scholarly journals Competition for Light Affects Alfalfa Biomass Production More Than Its Nutritive Value in an Olive-Based Alley-Cropping System

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Alberto Mantino ◽  
Cristiano Tozzini ◽  
Enrico Bonari ◽  
Marcello Mele ◽  
Giorgio Ragaglini
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
Olive Orchard ◽  
Competition For Light ◽  
Perennial Legumes

Cropping among trees with perennial legumes is one option for increasing agro-ecosystem services, such as improving the nitrogen supply and increasing soil protection by herbaceous vegetation. Moreover, cropping under the canopy of olive trees should diversify the farm production, compared to the traditional fallow management. Among perennial legumes, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) produces abundant biomass under Mediterranean rainfed condition. Based on this, a two-year field experiment was implemented in southern Tuscany in a rainfed olive orchard to test the competition for light effects on alfalfa biomass production and nutritive value. Light availability under the tree canopy was measured by hemispherical photos. In both years, the alfalfa yield of under-canopy varied according to the tree presence. A significant relationship between biomass production and light availability was recorded. The nutritive value of under-canopy alfalfa was similar to that of the open-grown alfalfa. However, same significant differences did however occur, between shaded and sole crop. When differences were found, under-canopy herbage was characterised by a higher content of crude protein and a lower content of fibre with respect to open-grown. In a hilly silvoarable olive orchard, alfalfa biomass accumulation was reduced mainly due to scarce light availability, therefore tree management such as pruning and plantation layout can enhance the herbage productivity. Studying shade tolerant forage legumes in order to enhance the yield and nutritive value of herbage production in rainfed agroforestry systems is essential.

scholarly journals Effect of Tree Presence and Soil Characteristics on Soybean Yield and Quality in an Innovative Alley-Cropping System

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Mantino ◽  
Iride Volpi ◽  
Martina Micci ◽  
Giovanni Pecchioni ◽  
Simona Bosco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
Soybean Yield ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Yield And Quality

Agroforestry is indicated as a farming practice suited to enhance ecosystem services generated by cropping systems. However, farmers are often reluctant to implement agroforestry systems due to the potential yield loss of crops. In a field trial, soybean was intercropped with poplar short-rotation-coppice rows in an alley-cropping system with 13.5 m wide alleys, in order to assess the effect of tree presence on soybean yield and quality. The light availability (LA) was significantly affected by the tree presence, with an increasing effect along the season due to tree growth, being at its lowest in the tree–crop interface positions (West and East). Significant effects of the tree-distance and LA were registered on soybean yield, with the highest reduction of soybean yield in the West (−78%) and East (−35%) positions. Crude fat content in soybean grain did not vary among positions in the alley, while crude protein content was the lowest in the most shaded position (West −8% than the highest value). The assessment of spatial variability among plots of measured soil characteristics highlighted no significant effect of pedological conditions upon soybean yield. Thus, in our study, the LA effect was more important than soil characteristics in determining a detrimental effect of competition for resources between soybean and poplar. Conversely, soybean quality was affected by soil characteristics, since crude fat significantly correlated with soil nutrients, pH, soil organic matter and soil texture.

scholarly journals Carbon and nitrogen accumulation within four black walnut alley cropping sites across Missouri and Arkansas, USA

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 1625-1638
Author(s):  
Andrew L. Thomas ◽  
Robert Kallenbach ◽  
Thomas J. Sauer ◽  
David K. Brauer ◽  
David M. Burner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Black Walnut ◽  
Allometric Equations ◽  
Nitrogen Accumulation ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Woody Tissues

