scholarly journals Comparison of the Effect of Perennial Energy Crops and Agricultural Crops on Weed Flora Diversity

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Feledyn-Szewczyk ◽  
Mariusz Matyka ◽  
Mariola Staniak
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Weed Flora ◽  
Perennial Energy Crops ◽  
The Impact

The cultivation of perennial energy crops is a new agricultural system and so there is limited information available on its effects on biodiversity. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the cultivation of energy crops on the diversity of weed flora and to compare this diversity with that found in crop production systems on arable land. The best habitats for weed flora were created by willow (Salix viminalis), poplar (Populus sp.), false acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia), and perennial grasses (25–30 species), with the exception of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) (20 species). The lowest diversity and abundance of weed flora were observed on plantations of Virginia mallow (Sida hermaphrodita) and Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). Weed communities in energy crops included more perennial species (by 11%), ruderal species (by 10%), and those typical for grassland (by 7%) and forests (by 4%), in comparison to arable land. The plantations of energy plants promoted an increase in the density of the invasive species Solidago gigantea (from 1.9 to 6.3 plants m−2 over six years). The introduction of perennial energy crops into an agricultural landscape causes quantitative and qualitative changes in weed flora communities and, therefore, control of the spread of some non-native and invasive species is needed.

scholarly journals Comparison of the Effect of Perennial Energy Crops and Arable Crops on Earthworm Populations

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feledyn-Szewczyk ◽  
Radzikowski ◽  
Stalenga ◽  
Matyka
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Organic System ◽  
Perennial Energy Crops

The purpose of the study was to compare earthworm communities under winter wheat in different crop production systems on arable land—organic (ORG), integrated (INT), conventional (CON), monoculture (MON)—and under perennial crops cultivated for energy purposes—willow (WIL), Virginia mallow (VIR), and miscanthus (MIS). Earthworm abundance, biomass, and species composition were assessed each spring and autumn in the years 2014–2016 using the method of soil blocks. The mean species number of earthworms was ordered in the following way: ORG > VIR > WIL > CON > INT > MIS > MON. Mean abundance of earthworms decreased in the following order: ORG > WIL > CON > VIR > INT > MIS > MON. There were significantly more species under winter wheat cultivated organically than under the integrated system (p = 0.045), miscanthus (p = 0.039), and wheat monoculture (p = 0.002). Earthworm abundance was significantly higher in the organic system compared to wheat monoculture (p = 0.001) and to miscanthus (p = 0.008). Among the tested energy crops, Virginia mallow created the best habitat for species richness and biomass due to the high amount of crop residues suitable for earthworms and was similar to the organic system. Differences in the composition of earthworm species in the soil under the compared agricultural systems were proven. Energy crops, except miscanthus, have been found to increase earthworm diversity, as they are good crops for landscape diversification.

The impact of agricultural landscape diversification on U.S. crop production

2019 ◽  
Vol 285 ◽  
pp. 106615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily K. Burchfield ◽  
Katherine S. Nelson ◽  
Kaitlyn Spangler
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Impact of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Cultivation on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Food Security of Rural Households within Mundemba Sub-division, Cameroon

2021 ◽  
pp. 32-46
Author(s):  
Usongo P. Ajonina ◽  
Bekumaka B. Okanyene
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Elaeis Guineensis ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Significant Deterioration ◽  
Household Heads ◽  
The Impact

Oil palm cropping is rapidly expanding within Mundemba. Although they have the potential to contribute to employment and economic development, the effect of their rapid expansion on soil properties and food security is largely unknown. The objective of the study is to analyze the trend in the surface area occupied by palms and farmlands between 1980 to 2020, assess the impact of oil palm cultivation on soil properties and food security. Ground Control Points (GCPs) were taken to evaluate land-use changes and soil samples were collected from palm plantations for analysis. Interviews and questionnaires were administered to household heads to gather information on food security. Results revealed that palm plantations experienced a rapid increase from 35.52ha in 1980 to 119,171.49 in 2020. Arable land also shows a progressive increase of 101.39 ha in 1980 to 518.55 ha in 2020. A significant deterioration of soil nutrients status under palm plantations compared to the adjacent farm lands was observed. Palm cultivation has resulted in food security issues in the area due to its lucrative nature and impact on soils properties. To improve food security farmers should be educated on sustainable crop production methods and soil management techniques.

