Intensive Cropping Systems Research Articles

Lepidoptera larvae (Insecta) responsible for herbivory on Vanilla spp. (Orchidaceae) in the Federal District, Brazil

Given its culinary importance and high market value, the cultivation of Vanilla (Orchidaceae) has been expanding annually in Brazil. As observed in many crops, the increase in cultivated areas leads to a greater incidence of insects associated with species of this genus. This study reports the herbivory of larvae from Cremna thasus (Stoll, 1780) (Papilionoidea: Riodinidae: Riodininae), Hypercompe cunigunda (Stoll, 1781) (Noctuoidea: Erebidae: Arctiinae), and Spodoptera cosmioides Walker, 1858 (Noctuoidea: Noctuidae: Noctuinae) on Vanilla bahiana Hoehne and V. planifolia Andrews in the Federal District, Brazil. A list of 19 Lepidoptera species from six families associated with Vanilla spp. worldwide is provided based on a literature review. Most (n=15) of them exhibit polyphagous larvae. Given reports of exotic larvae spreading with orchids worldwide and the discussed larval polyphagy, we address precautions that producers of Vanilla and other orchids should take to reduce the incidence of insect pests in crops, especially in areas with intensive cropping systems involving annual commodities such as maize and soybean.

Changes in Nutrient Surpluses and Contents in Soils of Cereals and Kiwifruit Fields

Knowledge of nutrient surpluses in soils is critical to optimize nutrient management and minimize adverse environmental effects. We investigated the nutrient surpluses in soils in two regions over 25 years (1992 to 2017) in the south Loess Plateau, China. One region has cereals as the main crop, whereas in the other region, the main cereal crops was changed to kiwi orchards. The inputs of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) increased rapidly (by 74%, 77%, and 103% from 1992 to 2017 in the cereal region; and by 91%, 204%, and 368% in the kiwifruit region), while the nutrient outputs were relatively stable, which resulted in increasing nutrient surpluses (the annual averaged surpluses of N, P, and K were 178, 62, and 12 kg ha−1 y−1 for the cereal region; and 486, 96, and 153 kg ha−1 y−1 for the kiwifruit region) and lower nutrient use efficiency (NUE). The higher N surplus in the orchard-dominated region caused high nitrate N accumulation (3071 kg N ha−1 of 0–5 m in 11–20 y in the kiwifruit orchard) in deeper soil profiles. Similarly, high P and K surpluses in the orchard-dominated region increased soil available P and K. This highlights that comprehensive measures should be taken to control nutrient surpluses, which will help balance nutrient inputs and outputs and minimize nutrient losses in intensive horticultural crop systems.

Assessing Nitrate Leaching During Drought and Extreme Precipitation: Exploring Deep Vadose‐Zone Monitoring, Groundwater Observations, and Field Mass Balance

AbstractThe increasing concern over agricultural practices' impact on groundwater quality necessitates comprehensive studies to evaluate and compare monitoring strategies for nitrate leaching. This work addresses this imperative by examining three methodologies: deep vadose‐zone monitoring, shallow groundwater intensive monitoring, and field‐level mass balance. The primary objective of the study was to assess nitrate leaching from an intensively cropped processing tomato rotation field using three different methods. Additionally, this study focuses on contrasting conditions between the growing season (characterized by drought in some years) and the winter/rainy season (characterized by extreme precipitation in some years). Results indicate varying degrees of nitrate leaching across methods, with all approaches detecting leaching events during the growing season and off‐season precipitation. Despite uncertainties inherent in field‐level mass balance estimates, they align reasonably with intensive in‐situ monitoring results using the deep Vadose Monitoring System (VMS). Throughout two growing seasons and corresponding fall‐winter rainy periods, the VMS effectively tracked seasonal nitrogen leaching below the root zone, correlating with observed groundwater nitrate concentrations increases following extreme precipitation events. Nitrate leaching increased during heavy rainfall in the winter following dry summer periods observed across the deep vadose zone using two VMS systems. This underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and assessment in understanding nitrate dynamics and groundwater contamination risks. In conclusion, this study contributes to knowledge and ongoing research by providing insights into effective monitoring strategies for nitrate leaching into groundwater from intensive cropping systems.

