Individual Crops Research Articles

​Effect of Inter and Sequential Cropping of Pulses in Little Millet (Panicum sumatranse L.) based Cropping System

Background: Small millets and pulses are world’s renowned crops for their nutritional significance. Being an underutilized species; rainfed farmers solely depend on them for their livelihood; which would be enhanced in a planned and efficient cropping system. The current study aimed to the identify suitable inter and sequential crops for rainfed little millet. Methods: In this study, four cropping patterns with two different row proportions for intercropping [viz., (4:1), (6:1)] were used with little millet as a main crop. The cropping systems include - little millet + pigeonpea [(4:1), (6:1)] followed by a sequential horsegram; little millet + pigeonpea followed by moth bean and little millet + lablab [(4:1), (6:1)] followed by Horsegram and little millet + lablab followed by mothbean. Result: Among them; a higher grain equivalent yield was observed in little millet + pigeonpea (6:1); followed by horsegram. However, higher dry matter, grain weight and higher individual crop yield was obtained in little millet + pigeonpea (6:1) followed by mothbean. Although individual mono cropping yields of these crops were higher; the pattern with little millet - pigeonpea (6:1) followed by horsegram could be recommended as a methodology to aid higher economic returns in shorter period.

Conservation agriculture improves agronomic, economic, and soil fertility indicators for a clay soil in a rainfed Mediterranean climate in Morocco

CONTEXTDeclining rainfall with increasing variability, increasing temperature extremes, and declining soil fertility are threatening crop production and ultimately food security in the rainfed Mediterranean environment in Morocco. Conservation agriculture (CA) practices such as reduced tillage, soil cover, and appropriate crop rotation are recognized as a set of adaptive agricultural systems in such climate-sensitive regions. Systematic evaluation of agronomic, economic, and soil fertility indicators with medium-and long-term adoption of CA in different crop rotations in such variable climatic conditions is needed to drive wider adoption of CA in the region. OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study was to systematically evaluate agronomic, economic, and soil fertility indicators under CA and conventional tillage (CT) using field experimentation (medium-term) and simulation modeling (long-term) for a clay soil of a rainfed Mediterranean environment. METHODSMethodologies included the following: 1) Field experimentation for 5 years (2015–2019), comparing CA and CT in four major food crops: wheat, barley, lentil, and chickpea, conducted in Merchouch, Morocco. The objective was to determine the effect of CA on crop productivity, yield stability, profitability, precipitation use efficiency, and soil fertility indicators of individual crops and cropping systems. (2) Dynamic simulation modeling to understand the long-term effect of adopting CA and CT under cereal–legume and cereal–cereal rotation systems. Using 5 years of experimental data, we calibrated and validated a Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model for four crops; and ran the model for 36 years for two major rotations. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSAcross the five contrasting rainfall years, in comparison to CT, CA had greater yield stability and increased wheat grain yield by 43%, barley by 8%, lentil by 11%, and chickpea by 19%. In 5 years of cereal-legume rotation cycle, CA resulted in increased system yield (by 20%), total benefits (by 40%), precipitation use efficiency (by 13%), and available soil moisture (by14%) with production cost reduced by 14.5%. The CA system had higher soil organic matter (+7%), available phosphorus (+3%), and exchangeable potassium (+15%) than in CT, although all differences were non-significant. Our field experiment and long-term simulation results suggest that CA adoption improves a range of agronomic and economic, and soil fertility indicators compared to CT in the clay soil of a rainfed Mediterranean environment. SIGNIFICANCEThe outcomes of this experimental and simulation study on the multiple benefits of CA provide evidence for extensionists, policymakers, and farmers to drive its wider adoption in Morocco and similar production environments.

Improvement of differentiated fertilizer application technology in the forest-steppe of Novosibirsk Priobye

