Excessive Tillage Research Articles

Evaluating different green manuring plant species and stool destruction methods for enhancing sugarcane yield at Wonji-Shoa Sugar Estate, Ethiopia

The long-term intensive production system employed in the Sugar Estates in Ethiopia, characterized by monoculture, preharvest burning, and excessive tillage, has led to soil degradation with a concomitant decline in sugarcane yield. Therefore, a study was conducted at Wonji-Shoa Sugar Estate (WSSE) with the objective of evaluating the effectiveness of different green manuring plant species and cane stool destruction methods (SDMs) in improving cane yield. To that end, seven green manure plant species (sunn-hemp, lablab, cowpea, soybean, mungbean, dhaincha, and sugarcane trash) were evaluated under three SDMs (cultivating-out, spraying-out with herbicide, and maintaining the stool as it is) using a split-plot design. The experimental fields were established on two major soil types, with green manure crops incorporated into the soil before planting the sugarcane. The dry matter production and nitrogen contribution of the green manure plants, as well as the height, population, diameter, and yields of sugarcane, were determined and subsequently subjected to statistical and economic analysis. The results showed that cowpea, followed by lablab, dhaincha, and sunn hemp, were the most effective green manures in terms of improving cane performance, with up to 17–20 % yield advantage and 21–40 % net economic benefits over the control treatment. Additionally, the spraying-out MSD was as effective as the cultivating-out MSD, but both outperformed maintaining the stool. In conclusion, utilizing these green manuring crops in combination with the spraying-out SDM presents notable advantages for improved cane yield and enhanced economic benefits in a sustainable manner. Adoption of these practices, therefore, holds significant potential for reversing the constantly declining sugarcane yields at WSSE.

Soil organic mater management – a decisive measure in climate change mitigation and adaptation

Global warming requires the implementation of both immediate and long-term mitigation and adaptation measures in agriculture, which is affected by greenhouse gas emissions through the use of practices from the industrial model arsenal of agricultural intensification (oversaturation of planting areas with arable crops and lack of crop rotations with a greater diversity of arable and successive crops; excessive tillage; irrigation; application of mineral fertilizers, especially nitrogen etc.). Data from the long-term field experiments at Research Institute of Field Crops ”Selecția” (Bălți, Republic of Moldova) are proving the dominance of mineralization over humification of soil organic matter with the emissions of CO2 and oxides of nitrogen in the atmosphere. Chernozem soils have a high potential for carbon sequestration and consequently for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Sustainable and resilient management of soil organic matter is one of the key issues for the transition to a more sustainable agriculture, capable to supply ecosystem and social services.

Soil degradation and mitigation in agricultural lands in the Indian Anthropocene

AbstractCurrent widespread and intensive soil degradation in India has been driven by unprecedented levels of population growth, large‐scale industrialization, high‐yield agriculture, urban sprawl and the spread of human infrastructure. The damage caused to managed and natural systems by soil degradation threatens livelihoods and local services and leads to national socio‐economic disruption. Human‐induced soil degradation results from land clearing and deforestation, inappropriate agricultural practices, improper management of industrial effluents and wastes, careless management of forests, surface mining, urban sprawl, and ill‐planned commercial and industrial development. Of these, inappropriate agricultural practices, including excessive tillage and use of heavy machinery, over‐grazing, excessive and unbalanced use of inorganic fertilizers, poor irrigation and water management techniques, pesticide overuse, inadequate crop residue and/or organic carbon inputs, and poor crop cycle planning, account for nearly 40% (121 Mha) of land degradation across India. Globally, human activities related to agriculture contribute to the transgression of four of the nine Planetary Boundaries proposed by Rockström et al. (2009): Climate Change, Biodiversity Integrity, Land‐system Change, and altered Phosphorus and Nitrogen Biogeochemical Flows. This review focuses on how knowledge of soil processes in agriculture has developed in India over the past 10 years, and the potential of soil science to meet the objectives of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger (End hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture), using the context of the four most relevant Planetary Boundaries as a framework. Solutions to mitigate soil degradation and improve soil health in different regions using conservation agricultural approaches have been proposed. Thus, in this review we (1) summarize the outputs of recent innovative research in India that has explored the impacts of soil degradation on four Planetary Boundaries (Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, Land‐system Change, and altered Biogeochemical Flows of Phosphorus and Nitrogen) and vice‐versa; and (2) identify the knowledge gaps that require urgent attention to inform developing soil science research agendas in India, to advise policy makers, and to support those whose livelihoods rely on the land.

