scholarly journals Closing Yield Gaps through Soil Improvement for Maize Production in Coastal Saline Soil

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jishi Zhang ◽  
Xilong Jiang ◽  
Yanfang Xue ◽  
Zongxin Li ◽  
Botao Yu ◽  
...  

As efforts to close crop production yield gaps increase, the need has emerged to identify cost-effective strategies to reduce yield losses through soil improvement. Maize (Zea mays L.) production in coastal saline soil is limited by high salinity and high pH, and a limited number of soil amendment options are available. We performed a field experiment in 2015 and 2016 to evaluate the ability of combined flue gas desulfurization gypsum and furfural residue application (CA) to reduce the maize yield gap and improve soil properties. We carried out the same amendment treatments (CA and no amendment as a control) under moderate (electrical conductivity (EC1:1) ≈ 4 dS m−1) and high (EC1:1 ≈ 6 dS m−1) salinity levels. Averaged over all salinity levels and years, maize yields increased from 32.6% of yield potential in the control to 44.2% with the CA treatments. Post-harvest CA treatment increased the calcium (Ca2+) and soil organic carbon (SOC) contents while decreasing the sodium (Na+) content and pH in the upper soil layer. Corresponding nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium accumulations in maize were significantly increased, and Na accumulation was decreased in the CA group compared with the control. The economic return associated with CA treatment increased by 215 $ ha−1 at the high salinity level compared with the control, but decreased at the moderate salinity level because of the minor increase in yield. The results of this study provide insight into the reduction of yield gaps by addressing soil constraints.

Nature Food ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan I. Rattalino Edreira ◽  
José F. Andrade ◽  
Kenneth G. Cassman ◽  
Martin K. van Ittersum ◽  
Marloes P. van Loon ◽  
...  

AbstractFood security interventions and policies need reliable estimates of crop production and the scope to enhance production on existing cropland. Here we assess the performance of two widely used ‘top-down’ gridded frameworks (Global Agro-ecological Zones and Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project) versus an alternative ‘bottom-up’ approach (Global Yield Gap Atlas). The Global Yield Gap Atlas estimates extra production potential locally for a number of sites representing major breadbaskets and then upscales the results to larger spatial scales. We find that estimates from top-down frameworks are alarmingly unlikely, with estimated potential production being lower than current farm production at some locations. The consequences of using these coarse estimates to predict food security are illustrated by an example for sub-Saharan Africa, where using different approaches would lead to different prognoses about future cereal self-sufficiency. Our study shows that foresight about food security and associated agriculture research priority setting based on yield potential and yield gaps derived from top-down approaches are subject to a high degree of uncertainty and would benefit from incorporating estimates from bottom-up approaches.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (02) ◽  
pp. 43-57
Author(s):  
AKM Faruk E Azam ◽  
Md Taifur Rahman ◽  
Muhammad Maniruzzaman ◽  
Abdullah Al Zabir ◽  
Md Nizam Uddin

Soil salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses for crop production. A study was conducted to analyze the relationship between salinity level and nutrient contents in some popular vegetables grown in some selected tidal areas of Barguna and Patuakhali districts of Bangladesh. Samples of six different vegetables such as bottle gourd leaf (Lagenaria siceraria), sweet gourd leaf (Cucurbita maxima), radish leaf (Raphanus sativus), bean (Lablab niger), red amaranth (Amaranthus gangeticus) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) were collected along with soils from different locations of the study areas and were analyzed for phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S) contents. Soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were determined. In saline areas, comparatively lower amounts of P, K, Ca, Mg and S were detected in most of the collected vegetables than those of non-saline areas. Conversely, bottle gourd leaf, radish leaf and bean accumulated comparatively higher amount of Ca at higher salinity levels. The uptake of P by bottle gourd leaf and radish leaf, Mg by bottle gourd leaf and red amaranth was also higher in the saline soil. The inconsistent uptake of Ca, Mg and P were found in some vegetables due to the differences of fertilizer application and intercultural operation. The vegetables could tolerate moderate soil salinity (soil EC up to7.9 dSm-1) and might be recommended to grow in the tidal saline areas of Barguna and Patuakhali districts of Bangladesh. The Agriculturists 2018; 16(2) 43-57


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 750-765
Author(s):  
Jie Wang ◽  
Jun Wu ◽  
Jian Lu ◽  
Guodong Yuan

Author(s):  
Rahul Adhikary ◽  
Arunabha Pal ◽  
S.K. De

Background: Water and tillage are the primary input for crop production and increasingly become scarce due to its high demand in agricultural sector. Pitcher irrigation, a traditional system of irrigation alternative to drip method is the effective innovation of localized methods of irrigation. Methods: In this experiment different quality water through pitcher irrigation and tillage types were taken from coastal saline soil. The effects of yield factor, soil chemical properties of saline soil were studied using pitcher irrigation and tillage types. Result: Results indicate that soil physical and chemical properties were all significantly improved by different pitcher irrigation with tillage practices. Results also showed that present experiment favoring better soil conditions, nutrient availabilities towards better growth and yield of crops. Our study suggests that blending of saline with freshwater in presence of mulch tillage can provide the best estimation in the improving soil properties and tomato production above the coastal saline soil.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1065-1069 ◽  
pp. 469-474
Author(s):  
Jun Sun ◽  
Hai Jun Chen ◽  
Si Hai Wang ◽  
Hong Mei Li