In the article, the authors presented the results of the experimental work (2019-2021) to study the application of differentiated fertilizer application on cereal crops. Western Siberia is a region with risky conditions for stable grain crop production. Soft spring wheat and spring barley are the primary crops for food and feed. Soft spring wheat and spring barley are also characterized by a high demand for the most important environmental factors, which are highly variable. Current trends in precision farming imply the need for different technological operations. These operations are differentiated both in time and by individual crop rotation fields. At the same time, operations take more fully into account the bio-resource potential of cultivated agricultural enterprises. And these operations also take into account soil and terrain features, which are controlled by the aggregates and their links to technological operations. In the field, the authors used aggregates with differentiated application rates of fertilizers or crop protection products. The yield mapping is an element of precision farming technology. This technology is achieved by signal sensors on combined and onboard computers and GPS receivers during the harvesting period. An accurate map of the field, showing the characteristics of each field section, enables rational resource allocation and increases yields from each section of the field. The availability of digital maps ensures the optimization of fertilizer, seed, and water application to each section of the field. Under the conditions of the JSC Livestock Breeding Farm Irmen, Ordynsiky district, Novosibirsk region, the data are entered into the on-board computer of agricultural equipment going into the field, and innovative control of technological processes in crop production is carried out through GPS navigation. The work aims to improve the technology of the application of differentiated fertilizers to grain crops in the precision agriculture system under forest-steppe conditions in the Novosibirsk region Priobye. The research was carried out in 2019-2021 in the soil and climatic zone of drained forest steppe on leached chernozem at JSC Livestock Breeding Farm «Irmen» on spring wheat varieties Novosibirskaya 31, Licamero, as well as the spring barley variety Paustian. The use of differentiated fertilizer application contributes to an increase in grain yield parameters of spring wheat by 36% and of spring barley varieties by 28%. The study showed that differential fertilizer application contributes to the improvement of grain quality parameters of soft spring wheat.

Mathematics of the Relationship between Plant Population and Individual Production of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Predominantly, field experiments aim to determine the optimal plant density for a unit area. High spatial variation results in lower attained yield than the genetic potential. To find the highest value of the product of mean individual production and crop density, their mathematical relationship is needed to be known. In this study, the relationship between the population and the weight of the individual fresh, dehusked ear of grain maize (Zea mays L.) was investigated, and a relevant mathematical simulation model was developed. Linear regression was disproved to describe this relationship properly based on the analysis of different mosaic sizes within a plot. The distribution of plant-to-plant distance was found to be binomial. The distribution of the ear weight was found to be lognormal. For the description of the population homogeneity, neither the standard deviation nor the variation coefficient was found to be applicable apart from the scale-independent relative variance. The simulation model, based on the above statistical functions, was validated with a real dataset, and it is recommended for the optimization of the plant population at farm scale.

Drivers of individual‐based, antagonistic interaction networks during plant range expansion

Abstract Range expansion in plant populations, especially at the colonization front, can be either limited by disproportionately large effects of antagonistic interactions or facilitated by their release. How the strength of antagonistic interactions changes along successional gradients during range expansion is still poorly documented, especially when diverse assemblages of plant antagonists (rodents, invertebrates and birds) combine within interaction networks. We study the changes in individual‐based, predispersal seed–pulp predator networks along a colonization gradient in a rapidly expanding Juniperus phoenicea population in Doñana National Park (SW Spain). Additionally, we analysed the role of individual plant traits and neighbourhood attributes in network configuration by using Exponential Random Graph Models. Seven seed–pulp consumer animal species varied significantly in their frequency of interaction and prevalence. While invertebrate species were well‐established in old and intermediately mature stands, greenfinch Chloris chloris was dominant at the colonization front. Variable species roles and spread of interactions among individual plants generated changes in the configuration of interactions during plant expansion. Individual plant traits strongly determined the topology of these networks, although with differences between stands. Increasing individual crop size and seeds per cone increased the interaction odds of individual plants, while seed viability showed the opposite effect. The network topology at the colonization front appeared less driven by individual traits, possibly because of the short interaction history of this recently established area. The disproportionately large effect of C. chloris in these recently established stands, potentially resulted in large seed losses during range expansion. Synthesis. Turnover of antagonistic interactions, characterized the colonization front, resulting in more heterogeneous interaction strengths among individual plants. We found no evidence for a complete or sizeable antagonistic release of J. phoenicea at the colonization front promoting this rapid expansion. It becomes necessary to explore interactions with seed dispersers to understand how antagonistic and mutualistic plant–animal interactions balance during range expansion. Our study highlights the importance of an individual‐based approach in understanding how interactions are structured and driven in natural changing landscapes.

