Effects Of Cropping Systems Research Articles

Effects of cropping system and varieties on the rice growth and yield in acid sulphate soils of tidal swampland

Swampland plays a critical function in agriculture, specifically in growing rice production. The study aimed to determine the effects of cropping systems and varieties on the rice growth and yield in acid sulfate soil of tidal swampland. The experiment was conducted in a potential acid sulphate soils in Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan Province. The experiment was arranged in a split plot design with three replications. The main plot consisted of three HYV’s of rice, namely Inpara 8, Inpari 32, and Margasari. The subplot consisted of five cropping systems, namely, Jarwo 2:1A, Jarwo 2:1B, Jarwo 2:1C, Hazton, and Tegel. The plot size was 4 m x 5 m. The variables observed included initial soil properties, plant growth, and yield components. The jajar legowo cropping system in this study was not able to increase rice yields in acid sulphate soil. There was an interaction effect of cropping systems and varieties on the plant height and number of tillers at vegetative phase. At generative and pre-harvest phases, there was significant single effect of variety and cropping system in the planting height and number of tillers, respectively. Both cropping system and variety significantly affected the number of panicles per hill, while panicle length, grain per panicle and grain yield were only affected by variety. There was no significant effect of both factors on the number of filled grains per panicle. Inpara 8 variety achieved the highest grain yield, which was 6.78 ton.ha-1 or equivalent to 4.34 ton.ha-1 of 14 % water content.

Using PhenoCams to track crop phenology and explain the effects of different cropping systems on yield

CONTEXTCrop phenology integrates information of how environmental drivers and management practices affect plant performance and crop yield. However, little is known about the impact of cropping systems (CS) on crop phenology and how this relates to differences in yield. OBJECTIVESWe assessed the applicability of PhenoCams to track crop phenology, how four CS, i.e., organic vs. conventional farming with either intensive or conservation (no/reduced) tillage affect the phenology of a pea-barley mixture and winter wheat, how crop phenology is related to harvest characteristics, e.g., grain yield and total N uptake, and explains CS effects on these characteristics. METHODSWe used time-lapse cameras (PhenoCams) to track vegetation changes in the two crops and extracted the green chromatic coordinate (GCC) to estimate different phenological metrics, i.e., dates with major changes in GCC (PhenoTimePoints), the duration between those (PhenoPhases), and the rate of increasing or decreasing GCC (PhenoSlopes). We assessed how phenological metrics were affected by different CS, and related phenological metrics to harvest characteristics. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSCS significantly affected phenological metrics of both crops, with less pronounced effects in the unfertilized pea-barley mixture compared to the fertilized winter wheat, and stronger effects for early-season than for late-season PhenoTimePoints. For winter wheat, organic compared to conventional farming caused an initial growth lag (up to 7 days) and a shorter duration (approximately 10 days) of the period of stable GCC. Winter wheat in reduced/no-tillage systems showed a tendency of delayed phenology (up to 5 days) compared to intensive tillage. While phenological metrics explained harvest characteristics of winter wheat well, they were almost unrelated to those of pea-barley, most likely because pea-barley yields were similar among CS. For winter wheat, effects of CS on harvest characteristics could be well explained by phenological metrics (max. R2 = 0.9). Thus, we demonstrated that delayed phenology acted as an important factor causing lower yield in organic compared to conventional farming. SIGNIFICANCEPhenoCams are valuable tool for high-resolution temporal monitoring of crop phenology. As different CS have been proposed as a tool for climate change adaptation, we suggest that the effects of CS on crop phenology need to be considered as they may impact yield via changes in crop phenology, particularly in organic agriculture.

