Conventional Cropping Systems Research Articles

Farming system diversification: An insight on strengthening the livelihood in a hilly ecosystem

To make Indian agriculture remunerative, and enhance farmers’ income, the Government of India initiated a mission for doubling the farmers’ income (DFI) by 2022. For DFI under a conventional cropping system, the agriculture sector needs to grow @15% per annum. Therefore, there is a need for reorienting the conventional cropping system with a more productive alternative integrated farming system, combining on and off-farm occupations with high technological support. With this background, the present study was carried out in a cluster of villages where interventions through a research institution (Farmer FIRST project) were made. Such interventions were undertaken in a cluster of 7 villages involving 500 farm families (2016–19). The technological gaps were identified through benchmark surveys using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and extensive farmers' group discussions. During this, farmers’ skills and managerial capabilities were explored, and 16 interventions of various farming modules and sub-modules attributed to higher income were identified and implemented. The farmers were continuously provided technological and partial input support in terms of capacity building and seeds, fertilisers and similar others. The results indicated that mushroom production had high potential for supplementing farm income (117% per farm family). The income from food grains increased by 81% whereas, income from seasonal and off-season vegetable crops increased by more than double. Dairy farming exhibited 52.38% increase in income. In absolute terms, the dairy had maximum contribution in increasing income by ₹24,014 followed by food grains (₹13,251). The intervention modules increased the average per-farm family income by ₹46,979, which was highly significant (P<0.01%). The income of 40% of the farm families increased by more than double, while the income of 1% of the farmers increased by >75% in just 2 years. Overall, when four modules and sub-modules of the model were put together, the total farm income per family increased by 67% from ₹70,290 (2016–17) to ₹1,17,269 (2018–19).

Evaluation of Organic and Synthetic Herbicide Applications on Weed Suppression in a Conventional Cropping System in Louisiana

Evaluation of Organic and Synthetic Herbicide Applications on Weed Suppression in a Conventional Cropping System in Louisiana

Faba bean and spring barley in sequence with catch crops: Grain yields and nitrate leaching

Context/ProblemImporting protein into Europe is causing sustainability challenges, which has resulted in an increasing European interest in locally growing faba bean as a protein source. There is, however, a concern that this may result in higher nitrate leaching compared with conventional cereal-based systems. Objective/Research questionWe investigated the risk of nitrate leaching and its mitigation strategy after growing faba bean with catch crops within a conventional European cropping system that also includes catch crops in spring barley. MethodsWe conducted a field experiment with faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and three catch crops (chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and winter rye (Secale cereale L.)) grown in sequence with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and replicated in time over a period of three years. Continuous spring barley with catch crops (perennial ryegrass and fodder radish (Raphanus sativus L.)) were used as a reference. Measurements included grain yield and grain nitrogen (N) of the main crops, aboveground biomass and N yield of the catch crops, and nitrate leaching. ResultsGrain yield and grain N of faba bean grown with undersown catch crops were not statistically different than without catch crop and post-harvest sown catch crops. Catch crops with faba bean had lower aboveground biomass and N yield than with spring barley. Faba bean as pre-crop compensated for the reduced amount of fertilizer input and also increased the grain yield and grain N of the subsequent spring barley. In 2020–21, nitrate leaching from both spring barley and faba bean without catch crops was not statistically different, with an average of 64 kg NO3-N ha−1. In contrast, in 2021–22, nitrate leaching after faba bean without catch crops was higher with 104 kg NO3-N ha−1, compared with spring barley with 68 kg NO3-N ha−1. Catch crops significantly reduced nitrate leaching on average by up to 55 kg NO3-N ha−1 from faba bean and 62 kg NO3-N ha−1 from spring barley fields. ConclusionsThe study reveals that growing faba bean can reduce N fertilizer input without compromising the grain yield and grain N of following spring barley. Variable nitrate leaching between years from faba bean requires more research on diverse pedo-climatic and agronomic conditions to better assess nitrate leaching risks and reduction strategies. Implications or significanceThese results will aid in designing cropping systems including faba bean and catch crops combinations to reduce N fertilizer input and nitrate leaching risks and improve protein sufficiency.