Impact of symbiotic mycorrhiza interrelation in some soil biological parameters and growth of five cover crops

Cover crops serve as an essential source of nutrients in the soil and generally improve the soil’s properties. Cover crops’ production is considered a benefit of the soil quality; by protecting the soil from erosion, reducing the weeds and the so-called soil-borne plant pathogens. Different varieties of cover crops can be cultivated such as legumes, non-legumes, brassica, and grass-type of plants with a variability of the symbiosis. A pot experiment was carried out with five cover crops, as non-symbiont (Brassica carinata B.c.), single-symbiont with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) (Phacelia tanacetifolia P.t., Avena strigosa A.s.) and double symbiont with AMF and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Vicia benghalensis V.b., Vicia faba V.f.) crops; and a mixture of the five species, placed in sandy soil (arenosol) in plastic pots (5000 g soil) in 4 repetitions. One of the pots with mixed cover crops was inoculated by AM fungi industrial product. We measured soil biological activity of dehydrogenase (DHA) and fluorescein-diacetate (FDA) enzymes, the frequency of AM fungi (F%), the all protein, glomalin content and electrical conductivity (EC) of the soils. Mixture of all the cover crops resulted maximum EC and significantly enhanced the enzymatic, DHA, FDA activities in comparison with single plants. Mycorrhiza colonization frequency was high in all cover crops except the mustard (B.c.), as nonsymbiont. Vetch (V.b.), as double symbiont was responding very positively to AMF inoculation, and enhanced the performance of its growth. It was found in the pot experiment, that vetch, has the highest capacity to retain soil-protein, glomalin concentration, as well. The mixture of five cover crops could be suggested to use, due to the synergistic positive performance of the individual crops, and the better functioning of beneficial fungal / bacterial symbiosis.

The Bean YEN: Understanding bean yield variation on UK farms

AbstractField beans (Vicia faba L.) are the most extensively grown grain legume in the UK but their contribution to farming and food systems could be improved if their yields were enhanced. Average on‐farm bean yields have varied between 3 and 4 t ha−1 for four decades but with much variation between individual crops. A “Bean Yield Enhancement Network” (Bean YEN) was initiated in 2019, supported by industry sponsors, to promote crop monitoring, sampling, and sharing of data between farms, thus learning about key yield‐affecting factors. Bean YEN continues, gathering new data annually; data from crops harvested in 2019 to 2021 are reported here. For each crop entered, data were collated on agronomy, soil, and weather, samples were analysed for height, nutrient content, yield components, and seed quality, and accurate yields were recorded. A localised biophysical yield potential (Ybp) was also estimated based on the best (repeatedly observed) resource capture and conversion coefficients and harvest index for beans, after accounting for costs of nitrogen (N) fixation. Over the three seasons, yields were collated from 26 winter bean and 63 spring bean crops, all well dispersed across the British Isles, with sufficient supporting information to make 87 estimates of Ybp. Average winter bean yields were 5.1 t ha−1 (range 1–8 t ha−1) and spring bean yields were 4.9 t ha−1 (range 1–7 t ha−1), respectively 38 and 43% of Ybp (13.7 & 11.2 t ha−1); yield shortfalls from Ybp averaged 7.2 t ha−1 (range 2.4–12.6 t ha−1). Yields correlated positively with plant height, thousand seed weight, total biomass shoot−1, seeds pod−1, harvest index and total straw biomass (t ha−1) in both winter and spring crops. In spring crops, the number of pods shoot−1 was also positively correlated with yield. Correlations suggested that growers could enhance yields by favouring an ideotype with deep roots, tall, multi‐noded stems, and prolonged canopy survival. This ideotype will be subject to modification and improvement after data are collected through future seasons of Bean YEN. The accumulating Bean YEN dataset is enabling benchmarks to be derived for crop attributes that should guide growers in their quest for sustained yield enhancements.

Modification of Nutrient Requirements for a Four Crop-Based Cropping System to Increase System Productivity, Maintain Soil Fertility, and Achieve Sustainable Intensification

