Diversified Farming Systems Research Articles

Agronomic drivers of pesticide use in small-scale horticultural systems in central Mexico: cropping and farming system factors.

Abstract Horticultural Production Systems (HPS) in Mexico face challenges due to small-scale operations, limited resources, and high dependence on family labor. This study explores the use of agrochemicals in HPS and its impact on productivity and potential exposure to pesticides. Through on-farm surveys in the Morelia-Queréndaro valley, Central Mexico, factors influencing agrochemical use and toxicity were investigated. Results show that HPS configuration plays a pivotal role in predicting agrochemical use. HPS dominated by a single crop tend to use more herbicides and fertilizers, while diversified systems use fewer herbicides. Crop-specific management practices, such as row spacing and intercropping, significantly influence herbicide usage. Surprisingly, higher volumes of insecticides and fungicides do not consistently correlate with increased yields. Additionally, relationships between pesticide use and crop yields vary across onion cropping systems, emphasizing the need for tailored management strategies. We highlight the significant toxicity of insecticides and the importance of understanding factors determining their application volumes. Overall, this research underscores the complexity of agrochemical use in HPS and emphasizes the potential of diversified farming systems to reduce reliance on agrochemical inputs while maintaining productivity. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of sustainable agriculture practices and provide valuable insights for policy makers and farm managers.

Broadscale diversification of Midwestern agriculture requires an agroecological approach

We write to highlight the potential for aca­demic agroecology to address the crucial challenge facing agriculture in the Upper Midwest region of the U.S.: diversification. Integrative forms of agroecology—often framed as “science, prac­tice, and movement” (Wezel et al. 2018)—can make important and unique contributions to expanding the scale at which diversified farming systems are adopted in the region. After outlining the current situation in the Upper Midwest region, we identify particular roles—currently not robustly practiced—that academic agroecologists can play to advance diversification.

Applying assessment methods to diversified farming systems: Simple adjustment or complete overhaul?

In response to criticism of current specialized and input-intensive agriculture, diversified farming systems (DFS) have increased in popularity. The most advanced forms of DFS include perennial components (e.g., perennial crops, trees), functionally different plants and livestock, and landscape heterogeneity. These characteristics make it more difficult to assess DFS in agricultural sciences, which have focused to date mainly on low-diversity systems. We provide an overview of the main methodological issues involved in assessing DFS, and their potential solutions. We identify five key methodological challenges for assessing DFS: i) combining conceptual frameworks from different disciplines to develop a holistic view of DFS multi-performance; ii) characterizing DFS structure from a functional perspective to define the relevant spatial extent to assess them; iii) considering DFS ontogeny i.e. the time required for DFS to establish, reach maturity and achieve a dynamic steady state when assessing their performance; iv) aggregating and mapping multiple performance indicators to integrate the range of products and services generated by DFS and to reveal potential synergies and antagonisms; v) defining and characterizing the reference systems used to compare DFS, as systems might differ in history, composition, management, soil-climate, and sociotechnical conditions. These challenges underline the need to overhaul assessments in agricultural sciences (e.g., agronomy, animal science, economics, ecology) to identify whether, and under what conditions, DFS are relevant and sustainable options for farmers. They also come with available options for researchers to proceed with this overhaul.

Financial incentive programs and farm diversification with cover crops: assessing opportunities and challenges

Farmers in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. face tremendous pressure to reduce nutrient losses from agriculture. Increasing crop rotation diversity with overwintering cover crops can support ecological processes that maintain productivity while improving multiple ecosystem functions, including nutrient retention. We conducted a mixed-methods study to understand how financial incentive programs impact transitions to cover cropping in Michigan. Michigan farms span a wide range of soil types, climate conditions, and cropping systems that create opportunities for cover crop adoption in the state. We tested the relationship between Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) payments for cover crops and cover crop adoption between 2008–2019, as measured by remote sensing. We coupled this quantitative analysis with interviews with 21 farmers in the Lake Erie watershed to understand farmers’ perspectives on how incentive programs could support greater cover crop adoption. Panel fixed effects regressions showed that EQIP increased winter cover crop presence. Every EQIP dollar for cover crops was associated with a 0.01 hectare increase in winter cover, while each hectare enrolled in an EQIP contract for cover crops was associated with a 0.86–0.93 hectare increase in winter cover. In semi-structured interviews, farmers reported that financial incentives were instrumental to cover crop adoption, but that program outcomes fall short of intended goals due to policy design problems that may limit widespread participation and effectiveness. Thus, strengthening EQIP and related conservation programs could support broader transitions to diversified farming systems that are more sustainable and resilient.