The influence of rainfall and tillage on wheat yield parameters and weed population in monoculture versus rotation systems

Extreme climate events (ECEs) of drought are becoming common in Mediterranean areas and farmers need adapt agricultural practices to achieve sustainability. This field study took place in to gain insight into the effects of seasonal rainfall, tillage and crop systems on wheat yield and weed parameters. Conventional (CT), minimum (MT) and no-tillage (NT) systems in wheat monoculture and rotation cropping systems were tested during 3 years of study (2014–2015, 2015–2016 and 2016–2017). Growing Season Rainfall (GSR) was the most influential factor on yield parameters and weed population. In 2016–2017, categorized as an extreme climate event by drought, the GSR accounted for 43.4% of the historical average. This year, the wheat yield (373 kg ha−1) and harvest index (0.18) were the lowest. In 2015–2016, scarcer autumn rainfall (44 mm) affected the weed germination period, reducing the density (17 plants m−2) and diversity of weed species (3 species m−2) while yield was favoured by high winter and spring rainfall (247 mm). Our study revealed that tillage effects was not significant on wheat yield, but NT systems consistently showed higher weed density and diversity than CT and MT despite the irregular GSR during this study. The rotation system presented higher values of wheat grain yield (781 kg/ha) and dry straw biomass (1803 kg/ha) but also weed biomass (48.54 g m−2) compared to monoculture (27.50 g m−2). NT and rotation combined increased the weed community although did not reduce the wheat yield compare to conventional systems even with an ECE of drought.

Quantifying Cereal Productivity on Sandy Soil in Response to Some Soil-Improving Cropping Systems

Little information is available on the effect of soil-improving cropping systems (SICS) on crop productivity on low fertility sandy soils although they are increasingly being used in agriculture in many regions of the world due to the growing demand for food. The study aimed at quantifying the effect of four soil-improving cropping systems applied on sandy soil on cereal productivity (yield of grain and straw and plant height) in a 4-year field experiment conducted in Poland with spring cereal crops: oat (2017), wheat (2018), wheat (2019), and oat (2020). The experiment included the control (C) and the following SICS: liming (L), leguminous catch crops for green manure (LU), farmyard manure (M), and farmyard manure + liming + leguminous catch crops for green manure together (M + L + LU). To quantify the effect of the SICS, classic statistics and the Bland–Altman method were used. It was shown that all yield trait components significantly increased in the last study year (2020) under SICS with M and M + L + LU. All yield trait components were significantly lower in the dry years (2018–2019) than in the wet years (2017 and 2020). The relatively large rainfall quantity in May during intensive growth at shooting and the scarce precipitation during later growth in the dry year 2019 resulted in a significantly greater straw yield compared to the other dry year 2018. The values of Bland–Altman bias (mean difference between the particular SICS and the control) varied (in kg m−2) from −0.002 for LU in 2019 to 0.128 for M and 0.132 for M + L + LU in 2020. The highest limits of agreement (LoA) were in general noted for all yield trait components (the least even yield) in the most productive SICS including M and M + L + LU in the wet year 2020. The Bland–Altman ratio (BAR) values indicate that quantification of the effects of all soil-improving practices was most uncertain in the dry year 2018 for the grain yield and in the wet year 2020 for the straw yield and much less uncertain for the plant height in all SICS and study years. The results of this study provide helpful information about the effect of the SICS on the different yield trait components depending on the period of their application and weather conditions prevailing during the growing season.

Effect of grass-based cropping systems on carbon sequestration under changing climate scenario

The present investigation was conducted during two consecutive years of 2018-19 and 2019-20 entitled "Effect of grass-based cropping systems on soil health improvement in terms of carbon sequestration under changing climate scenario". Pearl millet napier hybrid sole crop was exhibited significantly higher total dry biomass 52.20 t/ha, above ground carbon 18.45 Mg/ha, below ground carbon 5.54 Mg/ha, total above and below ground carbon 23.99 Mg/ ha, above ground CO2 sequestration 67.71 Mg/ha, below ground CO2 sequestration 20.32 Mg/ha and total above and below ground CO2 sequestration 88.02 Mg/ha during experimentation. PN hybrid in paired rows + rice bean - Egyptian clover noted higher soil organic carbon stock 14.75, 12.68 and 10.03 Mg/ha, soil CO2 sequestration 54.17, 46.52 and 36.79 Mg/ha at 0-15, 15-30 and 30- 45 cm soil depth respectively, total carbon stock 57.96 Mg/ha, total CO2 sequestration 212.70 Mg/ha, and carbon credit ₹ 49264 /ha/yr over guinea grass sole crop. Among the different grass based cropping systems maximum total carbon stock and total CO2 sequestration under PN hybrid in paired rows + ricebean - Egyptian clover but pearl millet napier (PN) hybrid sole higher fodder carbon stock and fodder CO2 sequestration over guinea grass sole crop for soil health improvement under present scenario of climate change.

