Crop Farming Systems Research Articles

Quantifying the value of adopting a post-rice legume crop to intensify mixed smallholder farms in Southeast Asia

Traditional mixed smallholder farms in Southeast Asia are often constrained by low crop yields and limited nutritive fodder for animal production. Although positive economic outcomes result from intensification through the inclusion of improved fodder crops in farming systems, adoption often remains low. We use Value-Ag, a novel multi-tool approach that combines bio-economic modelling, risk analysis and predictions of adoption outcomes to assess the likely value of incorporating a legume crop into the traditional rice-cattle system in southern Laos. Compared with the baseline, the introduction of cowpea increased individual farm profit by an average 26% through improvements to cattle and rice production and sale of cowpea pods, while reducing losses in poor seasons, which reduced overall risk. Using the model, local experts predicted peak adoption of 54% in 6years by the farmer population targeted by the study. Combining these outputs within a system that evaluates both the production value and the likely adoption scenarios resulted in a more accurate estimation of the net value of the innovation at the project case-study level. This approach provided useful insights for improving farm profitability as well as reduced risk exposure from a legume crop innovation, although the system's success will ultimately depend on how well it reconciles productivity and sustainability given other potential environmental, institutional and price impacts. Overall, this case study provides an illustration of the potential to use Value-Ag to identify the factors that are likely to limit adoption and to out-scale these changes according to predicted adoption outcomes. Understanding bio-economic trade-offs and the drivers of adoption aids in the successful design and delivery of intensification options for smallholders by making the expected value of changes to the system more explicit.

Cover crop farming system affects macroarthropods community diversity in Regosol of Caatinga, Brazil

The influence of a 3-years cultivation of legumes on macroarthropod community composition was investigated. Soil samples were taken from a field experiment which was conducted for three years to characterize the agronomic characteristics of eight cover crops: Crotalaria juncea L., Crotalaria spectabilis Roth, Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don., Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC., Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC., Dolichos lablab L., Neonotonia wightii (Wight & Arn.) J.A. Lackey, and Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. cv. Basilisk. The highest values of diversity in the macroarthropod community were found on the plot where M. pruriens was cultivated. Brachiaria decumbens cultivation showed lower values of species richness, Shannon’s diversity index and Simpson’s dominance index compared to the other studied plant species. Our findings suggest that the cultivation of legume cover crops can change positively the macroarthropod community composition. The results highlight the importance of considering the effects of legumes on the diversity of this biological component and their effect on plant growth and soil organic carbon contents. Thus, legumes may exploit positive feedback in semiarid conditions on a Regosol.

Designing soil tillage devices for the spiral land cultivation system

The paper considers ways of implementing scientific and technological achievements in crop farming by focusing on soil tillage and plant management operations. It studies requirements to soil tillage device designs and lists efficiency criteria for their operation. Theoretical research is being conducted into finding monoprinciples for creating multifunctional devices for the spiral crop farming system. A synthesis of principally new wave-motion-based tools is presented. The critical operational characteristics of wave-type tools and their technological aspects are given.

How Management Factors Influence Weed Communities of Cereals, Their Diversity and Endangered Weed Species in Central Europe

The loss of weed biodiversity in agricultural fields is a global issue that needs to be counteracted to preserve their supported ecosystem services and food webs. Many short-term efforts are undertaken to conserve weed species, especially already endangered ones, but several years after expiration, eventually result in species-poor communities. Understanding drivers of community composition is key to prevent biodiversity loss. To understand the factors that shape weed communities and influence weed diversity and endangered weed species, we monitored conventional and organic cereal fields in two regions of southwestern Germany. A redundancy analysis was performed on vegetation recordings and data from a farmer survey. Crop species, herbicide use, farming system, nitrogen, and light availability had the strongest impact on weed diversity. The weed communities were dominated by Alopecurus myosuroides, Galium aparine, Viola arvensis, Polygonum convolvulus, and Veronica persica, and were mainly shaped by crop species, tillage, location in the field, and timing of herbicide application. Bromus grossus and Bromus secalinus, two endangered weed species, survived in conventional field margins as a result of the use of herbicides with gaps for Bromus species. Conservation efforts are not restricted to organic farming and should consider the major drivers of weed communities. Precision farming techniques are available to create networks of habitats for endangered and common weed species and subsequently increase agro-biodiversity per se.

