Alternative Cropping Patterns Research Articles

Evaluasi Dan Modifikasi Pola Tata Tanam Daerah Irigasi Prako Berdasarkan Ketersediaan Air

Prako Weir in East Lombok Regency has limited water availability, which affects its ability to serve the provision of irrigation water. Failure to meet irrigation water needs is increasingly felt, so adaptation steps are needed to reduce more significant losses at the farmer level. This study aims to evaluate the current cropping pattern and obtain alternative cropping patterns that are more appropriate according to water availability in Prako Weir to minimize the potential for farmer crop failure. The study began by analysing water availability by calculating the mainstay discharge using a ranking method using Prako Weir discharge data. Continued analysing water requirements in the current cropping pattern and several alternative cropping patterns using the KP-01 method. Furthermore, the best cropping pattern was selected using the water balance method. The results obtained were the best cropping pattern according to the water availability pattern in Prako Weir, namely Rice-Soybeans-Soybeans, which began planting in early October, with an annual water surplus of 775.24 l/second. Meanwhile, the current cropping pattern, Rice-Rice-Soybeans, shows an annual deficit of 625.31 lt/second. However, if economic considerations are used, then the current planting pattern is still acceptable even though it is at risk of being unable to meet its water needs. However, a solution can be taken by providing water in turns.

Climate change adaptation strategies for sustainable water management in the Indus basin of Pakistan

Pakistan's agriculture faces water security challenges owing to insecure water supply and bad governance. The increasing food demand of the growing population and climate change vulnerability are future key threats to water sustainability. In this study, the current and future water demands as well as management strategies are evaluated for two climate change Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) for the Punjab and Sindh provinces in the Indus basin of Pakistan. The RCPs are assessed for the regional climate model REMO2015, which was found to be the best-fitting model for the current situation in a preceding model comparison using Taylor diagrams. The status quo water consumption (CWRarea) is estimated to 184 km3 yr−1, consisting of 76 % blue water (freshwater from surface water and groundwater), 16 % green water (precipitation), and 8 % grey water (required to leach out the salts from the root zone). The results of the future CWRarea indicates that RCP2.6 is more vulnerable than RCP8.5 in view of water consumption as the vegetation period of crops is reduced under RCP8.5. For both pathways (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5), CWRarea increases gradually in the midterm (2031–2070) and becomes extreme at the end of the long term (2061–2090). The future CWRarea increases up to +73 % under the RCP2.6 and up to +68 % in the RCP8.5 compared to the status quo. However, the increase in CWRarea could be restrained up to −3 % compared to the status quo through the adaptation of alternative cropping patterns. The results further show that the future CWRarea under climate change could be even decreased by up to −19 % through the collective implementation of improved irrigation technologies and optimized cropping patterns.

Profitability Analysis of a Four Crop Based Cropping Pattern in Bogura Region of Bangladesh

Farmers in the Bogura region benefit significantly from the systematic use of crop rotation. The experiment was performed at the Shibganj, Bogura, in 2015-16 and 2016-17 to create a potato-Boro-radish-T. Aman rice crop sequence that would compete with the potato-Boro-T. Aman rice crop sequence. Primary objectives of the experiment were to determine the cost of producing enhanced Potato-Boro-Radish-T. Aman rice and compare it to current potato-boro-t. aman rice. There were two patterns: Current Cropping Pattern Potato (BARI Alu-8)-Boro (BRRI dhan 28)-T. Aman (BRRI dhan-49) and Alternative Cropping Pattern Potato (BARI Alu-25)-Boro (BRRI dhan 28) -Radish (Rocky)-T. Aman (BRRI dhan-57). The research revealed that an alternative cropping pattern required average crop duration of 315 days to complete one cycle in a year, implying that a four multiple cropping sequence was economically viable to replace the current cropping pattern. In terms of mean REY, the total grain/tuber yield was 42.80 t/ha/year, which was 66% greater than the current pattern (25.76 t/ha/year). The overall production efficiency (185.14 kg/ha/day), usage of land (86.16%), and engagement in the population (660 man-days/ha/year) of the alternative cropping pattern were 45, 7, and 41% higher, respectively, than the current cropping pattern. Alternative cropping patterns had the gross benefit of 274911 Tk./ha/year, indicating that they were sparingly sustainable. The alternative crop sequence also improved crop strength, growers' real understanding, technique, profits, and engagement. Furthermore, by trying to incorporate T. aman straw into soil with an alternative cropping pattern, it promotes soil health. As a result, farmers in Bangladesh's Bogura region may employ a different planting pattern on their variable land in order to boost production and profitability while also creating jobs.

