scholarly journals Irrigated Agriculture on Saline Soils: A Perspective

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1630
Author(s):  
Anna Tedeschi
Keyword(s):  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Soil Salinization ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Secondary Salinization ◽  
Crop Tolerance ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
The Impact

Approximately 6.5% of the world’s arable and marginal soils are either saline or sodic. The situation will worsen due to climate change. Regardless of the cause that generated the salinity, i.e., whether primary or secondary, the effect of soil salinization on plant growth and on living organisms will be severe. To mitigate such impacts, several studies have been carried out over the years with the aim of providing technical or management solutions to deal with the multiple consequences of soil salinity. A review by Cuevas et al. proposes a new approach looking for solutions through soil-improving cropping systems (SICSs). The SICSs have to prevent, mitigate or remediate the negative impacts of soil salinization. The efforts of Cuevas et al. were to organize the analyses by focusing on SICSs that would: (1) prevent or halt secondary salinization; (2) cope with salinization; (3) reverse salinization. The study is concluded by an effort to assess the impacts of each SICS and of the combined SICSs application in terms of agronomic, economic, and environmental aspects. Both economic constraints and the collective willingness of stakeholders to innovate are taken into in the evaluation of feasibility. It is important to put into practice and/or identify a number of sustainable actions, at low environmental input, to improve crop tolerance to water deficit and high salinity as well as to preserve biodiversity and mitigate the impact of climate changes. At the same time, these actions would ensure crop productivity in the area, thus guaranteeing environment and social benefits to the local population, and thus weakening the motivation to abandon the land. The aim of this editorial is to propose a broader perspective on the review by Cuevas et al. “A Review of Soil-Improving Cropping Systems for Soil Salinization”. In the review, the authors go through several soil-improving cropping systems (SICSs) by considering them separately or in combination with the aim to provide guidelines towards resolving, counteracting or mitigating soil salinity. I tried to highlight the strengths of the study by Cuevas et al., while suggesting related topics that may deserve further attention by the community.

scholarly journals The Pitfalls of Relating Weeds, Herbicide Use, and Crop Yield: Don't Fall Into the Trap! A Critical Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Colbach ◽  
Sandrine Petit ◽  
Bruno Chauvel ◽  
Violaine Deytieux ◽  
Martin Lechenet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Arable Farming ◽  
Herbicide Use ◽  
The Impact

The growing recognition of the environmental and health issues associated to pesticide use requires to investigate how to manage weeds with less or no herbicides in arable farming while maintaining crop productivity. The questions of weed harmfulness, herbicide efficacy, the effects of herbicide use on crop yields, and the effect of reducing herbicides on crop production have been addressed over the years but results and interpretations often appear contradictory. In this paper, we critically analyze studies that have focused on the herbicide use, weeds and crop yield nexus. We identified many inconsistencies in the published results and demonstrate that these often stem from differences in the methodologies used and in the choice of the conceptual model that links the three items. Our main findings are: (1) although our review confirms that herbicide reduction increases weed infestation if not compensated by other cultural techniques, there are many shortcomings in the different methods used to assess the impact of weeds on crop production; (2) Reducing herbicide use rarely results in increased crop yield loss due to weeds if farmers compensate low herbicide use by other efficient cultural practices; (3) There is a need for comprehensive studies describing the effect of cropping systems on crop production that explicitly include weeds and disentangle the impact of herbicides from the effect of other practices on weeds and on crop production. We propose a framework that presents all the links and feed-backs that must be considered when analyzing the herbicide-weed-crop yield nexus. We then provide a number of methodological recommendations for future studies. We conclude that, since weeds are causing yield loss, reduced herbicide use and maintained crop productivity necessarily requires a redesign of cropping systems. These new systems should include both agronomic and biodiversity-based levers acting in concert to deliver sustainable weed management.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Some Rhodes Grass (Chloris gayana) Genotypes for Their Salt Tolerance, Biomass Yield and Nutrient Composition

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashenafi Worku Daba ◽  
Asad Sarwar Qureshi ◽  
Bethel Nekir Nisaren
Keyword(s):  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Soil Salinization ◽  
The Other ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Salinity Levels ◽  
Chloris Gayana ◽  
The Impact

