Optimizing the Use of Organic Amendments in Sub-Tropical Vegetable Cropping Systems for Improved Environmental and Agronomic Outcomes

Abstract Water scarcity and land degradation are emerging threats to global food production. The dry land regions of world are affected by climate change to a greater extent and facing food insecurity. The current pattern of food production has been estimated to be inadequate to meet demands of growing population and required around 38% increase to meet world`s food demands by 2025. Food insecurity in erosion hit dry land regions of Pakistan also demands development of resource-efficient cropping systems to meet the food needs of population growing. The research studies involved different cropping patterns such as fallow-wheat, mungbean-wheat, sorghum-wheat, fallow-lentil, mungbean-lentil, sorghum-lentil, fallow-barley, mungbean-barley and sorghum-barley. The organic amendments involved farmyard manure, NPK, poultry manure, compost and inoculation by phosphorus solubilizing microbes. The effect of cropping systems and soil amendments were evaluated at field scale in terms of water use efficiency measured in terms of economic terms. The results of the studies revealed that double cropping (mungbean-lentil and mungbean-barley) was feasible option in the dryland regions of Pakistan if integrated with the use of poultry manure as alternate environmental-friendly strategy to cut down the use of mineral fertilizers and eliminate summer fallowing.

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Greenhouse gas footprint of diversifying rice cropping systems: Impacts of water regime and organic amendments

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/j.agee.2018.10.011 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 270-271 ◽

pp. 41-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Baldur Janz ◽

Sebastian Weller ◽

David Kraus ◽

Heathcliff S. Racela ◽

Reiner Wassmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Water Regime ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Rice Cropping Systems

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Carbon Balance under Organic Amendments in the Wheat-Maize Cropping Systems of Sloppy Upland Soil

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12072747 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 2747

Author(s):

Hamidou Bah ◽

Minghua Zhou ◽

Simon Kizito ◽

Ren Xiao ◽

Syed Turab Raza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Co2 Emissions ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Organic Amendment ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Organic Manure ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Pig Slurry ◽

Upland Soil ◽

Study Results

With an increasing interest in closing the nutrient loop in agroecosystems, organic amendments are highly recommended as a reliable resource for soil nutrient recycling. However, from a carbon sequestration perspective, not much has been reported on the contribution of different organic amendments to soil organic carbon (SOC), crop carbon (C) uptake, and soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in wheat-maize cropping systems of sloppy upland soil. To fill the knowledge gap, a two-year lysimeter-field plots experiment was conducted in a sloppy upland purplish soil under wheat-maize cropping systems. The experiments were arranged in a complete random block design with five treatment plots, namely; fresh pig slurry as organic manure (OM), crop residues (CR), conventional mineral fertilizers (NPK) as the control, organic manure plus mineral fertilizers (OMNPK), and crop residues plus mineral fertilizers (CRNPK). Our results showed the leaf photosynthesis rate was not significantly increased by organic amendment application treatments compared to NPK treatment, and was within a range of 4.8 to 45.3 µmol m−2 s−1 for the wheat season and −20.1 to 40.4 µmol m−2 s−1 for the maize season across the five treatments and the measured growth stages. The soil CO2 emissions for the maize season (in the range of 203 to 362 g C m−2) were higher than for the wheat season (in the range of 118 to 252 g C m−2) on average across the different experimental treatments over the two-year experiment. The organic amendment application increased annual cumulative CO2 emissions from 30% to 51% compared to NPK treatment. Over the two years, the average crop C uptake ranged from 174 to 378 g C m−2 and from 287 to 488 g C m−2 for the wheat and maize seasons, respectively, and the organic amendment application increased the crop C uptake by 4% to 23% compared to NPK treatment. In the organic amendment treatments, the C balance ranged from −160 to 460 g C m−2 and from −301 to 334 g C m−2 for the wheat and the maize seasons, respectively, which were greater than those in the NPK treatment. Overall, the present study results suggest incorporation of organic amendments could be an effective strategy for increasing C sequestration and sustaining crop productivity in sloppy upland soil.