Push-Pull Farming System Controls Fall Armyworm: Lessons from Africa

Fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda invaded Africa, with the first detections being reported in Central and Western Africa in early 2016, and now affects at least 40 countries in Africa, causing up to total crop loss amounting to over $6.2 billion p.a. FAW is an invasive polyphagous pest that causes damage to economically important crops and has recently been reported in the Indian sub-continent. Effective control of FAW through use of synthetic chemical pesticides and genetically modified crops such as Bt maize faces challenges including improper use, unaffordability by smallholder farmers and development of resistance by the pest. Additionally, dispersal of FAW larvae into the lower maize plant canopy keeps them out of reach of topical insecticide applications. Integrated pest management (IPM) packages like the push-pull technology which eliminate pesticide use, and deploy natural processes are more suitable and cost-effective. Push-pull is a farming system intensification approach that involves attracting insect pests with trap plants (pull) such as Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) or Brachiaria grass, while driving them away from the main crop using a repellent intercrop (push), Desmodium spp., commonly known as desmodium, and attracting natural parasitoids and predators to the field. In the rhizosphere, chemicals secreted by desmodium roots inhibit attachment of germinated striga to maize or sorghum roots and abort germination of striga seeds which are rapidly depleted in the soil. Moreover, it improves soil fertility by fixing nitrogen, improving carbon sequestration, organic matter, moisture retention, and soil biota, and prevents further degradation of soil. The climate-adapted push-pull technology significantly reduces plant damage by FAW and is the first IPM management tool for the pest in Africa, and is well suited to agro-ecosystem intensification needs of smallholder mixed farming systems in Africa and beyond. Both the African and the Asian continents provide favourable climatic conditions for sustained reproduction of the FAW, which is expected to result in severe damage to crops; and being a new pest in both continents, it might have few natural enemies. Conventional control methods have limited effectiveness, as explained above. Therefore, an IPM approach that is compatible with mixed cropping farming systems of small and medium scale farmers is necessary. The climate adapted push-pull is the first demonstrated IPM management tool for the FAW in Africa. The technology combines this with other concomitant benefits including control of stemborers and the parasitic striga weeds, improvement of soil health through factors such as nitrogen fixation by desmodium, natural mulching, moisture retention and improvement of soil organic matter and soil biota. The combined benefits, including control of FAW, result in ecologically sustainable higher crop yields, and well suited to agro-ecosystem intensification needs of smallholder mixed farming systems in Africa and beyond.

English

This paper focuses on the impacts of climate change and variability on crop farming. The main objective of this paper is to assess the impacts of climate change and variability on crop farming systems in Manyoni district, Tanzania. This paper used mixed research design with both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The research used different methods in collecting information concerning the impacts of climate change and variability on crop farming systems such as key informants interviews, focus group discussions and observations methods. Secondary data were collected through documentary review. Questionnaires were administered to 362 heads of households from four study villages namely Lusilile, Udimaa, Makanda and Magasai. Findings of the research revealed that majority of the farming households acknowledged occurrences of climate change and variability in their localities for the past 30 years. Heads of households perceived that rainfall has decreased while temperature has been increasing. This findings are in collaboration with that from the Tanzania meteorological data. Moreover, the findings revealed that climate change and variability have impacted crop farming system in different ways such as, damaging of crops and persistent low yields, reduction of crop varieties and species, decreasing soil fertility, increasing crop pests and diseases and drying of water sources. Therefore, this paper recommends that, collective efforts from government and other stakeholders should be harnessed and implemented in order to respond to these impacts so as to improve households’ food security in the stuyy area.   Key words: Climate change, climate variability, crop farming systems, Manyoni district.

Long-term socioecological trajectories of agro-food systems revealed by N and P flows in French regions from 1852 to 2014

We present a quantitative description of the N and P flows characterizing the agro-food system metabolism of 33 agricultural regions in France and their time evolution since the middle of the 19th century. The data were interpreted in terms of connection between crop production, livestock breeding, human nutrition and trade of agricultural goods, and were linked to their historical background. Until the early 20th century, the integrated crop and livestock farming model dominated everywhere, and the slow increase in crop production was only possible because of an increase in livestock density. Specialized cash crop farming systems appeared in the central Paris basin only in the first half of the 20th century together with the increase in the use of industrial fertilizers. Only after WWll, under the pressure of strong interventionist policies, did specialization of French territories lead to five types of systems, favoring their openness and integration into the international market, with harmful environmental impacts. The 1980s were marked by a policy shift towards more liberalism, which reinforced specialization. However, greater environmental concern stabilized or decreased nutrient losses, while maintaining largely open biogeochemical cycles.

