Agronomic Management Practices Research Articles

Impact of Agronomic Management Practices on Quality and Productivity of Fodder Crops: A Review

Livestock is the backbone of agriculture, in spite of that, its performance is poor with low productivity, the reason is lack of nutritious fodder in sufficient quantities that reduces milk production in cattle and causes health issues. The nutritional quality and yield of fodder crops can be improved by using appropriate agronomic practices such as adequate tillage operations, proper/timely water management, weed management, nutrient management, sowing at the right time with the right seed rate, timely harvesting and so on. In this review paper, several research and review papers have been studied to understand the impact of different agronomic practices on quality and productivity of fodder crops. When compared to zero tillage, the use of tillage operations such as primary, secondary, conventional and deep tillage increases dry matter and green fodder yield. Irrigation at critical phases and on a frequent basis boosts the organic matter (OM) content and dry matter of feed. In comparison to late harvesting, early harvested forages have higher DMD (Dry matter digestibility) and CP (crude protein) content. Nitrogen application certainly fostered crop growth and development resulting in higher green fodder yield with improved fodder quality. When it comes to raising the DMD % of fodder crops, intercropping is crucial. DMD % in intercropping of Maize + cowpea (2:1) is higher as compared to sole maize and sole cowpea. Fodder yield and quality are reduced as a result of late sowing. Therefore, we conclude that agronomic interventions have a significant impact on the primary and secondary quality characteristics of fodder crops. As a result, proper methods for improving nutritional quality and overall crop productivity should be implemented in the fields.

Nutrient Contribution and Carbon Sequestration of an Agroforestry System of Coffea canephora Cultivated by Conventional and Organic Management in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Agroforestry systems (AFSs) seek synergies that improve productivity, sustainability, and environmental benefits. This is achieved through the supplying of nutrients to the soil, carbon storage, and sequestration. In the Ecuadorian Amazon, Coffea canephora is planted together with leguminous, woody, forest, and secondary forest species, where the continuous incorporation of vegetative residues from shade species represents a substantial addition of nutrients within these systems. This study was carried out from 2018 to 2022 to determine the contribution of nutrients contained in the biomass and C sequestration in agroforestry systems of coffee with conventional (high use of agrochemicals) and organic (without the use of chemicals) management. The study was carried out with a randomized complete block design, using a factorial arrangement (2 × 4 with three replications). This arrangement included two types of systems (agroforestry and monoculture) and four agronomic management practices (high and medium for conventional, and intensive and low organic). The biomass and nutrient content were measured twice a year (every 180 days); in addition, the yield was also recorded. A multivariate and univariate analysis was used for data analysis through R and SAS software. After five years of evaluation, it was determined that the N, K, Ca, and Mg contents were higher in the agroforestry systems than the monocultures. In the AFSs, the highest nutrient content was obtained with the medium conventional and low organic agronomic management, while in the monocultures, it was obtained with the high and medium conventional management. In addition, at a soil depth of 20 cm, the total storage and CO2 were 38.12 and 139.8 t ha−1, respectively. The highest yields were obtained with conventional management in AFSs (1599 kg ha−1) and monoculture (1789.45 kg ha−1). Overall, AFSs showed a significant contribution of nutrients, such as N, K, Ca, and Mg, for coffee cultivation; moreover, yields were similar in the AFS and monoculture with both conventional and organic management, which is positive, since AFSs also contribute environmental benefits.

Exploring management strategies to improve yields and reduce reactive nitrogen emissions in a summer maize‐winter wheat cropping system under long‐term climate variability