Diverse Farming Systems and their Impact on Macro and Microelement Content of Vegetables & Crops.

The present study investigates the effect of conventional and organic farming systems on the nutritional profile of crops. Different crops, namely -millet, sorghum, sesame, mustard, fenugreek, berseem, pea, potato, and onion were cultivated through conventional agriculture in which chemical fertilizers like urea, DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) and pesticides were used and organic farming in which organic fertilizers like seaweed and vermicompost were used. The experimental study was done on a field in north India from 2019 to 2021 in six different seasons, and the nutrient profile of the crops with respect to macroelements (S, K, Na, P, Ca, Mg) and microelements (B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Al) was compared. Macro and microelements were analyzed by Element analyzer and ICP-OES in both types of farming systems. The content of macro, as well as microelements, was found to be significantly higher in all the organically produced crops as compared to the conventionally grown crops. Significant differences were observed in the macroelement content of organic onion (P900 mg/kg, K-2000mg/kg) and organic pea (K 2250 mg/kg) as compared to the content of conventionally grown onion (P-756 mg/kg, K- 1550 mg/kg) and pea (K-2000 mg/kg). Similarly, microelement content in the organic sesame (Fe - 3.12 mg/kg), organic millet (Fe- 2.19 mg/kg), and organic potato (Zn-200 mg/kg) was higher as compared to conventionally grown sesame (Fe 2.05 mg/kg), millet (Fe- 1.56 mg/kg) and potato (Zn 167 mg/kg). This investigation concludes that crops with optimum nutritional content can be produced through organic farming with minimum input and maximum production.

Should we consider integrated crop–livestock systems for ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, and agricultural resilience to climate change?

AbstractContemporary agricultural systems can be generalized as highly specialized operations that are fueled by mechanization; supplied with external nutrients to maximize production; crops protected by petrochemicals to fight against weed, disease, and insect pressures; and livestock protected by therapeutics to ward off virus and bacterial infections when managed in confinement. Such specialized systems have led to low levels of diversity, elevated environmental risks from contamination, loss of soil organic matter, ecological instability, and limited adaptability to climate change. More diversified farming systems are possible, but research required to characterize them in a holistic manner as an alternative to contemporary, specialized systems remains challenging to fund and sustain over time, primarily because they require more labor, management skills, and accessible markets to achieve additional ecological, environmental, and social goals. We share some perspectives as to (1) how specialized systems became the norm and (2) what changes could be made to reverse some ecological risks and environmental declines associated with specialization, acknowledging there is no panacea. Strong evidence exists for perennial forages to restore soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen, but system‐level analyses of the net balance in greenhouse gas emissions remain to be characterized in the myriad of potential integrated crop–livestock systems that might be deployed across the diversity of edaphic, environmental, and socio‐economic conditions. We suggest there are abundant opportunities for more sustainable agricultural production to sequester soil organic C, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and develop more climate‐resilient agricultural systems that will be needed in a future dominated by climate change issues.