Traditional Knowledge: Watering and Irrigation Practices of Khasi TreeCrop Gardening System in the Northeast Bangladesh

Indigenous Knowledge base tree crop farming system is prevalent from time immemorial to Khasi community in Bangladesh. This is their main subsistence and earning economy. However, environmental degradation with global warming and the shortage of natural resources has threatened the overall cultivation system. The topsoil of landscape with water bodies and ground water are not adequate for watering in the field. Therefore, it is burning question how Khasi mange and organize tree-crop farming in the field and what types of initiates are taken by them to grow tree crops. To explore these issues a qualitative approach and participant observation method with in-depth interviewing techniques, group discussion and key informant methods were employed to elicit data from the field. The collected data have been analyzed in inductive approach and categorized it from various chunks of information as objectives. The findings showed that traditional knowledge as local knowledge of the Khasi has been modified to the context different topographical structure and texture of soil with hill surrounding natural setting considering the local ecology, environment and biodiversities. The obtained findings uphold some empirical issues of indigenous practices with scientific practice of tree crop cultivation for getting soil moisture, fluid and water, which derives from rotted tree-twigs. While organic wastes and the foliage are not adequate, they use harvested rainwater, shallow-well water and ground water by using diverse ways and techniques. The watering and irrigation practice in the tree-fields are administered by the influence of modern irrigation inputs, including traditional Knowledge.

Two contrasted future scenarios for the French agro-food system

Narratives of two prospective scenarios for the future of French agriculture were elaborated by pushing several trends already acting on the dynamics of the current system to their logical end. The first one pursues the opening and specialization characterizing the long-term evolution of the last 50 years of most French agricultural regions, while the second assumes a shift, already perceptible through weak signals, towards more autonomy at the farm and regional scales, a reconnection of crop and livestock farming and a more frugal human diet. A procedure is proposed to translate these qualitative narratives into a quantitative description of the corresponding nutrient fluxes using the GRAFS (Generalized Representation of Agro-Food Systems) methodology, thus allowing a comprehensive exploration of the agronomical and environmental performance of these two scenarios. The results show that the pursuit of the opening and specialization of French agriculture, even complying with regulations regarding reasoned fertilization, would result in considerable environmental burdens namely in terms of water pollution. The scenario generalizing organic farming practices, reconnection of crop and livestock farming systems and a demitarian human diet makes it possible to meet the future national food demand while still exporting significant amounts of cereals to the international market and ensuring better groundwater quality in most French regions.

A life cycle assessment of liquid pig manure transport in line with EU regulations: A case study from Germany

The transport of excess manure to crop farming systems is a core measure of livestock farmers to comply with environmental regulations like the EU Nitrates Directive. The German implementation of the directive has recently been revised and will lead to a distinct increase of manure transport. We quantify the environmental impact of 1 m3 of pig manure excreted in scenarios with and without manure transport by life cycle assessment, focusing on farming systems in North-West Germany. Furthermore, we assess how the environmental impact is linked to the regulation which is causing the transport. Compared to a reference scenario without transport, manure transport lowers all assessed impact categories and no trade-off between environmental impacts is found. Major reductions are realized for global warming (39%), freshwater (61%) and marine eutrophication (54%) as well as particulate matter formation (10%). Furthermore, the depletion of fossil fuels and phosphate is lowered. Reductions are mainly caused by an increase of nutrient use efficiency and the savings in chemical fertilizer. However, in a scenario where manure transport is caused by strict regulations regarding phosphate, needed nitrogen leaves the exporting farm likewise and chemical fertilizer use rises at the exporting farm. Caused by the increased fertilizer use, the positive environmental effect of manure transport diminishes, even leading to a rise of fossil fuel depletion by 20% and slight rise of global warming potential by 3%. However, we find that the use of lorries which combine manure and grain transport and, thereby, reduce empty drives, can prevent this trade-off. Our results show the potential of manure transport to reduce the environmental burden caused by the geographical concentration of livestock production. However, the impact of manure transport on global warming and fossil fuel depletion highly depends on the transport distance. Agronomic measures are needed to prevent the increase of chemical N fertilizer use on the exporting farms and policy makers should be aware of possible trade-offs between strict regulations regarding phosphorus and fossil fuel depletion.