Soil quality under different land uses in eastern India: Evaluation by using soil indicators and quality index.

Indian soils are inherently poor in quality due to the warm climate and erosion. Conversion of land uses like forests to croplands and faulty management practices in croplands further cause soil degradation. This study aimed to understand the extent of these impacts in a small representative part of eastern India, covering Himalayan terai and nearing alluvial plains. Soils were collected from (i) forests, (ii) croplands (under agricultural practices for more than 50–60 years) and (iii) converted lands (converted from forests to croplands or tea gardens over the past 15–20 years). Different soil quality indicators were assessed and soil quality index (SQI) was generated to integrate, scale and allot a single value per soil. Results indicated that continuous organic matter deposition and no disturbances consequence the highest presence of soil carbon pools, greater aggregation and maximum microbial dynamics in forest soils whereas high application of straight fertilizers caused the highest available nitrogen and phosphorus in cropland soils. The SQI scorebook indicated the best soil quality under forests ( 0.532), followed by soils of converted land ( 0.432) and cropland ( 0.301). Comparison of the SQI spatial distribution with land use and land cover confirmed the outcome. Possibly practices like excessive tillage, high cropping intensity, no legume in crop rotations, cultivation of heavy feeder crops caused degraded soil quality in croplands. This study presented an example of soil quality degradation in India due to land use change and faulty management practices. Such soil degradation on a larger scale may affect future food security.

Double zero-tillage and foliar-P nutrition coupled with bio-inoculants enhance physiological photosynthetic characteristics and resilience to nutritional and environmental stresses in maize-wheat rotation.

Conventionally tilled maize–wheat cropping system (MWCS) is an emerging cereal production system in semi-arid region of south-Asia. This system involves excessive tillage operations that result in numerous resource- and production-vulnerabilities besides impeding environmental-stresses. Likewise, phosphorus is a vital nutrient that limits crop growth and development. It’s a matter of great concern when ∼80% of Indian soils are low to medium in available-P due to its sparing solubility, resulting in crop stress and low yields. Hence, crop productivity, photosynthetic parameters and resilience to nutritional and environmental stresses were assessed in a MWCS using four crop-establishment and tillage management (CETM) practices [FBCT-FBCT (Flat bed-conventional tillage both in maize and wheat); RBCT-RBZT (Raised bed-CT in maize and raised bed-zero tillage in wheat); FBZT-FBZT (FBZT both in maize and wheat); PRBZT-PRBZT (Permanent raised bed-ZT both in maize and wheat)], and five P-fertilization practices [P100 (100% soil applied-P); P50+2FSP (50% soil applied-P + 2 foliar-sprays of P through 2% DAP both in maize and wheat); P50+PSB+AM-fungi; P50+PSB+AMF+2FSP; and P0 (100% NK with no-P)] in split-plot design replicated-thrice. The results indicated that double zero-tilled PRBZT–PRBZT system significantly enhanced the grain yield (6.1; 5.4 t ha–1), net photosynthetic rate (Pn) (41.68; 23.33 μ mol CO2 m–2 s–1), stomatal conductance (SC) (0.44; 0.26 mol H2O m–2 s–1), relative water content (RWC) (83.3; 77.8%), and radiation-use efficiency (RUE) (2.9; 2.36 g MJ–1) by 12.8–15.8 and 8.5–44.4% in maize and wheat crops, respectively over conventional tilled FBCT–FBCT. P50+PSB+AMF+2FSP conjugating soil applied-P, microbial-inoculants and foliar-P, had significantly higher Pn, SC, RUE and RWC over P100 besides saving ∼34.7% fertilizer-P under MWCS. P50+PSB+AMF+2FSP practice also had higher NDVI, PAR, transpiration efficiency and PHI over P100. Whereas lower stomatal limitation index (Ls) was observed under PRBZT–PRBZT system as compared to the conventional FBCT–FBCT system indicating that P is the limiting factor but not stomata. Hence, optimum P supply through foliar P-fertilization along with other sources resulted in higher grain yield by 21.4% over control. Overall, double zero-tilled PRBZT–PRBZT with crop residue retention at 6 t/ha per year, as well as P50+PSB+AMF+2FSP in MWCS, may prove beneficial in enhancing the crop productivity and, thereby, bolstering food security in semi-arid south-Asia region.

