Cropping Pattern Research Articles

Cropping Systems Diversification as an Approach to Enhancing Crop Productivity: A Review

Agricultural intensification increased crop productivity but simplified production with lower diversity of cropping systems, higher genetic uniformity, and a higher uniformity of agricultural landscapes. Associated detrimental effects on the environment and biodiversity as well as the resilience and adaptability of cropping systems to climate change are of growing concern. Crop diversification may stabilize productivity of cropping systems and reduce negative environmental impacts and loss of biodiversity, but a shared understanding of crop diversification including approaches towards a more systematic research is lacking. The current review highlights the use of Cropping Systems Diversification as an Approach to Enhancing Crop Productivity. Crop diversification can be considered as an attempt to increase the diversity of crops through, e.g. crop rotation, multiple cropping or intercropping, compared to specialized farming with the aim to improve the productivity, stability and delivery of ecosystem services. It can be one measure to develop more sustainable production systems, develop value-chains for minor crops. Crop diversification practices can include higher crop diversity, more diverse crop, mixed cropping; cultivation of grain legumes in otherwise cereal dominated systems, perennial leys or grassland and regionally adapted varieties or variety mixtures. Crop diversification and/or additional diversification measures like variation of seeding time or changing cropping patterns have the potential to lead to higher and more stable yields, increase profitability and lead to greater resilience of agro-ecosystems in the long term. These practices have the potential to make cropping systems more diverse in space, time and genetics. Through a balanced portfolio approach to agricultural sustainability, cropping system performance can be optimized in multiple dimensions, including food and biomass production, profit, energy use, pest management, and environmental impacts.

Crop type classification, trends, and patterns of central California agricultural fields from 2005 to 2020

AbstractCalifornia produces many key agricultural products in the United States. Current geospatial agricultural datasets are limited in mapping accuracy, spatial context, or observation period. This study uses machine learning and high‐resolution imagery to produce a time series of crop maps to assess crop type trends and patterns across central California from 2005 to 2020. National Agriculture Imagery Program and Landsat imagery were used to classify nine crop types that are common in the study region: grain crops, field crops, rice, citrus and subtropical, deciduous fruit and nut, vineyard, berry and vegetable, pasture, and fallow/young perennial crop types. To create labeled data, we sampled 1253 fields and manually identified crop types for each examined year using high‐resolution imagery and Landsat normalized difference vegetation index time series. We applied a random forest machine learning algorithm in Google Earth Engine. Results show that the mean overall classification accuracy of the nine‐class map was 93.1%, with individual accuracies ranging from 99.3% (rice) to 89.5% (fallow/young perennial). Mann–Kendall trend tests showed significant (p < 0.05) declines in field crop and pasture area during the study period, while deciduous fruit and nut, citrus and subtropical, and fallow/young perennial crop types experienced significant increases. At an aggregate level, there was a general shift from annual crop types to perennial crop types. These data provide a 16‐year time span of spatially explicit crop type classifications, trends, and patterns in central California that can be used to aid managers and decision makers for resource planning or hazard mitigation.

Analysis of Land Water Balance in Various Rainfall Conditions and Its Utilization to Determine Planting Patterns of Food Crops in the Eastern Part of Seram District of Seram Island

Soil water balance calculation is one of the methods used to estimate the dynamics of soil water content during plant growth. This study aims to describe rainfall conditions and analyze soil water balance as well as determine the growing season and composition of food crop combination patterns based on the available growing season in East Seram Island. This research uses rainfall data for 30 years of observation period 1992-2021 from Geser Meteorological Station (Data analysis with the following stages: (i) rainfall analysis (ii) calculation of average rainfall (iii) determination of rainfall with a 75% chance (iv) calculation of soil water balance using the Thornthwaite and Mather method (v) determination of the growing season and cropping pattern. The results showed that the average rainfall in East Seram was 2,194 mm/year with a water deficit (D) occurring in October and November, then the rainfall had a 75% chance of being exceeded at 1,439 mm/year with a water deficit of 228 mm/year which lasted for eight months, namely August - March. The growing season under normal rainfall conditions was available throughout the year, while under high rainfall conditions, a 75% chance of the growing season was available for five months, namely May and October. The cropping patterns and crop combinations used were monoculture, polyculture, and intercropping with combinations of cassava, maize, sweet potato, groundnut, mung bean, cassava-corn, cassava-peanuts/green beans, maize-peanuts, cassava-corn-peanuts/green beans, cassava-corn-horticultural crops.