Distribution and determinants of organic carbon and available nutrients in tropical paddy soils revealed by high–resolution sampling

Rice is one of the most important crops in China; however, the loss of paddy area and imbalanced soil nutrient composition threaten food security in China owing to the increasing food demand. Soil nutrients significantly influence soil fertility, quality, and productivity, thereby controlling rice production and agroecosystem sustainability. However, a systematic assessment of the nutrient distribution and its driving factors is lacking in the low–yield paddy soils of southern China. In this study, 3239 surface paddy soil samples covering an area of 1278 km2 were collected and analyzed for soil organic carbon (SOC), alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK). The dominant factors influencing SOC, AN, AP, and AK were identified using a Random Forest (RF) method. We identified deficient levels of SOC (8.94 g kg−1), SOC density (SOCD, 21.1 t ha−1), AN (55.3 mg kg−1), and AK (37.2 mg kg−1) in tropical paddy soils, but high levels of AP (34.7 mg kg−1). According to the RF, SOCD was significantly correlated with soil AN and AK, implying their coupled cycling in tropical paddy soils; however, the negative correlation between SOC and AP signified decoupling. Compared with waterloggogenic paddy soils, gleyed paddy soils had significantly higher SOC concentrations and densities but significantly lower AP and AK concentrations and pH. Analyses of cropping system effects indicated that double– and triple–cropping systems had significantly higher SOC, bulk density (BD), SOCD, AP, AK, and pH than those of single–cropping systems. These results suggested that tropical paddy soils can potentially sequester OC and available nutrients via efficient soil management. Considering the deficient AN and AK levels of single–cropping system and their high importance on SOCD and soil productivity, double– and triple–cropping systems (generally with high N and K fertilization and residue return) are recommended as an efficient approach to improve the poor soil nutrient status and enhance the OC pool and rice production in tropical paddy soils.

Effects of conservation agriculture maize-based cropping systems on soil health and crop performance in New Caledonia

Conservation agriculture (CA) is one strategy with which both sustainability and productivity can be achieved by improving soil health. However, linkages between practices, soil health and cropping system performance remain poorly disentangled. We assessed the relationships between soil health and cropping system performance for three maize-based cropping systems in New Caledonia. Two CA systems, one with direct seeding into a mixed species dead mulch (CA-DM) and one into a stylo living mulch (CA-LM), were compared to a conventional tillage (CT) system. CA vs. CT experiment started in 2011, whereas the differentiation between CA-DM and CA-LM was initiated in 2017 only. In 2018, soil health was evaluated using Biofunctool®, a set of ten in-field tools that assess soil carbon transformation, structure maintenance and nutrient cycling functions. The performance of the three cropping systems were assessed by monitoring weeds, maize growth and yield components. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to disentangle the links between agricultural management, soil health and cropping system performance. Soil structure maintenance and nutrient cycling functions were higher under CA-DM and CA-LM than under CT, and carbon transformation function was higher under CA-DM than under CT and CA-LM. Overall, the soil health index (SHI) was 1.3-fold higher under CA systems than under CT. Cropping system management had both direct and indirect effects on soil functioning and crop productivity leading to a 1.3-fold higher yield under CA than under CT. The direct and indirect effects of CA systems on soil health had positive impacts on ecosystem services (i.e., productivity, weed regulation and soil ecosystem services). Such integrative approaches that account for the relationships and possible trade-offs between cropping system components enable a better understanding of the effects and the performance of practices, and support adaptive agricultural management.