Analysis of the Protection of Input Subsidies Policy (Fertilizer and Seed) and Production Output in Rice Plant Agriculture in Indonesia

The background of this research was on policy issues of continuing increased subsidies for fertilizer and seed rice from year to year, which was also faced the problem of inefficient economic and government budget allocations, the price disparity between input and output and its derivatives result and also the creation of unreal competitiveness as a result of the use of subsidized inputs. This study aims to determine the “protection coefficient” of subsidized inputs (fertilizer and seeds) and output in agriculture rice plants in Indonesia. Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) is used to analyze the impact of subsidies on rice crop farming system in Indonesia. The analysis result of the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM), shows that (1) the rice farming system has the profit of market prices and social prices, (2) government policies are simultaneously protective to the production capability, (3) It has a competitive and a comparative advantage.

Gender equality in rural development and agricultural extension in Fogera district, Ethiopia: Implementation, access to and control over resources

Gender equality is seen both as a human rights (social justice) issue and as a precondition for and indicator of sustainable, people-centered development. Ethiopia is a signatory to various gender conventions and declarations. Much progress has been achieved in terms of establishing institutional arrangements. However, practical implementation of gender equality remains a challenge. Assessing the current status of gender equality (implementation, access to and control of resources) of women in maleheaded households, female-headed households and male-headed households in rural development and agricultural extension was the focus of this study. The district was purposively selected based on crop and livestock farming systems of the zone. Sampled kebeles (peasant associations) and respondents were selected using simple random sampling techniques. A total of 140 respondents were selected for the interview. The data were collected using a structured interview schedule. Study findings confirmed that variations were observed between male household heads, female household heads and women in male-headed households in terms of participation in different rural development processes and access to and control of resources. Compared to past experience, titles of land ownership for women in male-headed households and femaleheaded households were improved. Women farmers have less access to extension services as compared to men and low representation in local organizations. It was also observed that real problems and needs for agricultural advice are not considered on a gender basis when planning and preparing extension packages in the agricultural services. Women farmers were not addressed in rural development and agricultural extension program activities explicitly. Participation of women in male-headed households and female-headed households in agricultural extension package program was still very low (28.5% and 57.1%, respectively) when compared with male-headed households (74.3%). Participation of women in male-headed households in rural development and agricultural extension events like training, meeting, planning, field days and demonstrations was also very low (<5%). Strengthening of women’s organizational capacity and involvement of women in local institutions need emphasis and support at all levels by the concerned body. Keywords: Agriculture, access, extension, equality, household, organization, participation, control

Energy balance in crop-farming system under soil management and cover crops

Energy balance in crop-farming system under soil management and cover crops

The role of main fodder area as a factor limiting the development of farms under conditions of sustainable agriculture. A case study from the Podkarpacie region (southern Poland, Western Carpathians)

ABSTRACTIn the age of globalization and specialization of agricultural production, the crop and livestock farming system is fully justified, particularly in piedmont regions where mixed farming predominates. This is especially important in local areas with specific terrain relief, a variable climate and difficult farming conditions. The aim of the study was to determine the relationships linking the size of the main fodder area and its breakdown by the type of fodder with possibilities for development of farms in a sustainable farming system, taking into account optimization of beef cattle production. No excessive cattle stocking density per ha of agriculture land (AL) or main fodder area (MFA) was observed on any of the farms analyzed. The cattle stocking density per ha AL ranged from 0.52 in group III to 0.90 in group I, while the density per ha MFA ranged from 0.72 in group III to 1.80 in group I, which was confirmed by the stocking density per ha AL. The size of the main fodder area was found to increase with the area of the farm. In the context of sustainability of production, it is interesting that the percentage of arable land in the MFA did not exceed 30% in any of the groups.

Assessment of energy consumption in organic tomato greenhouse production – a case study

