On-farm experimentation for scaling-out conservation agriculture using an innovation systems approach in the north west province, South Africa.

A project under the Farmer Innovation Programme (FIP) that aimed to adapt Conservation Agriculture (CA) among grain farmers in South Africa was implemented in a commercial farming area of the North West Province. The following on-farm, collaborative-managed trials produced key findings concerning: (i) plant population densities (high versus low) under CA; (ii) conventional crop systems versus CA crop systems; (iii) the testing and screening of cover crops; (iv) green fallow systems for soil restoration; and (v) livestock integration. Key results from these trials were that the yield of maize was significantly higher under high-density no-till (NT) systems compared to the normal NT systems. The yield of maize in local conventional systems was lower than the yield in NT systems tested on three farmer-managed trials. The screening trial assisted in testing and learning the suitability and the different attributes of a range of cover crops in that area. Cover crop mixtures used as a green fallow system with livestock showed that CA can facilitate the successful restoration of degraded soil.

Exploring possibilities of Potato cultivation in Rice-Fallow of Sikkim

Frontline demonstration on potato (Kufri Sindhuri) was conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, East Sikkim, India. A total 158 nos. of demonstration were conducted in rice-fallow (farmers’ practice) at farmer’s field in nine numbers of villages during the year 2019-20. Results revealed that average yield of rice and potato recorded was 2.09 t/ha and 14.13 t/ha, respectively. Higher system rice equivalent yield (REY) was recorded 16.22 t/ha in rice-potato and 2.1 t/ha and rice-fallow system. System production efficiency (SPE) was also higher in rice-potato (62.14 kg/ha/day) as compared to rice-fallow (14.51 kg/ha/day). Land use efficiency (LUE) was recorded 71.51 % and 39.45 % in rice-potato and rice-fallow system, respectively. Net return was found Rs.16032/ha in rice-fallow and Rs.183952/- with rice-potato system during the years of demonstration. Higher benefit to cost (B: C) ratio was found 2.82:1 in rice-potato than in rice-fallow (1.62:1) system. Economic efficiency was also recorded higher in rice -potato (704.80 Rs/ha/day) than rice-fallow (111.33 Rs/ha/day) during the demonstrated year. Hence, it may be concluded that the inclusion of potato in rice -fallow is an option for increasing the additional income of the farmers for their livelihood improvement.

Forests, Farms, and Fallows: The Dynamics of Tree Cover Transition in the Southern Part of the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania

Forests and woodlands remain under threat in tropical Africa due to excessive exploitation and inadequate management interventions, and the isolated success stories of tree retention and tree cover transition on African agricultural land are less well documented. In this study, we characterize the status of tree cover in a landscape that contains forest patches, fallows, and farms in the southern part of Uluguru Mountains. We aimed to unveil the practices of traditional tree fallow system which is socially acceptable in local settings and how it provides a buffering effects to minimize forest disturbances and thus represents an important step towards tree cover transition. We assessed land cover dynamics for the period of 1995 to 2020 and compared tree stocking for forest patches, fallows, and farms. We found that tree biomass carbon stocks were 56 ± 5 t/ha in forest patches, 33 ± 7 t/ha in fallows, and 9 ± 2 t/ha on farms. In terms of land cover, farms shrank at intensifying rates over time for the entire assessment period of 1995–2020. Forest cover decreased from 1995–2014, with the reduction rate slowing from 2007–2014 and the trend reversing from 2014–2020, such that forest cover showed a net increase across the entire study period. Fallow consistently and progressively increased from 1995–2020. We conclude that traditional tree fallows in the study site remain a significant element of land management practice among communities, and there appears to be a trend towards intensified tree-based farming. The gains in fallowed land represent an embracing of a traditional land management system that supports rotational and alternate uses of cropping space as well as providing a buffering effect to limit over-exploitation of forests. In order to maximize tree cover and carbon stocks in the farm landscape, this well-known traditional tree fallow system can be further optimized through the incorporation of additional innovations.