AbstractAchieving high stable crop yields and minimal environmental damage is crucial to enhance the sustainability of agriculture in China. Process‐based models are indispensable tools to develop agronomy management practices to achieve sustainable agriculture by simulating crop production and emissions of reactive nitrogen (N), particularly in complex climate scenarios. In this study, a long‐term field experiment with an intensive summer maize‐winter wheat rotation system in north‐central China was simulated using the DeNitrification‐DeComposition (DNDC) model. The DNDC model validation and calibration was done by using two‐year monitoring data of crop yields and nitrous oxide emission fluxes and ammonia volatilization. Moreover, the optimal management practices to promote crop production and reduce the reactive N loss under 22 years of climate variability were explored using the calibrated DNDC model in this region. The results showed that the DNDC model effectively simulated wheat and maize yields, N uptake, ammonia volatilization, and nitrous oxide emissions. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the agronomic management practices (N rates and ratio of base to topdressing, planting time, and tillage depth) substantially affected crop yields and reactive N losses under long‐term climate variability. Compared with current farming practices, optimal Nutrient Expert (NE) management achieved an increase in high yields and environmental pollution radiation by altering the rate of N application and ratio of base to topdressing. Moreover, the optimal management strategies developed by the DNDC model, such as adjusting the planting date and tillage depth, further increased the average grain yield by 2.9% and reduced the average reactive N losses by 10.5% compared with the NE management implemented in the annual rotation cropping with a 22‐year simulation. This study suggests that the modeling method facilitates the development of most effective agronomic management practices to promote crop production and alleviate the negative impact on environment.

Salinity Stress in Maize: Consequences, Tolerance Mechanisms, and Management Strategies

Maize, along with rice and wheat, is a popular staple food crop worldwide, and the most widely produced cereal crop. It is a versatile crop that may be utilized as a source of raw materials for human and animal fodders. Low agricultural yield and rapid population expansion significantly threaten future food security. Maize production is hampered by biotic and abiotic causes, with abiotic factors being the most critical limitation to agricultural output worldwide. Soil salinity is a key abiotic factor that reduces agricultural production by imposing negative impacts at several life cycle phases, including germination, seedling, vegetative, and reproductive development. Maize plants experience many physiological changes due to osmotic stress, toxicity of particular ions, and nutritional imbalance induced by salt stress. The degree and duration of stress, crop growth phases, genetic characteristics, and soil conditions influence yield reduction. Maize plants can tolerate salt stress involving a complex mechanism by changing their physiological, biochemical, and metabolic activities like stomatal functioning, photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, hormone regulation, enzymes, metabolite generation, etc. After studying the salt tolerance mechanisms of maize plants under stress, integrated management techniques should be developed for maize agriculture in saline settings. Therefore, the study of plant responses to salt stress, stress tolerance mechanisms, and management strategies is one of the most imperative research fields in plant biology, and the study will focus on the effects of salt stress in different growth stages, plant tolerance mechanisms, and agronomic management practices for successful maize production all over the world.

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) improvement: Challenges and prospects—A review

AbstractFinger millet is a climate‐resilient and highly nutritious small grain crop widely grown in the semi‐arid tropics. It has multiple uses, including for food, feed and beverage preparations. However, finger millet is an under‐utilized and under‐researched crop with a mean yield of <1.0 t/ha despite a potential productivity of up to 8 t/ha. The yield gap is attributed to several production constraints, such as biotic and abiotic stresses, a lack of access to improved seeds and production inputs and poor agronomic management practices. There are valuable genetic resources and genetic variability of finger millet in its centres of diversity and global gene banks for variety design, product development and commercialization. The genetic variability can be harnessed further to integrate essential traits into candidate varieties through conventional and modern breeding methods. Breeding and genetic innovations such as genomics‐assisted breeding, mutation breeding and genome editing would accelerate finger millet breeding and new variety design and deployment. The objective of this review was to document the opportunities, challenges and prospects of finger millet improvement as a guide for variety development and deployment with enhanced grain yield and nutritional contents. The first section describes global production status and yield gains, major production and productivity challenges in finger millet. This is followed by an in‐depth presentation on breeding and genetic progress on variety development with improved agronomic and nutritional quality traits, drought and salinity tolerance, and fungal diseases, weeds and insect pest resistance. Further, the review summarized finger millet's genetic and genomic resources, reference genomes, whole genome re‐sequencing and transcriptomics of finger millet technologies, genetic engineering and genome editing and their integration with conventional breeding methods for variety design with desired end‐use traits. The review provides foundational information to expedite the development of new‐generation finger millet cultivars with desirable product profiles, including high grain yield potential, early maturity, desirable seed colour, compact head type, food and feed nutrients quality and high marketability through modern breeding approaches.