Cost benefit analysis of diversified farming systems across Europe: Incorporating non-market benefits of ecosystem services

Crop diversification can enhance farm economic sustainability while reducing the negative impact on the environment and ecosystem services related. Despite the market and non-market benefits of crop diversification, monocropping is a widely used dominant practice in Europe. In this context, this works aims to assess the overall economic impact of several crop diversification systems across Europe and compared it to the monocropping system. For this purpose, an economic valuation by integrating market and non-market values for eight case studies distributed across three different European pedoclimatic regions (Southern Mediterranean, Northern Mediterranean and Boreal) is proposed. The economic valuation was conducted both in the short and medium-long term. For the short-term we conducted a social gross margin analysis, while for the medium-long term a cost-benefit analysis is developed. The results show an improvement in social gross margins for most of the diversification scenarios assessed when environmental and socio-cultural benefits are considered in the short-term. In the medium and long-term the transformation of cropping towards a more diversified agriculture is encouraged by greater economic benefits. These results provide a first insight in global economic performance of diversified cropping systems, whose main contribution relies on the integration of market and non-market values of ecosystem services from crop diversification. They are expected to be useful for guiding policy makers to promote crop diversification practices as a key instrument for building resilience in farming systems for an adaptive management to climate change.

Nearly half of the world is suitable for diversified farming for sustainable intensification

Sustainable intensification, defined as increasing production per unit without harming the environment, has potential to transform agricultural systems. While questions persist about which practices and conditions lead to sustainable intensification, diversification has gained prominence as a proposed solution. Here we apply niche modelling using maximum entropy modelling approach to predict the global spatial distribution of profitable diversified farming systems under different socio-economic conditions. We found about 47% of the world is suitable for profitable diversified systems with a larger area in the global North. When we combined our findings with knowledge about biophysical potential for cropland expansion and intensification, we found that different areas could benefit from diversification to achieve sustainable intensification through cropland expansion (e.g., Europe), intensification (e.g., sub-tropics and tropics), or both (e.g., West Africa). With these results, we provide insights in which way diversification can support sustainable intensification and contribute to the debate on land sharing vs sparing.

Developing the agroecological niche in Nicaragua: The roles of knowledge flows and intermediaries.

Supporting transitions to sustainable, resilient agri-food systems is important to ensure stable food supply in the face of growing climate extremes. Agroecology, or diversified farming systems based on ecological principles, can contribute to such systems. Based on a qualitative case study of Nicaragua, a forerunner in agroecology, this paper unpacks an ongoing transition to agroecology, focusing on how the transition has been shaped by knowledge flows and intermediary actors. Using a niche development framework based on knowledge processes, we analyze the growth of the agroecological niche in Nicaragua over three phases of niche development. The findings show how knowledge processes' emphases have shifted over time, as have functions enacted by intermediaries. Dedicated, diversified intermediaries have been key in creating momentum for agroecology, as have individual actors moving between niche and regime. Agency in niche development has come from both niche and regime actors. Finally, we find that Nicaragua's transition to agroecology has been ambiguous: While the niche has succeeded in changing the mainstream selection environment to its favor in some arenas, transition dynamics lag in others. Drawing lessons from this ambiguity, we suggest entry points for broader systems change, such as market stimulation, value chain development, phase-out policies, and supportive policy in related arenas. We also point out possible actions for niche actors such as integration of financial and commercial actors into niches and creation of dedicated market-focused intermediaries. Our results provide evidence of an ongoing transition and action points for supporting niche development in (sustainable agri-food) transitions around the globe.

Exploring Perspectives on Agroecological Transition in Scotland with Critical Systems Heuristics

Critical systems heuristics (CSH) is a framework that facilitates reflective practice in exploring and solving complex management problems. Several applications have demonstrated the utility of CSH for addressing problems concerning the environment and sustainability. As such, we apply CSH to explore perspectives on agroecological transition in Scotland. In interviews with 10 farmers, agricultural professionals, and researchers, we demonstrate the utility of boundary critique as a practice for unpacking the judgements that underpin perspectives on Scottish farming. Moreover, we derive a series of practical insights and recommendations to progress agroecological transition in Scotland, including: support for a greater diversity of farming systems; action across the entire food system to avoid ‘lock-ins’; improved tools to measure farming outcomes; and nuanced and precise conversations regarding the nature and purpose of agroecological farming. We hope that our accessible and transparent approach might encourage the uptake of CSH research among systems researchers and practitioners.