Optimization of irrigation water allocation by using linear programming: case study on Belitang irrigation system

The irrigation water requirement in the Belitang Irrigation System cannot be fulfilled during dry season due to the limited water availability. Therefore, some agricultural land in the Belitang Irrigation System receive inadequate irrigation water. To solve this problem, it is necessary to optimize the allocation of irrigation water, thus, the existing potential area could be optimized. This study aimed to obtain optimum cropping area and maximum benefits by optimizing the allocation of irrigation water based on the dependable discharge and existing area. The optimum cropping area was obtained by making several alternative cropping patterns. The linear programming was used to analyze the optimization of irrigation water allocation. The results showed that the irrigation water allocation with a dependable discharge of 80% exhibited an optimum cropping area of 58,609 ha, cropping intensity of 271.36% and maximum benefits of IDR 1,041,186,630,000.00. From the results of these studies, the cropping pattern that can be applied by considering the water availability and the existing area to obtain the optimum cropping area and maximum benefit per year is paddy-paddy-paddy/second crop.

Development of a Daily Multilayer Cropland Soil Moisture Dataset for China Using Machine Learning and Application to Cropping Patterns

AbstractSoil moisture (SM) links the water and energy cycles over the land–atmosphere interface and largely determines ecosystem functionality, positioning it as an essential player in the Earth system. Despite its importance, accurate estimation of large-scale SM remains a challenge. Here we leverage the strength of neural network (NN) and fidelity of long-term measurements to develop a daily multilayer cropland SM dataset for China from 1981 to 2013, implemented for a range of different cropping patterns. The training and testing of the NN for the five soil layers (0–50 cm, 10-cm depth each) yield R2 values of 0.65–0.70 and 0.64–0.69, respectively. Our analysis reveals that precipitation and soil properties are the two dominant factors determining SM, but cropping pattern is also crucial. In addition, our simulations of alternative cropping patterns indicate that winter wheat followed by fallow will largely alleviate the SM depletion in most parts of China. On the other hand, cropping patterns of fallow in the winter followed by maize/soybean seem to further aggravate SM decline in the Huang-Huai-Hai region and southwestern China, relative to prevalent practices of double cropping. This may be due to their low soil porosity, which results in more soil water drainage, as opposed to the case that winter crop roots help maintain SM. This multilayer cropland SM dataset with granularity of cropping patterns provides an important alternative and is complementary to modeled and satellite-retrieved products.

ACPAR: A framework for linking national water and food security management with global conditions

In this paper, we identify cropping pattern as a major policy variable. A framework for the generation of alternative cropping patterns (ACPs) in arid regions, called ACPAR, is developed for assessing water and food security. ACPAR is applied to the case study of Egypt, for which a simulation-based national water, food, and trade (NWFT) model exists. ACPAR is formulated to minimize the agricultural water demand, food imports, and the economic cost of imports as well as maximize the national gross margin of agriculture. These four objective functions are optimized to generate ACPs that have different tradeoffs. Additional filtering criteria are employed to account for fertilizer use as well as the stability of the set objectives. The ACPs are generated and evaluated for the baseline period (1986-2013) as well as under future conditions up to the year 2050. The results show that ACPAR is useful for proposing ACPs that could have worked better for Egypt during the baseline period, but also ACPs that outperform the historical cropping pattern in each objective function for wide future conditions. Some of the generated future ACPs can perform well regarding irrigation water use and cost of imports, without compromising food self-sufficiency. The quantified tradeoffs between the identified objective functions are the key contributions of this study, representing important information for policymakers to aid in water resources planning. The ACPAR framework connects national water resource management decisions to global food production, consumption, and trade dynamics.