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KMnO4 determination of active carbon for laboratory routines: three long-term field experiments in Austria

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr14200 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 190 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

M. Tatzber ◽

N. Schlatter ◽

A. Baumgarten ◽

G. Dersch ◽

R. Körner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Field Experiment ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Sodium Oxalate ◽

Tillage Systems ◽

Organic C ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Term Field

Recent studies show that a labile soil carbon (C) fraction determined with potassium permanganate (KMnO4) reflects the type of soil management. The present study combines the method for determining the active C (AC) pool with an alternative titration of the 0.02 m KMnO4 solution with sodium oxalate (Na2C2O4) for routine laboratory analyses. Three long-term field experiments investigated: (i) different cropping systems and 14C-labelled organic amendments, (ii) three different tillage systems, and (iii) the application of four different kinds of compost. The results showed the depletion of AC in the permanent bare-fallow system of the 14C-labelled field experiment. When calculating the ratio AC/total organic C (TOC), the depletion of the AC/TOC curve reflected a priming effect, in accord with previous work. We obtained significant positive correlations of AC with TOC, total nitrogen (Nt), humic acid-C and remaining 14C-labelled material. The AC in the tillage systems experiment was significantly (P < 0.05) different between all three tillage treatments at 0–10 cm depth, and the ratio AC/TOC also revealed a significant difference between minimum and conventional tillage treatments at 10–20 cm. For the compost field experiment, significant differences occurred between plots fertilised solely with N and plots receiving organic amendments. The AC/TOC ratio of the sewage sludge amendment was significantly lower than in all other systems. Correlations of AC with TOC for all samples of the different long-term field experiments revealed different behaviours in different soil types. The correlations of AC with Nt showed higher coefficients than with TOC. The applied methodology has a potential for sensitive and reliable detections of differences in soil organic matter characteristics.

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Organic Amendments with Chemical Fertilizers Improve Soil Fertility and Microbial Biomass in Rice-Rice-Rice Triple Crops Cropping Systems

Open Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4236/ojss.2017.75007 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 07 (05) ◽

pp. 87-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Md. Farid Ahammed Anik ◽

Md. Mizanur Rahman ◽

G. K. M. Mustafizur Rahman ◽

Md. Khairul Alam ◽

Mahammad Shariful Islam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Chemical Fertilizers

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Alternative practices for managing plant-parasitic nematodes

American Journal of Alternative Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0889189300007761 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 98-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Robert McSorley

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Alternative Methods ◽

Parasitic Nematodes ◽

Detailed Knowledge ◽

Planting Dates ◽

Tillage Practices

AbstractThe most widely used and successful cultural practices for managing plantparasitic nematodes are resistant cultivars and some elements of cropping systems, such as rotation crops, cover crops, or nematode-antagonistic crops. Exclusion and sanitation practices, such as use of nematode-free planting material, site selection, and weed management, are useful in limiting infestations. Soil solarization, organic amendments, biological control, fallow, flooding, timing of planting dates, or tillage practices may be helpful in some areas, but additional research is needed to optimize their use. Most management methods emphasize reduction of nematode populations, but improvement of crop tolerance to nematodes should not be overlooked. For their successful use, most of these alternative methods require detailed knowledge of nematode and plant biology and ecology, and it may be necessary to integrate several practices for maximum nematode suppression. Although the basic principles of nematode management are generally known, detailed data often are lacking on specific combinations of nematodes and host crop cultivars. Consequently, the availability of such data will likely determine whether nematodes can be managed successfully in a particular situation.

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Long-term effects of organic amendments on the rice yields for double rice cropping systems in subtropical China

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/j.agee.2008.11.007 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 129 (4) ◽

pp. 534-541 ◽

Cited By ~ 108

Author(s):

Lidong Bi ◽

Bin Zhang ◽

Guangrong Liu ◽

Zuzhang Li ◽

Yiren Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Subtropical China ◽

Rice Yields ◽

Double Rice ◽

Rice Cropping Systems

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Characterizing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Global Warming Potential of Wheat-Maize Cropping Systems in Response to Organic Amendments in Eutric Regosols, China

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos11060614 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 614

Author(s):

Hamidou Bah ◽

Xiao Ren ◽

Yanqiang Wang ◽

Jialiang Tang ◽

Bo Zhu

Keyword(s):

Global Warming ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Global Warming Potential ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Inorganic Nitrogen ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