Crop intensification effects on soil quality and organic carbon stocks: a case study of Haramosh Valley in Central Karakorum, Pakistan

ABSTRACT Agricultural operations such as excessive tillage and intense cropping deplete soil organic carbon (SOC), making sustainable agriculture management critical for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study evaluates the impact of crop intensification on soil quality and soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) under double cropping (DC) and single cropping pattern (SC) in upper Haramosh of Gilgit, Pakistan. Soil samples were taken from cropping zones (DC and SC) under three depths (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm). Standard methods were used to analyze selected soil quality parameters and SOC. Statistical analysis using ANOVA showed that soil temperature, moisture, pH, SOC, and SOCS highly significantly differed (p < 0.001) for different cropping patterns (DC and SC), whereas bulk density (BD), electrical conductivity (EC), and clay were not significantly different. The SC retained 4.4% more moisture and had lower BD than the DC, while BD increased with increasing depth. The texture of the soil was sandy loam at both cropping zones. The mean SOC and SOCS of SC were greater (by 12%) than in the DC zone. Pearson correlation showed a significant and positive correlation of SOC stock with SOC, moisture (p < 0.01), and EC (p < 0.05), but had a negative correlation with bulk density, pH (p < 0.01), and sand (p < 0.05). DC apparently degraded soil quality and organic carbon reserves, thus reducing the soil health in mountain agriculture.

ANALYSIS OF DOMINANT TYPES OF LAND USE IN THE CARPATHIAN REGION

It is devoted to the specifics of the distribution of dominant land use types in the Carpathian region. The natural resources provided by the Carpathian region are described. Land, forest and water resources of the Carpathian region, as well as the main causes of land degradation, namely: landslides, mudslides and erosion (dangerous slope processes that are activated by both natural and anthropogenic factors); analyzed natural and man-made factors that negatively affect the land resources of the Carpathian region; volumes of illegal deforestation; water pollution in the Carpathian region.&#x0D; Particular attention is paid to the negative anthropogenic impact on agricultural land (excessive tillage; ineffective agro-ameliorative measures; excessive fertilization; impact of built-up areas; other characteristics); forestry purposes (continuous deforestation; improper forest skidding; logging clutter; violation of the structure of virgin forests; the impact of built-up areas); water fund within the Carpathian region (wastewater discharge; illegal construction of coastal protection strips; extraction of minerals in floodplains of rivers and lakes; ineffective hydrological and reclamation measures; impact of built-up areas). The volumes of illegal logging in natural areas as of 2018 have been studied. Also, special attention is paid to the study of the level of forest cover in Ukraine (by region) as of 2018.