Greenhouse production has increased over the last decades in the Mediterranean region. Greenhouses allow protecting crops from adverse climate conditions, creating microclimate conditions appropriate for obtaining high production with high quality all over the year. However, greenhouse production is generally associated with high environmental impacts due to the use of high amounts of resource inputs and the high quantity of waste generated. Sustainable greenhouse production is nowadays a goal and can be achieved by using appropriate technologies such as innovating crop practices and environmental control techniques allowing reducing agro-chemicals, water, and energy consumption. Organic farming is based on methods and practices that try to protect the environment (soil, water, air), which includes limitation on the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and the use of on-site resources, such as livestock manure for fertilizer. Demand for food produced without using agro-chemicals has increased; usually these products are sold at high price and associated to a particular nutritional value, taste and health. It is generally associated with lower yield and better quality. Greenhouse organic farming is not widely applied as farmers believe that yields are strongly reduced. However, there is a market opportunity to organic farming as a result of higher product prices and consumers demand. In order to compare the overall efficiency of crop farming systems, it is vital to consider energy consumption and efficiency. In this work, a case study is analysed in terms of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The data were obtained directly from the grower and the main objective of this work was to characterize the organic greenhouse production system. The most important inputs were identified and compared with others obtained with conventional greenhouse production. Results showed that organic greenhouse uses less energy ha-1 and t-1 of produced tomatoes than the conventional greenhouses.

Evaluating livestock mobility as a strategy for climate change mitigation: Combining models to address the specificities of pastoral systems

Pastoral farming systems have always adapted to the seasonal availability of forage resources and climate variability by moving animals. However, the role of animal mobility as a possible mitigating strategy in response to climate change has not been clearly documented. To understand this role, we investigated (i) the major methodological challenges linked to the diversity of grazing areas and other forage resources exploited by these systems and enteric emissions of methane; (ii) the impacts of grazing practices (carbon sequestration/emission) on soil and biomass carbon fluxes. We developed an approach based on two existing models (OSTRAL: Outil de Simulation du TRoupeau ovin ALlaitant and CASA: Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach) that we adapted and used in combination. This approach was applied to three French Mediterranean sheep and crop farming systems with different degrees of flock mobility (sedentary, single transhumance and double transhumance). The preliminary results produced by the whole farm model OSTRAL showed that two systems (sedentary and double transhumance) causing low carbon emissions. In the sedentary system, higher animal productivity offsets the increase in GHG emissions (in CO2eq) caused by feed production. In the pastoral system, grazing reduced total GHG emissions (in CO2eq). The CASA model proved to be useful to simulate the carbon balance under dynamic land cover in natural environments, whether used for grazing or not. This model can help assess the impact of grazing practices and carbon fluxes in systems linked to natural environments. The results of the first application showed that seasonal mobility of livestock increases the contribution of rangeland to feeding systems and improves the non-renewable energy balance of the system. It is thus extremely important to include the specificities of animals grazing in rangelands outside the structural limits of the farm when evaluating GHG emissions.

Economics of farming systems in Amravati district

The study had been made to examine the economics of farming systems in Amravati district. The investigation was based on the primary data collected by personal interview method from 90 cultivators for the year 2014-15. Three farming systems i.e. crop, crop + dairy, crop + horticulture were identified in the study area. In case of crop farming system, cost 'A', cost 'B' and cost 'C' was Rs. 37221.82 Rs. 51949.72 and Rs. 59873.06, respectively. In case of crop + dairy farming system, cost 'A', cost 'B' and cost 'C' was Rs. 49892.83, Rs. 72694.54 and Rs. 80219.31, respectively. In case of crop + horticulture farming system, cost 'A', cost 'B' and cost 'C' were Rs. 70693.16, Rs. 96311.48 and Rs. 104534.34, respectively. The highest B:C at cost 'A' was recorded in crop + dairy farming system i.e. 2.50, followed by crop + farming system i.e. 2.07, followed by crop + horticulture (orange) farming systems i.e. 1.99 The B:C was observed highest in case of crop + dairy farming system at cost 'C' i.e. 1.56,followerd by crop + horticulture farming systems i.e.1.35, followerd by crop farming system i.e.1.29. Hence, crop + dairy farming system was profitable than other two farming systems.