Effects of long-term cropping regimes on SOC stability, soil microbial community and enzyme activities in the Mollisol region of Northeast China

Retaining carbon in cultivated soils is an important mechanism to mitigate climate change and to maintain the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. Characterization of the soil microbial community was an early means to quantify the increase in soil organic carbon (SOC) content and stability under different cropping systems. However, the effects of different cropping systems on the soil microbial community and enzyme activity and the driving force for increasing the SOC content remain unclear, especially the differences between continuous maize (Zea mays L.) cropping and rotation systems containing legumes. We used a long-term field experiment (30 years) in the Mollisol region of Northeast China. The field experiment was undertaken in split-plot design comprised of four treatments: i) farmland fallow (FALL), ii) continuous soybean cropping (CSC), iii) maize-soybean rotation (MSR), iv) continuous maize cropping (CMC). Fluorometric assays and phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) were used to determine the biological characteristics of the soil. The SOC chemical composition was characterized using Cross Polarization/Magic Angle Spinning solid-state 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) spectroscopy. Principal component analysis (PCA), redundancy analysis (RDA) and the partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) were used to explore the coupling mediation of these parameters further. Our results suggested that soil microbes in the four systems were not limited by C and N, but co-limited by P. But compared with the FALL system, the CMC system significantly alleviated the phosphorus limitation of the microorganisms. The CMC system also significantly increased soil nutrient content, especially SOC content (40.8%), available phosphorus (117%), available potassium (30.3%), NO3−-N (148%), and increased microbial community abundance and enzyme activities. Compared with the CMC system, the MSR system held relatively lower Gram-positive: Gram-negative ratio and higher fungi: bacteria ratio, which indicated that the soil microbial community structure is more conducive to improving the SOC stability. Meanwhile, more evidence supporting data that SOC stability was enhanced in MSR soils was provided by the 13C NMR spectra and higher-quality indices (A / AO, AI, HI and LCI). Moreover, strong correlations and RDA analysis confirmed that SOC is the main factor affecting microbial communities and enzyme activities.

Cropping System Effects on Soil Properties and Tuber Quality of Potato: Continuous Cropping Vs. Rotation with Napa Cabbage and Soybean

Cropping System Effects on Soil Properties and Tuber Quality of Potato: Continuous Cropping Vs. Rotation with Napa Cabbage and Soybean

Comparative Effects of Organic and Conventional Cropping Systems on Trace Elements Contents in Vegetable Brassicaceae: Risk Assessment

Genotypes selected from 3 plant species (Brassica rapa, Eruca vesicaria and Sinapis alba) belonging to the Brassicaceae family were chosen to compare the concentrations of 9 inorganic elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn) in these varieties, that were grown under both conventional and organic conditions during two agricultural seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020) on two different experimental farms (Farm I and Farm II). We found that, together with agriculture practices, the inorganic element concentrations in Brassicas depended on many other factors, including soil characteristics. However, there were no conclusive results indicating a lower heavy metal content or a higher nutritionally beneficial trace elements content in vegetables grown under organic agriculture. Finally, a probabilistic assessment (@Risk) derived from the consumption of 150–200 g of these vegetables showed that organic Brassicas fulfill in comparison with the conventional ones, similar Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) percentages for Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. Regarding heavy metals (Cd, Ni and Pb), we only found slight differences (mainly in the case of Pb) in the Tolerable Intakes (TI) between both cropping systems.

Response of early maturity soybean cultivars to row spacing in full-season crop and double-crop systems