Stover removal has minimal impact on pennycress seeded into standing corn

AbstractIn the Upper Midwest, corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are the most prominent agricultural crops, occupying land for only half the year. Their fallow periods are associated with nutrient leaching and soil erosion, but they also represent an opportunity to establish winter‐hardy crops, like pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.), that can reduce negative environmental impacts while contributing to farm profitability. A lack of agronomic best management practices remains a barrier to pennycress adoption. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of stover presence on pennycress stand establishment and seed yield after seeding pennycress into R4 corn. This study was conducted over the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 growing seasons with MN106 pennycress at three locations in Minnesota. At maturity, corn plants were removed from plots in 25% increments between 0% and 100% to simulate stover removal scenarios. Pennycress seedlings were unable to compete with corn for available light resources and did not have enough time following corn harvest to establish a dense stand in the autumn with only 5% and 10% green cover in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Despite poor early season emergence, the average seed yield, 1223 kg ha−1, was high relative to other studies using MN106, indicating that challenges of growing pennycress under adverse conditions may not be a barrier to competitive seed yields. Experimentation on the corn–pennycress system should continue in the future to further explore and establish best management practices for this double crop.

Achievements and Challenges in Controlling Coffee Leaf Rust (Hemileia vastatrix) in Hawaii

In this case study, the current situation faced by coffee growers attempting to control coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix) in Hawaii is reported. CLR is considered the most devastating disease affecting coffee crops worldwide and was detected in Hawaii in 2020. Three small coffee farms from the South Kona district of Hawaii Island were selected. The goals of this case study were to: (1) assist coffee growers in the early detection of CLR incidence, and consequently support farmers with recommendations for control, (2) record agronomic information and management practices, and (3) estimate the cost to control CLR during 2021 and 2022 seasons. Low CLR incidence (<4%) was initially observed at all farms (January–June 2021), but increased as the harvest began, ending the season (December 2021) at 77%, 21% and 6% incidence at farms 1, 2 and 3, respectively. At the end of 2022 season (December), CLR incidence reached 43%, 20% and 3% at farms 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The number of sprays per season (5–10), the type of fungicides applied (preventive, curative), the timing of sprays, the efficacy of applications and weather conditions all played a role in determining the infection rates at each farm. Effective control of CLR is possible in Hawaii if the sprays of fungicides are carried out with the right products, appropriate timing and good coverage.

Evaluation of Yield Advantages, Competitiveness and Economic Benefits of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) Based Intercropping Systems Under Different Date of Sowing

The experiment conducted at the Department of Agronomy farm, VNMKV., Parbhani (MH), during the kharif seasons of 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, integrates key agro-environmental factors. The utilization of deep black (vertisol) soil with good drainage replicates prevalent soil conditions in the region, ensuring the relevance and applicability of the findings to tropical environments of Latin America [20,21]. The implementation of a split plot design with two replications, considering four sowing dates and seven cropping systems, enhances the experimental robustness, facilitating a comprehensive evaluation of the interactions between timing and cropping systems [6,22].The study's findings highlight the significance of sowing dates in maximizing pigeonpea equivalent yield and net monetary returns, with sowing within a week period after the regular commencement of the monsoon (D1) demonstrating superior performance. Furthermore, the pigeonpea + soybean intercropping system emerges as the most favorable [50], indicating its potential for enhancing agricultural productivity and economic returns in the region [17,19]. The study's insights into the competitiveness and economic benefits of different intercropping systems provide valuable guidance for agronomic management practices in tropical environments [50]. By identifying the superior performance of certain cropping systems, such as pigeonpea + soybean, and the influence of sowing dates on yield outcomes [51,45], the study informs farmers and agricultural practitioners on optimal strategies for maximizing productivity and profitability in pigeonpea cultivation [29,30].
 The observed behavior of component crops within intercropping systems underscores the complexity of crop interactions and highlights the need for tailored management approaches. The dominance of the niger crop in intercropping systems over the pigeonpea base crop emphasizes the importance of understanding crop dynamics for optimizing yield outcomes [5,18]. Additionally, the study's evaluation of different sowing dates contributes to enhancing climate resilience [14] in agricultural systems by identifying optimal timing strategies for mitigating climate variability effects on crop performance [7,37,13].