N2o Emissions ◽

Pig Slurry

Characterizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and global warming potential (GWP) has become a key step in the estimation of atmospheric GHG concentrations and their potential mitigation by cropland management. However, the impacts of organic amendments on GHG, GWP, and yield-scaled GWP on cropland have not been well documented. Here, we investigate four amendment treatments (no amendment, mineral fertilizers, and pig slurry or crop residue combined with mineral fertilizers) during a two-year field experiment in rain-fed wheat-maize cropping systems. The results show that the average annual cumulative methane (CH4) flux ranged from −2.60 to −2.97 kg·C·ha−1 while nitrous oxide (N2O) flux ranged from 0.44 to 4.58 kg·N·ha−1 across all four treatments. N2O emissions were significantly correlated with soil inorganic nitrogen (i.e., NH4+-N and NO3−-N), and soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) during both the winter wheat and summer maize seasons. On average, organic amendments combined with mineral fertilizers increased the annual GWP by 26–74% and yield-scaled GWP by 19–71% compared to those under only mineral fertilizers application. This study indicates that the fertilization strategy for Eutric Regosols can shift from only mineral fertilizers to organic amendments combined with mineral fertilizers, which can help mitigate GHG emissions and GWP while maintaining crop yields.

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CONTINUOUS APPLICATION OF ORGANIC AMENDMENTS ENHANCES SOIL HEALTH, PRODUCE QUALITY AND SYSTEM PRODUCTIVITY OF VEGETABLE-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN SUBTROPICAL EASTERN HIMALAYAS

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479714000167 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 85-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

D. P. PATEL ◽

ANUP DAS ◽

MANOJ KUMAR ◽

G. C. MUNDA ◽

S. V. NGACHAN ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Organic Amendment ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Soil Health ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

French Bean ◽

Total System ◽

Subtropical Climate ◽

System Productivity ◽

Continuous Application

SUMMARYThe hill ecosystem of Northeastern Himalayas is suitable for organic farming due to negligible use of fertilizer (<12 kg ha−1) and agrochemicals, abundance of organic manure, especially plant biomass, and favourable climatic conditions for diverse crops. For successful organic farming, efficient cropping systems and organic amendments are to be identified to sustain soil health on one hand and productivity and enhanced income on the other. The efficacy of three organic amendments, namely, farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC) and integrated nutrient source (INS; 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (N) through FYM + 50% N through VC) on performance of three-vegetable-based cropping systems, namely, maize + soybean (2:2 intercropping)–tomato, maize + soybean–potato and maize + soybean–French bean was evaluated for five consecutive years (2005–06 to 2009–10) under subtropical climate at Umiam, Meghalaya, India (950 m above sea level). All the organic amendments were applied on N equivalent basis and phosphorus (P) requirement was compensated through rock phosphate. The results revealed that the yield of vegetables, except root vegetables, was maximum with FYM as soil amendment. Total system productivity in terms of maize equivalent yield (MEY) was significantly higher under FYM followed by INS. Pooled analysis revealed that MEY was enhanced by 200 and 191% with continuous application of FYM and INS, respectively, over control (no manure). Maize + soybean–tomato system recorded the highest MEY (28.78 Mg ha−1; Mg – megagram) followed by maize + soybean–French bean (24.37 Mg ha−1). INS as organic amendment resulted in maximum improvement in soil organic carbon (SOC), available P and potassium (K), soil microbial biomass carbon and water holding capacity and was similar to those under FYM. The SOC concentration under INS (23.6 g kg−1), FYM (23.3 g kg−1) and VC (22.3 g kg−1) after five years of organic farming were 31.0, 29.4 and 23.8% higher than the initial and 26.2, 24.6 and 19.3% higher than those under control, respectively. The quality traits of tomato such as total soluble solids (5%), ascorbic acid (28.6 mg 100 g−1) and lycopene content (19.35 mg 100 g−1) were higher under FYM application than other amendments. The study indicated that FYM and INS are equally good as organic amendment and their continuous application not only improves soil health but also crop productivity. FYM application was also found to be cost effective as it resulted in a higher benefit: cost ratio (4.4:1) compared to other amendments irrespective of cropping sequences during transition to organic farming.

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