Vertical Tillage Technology for Primary Soil Preparation

In the last decade in Mexico and other developing countries, soil preparation is the agricultural activity that represents the highest costs per unit of production, due to factors such as lack of appropriate equipment, excessive tillage, high consumption of fossil fuel, lack of knowledge and training for the adequate soil management, among others. The purpose of this research was to develop a vertical tillage technology that allows primary soil preparation without investment and reduces fuel consumption and effective operating time, improves labor quality and conserves soil and water resources. For this, a chisel plow prototype was developed based on four vertical tillage parameters: (1. Working depth 2. Number of bodies 3. Spacing between chisels 4. Use of wings or sweepers). These parameters determined the criteria and dimensions of the prototype for its development in design parameters such as spacing, position, angle of attack and depth of work. The performance evaluation of the prototype was compared with the disc plow; an implement that served as a witness as it was the most widely used technology. The standardized test method was used by the National Center for Standardization of Agricultural Machinery "CENEMA". The results obtained show a prototype plow with five chisels mounted on a double platform frame. The front platform is used for the coupling of three shallow chisels and the rear one, for the coupling of two deep chisels with wings. The implement adjusts for two working depths 0.30 and 0.40 meters and two working widths 1.80 m and 2.40 m respectively. The performance evaluation showed that vertical tillage with the chisel plow prototype in its two treatments showed an average saving of more than 45% in the fuel consumption variable and 53% in the effective working time compared to conventional tillage used with a disc plow. In terms of quality of work, vertical tillage shows high performance in soil disturbance, exceeding up to 65% of the work done by conventional tillage. Finally, it is concluded that the proposed technology should be used as technological innovation and replace the conventional disk plow technology, given its technological, economic and environmental advantages.

Conservation agriculture effects on yield and profitability of rice-based systems in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain

Abstract Sustaining productivity of the rice-based cropping systems in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain (EIGP) requires practices to reverse declining soil fertility resulting from excessive tillage and crop residue removal, while decreasing production costs and increasing farm profits. We hypothesize that the adoption of conservation agriculture (CA), involving minimum tillage, crop residue retention and crop rotation, can address most of these challenges. Therefore, the effects of crop establishment methods – strip planting (SP), bed planting (BP) and conventional tillage (CT); and levels of crop residue retention – high residue (HR) and low residue (LR) on individual crop yield, system yield and profitability were evaluated in a split-plot design over three cropping seasons in two field experiments (Alipur and Digram sites) with contrasting crops and soil types in the EIGP. The SP and BP of non-rice crops were rotated with non-puddled rice establishment; CT of non-rice crops was rotated with puddled transplanted rice. In the legume-dominated system (rice-lentil-mung bean), lentil yields were similar in SP and CT, while lower in BP in crop season 1. A positive effect of high residue over low residue was apparent by crop season 2 and persisted in crop season 3. In crop season 3, the lentil yield increased by 18–23% in SP and BP compared to CT. In the cereal-dominated system (rice-wheat-mung bean), significant yield increases of wheat in SP and BP (7–10%) over CT, and of HR (1–3%) over LR, were detected by crop season 3 but not before. Rice yields under CA practices (non-puddled and HR) were comparable with CT (puddled and LR) in both systems. Improved yield of lentil and wheat with CA was correlated with higher soil water content. The net income of SP increased by 25–28% for dry season crops as compared to CT and was equal with CT for rice cropping systems. Conservation agriculture practices provide opportunities for enhancing crop yield and profitability in intensive rice-based systems of the EIGP of Bangladesh.

Monitoring and Analysis of Degraded Land in Rasulabad Block of Kanpur Dehat District Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Abstract: Land degradation is seen as a development or additional that reduces current and/or potential soil capability to produce products and goods. This implies a decline from a higher to a lower state due to a decline in land capacity, productivity, and biodiversity loss. This can be both natural and human-induced. Natural causes embody earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts, avalanches, landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods, tornadoes, and wildfires. Whereas human-induced soil degradation results from land clearing and deforestation, inappropriate agricultural practices, improper management of industrial effluents and wastes, over-grazing, careless management of forests, surface mining, urban sprawl, and commercial/industrial development. Inappropriate agricultural practices embody excessive tillage and use of heavy machineries, excessive and unbalanced use of inorganic fertilizers, poor irrigation and water management techniques, chemical or pesticide overuse, inadequate crop residue and organic carbon inputs, and poor crop cycle planning. Some underlying social causes of soil degradation in Asian nation square measure land shortage, decline in per capita land handiness, economic pressure onto land, land occupancy, poverty, and population increase.. The aim of the current study is to prepare baseline data to combat land degradation and conserve land resources in an economical and efficient manner. To assess land degradation with the help of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) – in Rasulabad Block of Kanpur Dehat district, Uttar Pradesh, different levels of analysis were performed to estimate the extent of land. Degradation to assess saline or salt-free soils and calcareous or sodium soils and to match this data with satellite studies. The spatial variability of these soil parameters was shown in soil maps created in a GIS environment. A temporary study of the 2017 and 2021 Sentinel satellite datasets was done to find the parameters that are responsible for land degradation. The severity of land degradation was calculable quantitatively by analyzing the physico-chemical parameters within the laboratory to see salinity and sodicity of soils and further correlating them with satellite-based studies. The pH varied between 7.1 and 8.2, electrical conductivity (EC) between 0.23 and 0.6 miliSiemens/m and the methyl orange or total alkalinity between 0.095 and 0.225 (HCO3 ) gL-1 as CaCO3. The spatial variability in these soil parameters was pictured through soil maps generated in a GIS environment with the help of IDW Interpolation. The results revealed that the soil in the study area was exposed to salt intrusion, most of the soil samples of the study area were slightly or moderately saline with a few salt-free sites. Moreover, the majority of the soil samples were calcareous and a few samples were alkaline or sodic in nature. Keyword: Land degradation, Sodic land, Saline land, GIS, IDW Interpolation.