Assessing vegetation indices and productivity across nitrogen gradients: a comparative study under transplanted and direct-seeded rice

Nitrogen responses vary under diverse agronomic management practices, influencing vegetation indices (VIs) and productivity across different ecological conditions. However, the proper quantification of these responses under various crop establishment methods with varied nitrogen levels is rarely studied. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of varying nitrogen levels on VIs, growth parameters, yield attributes, yield, and economic aspects of transplanted rice (TR) and direct-seeded rice (DSR). The experiment was conducted in the randomized block design consisted seven N levels, which included 0% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) or no nitrogen (N0), 33.33% RDN (N1), 66.66% RDN (N2), 100% RDN (N3), 133.33% RDN (N4), 166.66% RDN (N5) and 200% RDN (N6), and replicated thrice. The plots with higher N levels demonstrated increased values of VIs and treatment N3 (120 kg N ha−1), N4 (160 kg N ha−1), N5 (200 kg N ha−1), and N6 (240 kg N ha−1) showed no statistically significant differences in NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), RVI (ratio vegetation index), NDRE (normalized difference red edge), and GNDVI (green normalized difference vegetation index) values across the various growth stages of rice. The application of treatment N4 resulted in the highest number of panicles m−2 (348.2 in TR, 376.8 in DSR), filled grains panicle−1 (74.55 in TR, 62.43 in DSR), and a 1,000-grain weight of 26.92 g in TR and 26.76 g in DSR. The maximum yield (4.89 t ha−1) was obtained in transplanted rice at treatment N4 and, 8.15% yield reduction was noted in DSR for the same treatment, which was statistically equivalent to N3, but significantly superior to other N levels. Conversely, in DSR with RDN (120 kg N ha−1), the cost–benefit ratio surpassed that of TR by 16.96%, signifying DSR’s adaptability for more profitable rice cultivation in the region. This research provides valuable insights into optimizing nitrogen management practices for TR and DSR, thereby enhancing rice crop performance and economic returns.

Evaluating the Ability of the Sentinel-1 Cross-Polarization Ratio to Detect Spring Maize Phenology Using Adaptive Dynamic Threshold

Accurate, timely, and fine-resolution crop phenology is essential for determining the optimal timing of agronomic management practices supporting precision agriculture and food security. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) methods, unaffected by cloud occlusion, have been widely applied in monitoring maize phenology. Nonetheless, their reliance on manual threshold settings, which depend on the user’s expertise, limits their applicability. Furthermore, the neglect of SAR’s potential for monitoring other phenological periods (e.g., seven-leaves date (V7), jointing date (JD), tassel date (TD), and milky date (MID)) hinders their robustness, particularly for regional-scale applications. To address these issues, this study used an adaptive dynamic threshold to evaluate the ability of the Sentinel-1 cross-polarization ratio (CR) in detecting the three-leaves date (V3), V7, JD, TD, MID, and maturity date (MD) of maize. We analyzed the effect of incidence angle, precipitation, and wind speed on Sentinel-1 features to identify the optimal feature for time series fitting. Then, we employed linear regression to determine the optimal threshold and developed an adaptive dynamic threshold for phenology detection. This approach effectively mitigated the speckle noise of Sentinel-1 and minimized artificial interference caused by customary conventional thresholds. Finally, we mapped phenology across 8.3 million ha in Heilongjiang Province. The results indicated that the approach has a higher ability to detect JD (RMSE = 11.10 d), MID (RMSE = 10.31 d), and MD (RMSE = 9.41 d) than that of V3 (RMSE = 32.07 d), V7 (RMSE = 56.37 d), and TD (RMSE = 43.33 d) in Sentinel-1. Compared with Sentinel-2, the average RMSE of JD, MID, and MD decreased by 4.14%, 35.28%, and 26.48%. Moreover, when compared to different thresholds, the adaptive dynamic threshold can quickly determine the optimal threshold for detecting each phenological stage. CR is least affected by incident angle, precipitation, and wind speed, effectively suppressing noise to reflect phenological development better. This approach supports the rapid and feasible mapping of maize phenology across broad spatial regions with a few samples.