Barley and wheat beta-glucan content influenced by weather, fertilization, and genotype

IntroductionBeta-glucan is one of the most important dietary fibers in cereal grains, having a great impact on human health and food quality. Wheat and barley are strategic crops and their fibers contribute toward their nutraceutical impact. However, the health of the environment is also important to ensure sustainable crop production. Hence the European decision makers have agreed to move toward organic cropping and to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers. Environment and agricultural management have a vast impact on the content of β-glucan in cereal grains. To exploit the valuable properties of β-glucan, the knowledge of factors increasing the amount of this component is crucial. We hypothesized that annual weather conditions, nitrogen fertilization, and cropping system affect the β-glucan amount in wheat and barley.MethodsFor this purpose, spring barley and winter wheat flour samples from an 8-year-long period (2014-2021) were characterized. The experiment included conventional and organic cropping systems with different nitrogen rates between 0 and 150 kg ha−1. In addition, the variation of β-glucan content in different varieties was analyzed.Results and discussionThe results showed that the content of β-glucan in barley and wheat grains was affected mainly by weather conditions not by fertilization. The latter finding means that the regulation of crop nutrition is not going to impact dietary fiber content in our everyday food. Lower temperatures during tillering and higher 1,000 kernel weight and test weight showed a positive correlation with β-glucan content in barley grains, while precipitation during the grain filling period had a negative correlation. Our findings suggest that β-glucan can be obtained from low-input and organic systems as efficiently as from fertilized treatments. However, there is a need for adaptation strategies in industry, as β-glucan content can vary from year to year.

Variations in Soil Organic Carbon Fractions and Microbial Community in Rice Fields under an Integrated Cropping System

Combining rice cultivation and aquaculture into an integrated cropping system is a management approach that enhances the sustainability of rice fields. However, how soil characteristics influence soil microbial community characteristics following implementation of such an integrated system, particularly in the waterlogged paddies of the Pearl River Delta, is poorly understood. An integrated cropping system (rice–fish–duck integrated cropping system, RFD) and a rice–pepper rotation system (RPS) were compared using a conventional rice cropping system (CRS) as a reference. We used phospholipid-derived fatty acid (PLFA) analysis to assess soil microbial community structure and function and measured soil nutrient content and organic carbon fractions. Our results indicated that the soil nutrient content, organic carbon fractions, and C-hydrolyzing activities differed among the cropping systems. The RFD resulted in higher microbial PLFA concentrations and a lower ratio of Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacteria than CRS. Additionally, the integrated system reduced microbial nutrient stress by increasing soil pH. Further analysis revealed that active soil organic carbon significantly affected the soil microbial community. Thus, the RFD integrated cropping systems that alter the combined actions of pH and active organic carbon fractions can be used to improve soil microbial communities.

Higher than expected: Nitrogen flows, budgets, and use efficiencies over 35 years of organic and conventional cropping

Organic and conventional cropping systems differ in type and amount of nitrogen (N) inputs. In organic cropping only organic fertilizers are permitted, while both organic and mineral fertilizers are used in conventional cropping. Fertilizer type and amount can affect N use efficiency of a cropping system, but contributions via symbiotic N fixation and changes in soil N stocks are rarely quantified based on field data when computing nutrient budgets. We calculated an N budget that accounts for these contributions based on annual data records for a period of 35 years at the Swiss DOK (bio-Dynamic, bio-Organic, Konventionell) field experiment. Here, different organic and conventional cropping systems have been maintained at two fertilization levels: typical for the respective system, and half these doses (low). Controls comprise a conventional treatment receiving solely mineral fertilizers and an unfertilized treatment. At the typical level, average fertilizer N inputs were 93 (bio-dynamic), 96 (bio-organic), and 171 (conventional system) kg N ha−1 yr−1. Nitrogen output via harvested products regularly exceeded N input with fertilizers in all treatments. In each of the 7-year crop rotation periods, legumes (grass-clover ley, intercrops, soybean) were grown in three years. Their symbiotic N fixation was quantified based on 15N studies and legume N yield data. It ranged from 75 to 122 kg N ha−1 per year of the DOK experiment, was slightly reduced under low fertilization and was the main N input for most treatments. Soil surface budgets (sum of N inputs from fertilization, symbiotic fixation, seeds, and deposition minus N outputs via crop harvests) yielded balances from −31 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (in non-fertilized control) to +46 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (conventional system with typical fertilization level). Nitrogen use efficiencies (NUE; N output with harvests as % of sum of N inputs) reached values >100 % in treatments with negative balances while NUE ranged from 85 % to 99 % in treatments with positive balances. Changes in topsoil (0–0.2 m) N stocks over time ranged from −26 to +9 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and declined in both unfertilized and mineral fertilized controls, and in systems receiving animal manure at low fertilization levels. Thus, positive soil surface N balances and animal manure are needed to maintain or increase topsoil N stocks. While NUE was generally high in all cropping systems there remains a trade-off between either soil N mining at higher NUE or potential N loss to the environment at lower NUE.