Farm-level exploration of economic and environmental impacts of sustainable intensification of rice-wheat cropping systems in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic plains

• Farms with higher resource endowment had larger outcome spaces. • Optimization results highlight the trade-off between profit and water use. • Environmental objectives could be improved with re-allocation of current crops. • Sustainable intensification with mung bean was not beneficial for all farm types. Agriculture in rural Bihar needs to maintain its productivity while enhancing its biophysical sustainability. To sustainably intensify the predominant rice-wheat systems, alternative cropping patterns with short duration legumes, planted in the usually fallow summer season, were developed. The addition of the legume ensures near-permanent soil cover, breaks the cereal-cereal cycle, and aims to improve soil quality while yielding between 0.6 and 1.2 Mg ha -1 of protein-rich dry matter. On-station experiments previously demonstrated the agronomical feasibility of the alternative cropping patterns while this study addresses the implications of such field-level changes at farm-level for different types of smallholders. We used the model FarmDESIGN to 1) assess current farm performance, 2) explore options to rearrange cropping patterns and 3) assess the impact of cropping patterns with mung bean. We found diverse farm performances, indicating a heterogenous farming community. Re-arranging current cropping patterns gave all farms possibilities to save water, increase soil organic matter content and decrease nitrogen losses but showed trade-offs with operating profit. Higher resource endowed farms had most potential to favourably rearrange the farm and improve multiple performance indicators. Two out of the five farms assessed did not benefit from including the alternative cropping patterns. We conclude that the impact of innovations greatly depends on farm type and current farm features and performance, described by a farm typology.

Delineation of groundwater potential zones in a drought-prone semi-arid region of east India using GIS and analytical hierarchical process techniques

Over-extraction of groundwater has compromised its climatic resilience properties and the arid/semi-arid rural tracts are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the risks of groundwater scarcity. This study has employed a combination of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) techniques to delineate the Groundwater Potential Zones (GPZs) of the semi-arid Birbhum district in eastern India which suffers from seasonal drought during lean periods. For a reliable evaluation, a large number of thematic layers (N = 12) including geology, geomorphology, Land Use/Land Cover (LULC), fault and lineament density, drainage density, rainfall, soil type, slope, roughness, topographic wetness index, topographic position index and curvature were considered for this assessment. Multicollinearity and consistency checks were performed prior integrating the layers to avoid a non-trivial degree of accuracy in prediction output. The GPZ map was obtained with an accuracy of 80.49% with respect to the observation tube well data. Based on the obtained output, 38.24%, 24.24% and 11.14% of areas of the district classified as moderate, poor, and very poor GPZs, respectively, whereas only 26.38% of the district classified as high to very high GPZs. Cross-validation using the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve revealed a good prediction accuracy of 71.50%. Furthermore, map removal and single parameter sensitivity analysis was also performed which revealed geology, geomorphology, soil types, rainfall, LULC and lineament density as the most influential parameters for the prediction model where exclusion of any thematic layer significantly changes the prediction accuracy and area of each GPZ class. The most convincing GPZs are recorded in some parts of the Mayurakshi and Ajay river basins and certain alluvial aquifer regions. Nonetheless, the study recommends the adaptation of Managed Aquifer Recharge techniques including rainwater harvesting, alternative cropping patterns and irrigation techniques such as sprinklers, drips and micro irrigations to increase the groundwater potential of the water crisis zones.

STUDI PENINGKATAN INTENSITAS LUAS DAN POLA TANAM PADA DAERAH IRIGASI KRUENG JREUE

Krueng Jreue irrigation area is one of the oldest irrigation in Aceh Besar district, located in the District of Indrapuri, was inaugurated in 1972 by President Soeharto. Rice area irrigated by this irrigation is 4277.6 ha. Jreue Krueng irrigated areas have rice-rice cropping intensity of plants ranging from 158% to 156%. The intensity of these plants are still below the expected crop intensity, is equal to 200%. To increase the intensity of these plants, it is necessary to study the increased intensity of Krueng Jreue tanamana irrigation area by selecting the appropriate alternative cropping patterns according to the water balance. This study aims to determine the amount of discharge mainstay available on the weir, know the size of the crop water requirement for each alternative, determine optimal crop area that can be irrigated by water that is available, and conduct studies on water balance based cropping planned. Expected to describe the water balance of alternative cropping patterns were obtained. The method used in this research including data collection and data analysis to determine the mainstay discharge, water irrigation, cropping pattern and cropping intensity. The study results obtained by the intensity of the plants can reach 200% by the water supply system using the technical rotation irrigation area is divided into two groups. The first type, cropping season from October period to 2. The second class of the cropping season from November to 2.