Simulation of soil organic carbon stock and greenhouse gases emission from Perennial Energy Crops cultivation cycle in Italy with ECOSSE model: from establishment to removal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Martani ◽  
Marcello Pilla ◽  
Andrea Ferrarini ◽  
Stefano Amaducci ◽  
Astley Hastings
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Belowground Biomass ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Soc Stock ◽  
Perennial Energy Crops

<p>Soil organic carbon (SOC) is an important carbon pool sensitive to land use change (LUC). There are concerns that at the end of PECs cultivation cycle, the re-conversion of these crops back to arable land could negatively impact the SOC stock. However, a positive effect of reconversion on SOC is possible, due to the high amount of C added to the soil with the disruption of belowground biomass (BGB) during re-conversion process. In this study, C storage potential in SOC and BGB of six perennial energy crops (PECs) was measured in a 11 years old field trial in Italy before its reconversion to arable land. SOC dynamics and greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission were measured in the first two years after the reconversion. SOC and GHG measurements were compared to ECOSSE soil carbon model predictions (run for a LUC from arable land to PECs and re-conversion to arable land) to understand SOC dynamics. After 11 years of cultivation, PECs significantly increased SOC stock respect to arable land. In average, BGB accounted for the 68% of total carbon stocked by PECs. The ECOSSE soil carbon model successfully simulated the dynamics of SOC pool and the GHGs emissions from soil after the re-conversion of PECs.</p>

Weed flora of South Africa 2: power shifts in the veld

Bothalia ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 14 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 961-965 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Wells ◽  
V. M. Engelbregcht ◽  
A. A. Balsinhas ◽  
C. H. Stirton
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Power Shifts ◽  
Species Numbers ◽  
Weed Flora ◽  
Family Level ◽  
The Impact

This paper, the second in a series analysing data from the National Weed List, concentrates on weedy changes that affect the indigenous flora. The incidence of weediness and of threatened species is used as an indication of success or failure of families under prevailing conditions of disturbance. The resulting power shifts between indigenous families and the impact of exotic weeds on the situation are reviewed. Many power shifts are taking place between indigenous species in the veld. Superficially it seems as though a relatively few invasive species are displacing a larger number of threatened species, but evidence from Natal points to more species increasing than decreasing under conditions of over-utilization. Amongst small families power shifts are almost as prevalent and important as at species level. Seventeen small families have over 20% indigenous weed species. Thirty small families have over 20% threatened species, and 21 small families have had their species numbers bolstered by more than  20% by exotic weeds. A very few large and medium-sized families contain over 50% of our weeds and our threatened species. It is mostly temperate (Cape) families that are under pressure relative to more tropical families. This trend is echoed at sub-family level within the Fabaceae.

EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENTIATION OF FERTILIZERS DOSES IN GRAIN FALLOW CROP ROTATION LINK

1970 ◽  
pp. 20-24
Author(s):  
А. I. Ivanov ◽  
Zh. А. Ivanova ◽  
N. А. Tsyganova
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

To assess the efficiency of spatial differentiation of the organic and mineral fertilizer rates in the grain-fallow rotation link the landscape field trial was established in 2013 at the Menkovo experimental station of the Agrophysical Research Institute. The object of study was a historically formed plot of arable land on a mild glacial origin slope of northwestern and western expositions with total area - 53.64 ha (including 47.3 ha of plowed field and 6.34 ha of hayland). The structure of the soil cover consists of a combination of small-contour complexes of light and medium-loamy varieties of soddy gleyed podzolic and gleyic soils. Parent rock is mainly represented by thin and medium loamy and clay sandy moraine underlying by glacial sandy loam on a depth of 75 – 120cm. Soils of medium fertility with plots of high and low fertility are dominated on plowed field. Five key plots of agromicrolandscape (AML) with different geochemical regimes have been selected. The impact of zonal and precision organo-mineral fertilizer system was studied in the "complete fallow – winter wheat – oats plus perennial grasses" crop rotation. Significant differentiation of the soil cover properties of arable land on a mild slope depending on the landscape and environmental conditions was established. The transition to precision agrochemical survey is relevant. The crop rotation link productivity within the five facies of the agricultural landscape varied from 4.98 to 8.68 t/ha in the variant without fertilizer application and from 7.59 to 14.6 t/ha in the variant with fertilizer application. The sufficiency of 1 kg NPK in the fertilizer application variant varied from 1.7 to 5.6 grain units. Sufficient grounds have not been revealed to explain this variability of the indicators only with the relief location and geochemical regime. The optimization of fertilizer rates with regard to specific geochemical regimes (an increase of 12% in AML and a decrease of 14% in AML due to the redistribution of organic and mineral fertilizers) provided increase the sufficiency of 1 kg NPK by 35 %. The methodological basis of such optimization induces a need to develop more detailed scientific argumentation.  