Potassium limits productivity in intensive cereal cropping systems in Southeast Asia.

Potassium (K) has received little attention as a potential yield-limiting factor in cropping systems. Here we investigated the K status in intensive cereal cropping systems in Indonesia, which are representative of many other Southeast Asian countries. Our analysis included nutrient input-output balance, leaf nutrient status, long- and short-term fertilizer trials, and farmer surveys. We revealed that soil K levels alone are insufficient to meet plant requirements, and current fertilizer applications are inadequate to prevent K deficiencies and large negative annual soil K balances in farmer fields (average -62 kgK ha-1). On-farm fertilizer trials indicated that nearly 80% of rice crops and 70% of maize crops achieved higher yields with the application of K fertilizer. Addressing K limitations will require an enhanced capacity to predict crop responses to K fertilizer, together with long-term, flexible fertilizer and crop residue management strategies. Furthermore, similar K limitations have probably emerged in other regions globally due to intensive cropping with insufficient K replenishment, which must be addressed to close yield gaps on existing farmland.

Determination of Indigenous Nutrient Supplying Capacity of Soil through Omission Plot Technique in Wheat at Bhairahawa

The rapidly expanding intensive cropping systems in the Terai region of Nepal, combined with imbalanced fertilization, are leading to significant nutrient depletion in agricultural soils, raising concerns about the sustainability of wheat production. To address this issue, a field experiment was conducted at the National Wheat Research Program (NWRP) in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, during 2018-19 to evaluate the soil’s nutrient-supplying capacity and its impact on wheat grain yield. The treatments included five different nutrient levels: N- omission (75:75:5:1 P2O5:K2O:Zn:B kg ha-1), P-omission (150:75:5:1 N:K2O:Zn:B kg ha-1), K-omission (150:75:5:1 N:P2O5:Zn:B kg ha-1), adequate NPK (150:75:75, N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1), and adequate NPK+Zn+B (150:75:75:5:1 N:P2O5:K2O:Zn:B kg ha-1). The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with five replications, planted in five different blocks of the National Wheat Research Program (NWRP), Bhairahawa, with each block treated as a replication. Data on growth, yield attributes, grain yield, and nutrient uptake were analyzed using the Genstat statistical package. The results showed that plant height, dry matter production, spike length, grains per spike, biological yield, and grain yield variables were significant (P< 0.05), while 1000 grain weight and harvest index were not significant (P>0.05). Total N, P, and K uptake were significant (P<0.05) in different treatments, with adequate NPK showing higher NPK uptake and significantly lower in N- omission treatment. Grain yield was higher in fully fertilized treatment than in nutrient omission treatments, with significantly lower grain yield in N- omission followed by P- omission treatments. Among the major nutrients, nitrogen was found to be the most limiting factor, followed by phosphorus and potassium for wheat. Based on these results, it can be concluded that a balanced amount of NPK nutrients should be supplied to enhance the indigenous nutrient-supplying capacity of the soil and improve wheat productivity in Bhairahawa.

Improving sustainability of rice-canola rotation through water and nitrogen management in a humid region