AgriVoltaics: Economic Viability of a Synergistic System in the Sugarcane Bioenergy Sector in Brazil

This study presents an analysis of the economic viability of AgriVoltaics (AV) applied in the sugarcane-bioenergy sector in a hypothetical plant in the central region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, using modal values and performance parameters typical of the 2019/2020 harvest season. The objective is to verify the economic viability, considering the technical aspects of the project, and agronomic, operational, and systemic requirements. The obtained results show a substantial increase in the combined economic margin, at 33,5%, a land use efficiency ratio (LER) of 108,6%, and a payback of investments around 9 years. The approach proved feasible for energy prices above US$ 49.21 MWh-1 . The greater operational gain was due to the optimization of land use, and the sharing of costs with the existing thermoelectric generation that uses residual sugarcane biomass, which allowed centralized management and a substantial increase in electrical generation. The higher relative incremental cost was resulting from the AgriVoltaics installation, adapted appropriately to the specific agronomic management practices required by sugarcane crops. The cost of the adapted AgriVoltaics installation found was US$ 0.96 per Watt peak. The approach proved economically viable, respecting the agronomic conditions of the crop and the optimized use of biomass-driven electrical thermalgeneration infrastructure.

A case study on the impacts of future climate change on soybean yield and countermeasures in Fujin city of Heilongjiang province, China

Global climate change poses a great impact on crop growth, development and yield. Soybean production in Northeast China, which is one of the traditional dominant soybean production areas in China, is of great significance for developing the domestic soybean industry and reducing dependence on imported soybeans. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the impacts of future climate change on soybean yield in Northeast China, and to propose reasonable adaptation measures. In this study, we took Fujin city of Heilongjiang province in Northeast China as an example, and used the CROPGRO-soybean model in DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) to simulate the impacts of future climate change on soybean yield in the four periods of the 2020s (2021-2030), 2030s (2031-2040), 2040s (2041-2050) and 2050s (2051-2060) under two representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5), and further determine the best agronomic management practices. The results showed that the calibrated and validated model is suitable for simulating soybean in the study area. By analyzing the meteorological data under future climate scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 from the PRECIS regional climate model, we found that the average temperature, cumulative precipitation and cumulative solar radiation would mostly increase during the growing season in Fujin city of Heilongjiang province. Combined with the model simulation results, it is shown that under the effect of CO2 fertilization, future climate change will have a positive impact on soybean yield. Compared to the baseline (1986-2005), the soybean yield would increase by 0.6% (7.4%), 3.3% (5.1%), 6.0% (16.8%) and 12.3% (20.6%) in the 2020s, 2030s, 2040s and 2050s under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5).Moreover, the optimal sowing dates and the optimal supplemental irrigation amount under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5) are May 10 (May 5) and 50 mm (40mm), respectively. Under future climate conditions, the agronomic management practices, such as advancing the sowing date and supplementary irrigation in the key stage of soybean growth would increase soybean yield and make soybean growth more adaptable to future climate change.

Soil bacterial community is influenced by long‐term integrated soil fertility management practices in a Ferralsol in Western Kenya