Conservation Agriculture Mitigates the Effects of Climate Change

Intensive tillage based conventional agriculture have high global warming potential. Alternative to this, conservation agriculture (CA) systems utilize soils for the production of crops by reducing excessive tillage, maintaining crop residue on the soil surface, and adoption of crop rotations. The paper attempts to review the findings of CA based experiments under different cropping systems within and outside of the country. It has been found that CA increases and sustains the crop productivities, mitigates green house gas emissions from agriculture by enhancing soil carbon sequestration, improving soil nutrient status and water use efficiencies, and reducing fuel consumption. Mainstreaming of CA systems in Nepal is hindered by its knowledge gap, inadequate farm machineries and tools, small holdings, poor infrastructures, and lack of CA friendly policy support. Therefore, there is an urgent need to test, verify and scale-out the CA based technologies by Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) across the different agro-ecologies through farmer-centered partnership among the international institutions, public and private sector of Nepal.&#x0D;

Prospects and challenges of conservation agriculture in Bangladesh for sustainable sugarcane cultivation

Sugarcane is an industrial crop globally used for producing biofuels and bioproducts and is the only source of white sugar in Bangladesh. However, labour-dependent cultivation and climate change are responsible for the higher production costs and lower yield of sugarcane, and these factors are barriers to sustainable sugarcane farming in Bangladesh. In this paper, the prospects of existing sugarcane farming practices are described, and some improved cultivation and management practices addressing the principles of conservation agriculture (CA) in overcoming these barriers are evaluated. Excessive tillage, burning of trash after harvesting, and mono-cropping have been identified as crucial factors that increase sugarcane production cost, deteriorating soil health, and decreasing cane yields. Several improved conservation tillage machines used for cereals, pulse, and other crops are becoming more accessible to farmers in Bangladesh, but these machines are not used for sugarcane crops. Minimum tillage can also be a resource-saving tillage option for cultivating sugarcane but is limited in sugarcane production owing to the absence of suitable machinery. However, the irrational removal and burning of the residue in the sugarcane farming systems may have adverse effects on the environment. Intercropping not only increases economic benefits but also minimises the negative impact of mono-cropping. We suggest that minimum tillage, residue mulching, and intercropping should be applied as profitable and sustainable cultivation practices in sugarcane farming. Therefore, both research and extension activities addressing the use of appropriate CA technologies, including conservation tillage machinery improvements, could help to achieve sustainable sugarcane farming in Bangladesh.