Enhancing Yield and Yield Components of BARI Sarisha-14 and BARI Sarishaa-15 through Boron Fertilization

Boron is an essential micronutrient for mustard that plays important roles in growth, development as well as yield of mustard. A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory of Bangladesh during November through January to study the effect of boron fertilizer on the yield of mustard two varieties in T. aman rice- Mustard- Boro rice cropping pattern. The experiment consisted of two factors- Factor A: Two mustard cultivars viz., BARI Sarisha-14 and BARI Sarisha-15 and Factor B: Four levels of boron viz., 0 kg boron ha-1 (control), 0.5 kg boron ha-1 (50% of RD), 1.0 kg boron ha-1 (100% of RD) and 1.5 kg boron ha-1 (150% of RD). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results reveal that yield and yield contributing characters were not significantly influenced by studied two mustard varieties except plant height. Numerically the higher seed yield was recorded from the variety BARI Sarisha-14. In case of level of boron application, the highest seed yield was obtained with the application of 1.0 kg boron ha-1 (100% of RD) which was followed by application of 1.5 kg boron ha-1 (150% of RD) and the lowest seed yield of mustard was recorded in control treatment (no boron application). From the interaction, it is observed that BARI Sarisha-14 with 1.0 kg boron ha-1 (100% of RD) produced the highest seed yield which was statistically similar with BARI Sarisha-15 with 1.0 kg boron ha-1 (100% of RD). From the results of the study, it may be concluded that BARI Sarisha-14 or BARI Sarisha-15 with 1.0 kg boron ha-1 (100% of RD) could be cultivated for obtaining highest seed yield of mustard in T. aman rice-Mustard-Boro rice-based cropping pattern.

Next generation plant biostimulants & genome sequencing strategies for sustainable agriculture development.

The best environment for plant growth and development contains certain essential metabolites. A broad category of metabolites known as "plant biostimulants" (PBs) includes biomolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and other secondary metabolites related to groups of terpenes, specific nitrogen-containing compounds, and benzene ring-conjugated compounds. The formation of biomolecules depends on both biotic and abiotic factors, such as the release of PB by plants, animals, and microorganisms, or it can result from the control of temperature, humidity, and pressure in the atmosphere, in the case of humic substances (HSs). Understanding the genomic outputs of the concerned organism (may be plants or others than them) becomes crucial for identifying the underlying behaviors that lead to the synthesis of these complex compounds. For the purposes of achieving the objectives of sustainable agriculture, detailed research on PBs is essential because they aid in increasing yield and other growth patterns of agro-economic crops. The regulation of homeostasis in the plant-soil-microbe system for the survival of humans and other animals is mediated by the action of plant biostimulants, as considered essential for the growth of plants. The genomic size and gene operons for functional and regulation control have so far been revealed through technological implementations, but important gene annotations are still lacking, causing a delay in revealing the information. Next-generation sequencing techniques, such as nanopore, nanoball, and Illumina, are essential in troubleshooting the information gaps. These technical advancements have greatly expanded the candidate gene openings. The secondary metabolites being important precursors need to be studied in a much wider scale for accurate calculations of biochemical reactions, taking place inside and outside the synthesized living cell. The present review highlights the sequencing techniques to provide a foundation of opportunity generation for agricultural sustainability.

Providing optimal cropping patterns and water consumption according to monitored and forecasted drought conditions

Providing optimal cropping patterns and water consumption according to monitored and forecasted drought conditions

Spatial Distribution of the Cropping Pattern Exerts Greater Influence on the Water Footprint Compared to Diversification in Intensive Farmland Landscapes

Spatial Distribution of the Cropping Pattern Exerts Greater Influence on the Water Footprint Compared to Diversification in Intensive Farmland Landscapes

Examining Crop Yield Losses in Iğdır Plain Irrigation Systems in Türkiye Amidst Water Constraints

Water stands as a crucial component of agricultural production. This study aims to propose water efficiency measures in agriculture as an essential element for climate change adaptation. In this study, yield losses in staple crops in agricultural regions are analyzed by using the most suitable methodologies, particularly in agriculture-reliant developing nations. Furthermore, this study seeks to determine the financial consequences of such losses. The methodology applied for this purpose was implemented in Türkiye’s Iğdır Plain, selected as the study site. As the first step, the yields of the first three most cultivated products in each product group were assessed under normal climatic conditions in terms of their crop water requirements and irrigation water requirements. Subsequently, the irrigation water supply was reduced by 10%, and the resulting yield losses were calculated per hectare. Then, the overall crop losses after applying the 10% water constraint were determined in the total cultivation area. Among the crops cultivated in the region, the analysis reveals that clover from the field crops category exhibits the highest water dependence, while apricot demonstrates the least reliance on water resources. As a result, the recommended crop rotation for the Iğdır Plain under water constraints comprises wheat, apricot, watermelon, maize, melon, apple, tomato, peach, and clover. The following measures are proposed to ensure sustainable use of water resources and reduce exposure to climate change: increasing the water transmission efficiency and water use efficiency in irrigation areas, allocating more space to water-stress-resistant crops in the crop pattern in basins, and substituting crops requiring excessive water with less water-dependent crops.