Model results versus farmer realities. Operationalizing diversity within and among smallholder farm systems for a nuanced impact assessment of technology packages

Agricultural production in Northern Ghana is dominated by smallholder farm systems, which are characterized by low inputs and low outputs, declining soil fertility, large yield gaps and limited adoption of agricultural technologies. There is an urgent need for alternative farm designs that are more productive, yet more sustainable. Technology packages for sustainable intensification are promoted by an R4D project in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana. In this paper, we analyse differences in perceived suitability, and modelled technical impact per technology package.We used a locally validated framework to categorise farm systems diversity that considers both, the horizontal (between households) and vertical (within households) dimension of diversity. Farm households were classified along a gradient of resource endowment. We selected one representative farm per type and per region to assess and compare their socio-economic and environmental performance (farm profitability, labour and soil organic matter inputs) using the whole-farm model Farm DESIGN. We then used Farm DESIGN to assess the potential impact of five proposed technology packages and to explore promising alternative farm configurations. We discussed model assumptions and results with farmers, including alternative cropping patterns and trade-offs. We evaluated the packages with different household members using a weighted scoring technique, subsequently juxtaposing model results with farmer perceptions.Large differences prevailed among and within farms per type and per region, with low resource endowed farms being projected to benefit most in relative and least in absolute terms from an adoption of the packages. Farmer feedback confirmed the accuracy of alternative farm configurations, as determined by the model. However, the feedback also revealed that the most profitable farm designs would be hard to attain in reality, particularly for members of low and medium resource endowed households, due to high initial investment costs. Within households, women were more positive about the packages than men, since men heavily penalized extra costs and labour, translating into a greater congruence of model results with the male evaluation. We discuss the importance of distinguishing between technical (technology i.e. purchased tools and inputs) and managerial (techniques e.g. row planting) package components. We conclude that operationalizing inter- and intra-household diversity is a fundamental step in identifying sensible solutions for the challenges smallholder farm systems face in Northern Ghana.

Forage potential and water productivity in alternativecropping patterns

Los sistemas de producción de forrajes se pueden mejorar con la incorporación de especies alternativas con altos atributos nutricionales. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el potencial forrajero y productividad del agua (PA) en patrones de cultivos forrajeros que incluyeron canola (Brassica napus L.), chícharo (Pisum sativum L.) y soya (Glycine max L.) como cultivos alternativos. Se compararon los patrones alternativos maíz-maíz-canola, sorgo-sorgo-canola, maíz-maíz-chícharo y soya-maíz-avena con los patrones convencionales, alfalfa, maíz-avena y maíz-maíz-avena. El estudio se realizó de abril de 2009 a abril de 2011 en Matamoros, Coahuila, México. Se determinó la composición química del forraje, los rendimientos de materia seca (MS), nutrientes y PA en la producción de MS, proteína cruda (PC) y energía neta para lactancia (ENL). La incorporación de canola en los patrones con maíz o sorgo en primavera y verano incrementó el rendimiento de PC (34.4 %) y la PA (33.3 %), sin disminuir los rendimientos de MS y ENL, al compararse con el patrón convencional maíz-maíz-avena. Los patrones que incluyeron canola registraron mayores rendimientos de MS y ENL, utilizando el 83 % del volumen de agua requerido por alfalfa, pero con menor rendimiento de PC (19 a 25 %). La PA y el rendimiento de PC se incrementaron en el patrón soya-maíz-avena, pero con menores rendimientos de MS y ENL. En los patrones maíz-maíz-chícharo y maíz-maíz-avena los rendimientos de MS y nutrientes y PA fueron similares. Los resultados indican que la incorporación de canola y soya en los sistemas de producción de forrajes incrementa la productividad del agua.