Sustainable and resilient cropping intensity is now a global focus to address the food demand and nutrition security of the growing population. For sustainable intensification, maintaining soil fertility is a key concern. The nutrient management for the recently developed four crop-based cropping system in Bangladesh has not yet been studied. Hence, field experiments were conducted on the nutrient management of the four crop-based cropping system [Aus (pre-monsoon rice), Aman (monsoon rice), lentil, and mungbean] in calcareous soil in Bangladesh during the years of 2016/17 and 2017/18 to determine the appropriate fertilizer management package to improve crop productivity and sustain soil fertility. The experiment had six treatments assigned in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments included T1 = control (without synthetic fertilizer), T2 = 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), T3 = 75% RDF, T4 = 100% RDF, T5 = 125% RDF, and T6 = farmers’ practice (FP). The results revealed that the 125% RDF significantly contributed to higher yields of all four crops. The rice equivalent yield (REY) was the highest for the fertilizer management of 125% RDF, which was 45.5%, 9.4%, and 12.2% higher than the control (T1), 100% RDF (T4), and FP, respectively. Considering the uptake of nutrients (N, P, K, S, Zn, and B) by the crops in the cropping system, the 125% RDF was superior to the other treatments. The nutrient management practices had a positive influence on the apparent nutrient recovery (ANR) efficiency of the cropping system. The fertilizer management of 125% RDF was also economically more profitable due to the increment in the cost–benefit ratio of 26.8%, 4.4%, and 4.9% over the control, 100% RDF, and FP, respectively. The results indicate that the current fertilizer recommendations and FP for aus, aman, lentil, and mungbean are not adequate for the change from the three crop to the four crop-based pattern, and an increased dose of fertilizer is required to increase the yield of each individual crop as well as the total system’s productivity. The fertilizer use efficiency is also higher for 125% RDF than the 100% RDF and FP indicating that to sustain the soil fertility in the four crop-based system, the current RDF and FP are not sufficient. This finding will help intensive cropping areas in preventing nutrient deficiencies that would lead to a reduction in the crop yield.

Influence of sesame and groundnut intercropping system on productivity and competitive ability of crops

The demand supply gap between production of edible oilseeds and domestic need for edible oils warrants increase in production of edible oilseeds in India. Hence, there is a scope for adoption of appropriate cropping systems with improved agronomic practices. Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) are two important oilseeds that can be cultivated during different cropping systems under limited resource conditions. Based on the above, a field experiment on intercropping sesame + groundnut was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha. Reduction of proportion of an individual crop species reduced the productivity over their respective pure stands. Among intercropping combinations, the treatment T5: sesame + groundnut (1:3) produced more oil yield (594 kg/ha). The study clearly indicated that 50 percent or above population of groundnut recorded considerably higher oil yield under the intercropping sesame + groundnut. The land equivalent ratio, relative crowding coefficient and monetary advantage was advantageous with the treatments T3: sesame + groundnut (1:1), T4: sesame + groundnut (1:2), T5: sesame + groundnut (1:3), T7: sesame + groundnut (2:2), T8: sesame + groundnut (2:3) and T: sesame + groundnut (3:3). The study concluded that sesame can be intercropped in groundnut with a proportion of 50% or more of legumes (groundnut) to achieve the benefits of intercropping during summer season in south Odisha conditions.

Impact of farming system practices on weeds in arable farmlands in University of Port Harcourt and environs, Rivers State-Nigeria

Crop production involves the combination of various farming systems practices to produce food and cash crops and at the same time have a reasonable control over weed infestation without course to soil health. Weeds are part of agroecosystems community and are neighbors to our crops and the soil. The work was aimed to investigate the weeds that are common in the sites chosen. A simple reconnaissance weed enumeration survey was adopted for the twenty-two (22) arable farmlands by walk through the farms within and round the boundaries. This was investigated between June 2020 as wet season and in January, 2021 as dry season respectively. A total of 154 weed species were recorded for both wet and dry seasons. The wet and dry seasons had 113 and 120 weed species made up of 37 and 36 families respectively. It revealed 168 broad leaved, 32 grasses and 26 sedges, composed of annual and perennial weed species. All the farms were continuously cultivated and mixed cropped, with 27 crop species identified and recorded. The farmers most preferred crops are Manihot esculenta Crantz being a tuberous crop and Zea mays L., grain cereal with 90.91% each from the overall percentage of individual crop species recorded from farmers who planted them on their farmland (Table 1) respectively, and been staple food items in most part of Nigeria, while the least cropped species are (Amaranthus hybridus L., and Solanum lycopersicon L., Ocimum. americanum L., and Solanum sp.) with 4.54% each respectively which are vegetables to supplement peoples ‘diet. Farming systems methods has a tremendous influence on weed species composition in arable farmlands either during the cropping season (wet) or off the season (dry). Some activities are very peculiar within crop production for example bush clearing, and burn, soil tillage in any form or pattern and weed removal either culturally, biological or chemically due impact on weed species in arable farmlands in short or long term and therefore, its impact on crop species and the environment should be minimized and sustained.