Seasonal Changes in Zooplankton Population in Rainfed Rice-fish System

Integration of aquaculture in vast rainfed waterlogged lowlands can be an acceptable option for improvement of farm productivity and income in the country, particularly in the easter India. An adaptable technology on rice-fish, prawn, vegetable, fruits and other crops diversified farming system called Rice-fish System· has been developed at Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack for waterlogged rainfed lowlands (Sinhababu and Venkateswarlu, 1995). Studies on the food and feeding habit of fish in this system is an important aspect for optimizing the fish productivity. Some information is available on the plankton profile of the irrigated rice field mainly (Saha and Ramakrishna, 1962; Li and Pan, 1992) and deep water ecology (Das et al., 1991) and also in shallow rainfed rice-fish seed system (Sinhababu et al., 1992), but not in the rice-fish system. We studied the seasonal changes in the zooplankton population in the system.

Farm diversification strategies, dietary diversity and farm size: Results from a cross-country sample in South and Southeast Asia

South and Southeast Asia host almost half of the world's undernourished people. Food and agricultural systems in these regions are highly dependent on the production and consumption of staple cereals such as rice, maize and wheat. More diverse farming systems can potentially improve rural people's nutrition, while reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. Yet, it remains uncertain whether farm diversification is always the most suitable and viable strategy for all types of smallholder farms. We use generalised linear regression models to analyse the farm diversification strategies of 4772 rural households in Cambodia, India, Lao PDR and Vietnam. Our analysis is twofold and focuses first on drivers of farm diversification, and second, on the impacts of farm diversification and other livelihood strategies on dietary diversity. We find that (1) farm diversification is significantly influenced by environmental and climate variables, including rainfall patterns, as well as household and farm characteristics such as farm size and education level; and (2) farm diversification, market orientation and off-farm income generation are all strategies that can improve household and individual dietary diversity. However, their relative effects resulted influenced by farm size. Specifically, the positive effect of farm diversification on dietary diversity was larger for smaller farms, while it decreased for farms of larger size that may improve their diet more by increasing their engagement in off-farm activities and markets. These findings highlight that characteristics such as farm size can represent substantial determinants in production and consumption decisions, suggesting the importance of understanding and considering the type of farm and the situational context of analysis when targeting interventions for improving smallholder farm livelihoods.

Diversified agriculture leads to diversified diets: panel data evidence from Bangladesh

This study used a panel data model to examine the relationship between agricultural diversification and dietary diversity of farm households across three waves of nationally representative Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey data (BIHS- 2011-12, 2015, and 2018). Prior research measured diversification in terms of crop cultivation and livestock rearing. However, this study takes a different approach to measuring agricultural diversification by combining the three major sectors—crop, fish, and livestock production—at the farm household level to evaluate the impact of such agricultural diversification on the diversification of diets in households. The panel data allows us to establish that agricultural production diversification has a significantly positive effect on the dietary diversity of farm households. Moreover, other important factors that impact agricultural diversification to improve dietary diversity, like women’s employment, market access, engagement with non-farm income sources, and access to information also have a strong association in improving the dietary status, food and nutritional security of households. Participation in the market helps farming households to become more commercially oriented but negatively affects the dietary diversification of the households. However, participation in non-farming activities was reported to have a significant positive influence on dietary diversity, though not as much as agricultural diversification. From the perspective of policy that requires nutrition into consideration, the findings suggest to focus on providing support for diversified farming systems can directly increase the nutritionally enriched dietary intake, increasing the employability of women. Promoting market participation through modern infrastructural facilities should be prioritized to improve the current scenarios.

