​Effect of Mulching on Crop Production under Rainfed Condition: A Review

As the population of India is continuously rising so we have to adopt some means of sustaining our agricultural growth and it can be done through conservation farming. The best way out is the adoption of the age old practice of mulching in our agricultural fields. Mulching is an agricultural and horticultural technique in which the use of organic materials and synthetic materials for the purpose of increasing soil productivity is involved. In rainfed area, judicious use of water is essential for improving crop productivity. Therefore, mulching has been advocated as an effective means for conserving soil moisture. This technique is very useful in protecting the roots of the plants from heat, cold or drought or to keep fruit free from diseases and insect pests. Mulching is an old age technique to conserve soil moisture, checks evaporation, check the weed growth, moderate soil temperature and provide congenial microclimatic conditions for plant growth and development. This technology is a boon for the horticulture crops not only for increasing growth, development, yield but also a method for soil and water conservation. This review paper deals with the various effects of mulching on plants, soil as well as on soil microflora. This technology has brought a great revolution in the agriculture especially for water conservation and proves to be a fastest growing plasticultural technique in the world.

Overview of Research on Sustainable Agriculture in Developing Countries. The Case of Mexico

One of the principal challenges faced by Mexican agriculture is the development of management models that are able to increase production while respecting the environment and generating wealth for society as a whole. In recent years, the number of studies analysing the sustainability of Mexican agriculture has grown significantly. The purpose of this study is to analyse the evolution of the research on the sustainability of agriculture in Mexico. For this purpose, a review and bibliometric analysis of a sample of 867 articles was carried out. The results reveal that the research has focused on the development of sustainable agricultural models in vulnerable rural areas, the sustainable exploitation of agroforestry systems, the development of energy crops for different uses, water resource management and land uses and their changes, conservation farming and climate change. Although research focused on sustainability is still in its early stages, it has become a priority field. A need to promote research from the economic and social disciplines may be observed, together with holistic projects that include the three pillars of sustainability (social, economic and environmental). This study could be useful to researchers in this field as it identifies the recent trends and principal agents that drive knowledge.

Unpacking Climate Change Adaptation Strategies: An Account of Smallholder Farmer Experiences in Chimanimani District, Zimbabwe

This article reports on a study that analysed a myriad of adaptation practices adopted by smallholder farmers in Chimanimani District, Zimbabwe. Using a predominantly qualitative design, some in-depth interviews were conducted with purposefully selected key respondents. Focus group discussions with 8 to 12 smallholder farmers per group were conducted in each of the district’s 22 wards. These were corroborated by the guided observation method. The data was analysed using thematic content analysis, where broad strands of responses were synthesised and condensed into narrow themes that made them easier to interpret. Accordingly, smallholder farmers opted for drought tolerant crop and animal species, indigenous seed preservation techniques, aquaculture and conservation farming. The off-farm practices included craftwork, bee-keeping, artesian mining and trade. The sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF) was used as an analytical lens to appraise the sustainability of smallholder farmers’ choices and practices. Therefore, as farmers switched from one practice to another, many of their adaptive options reflected short-term livelihood benefits with concealed medium- to long-term environmental detriments. Strangely, some malpractices have their roots in short-sighted government policy frameworks mainstreamed to alleviate grass roots poverty. A thorough evaluation of adaptive policies is recommended so as to strengthen the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers against the background of climate change.

Investigating the Impact of Root-Lesion Nematodes (Pratylenchus thornei) and Crown Rot (Fusarium pseudograminearum) on Diverse Cereal Cultivars in a Conservation Farming System

In two experiments on a farm practicing conservation agriculture, the grain yield of a range of wheat cultivars was significantly (p < 0.001) negatively related to the post-harvest population densities of Pratylenchus thornei in the soil profile to 45 cm depth. In a third and fourth experiment with different rotations, methyl bromide fumigation significantly (p < 0.05) decreased (a) a low initial population density of P. thornei in the soil profile to 90 cm depth and (b) a high initial population of P. thornei to 45 cm depth, and a medium level of the crown rot fungus, Fusarium pseudograminearum, at 0–15 cm depth to a low level. For a range of wheat and durum cultivars, grain yield and response to fumigation were highly significantly (p < 0.001) related to (a) the P. thornei tolerance index of the cultivars in the third experiment, and (b) to both the P. thornei tolerance index and the crown rot resistance index in the fourth experiment. In the latter, grain yield was significantly (p < 0.001) positively related to biomass at anthesis and negatively related to percentage whiteheads at grain fill growth stage. One barley cultivar was more tolerant to both diseases than the wheat and durum cultivars. Crop rotation, utilizing crop cultivars resistant and tolerant to both P. thornei and F. pseudograminearum, is key to success for conservation farming in this region.

REHABILITATION AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS ON DEGRADED SOILS IN THE HUMID ZONE

Most of the arable soils that became deposits at the turn of the 21st century have lowered their agroecological potential. This is due to degradation processes, which manifest in various forms depending on the structure of the soil cover, types of anthropogenic impact, and farming systems used. Assessing theagroecological potential of degraded soils is becoming more complicated due to global climate change. Thus, the problem arises of developing rehabilitation soil-conservation farming systems adapted to climate change and modern socio-economic conditions.