WAYS OF THE CADMIUM ACCUMULATION MONITORING IN SUNFLOWER AND OTHER CROPS: OVERVIEW

Steady trend of the last salt is an increase in the total concentration of dangerous elements and their compounds in agricultural soils. The consequence of this process is the growth of requirements for crop quality and the intensification of research aimed at forming a theoretical basis and finding practical ways to solve this problem. With the development of industry, Cd pollution becomes more and more serious, which poses a serious threat to agricultural production and human health. Cadmium (Cd) is an important pollutant in farmland soil. Breeding of low Cd accumulation crops can reduce the risk of heavy metal removing into the human food chains and can solve the problem of food safety production in contaminated soil. Therefore, studies on Cd absorption and accumulation in crops have attracted the attention of researchers all over the world. The possibility of solving this problem (to create vatieties with low Cd accumulation) by selection methods in particular, sunflower, rice, wheat, soybean and maize, is considered in the article. From the other hand, the ability of individual crops and varieties to accumulate of high concentrations of harmful elements in the future can be realized as a separate selection and technological direction for the remediation of agricultural land. This paper reviews and summarizes the physiological characteristics of uptake, transport and antioxidant response of crops to Cd stress. The differences between them indicate that different crop varieties adopt different adaptation strategies to Cd stress. The characteristics of Cd accumulation in several crops such as sunflower are expounded. Methods to reduce Cd uptake in crops and breeding strategies for low Cd are put forward. Finally, the problems and prospects of low Cd breeding are put forward. In order to further promote the breeding of Cd low accumulation crops, the breeding utilization should be strengthened in the future, too. It will provide important theoretical guidance and ideas for reducing Cd uptake in crops and low Cd breeding in the future. The relevance of the problem of the cadmium controlling migration along the food chain determines the need of experimental studies, primarily in countries with the dominance of sunflower in the сrops area structure.

Adoption of Food Species Mixtures from Farmers’ Perspectives in Germany: Managing Complexity and Harnessing Advantages

Many agronomic studies have shown the advantages of species mixtures (SM), but for food grain production, they represent only a small niche. Empirical studies that investigate reasons for SM adoption in food grain production are scarce. Here we present an in-depth study based on qualitative expert interviews with nine farmers. By means of interpretative analysis and reconstruction, socially shared models of SM adoption were built to identify the five main factors for SM adoption: (1) perceived relative mixture performance compared to sole crops, (2) suitability within the farm context (3), challenges and opportunities in mixture management due to increased complexity, (4) knowledge and technology as resources to handle mixture management and (5) quality standards in the food value chain. Relative performance was perceived as higher for SM than for sole crops for crop protection, nutrient efficiency, farm diversification, total yield stability and grain quality. The yield stability of individual crop species in SM was perceived as lower and grain impurities higher, requiring increased separation efforts. The economic potential of SM was perceived as highly variable, depending on crop value and post-harvest efforts to attain food quality. Reconstructing the mixture management process revealed that the interspecific plant interactions and emergent mixture attributes increased the cropping system complexity and affected the entire farming process. Adopting SM required knowledge about species interactions, mixture attributes and equipment settings. Large knowledge gaps for food SM were identified. The complexity of SM also provided opportunities for farmers to design mixtures that allow competition control (alternate rows) or avoid separation (relay mixtures). The main conclusions are: (1) increased complexity is a basic property of SM compared to sole crops, enabling advantages and increasing the option space to develop new sustainable cropping systems, (2) specific knowledge and technology are required for SM and are not accessible for most farmers, requiring new information channels and (3) new food SM should be developed more systematically, taking into account mixture properties and their effects on the farming process, as well as needs from the food value chain.

Albedo on cropland: Field-scale effects of current agricultural practices in Northern Europe

Agricultural land use and management affect land surface albedo and thus the climate. Increasing the albedo of cropland could enhance reflection of solar radiation, counteracting the radiative forcing (RF) of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and local warming. However, knowledge is lacking on how agricultural practices affect albedo under local conditions, and on the benefits of individual practices. In this study, field measurements were made in 15 paired plots at a site in Northern Europe to determine albedo, net shortwave irradiance and RF impacts under various common crops, cultivation intensities and tillage practices. Field data for 2019-2020 were compared with satellite-based albedo for the surrounding region in 2010-2020. At regional level, different combinations of soil type, yearly weather and agricultural practices led to great variability in the albedo of individual crops, despite similar pedo-climatic conditions. At field level within years, albedo differences were determined mainly by crop type, species-specific phenology and post-harvest management. Annual albedo was higher with perennial ley (0.20-0.22) and winter-sown crops (0.18-0.22) than with spring-sown crops (0.16-0.18) and bare soil (0.13). Barley had the highest albedo among winter and spring cereals. In summer, when increased albedo could alleviate local heat stress, oats reduced net shortwave irradiance at the surface by 0.8-5.8 Wm−2 compared with other cereals, ley, peas or rapeseed. Delayed or reduced tillage gave high local cooling potential (up to -13.6 Wm−2) in late summer. Potential benefits for global mean climate as GWP100 per hectare and year reached -980 kg CO2e for avoiding black fallow, -578 kg CO2e for growing a winter-sown variety and -288 kg CO2e for delayed tillage. Thus realistic albedo increases on cropland could have important effects on local temperatures and offset a substantial proportion of the RF deriving from field-scale GHG emissions on short time-scales.