Crop diversification as a household livelihood strategy under environmental stress. Factors contributing to the adoption of crop diversification in shrimp cultivation and agricultural crop farming zones of coastal Bangladesh

Environmental stressors, potentially aggravated by climate change, pose significant challenges to households whose livelihoods rely primarily on crop production in agriculture or aquaculture, particularly in countries of the Global South. In this context, diversified farming systems, or crop diversification, have been discussed as one adaptation strategy of smallholder farming households to reduce their livelihood vulnerability and increase farm resilience. In coastal Bangladesh, livelihoods based on cultivation of shrimp, prawn, fish, paddy (rice) and other crops are likely to become more vulnerable with accelerated sea level rise, extreme flooding events, cyclone activity, river bank erosion and salinization. While crop diversification in Bangladesh is still low overall, it has been increasing. To understand the factors driving the uptake of diversified cropping in different farming production contexts and allow for policy measures addressing regionally specific needs, we explore the (relative) impact and significance of relevant factors contributing to the adoption of crop diversification practices for (i) shrimp cultivation and (ii) agricultural crop farming zones. We specifically include variables representing subjectively perceived risks to study their role in climate change adaptation. Our findings are based on a quantitative household survey (n = 1188) in nine purposefully selected unions across the Bangaleshi part of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta to capture the diversity of the region. Our results show that the prevalence of crop diversification measures is relatively high in the shrimp cultivation zone, but relatively low in the agricultural crop farming regions. In sum, the results show that even though direct economic factors seem to be (still) more important for diversification decisions, our study also suggests that perceived environmental threats and changes can have a favourable influence on crop diversification and should hence be included in studies investigating causes for land use changes. Yet, there are significant differences with regard to the influence of specific factors on the likelihood to diversify in the two respective zones. We conclude that greater uptakes of agriculture and aquaculture diversification could represent a promising and more sustainable approach for smallholders in coastal Bangladesh given appropriate supportive institutional conditions and measures that address specific needs of local communities. A “one-size-fits-all” approach to pushing crop diversification is unlikely to produce adequate and sustainable results.

Construction of a generalised farm typology to aid selection, targeting and scaling of onfarm research

Farm typologies are often used to reduce the complexity in categorising diverse farming systems, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The resulting typologies can then be used in multiple ways including designing efficient sampling schemes that capture the diversity in smallholder farms, prescribing the selection of certain farm types to which interventions can be targeted or upscaled, or to give context into derived relationships. However, the construction of farm typologies consists of many subjective decisions that are not always obvious or evident to the end-user. By developing a generalized framework for constructing farm typologies, we clarify where these subjective decisions are and quantify the impact they have on the resulting typologies. Further, this framework has been encapsulated in the open source RShiny App: TypologyGenerator to enable users to focus on the decisions and not the underlying implementation.

Farm Diversification in Haryana, India: Case Studies

In the late 1960s, the Green Revolution enabled India to overcome a severe food shortage and achieve food grain self-sufficiency, particularly in the case of wheat and paddy. Continuous mono cropping system threatens the sustainability of future agricultural production in terms of soil, water, climate and market parameters which warrants a diversified farming system enabling farmers to use their resources efficiently with its ecological benefits. Recent trends in crop farming witnessed a multifold shift towards paddy and wheat specialization in Haryana. So farm diversification is an important strategy to maintain the sustainability of state agriculture. The present study was undertaken to explore the potential of farm diversification in Haryana. Case studies were conducted among selected farmers from the three districts representing three agro ecological zones of Haryana (Kaithal from AEZ1, Hisar from AEZ2 and Bhiwani from AEZ3). The case study included parameters like area and number of enterprises and cost details and net returns from each diversified enterprise. The study concludes that, various methods utilized by the successful farmers specialized in a particular venture serve as the model for fellow farmers who are similarly interested in the same experience. Subsidies, incentives and training programmes of government agencies promoted the farmers to get involved in the allied enterprises. This study highlights the need for incentives and training programmes for further promoting farm diversification in the state.

Environmental Sustainability and Food Security of Traditional Agricultural Practices in India: A Review