Loss of climatic suitability for durum wheat production

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrej Ceglar ◽  
Andrea Toreti ◽  
Matteo Zampieri ◽  
Conxita Royo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Wheat Production ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Impact

<p>Durum wheat (<em>Triticum durum Desf.</em>) is a minor cereal crop of key importance for making pasta, couscous, puddings, bread, and many other traditional foods, due to its physical and chemical characteristics. Durum wheat currently represents around 8% of the total wheat crop production, with the main cultivation region being concentrated in few suitable areas such as the Mediterranean Basin, the North American Great Plains, and the former USSR. The global demand for high-quality food made of durum wheat has been increasing, which poses a challenge in the face of climate change. The major share of durum wheat production is currently located in semi-arid climates, where the risk of climate extremes such as drought and heat stress will likely substantially increase in the future. </p><p>We develop a global climate suitability model for durum wheat growth based on Support Vector Machines. We use CMIP6 data to assess the impact of climate change on future suitability for growing durum wheat globally. The total share of global arable land, climatically suitable for growing rainfed durum wheat, currently represents roughly 13% of the global arable land. However, climate change may decrease this suitable area of 19% by mid-century and of 48% by the end of the century, considering also the gain of suitable land areas, where durum wheat is not cultivated today. This net loss of suitable areas requires the development and the future adoption of effective and sustainable strategies to stabilize production and adapt the entire food supply chain.</p>

scholarly journals The impact of climate change on food security in South Africa: Current realities and challenges ahead

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tshepo S. Masipa
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
Impact Of Climate Change ◽  
Food Items ◽  
The Impact

This article aims to examine the impact of climate change on food security in South Africa. For this purpose, the article adopted a desktop study approach. Previous studies, reports, surveys and policies on climate change and food (in)security. From this paper’s analysis, climate change presents a high risk to food security in sub-Saharan countries from crop production to food distribution and consumption. In light of this, it is found that climate change, particularly global warming, affects food security through food availability, accessibility, utilisation and affordability. To mitigate these risks, there is a need for an integrated policy approach to protect the arable land against global warming. The argument advanced in this article is that South Africa’s ability to adapt and protect its food items depends on the understanding of risks and the vulnerability of various food items to climate change. However, this poses a challenge in developing countries, including South Africa, because such countries have weak institutions and limited access to technology. Another concern is a wide gap between the cost of adapting and the necessary financial support from the government. There is also a need to invest in technologies that will resist risks on food systems.

scholarly journals Cartographic analysis of the components of the agricultural landscape in the formation of sustainable land management in the context of land degradation Volgograd region

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 47-56
Author(s):  
Elena Denisova
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Slope Angle ◽  
Test Site ◽  
T Test ◽  
Test Plot ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Maximum Slope ◽  
Protective Forest ◽  
The Impact

Modern geoinformation studies of the structural components of the agricultural landscape allow us to quickly assess the state, the degree of preservation and the impact of its individual elements on the environment, and the sustainability of each land use. The preservation of the quality of land resources is the most important task for agricultural production and socio-economic development of the region. Mapping of the test site “Catchment area of the Kasarka River” made it possible to determine the agricultural landscape as a typical one, with an area of 78.55 thousand square meters. ha, with a predominance of arable land—60.3 %, woodlands—11.3 % and protective forest strips of artificial origin—3.6 %. The remaining area—19.39 thousand hectares—is occupied by hayfields and pastures, lands of settlements, roads and allotments. The terrain features a height difference of 86 m and a maximum slope angle of 7.5°. 456 plots of arable land were surveyed, the system of protective forest stands includes 581 forest strips and 21 forest stands, with a total area of 11.75 thousand hectares. 74.3 % of forest strips and massifs are degraded, the share of fallen forest belts was 34.3 %, the effectiveness of the protective action of forest stands is only 67 %, and this does not ensure the integrity of the agricultural landscape. The dependence of the slope angle (X) on the value of the potential washout (M) was determined, which made it possible to calculate the soil washout for each plot of arable land, which varies from 4.8 t/ha to 34.7 t/ha. The total flushing of the soil at the maximum values of the slope angles of the test site will be 823750.3 tons. For individual test plots of arable land, the spread of the calculated value of the average nutrient flushing is also significant from 3.1 t (test plot P67, area 0.943 ha), to 1655.5 t (test plot H142, area 296.86 ha).

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