Management practices influence biocontrol potential of generalist predators in maize cropping systems

AbstractIntensification of conventional agriculture is a leading cause of negative environmental impact, loss of biodiversity, and reduced delivery of ecosystem services in agroecosystems. Maize, due to its growth habits and cultivation management, provides a poor habitat for beneficial arthropods. Several strategies are available to make maize cropping systems more sustainable and to promote biodiversity at field level. The present study evaluates the effects of various maize cropping systems – precisely, maize continuous monoculture, maize multiple cropping, and three mixed cropping systems (maize‐runner bean, maize‐sorghum, and maize‐flower strips) – on generalist predators and their biological control potential. Overall, we found that the reference system with maize continuous monoculture and conventional crop management had the lowest activity of generalist predators compared in particular to the low‐input mixed cropping systems. Higher activity density and biocontrol potential were found in the systems that provided a dense and permanent vegetation cover of the ground (i.e., maize/sorghum, maize/flower strip). Although these effects were not consistent for all the parameters investigated and for every sampling date, we conclude that generalist predators can benefit from more conservative management practices in maize systems, thereby enhancing their biological pest control potential. Furthermore, spatial intercropping may represent a valid alternative to the conventional monocultural crop system to support the delivery of biodiversity‐mediated ecosystem services towards a more sustainable system.

Will the endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari increase N-mineralization in maize soil?

Endophytes can be developed into biocontrol agents and can be fungi, bacteria, or archaea that live inside plant tissues without causing symptoms of disease. Phomopsis liquidambari is an endophytic fungus that plays an important ecosystem role as a biofertilizer by helping its host obtain soil nitrogen. How this fungus impacts N mineralization and microbial communities is little known. Our understanding of soil nutrient transformations and soil-plant-microbe interactions in Phomopsis liquidambari-crop versus conventional crop systems is incomplete. This study provided a better understanding of the effect of Phomopsis liquidambari on nitrogen mineralization and investigated the interaction between P. liquidambari and nitrogen, which in turn will be helpful to the farmer in reducing the required amount of soil N fertilizer. This change in N availability in maize soil will have significant implications for soil productivity and plant N utilization, especially in N-limited soils, and significantly reduce the required amount of soil N fertilizer. The effect of P. liquidambari on N mineralization in maize soil was investigated by treating it with four levels of N (urea) at rates of 0, 1.25, 2.5, and 3.75 g of nitrogen. N-mineralization was determined by the anaerobic incubation method. Were stored for 7 days in an incubator at a constant 37 C. A colorimetric microplate procedure was used for NH4+-N analysis. A significant increase in the available NH4+-N contents was reported in soil maize (Zea mays L.) inoculated with P. liquidambari, which increased by 80%. A significant increase in N-mineralization was observed under all N conditions. This work highlighted the importance of the fungal endophyte for soil N-mineralization with lower N input. Using this fungal agent will almost certainly help reduce fertilizer input.

Seedling emergence and biomass production of soybean cultivars under wheat-soybean relay cropping.