Conservation Agriculture: A Way for Soil Water Conservation

World population is going on increasing, it may be 2.4 billion by 2050, but stabilizing the yield of crop is questionable in Indian agriculture due to improper management of agricultural land. Excess tillage accelerate the organic matter oxidation present on the top soil, soil erosion and creates subsurface hard pan. This makes the field unsuitable for cultivation of crops in future. Climate change is worsening the situation by imposing water scarcity in India. So to evade these problems, conservation agriculture is the only way. Main objectives of conservation agriculture is reducing tillage, year round cropping, crop rotation, mulching may be live or residue. Due to reduced mechanical tillage, activity of micro flora and macro flora get increases that improves biological tillage of soil, that in turn improves soil structure and enhances the plant growth. Most of the studies showed that the cost of wheat production and CO2 emission from the field is reduced when conservation agriculture was fallowed in rice-wheat cropping system. Crop rotation and also mixed cropping improves soil fertility and also it reduces soil erosion. It can be a part of climate smart agriculture. It reduces greenhouse gas emission and also it can improve carbon sequestration. Considerably it can save 20-30% of water.

Effect of lon 10.22271/phyto.2020.v9.i5ao.12791 g term zero tillage on soil organic carbon and its fractions: A review

Soil tillage disruption is a major cause of loss of organic matter and a decline in the number and stability of soil aggregates as natural habitats are transformed into agriculture. Compared to conventional tillage, zero tillage cropping systems typically demonstrate increased aggregation and soil organic matter. To feed the rising population on a sustainable basis without degrading natural resources, there is a need to increase farm productivity and total food production. Although the country's green revolution technologies implemented during 1966-67 led to food protection, intensive agriculture, insufficient and imbalanced use of fertilizers, high yielding crop varieties, the use of heavy machinery, excess tillage, etc., resulted in degradation of soil health and quality for more than five decades and increased pollution of air, soil and water. There is a great lack of a systematic approach to relating tillage practices to chemical soil properties. The most significant pillar of conservation farming is zero tillage. The need for an hour is conservation farming. It is a win-win operation for farmers as well as for the environment. The goal of Tillage was to establish a soil environment conducive to plant growth, but to have negative effects on soil resources, structure and eventually on the environment in the long run. Zero tillage has the ability to enhance the chemical properties and environment of the soil in the long run. Keeping all of these under consideration, this analysis is compiled to create a perfect tillage scheme, i.e. zero tillage, which eliminates the adverse effects of tillage and retains soil resources and eventually contributes to sustainable agriculture. The magnitude of changes in soil organic matter in response to zero tillage, however, differs between soils and the stabilisation mechanisms of organic matter in zero tillage systems.

Assessment of selected soil physicochemical properties on different land-use systems and landscape positions at Hamesa watershed, Wolayita zone, Southern Ethiopia

The investigation was undertaken at Hamesa watershed of Wolayita Zone with the aim to assess the consequences of land-use systems and topography on the physical and chemical properties of selected soils. Surface soil samples taken at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths from three land-use systems (enset, grassland and maize fields) were collected under three slope positions (upper, middle and lower). Both the clay and bulk density increased with depth, while total nitrogen (N), OC, available P and micro-nutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu) decreased. On the landscape positions, increase in exchangeable Ca and K, pH, bulk density and available Mn down the slope was observed; whereas total N, OC, available P and available Fe showed decreasing trend down the slope. At 0-15 cm soil depth, grassland soils exhibited higher bulk density and lower porosity as a result of livestock movement which was compacted. Grasslands had higher OC and TN compared to the other two land-use systems, due to the accumulation of humus in the root system in the grassland. Application of household refuses and manure contribute to increasing available P, TN, Zn, Ca and K contents in enset farmland. On the contrary, maize land use had lower CEC, K, PBS, Mg, TN and OC, which might be due to crop removal, erosion phenomena, and excessive tillage activities. These results suggest that for sustainable crop production, proper management practices should be in place by considering different slope positions and land-use systems. Key words: Land use system, slope position, physical, chemical soil properties.

