Sustainability of the Soil Resource in Intensive Production with Organic Contributions

Organic agriculture is considered an alternative to sustainably preserve soil fertility. For 10 years, ongoing management with organic contributions was carried out in calcareous soil to support or increase fertility by applying 4 t ha−1 of solid poultry manure to produce organic Nopal Verdura (Opuntia Ficus-Indica). In addition, during the 2018 cycle, corn was established as an alternative to diversify agricultural production; the crop was monitored by measuring agronomic variables and the normalized differential vegetation index to evaluate the development of different doses of organic inputs with poultry manure, foliar applications with biofertilizers, or in the irrigation system. The soil physical and chemical analysis was carried out from 2015 to 2020 to monitor nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and organic matter before planting and after harvest. The results indicated an increase in nitrogen (>50%), calcium (>130%), and magnesium (>20%), while there was a decrease in phosphorus (50%), potassium (60%), and organic matter (18%). The agronomic management caused an increment of EC in the horizon Ap until 12.93 dS m−1 at the end of each cycle due to the high ambient temperatures recorded and the inadequate irrigation water quality. We did not find significant differences (p > 0.05) in agronomic variables of corn with diverse contributions to organic. However, we obtained a maximum corn yield of 3.9 t ha−1 and nopal production of 143 t ha−1, despite problems of salinity in the horizons Ap during the agricultural cycle. Overall, processed poultry manure is a sustainable source of macroelements for the production of organic crops in calcisols; however, it is necessary to focus on and counteract potassium depletion and the increase in EC through appropriate agronomic management, with organic contributions, both solid and liquid, to increase or sustain production.

Climate Change Influence On Ontario Corn Farms’ Income.

Our study quantifies the impact of climate change on the income of corn farms in Ontario, at the 2068 horizon, under several warming scenarios. It is articulated around a discrete- time dynamic model of corn farm income with an annual time-step, corresponding to one agricultural cycle from planting to harvest. At each period, we compute the income of a farm given the corn yield, which is highly dependent on weather variables: temperature and rainfall. We also provide a reproducible forecast of the yearly distribution of corn yield for the regions around ten cities in Ontario, located where most of the corn growing activity takes place in the province. The price of corn futures at harvest time is taken into account and we fit our model by using 49 years of county-level historical climate and corn yield data. We then conduct out-of-sample Monte-Carlo simulations in order to obtain the farm income forecasts under a given climate change scenario, from 0 ° C to + 4 ° C.

Expanded Reproduction of Chernozem Fertility in Biological Agriculture

The current stage of development of zonal farming systems in the Central Black Earth region involves the creation of balanced, highly productive, and sustainable agricultural landscapes, maximally adapted to the natural conditions of the region and ensuring the preservation and improvement of soil fertility. The solution to the problem of reproduction of soil fertility in traditional agriculture is associated with the use of a large number of energy-intensive resources and, first of all, irreplaceable ones. However, the level and direction of soil/biological processes are not sufficiently taken into account, whereas they to a certain extent ensure the reproduction of soil fertility. In this regard, the problem of the formation of the scientific foundations of the reproduction of soil fertility through the integrated use of methods of biologization of agriculture in the Central Black Earth Region and the activation on this basis of the soil/biological factor in the long-used chernozems acquires special importance. The purpose of the study is to review the changes in soil fertility indicators in conditions of biological agriculture. The paper presents the results of a study to determine changes in soil fertility indicators in typical chernozem of the Belgorod region (Russia) in a field experiment with various technologies of crop cultivation. The study demonstrates the regularities of the transformation of the fertility of chernozem. In terms of its fertilizing efficiency, compost in the applied norm turned out to be equivalent to a half dose of mineral fertilizers since both variants under consideration provided equivalent increases in the corn yield. The full dose of mineral fertilizers on the background of organic matter turned out to be excessive since its introduction did not contribute to a reliable increase in corn productivity.

Crops' Yield and Roots Response to Soil Phosphorus Distribution Resulting From Long-Term Soil and Phosphate Fertilization Management Strategies

We investigated labile P and roots distribution in the soil profile and their effect on phosphorus uptake and soybean and corn yield under different tillage systems and phosphate fertilization managements. In a long-term experiment fertilized with triple superphosphate (TSP) or reactive phosphate rock (RPR), where the fertilizer was band-applied in the crop row or broadcasted under conventional tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT), we evaluated labile P (Bray-1) and root density distribution in depth, and crop yield, biomass production and P uptake by soybean (16th crop) and corn (17th crop). The soil disturbance in CT promoted more homogeneous soil P distribution while in NT there was a strong gradient in depth, with nutrient accumulation in the fertilizer application zone. In general, the average content of P in the 0–20 cm layer was similar for the two soil management systems and for the two application methods, but higher for TSP in relation to RPR. Root distribution of soybeans in NT and corn in both tillage systems showed a strong relationship with soil P distribution. The production of biomass, P uptake and grain yield of soybean in CT was influenced by phosphate fertilization management and generally presented lower performance than in NT, what did not occur for corn possibly due to a better P uptake efficiency compared to that of soybean. Greater stratification on the distribution of soil P and soybean and corn roots in NT did not represent any limitation on the nutrient uptake and yield of these crops, not even in the extreme case where the fertilizer was continuously broadcast on the soil surface. The influence of soil tillage management and phosphate fertilization was more evident in soybeans than corn.