Abstract Agroforestry systems that integrate useful long-lived trees have been recognized for their potential in mitigating the accumulation of atmospheric fossil fuel-derived carbon (C). Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is frequently planted and cultivated in North America for its valuable lumber and edible nuts, and is highly amenable to the integration of understory crops or livestock in agroforestry systems. However, little is known about C content in black walnut trees, including the amounts of C assimilated into lignocellulosic tissues within different tree compartments. Therefore, allometric equations for above- and below-ground compartments of 10-year-old black walnut trees across diverse locations were developed. Ten grafted black walnut trees from each of four sites across the midwestern USA were destructively harvested for above- and below-ground biomass, and dry biomass weight (DWw), C (Cw) and nitrogen (N; Nw) stocks were quantified. Soils surrounding the harvested trees were sampled and analyzed for soil organic C (SOC) and total N (TN). Total DWw ranged from 27 to 54 kg tree−1, with woody tissues containing an average of 467 g kg−1 C and 3.5 g kg−1 N. Woody tissues differed in Cw and Nw across location, and above-ground sections contained more C and less N compared with most root tissues. The slopes of the allometric equations did not differ significantly among locations, while intercepts did, indicating that trees only differed in initial size across locations. SOC and TN did not vary in distance from the trees, likely because the trees were not yet old enough to have impacted the surrounding soils. Our results establish a foundation for quantifying C and N stocks in newly established black walnut alley cropping systems across diverse environments.

scholarly journals Biomass production and leaf gas exchange of perennial legumes associated with bananas

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 487-493
Author(s):  
Edineide Lima Barbosa Francisca ◽  
Feitosa De Lacerda Claudivan ◽  
De Oliveira Feitosa Hernandes ◽  
Jardelson Ferreira Francisco ◽  
Vieira Amorim Aiala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Leaf Gas Exchange ◽  
Perennial Legumes

Links between functional composition, biomass production and forage quality in permanent grasslands over a broad gradient of conditions

2014 ◽  
Vol 153 (5) ◽  
pp. 891-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. MICHAUD ◽  
S. PLANTUREUX ◽  
E. POTTIER ◽  
R. BAUMONT
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Permanent Grassland ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Plant Stage ◽  
Vegetation Characteristics

SUMMARYTo upgrade the use of permanent grasslands in livestock farming systems for their economic and environmental utility, their value needs better assessment in terms of both quantity (biomass production) and quality (nutritive value: organic matter digestibility (OMD) and crude protein content (CP)). The wide variability in permanent grassland botanical composition makes it important to understand the links between vegetation characteristics and permanent grassland value, and how far environmental factors influence this value. The current work investigated how vegetation characteristics and weather explained the variability of the biomass production and nutritive value of permanent grasslands. Two models were used to determine the best vegetation characteristics for the prediction: (i) plant functional types (PFT), proportions of grasses, legumes and forbs and weather, and (ii) two proxies for PFT (dry matter content (DMC) and phenological development at medium plant stage (MPS)), proportion of grasses, legumes and forbs, and weather. The study was conducted on a set of 190 permanent grasslands distributed over a wide range of soil, climatic and management conditions, and lasted 2 years (2009/10). For each of the permanent grasslands, climatic data, values of vegetation characteristics, biomass production and nutritive value were collected at the beginning and end of spring, and during summer and autumn regrowths. Contribution of weather was important and particularly for regrowths. Composition in terms of botanical families, plant stage and sward DMC was the common variables that explained both biomass production and nutritive value during the growing season. Biomass production was mainly explained by the proportion of legumes and forbs, MPS and DMC considering both models. Grass nutritive value was linked to the same factors, including PFT. However, the contribution of grass PFTs was lower in models. Both models could be used to predict biomass production and nutritive value:R2of the two models are quite similar. Over a wide range of environmental and management conditions, vegetation characteristics and climatic data explained almost half of the variance of forage quality and 20–40% of the variance of biomass production.

Reducing the impact of extreme environmental factors on berry plantations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katalin Anita Zagyvai-Kiss ◽  
Péter Csáki ◽  
Péter Kalicz ◽  
Előd Szőke ◽  
Jenő Varga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hybrid Poplar ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Rubus Idaeus ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Stress Effect ◽  
Agricultural Field ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
The Impact