Antalya İlindeki Üreticilerin Tarımsal Faaliyetler ve Çevre İlişkisi Hakkındaki Görüşlerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Damla sulama sistemleri su ve toprak kaynaklarının sürdürülebilir kullanımına yardımcı olurken su tasarrufu ve bitki kalitesinde de artış sağlayan sistemlerdir. Bu çalışmada, Antalya ilinde damla sulama desteği alan ve damla sulama desteği almayan işletmelerin tarımsal faaliyetler ve çevre ilişkisi hakkındaki görüşleri incelenmiştir. Antalya ilinde damla sulama desteklerinden yararlanan 62 üretici ve damla sulama desteği alan işletmeler ile benzer özelliklere sahip, ancak damla sulama desteğinden yararlanmayan 62 üretici olmak üzere toplam 124 üretici ile yüz yüze yapılan anketler ile elde edilen bilgiler kullanılmıştır. Grupların tarımsal faaliyetler ve çevre ilişkisi hakkındaki görüşleri arasında farklılık olup olmadığı ki-kare analizi ile belirlenmiştir. Her iki grup ile ilgili bilgilerin değerlendirilmesinde tanımlayıcı istatistikten yararlanılmıştır. Üreticilerin tarımsal faaliyetler ve çevre ilişkisi hakkındaki görüşleri kümeleme analizi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Ward tekniği ve K-ortalama tekniği kullanılmıştır. Ki-kare analizine göre “Aşırı toprak işleme erozyona neden olur” ve “İlaçlama ile hasat arasında geçen sürenin önemi vardır” yargıları gruplar arasında değişirken diğer yargılar destekleme alan ve almayan gruplara göre değişmemektedir. Kümeleme analizine göre damla sulama desteği alan üreticilerin %1.6’sının birinci kümede, %30.6’sının ikinci kümede, %32.3’ünün üçüncü kümede, %35.5’inin dördüncü kümede yer aldığı, damla sulama desteği almayan üreticilerin ise 4.8’inin birinci kümede, %12.9’unun ikinci kümede, %40.3’ünün üçüncü kümede, %41.9’unun dördüncü kümede yer aldığı tespit edilmiştir. Yargıların kümeler arasında farklılık gösterme durumları ANOVA analizi ile incelenmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda, üreticilere tarımsal faaliyetlerin çevreye vereceği zararlar ile ilgili daha detaylı bilgilendirme çalışması yapılması ihtiyacı olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

ESTIMATION OF UKRAINE’S LAND RESOURSE BY THE EROSION PROCESSES DYNAMICS

Soils are considered as the main and most powerful in the territorial plane component of the environment. In agriculture, productivity largely depends on the soil condition. Due to excessive tillage, deficit balance of humus and nutrients, lack of organic matter and mineral fertilizers, chemical meliorants, pollution, soil Ukraine under current conditions continues to degrade. On the decline of soil fertility also shows a negative balance of humus and nutrients. The problem protection of land, the struggle against degradation now rose to the level of major, global. To protect land measures in regions of Ukraine is very actual in our time.&nbsp; The purpose: analysis of changes in the state of Ukraine land resources for recent years, estimation the processes of droughts and desertification, that generate water and wind erosion, which causes degradation of soil fertility and reduces the productivity of agroecosystems. Methodology: for determining the sources of the negative processes of water and wind erosion, used comparisons and analysis of statistical data for recent years by choosing the main agrosystem parameters. In the article used a structural analysis, based on the dynamics of the distribution of Ukraine land resources for the estimation of economic use by using the coefficients of economic stability and anthropogenic load. Findings. Due to the large-scale intensification of agriculture production, the land area with various types of degradation has increased significantly. Factors, that deterioration of land quality, and hence increase their degradation, are excessive moisturizing, waterlogging, salinity, acidification, deflation, water erosion, and alkalization. To prevention the process of soil degradation and economic losses, to improving the environment as a whole, it is necessary to realize the complex measures of ecologization of agriculture. &nbsp

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NEMATODE COMMUNITIES AND EDAPHIC FACTORS ON SELECTED SOIL GROUPS IN KENYA: VERTISOLS, CAMBISOLS AND ARENOSOLS