Albedo impacts of current agricultural land use: Crop-specific albedo from MODIS data and inclusion in LCA of crop production

Agricultural land use and management practices affect the global climate due to greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and changes in land surface properties. Increased albedo has the potential to counteract the radiative forcing and warming effect of emitted GHGs. Thus considering albedo could be important to evaluate and improve agricultural systems in light of climate change, but the albedo of individual practices is usually not known. This study quantified the albedo of individual crops under regional conditions, and evaluated the importance of albedo change for the climate impact of current crop production using life cycle assessment (LCA). Seven major crops in southern Sweden were assessed relative to a land reference without cultivation, represented by semi-natural grassland. Crop-specific albedo data were obtained from a MODIS product (MCD43A1 v6), by combining its spatial response pattern with geodata on agricultural land use 2011–2020. Fluxes of GHGs were estimated using regional data and models, including production of inputs, field operations, and soil nitrogen and carbon balances. Ten-year mean albedo was 6–11% higher under the different crops than under the reference. Crop-specific albedo varied between years due to weather fluctuations, but differences between crops were largely consistent. Increased albedo countered the GHG impact from production of inputs and field operations by 17–47% measured in GWP100, and the total climate impact was warming. Using a time-dependent metric, all crops had a net cooling impact on global mean surface temperature on shorter timescales due to albedo (3–12 years under different crops), but a net warming impact on longer timescales due to GHG emissions. The methods and data presented in this study could support increasingly comprehensive assessments of agricultural systems. Further research is needed to integrate climatic effects of land use on different spatial and temporal scales, and direct and indirect consequences from a systems perspective.

Effect of Duration of Deployment on Parasitism and Predation of Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Sentinel Egg Masses in Various Host Plants

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an agricultural and nuisance pest in Georgia and Alabama, USA. Natural enemies may provide significant suppression of the brown marmorated stink bug, and sentinel egg masses are deployed commonly on plants in the field to measure their effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of deployment duration (2–5 d) on parasitism and predation of brown marmorated stink bug sentinel egg masses in plum, peach, blueberry, tomato, sassafras, corn, and soybean in these 2 states. Retrieved egg masses were processed to quantify rates of predation and parasitism and identify parasitoid species and predation types. Across crops, predation and parasitism were higher significantly in plum at 5 d compared to 2 d deployment but was similar in soybean regardless of exposure time in 2017. Predation and parasitism were higher significantly after 5 d of exposure compared to 2 d and 3 d whereas parasitism was significantly higher at 3 d compared to 2 d exposure in 2018 to 2020. For individual crop trials, though, effects of time of exposure were tested in different yr, sampling dates, and crops with variable results. When significant differences were detected for parasitism in plum, peach, tomato, and sassafras, a 5 d deployment resulted in higher parasitism compared to 2 d. Given the variability of factors that affect parasitism and predation under field conditions, we conclude that a 5 d deployment is optimal and a 3 d exposure time is minimal for assessing predation and parasitism. An additional benefit for a 5 d exposure is that it increases the probability of detecting hyperparasitism.

Catch crop mixtures have higher potential for nutrient carry-over than pure stands under changing environments