Optimal Crop Water Allocation in Case of Drought Occurrence, Imposing Deficit Irrigation with Proportional Cutback Constraint

Optimal crop water allocation has become more challenging in drier areas of the world (short of rainfall) due to increased water scarcity and more frequent droughts. alternative cropping patterns, reallocation of water resources and modification of irrigation are some of the strategies used to address droughts . A new optimization model is used in this study to find the optimal cropping patterns during droughts, while benefiting from deficit irrigation to decrease the total allocated water. Moreover, the proposed model is subjected to a proportional cutback constraint to meet optimized proportional water allocation under limited water condition. As a real case study, two related districts, namely Neku-abad and Abshar located in Zayandeh-rud River basin are considered. Zayandeh-rud river basin is located in the central part of Iran. For better illustration of model outputs, the proposed model was checked using various irrigation efficiency values (60–100 % in 10 % interval), water reduction ratios (0.0–0.4) and cutback parameters (λ a = 0.3, λ n = 0.7, λ a = 0.51, λ n = 0.49 and λ a = λ n = 0.5). The results showed that the values of λ a = 0.51, λ n = 0.49 presents the maximum proportionality in terms of water reduction among all the allocation units or users. Although different values of cutback parameters (e.g.: λ a = 0.3, λ n = 0.7) maximize net benefits, they are not considered as proportionate decisions in the considered study area.

Effect of hyperaccumulating plant cover composition and rhizosphere-associated bacteria on the efficiency of nickel extraction from soil

Most plant species selected as appropriate candidates for phytoextraction have been studied as monocultures. However, alternative cropping patterns which include rhizosphere microbial communities can significantly influence the extraction of metals, as well as soil protection and quality. Therefore, the objective of this work was to study the effect of species-rich vegetation cover, which consisted of three hyperaccumulator plant species, on the efficiency of nickel extraction from a naturally mineralized ultramafic soil. An experiment was set up with three hyperaccumulator species (Leptoplax emarginata, Noccaea tymphaea and Alyssum murale). Plants were cultivated separately (monospecific cover), or in combination (multispecies cover) in mesocosms under controlled conditions, on a nickel-rich ultramafic soil. Plants were grown for 92 days in controlled conditions. Each plant produced more biomass when grown in multispecies cover than alone. Noccaea and Alyssum showed the highest shoot Ni concentrations but Alyssum had by far the lowest shoot biomass. So, in this soil, Noccaea and Leptoplax have greater potential for hyperaccumulation than Alyssum. The amount of nickel accumulated in total biomass of Noccaea alone and of the multispecies cover was higher than that accumulated in either the monospecies Leptoplaxor Alyssum. Furthermore, the highest values of microbial biomass were obtained with the multispecies cover and a consistent production of auxin compounds by bacterial communities was measured, which emphasized the role of rhizosphere bacteria. The bacterial genetic structure also depended on the plant covers. A combination of the three species (multispecies cover), could be a good strategy for phytoremediation.

An Agent Based Hydro Informatics Approach for the Engagement of Farmers in Irrigation Water Management in Saudi Arabia

The use of software agent systems and technologies to simulate water resources management scenarios and improve the engagement of stakeholders in policy making is gaining paramount importance. Such importance originates from two main concerns or change agents. Firstly, the context of water management is becoming highly complicated due to the intensity of connections with other systems, the diversity of stakeholders and the multiplicity (and sometime conflicting) objectives of decision partners. Moreover, the domain used for capitalizing on water management issues is becoming planetary (as it is the case of shared basins) rather than being local (watershed, watercourse, scheme, etc.). As a result, the concern is not limited to the optimization of the utility matrix of stakeholders but additional attention is required to incorporate many emerging issues such as the maintenance of financial sustainability, functional mainstreaming and improving engagement to promote reconciliation and change of water use behaviors. Secondly, the recent technological developments have improved the processing capacity of hardware, software functionalities and the accessibility of telecommunication platforms. Such developments have been reflected in the improvement of the capacities of decision makers to address complex problem domains. Software agents' technologies possess the qualities that make them useful for the provision of decision support in water management domains. As it is the case of irrigated agriculture, software agents' technology can be used for the design of farm surface irrigation systems, the improvement of irrigation systems management and the enhancement of the involvement of farmers in the processes of integrated water management. This paper is concerned with the use of agent based systems to facilitate the engagement of farmers in Al Ahsaa area in the management of water resources. The government of the Kingdom is adopting a demand management approach for the management of irrigation water by discouraging the cultivation of water-consuming crops such as wheat and dates. Improving the ability of farmers to analyze alternative cropping patterns significantly affects their water use behavior.