<p>Climate extremes affect the vitality and health of the berry species. In some regions, if enough water is available, the impacts can be reduced. Long-lasting stress effect causes sunscald in case of leaves and berries. There are resistant and susceptible varieties of berry species. The disorder, likely caused by ultra-violet radiation, appears on susceptible varieties when the temperature suddenly increases (above about 30 °C), but the humidity is low. It can easily occur in the presence of wind.</p><p>Agroforestry systems offer a possible way to reduce direct sunlight by shading to sensitive agricultural crops. The humidity of the tree canopy can decrease the effect of hot dry air. Trees protect the berry species by slowing wind speed. This ongoing research focuses on how trees can influence the hydrological conditions.</p><p>We installed a research plot to study the spatial and temporal variability of soil moisture and groundwater level in an agroforestry system compared with agricultural field without trees (Fertőd, Hungary). The measurement is completed with local climatic parameters such as precipitation, air temperature, and relative humidity. The species of the measured plots are blackberry (<em>Rubus fruticosus ‘Dirksen’</em>), raspberry (<em>Rubus idaeus ‘Fertődi zamatos’</em>), and blackcurrant (<em>Ribes nigrum ‘Otelo’</em>) with integrated shadowing trees: hybrid poplar (<em>Populus x euramericana</em>).</p><p>Acknowledgements: The project was supported by EFOP-3.6.2-16-2017-00018 for the University of Sopron.</p>

scholarly journals Late canopy closure delays senescence and promotes growth of the spring ephemeral wild leek (Allium tricoccum)

Botany ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 457-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Paul Dion ◽  
Julie Bussières ◽  
Line Lapointe
Keyword(s):  
Light Availability ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Spring Ephemerals ◽  
Spring Ephemeral ◽  
Tree Leaf ◽  
Allium Tricoccum

Spring ephemerals take advantage of the high light conditions in spring to accumulate carbon reserves through photosynthesis before tree leaves unfold. Recent work has reported delayed leaf senescence under constant light availability in some spring ephemerals, such as wild leek (Allium tricoccum). This paper aims to establish whether tree canopy composition and phenology can influence the growth of spring ephemerals through changes in their phenology. Wild leek bulbs were planted in 31 plots in southern Quebec, Canada, under canopies varying in composition and densities. Light availability and tree phenology were measured, along with other environmental conditions, and their effect on the growth of wild leeks was assessed with a redundancy analysis. Higher light availability resulted in better growth of wild leeks. The plants postponed their senescence under trees with late bud-burst, and thus better bulb growth and seed production were achieved. The tree litter and temperature and moisture levels of the soil also influenced the growth and survival of wild leeks. Thus, tree leaf phenology appears to have a strong impact on the growth of spring ephemerals by modulating the length of their growing season and their photosynthetic capacity. This underlines the importance of considering the variation of light availability throughout the growing season in the study of spring ephemerals.

scholarly journals Screening of tomato varieties for fruit tree based Agroforestry system

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-69
Author(s):  
J Hossain ◽  
T Ahmed ◽  
MZ Hasnat ◽  
D Karim
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Agroforestry System ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Fruit Tree ◽  
Control Plot ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Spad Value

An experiment was conducted with four tomato varieties under a six year old orchard was accomplished at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) research farm during October 2011 to April 2012. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Four tomato varieties (BARI Tomato 2, BARI Tomato 8, BARI Tomato 14 and BARI Tomato 15) were grown under guava, mango, olive and control. Results showed that light availability in control plot (999.75 ? mol m-2s-1) was remarkably higher over fruit tree based agroforestry systems and it was 58.8, 43.9 and 31.5% of the control for guava, mango and olive based systems, respectively. The shortest tomato plant was observed in olive based system (54.91 cm), while the tallest plant was observed in mango based system (60.09 cm). The highest SPAD value and number of primary branches per plant was recorded in control plot. Fruit length, fruit girth was found lowest in olive based system. The highest yield (34.06 t ha-1) was recorded in control plot while the lowest yield (10.26 t ha-1) was recorded in olive based system. The economic performance of fruit tree based tomato production system showed that both the net return and BCR of mango and guava based system was higher over control and olive based system. The contents of organic carbon, nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium and sulfur of before experimentation soil were slightly higher in fruit tree based agroforestry systems than the control. After experimentation, nutrient elements in soil were found increased slightly than initial soils. Fruit tree based agroforestry systems could be ranked based on the economic performance as mango> guava> control> olive based system with BARI Tomato 15, BARI Tomato 2, BARI Tomato 14 and BARI Tomato 8, respectively. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v4i2.22652 Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 4 (2): 61-69, December, 2014

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