AbstractIntroductionSoil bacterial community structure, abundance and diversity, important in biogeochemical cycling, are influenced by several anthropogenic and edaphic factors. Numerous agronomic practices have been promoted to improve soil fertility and crop production in western Kenya, but little is known on their impacts on soil microbial diversity in the region.Materials and MethodsIn this study, conducted in 2019, we assessed the influence of various long‐term (17 years) agronomic management practices, involving application of farmyard manure (FYM) either sole or under different combinations with inorganic nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), using 12 treatments, on bacterial community composition, relative abundance and diversity. The bacterial community composition was assessed through amplicon sequencing on an Illumina Miseq platform conducted in MR DNA Laboratory, USA.ResultsThe soil bacterial community composition and diversity were predominantly higher under management practices with application of FYM, either sole or in combination with inorganic fertilisers compared to treatments with either sole NPK fertiliser or no input application. Certain bacterial taxa, involving Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Nitrospirae, Fusobacteria, Nitrospinae and Actinobacteria predominated in management practices where FYM was added either solely or in combination with chemical fertilisers. In addition, several soil chemical parameters showed significant influences on bacterial composition, relative abundance and diversity indices. Soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), N, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe and cation exchange capacity consistently showed strong positive correlation with numerous bacterial phyla. Bacterial phyla were significantly affected by treatments. Some bacterial phyla, like Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria, were mostly dominant in treatments applied with organic inputs but were depressed under carbon‐deficient treatments (no‐input control and sole NPK application treatments).ConclusionThis study revealed that long‐term agricultural management practices that seek to improve SOC content and nutrient availability also stimulated bacterial diversity and shifted bacterial composition.

Morphological characteristics, dry matter yield, and nutritive value of maralfalfa grass (Pennisetum spp.) grown under different planting densities in the central highlands of Ethiopia

IntroductionMaralfalfa grass (Pennisetum spp.) is known for its high dry matter productivity and nutritive value. However, information on agronomic management practices to improve yield and nutritive value in Ethiopia is sparse.Materials and methodThe experiment consisted of 7 plant densities (33,333 [75 cm × 40 cm]; 26,667[75 cm × 50 cm]; 25,000 [100 cm × 40 cm]; 22,222 [75 cm × 60 cm]; 20,000 [100 cm × 50 cm]; 16,667 [100 cm × 60 cm]; and 13,333 [125 cm × 60 cm] plants per hectare, and arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications.ResultsThe results indicated that the year had a significant (P<0.001) effect on measured traits. Plant densities had no significant (P>0.05) effect on the number of nodes and leaves per plant, leaf length, and basal diameters. The number of tillers per plant varied significantly among plant densities only in the first year at the 1st harvest. Plant height in the first year was significantly (P<0.01) greater than in the second year.DiscussionAnnual dry matter production and annual crude protein production of Maralfalfa grass were not significantly affected by plant density. Nutritive value parameters (CP, Ash, NDF, ADF, ADL, and IVDMD) were not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced by plant density. Using a lower plant density could reduce the amount of planting material, transport, and labor costs.ConclusionHowever, further studies on Maralfalfa grass should be conducted in multi-locations of Ethiopia both under rain-fed and irrigated conditions with various agronomic practices.

Crop Residues Stimulate Yield-Scaled Greenhouse Gas Emissions In Maize-Wheat Cropping Rotation In A Semi-Arid Climate

Mitigating yield-scaled greenhouse gas emissions (YSE) is beneficial for enhancing crop yield, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and advancing climate-smart agronomic management practices. This study aims to evaluate the impact of different crop residue rates– 100% (R100), 50% (R50), and residue removal (R0) – on the YSE indicator within a maize-wheat cropping rotation under both conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) systems in a semi-arid region. In the NT system, crop residues had a notable effect on the YSE indicator for wheat. Specifically, R0 exhibited a 39% and 20% decrease in YSE for wheat compared to R100 and R50, respectively. Interestingly, crop residue did not significantly influence YSE for maize under the NT system. On the other hand, in the CT system, YSE for maize in R0 was 33% and 25% lower than that in R100 and R50, respectively. Additionally, compared to R0, there were observed increases of 28% and 20% in YSE for wheat in R100 and R50 under the CT system, respectively. Our findings show that crop residue removal decreases YSE under both CT and NT systems. However, given that this practice degrades soil quality and results in lower yields, it is not considered a sustainable management practice compared to residue retention options. This research highlights the importance of evaluating GHG mitigation strategies by concurrently considering both emissions and crop production. Nevertheless, it is essential to conduct off-site assessments of GHG emissions from crop residue application and also engage in long-term studies to comprehend the full potential of crop residue management on YSE.