ECONOMIC RETURN OF ALTERNATIVE CROPPING PATTERN IN THE DIFFERENT AGRO- ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF EGYPT

The present study aimed to design alternative cropping patterns relative to actual cropping pattern to minimize total water need of cropping pattern in different agro- ecological zones in Egypt. Egypt divided to five different agro- ecological zones, to exploit the points of differentiation for each zone, and to provide the decision maker of agricultural policy an opportunity to guide them for adjusting the path of agricultural production, to satisfy the needs of the Egyptian society from agricultural crops under the limited agricultural resources, through maximizing the economic use of these resources using linear programing approach. The total water needs for actual cropping pattern in the first ecological zone reached 22.12 billion m3, while the total water needs for alternative pattern 20.92 billion m3, saving around 1.2 billion m3, representing about 5.4% from available total Irrigation water, could be used to irrigate 364.4 thousand feddan in new land, and adding to the total net income L.E. 1.1 billion. While the total water needs for actual cropping pattern in the second ecological zone was 6240.1 million m3, while the total water needs for alternative pattern 5822.2 million m3, saving around 417.8 million m3, representing about 6.7% from available total Irrigation water, could be used to irrigate 132 thousand feddan in new land, and adding to the total net income L.E. 338.2 millionWhereas the total water needs for actual cropping pattern in the third ecological zone was 5472 million m3, while the total water needs for alternative pattern 5390 million m3, saving around 82 million m3, representing about 1.5% from available total Irrigation water, could be used to irrigate 52.2 thousand feddan in new land, and adding to the total net income L.E. 83.2 million. The total water needs for actual cropping pattern in the forth ecological zone was 7628 million m3, while the total water needs for alternative pattern 7375 million m3, saving around 253million m3, representing about 3.3% from available total Irrigation water, could be used to irrigate 69.1 thousand feddan in new land, and adding to the total net income L.E. 187.7 million. And the total water needs for actual cropping pattern in the last ecological zone was 3900 million m3, while the total water needs for alternative pattern 3833 million m3, saving around 67 million m3, representing about 1.72% from available total Irrigation water, could be used to irrigate 11 thousand feddan in new land, and adding to the total net income L.E. 405 million

THE ECONOMIC RETURN OF ALTERNATIVE CROPPING PATTERN AIMED TO MAXIMIZATION THE TOTAL NET RETURN OF WATER UNIT IN AGRO- ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF EGYPT

This study aimed to design alternative cropping patterns for the actual cropping pattern to maximize the total net return of water unit in different agro- ecological zones in Egypt. Egypt was divided into five different agro- ecological zones, for exploiting the points of differentiation for each zone, and providing the designers of agricultural policy with an opportunity to guide them adjusting the path of agricultural production, therefore satisfying the greatest needs of the Egyptian society from agricultural crops under the limited agricultural resources, through maximizing the economic use of these resources using linear programing approach. The total net income for the alternative cropping pattern at the first ecological zone increased by L.E. 1.25 billion, which represented 1.06% from Egyptian vegetables production in the year 2010, that alternative saved about 779 million m3 from the actual irrigation water, it’s represented 3.52% from available total irrigation water, which could be used to irrigate 232.93 thousand feddan in new land at the same zone, and hereby the total net income will be increased by L.E. 753.3 million. Therefore the total net income for the alternative cropping pattern at the second ecological zone increased by L.E. 365.1 million, that alternative saved about 297.2 million m3 from the actual irrigation water, it’s represented 4.8% from available total irrigation water, which could be used to irrigate 93 thousand feddan in new land at the same zone, and hereby the total net income will be increased by L.E. 275 million.Whereas the total net income for the alternative cropping pattern at the third ecological zone increased by L.E. 291.5 million, that alternative saved about 31 million m3 from the actual irrigation water, it’s represented 0.6% from available total irrigation water, which could be used to irrigate 5.5 thousand feddan in new land at the same zone, and hereby the total net income will be increasedby L.E. 19.7 million. The total net income for actual cropping pattern in the forth agro- ecological zone was reached L.E. 5.77 billion, while the total net income for alternative pattern was reached L.E. 6.07 billion. L.E. 301 million was difference between the estimated income for actual pattern and alternative pattern. The total net income for actual cropping pattern at the last agro- ecological zone was reached L.E. 2.38 billion, while the total net income for alternative pattern was reached L.E. 2.54 billion. L.E. 162 million was difference between the estimated income for actual pattern and alternative pattern. It is represents about 8.6% of the total value of vegetable production in 2010.