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background.&lt;/strong&gt; Inappropriate agricultural practices such as use of heavy machinery, excessive tillage and unbalanced use of inorganic fertilizers, inappropriate irrigation practices and poor water &lt;em&gt;management&lt;/em&gt; techniques, pesticide &lt;em&gt;overuse&lt;/em&gt;, inadequate crop residue and/or organic carbon inputs, and poor crop cycling negatively affect soil characteristics. &lt;strong&gt;Objective.&lt;/strong&gt; Determine the relationship between soil physical-chemical parameters and nematode assemblages, ecological suitability and nutrient recycling potential as influenced by their respective soil ecosystems. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology.&lt;/strong&gt; A total of 576 soil samples were collected in areas characterized by small scale subsistence agriculture in Kenya’s Northern and Southern sites during the cold-dry (1), warm-rainy (2) and hot-dry (3) seasons. The sampling points included land under cultivation (disturbed) and the adjoining natural undisturbed land within three soil groups, namely; Vertisols, Cambisols and Arenosols. Nematodes were extracted, assigned to their respective trophic groups and correlated with analyzed soil chemical properties. &lt;strong&gt;Results.&lt;/strong&gt; Omnivores and predators were positively influenced by an increase in Mg and soil organic matter content while an increase in soil pH, K and NH&lt;sub&gt;4 &lt;/sub&gt;contenthad a linear relationship with bacterivores. Increase in Ca and N concentrations was associated with increased numbers of both herbivores and fungivores. Low ecological disturbance and nutrient cycling potential was favored in natural soils, northern sites and where the soils had an active root growth in season 2. &lt;strong&gt;Implications.&lt;/strong&gt; Sustainable soil management practices are recommended in a bid to maintain the favorable soil structure through nematode assemblage. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion.&lt;/strong&gt; Changes in soil properties resulting from anthropogenic activities, have a significant impact on nematode assemblages in their respective food webs. &lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Soil and crop management systems that ameliorate damage caused by decades of dryland agroecosystem mismanagement

AbstractSustainable crop production in the Great Plains of North America has been challenging since early settlement times, and mismanagement has severely damaged our dryland agroecosystems. The unintentional damage stemmed from using practices unsuited to dryer climates. In fact, the management practices imported from more humid agricultural areas during the settlement period were considered the best ways to farm. The Dust Bowl era was the disastrous result of creating bare soil surfaces, with aggregates pulverized by excessive tillage on millions of hectares of land. It became obvious to pioneer scientists that retaining cover on the soil surface was critical to sustainability and their early efforts resulted in a widely adopted practice known as stubble mulch. Stubble mulch practices markedly decreased the rate of damage to dryland ecosystems. Advent of herbicidal weed control led to reduced and no‐till practices that not only increased soil cover, but also significantly enhanced soil water conservation. This paper focuses on how and why the coupling of conservation tillage and cropping intensification is ameliorating the damage that accrued over decades of agroecosystem mismanagement. The objectives of this paper are to (a) remind us of fragile nature of the Great Plains ecosystem, (b) review how and why ecosystems were degraded, and (c) identify principles and associated practices for amelioration.

Onion yield as a function of soil tillage system and soil water content

ABSTRACT Excessive tillage operations under inadequate conditions can raise the cost of agricultural production and lead to soil degradation without adequate crop response. The objective of this study was to evaluate the onion crop response to soil water contents and tillage systems. Three tillage systems were evaluated: P1 (plowing + two harrowings + two seedbed raising operations), P2 (two harrowings + one seedbed raising operation), P3 (one harrowing + one seedbed raising operation); and four soil water contents: 12, 15, 23 and 26%. The experiment was conducted in the irrigated perimeter of Tourão, Juazeiro, BA, Brazil (9° 24’ 7.3” S; 40° 26’ 8.7” W and altitude of 368 m), in 2017, and was installed in split plots, in a randomized block design, with four repetitions. Water contents were arranged in the plots and tillage systems in the subplots. Crop response to the applied treatments was evaluated through the determination of the emergence speed index of the seedlings, regularity of the longitudinal distribution of seedlings, final stand, total and marketable yields of the crop and yield per bulb transverse diameter class. The variation of soil water content had a quadratic effect on the variables emergence speed index, final stand and total onion yield. The treatments did not significantly affect the longitudinal distribution of plants and marketable yield. The tillage system composed of one harrowing and one seedbed raising operation showed to be the most appropriate for onion cultivation by direct seeding.