Evolution and Drivers of Production Patterns of Major Crops in Jilin Province, China

Exploring the evolution of the production patterns of major crops and their driving factors can provide new ideas to ensure the security of supply of important agricultural products. This study selected four major crop types in Jilin Province—grain, oil crop, vegetable, and fruit—as research subjects. Using the center of gravity migration model, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and comparative advantage index, the spatial and temporal evolution of these crops’ production patterns from 2000 to 2020 was examined. A geographically weighted regression model was employed to analyze driving factors. The results showed that the planting area of grain was the most extensive; the percentage of production of grain, oil crop, and fruit increased to different degrees; the unit area yield of the four crops increased. The centers of gravity of all four crops’ productions were located in the central-northwestern region of Jilin Province. The global Moran’s I was positive for all four crops’ productions. The comparative advantage characteristics of the four crops were closely related to the natural geographical environment. Grain, vegetable, and fruit production were significantly and positively correlated with fertilizer application, and the most significant factor affecting oil crop production was land input intensity.

Stubble burning: What determines this fire?

Despite the recognized impact of agricultural fires on air pollution and public health globally, with significant consequences observed in regions such as China, India, and Turkiye, there remains a critical gap in understanding their underlying causes. This study aims to identify the key factors influencing agricultural fires in Turkiye between 2012 and 2021. This research conducts a thorough district-level evaluation using extensive micro-level data, remote sensing datasets, and robust methodologies, including fixed effects and spatial panel data methods. The study finds that variables such as the cultivation of second-crop corn and regional conflicts positively correlate with fire occurrences. In contrast, factors like cotton cultivation, livestock presence, and forested areas are inversely related to fire incidents. These findings underscore the complicated relationship between agricultural practices, environmental factors, and socio-economic conditions influencing fire occurrences. The study's outcomes offer significant policy implications, highlighting the necessity for customized strategies to curb agricultural fires. These strategies encompass promoting alternative crop patterns, tackling socio-economic determinants, and accommodating regional specificities.

Integrated assessment of crop planting suitability: A case study in the Hetao Irrigation District of China using HJ-1A/1B satellite data

The increasing demand for food due to population growth and climate change poses significant challenges to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger by 2030. A key aspect in overcoming these challenges is to determine appropriate planting patterns for various crops, aimed at enhancing regional-scale crop water productivity despite the constraints of limited water and land resources. Remote sensing data and models provide the possibility for accurately estimating water productivity of different crops on a regional scale, but studies on remote sensing-based assessments of regional crop water productivity and its applications in agricultural management are still limited. In this study, we present a satellite-based integrated approach to assess crop planting suitability based on regional crop water productivity estimation. Focusing on the Hetao Irrigation District (HID) in the upper Yellow River basin, a representative irrigation district in arid region of Northwest China, we first use remote sensing data (HJ-1A/1B) to estimate water productivity for the two major crops, maize and sunflower, within the HID from evapotranspiration and yield estimates. Additionally, we introduce a novel crop planting suitability index based on the frequency distribution of crop water productivity, facilitating the determination of appropriate crop planting patterns. Our findings reveal that Dengkou, the periphery of Hangjinhouqi, and the southern part of Linhe are optimal for maize cultivation, while Wuyuan and the northern part of Linhe are ideal for sunflower cultivation. This is attributed to higher water productivity levels for maize in Dengkou (2.46 kg/m³) and Linhe (2.15 kg/m³), and for sunflower in Wuyuan (0.86 kg/m³). Following the optimization of crop planting distribution, the average water productivity for maize and sunflower increases by 7.6 % and 5.0 %, respectively. The proposed method can be generalized to other regions, and the results offer valuable insights for local governments in decision-making to regulate cropping pattern and maximize regional crop water productivity.