Improving grain quality and nitrogen use efficiency of cereal-based cropping systems on vertisols in semi-arid tropics

ContextSemi-arid tropics is facing serious issues of malnutrition in population owing to poor quality of food grain production. Malnutrition is directly linked to lower grain protein and zinc yield due to inappropriate land and water, and nutrient management practices, which also resulted into reduced nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereals. ObjectiveThe objectives of the study were to evaluate the effect of land and water and nutrient management on grain protein and zinc yield, and NUE of cereal-based cropping systems on vertisols soils in semi-arid tropics. MethodsThe study was carried out at Hyderabad in India during 2014–15 and 2015–16 and involved three cropping systems (two rotation systems: sorghum-chickpea and maize-groundnut; and one intercropping: pearl millet + pigeonpea), two land and water management i.e. flatbed and broad bed furrows and four nutrient management-N1: Control (no fertilizer), N2: 100% recommended application of macronutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) through chemical fertilizer, N3: N2 + 100% recommended application of secondary nutrient (sulphur) and micronutrient (zinc and boron) through chemical fertilizer, and N4 (integrated nutrient): 50% of N2 + 50% nitrogen in cereals or phosphorus in legumes through organic fertilizer as vermicompost. ResultsIn sorghum-chickpea rotation system, the treatment interaction broad bed furrows with 100% recommended application of macronutrient, secondary nutrient and micronutrient recorded significantly higher grain zinc yield in both the years, while grain protein yield was significantly higher in second year. The grain protein and zinc yield in sorghum-chickpea rotation system, and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency in pearl millet+pigeonpea intercropping system was significantly higher in broad bed furrows than flatbed. The agronomic NUE of broad bed furrows was higher by 61% in 2014–15 and 65% in 2015–16 over flatbed. Among the nutrient management treatments, grain protein and zinc yield, and agronomic NUE were significantly higher in combined application of macronutrient, secondary nutrient, and micronutrients through chemical fertilizer i.e. N3 followed by N4, N2 and N1. ConclusionThe broad bed furrows and application of macronutrient, secondary nutrient and micronutrient could be an effective integrated land and water and nutrient management approach to improve grain quality and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency of cereal-based cropping systems in semi-arid tropics. ImplicationsThis study contributed to develop integrated land and water and nutrient management as an innovative agronomic management practice for cereal-based cropping systems, which needs to scale-up through Government agricultural policies to overcome the issue of malnutrition in population living in semi-arid tropics.

Can the Firmness, Weight, and Size of Blueberry Fruit Be Enhanced through the Application of Low Amounts of Calcium to the Soil?

The firmness, weight, and size of blueberries are vital for commercial success of this crop. Fertilization is a key agronomic management practice that affects fruit quality, where calcium (Ca) plays a critical role. This study aimed to assess the impact of low levels of soil-dosed Ca in carboxylic acid form on fruit size, weight, firmness, and residual soil fertility. The study focused on two varieties of blueberries, Duke and Legacy, over two consecutive growing seasons on three commercial farms located in south-central Chile. This study consisted of five treatments, ranging from 0 to 4.0 kg Ca per hectare. The highest firmness values observed for Duke were between 164 and 186 g mm-1, with size values ranging from 15.7 to 16.9 mm, and weight observations ranging from 1.60 to 1.76 g. On the other hand, Legacy showed firmness values between 163 and 173 g mm-1, with size values ranging from 16.2 to 17.2 mm, and weight observations ranging from 2.01 to 2.40 g. The application of low Ca rates to the soil did not impact the size, weight, or firmness of 'Duke' and 'Legacy' blueberries. There was a positive correlation between the Ca soil application and the concentration of exchangeable Ca.