Performance evaluation of rapeseed mustard under rice fallow system for optimizing productivity, profitability and resource conservation

The study was conducted in Chandel district of Manipur state to maximise the productivity of Rapeseed-mustard under rice fallow. Rapeseed-mustard has great potential under residual moisture after the harvest of Kharif rice in North Eastern states. It is a major source of income especially to the marginal and small farmers in rainfed areas of Manipur. Sample consisted of randomly selected 29 farmers who were growing rapeseed-mustard under FLDs. The results revealed that improved technology recorded a mean yield of 8.77 q/ha which was 20.55 per cent higher than obtained under farmers’ practice (7.27 q/ha). The study also showed that reduction in technology index from 10.90 per cent during 2017-18 to 6.49 per cent during 2019-20 exhibited the feasibility of demonstrated technology. The lower value of technology index, the more is the feasibility of technology. Further, it was found that the adoption of improved technologies not only increased the yield but also yield attributing traits of rapeseed-mustard and benefit cost ratio. Hence, there is a need to disseminate the improved technologies amongst the farmers with effective extension methods like training and demonstrations to utilise the rice fallow areas for increasing the cropping intensity as well as to increase crop production and productivity. The farmers’ should be encouraged to adopt the recommended package of practices for realizing higher returns.

Quantifying and Evaluating the Cultivated Areas Suitable for Fallow in Chongqing of China Using Multisource Data

The quantitative evaluation of the suitability of land fallow is of great significance to the effective implementation of fallow system in rural China. The purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the cultivated areas suitable for fallow in Chongqing, China. The results show that: (1) a comprehensive index of cultivated land fallow (ILF) was developed by employing a series of multi—source data, and the ILF has been proven as an effective proxy to identify the cultivated areas suitable for fallow; (2) cultivated land with ILF values above the average value accounts for 34.38% (9902 km2) of the total cultivated land; (3) the ILF is negatively correlated with the population density, transportation proximity, and proportion of inclined area. This study argued that the ILF can reflect the cultivated areas suitable for fallow in Chongqing and can provide guidance for the spatial distribution of cultivated land fallow. The findings indicated that the differences in geographical elements between karst and non—karst areas must be further investigated, and the evaluation accuracy of the cultivated areas suitable for fallow must be improved.

ԽԱՂՈՂԻ ՏՆԿԱՐԿՆԵՐԻՑ ԱԶՈՏԻ, ՖՈՍՖՈՐԻ ԵՎ ԿԱԼԻՈՒՄԻ ԱՐՏԱԴՐԱԿԱՆ ՕՏԱՐՈՒՄԸ ՀՈՂԱՊԱՀՊԱՆՄԱՆ ՍԵՎ ՑԵԼ ՀԱՄԱԿԱՐԳՈՒՄ

In 2018-2020 the industrial extraction of primary nutrients from the vineyards of grape varieties “Kangun” and “Haghtanak” cultivated in the Talvorik community of Armavir region was investigated in conditions of bare fallow system of soil conservation. According to the investigations, in case of 7 t/ha yield and vegetative mass of the “Kangun” variety, 35 kg N, 9 kg P2O5 and 34 kg K2O is extracted, while in case of 10 t/ha yield and vegetative mass of the “Haghtanak” variety 49 kg, 15 kg and 67 kg respective nutrients are discharged. In bare fallow conditions non-industrial nutrient losses are also recorded, which should be considered when determining the doses of fertilizers.

NIGER (GUIZOTIA ABYSSINICA L.) – A PROMISING RABI SEASON CROP UNDER RICE-FALLOW SYSTEM IN NORTH-EAST INDIA

Assam is one of the major niger producing sates of India. Wide spread rice fallow and retreating northeast monsoon are the advantages for cultivation of rabi niger crop in Assam. However, niger yield under rainfed situation of Assam decreases drastically for every 15 days delay in sowing of the crop from 15th November to 30th December. The highest seed (4.1 q/ha) and stover (31.0 q/ha) yield could be obtained from 15th November sown crop. Nevertheless, sali rice is harvested late in Assam and so, delay sowing of next rabi crop leads to lower productivity of the crop. Application of 50% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) along with 50% nitrogen through FYM considerably increases yield attributing parameters that in the end maximize the stover and seed yield of niger crop. This can give 19.3 and 4.3% increase in stover and seed yield of niger respectively, over RDF. Thus, half of chemical fertilizers required for niger crop could be substituted through organic nutrient sources, which has also lead to an improvement in soil physico-chemical properties and higher availability of nutrients in soil. This review reported the detail management strategies for successful cultivation of rabi niger crop under rainfed situation of Assam of North-East region of India.

