help mitigate terrestrial carbon emissions, biochar has been applied to a wide range of soil environments to examine its effect on soil greenhouse gas emissions.

Effects of termite sheetings on soil properties under two contrasting soil management practices

Pedobiologia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 150573
Author(s):  
J. Lejoly ◽  
J.-T. Cornelis ◽  
E. Van Ranst ◽  
E. Jansegers ◽  
C. Tarpin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Management

Effects of soil management and plant breeding on insect herbivore growth and consumption

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Emily Rose Althoff
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Insect Herbivory ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Insect Herbivore ◽  
Foliar Nitrogen ◽  
No Till ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Soybean Looper

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] The benefits of sustainable soil management practices on soil health have been well documented for over a century. In 2017, 42,087,306 ha of farm land were cultivated with no-till practices, which reduce soil erosion. Crop rotation can also improve soil health by increasing soil nitrogen content. As nitrogen is a limiting factor to plant and insect growth, changes in soil nitrogen will likely affect plant-insect interactions. Furthermore, far fewer studies have examined long-term effects of soil management on insect communities. We examine the effects of longterm soil management practices (27 years) on soil nitrogen availability, foliar nitrogen content and secondary metabolites, and insect herbivory. We compare leaf-chewing insect growth and consumption rates feeding on tilled continuous, no-till continuous, tilled rotated, and no-till rotated plots containing soybean (Glycine max). While piercing-sucking insects were fed corn (Zea mays) kernels from rotated no-till or rotated tilled plots or soybean pods from rotated no-till or continuous till plots. Piercing-sucking insects experienced higher growth on continuous tilled corn in comparison to the soybean treatments, likely due to the senescence of the soybean pods. In 2018, soybean looper (Chrysodeixis includens Walker) feeding on continuously planted, tilled soybean had greater relative growth rates than those feeding on rotated, no-till soybean. However, in 2019, soybean looper consumption was higher on the rotated, no-till treatment than on continuous till soybean. Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) consumption and growth did not differ among treatments in both years. While percent soil nitrogen levels differed, our bioassay results led us to conclude that management practices that promote soil health such as no-tillage and crop rotation do not greatly influence insect herbivory. Additionally, for thousands of years, humans have artificially selected for yield in food crops. In recent years, this has become more critical as arable land has decreased while human populations have increased. Increase in yield influences plant physiology, photosynthetic rates, and nitrogen uptake. As plant growth has been selected for, plant defenses may have decreased, leading to potential increases in insect herbivore growth, consumption, efficiency of conversion of digested food, and efficiency of conversion of ingested food. We conducted bioassays feeding soybean looper (Chrysodeixis includens Walker) larvae leaves from 19 soybean cultivars released over the last 86 years. Larval growth was not affected by soybean release year, but consumption decreased on recent varieties. Efficiency of conversion of digested food and efficiency of conversion of ingested food also increased on more recent varieties, perhaps, because of differences in foliar nitrogen or terpenoids. This is important as selection for yield has not necessarily resulted in selection for higher insecticide application.

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