Diversification and intensification of cropping systems can ensure farm profitability while reducing negative environmental impacts of agriculture. Wheat-soybean relay cropping (RC), which consists in planting soybean into standing wheat prior to its harvest, may have this potential although it is poorly adopted by French and European farmers. One of the reasons underlying this lack of adoption could be poor emergence rates and biomass production of soybean, due to a severe competition from the already established primary crop for water, light and nutrients during the co-growth or intercrop phase. All these constraints during the early plant growth could finally affect soybean grain yield and thus farm profitability. Here, we performed a laboratory experiment followed by a 2-year field trial (2021-2022) to investigate potential differences among seven soybean cultivars belonging to different maturity groups (from very early to late) in terms of early growth traits viz. seed germination, seedling emergence vigor and final rates, and early biomass production in wheat-soybean RC. A reference soybean variety belonging to late maturity group (cv. ES Pallador) was also sown under conventional cropping system as control treatment (hereafter referred to as CC). Under laboratory conditions, the base water potential for germination ranged from -0.65 to -0.45 MPa with significant differences (p<0.001) among the tested cultivars indicating their differential tolerance to water stress. Under field conditions, seedling emergence vigor, an index explaining the speed of emergence, ranged from 0.23 to 0.41 and from 0.24 to 0.33 while final emergence rates ranged from 69% to 93% and from 65 to 90% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. We found significant effect of cultivar, year and cultivar x year interaction on emergence vigor (p<0.001) and final emergence rates (p<0.01, p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively) of soybean cultivars. Significantly higher emergence vigor of the referent cv. ES Pallador was observed in RC compared to CC cropping system in 2021 (0.40 and 0.34, respectively) but not in 2022 (0.29 and 0.31, respectively). Water stress in the seedbed was higher in RC compared to the CC and was the main cause affecting seed germination and seedling emergence vigor especially in 2022. We found a positive correlation between seedling emergence vigor and seedling final emergence rates indicating that a lower speed of seedling emergence, due to seedbed stress factors, affects final emergence rates of soybean. Post-emergence losses due to pigeons were significantly higher (p<0.001) in CC compared to RC (30% and 2% in 2021, and 29% and 2% in 2022 in CC and RC, respectively). Significantly higher biomass production was observed in CC compared to that in RC both in 2021 (162 vs 33 g/m2 of dry matter; p<0.001) and 2022 (252 vs 60 g/m2 of dry matter; p<0.001). Overall, pre-/post-emergence water stress in the seedbed and post-emergence damage due to pigeons are the most important factors affecting a uniform and robust soybean establishment under RC and CC, respectively under southern French conditions.

Bi‐directional hoeing in maize

AbstractThe weed control efficacy (WCE) of mechanical weeding in the inter‐row area in conventional cropping systems can achieve more than 90%. Despite the use of special intra‐row tools (e.g., finger weeders), only a WCE of 65%–75% can currently be realized in the intra‐row area. To close the gap between inter‐row and intra‐row WCE, in this study, a new approach for high‐efficacy precise mechanical weeding is presented. By using a GPS‐based pneumatic precision seeder (Kverneland GEOseed), a square crop seeding pattern of 37.5 cm × 37.5 cm was established in maize to enable post‐emergence hoeing lengthwise and transverse to the sowing direction. Thus, the treated area by the hoeing blades is postulated to increase, resulting in higher WCE. For this, six field experiments were conducted in South‐Western Germany in 2021 and 2022. Goosefoot blades and no‐till sweeps were guided automatically using a camera for row detection and a hydraulic side‐shift control for the hoe. This bi‐directional treatment was compared to an herbicide application and to hoeing treatments only along and transverse to the sowing direction. The bi‐directional hoeing treatment increased the WCE compared to hoeing along the crop rows on average from 80% to 95% and was not significantly different from the herbicide applications in 2022. Precise sowing in combination with hoeing along and transverse the crop rows resulted in 5.3% crop losses compared to 2.2% for hoeing only along the sowing direction by using only 15 cm wide goosefoot blades, while in the herbicide treatment and the untreated control no crop losses were detected. While maize biomass was not significantly different from the herbicide treatment in most cases over both years, in 2022, even the grain yield of the bi‐directional hoeing treatment with goosefoot blades (7.8 Mg ha−1) was statistically equal to the herbicide treatment (6.9 Mg ha−1). This study demonstrates the great potential of bi‐directional hoeing as an effective alternative to chemical weed control in row crops such as maize, sunflower and sugar beet.