Cultivar selection and crop systems are important factors for maximising soybean seed yield. The effect of row spacing (RS1 = 75 cm, RS2 = 25 cm) on the performance of 10 early maturity soybean cultivars grown in full-season and double-crop system for two consecutive years was studied. The agronomic traits measured were seed yield (SY), plant height (PH), pods per plant (PP), first pod height (FPH), crude protein. RS had a significant effect on SY, PH, PP and FPH. Higher SY (P < 0.01) was recorded in RS2 regardless of the crop system. The double-crop system yield reduction index of the tested cultivars ranged from 30.0% to 56.4% and from 21.5% to 57.2% for RS1 and RS2, respectively. Cultivars differed (P < 0.01) for all traits in both RS and crop systems. Maturity Group I cultivars showed the highest productivity; the cultivars PR92B63 and Atlantic were better adapted to the full-season crop system (SY > 5.67 t/ha); cv. Sphera was the most productive in the double-crop system (4.66 t/ha); cv. PR92M22 showed good adaptability to both cropping systems. In conclusion, the significant effect of RS and crop system on SY was observed, whereas different high yielding cultivars were identified as suitable for full-season and double-crop system.

Smallholder Farmers’ Practices and African Indigenous Vegetables Affect Soil Microbial Biodiversity and Enzyme Activities in Lake Naivasha Basin, Kenya

Simple SummarySmallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are food insecure. Underexploited African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) are consumed locally without being considered a primary source of food and income. However, AIVs hold great potential for the future challenges of food security and climate change. We investigated the effects of different cropping systems and inclusion of AIVs in farming on the soil biodiversity and fertility status of smallholder farmers in Naivasha, Kenya. Compared to mainstream farming approaches, soil microorganisms under AIV cultivations differed significantly. Tillage, fertilization, soil amendments, and traditional homemade plant protection were singled out as the most important factors. The soil alteration index based on enzyme activity offered a reliable way to determine the alteration status for the first time in SSA. These findings could be useful for farmers to integrate AIVs with correct sustainable practices for a sustainable future and may contribute to the mitigation of food insecurity.Loss of soil biodiversity and fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) may put the food security of smallholder farmers in peril. Food systems in SSA are seeing the rise of African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) that are underexploited but locally consumed without being considered a primary source of food and income. Here we present a field study, a first of its kind, in which we investigated the effects of different cropping systems and inclusion of AIVs in the farming approach on bacterial and fungal biodiversity and community structures, enzymatic activity, and the alteration status of soils of the smallholder farmers in Kenya. When compared to mainstream farming approaches, the composition and biodiversity of bacteria and fungi under AIV cultivations was significantly different. Tillage had a significant impact only on the fungal communities. Fertilization and soil amendments caused shifts in microbial communities towards specialized degraders and revealed the introduction of specific microorganisms from amendments. Traditional homemade plant protection products did not cause any disturbance to either of soil bacteria or fungi. The soil alteration index based on enzyme activity successfully differentiated the alteration status for the first time in SSA. These findings could be useful for farmers to integrate AIVs with correct sustainable practices for a sustainable future.

Long-Term Effects of Cropping Systems, Residues and Phosphorus on Soil Actinomycetes in Western Kenya

Long-Term Effects of Cropping Systems, Residues and Phosphorus on Soil Actinomycetes in Western Kenya

Short-term dynamics of leaf litter-derived soil organic carbon under different coffee and cocoa cropping systems

Litter plays a crucial role in the formation of soil organic carbon (SOC), and potentially affects different pools in the context of soil carbon cycle. To improve knowledge and understanding with respect to the dynamics of carbon in coffee and cocoa cropping systems, there is a need to develop a mechanistic model to explain the formation of carbon especially in different background of soil, climate and agronomic management. Short-term observation was performed in different cropping systems, i.e. coffee (Coff) and cocoa (CoL) with lamtoro(Leucaena sp.) shade trees, and cocoa with oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) shade trees (CoP), and teak (Tectona grandis) conservation area, to investigate the quantitative amount of leaf litter-derived carbon. Additionally, to improve the understanding with respect to the formation of soil organic carbon, a simple model is developed by employing organic carbon storage coefficient (hi) as parameter to validate the observation data from Coff and CoL plots. Leaf litter is collected daily with concomitant microclimate records, i.e. air temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, and soil temperature. Composite soil and leaf samples are collected for organic carbon, soil moisture content, and leaf relative water content (RWC), for laboratory identification. Analysis of data suggests the presence of cropping system effect, i.e. shading condition and agronomical practices such as pruning, to microclimate variations except for soil temperature. Furthermore, cropping systems do not significantly influence soil moisture content, amount of organic carbon, and RWC. With higher model efficiency (EF), the simulated model fits better for CoL, EF 0.95, than Coff, EF 0.58. Model simulation, with both hi values are 0.017 and 0.014 in Coff and CoL, reveals a possibly cropping system specific curve pattern. A faster SOC formation in Coff plot has suggested a crucial role the amount of leaf litter to support with continuous carbon supply. The simulation implies the presence of soil related-maximum point limiting carbon storage capacity