The livestock productivity in Ethiopia is seriously constrained by the shortage of fodder due to increasing soil salinization. Therefore, restoration of salt-affected lands into productive soils through salt-tolerant forages and improved irrigation and crop management practices is crucial for enhancing the productivity of the livestock sector in Ethiopia. In this three-year study, pot trials were conducted to evaluate the impact of five different soil salinity levels (i.e., 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 dS m−1) on plant growth, biomass production, and nutrient quality attributes of three Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) genotypes (ILRI-6633, ILRI-7384, CV-massaba). Increasing soil salinity negatively affected germination percentage (GP) and mean germination time (MGT) of all genotypes. For all salinity levels, the highest GP was observed for ILRI-6633 and the lowest for CV-massaba. Plant height and chlorophyll content for ILRI-6633 was higher than the other two genotypes. The crude protein (CP) content was higher in low dry matter-producing genotype (ILRI-7384). The performance of ILRI-6633 at all salinity levels was superior to the other two genotypes. CV-massaba genotype performed better under low to medium soil salinity conditions. Therefore, ILRI-6633 and CV-massaba genotypes have excellent potential to increase forage production in salt-affected areas of Ethiopia.

scholarly journals Soil Salinity and Sodicity in Drylands: A Review of Causes, Effects, Monitoring, and Restoration Measures

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilan Stavi ◽  
Niels Thevs ◽  
Simone Priori
Keyword(s):  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Soil Salinization ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Saline Soils ◽  
Chemical Restoration ◽  
Irrigation Technologies ◽  
Over Time

Soil salinization and sodification are common processes that particularly characterize drylands. These processes can be attributed either to natural conditions or anthropogenic activities. While natural causes include factors such as climate, lithology, topography, and pedology, human causes are mostly related to agricultural land-use, and specifically, to irrigated agriculture. The objective of this study was to thoroughly review this topic, while highlighting the major challenges and related opportunities. Over time, the extent of saline, sodic, and saline-sodic croplands has increased, resulting in accelerated land degradation and desertification, decreased agricultural productivity, and consequently jeopardizing environmental and food security. Mapping and monitoring saline soils is an important management tool, aimed at determining the extent and severity of salinization processes. Recent developments in advanced remote sensing methods have improved the efficacy of mapping and monitoring saline soils. Knowledge on prevention, mitigation, and recovery of soil salinity and sodicity has substantially grown over time. This knowledge includes advanced measures for salt flushing and leaching, water-saving irrigation technologies, precision fertilizer systems, chemical restoration, organic and microbial remediation, and phytoremediation of affected lands. Of a particular interest is the development of forestry-related means, with afforestation, reforestation, agroforestry, and silvopasture practices for the recovery of salt-affected soils. The forecasted expansion of drylands and aggravated drying of existing drylands due to climatic change emphasize the importance of this topic.

Diffusive limitation to photosynthesis and plant-microbe N competition dominate the urban lawn response to secondary salinization

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Liberati ◽  
Ramilla Brykova ◽  
Maria Cristina Moscatelli ◽  
Stefano Moscatello ◽  
Emanuele Pallozzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Salinization ◽  
Leaf Mass Per Area ◽  
Salinity Treatment ◽  
Mesophyll Conductance ◽  
N Content ◽  
Secondary Salinization ◽  
Photosynthetic Rates ◽  
Leaf N Content ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Leaf N

<p>Release of de-icing agents is the main cause of increasing soil salinization in urban and rural areas.  Grasses are the dominant vegetation in urban lawns and are exposed to different rates of soil salinization depending on the distance to the paved salt-affected surfaces. The capacity of these ecosystems to maintain C sequestration and nutrient cycling functioning depends on the sensitivity to salinization of the main players: primary producers and their interaction with microbial community.</p><p>In this mesocosm study we aimed to evaluating the impact of soil secondary salinization rates on the functioning of <em>Lolium perenne</em>. Salinization treatments were applied for two months in spring, irrigating the mesocosms with the commonly used de-icing agent NaCl at two concentration, 30 mM (low salinity treatment) and 90 mM (moderate salinity treatment). The leaf physiological  responses of Lolium were assessed monitoring photosynthetic rates (A), stomatal conductance (g<sub>s</sub>)  mesophyll conductance (g<sub>m</sub>), carboxylation capacity (V<sub>cmax</sub>). Quantitative limitation analysis (QLA) was applied to calculate the relative contribution of diffusive and biochemical limitation to photosynthesis under salinization. Productivity was estimated by regular mowing of plants to 4cm height. Finally, plants were harvested and analyzed on leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf N content and <sup>15</sup>N isotope composition. Rhizosphere soil was sampled and analyzed on the activity of enzymes involved in the cycling of C, N, S and P. </p><p>Salinity increased LMA and leaf N, reducing  Lolium aboveground productivity. Photosynthetic rates were almost halved under both salinity treatments. QLA shows that photosynthesis was mainly limited by g<sub>m</sub>, limitation accounting for 68% and 54% of the total limitation in 30mM and 90mM, respectively. g<sub>s</sub> reduction significantly limited photosynthesis only in 90 mM (32% of total limitation), while biochemical limitations (due to a reduction in V<sub>cmax</sub>) remained below 20% of the total limitation in both treatments.</p><p>Mesophyll conductance to CO<sub>2 </sub>depends on leaf anatomical and biochemical traits and is usually negatively related to LMA. The increased LMA observed under salinity treatments suggests that changes in the leaf structure (like increased cell wall thickness) could be responsible for most of the A (and consequently productivity) reduction.  On the other hand, the increased leaf N content is in agreement with the lack of significant reduction in V<sub>cmax</sub>. Accumulation of N compounds in leaves in response to salinization was accompanied by a decline in soil extracellular enzymes involved in N and other cycles. Over-competing of the microbial pool in access to nutrients by vegetation could be suggested in conditions of salinization. Because the belowground biomass was not affected, decline in C losses with salinization could be hypothesize which should balance the shortage in C inputs.     </p><p>In conclusion, salinization mainly limited A through g<sub>m</sub> limitation, probably associated  to the increased LMA. At the same time, altering the capacity of the microbial pool to compete for N,  it increased leaf N, possibly reducing  the impact of biochemical limitation on A and avoiding a further A and productivity decline.</p><p>Experiment was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No.17-77-20046.</p>