Analysis of Leptosphaeria species complex causing phoma leaf spot and stem canker of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, increases in the area sown with oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and shifts to intensive crop farming systems have contributed to increased incidence and harmfulness of phoma stem canker. This study comprised a large-scale survey of the occurrence of two closely related causal agents of the disease, Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa, in oilseed rape tissues and the country-wide distribution of each fungal species. In the 2007–11 growing seasons, 1132 leaves with phoma leaf spot symptoms were sampled; from those, 977 L. maculans-type and 477 L. biglobosa-type leaf spots were sampled and analysed by species-specific PCR without pathogen isolation. There were 1159 leaf spots confirmed as infected by Leptosphaeria spp., with 65% of 907 L. maculans-type leaf spots infected by L. maculans only and 35% co-infected by both species; and with 88% of 252 L. biglobosa-type leaf spots infected by L. biglobosa only and 12% co-infected by both species. Furthermore, 217 monopycnidial isolates were collected from selected leaf spots and identified based on pigment production during solid- and liquid-media culture and PCR assay. Most (82%) isolates originating from L. maculans-type leaf lesions were L. maculans, and most (69%) isolates collected from L. biglobosa-type leaf lesions were L. biglobosa. Co-infection by both species was found in both L. maculans-type and L. biglobosa-type leaf lesions. In 2007–12, 708 stems with phoma stem canker symptoms and 2635 plant tissues from upper stem, stem base, root collar and taproot of each stem were sampled for PCR; symptoms on the four parts of each stem were assessed before taking tissue samples. There were 1495 plant tissues confirmed as infected by Leptosphaeria spp., with the proportion of plant tissue in which only L. biglobosa DNA (62%) was amplified greater than that with only L. maculans DNA (11%) or with both L. maculans and L. biglobosa DNA (27%). Although both species were detected in leaf samples in autumn, L. biglobosa was the more frequently detected species in stem samples in summer, suggesting that L. biglobosa is the more successful in colonising oilseed rape tissues in later growth stages of the plant in the Czech Republic.

Adaptation of Root Crop Farming System to Climate Change in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

This study examined adaptation of root crop farming system to climate change in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state, Nigeria. Seven towns were selected based on a population of five thousand and above from which one hundred and ninety-one respondents were randomly chosen. Sixty-six years’ data on climatic variables of rainfall, temperature and relative humidity were obtained from Nigeria Meteorological Agency between 1950-2015. Analyses were carried out using simple proportion for qualitative variables while mean and standard deviation were used in analyzing the qualitative variable. Similarly, the triangulation method involving qualitative and quantitative components in data generation was used. Results showed that, there had been a steady but gradual increase in the mean annual minimum and maximum temperatures over the study period of thirty years. The overall mean rainfall computed was 191.1 mm. In general, there was a shift increase in both rainfall and temperature during the period under study. The respondents attributed crop failure (100%), reduced crop yield (100%), increase incidence of pest and diseases (100%) and delay in planting period (100%) as direct effects of climate change. A steady trend in relative humidity of (84.3%) was recorded and the mean annual wind speed computed was 67.9 knots. The adapted strategies include delay planting period, crop diversification 100%, cultivation of early maturing crops such as maize, vegetables, intercropped with the root crops and changes in the time of farm operations (99.4%) as well as a change in the planting period and changing farm location (98.9%). The latter will in addition to other benefits reduce the incidences of pest and diseases that may be attracted to the same field if continuously cultivated with the same crops. An implementable policy of accessibility of finance to the real farmers is seriously advocated.

Review of Management Strategies of Constraints in Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Production

The main aim of this review is to provide an overview of the garlic crop productivity and its production management requirements like soil, climate and fertilization in general and specifically in Ethiopia, comparing them with current research trends and to indicate future benefits of soil nutrient management investigations and their importance for agronomic and cultural practices. This paper reviewed that application of balanced nutrients under optimum moisture availability in different soil types is an important crop management strategy, which may help maximizing crop yield and quality. Also, lack of optimum nutrients and moisture in the soil has been the major bottlenecks of garlic production and productivity; since the crop has a very shallow root system that requires frequent irrigation and fertilization with different types of fertilizers under various soil types. Low soil fertility is one of the principal and pervasive constraints to garlic production in Ethiopia; thus, there are differences among soil types in yielding ability under different nutrients and soil characteristics. Most smallholder farmers in Ethiopia appreciate the value of fertilizers, but they are seldom able to apply them at the recommended rates and at the appropriate time according to the soil characteristics. These are because of high cost, lack of credit, delivery delays, and low and variable returns. In addition, the traditional organic inputs, crop residues and animal manures, identified that it cannot meet crop nutrient demand over large areas because of the limited quantities available, the low nutrient content of the materials, and the high labor demands for processing and application. However, there was felt that could exist an opportunity to increase garlic crop yields through identification/selection of soil type and balanced nutrients application or searching for other nutrients sources beyond Urea and Diammonium phosphate especially in Ethiopian condition. Therefore, the integrated use of both the organic and inorganic fertilizers continuum inputs was felt the best option to increase both yield potential and quality of garlic crop and environment-friendly sustainable farming systems and increase of profit margins for growers.