Distinct planting patterns exert legacy effects on the networks and assembly of root-associated microbiomes in subsequent crops

Soil legacy effects from previous crops can significantly influence plant–soil interactions in crop rotations. However, the microbial mechanism underlying this effect in subsequent root-associated compartments remains unclear. We investigated the effects of planting patterns (four-year continuous maize [MM], three-year winter wheat and one-year maize rotation [WM], and three-year potato and one-year maize rotation [PM]) on the microbial composition and structure of root-associated compartments, the effect of distinct crops on subsequent microbial co-occurrence patterns, and the assembly mechanism by which the root-associated compartments (bulk soil, rhizosphere, and roots) in subsequent crops regulate the microbiome habitat. Compared with MM, the relative abundance of Acidobacteria in WM was 29.7 % lower, whereas that of Bacteroidota in PM was 37.9 % higher in all three compartments. The co-occurrence patterns of the microbial communities exhibited varied responses to different planting patterns. Indicator taxon analysis revealed less shared and specific species in the root bacterial and fungal networks. The planting pattern elicited specific responses from modules within bacterial and fungal co-occurrence networks in all three compartments. Moreover, the planting patterns and root-associated compartments collectively drove the assembly process of root-associated microorganisms. The neutral model showed that, compared with MM, the stochasticity of bacterial assembly decreased under WM and PM but increased for fungal assembly. WM and PM increased the relative effects of the homogenized dispersal of fungal assemblies in roots. We conclude that previous crops exhibit marked legacy effects in the root-associated microbiome. Therefore, soil heritage should not be ignored when discussing microbiome recruitment strategies and co-occurrence patterns in subsequent crops.

Enhancing crop production and carbon sequestration of wheat in arid areas by green manure with reduced nitrogen fertilizer

Green manure with appropriate amount of chemical nitrogen fertilizer can increase crop yield, but also aggravate soil carbon emissions. However, it is unclear whether incorporation of green manure into the cropping pattern with reduced nitrogen amount can alleviate this situation and enhance carbon sequestration potential. So, a field experiment with split-plot design was set up in 2018 of northwest China, and studied the effects of nitrogen reduction on crop productivity, carbon emissions, and carbon sequestration potential in 2021–2023. The main plots were two cropping patterns, including multiple cropped green manure after wheat harvest (W-G) and fallow after wheat harvest (W). Three nitrogen application levels formed the split-plots, including local conventional nitrogen amount (N3, 180 kg ha−1), nitrogen amount reduced by 15% (N2, 153 kg ha−1) and 30% (N3, 126 kg ha−1). The results showed that W-G increased grain yield of wheat and energy yield of wheat multiple cropped green manure pattern. The multiple cropped green manure after wheat harvest with local conventional nitrogen amount reduced by 15% (W-GN2) had the significant increasing-effect, and increased grain yield of wheat by 9.6% and increased total energy yields by 39.3% compared to fallow after wheat harvest with local conventional nitrogen amount (W–N3). Relative to W–N3, W-GN2 did not significantly increase carbon emissions of wheat season, and increased total carbon emissions of cropping pattern by 11.1%. Compared to multiple cropped green manure after wheat harvest with local conventional nitrogen amount (W-GN3), W-GN2 decreased carbon emissions by 5.8% in wheat season and decreased by 3.9% in the whole cropping pattern. Therefore, W-GN2 gained high carbon emission efficiency based on grain yield, and were 9.9% and 11.2% higher than W–N3 and W-GN3, respectively. In addition, W-GN2 enhanced soil total nitrogen, carbon, and organic carbon contents, compared with W–N3, thus increasing soil carbon sequestration potential index (net primary productivity/carbon emissions). We conclude that multiple cropped leguminous green manure after wheat harvest with local conventional nitrogen amount reduced by 15% can enhance crop productivity and carbon sequestration potential of farmland in arid areas.

Productivity Improvement in Coastal Region of Bangladesh through Improving Rice-based Cropping Patterns and Optimizing Nutrient Management

Productivity Improvement in Coastal Region of Bangladesh through Improving Rice-based Cropping Patterns and Optimizing Nutrient Management

Multi-Objective Fuzzy Probabilistic Programming Approach for Obtaining Optimum Crops Pattern with Water Replenishment

Multi-Objective Fuzzy Probabilistic Programming Approach for Obtaining Optimum Crops Pattern with Water Replenishment

Influences of crop diversification on yield, resource use efficiency, and environmental footprint in farmland landscapes in intensive farming