This synthesis consolidates current research on sustainable agriculture and its pivotal role in enhancing food security, conserving biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. Sourced from a wide array of references, it accentuates exercises such as organic farming, agroforestry, and diversified farming systems as cornerstone approaches, sustainable agriculture. The potential of these practices is also explored, highlighting the carbon sequestration capacity of agroforestry systems, the environmental advantages of organic farming over conventional methods, and the implications of diversified farming systems on food security. However, sustainable agriculture still confronts numerous challenges, especially regarding the environmental repercussions of pesticide use and the barriers hindering the adoption of sustainable farming practices. The substantial role of traditional agricultural practices, which often reflect fundamentals of sustainability and resource preservation, is also underscored. The transformative impact of integrated aquaculture-agriculture systems on small-scale farms in Southern and Southeastern Asia is with Farmer Field School experiences worldwide. Critically, the synthesis acknowledges the daunting task of feeding a burgeoning global population and the environmental ramifications of land utilization. Synthesis concludes by asserting that future research and policy must perpetually focus on these issues, aiming to generate innovative strategies for sustainable agriculture and to bolster the resilience of farming systems in the face of climate change.

Agronomic consequences of growing field‐transplanted hybrid potato seedlings

AbstractThe introduction of hybrid breeding in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) requires novel and efficient cropping systems for potato production based on true potato seed (TPS). Such systems address the limitations of conventional seed tuber–based systems, including low multiplication rates, high degeneration rates, and high costs of transport and storage. Of the possible cultivation pathways of TPS, we introduce and discuss the potential of field transplanting nursery‐raised potato seedlings as an alternative system for seed and ware production. This review discusses the current knowledge available on field transplanting of potato seedlings, the key factors that influence the success or failure of the system, and some of the prospective factors that will influence the wide introduction and utilization of field transplanting of potato seedlings in diverse farming systems. A field transplanting system will require the successful production of seedlings in the nursery, a successful establishment of transplanted seedlings in the field, and successful crop management to attain a productive seed or ware crop. The contribution of various factors in the various phases of the system to the success of the transplanted crop is also discussed. The introduction and utilization of the field transplanting system will be accelerated when hybrid breeding focuses on the introgression of traits of interest into high yielding cultivars and when agronomic studies focus on defining factors influencing productivity in distinct phases of the system.

RECOMMENDATIONS TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FARMING METHOD FOR AN ORGANIC VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN BUKIDNON, PHILIPPINES

There are various methods or practices for sustainable farming. This study recommends farming methods that are appropriate and effective for organic vegetable production in Bukidnon and, in some way, serve as the basis for sustainable farming. Thus, this paper aims to recommend a sustainable farming method for organic vegetable production. Results of the study revealed that the organic focal person-key informants would highly recommend farming practices such as crop rotation, and intercropping for crop planning and management, composting, green manures and animal manure for nutrient management, pest and disease management, weed management, soil cultivation and tillage, plant propagation such as traditional varieties and seed conservation, and diversified farming system. As reported, there are no specific local markets for organic products in Bukidnon, as well as international markets. Among the issues and concerns raised by the key informants, organic certification is the topmost issue. This issue set a little drawback and discouraged some farmers from going organic. Recently, the senate in the Philippines finally approved the amendment of RA 10068, a bill recognizing the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). They can now certify organic producers, compared to before when only third-party certifying bodies could certify and label organic products.

SRI 2.0 and Beyond: Sequencing the Protean Evolution of the System of Rice Intensification

As the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) has evolved in many ways and in several directions over the past two decades, this review follows the software-naming convention of labeling SRI’s different and subsequent versions as SRI 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, etc. In agroecology as with software, variants are not necessarily linear and can establish new directions as well as the further evolution of existing ones. This overview reviews how rainfed SRI, direct-seeded SRI, mechanized SRI, and other modifications of the initial SRI methodology have emerged since 2000, and how versions of SRI have been improvised to improve the production of other crops beyond rice, like wheat, finger millet, maize, and sugar cane. SRI thinking and practices are also being incorporated into diversified farming systems, broadening the logic and impact of SRI beyond monoculture rice cultivation, and SRI methods are also being used to achieve broader objectives like the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the conservation of biodiversity. SRI observations and research have been contributing to the crop and soil sciences by focusing attention on plant roots and soil ecology and by showing how crop management can elicit more desirable phenotypes from a given genotype. Cooperation regarding SRI among farmers, civil-society actors, scientists, private sector agents, governments, and funding agencies has begun introducing noteworthy changes within the agricultural sector, and this collaboration is expected to deepen and expand.