Winter catch crops are grown to scavenge nutrients over a period of unfavorable growth conditions and to conserve nutrients for subsequent release to the following main crop. Since environmental conditions have a strong impact on the growth and nutrient capture in roots and shoots of individual catch crop species, we anticipated that mixtures will be more durable and efficient in nutrient capture due to compensatory effects among component species. We tested this hypothesis and determined the nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation in the shoots and roots of four catch crop species grown in pure vs. mixed stands at two sites for two or three years. Element concentrations were determined in the root and shoot biomass of each species and used to calculate the nutrient pool fixed in the root or shoot biomass. A qPCR-based technique was applied to quantify the root biomass of individual species based on species-specific DNA sequences. Despite considerable variation across environments, the overall plant biomass of white mustard (Sinapis alba), lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) and bristle oat (Avena strigosa) was similar and higher than that of Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum). While pure stands varied 6- to 24-fold in shoot biomass depending on environmental conditions, the variation was only ~3-fold for catch crop mixtures, with less pronounced variation in the root biomass. In general, the root biomass was comparable to the shoot biomass in each species. Roots contributed 26–46% of the nitrogen and 36–48% of the phosphorus to the total accumulation of these nutrients in the catch crop biomass, thus emphasizing the importance of plant roots as belowground nutrient pool for potential carry-over of nutrients to the subsequent crop. Although the mixture was mostly dominated by two of the four species, namely mustard and phacelia, it captured similar or even larger amounts of nutrients than the best-performing pure stand under any growth condition. This was the case for shoot- and for root-bound nutrients. Our results indicate that catch crop mixtures have higher durability than pure cultures to environmental variations. The amount of nitrogen captured by the mixture meets the average postharvest nitrogen that is left over by a wide range of cash crops, thus emphasizing that catch crop mixtures represent an efficient nutrient management tool in crop rotations.

Farm-planning under risk: An application of decision analysis and portfolio theory for the assessment of crop diversification strategies in horticultural systems

CONTEXTEven though diversification of horticultural production systems allows farmers to cope with risks and uncertainties, strategies for raising profitability usually aim to improve the productivity of monocultures rather than pursuing diversification. Horticultural production systems are often highly diversified in terms of land use and planted crops. OBJECTIVEAssessing the economic prospects of these complex systems requires quantification of productivity and related risks for individual crops as well as an assessment of the benefits from diversification. Here we demonstrate the implementation of a systematic assessment for irrigated production systems in the Sinú Valley of the Colombian Caribbean. METHODSWe used participatory modeling approaches, focus group discussions and interviews to collect relevant qualitative and quantitative information from farmers. Quantitative information associated with input variables was elicited as probability distributions. Farmers were trained in estimation techniques, enabling them to provide reliable quantitative assessments of production-related variables. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe model and elicited values for input variables were used to build a probabilistic simulation that allowed for estimating the expected income from horticultural crops and identifying portfolio strategies based on currently available horticultural options. The irrigated horticultural production systems of the Sinú Valley in Colombia contain four main crops. All farmers cultivate eggplants and sweet peppers but they have specific preferences for yardlong beans and papaya. These preferences reflect two crop diversification strategies attuned to farmers' resources. Yardlong beans are a short-term (3 months), low-risk, and low-profit investment (a tenth of the best crop option) while papaya is a long-term crop (18 months) of high-risk and profit. Yardlong beans are planted by smallholders with limited financial resources as a way to subsist and produce additional cash that can be invested in riskier more profitable crop options (eggplants and sweet peppers). This strategy describes a transition from a secure option (3 standard deviations (SD)) to riskier options (6 SD or more) that can generate greater profits. The second strategy describes actions of wealthier smallholders that can invest in short-lived perennial crops including papaya, sweet pepper and eggplants. This three-crop portfolio cuts production risks roughly in half (from 10 SD for the riskier option to 5 SD in the portfolio). SIGNIFICANCEWe expect our decision analysis approach to prove useful in assessing other horticultural systems but also for the assessment and identification of new crop options to be incorporated in diversified systems. Our decision analysis approach can also be used to represent diversification in other whole-farm planning scenarios, e.g. when it comes to rotations of field crops, integrated livestock farms, cut-flower farming or agroforestry systems.

Smart farming using Machine Learning and Deep Learning techniques

The practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and keeping livestock is referred to as farming. Agriculture is critical to a country’s economic development. Nearly 58 percent of a country’s primary source of livelihood is farming. Farmers till date had adopted conventional farming techniques. These techniques were not precise thus reduced the productivity and consumed a lot of time. Precise farming helps to increase the productivity by precisely determining the steps that needs to be practiced at its due season. Predicting the weather conditions, analyzing the soil, recommending the crops for cultivation, determine the amount of fertilizers, pesticides that need to be used are some elements of precision farming. Precise Farming uses advanced technologies such as IOT, Data Mining, Data Analytics, Machine Learning to collect the data, train the systems and predict the results. With the help of technologies Precise farming helps to reduce manual labor and increase productivity. Farmers have been facing various challenges in these recent times, this includes crop failure due to less rainfall, infertility of soil and so on. Due to the changes taking place in the environment the proposed work helps to identify how to manage crops and harvest in a smart way. It guides an individual for smart farming. The aim of this work is to help an individual cultivate crops efficiently and hence achieve high productivity at low cost. It also helps to predict the total cost needed for cultivation. This would help an individual to pre-plan the activities before cultivation resulting in an integrated solution in farming.