Enhancing crop diversification in intensive fields has the potential to increase crop yield and reduce environmental footprint. However, these relationships at the landscape scale remained unclear in intensive farming. Addressing this gap, this paper aims to elucidate how crop yield, resources use efficiency (RUE), and environmental footprint (EF) vary with crop diversification levels in the North China Plain. Management practices, including crop pattern, field size, and agronomic inputs, were collected for 421 landscapes of 1 × 1 km subplots using Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 images and survey. The results showed that, at the landscape scale, energy and fertilizer contributed over 53 %, and 37 % of the carbon footprint, respectively. N fertilizer constituted >98 % of the nitrogen footprint. P fertilizer accounted for over 80 %, while electricity comprised >13 % of the phosphorus footprint. Compared with simplified landscapes, diversified landscapes exhibited several significant features: 1) 56 % reduction of the area ratio of winter wheat-summer maize double crop pattern (WM), 2) a significant decrease in field size, 3) the decreased use of total NPK fertilizers at 32 %, 30 %, and 30 %, respectively, 4) the increased inputs of irrigation water, diesel, electricity, pesticide and labour at 21 %, 19 %, 21 %, 77 %, and 92 %, respectively. Although yield could be reduced at 33 % when transforming simplified landscapes into moderately diversified ones, they increased with the further promotion of crop diversification. Thus, the diversified landscapes could achieve a balance in yield, RUE, and EF to enhance sustainability, whereas simplified landscapes can similarly achieve a balance to benefit productivity. We emphasize the viable potential of diversified landscapes to enhance sustainable agricultural development by optimizing crop composition. This analysis offers pioneering evidence of landscape-scale agronomic and environmental performances of crop diversification.

A Rapid Assessment Technique for Identifying Future Water Use and Pesticide Risks Due to Changing Cropping Patterns

A Rapid Assessment Technique for Identifying Future Water Use and Pesticide Risks Due to Changing Cropping Patterns

A study on marketing pattern and constraints of major crops in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh state

A study on marketing pattern and constraints of major crops in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh state

Effects of Ratoon Rice Cropping Patterns on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Yield in Double-Season Rice Regions.

The ratoon rice cropping pattern is an alternative to the double-season rice cropping pattern in central China due to its comparable annual yield and relatively lower cost and labor requirements. However, the impact of the ratoon rice cropping pattern on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and yields in the double-season rice region requires further investigation. Here, we compared two cropping patterns, fallow-double season rice (DR) and fallow-ratoon rice (RR), by using two early-season rice varieties (ZJZ17, LY287) and two late-season rice varieties (WY103, TY390) for DR, and two ratoon rice varieties (YLY911, LY6326) for RR. The six varieties constituted four treatments, including DR1 (ZJZ17 + WY103), DR2 (LY287 + TY390), RR1 (YLY911), and RR2 (LY6326). The experimental results showed that conversion from DR to RR cropping pattern significantly altered the GHG emissions, global warming potential (GWP), and GWP per unit yield (yield-scaled GWP). Compared with DR, the RR cropping pattern significantly increased cumulative methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 65.73%, 30.56%, and 47.13%, respectively, in the first cropping season. Conversely, in the second cropping season, the RR cropping pattern effectively reduced cumulative CH4, N2O, and CO2 emissions by 79.86%, 27.18%, and 30.31%, respectively. RR led to significantly lower annual cumulative CH4 emissions, but no significant difference in cumulative annual N2O and CO2 emissions compared with DR. In total, the RR cropping pattern reduced the annual GWP by 7.38% and the annual yield-scaled GWP by 2.48% when compared to the DR cropping pattern. Rice variety also showed certain effects on the yields and GHG emissions in different RR cropping patterns. Compared with RR1, RR2 significantly increased annual yield while decreasing annual GWP and annual yield-scaled GWP. In conclusion, the LY6326 RR cropping pattern may be a highly promising strategy to simultaneously reduce GWP and maintain high grain yield in double-season rice regions in central China.

Pendapatan Usahatani Pola Mix Cropping Tanaman Cabai Rawit Dan Tomat Di Desa Tumaratas II Kecamatan Langowan Barat Kabupaten Minahasa

This study aims to determine the income of cayenne pepper and tomato farming using mixed cropping patterns in Tumaratas II Village, Langowan Barat District, Minahasa Regency. The research was conducted from July to September 2023. The research location was Tumaratas II Village, West Langowan District, Minahasa Regency. The data collection method used in this research is primary data obtained using direct interview techniques with respondents, using a questionnaire as a tool in data collection, while secondary data is obtained from data that is already available from village documents, sub-district offices and other related sources for research purposes. The sampling method used purposive sampling method. The population studied in this study were farmers who grew mixed crops of cayenne pepper and tomatoes. The data analysis method was carried out using quantitative methods and the research results were presented in tabular form. Knowing the total revenue in one crop period is determined using the revenue and income formula. Based on the results of the research conducted, it is concluded that each farmer respondent has a different average so that the income earned is also very different. The total income received in mixed crop farming amounted to IDR395,355,682.28. The largest income in mixed crop farming is IDR77,521,932.00, while the smallest income is IDR3,276,800.00.