Aspects of formation of soil water regime and water consumption of corn under subsurface drip irrigation

The results of experimental researches on studying of features of formation of a water mode of soils, water consumption processes, and corn yield under different schemes of irrigation pipelines (IP) under subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) in the Steppe of Ukraine. The wetting zone of dark-chestnut residual-saline sandy soil (SI "SF "Brylivske") changed. There is a shift of the center relative to the drip water outlet into deeper horizons of the soil profile (up to 52 cm) with the increasing norm; soil layer 0-15 cm is almost not moistened, regardless of watering rate. At a distance of IP 1,0 m closing of wetting zones, occur at irrigation rates of 2,7 m3/100 running meter (r. m), and at a distance of IP 1,4 m does not occur even at irrigation rates of 3,7 m3/100 r. m, while the depth of wetting reaches 90 cm. The wetting zone of chernozem sandy loam on the loess species (SI "SF "Velyki Klyny") with irrigation rates of 2,7 m3/100 r. m was observed on the soil surface. The maximum depth of wetting, with irrigation norms of 3,7 m3/100 r. m, reached 70 cm with a maximum diameter of 79 cm at a depth of 25 cm. Closing of wetting zones was not observed. Studies at SI "SF "Brylivske" have confirmed that the depth of IP placement (on the soil surface or at a depth of 30 cm) influenced the formation of the soil water regime and the corn yield. The minimum total water consumption was 6271 m3/ha under drip irrigation (DI) (IP 1,4 m), 17 % more than SDI (IP 1,4 m), and 29% more than SDI (IP 1,0 m). The highest yield was obtained in the case of DI (IP 1,4 m) of 15,72 t/ha. SDI (IP 1,0 m) received 13,93 t/ha, and SDI (IP 1,4 m) received 13,50 t/ha. The distance between the IP in 1,0 m and 1.4 m of the SDI system did not significantly affect corn yield (13.93 and 13.50 t/ha, respectively), but at a distance of IP 1.4 m, the water consumption ratio was 6.8% less compared to IP 1,0 m. The value of the irrigation rate in the variants SDI (IP 1.0 m) was higher than SDI (IP 1,4 m) by 13,6 %. Therefore, in terms of irrigation water consumption and capital expenditures, the SDI (IP 1,4 m) is more economical. Experimental studies conducted in the SI "SF "Velyki Klyny" show that the depth of placement of IP (on the soil surface or at a depth of 20 cm) did not affect the corn yield. For DI (IP 1,0 m) the yield was 12,00 t/ha and for SDI (IP 1.0 m) was 12,10 t/ha, with a water consumption ratio of 533,8 m3/t, and for DI (IP 1,0 m) by 3,6 % more. The research results confirm the importance of the parameters of SDI system for the formation of soil water regime and, accordingly, the realization of the potential of varieties and hybrids of crops for their cultivation by SDI.

Influence of agroforestry system modalities on maize (Zea mays) yield in an Amazon ecosystem

Corn is among the short-cycle annual species used in agroforestry systems due to its adaptation to intercropping. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the corn yield, cultivar BIO Z 2365, in two types of agroforestry systems. The experiment was carried out in a forestry agroforestry system in two treatments: mechanized with mineral fertilizer and semi-mechanized with organic fertilizer. The experiment was carried out in a forestry agroforestry system (AFSs), with two treatments, mechanized with mineral fertilizers (MEC) and semi-mechanized with organic fertilizers (SMEC). Each treatment was composed of four crop strips (4 x 24 m) distributed with plants arranged at a distance of 0.50 m between lines, totaling four plots per treatment. A random collection of 20 plants per strip was used, and different variables related to production were evaluated. The productivity was estimated using the EMATER and Reetz methods and by estimating the direct yield. The t-test was adopted to verify the difference between treatments. The mechanized system was superior for all the variables evaluated, obtaining average yield of 41.6 bags ha-1. In the semi-mechanized system, the average yield was 29.2 bags ha-1. The performance of cultivar BIO Z 2365 was better in the mechanized system. However, the results revealed that the cultivation of short-cycle crops, despite technological restrictions in the experimental area, can mean an increase in income for small producers or act in reducing the costs of the implementation and maintenance in agroforestry systems; operating as an agent of economic sustainability.