Intensive cropping systems face significant environmental and economic challenges due to current water and nutrient management practices. This study addresses the limited research on optimizing these practices in rice-canola rotations, focusing on enhancing sustainability through improved water and nitrogen (N) management. Utilizing the DSSAT crop growth model, we evaluated three irrigation scenarios for rice- I1 (100 % irrigation requirement: IR), I2 (80 % IR), and I3 (60 % IR)-alongside three N application levels: N1 (30 % below RAN: regional average N), N2 (RAN), and N3 (30 % above RAN). Key sustainability indicators, including water productivity (WP), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and economic productivity, were analyzed. The DSSAT model demonstrated strong predictive accuracy, with yield differences of only 236 kg ha⁻¹ for rice and 121 kg ha⁻¹ for canola between observed and simulated values. A 40 % reduction in water use increased rice yield to a maximum of 5654 kg ha⁻¹ under I3N2 conditions. Additionally, this reduction in water consumption resulted in a 27 % decrease in production costs, significantly enhancing WP, net benefits, and gross benefits of rice by 46.7 %, 43.1 %, and 47.9 %, respectively. Conversely, a 30 % increase in N application for canola correlated with a 9 % yield increase, underscoring the importance of tailored N strategies. Furthermore, N3 raised WP, NUE, net benefits, and gross benefits of canola by 6.7 %, 1.4 %, 9.1 %, and 9.2 %, respectively, compared with current N application level. Overall, this study illustrates the potential for substantial water savings in rice cultivation while recommending stable or reduced N application levels. These management strategies enhance farm performance, lower production costs, and contribute to the sustainability of rice-canola cropping systems, promoting both agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship.

High-yield rice with rich nutrition and low toxicity can be obtained under potato-rice cropping system.

Rice is often rotated with dryland crops to produce sufficient foodstuff, as rice is the main food crop of humans. In order to verify whether under the intensive rice-based cropping system, high yield and good quality of rice can be achieved simultaneously to ensure food security. Five long-term paddy-upland rotations - wheat-rice (WR), rapeseed-rice (RR), garlic-rice (GR), broad beans-rice (BR) and potato-rice (PR) - were conducted from 2014 to investigate rice yield, along with the profiling of 24 elements in rice grain. Mg, Zn, Cu, As, Mo and Sb concentrations were highest in the aleurone layer, and Ag and Cd concentrations showed little variation among different parts of the rice grain. Al, Ti, V, Si, Fe and Tl concentrations in the endosperm under GR were higher, while the Se concentration under PR was the highest. Furthermore, the yield of GR and PR were higher than the other three rotations with N supplementation, and the sustainable yield index of PR and WR were larger than 0.8. When we consider the concentration of toxic (As, Cd and Pb) and nutrient elements (Ca, Fe, Zn, Se, Cu and Mg) in the endosperm and grain yields, PR can simultaneously achieve high yield, high nutrition and low toxicity with different nitrogen treatments. Here we provide novel insights regarding the selection of rice-based cropping systems, focused on producing nutritious and safe rice with high grain yield. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Retention of Crop Residue Increases Crop Productivity and Maintains Positive Sulfur Balance in Intensive Rice-Based Cropping Systems

Retention of Crop Residue Increases Crop Productivity and Maintains Positive Sulfur Balance in Intensive Rice-Based Cropping Systems

Soil Solarization Efficiently Reduces Fungal Soilborne Pathogen Populations, Promotes Lettuce Plant Growth, and Affects the Soil Bacterial Community.

Lettuce is the most cultivated leafy vegetable in Greece; however, due to the adopted intensive cropping system, its cultivation is susceptible to many soilborne pathogens that cause significant yield and quality losses. In the current study, the impact of various soil disinfestation methods such as solarization, chemical disinfestation, and application of a biofungicide were evaluated in a commercial field that has been repeatedly used for lettuce cultivation. The populations of soilborne pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium equiseti were measured via qPCR before and after the implementation of the specific disinfestation methods. Although all the tested methods significantly reduced the population of the four soilborne pathogens, soil solarization was the most effective one. In addition, solarization reduced the number of lettuce plants affected by the pathogens R. solani and F. equiseti, and at the same time, significantly influenced the growth of lettuce plants. Amplicon sequence analysis of 16S rRNA-encoding genes used to study the soil bacterial community structure showed that Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the predominant bacterial phyla in soil samples. In general, solarization had positive effects on Firmicutes and negative effects on Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria; soil fumigation with dazomet increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and reduced the corresponding values of Actinobacteria; and biofungicide had no significant effects on the three predominant bacterial phyla. The bacterial community composition and structure varied after the application of the soil disinfestation treatments since they imposed changes in the α- and β-diversity levels. The results of this study are expected to contribute towards implementing the most effective control method against the most common soilborne pathogens in intensively cultivated fields, such as those cultivated with leafy vegetables.