Crop diversification practices in Europe: an economic cross-case study comparison

Crop diversification practices (CDPs) are alternative strategies aimed to achieve sustainable cropping systems and food production overcoming the agro-environmental impacts of conventional cropping systems such as monoculture. Thus, this paper aims to improve the knowledge of implementing CDPs in different European pedoclimatic regions by assessing the economic performance at the farm level. CDPs are compared with conventional cropping systems and clustered in terms of their gross margin (GM) results and variations. Farm-level assessment shows that CDPs provide positive economic results, representing an adaptive management strategy for ecological transition, without compromising economic sustainability. Particularly, the main findings show that (1) the impact of diversification depends more on crop type than on the selected CDPs, (2) most farms exhibited a low GM with low economic impact, and (3) there is a great likelihood that the CDPs facilitate the buildup of more resilient farming systems.

Effect of Different Nutrient Management Systems on Yield and Yield Components of Rice Crop (&lt;em&gt;Oryza sativa&lt;/em&gt; L.) in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka

Purpose: Integrated and organic nutrient management has recently become the focus in Sri Lanka for seeking better perspectives on food quality and environmentally friendly production. This study was conducted to understand the magnitude of yield and yield components under selective nutrient management systems in major cropping seasons within the transitional period of a conventional rice-based cropping system. Research Method: Rice yield components and yield were measured with different nutrient management systems; conventional, integrated, and organic from Yala 2019 to Maha 2020/21. An ANOVA was carried out using the Repeated Measures MIXED model to determine the effect of nutrient management systems on yield and yield components for four continuous cropping seasons. Findings: Total tillers per hill and productive tillers per hill significantly varied with conventional, integrated, and organic systems in descending order. The number of filled spikelets per panicle (43) was significantly increased, and the number of hollow spikelets per panicle (8) and thousand-grain weight (21.5g) were significantly decreased with an organic system in the Yala 2019 season only. Although the biological and expected grain yields of the Yala 2019 season were significantly higher with the conventional and integrated systems, these did not change significantly with the organic system in the last two seasons. Research Limitations: Yield parameters fluctuated due to weather changes in different seasons; thus specific impacts of different nutrient managements have been masked to a certain degree. Originality/ Value: The attempt to convert conventional crop production systems in Sri Lanka to organic can be effectively achieved using the integrated use of nutrients and crop rotations.

Soil pitting mitigates runoff, erosion and pesticide surface losses in maize crops in the Belgian loess belt

Soils of the loess belt of Western Europe are intensively cropped and particularly prone to runoff and soil erosion, especially when planted with row crops such as maize or potatoes, characterized by a low soil cover during erosive spring storms. In this context, micro-basin tillage techniques could help mitigate these risks while being fairly easy to integrate into conventional cropping systems, yet very few studies have investigated the effectiveness of this technique in a maize crop. Soil pitting was therefore tested across 14 site*years of field trials in Belgium by a newly designed roller adapted to a seeding unit forming small depressions in-between maize rows. Runoff and surface losses of sediments and pesticides were measured on soil pitted plots under natural rainfall and compared with conventionally tilled plots. Seasonal runoff and erosion rates were reduced on average by 69% and 83%, respectively, following soil pitting. Median curve number (CN) values calibrated (λ = 0.05) on this dataset are 68 for the control, and 63 for the soil pitting treatment. Analysis of individual rainfall event data reveals that the mitigation effect remains consistent throughout the season, and is even slightly higher for highly erosive rainfall events than for light events. Whereas herbicide concentrations, and hence in-situ ecotoxicity risk indicators, were similar between control and soil pitted treatments at the experimental plot scale, at larger scales the environmental impact on water bodies would be mitigated by soil pitting thanks to the reduction in absolute runoff and soil loss. Future research should further investigate the impacts of soil pitting on crop yields under a broad range of rainfall conditions.