A Comparison of Growth Characteristics, Dry Matter Yield, and Forage Quality Between Mixed Cropping and Pure Stand Systems (Monoculture Systems)

Smallholders beef cattle are facing many problems, such as the unsustainable supply, limited quantity, and poor quality of forage, which all are crucial to increase the population and productivity of their beef cattle. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of monoculture and mixed cropping system between dwarf napiergrass with siratro and centro on growth characteristics, fresh and dry matter (DM) yield, and forage quality. The study was carried out for 4 months. There were 3 experiment treatments, namely P0 = dwarf napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum cv Mott) planted on monoculture system; P1 = dwarf napiergrass planted in mixed cropping system with siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum cv Siratro); and P2 = dwarf napiergrass planted in mixed cropping system with centro (Centrocema pubescent). All treatments were replicated 3 times. All plants on each treatment were planted on 3 3 m plots, with 1 m of distance between the plots. Data were collected four times after transplanting, i.e. August 20th, September 17th; October 28th; and December 16th of 2017, respectively. The results of study indicated that neither plant height nor tiller number in all treatments and measurement periods were significantly affected (p>0.05), except in month-3 (plant height) and month-4 (tiller number). Although treatments did not alter fresh and DM yield (p>0.05), the DM yield from mixed cropping system tended to be higher. Hence, it can be concluded that growth characteristic, productivity, and forage quality in mixed cropping system were better than in monoculture system.

Which Pitfall Traps and Sampling Effort to Choose to Evaluate Cropping System Effects on Spider and Carabid Assemblages?

In arable agroecosystems, arthropod communities often have a reduced abundance and diversity, which represents a challenge for sampling techniques needed to detect small differences among these simplified communities. We evaluated the suitability of pitfall traps for comparing the effects of cropping systems on arthropod communities. In a field experiment, we compared the effects of two pitfall trap diameters, the type of preserving fluid and the sampling effort on three metrics (activity density, taxonomic richness, and community weighted mean [CWM] of body size) for carabids and spiders. Trap size affected the observed composition of communities, with large traps yielding a higher proportion of spiders, and a higher richness and CWM body size for both taxa. The type of preserving fluid had a weaker effect. Simulations with various sampling efforts showed that only very different communities could be distinguished with less than 10 traps per field or less than 30 field replicates. Fewer traps were required to find differences between cropping systems for body size than for other metrics. Carabid activity density and body size, and spider genus richness, were the variables better distinguishing between cropping systems with the smallest sampling effort. A high sampling effort was required for comparing activity density and richness across cropping systems. Selection of the most appropriate trap design, metrics, and crops are the main factors for optimizing the trade-off between sampling effort and the ability to detect arthropod community responses to habitat management.

Maize yields from rotation and intercropping systems with different legumes under conservation agriculture in contrasting agro-ecologies

