Climate Change and Its Impact on Soil Fertility and Life Forms

Climate change can disturb the characteristics of the soil either indirectly, or directly, or both. The direct effects include changes in the soil properties and composition by organic carbon transformation, precipitation, temperature, and % of moisture. The indirect impact includes nutrient cycling, improved soil erosion rate due to an increase in rate and intensity of rainfall, irrigation facility, changes in the crop rotation, and spadework practices. The presence of soil organic carbon (SOC) greatly influenced by the climatic condition. The crop cultivation depends upon the exchange of carbon between the troposphere and soil, which also vastly influences the fertility of the soil. The use, development, and management of soil depend upon soil structure, soil texture, soil stability, water holding capacity of the soil, availability of the nutrients, and erosion of the soil. Hence, deterioration of soil fertility by climatic change may affect the several soil lifeforms like fauna and flora either directly, or indirectly through nutritional value of the soil.

Extent of Knowledge and Adoption of Recommended Wheat Production Practicesamong Wheat Growers in Malwa Region (M.P.)

Wheat is an important source of nutrition in our staple diet. Although farmers in northernIndia are growing wheat for a long time many farmers are lacking good knowledge of wheatand its new varieties production practices. The study was conducted to know the extentof knowledge and adoption of recommended wheat production practices among wheatcultivating farmers of the Malwa region. Nine farmers (3 big, 3 medium and 3 small farmers)were selected randomly from each (thirty-six) selected village of nine blocks of Hosangabad,Hadra and Sehore districts making a total of 324 wheat growers. Among the practicewiselevel of knowledge regarding recommended wheat production technology;method of storage(mean score- 2.30) was ranked first and selection and preparation of land (mean score-2.25) was ranked second. On the whole, the highest number of the wheat growers (46.29%)had a medium knowledge level of recommended wheat production practices while 41.66%had a medium level of adoption on thebasis of their level of adoption of recommendedtechnological practices of wheat crop cultivation.

Catch crop cultivation – A contribution to the EU Green Deal

The strategies for the future direction of agriculture in the EU and in Germany increasingly focus on climate and environmental protection. Catch crop cultivation may play a role in protecting soil, climate, water, and biodiversity. Data from a farm survey on sugar beet production in Germany between 2010 and 2019 were evaluated regarding the development of catch crop cultivation in connection with other production factors. The question was whether the cultivation of catch crops would support the intended environmental goals. It was investigated whether (1) fewer herbicides were used and (2) less nitrogen fertilizer was applied on fields with catch crops in comparison to fields without catch crops. The proportion of fields with catch crops before sugar beets has risen since greening was introduced as part of the EU’s common agricultural policy. Pesticide and nitrogen fertilizer applications were higher on fields with catch crops than on fields without. As these are results from a survey, it remains open why the use of herbicides and fertilizer in sugar beet cultivation is higher with than without catch crops. However, the results show that an increase in catch crop cultivation does not automatically have positive effects on the environment and climate. Sugar beet cultivation in practice should be further optimized in a targeted manner, so that greater benefits regarding environmental protection can be realized.

Current Situation and Development Trend of China’s Agricultural Machinery Distribution

In the year of 2021, the Chinese government allocated 19 billion RMB for agricultural machinery subsidy. The data that accurately describes the scale of China’s agricultural machinery market could be calculated by analyzing the national agricultural machinery purchase investment, the total value of the parts market and the replacement market could be inferred. Since the implementation of agricultural machinery purchase subsidies, China’s comprehensive mechanization rate of crop cultivation, planting and harvesting has increased rapidly. In 2019, the national comprehensive mechanization rate of crop cultivation, planting and harvesting exceeded 70 percent, and the production of the three major food crops of wheat, rice and corn was basically mechanized. This paper analyzes the scale of the complete machinery market, the market scale of key products in the Chinese agricultural machinery market, the basic situation of Chinese agricultural machinery distribution companies, the basic situation of the Chinese agricultural machinery purchasing groups, and the main gathering platforms of the Chinese agricultural machinery distribution market, explaining the current status of China’s agricultural machinery distribution, putting forward suggestions for the development of China’s agricultural machinery distribution market. There are major contradictions in the agricultural machinery market in China. The most important one is between supply and demand. In terms of crops, the level of comprehensive mechanization of wheat, rice and maize is relatively high, while the level of comprehensive mechanization of cash crops such as cotton oil, sugar and vegetable tea is relatively low; from a regional perspective, the level of mechanization in the northern plains is relatively high, and the level of mechanization in the hilly and mountainous areas of the south is relatively low; from an industrial point of view, the level of mechanization of planting industry is relatively high, while the level of mechanization of animal husbandry, fi shery and processing is low. Meanwhile, the contradiction between manufacturers and distributors, as well as the end-users is further intensifying. This article attempts to explain the effi ciency and benefi t of agriculture and the return on investment of agricultural machinery purchase. Only when agriculture is competitive, has good effi ciency and benefi ts, and the purchase of agricultural machinery has a good rate of return on investment, can the industry develop healthily.

Comparative Economics of Maize Cultivation under Conventional and Mechanization

Aim: To compare the cost and return analysis of conventional maize cultivation with mechanization. Place of Study: A field experiment on maize crop cultivation by conventional and mechanization was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Karimnagar during Kharif, 2019-20. Methodology: The cost concepts were used to estimate the cost of cultivation under conventional and Mechanization methods. The cost concepts viz., cost A1, cost A2 cost B1 cost B2 and cost C1, cost C2 and C3 were used in the present study. Results: The total costs of cultivation under conventional and mechanization methods were Rs.117794.78 and Rs.104137.92 per hectare respectively indicating 12 % saving with mechanization. Similarly gross returns were Rs. 146064.00 in conventional method against Rs.146988.00 in mechanized method. Net returns recovered were 52% higher with mechanized method i.e Rs.42850.08 compared to conventional method Rs.28269.22. In the same way returns per rupee of investment in conventional method and mechanization were 1.23 and 1.41. Mechanization in cultivation also saves time, labour usage and reduces drudgery.