Organic cropping systems maintain yields but have lower yield levels and yield stability than conventional systems – Results from the DOK trial in Switzerland

Sufficient and stable crop yields are the basis for feeding a growing world population. Limited cropland, climate change, degradation of soil quality and loss of biodiversity coupled with excessive use of non-renewable resources require new solutions for future cropping systems beyond existing management practices. Here we analyzed mean yields, temporal yield trends and the stability of organic and conventional cropping systems from the currently longest-lasting cropping system comparison, the DOK long-term systems comparison trial (DOK) comparing biodynamic, bioorganic and conventional cropping systems, over a period of 40 years. We used yield data of winter wheat, potatoes, grass-clover, maize and soybean in a seven-year rotation, where bioorganic and biodynamic farming systems were compared with conventional mixed and sole mineral fertilized systems. System treatments have been established at a reduced half and a regular fertilization level, which corresponds to standard Swiss farming practices. Yields were significantly lower in organic systems in non-legumes between 13% and 34%, depending on the investigated crop, whereas in legumes, no yield reduction was observed in soybean and only 10% was observed in grass-clover. Half the amount of fertilizer reduced yields by around 10% in all systems and crops. Applied mineral N determined yields mainly in winter wheat and potatoes. Temporal yield trends did not differ between organic and conventional systems, nor between half and regular fertilization over all crops. However, in winter wheat, both conventional and biodynamic management with regular fertilization showed a stronger temporal increase in yield, while yield of grass-clover under biodynamic management with half-fertilization decreased. Increased yield differences between systems in single years were due to poor performance of organic systems rather than better performance of conventional systems. Absolute stability (measured by the variance) did not differ, but conventional systems were more stable than organic ones in relative stability, measured by the coefficient of variation, expressing the stability in relation to the yield level. We found no difference in both absolute and relative stabilities between half and regular fertilization. Long-term organic management results in lower yields than conventional management, but not in a decrease of yields over time. The similarity in both stability measures between half and regular fertilization suggests that the variation in relative stability between organic and conventional management might be more related to plant protection than to fertilization intensity.

Collembola taxonomic and functional diversity in conventional, organic and conservation cropping systems

Intensive agriculture has been demonstrated to be a main threat to soil biodiversity through physical and chemical disturbances of soil. Alternative systems based on lower disturbances may help to promote soil biodiversity and its role in soil functioning. However, the effects of alternative systems on soil biodiversity are still poorly understood, especially regarding soil mesofauna. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of alternative cropping systems and practice intensity on the taxonomic and functional diversity of Collembola. Collembola were sampled for two consecutive years in 21 fields (3 plots per field) under conventional or alternative systems, namely conservation or organic systems either stable (≥7 years) or in transition (≤3 years). Indicators and indices were computed to characterize separately tillage, pesticide treatments and organic fertilization in each field. Collembola species and functional traits were investigated. Functional diversity of Collembola was assessed using species traits (i.e. traits from the literature) and by conducting length measurements directly on collected Collembola individuals (body, head, leg, antenna and furca length). Collembola diversity was highly variable between and within cropping systems and years. Species richness was notably higher in conservation than in conventional systems in the second year of the study. More specifically, low tillage and high pesticide treatment intensities increased taxonomic and functional diversity and affected species with traits adapted to the surface (i.e. scales, trichobothria). Measured Collembola body length additionally revealed the presence of larger individuals under low tillage and high pesticide treatment intensities, with similar results for other length traits. Overall, our results revealed that 1) taxonomic and functional diversity are complementary to understand the effects of agricultural practices and systems on Collembola and 2) measurement of body length is relevant to assess the effects of disturbances on the local Collembola community.

Trade-offs in nutrient and sediment losses in tile drainage from no-till versus conventional till cropping systems.