Coastal saline soil foundation was consolidated by surcharge preloading method based on the improving constructio technol-ogy. For instance,setting sand gravels separation layer,composite geo-membrane separation layer,improve embankment height, etc. The monitoring results are analyzed including the ground with every soil layer settlement. Combining with the test result of the shear strength of vane shear test and various ion content of soil samples,it is concluded that reinforcement effect of seashore saline soil consolidated by surcharge preloading method,at the same time, exclusion salt and reduce damage of the foundation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
YOKE. I. BENGGU ◽  
ELIAS ST. O. NGURU

Benggu YI, Nguru ESO. 2018. The tolerance level of local sorghum genotypes from Sabu-Raijua and Belu Districts, Indonesia to saline soil. Trop Drylands 2: 1-4. A study aimed to determine the level of tolerance of local sorghum from Sabu-Raijua and Belu Districts to saline soil had been conducted in the experimental field and soil chemistry laboratory of Agriculture Faculty, Universitas Nusa Cendana, from June to October 2016. The study was designed in a factorial treatment design laid out in a completely randomized design with 15 treatments and three replications. The first factor was the variety of sorghum, consisting of three levels: local sorghum from Sabu-Raijua, local sorghum from Belu, Numbu variety. The second factor was the salinity levels of Vertisol, composed of five levels, i.e., 0, 6, 8, 10 and 12 mmos.cm-1. Variables observed were plant height, number of leaves, flowering date, and seed dry weight. Analysis of variance was conducted followed by Tukey test (5%). The result showed that there was an interaction effect between sorghum variety and salinity level of soil on all variables observed. In general, all varieties of sorghum grew normally with soil salinity level ranged from 0 to 8 mmos.cm-1. At salinity level of 8 to 12 mmos.cm-1, seedlings grew for a few weeks then gradually wilted and died. Local sorghum from Belu and Numbu variety were semi or moderate tolerant to salinity while local sorghum from Sabu-Raijua was sensitive.


Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 160
Author(s):  
Alexios A. Alexopoulos ◽  
Anna Assimakopoulou ◽  
Panagiotis Panagopoulos ◽  
Maria Bakea ◽  
Nikolina Vidalis ◽  
...  

Soil salinization is one of the major environmental factors responsible for limited crop production throughout the world. Therefore, there is urgent need to find tolerant/resistant species to exploit in commercial cultivation systems. In this context, the valorization of wild edible greens for human consumption and/or medicinal purposes is gaining more and more interest. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of salinity, e.g., electrical conductivity: 2 mS cm−1 (nutrient solution EC), 6 mS cm−1 and 10 mS cm−1 on plant growth and chemical composition of Reichardia picroides and Taraxacum officinale plants grown in a floating hydroponic system. The results showed that R. picroides is a moderately salt-tolerant species, as the majority of plant growth parameters determined were not negatively affected under the treatment of 6 mS cm−1. On the other hand, the growth parameters of T. officinale plants were severely affected under the same conditions. Moreover, high salinity levels (EC at 10 mS cm−1) impaired the growth of both species. The content of leaves in chlorophylls (a, b and total), carotenoids+xanthophylls and total soluble solids was not significantly affected by the tested EC levels in both species, whereas the titratable acidity increased under the treatment of 10 mS cm−1. Moreover, R. picroides exhibited a more effective adaptation mechanism against saline conditions than T. officinale, as evidenced by the higher accumulation of osmolytes such as proline and the higher shoot K content, probably through a more efficient K/Na selectivity. In conclusion, both species were severely affected by high salinity; however, R. picroides showed promising results regarding its commercial cultivation under moderate salinity levels, especially in regions where resources of high-quality irrigation water are limited.


Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 190
Author(s):  
Fawzy I. Magouz ◽  
Mohamed A. Essa ◽  
Mustafa Matter ◽  
Abdallah Tageldein Mansour ◽  
Ahmed Gaber ◽  
...  

Copepods are one of the most abundant and diverse live food sources for mesopelagic and bathypelagic fishes and crustaceans. They could contribute to the overlap of the transition period from live feed to an artificial weaning diet in marine larvae production. However, the culture conditions still need optimization to provide sufficient production to cover the increasing demand for marine hatcheries. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of different salinity levels (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 ppt) on the population growth, growth rate, and population composition (males, females, copepodite, and nauplii ratio) of the marine copepod, Oithona nana. The experiment continued for 15 days, under laboratory-controlled conditions of temperature (27 ± 1 °C), pH (7.7 ± 0.15), and continuous gentle aeration in 30 L glass aquaria. The copepod culture aquaria were supplemented with a mixture of soybean and yeast (0.5 g 10−6 individual−1 24-h−1) as a feed source. The highest significant population growth and population growth rate of O. nana were achieved with a salinity level of 20 ppt. Regarding population composition, O. nana cultured at the salinity level of 20 ppt recorded the highest significant percentages of copepodite and nauplii. The results concluded that copepod, O. nana, is capable of withstanding abrupt changes in the salinity, but there are limits to their tolerance, with an optimal salinity level of 20 ppt. This salinity level achieved the highest population growth and the highest percentages of copepodite and nauplii of marine Copepoda, O. nana.


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