Stress Management Practices in Rainfed Sorghum (K12) on Yield, Economics and Plant Nutrient Uptake Through Foliar Plant Nutrition Under Typical Vertisols (Typic chromusterts) of Semiarid Region

ABSTRACT Foliar fertilization has great potential to give higher yields under intensive cropping system and in enhancing the crop tolerance to drought conditions. Different responses of yield to foliar fertilization are probably associated with incorrect timing of application, use of inappropriate fertilizer and lack of concern of soil available nutrients and environmental conditions. Though soil application of nutrients cannot be replaced totally with foliar fertilization, but under various situations like rainfed condition, foliar nutrition can play very important role in enhancing crop yield and nutrient use efficiency. Focusing on this, a field experiment was conducted in the Agricultural Research Station, Kovilpatti, under rainfed situation from 2017 to ‘20 to evaluate the response of foliar application of plant nutrients sprayed during moisture stress condition and to improve the growth and yield of sorghum under rainfed condition. This experiment was laid out in split plot design with replicated thrice and the treatments consisted of main plots: M1 – foliar spray during dry spell, M2 – foliar spray after relieving of stress/dry spell (with favorable soil moisture) and subplots: S1 – urea@1%, S2 – urea@2%, S3 – water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19)@0.5%, S4 – water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19)@0.5% + recommended dose of micronutrient for foliar spray (to be decided based on soil test: zinc, boron, iron, manganese, etc.), S5 – ZnSO4@0.5%, S6 – water spray, S7 – control (no spray of any material/water) under rainfed vertisols of semiarid region. The obtained results showed that the application of water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19)@0.5% sprayed during the dry spell significantly increased the plant height, earhead length and grain test weight. This attributes resulted in higher grain yield (1448 kg ha−1), stover yield (2288 kg ha−1), net returns (Rs. 8748 ha−1), B:C (1.16) and rainwater use efficiency (3.85 kg ha−1-mm) when compared to other practices in rainfed sorghum. There is a gradual increase in total major plant nutrient uptake, viz. nitrogen (22.3 kg ha−1), phosphorus (4.56 kg ha−1) and potassium uptake (26.0 kg ha−1) with the foliar application of water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19)@0.5% applied during the dry spell condition (S3) during drought stress condition (M1). Foliar application of nutrients along with soil application has several advantages in supplementing the nutritional requirements of crops such as rapid and efficient response by the plants, less product needed and independence of soil conditions. Foliar nutrition designed to eliminate the problems like fixation and immobilization of nutrients. Hence, foliar nutrition is recognized as an important method of fertilization during the dry spell under rainfed condition in modern agriculture.

Intercropping improves faba bean photosynthesis and reduces disease caused by Fusarium commune and cinnamic acid-induced stress