Nutrient and soil loss from agricultural areas impair surface water quality globally. In the Great Lakes Region, increases in the frequency and magnitude of harmful and nuisance algal blooms in freshwater lakes have been linked to elevated phosphorus (P) losses from agricultural fields, some of which are transported via tile drainage. This study examined whether concentrations and loads of P fractions, total suspended sediments (TSS), nitrate (NO3 - ) and ammonium (NH4 + ) in tile drainage in a clay soil differed between a continuous no-till system combining cover crops and surface broadcast fertilizer (NTCC), and a more conventional tillage system with shallow tillage, fertilizer incorporation and limited use of cover crops (CT). Both sites had modest soil fertility levels. Year-round, high-frequency observations of tile drainage flow and chemistry are described over four full water years and related to management practices on the associated fields. There were similar water yields in tile drainage between the two systems; however, losses of TSS, particulate P (PP) and NO3 - were consistently greater from the CT site, which received larger quantities of fertilizer. In contrast, dissolved reactive P (DRP) losses were considerably greater from the NTCC site, offsetting the lower PP losses, such that there was little difference in TP losses between sites. Approximately 60% of the DRP losses from the NTCC site over the four years were associated with incidental losses following surface application of fertilizer in fall. This study provides insight into trade-offs in controlling losses of different nutrient fractions using different management systems. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The Influence of Cropping Systems on Photosynthesis, Yield, and Grain Quality of Selected Winter Triticale Cultivars

Soil serves as the fundamental foundation for agricultural production; however, inappropriate utilization of soil in conventional cropping systems (CONV) coupled with agricultural practices focused on maximizing profit through the attainment of high-quality grain yield contributes to its degradation. An alternative to the CONV is the integrated cropping system (INTEG), which is based on sustainable plant cultivation by reducing the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. An interesting two-factor field experiment with winter triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm.) was conducted in 2019–2022 in south-eastern Poland. The experimental factors in this study included three winter triticale cultivars, namely Avokado, Medalion, Rotondo, and SU Liborius, and two cropping systems, CONV and INTEG. It was found that the use of the CONV brought out higher grain yield with higher protein and lower fat content. The cultivation of triticale grain under the CONV resulted in a higher thousand-grain weight (TGW), improved grain uniformity, and higher test weight values compared to INTEG. Additionally, the use of the CONV system resulted in improved values of physiological parameters (chlorophyll content and fluorescence and gas exchange), and that was caused by improved photosynthetic efficiency of triticale plants as a result of increased doses of mineral fertilizers, despite being cultivated in the INTEG; cv. SU Liborius achieved better values of yield parameters among the tested triticale cultivars grown in the CONV. Therefore, the selection of a suitable, efficient cultivar allows its growth under lower fertilization conditions and produces high grain yields of good quality. This knowledge can be valuable to farmers, as it would facilitate the selection of a triticale cultivar with the appropriate genetic profile for cultivation under specific agronomic conditions. Eventually, it would allow for the propagation of sustainable agricultural practices and contribute to enhancing soil biodiversity while maintaining the cost-effectiveness of agricultural production.

Assessing the effect of arable management practices on carbon storage and fractions after 24 years in boreal conditions of Finland

Soil organic matter (SOM) plays an important role in soil functions that are crucial for sustainable agriculture. Understanding how agricultural management and soil properties affect SOM in different soil depths would aid in maintaining and increasing SOM throughout the soil profile. We sampled a 24 year-old cultivation field experiment with organic and conventional cropping systems, and an adjacent unmanaged meadow to 70 cm soil depth to assess the total organic carbon (OC) stocks and the distribution of OC into mineral-associated (MAOM), particulate (POM) and dissolved (DOM) organic matter. We found that >83% of the soil OC was in the MAOM fraction, and that the distribution of OC across the MAOM, POM and DOM within a soil depth was not strongly affected by soil management. Largest OC stocks (169 t ha−1) together with the largest plant root biomass was found in the unmanaged meadow, which highlights the potential of deep-rooting plants in sequestering OC into the soil. The OC saturation state of the soil was assessed based on the clay to OC ratio and Hassink's Equation (Hassink 1997). Hassink's Equation seemed to underestimate the MAOM accrual capacity of these soils and thus overestimated soil OC saturation state, whereas the clay to OC ratio indicated potential for OC accrual in all soil depths except for the meadow topsoil. These varying results suggest that the applied metric should be soil type and -depth specific. We also determined the contribution of clay content and aluminum and iron oxides in explaining the amount of total OC, MAOM-C and POM-C. In contrast to the aluminum and iron oxides, clay was not well correlated to any of the OC fractions below the 20 cm depth, suggesting that estimating the OC accrual potential of the deeper soil should not be based on the soil texture alone. Our results indicate that aluminum and iron oxides can play an important role in transporting and stabilizing of OC in the soil profile.