Transplanting and the addition of boron in sweet corn (Zea mays L. group saccharate) production

Introduction. Low seedbed temperatures at the planting and the direct sowing method can reduce the sweet corn germination. Transplanting may offer optimum environmental conditions for seed germination, early crop maturity, and increase sweet corn (Zea mays L. group saccharata) productivity. Boron deficiency depresses sweet corn yield through male sterility. Objective. To evaluate the effect of transplanting and the addition of boron in sweet corn production. Materials and methods. A field experiment was conducted from March 19 to June 20, 2020 at the Research Station of Horticulture Department and Landscape Gardening Architecture, University of Diyala, Baqubah, Iraq. Direct sowing and transplanting, and foliar application of boron at 0, 50, or 75 mg L-1 was evaluated to determine effects on the yield, the yield components, and water use efficiency of sweet corn cultivars: Roi Soleal, Seker misir, and Succar. Results. The cv. Seker Misir matured faster (57.5 days), had wider ears (4.53 cm), more kernel rows (16.0), the highest kernel yield (6.00 t ha-1), and a higher water use efficiency (WUE) (2.85 kg m-3). The cv. Succar had the longest ears (18.48 cm) and the heaviest fresh ears (251 g). Transplanting hastened the time to maturity (54.18 days), and produced the longest ears (17.91 cm), widest ears (4.52 cm), most kernel rows (15.96), heaviest fresh ears (229 g), the highest kernel yield (5.56 t ha-1), and the highest WUE (2.64 kg m-3). The 50 mg L-1 fertilizer treatment produced the longest ears (17.61 cm), widest ears (4.58 cm), more kernel rows (16.61), the highest kernel yield (5.64 t ha-1), and the highest WUE (2.68 kg m-3). The least time to maturity (57.72 days) and heaviest fresh ears (232 g) occurred with 75 mg L-1 of boron fertilizer. Conclusion. The use of 50 mg L-1 boron, as a foliar fertilizer, appears to be, next to the transplanting method, suitable for the cultivation of sweet corn plants to increase productivity and WUE.

Effects of Different Fertilization Measures on Corn Yield and Soil Nitrogen Level in Hollow Village On the Loess Plateau

Problems of poor soil structure and nutrient deficiency in the reclamation of abandoned homesteads, and improvement of the soil condition after land reclamation to arable land and rapidly resume agricultural production were investigated. Organic fertilizers, curing agent and fly ash as amendment materials were selected. A plot test with seven different return materials in order to obtain the effects of different amendment materials on nutrient improvement in the reclamation of abandoned homestead soils in loess areas was conducted. After 3 years of maize crop cultivation, soil samples were collected and analyzed for total soil nitrogen content under different treatments. The results showed that the maize yield in each plot showed different additives contributed to the increase in maize yield to different degrees, while the addition of organic fertilizer had a more significant effect on the increase in yield. In the treatment of the experimental plots with the addition of curing agent + organic fertilizer, there was a significant effect on the enhancement of the content of total nitrogen in the soil tillage layer after three years of maize cultivation. The total N content of the surface soil (0~15 cm) increased from 0.32 to 0.64 g/kg, and that of the soil from 15~30 cm increased from 0.31 to 0.66 g/kg. The total N content of the soil from 0~60cm showed an increasing trend year by year, but the increase was gradually reduced. The total nitrogen content of soil in the depth of 60~105 cm showed a decreasing trend year by year. In the remediation of hollow villages in loess plateau, the compound application of organic fertilizer and ripening agent can significantly improve the soil nutrient content, condition of farmland and increase in maize yield, which is the most suitable material for field return in the remediation of hollow villages in loess plateau, and is of great significance to improve the quality of field return in the remediation of hollow villages. Bangladesh J. Bot. 50(3): 729-736, 2021 (September) Special

Corn Cropping System And Nitrogen Fertilizers Technologies Affect Ammonia Volatilization In Brazilian Tropical Soils

With the advance of the no-tillage system (NT system) in Brazil, the adoption of technologies for nitrogen fertilization in these soils become essential for increasing the efficiency of N use in the system. In this sense, the objective of this study was to quantify ammonia losses, N removal in grains, and with 2nd crop yield in NT system and conventional (T system) planting areas that received application of different N fertilizers and their technologies. Ammonia volatilization, N extraction in grains and corn yield in response to the application of conventional fertilizers were compared to urease inhibitors treated urea in NT and T systems. The treatments were: no-N (Control); Prilled urea (PU); urea + NBPT (UNBPT); urea + Cu + B (UCuB); ammonium nitrate (AN), and ammonium sulfate (AS). In the NT system, the N-NH3 losses were 49% greater than in the T system; without differences for corn yield. The fertilizers as AN, and AS had the lowest N-NH3 losses, regardless of tillage system. UNBPT reduced the mean N-NH3 loss by 33% compared to PU. UNBPT (1,200 mg kg-1) and UNBPT (180 mg kg-1) reduced by 72% and 22% the N-NH3 losses compared to PU in the NT system.