Evaluation of suitable rice (Oryza sativa) based cropping systems under rainfed medium land situation of Assam for enhancing farmers income and soil health

Rice is the predominant kharif crop grown in low and medium land situation of Assam. As the monocropping of rice is practiced by most of the farmers, the cropping intensity of the state is not upto the mark. In recent years, the farmers of the state have started growing different rabi pulses and oilseeds in sequence which helps in increasing the cropping intensity of the state as well as the farmers income. Diversification and intensification of rice-based cropping systems with remunerative and efficient crops like pulses, oilseeds and vegetables has great scope to generate maximum profit and soil health. Therefore, this study was conducted during 2016–17 and 2017–18 at farmers field to assessed 6 rice-based cropping sequences under rainfed medium land situation for their productivity, profitability and soil health. The treatments consisted of 6 rice-based cropping sequences viz. rice - rapeseed - fallow; rice - rapeseedblackgram; rice - garden pea -blackgram; rice -lentil -blackgram; rice - garden pea– Sesbania and rice - lentil-Sesbania. The results revealed that the performance of individual crops contributing the components of different cropping sequences were more or less identical in both the years of experimentation. The higher land utilization Index (92.33), employment generation (265 man days), relative equivalent yield (117.29 q/ha)), production efficiency (39.90 kg/ha), rain water productivity (8.14(kg/ha/mm), nutrientuse productivity (50.70 kg/ha/kg of nutrients applied), sustainable yield index (0.64) alongwith economic parameters like gross return (134.89103 Rs/ha), net return (66.27103 Rs/ha), benefit:cost ratio (2.16), economic efficiency (236.09 Rs/ha/day) and relative economic efficiency (149.38%) were calculated based on standard formula. The higher Soil organic carbon (0.71 & 0.64% in 0–15 and 15–30 cm depth), available Nitrogen (278.12 kg/ha), Phosphorous (36.08 kg/ha) and Potash (158.18 kg/ha) content after completion of the experiment were recorded under the sequences diversified with pulses. So, it can be concluded from the present investigation that, rice-garden pea –black gram and ricegarden pea-sesbania (GM) were found to be suitable rice-based cropping sequences in respect of farmers income is concerned. But the rice-based cropping sequences diversified with food legumes and green manuring crop contributed to more soil organic carbon and NPK status of soil.

Predation risk can modify the foraging behaviour of frugivorous carnivores: Implications of rewilding apex predators for plant-animal mutualisms.

Apex predators play key roles in food webs and their recovery can trigger trophic cascades in some ecosystems. Intra‐guild competition can reduce the abundances of smaller predators and perceived predation risk can alter their foraging behaviour thereby limiting seed dispersal by frugivorous carnivores. However, little is known about how plant–frugivore mutualisms could be disturbed in the presence of larger predators.We evaluated the top‐down effect of the regional superpredator, the Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus, on the number of visits and fruits consumed by medium‐sized frugivorous carnivores, as well as the foraging behaviour of identified individuals, by examining the consumption likelihood and the foraging time.We carried out a field experiment in which we placed Iberian pear Pyrus bourgaeana fruits beneath fruiting trees and monitored pear removal by frugivorous carnivores, both inside and outside lynx ranges. Using camera traps, we recorded the presence of the red fox Vulpes vulpes, the Eurasian badger Meles meles and the stone marten Martes foina, as well as the number of fruits they consumed and their time spent foraging.Red fox was the most frequent fruit consumer carnivore. We found there were fewer visits and less fruit consumed by foxes inside lynx ranges, but lynx presence did not seem to affect badgers. We did not observe any stone marten visits inside lynx territories. The foraging behaviour of red foxes was also altered inside lynx ranges whereby foxes were less efficient, consuming less fruit per unit of time and having shorter visits. Local availability of fruit resources, forest coverage and individual personality also were important variables to understand visitation and foraging in a landscape of fear.Our results show a potential trophic cascade from apex predators to primary producers. The presence of lynx can reduce frugivorous carnivore numbers and induce shifts in their feeding behaviour that may modify the seed dispersal patterns with likely consequences for the demography of many fleshy‐fruited plant species. We conclude that knowledge of the ecological interactions making up trophic webs is an asset to design effective conservation strategies, particularly in rewilding programs.