scholarly journals The threat of saline lands, for example, in the Republic of Uzbekistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 284 ◽  
pp. 02002
Author(s):  
Sanobar Dustnazarova ◽  
Azizbek Khasanov ◽  
Zulfiya Khafizova ◽  
Kakhromonjon Davronov
Keyword(s):  
Soil Salinization ◽  
Saline Soils ◽  
Secondary Salinization ◽  
Relevant Today ◽  
Current State ◽  
Natural Factors ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Quality Of Irrigation Water

Salinization of land poses a serious threat and harms all industries, including the environment, agriculture, economy, and so on. In this regard, this topic is very relevant today. The object of the research is the agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The aim of the study is the impact of saline soils on agriculture in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The current state of reclamation systems, the processes of soil salinization and the quality of irrigation water, as well as the features of the manifestation of secondary salinization on irrigated lands are analyzed. Analysis, observation, grouping and many other methods were chosen as research methods. In the conclusions, proposals were made to reduce the amount of saline soils. Greater efficiency of reclamation measures can be ensured by the complex consideration of natural factors in the design and the complex impact on them during the operation of reclaimed lands.

scholarly journals Economics- and policy-driven organic carbon input enhancement dominates soil organic carbon accumulation in Chinese croplands

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (16) ◽  
pp. 4045-4050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongcun Zhao ◽  
Meiyan Wang ◽  
Shuijin Hu ◽  
Xudong Zhang ◽  
Zhu Ouyang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Extensive Study ◽  
Soil Survey ◽  
Carbon Accumulation ◽  
The Impact

China’s croplands have experienced drastic changes in management practices, such as fertilization, tillage, and residue treatments, since the 1980s. There is an ongoing debate about the impact of these changes on soil organic carbon (SOC) and its implications. Here we report results from an extensive study that provided direct evidence of cropland SOC sequestration in China. Based on the soil sampling locations recorded by the Second National Soil Survey of China in 1980, we collected 4,060 soil samples in 2011 from 58 counties that represent the typical cropping systems across China. Our results showed that across the country, the average SOC stock in the topsoil (0–20 cm) increased from 28.6 Mg C ha−1 in 1980 to 32.9 Mg C ha−1 in 2011, representing a net increase of 140 kg C ha−1 year−1. However, the SOC change differed among the major agricultural regions: SOC increased in all major agronomic regions except in Northeast China. The SOC sequestration was largely attributed to increased organic inputs driven by economics and policy: while higher root biomass resulting from enhanced crop productivity by chemical fertilizers predominated before 2000, higher residue inputs following the large-scale implementation of crop straw/stover return policy took over thereafter. The SOC change was negatively related to N inputs in East China, suggesting that the excessive N inputs, plus the shallowness of plow layers, may constrain the future C sequestration in Chinese croplands. Our results indicate that cropland SOC sequestration can be achieved through effectively manipulating economic and policy incentives to farmers.

scholarly journals Assessing the impact of shallow subsurface pipe drainage on soil salinity and crop yield in arid zone