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a key food security crop in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA). Maize yield gaps are large in the smallholder farming systems of ESA but can be closed by a combination of improved crop varieties and sustainable cropping systems. On-farm trials were conducted in five countries of ESA over a seven-year period to assess the effects of different cropping systems on maize productivity. Cropping systems tested were conventional practice (Conv_sole) compared with variants of conservation agriculture (CA) such as sole maize (CA_sole), intercropping (CA_intercropping) and rotation (CA_rotation). Maize yield varied with cropping system and agro-ecological conditions. In highlands, CA_intercropping (3709 kg ha−1) outperformed Conv_sole (3456 kg ha−1), CA_sole (3596 kg ha−1) and CA_rotation (3545 kg ha−1) with similar legumes in the cropping system. The CA_rotation (3050 kg ha−1) out-yielded the other treatments (2645−2864 kg ha−1) in lowlands where similar legumes were grown in the cropping system. Without rotation practices, CA_sole (3596 kg ha−1) outperformed the conventional and CA_intercropping treatments (2954−3036 kg ha−1) in highlands with similar legumes in the cropping system. In lowlands, CA_intercropping (2802 kg ha−1) out yielded the other treatments (2485−2658 kg ha−1). The highest maize yield was from CA systems with groundnut (3609 kg ha−1) and common bean (3307−3576 kg ha−1) under rotation and intercropping practices, respectively. Maize-pigeon pea intercropping (35 %) and maize-groundnut rotation (31–43 %) under CA had the highest maize yield advantages over the conventional practices. The most stable maize yields were from the maize-common bean systems under CA. There is scope for promoting CA cropping systems integrated with grain and forage legumes to address maize productivity challenges on smallholder farms of ESA.

Different Cropping System Effects of Depth-Wise Distribution of Available NPKS in an Inceptisol of Southern Telangana Zone

The present study was undertaken in the ongoing long-term experiment initiated during 2017 at the experimental farm of College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. Soil samples were collected from two depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm) and analysed for soil fertility parameters namely: available N, P, K and S. The results indicated that the different cropping systems had positive influence on improving the nutrient status (i.e., available N, P and K) significantly over the initial soil values (N: 112.20, P: 23.40 and K: 170.30 kg ha-1, respectively). Interestingly, it was noticed that improved availability of nutrients (N, P, K and S) was more profound in the upper soil layer (0–15 cm) compared to lower depth (15–30 cm) in all the cropping systems (CS). The CS: Bt cotton + Greengram – Groundnut had recorded high nitrogen (N=221.60 kg-1), CS: Fodder maize – Lucerne recorded high in available P (P=49.13 kg-1) and CS: Fodder sorghum + Fodder cowpea – Horsegram – Sunhemp recorded high in K and S (K=208.10 kg-1, S= 172.0 kg S ha-1) after kharif season. While, CS: Pigeon pea + Greengram – Sesame showed high for N (N=228.57 kg-1), CS: Fodder maize – Lucerne for high P (P=48.27 kg-1) and Rice – Maize recorded high for K and S (K=207.63 kg-1 and S= 95.40 kg S ha-1) in top soil layer (0–15 cm) after harvest of rabi compared to lower soil depth (15–30 cm).

Competition Effect of Mixed Non-Legume Cropping System On Nitrogen Uptake

Competition Effect of Mixed Non-Legume Cropping System On Nitrogen Uptake

The Effect of Organic vs. Conventional Cropping Systems on the Yield and Chemical Composition of Three Courgette Cultivars

Courgette is a popular vegetable belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. It is known for its good adaptation to different weather conditions, although it performs best in a warm and humid climate. Since the yield and various quality characteristics of vegetables are known to be strongly influenced by a number of weather, agronomic, and genetic (variety/cultivar) factors, in this study we aimed to compare three cultivars of courgette (Atena, Lajkonik and Soraya) grown in two consecutive growing seasons in the organic and conventional agronomic systems. The concentrations of nitrates, nitrites, carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, β-carotene) and chlorophylls (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b) in courgette fruits were analyzed by HPLC. The growing season had a predominant effect on the yield as well as the majority of the analyzed compositional parameters of the courgette fruits. The studied cultivars differed significantly in the concentration of lutein, β-carotene, and chlorophylls, although some significant interactions between the cultivar and the growing season were observed. On average, organically grown courgettes were characterized by a significantly higher yield, as well as higher dry matter and chlorophyll content, however, this agronomic system’s effect was not consistent among all the studied cultivars in the two seasons. The study suggests that organic practices have a potential to provide high yields of good quality crops, comparable (or, in the case of some parameters, better) than the conventional, resource-intensive horticulture.