Modern intensive cropping systems often contribute to the accumulation of phenolic acids in the soil, which promotes the development of soilborne diseases. This can be suppressed by intercropping. This study analyzed the effects of intercropping on Fusarium wilt based on its effect on photosynthesis under stress by the combination of Fusarium commune and cinnamic acid. The control was not inoculated with F. commune, while the faba bean plants (Vicia faba L.) were inoculated with this pathogen in the other treatments. The infected plants were also treated with cinnamic acid. This study examined the development of Fusarium wilt together with its effects on the leaves, absorption of nutrients, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, contents of photosynthetic pigments, activities of photosynthetic enzymes, gas exchange parameters, and the photosynthetic assimilates of faba bean from monocropping and intercropping systems. Under monocropping conditions, the leaves of the plants inoculated with F. commune grew significantly less, and there was enhanced occurrence of the Fusarium wilt compared with the control. Compared with the plants solely inoculated with F. commune, the exogenous addition of cinnamic acid to the infected plants significantly further reduced the growth of faba bean leaves and increased the occurrence of Fusarium wilt. A comparison of the combination of F. commune and cinnamic acid in intercropped wheat and faba bean compared with monocropping showed that intercropping improved the absorption of nutrients, increased photosynthetic pigments and its contents, electron transport, photosynthetic enzymes, and photosynthetic assimilates. The combination of these factors reduced the occurrence of Fusarium wilt in faba bean and increased the growth of its leaves. These results showed that intercropping improved the photosynthesis, which promoted the growth of faba bean, thus, reducing the development of Fusarium wilt following the stress of infection by F. commune and cinnamic acid. This research should provide more information to enhance sustainable agriculture.

Eco-Sustainability of Soils in Baby-Leaf Crop Systems under Tunnel through the Application of C-Rich Inputs: Towards Combating Soil Degradation

Fresh-cut leafy vegetables are produced in Southern Italy in very intensive crop systems under tunnel greenhouses in which continuous cropping has triggered soil organic carbon (SOC) depletion and the risk of degradation of soil fertility. A two-year trial of soil organic amendment was carried out on a private farm producing baby-leaf crops on a very poor OC soil (<1%). Biowaste compost, two types of olive pomace composts and buffalo manure were compared to evaluate their ability to recover a positive SOC balance and sustain crop growth and yield. The effects on soil health and crop system were studied by measuring different aspects such as SOC stock change and SOC sequestration rate, soil microbial biomass and nine enzyme activities, yields of rocket and concentration of nitrates in leaves. Soil amendments were distributed once a year at doses of 15 and 30 Mg ha−1 as fresh matter without integration of mineral fertilizers. In our study, the SOC stock improved in the amended soils in a range of 4–6 Mg ha−1, except for dose 30 of buffalo manure, with the highest values where biowaste compost was applied. Our data showed an increase in biological parameters in all the amended soils with respect to Control. In soil amended with olive pomace, however, compost mineralization rates likely did not match crops’ nutrient needs so the yields of rocket were lower than with the biowaste compost and buffalo manure. Biowaste compost showed the best results as it balanced the best C conversion efficiency, the higher increment of SOC and yields of rocket.

Modern Tillage Methods in Intensive Cropping Systems & Its Impact on Soil Health- A Review

There is gradual increase in population and as a result of urbanization. The agricultural is land gradually decreasing. To fulfill the growing needs the challenge is to grow more food in lesser area leading to intensive agriculture increasing the cropping intensity by replacing sole and mono cropping with cropping systems. This Results in declining of soil fertility which is the inherent plant nutrient supplying capacity of a soil to match the crop requirement in proper form, quantity and proportion without any deficiency or toxicity problem. It is not simply the quantity of nutrient present in a soil as determined by a particular method. A soil is fertile for a crop if it is healthy physically, chemically and biologically. Currently to maintain soil fertility various management practices have been adopted in modern practices. In this review, we have been discussed about effect of cropping system and modern tillage on soil physical properties, chemical properties, soil fertility, soil microbial activities, soil carbon, crop yield and weed dynamics in terms of different soil indicators for evaluating soil health under different cropping systems and modern tillage methods. This knowledge will help to ensure sustainability under intensive cropping systems practiced looking at the need of the hour.