Influence of pulse–wheat crop rotations on aggregate size distribution dynamics in the brown soil zone in southern Alberta, Canada

Diversification of conventional cereal-based cropping systems with pulse crops may aid producers to grow crops in an appropriate sequence and frequency with environmental, social, and economic benefits. This study examined the effects of including three pulse crops with different rooting depths (shallow- and deep-rooted) in wheat-based crop rotations on soil aggregate size distribution under semi-arid and rain-fed conditions. A 4 year cycle rotational study was established in Brooks, AB, using five selected treatments: continuous wheat, wheat alternately grown with lentil, field pea, or chickpea, or lentil and chickpea alternately grown with wheat. Soils were collected from 0–5 cm depth and dry-sieved to produce eight aggregate size classes, &lt;0.053, 0.053–0.125, 0.125–0.149, 0.149–0.05, 0.05–1.0, 1.0–2.0, 2.0–6.35, and &gt;6.35 mm. The continuous wheat treatment improved the macro-aggregates (&gt;6.35 mm) development, whereas the rotations with pulse–wheat crops increased the micro- and meso-aggregates (0.50–1.0 and 0.15–0.5 mm) development. Soils sampled at 0–15 cm depth were used for soil organic matter and microbial analysis. The pulse–wheat rotations collectively had more light fraction organic matter (LFOM) than the continuous wheat, and chickpea alternated with wheat had the highest amount of LFOM in both years. All treatments had similar soil microbial biomass and microbial community composition. Our study underscores the contribution of pulse crops in cereal-based cropping systems in the formation of small aggregates.

Antioxidant Potential and Phenolic Acid Profiles in Triticale Grain under Integrated and Conventional Cropping Systems

Cereals are a valuable source of biologically active compounds. Phenolic compounds, of which the phenolic acids (PA) found in cereal grains constitute a significant proportion, are characterized by health-promoting properties largely due to their antioxidant capacity. PA, located mainly in the outer parts of the grain, play an important role in preventing environmental stresses. Triticale is a cereal species of increasing economic value, and also value for human consumption. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of conventional (CONV) and integrated (INTEG) cropping systems on antioxidant activity and content of selected PA in triticale cultivars (Meloman, Panteon, Belcanto) grain. The experiment was conducted in seasons from 2019/2020 to 2021/2022. Among the PA tested, ferulic acid (FER) had the highest contribution to total PA content (TPAs), with 519, 99, and 1115 μg g−1 in whole grain, flour, and bran, respectively. The unfavorable hydrothermal conditions occurring in the seasons (rainfall deficit) increased TPA, mainly in whole grain. Grain cv. Meloman had the highest PA content in whole grain, flour, and bran and cv. Belcanto had the lowest, with differences of 22.7, 18.2, and 15.7% respectively. Cultivation of triticale under the CONV vs. INTEG cropping system resulted in reduced amounts of TPAs in flour and bran and PA: p-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HB) in flour, syringic acid (SYR) in whole grain and bran, and ferulic acid (FER) and sinapic acid (SIN) in bran. The CONV cropping system also caused a decrease in antioxidant activity (AOA) in flour and bran. In most of the cases analyzed, the highest antioxidant activity and content of PA were found in bran, and the lowest were found in flour. The high presence of PA in triticale grain indicates that this cereal, especially when grown under the INTEG cropping system, can be destined for consumption and provide a source of valuable antioxidants for various food and nutraceutical purposes.