Bioactivity of Trichoderma harzianum isolates against the fungal root rot pathogens with special reference to Macrophomina phaseolina causing dry root rot of mungbean

In the rice-fallow system, dry root rot (DRR) is an emerging disease of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek var. radiata) caused by the necrotrophic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. The pathogen causes extensive production losses. In this study, the bioactivity of four Trichoderma harzianum isolates, namely Th-Dharwad, Th-Raichur, Th-Niphm, and Th-Udaipur procured from the Indian research institutes were evaluated against M. phaseolina of mungbean by the dual culture technique. The efficacy of these T. harzianum isolates were also compared with the effective fungicides such as thiram and carbendazim by the poison food method. Results showed that among the T. harzianum isolates, isolate of Th-Raichur was most effective, exhibiting 76.96% mycelial growth inhibition of the test pathogen. As compared to the thiram, carbendazim was more effective, and exhibited 100% mycelial growth inhibition of the test pathogen. In addition, carbendazim was also more effective than the isolate of Th-Raichur. In the sick pot experiment, mungbean seeds treated with Th-Raichur isolate showed a lower percent incidence of DRR (20%) than the untreated seeds (86.6%). The biological spectrum of Th-Raichur isolate was examined against M. phaseolina isolated from the different hosts such as urdbean and vegetable soybean, alongwith two other root pathogens, namely Fusarium solani of mungbean, and Sclerotium rolfsii of urdbean. The isolate of Th-Raichur showed maximum antagonistic activity against the pathogens M. phaseolina and F. solani of mungbean. Thus, Th-Raichur isolate can be used as a potential fungal biocontrol agent for the reduction of DRR in mungbean.

Earthworm Diversity and Biomass in Different Fallow System in The Kelimutu National Park Areas

Earthworms have a role as bioindicators so that their existence is very sensitive to changes in the environment. The decreasing of land quality caused by continuous use (horticultural agriculture) will also decrease the diversity of earthworms. To anticipate degradation of land quality, the land needs to be rested (bero) so that it will facilitate natural recovery. Indicators of land restoration include the diversity and importance index of earthworms. Therefore, the research aim was to determine the diversity of earthworm in the fallow system lands at Kelimutu National Park areas. The monolith random sampling method at three soil depths was applied to several fields with different fallow periods (5, 10, 15 and 20 years) to measure importance value index, diversity index, evenness, density, and earthworm biomass. The results showed that there were 4 types of earthworms found in the land given, namely Pontoscolex, Megascolex, Lumbricus and Perithima. Pontoscolex dominates which is indicated by the highest importance value index. While the diversity of earthworms was higher in fallow land with a duration period of 5 and 20 years. The duration of the fallow period is also shown to affect populations of earthworms but has no effect on its biomass. For soil depths not seen no effect at each depth. The results of this study further strengthen the evidence that the application of the bero period can improve land quality by increasing the earthworm population so that land productivity can be maintained.

Tithonia diversifolia Crop Rotation: An Efficient Cultural Practice for Control of Burrowing (Radopholus similis) and Root-Lesion (Pratylenchus coffea) Nematodes in Banana Orchards in Côte d’Ivoire

The efficiency of Tithonia diversifolia on managing burrowing (Radopholus similis) and root-lesion (Pratylenchus coffeae) nematodes was examined under greenhouse and banana plantation conditions. During the greenhouse experiment, which lasted 16 weeks, 300 nematodes (150 R. similis + 150 P. coffeae) were inoculated in pots containing two-month-old burst young plants. Eighty pots were monitored and then removed at the rate of 5 pots per week so as to assess nematode development in T. diversifolia roots. The presence rates observed in situ with respect to the initial nematode inoculum were 25%, 20%, and less than 5% individuals, respectively, at 2; 6 and 7 weeks after inoculation. From 10 weeks until the end of the experiment, no presence (0 individual) could be observed in situ. In banana plantations; 1820 T. diversifolia / ha were transplanted at a rate of one cutting/banana corm. This fallow system, carried out in banana intercropping for six months, led to a thick canopy developed by T. diversifolia above ground with a significant production of root biomass in the soil despite the vicinity to infested banana corms. Monitoring of nematode infestations has highlighted a close relationship between the duration (X) of the fallow and the reduction in parasite pressure (Y). The regression curve Y = 102.9X-3.37 fits this relationship with R2 = 0.82. Nematode-free vitro plants implanted in the soil, 90% improved by fallow, made it possible to carry out two production cycles of bananas without nematicide application. The opportunity to involve T. diversifolia in the agrosystem for the production of “organic banana” as an alternative to the use of nematicide was discussed.