Soil food web structure coordinated by soil omnivores sustains soil multifunctionality in moderate vermicompost amended fields

Biodiversity can enhance soil multifunctionality through strengthening biotic interactions in soil food webs, but largely unknown in agroecosystems. We therefore predicted that vermicompost, serving as an organic amendment and soil health conditioner, could enhance trophic interactions among bacteria, fungi and nematodes and mediate synergies and trade-offs among soil functions, especially when substituting synthetic fertilizer was applied to soils. Soil multifunctionality was assessed from plant growth and product quality, carbon and nutrient cycling, water and climate regulation in an intensive cropping system. Pepper, tomato and spinach were cultivated in rotation annually, with substituting vermicompost as a nutrient replacement for synthetic fertilizer for 5 years. Results showed that substituting a moderate dose of vermicompost for synthetic fertilizer offered the highest soil multifunctionality by enhancing synergies among multiple functions. The vermicompost-stimulated multifunctionality was primarily attributed to the cascading effects of the complex food web structure induced by omnivorous nematode. These effects were regulated by the physicochemical environment of the vermicompost-amended soil. Notably, the multifunctional benefits degraded when higher rates of vermicompost were applied, suggesting that over-use of vermicompost combined with an inadequate amount of synthetic fertilizer could simplify soil food web structure and decrease soil functions, mainly due to the nutrient limitation and increasing harmful substances as indicated by C:N stoichiometry, heavy metals and antibiotic resistance genes. In intensive agricultural systems, finding an optimal balance of organic amendments and synthetic fertilizer that supports complex soil food web interactions is therefore crucial for promoting multiple soil functions and particularly sustaining the production of high-quality food crops.

Imperatives for integrated weed management in vegetable production: Evaluating research and adoption

AbstractWeeds have a significant impact on vegetable production worldwide. These intensive cropping systems feature frequent tillage, fertilization and irrigation, providing ideal growing conditions for crops as well as certain weeds. Integrated weed management (IWM) can reduce reliance on herbicides by encouraging a systems approach to weed management. Using insights from global research and industry literature, we investigated the effectiveness of prevailing weed control methods, and evaluated emerging management practices and technologies for ongoing research and adoption. Weed control relies primarily on a relatively narrow range of herbicides as well as frequent tillage. Herbicides have negative impacts on soil, water and human health, while tillage impacts soil quality and function. Intensive cropping on smaller plots facilitates IWM, relying on multiple strategies including hand weeding, mulches, cover crops and cultural methods (e.g., crop rotations, timing). New herbicide options are suggested as an industry priority but are constrained by the lack of new chemistry and potential herbicide resistance. Refinement and adoption of non‐herbicide and emerging precision control methods into farm IWM in vegetables is more likely to be sustainable. This review is relevant to advanced vegetable production systems globally, but also to smallholder vegetable production in developing economies.

Groundwater Depletion and Degradation in the North China Plain: Challenges and Mitigation Options

Groundwater is an important natural resource in the North China Plain (NCP) with high economic benefits and social significance. It fulfills 60% of drinking and 70% of irrigation water requirements. In this review, the information is retrieved from high-quality articles published in MEDLINE and other sources. We saw that groundwater is declining faster (>1 m yr−1) and polluting with NO3− (>30 mg L−1) due to excessive water pumping and application of a nitrogen (N) fertilizer, respectively. The water pumping (>600 mm ha−1 yr−1) for agricultural purposes in the region is higher than the recharge amount (<200 mm yr−1). The low recharge is the result of low rainfall (<600 mm yr−1), and high evapotranspiration (>800 mm yr−1) under the impact of dominant vegetative characteristics of winter wheat–summer maize (WW-SM) rotations, covering >80% of the land. Furthermore, N application exceeds the crop assimilation capacity (>250 kg ha−1 yr−1) and leach deep down (>50 kg ha−1) as well as loss in the atmosphere. Presently, Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei are ecologically the most affected areas. We suggest that excessive water and N fertilizer use for intensive cropping systems should be controlled by paying high attention to groundwater-friendly farming practices. In addition, artificial groundwater recharge options and their safe utilization would be explored across the region to replenish aquifers. This literature review contributes valuable insights to the knowledge bank and offers a foundation for further research and policy development.