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12622
Author(s):  
Haichang Yang ◽  
Weiye Chen ◽  
Yun Chen ◽  
Fenghua Zhang ◽  
Xiaohu Yang
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Soil Salinization ◽  
Water Salinity ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Shallow Subsurface ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Soil salinization is one of the key problems of sustainable development of arid agricultural land. Exploring the use of shallow subsurface pipe drainage to improve soil salinization. Methods This study investigates the desalinization effect of shallow subsurface pipe drainage, in combination with drip irrigation under plastic mulch, in an arid region in China. Field data collection was conducted in 2010. Soil salinity at a range of soil depths, water EC and pH of subsurface pipe drainage and crop yield during crop growth stages in salinized farmlands were measured. Results and Conclusion The results show that soil salinity was reduced significantly on mildly (1–3 dS m−1) and moderately (3–6 dS m−1) salinized farmlands. The highest desalinization rate of mildly and moderately salinized soils was 51% and 91% respectively. The desalinization in upper soil layers, to a depth of 60 cm, was more significant than that in lower soil layers. Drainage water salinity was much higher than irrigation water salinity. Crop yield on mildly and moderately salinized land increased about 25% and 50%, respectively. This indicates that the combination of drip irrigation and shallow subsurface pipe drainage on farmlands is potential feasible to desalt farmlands and to improve crop yield. The study has led to a desalinization of 330 ha year−1 in Xinjiang.

scholarly journals A Review of Soil-Improving Cropping Systems for Soil Salinization

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julián Cuevas ◽  
Ioannis N. Daliakopoulos ◽  
Fernando del Moral ◽  
Juan J. Hueso ◽  
Ioannis K. Tsanis
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Soil Salinization ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Negative Effect

A major challenge of the Sustainable Development Goals linked to Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition, under the current global crop production paradigm, is that increasing crop yields often have negative environmental impacts. It is therefore urgent to develop and adopt optimal soil-improving cropping systems (SICS) that can allow us to decouple these system parameters. Soil salinization is a major environmental hazard that limits agricultural potential and is closely linked to agricultural mismanagement and water resources overexploitation, especially in arid climates. Here we review literature seeking to ameliorate the negative effect of soil salinization on crop productivity and conduct a global meta-analysis of 128 paired soil quality and yield observations from 30 studies. In this regard, we compared the effectivity of different SICS that aim to cope with soil salinization across 11 countries, in order to reveal those that are the most promising. The analysis shows that besides case-specific optimization of irrigation and drainage management, combinations of soil amendments, conditioners, and residue management can contribute to significant reductions of soil salinity while significantly increasing crop yields. These results highlight that conservation agriculture can also achieve the higher yields required for upscaling and sustaining crop production.

scholarly journals A REVIEW: IMPACT OF SOIL SALINITY ON ECOLOGICAL, AGRICULTURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONCERNS

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (07) ◽  
pp. 979-986
Author(s):  
Pooja N. Thaker ◽  
◽  
Nayana Brahmbhatt ◽  
Karishma Shah ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Soil Salinization ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Biodiversity Changes

In recent years, salinization of soil is one of the challenging environmental concerns occurring all over the world. The effects of concentration of salt can be detected in both natural (primary) as well as man-made (secondary) environment. This is due to massive urbanization and industrialization in coastal regions, Soil salinity may lead to degradative changes in the composition of natural water resources, loss of fertile soil, loss of biodiversity, changes in local climatic conditions which in turn affects many aspects like, increasing salinization (salt affected soil) of lands converted in to non-productive conditions which significantly affects human life and posing major interruption to the economic development of farmers and their economy in the country. Furthermore, the overview of salinization and its effects on ecology, agriculture and economic growth and development is presented in this paper. Purpose of this review paper represented is according to most recent literature and refines knowledge on consistent research efforts for the types of soil salinity, problems of soil salinization, effect on plant growth and management strategies in agriculture to mitigate soil conditions in the salinity affected areas as well as rise in crop productivity and suggests future perspectives for on-going salinity research in the country.

scholarly journals Winter Wheat Row Spacing and Alternative Crop Effects on Relay-Intercrop, Double-Crop, and Wheat Yields

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah Sandler ◽  
Kelly A. Nelson ◽  
Christopher Dudenhoeffer
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Row Spacing ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Alternative Crops ◽  
The Impact

In Missouri as well as much of the Midwest, the most popular double-cropping system was winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) followed by soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr). These two crops can also be used in an intercrop system, but optimal row spacing was important to increase crop productivity. Research was conducted to evaluate (1) winter wheat inter- and double-crop production systems, using a variety of alternative crops, and (2) the impact of different wheat row spacings on intercrop establishment and yields within the various cropping systems. Field research was conducted during droughts in 2012 and 2013. Spacing of wheat rows impacted wheat yields by 150 kg ha−1, as well as yields of the alternative crops. Narrower row spacings (150 kg ha−1) and the double-crop system (575 kg ha−1) increased yield due to the lack of interference for resources with wheat in 2013. Land equivalent ratio (LER) values determining productivity of intercrop systems of 19 and 38 cm row showed an advantage for alternative crops in 2013, but not 2012. This signified that farmers in Northeast Missouri could potentially boost yield potential for a given field and produce additional forage or green manure yields in a year with less severe drought.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document