Historical variability of cotton yield and response to climate and agronomic management in Xinjiang, China

Cotton is the primary fibre crop in the world with high economic value, and its yield can be affected by climate and agronomic management. Xinjiang, the largest cotton-producing province in China, contributes to approximately 90 % of the national and over 20 % of global production. Earlier studies focused on cotton yield variability and/or drivers on the site scale, for only one to several counties or cities within Xinjiang, in several years before 2000, or provincial production for a short period. It remains poorly understood how and why cotton yields change in Xinjiang. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal variability of cotton yields at the provincial and county (73 counties) levels from 1989 to 2017 using yield statistics, and identifies the dominant climate and agronomic management factors as well as their optimal ranges, historical states, and interaction effects using the geographical detector method (Geodetector). The results show that the Xinjiang cotton yield has increased markedly over the past decades, with the long-term trend outweighing the interannual variability. High yields are mostly found in southern and northwestern Xinjiang. Yield has increased significantly in over 95.6 % of cotton-planting areas, primarily in the west. Nitrogen fertilization is the leading driver of cotton yield changes, mainly impacting long-term trends. The combination of nitrogen fertilization and agricultural mechanization enhances the explanatory power in a bivariate way and is the strongest in the interaction effect between factors. Temperature variability has the greatest influence on detrended yield variability, and the explanatory power is enhanced and the highest when combined with precipitation. In addition, historical states of these factors are generally lower than their optimal ranges, indicating potential for cotton yield enhancement through improved agronomic management practices and in the context of global warming. This study could enhance understanding of cotton Xinjiang yield variability and drivers, and provides scientific guidance for local cotton cultivation.

Current and potential pest threats for canola in the Canadian Prairies.

Canola/oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) production in Canada has increased to become a foundational crop in the Canadian Prairies and an important economic driver of this region. The increase in seeded area, and by association its reduction in-crop rotation frequency, has made it easier for pests to overcome current recommended agronomic management practices. The Canola Council of Canada has been successful in involving the entire commodity value chain in promoting and strengthening the Canadian canola industry; however, because of this production increase it is critically important to understand, evaluate and mitigate the potential risks of canola yield losses to current and potential pests. This Perspective provides an overview of what are currently the most damaging insects, pathogens and weeds to canola in the Canadian Prairies, potential future threats and opportunities farmers, agronomists and researchers can take to minimize these risks. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency and plant productivity in long-term precrop/crop rotation and fertilization management

ContextLong-term experiments are an important tool to investigate the effects of crop rotation and fertilization measures under climate change conditions. However, there are few studies on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of crops in long-term cropping systems in Europe, but no consolidate studies in Germany. ObjectiveWe analyzed a long-term experiment established in 1982 to observe the role of legumes on total nitrogen uptake, NUE, agronomic efficiency, nitrogen response index and N recovery efficiency compared to fallow land and cereals in a crop rotation over the long-term. MethodsThe experiment included five different precrops (fallow land, maize, oat, field bean and clover mulch) in combination with four levels of fertilization (control, PK, PK+N with reduced dosage, and PK+N with full dosage followed by three years of cereal cultivation (winter wheat, winter rye, summer barley) in all treatments. The field trial was conducted as a fully factorial split plot design, with spatially randomized field repetitions in four blocks. ResultsLong-term mineral NPK fertilization improved the N uptake of winter wheat (185.7 kg N ha−1), winter rye (152.2 kg N ha−1) and summer barley (92.2 kg N ha−1) when the higher level of fertilization (NPK 100%) was implemented. A year-round application of clover mulch as green manure in the rotational system resulted in higher NUE (up to 37%) compared to fallow land after 40 years. Crop rotation with oat and maize (100% cereals) led to lower NUE (up to 30%) compared to fallow land. Clover mulch (198%), field bean (155%), fallow land (148%) and maize (119%) significantly increased the N uptake of wheat compared to oat in 2015. Over time, the agronomic efficiency was increased. This increase was 4 or 5 times higher in the 9th and 10th crop rotation compared to the beginning of the experiment (in 1983). Nitrogen response index of clover mulch was approximately 33–37% lower than fallow land at the beginning of the experiment in 1983 and 45–50% lower over the 40 years. N recovery efficiency values of winter wheat (94%), winter rye (66%) and summer barley (46%) increased within the 10th crop rotation compared to the beginning of the long-term experiment. ConclusionsCombining clover mulch as a green manure with mineral fertilizer has greater potential to improve NUE and crop productivity by increasing soil N availability. ImplicationsOur study highlights the importance of evaluating agronomic management practices in long-term field experiments to understand their sustainable effects.