Indicators of practice intensity unearth the effects of cropping systems on soil mesofauna

Soil organisms are impacted by a wide range of physical and chemical disturbances in intensive cropping systems. The development of cropping systems less disturbing to soil biodiversity requires to understand the consequences of various practices on soil organisms. However, most studies characterize the effects of cropping systems by distinguishing between the main types of systems (i.e. conventional, organic, conservation) without taking into account the diversity of applied practices. In this study, we aimed to describe cropping systems and their effects on soil mesofauna using indicators of practice intensity previously developed by agronomists. Mesofauna sampling was conducted in autumn 2020 and 2021 over 21 fields under conventional, conservation or organic systems, either long-established (≥ 7 years) or in transition (≤ 3 years). Primary indicators and composite indexes were computed to determine the intensity of tillage, pesticide treatments and organic inputs, and used as predictors for mesofauna density and Collembola species diversity. In 2020, mesofauna density was lower in organic than in conventional systems, and both did not differ significantly from conservation systems. In 2021, Collembola density tended to be the highest in long-established conservation systems. Transitioning organic systems had a low mesofauna density. Using composite indexes, mesofauna density and Collembola diversity were observed to decrease under high tillage and low pesticide treatment intensity, while we found no clear effect using the organic input intensity index. Overall, practice intensity indicators and indexes were useful to explain the effects of cropping systems on soil mesofauna density and diversity. In particular, the tillage intensity index showed a major impact of tillage on soil mesofauna. However, the significance of the effects of practice intensity on mesofauna varied between years. Future studies are thus necessary to fully assess the relevance of intensity indicators and indexes in assessing the effects of cropping systems on soil biodiversity.

System productivity, soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration of intensive rice-based cropping systems can be improved through legume crop inclusion with appropriate fertilizer application and crop residues incorporation in the eastern Indo-Gangatic plain

System productivity, soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration of intensive rice-based cropping systems can be improved through legume crop inclusion with appropriate fertilizer application and crop residues incorporation in the eastern Indo-Gangatic plain

Balancing quality with quantity: A case study of UK bread wheat

Societal Impact StatementIncreasing crop productivity is often proposed as a key goal for meeting the food security demands of a growing global population. However, achieving high crop yields alone without meeting end‐use quality requirements is counter to this objective and can lead to negative environmental and sustainability issues. High yielding feed wheat crops in the United Kingdom are a typical example of this. The historical context of UK agricultural industrialisation, developments in plant breeding and wheat end‐use processing are examined. We then outline how employing innovations in plant breeding methods offer the potential to redress the balance between wheat quantity and quality.SummaryBread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has historically been an important crop for many human civilisations. Today, variability in wheat supply and trade has a large influence on global economies and food security. The United Kingdom is an example of an industrialised country that achieves high wheat yields through intensive cropping systems and a favourable climate. However, only a minority of the wheat grain produced is of suitable end‐use quality for modern bread baking methods and most wheat produced is fed to livestock. A large agricultural land area and input use dedicated to producing grain for animal rather than human food has wide‐ranging negative impacts for environmental sustainability and domestic food production. Here we present an historical perspective of agricultural and economic changes that have resulted in UK production primarily focussing on wheat quantity over quality. Agricultural intensification, liberalisation of free trade in agricultural commodities, innovations in the milling and baking sector, developments in scientific understanding of genetics and plant breeding, and geopolitical changes have all played a role. We propose that wheat breeding plays a crucial role in influencing these issues and although wheat breeders in the United Kingdom have historically applied the most‐up‐to‐date scientific advances, recent advances in genomics tools and quantitative genetics present a unique opportunity for breeders to redress the balance between quantity and quality.

Undestroyed winter cover crop strips support wild bee abundance and diversity in intensive cropping systems

Undestroyed winter cover crop strips support wild bee abundance and diversity in intensive cropping systems