Optimal irrigation planning model for an existing storage based irrigation system in India

A weekly irrigation planning LP model is formulated for determining the optimal cropping pattern and reservoir water allocation for an existing storage based irrigation system in India. Objective of the model is maximization of net annual benefit from the project. In an irrigation planning of a storage based irrigation system, initial storage of the reservoir at the beginning of the reservoir operation, expected inflows into the reservoir during each intraseasonal period, capacity of channels, crop calendar and yield response to water deficit in each growth stage of crop play a vital role in deciding acreage and water allocation to each crop. The planning model takes into account yield response to water deficit in each intraseasonal period of the crop, expected weekly inflows entering into the reservoir, storage continuity of reservoir, land and water availability, equity of water allocation among sub areas and proportionate downstream river release. One year comprising of 52 weeks is considered as planning horizon. To account for uncertainty in water resources availability, the model is solved for four levels of reliability of weekly inflows entering into the reservoir (90%, 85%, 80% and 75%). Alternative optimal cropping patterns and weekly releases to crops grown in each sub area under each main canal are obtained for various states of initial storage at the beginning of reservoir operation and for various levels of weekly inflows into the reservoir. Results reveal the importance of initial state of reservoir storage for feasible solution and shows the impact on cropping pattern with the change in initial storage of reservoir for different levels of reliability of weekly inflows.

Multiobjective modelling for regional agricultural planning: Case study in Tunisia

A farm planning model for Agro-Combinat Touila of Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia is developed in this paper. The ADELAIS multiobjective linear programming software is then used as a means to investigate conflict and compromises among specific development objectives and to design and evaluate alternative efficient cropping patterns. Throughout the decision process, which was carried out in Sidi Bouzid, a sequence of alternative cropping policies was generated and a satisfaction cropping pattern was finally obtained.

Planning Simulation Model of Irrigation District

A simulation model is presented for planning the conjunctive use of irrigation water from a single multipurpose reservoir and an aquifer, and the allocation of cropped areas within an irrigation district. The model considers cropping patterns, profits for the farmers in the irrigation district, monthly reservoir and aquifer operating schedules for a one-year planning horizon, and hydropower generation. The model reproduces the performance of the irrigation system under the management policies specified by the planners themselves, given certain initial conditions, hydrological and economic input parameters, cropping patterns, reservoir and aquifer releases, and structural characteristics. Solution to the irrigation-planning simulation model is obtained through the use of a computer program module developed for a microcomputer. The capability of the simulation model is illustrated by applying it to planning the management of an irrigation district in northern Mexico. The model permits the study of alternative cropping patterns in the irrigation district and yields the monthly schedule of reservoir storages and releases and aquifer withdrawals as well as the annual profit in the district.

Barriers to movement and the response of herbivores to alternative cropping patterns.

Does the response of insect herbivores to the spatial dispersion of their food plants depend on whether alternative dispersions are available? To answer this question, four quartets of collard plots (Brassicae oleracae) were planted. Quartets contained two pairs of plots representing alternative planting designs. In one pair the alternatives were separated from one and other by a curtain barrier that effectively prevented plot to plot movement by the flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae. The boundary between the other pair of alternatives was without barriers, and the beetles could range freely between these two plots. We hypothesized that the presence of a choice (i.e. the absence of a barrier) would exaggerate any differences in beetle numbers between the alternative plant arrangements.Beetles were given "choices" between two kinds of alternatives. In two quartets, the alternatives were high density collard monocultures versus low density collard monocultures. In the other two quartets, the alternatives were collard monocultures versus collard-potato discultures. In each quartet, the abundances of P. cruciferae were censused weekly for three weeks.As we hypothesized, the influence of cropping pattern (both diversity and density) was less where there was a barrier between cropping alternatives than where there was no barrier between the same alternatives. This suggests that nonrandom foraging movement, or "patch choice", explains the response of Phyllotreta to cropping treatments. The consequence of this mechanism for interpreting the results of insect-host experiments are substantial; experimental designs allowing insects to move and accumulate in a preferred treatment may have different results from the same treatments in isolation.