Present Farming Systems Research Articles

Development of a multi-use decision support system for scientific management and breeding of sheep

As the challenges of food insecurity and population explosion become more pressing, there is a dire need to revamp the existing breeding and animal management systems. This can be achieved by the introduction of technology for efficiency and the improvement of the genetic merit of animals. A fundamental requirement for animal breeding is the availability of accurate and reliable pedigreed data and tools facilitating sophisticated computations. Keeping this in view, Smart Sheep Breeder (SSB) was developed using the waterfall methodology and multiple programming languages. It is a multi-use online artificial intelligence (AI) based and internet of things (IoT) compatible decision support system (DSS). It is capable of automatic performance recording, farm data management, data mining, biometrical analysis, e-governance, and decision-making in sheep farms. A centralized database was also developed capable of ranking sheep across multiple farms based on genetic merit and effective dissemination of germplasm. The system in India is available as a web-based tool and android application which facilitates performance recording and generates customized reports on various aspects of sheep production. SSB uses artificial intelligence and biometrical genetic algorithms to calculate breeding values, and inbreeding coefficients, construct selection indices and generate pedigree, and history sheets as well as more than 40 types of custom-tailored animal and farm reports and graphs. The algorithms used were validated using on farms using farm data and also by comparison with established methods and software. Smart Sheep Breeder could thus prove to be indispensable for the present farming systems which could be used by sheep farm managers and breeders across India.

Exploring the Inefficient Groundwater Use by Wheat Farmers: An Evidence from Sindh, Pakistan

Pakistan's agricultural production is lower than that of many other developing countries. The agricultural community is nearly illiterate and uses old and conservative farming methods. These constraints impede the adoption and spread of new technologies at the agricultural level. The objective of this study was to calculate economic, allocative, technical, and water-use efficiency. In addition, the drivers of inefficiency for wheat fields in Benazirabad and Naushahro Feroz districts were measured. For the analysis, 390 farmers' data were used, 195 from each of the Chihu and Malwa minor canals. Data-envelopment-analysis, a non-parametric method, was utilized to determine the ratings of efficiency. The findings revealed that the mean economic, allocative, and technical efficiency scores of farms in the study region were 52%, 62%, and 83%. The average water-use efficiency score was found to be 52%. For the improvement in the present farming system, quantified results suggested the need for potential increase in wheat production by 17% with keeping the same level of inputs. Results further revealed that the production cost can be reduced by 48% by producing the same level of output leading to optimal allocation of resources. There is also a potential gap of improvement for water-use efficiency. Improvement in agriculture extension services, timely and proper supply of inputs and the creation of local level marketplaces at lower administrative entities can improve the efficiency scores of wheat farmers.

Management approach of livestock manure in present farming system of Bangladesh

Laying aside manure meat, milk and egg is considered as key performance indicator of livestock farm profitability of Bangladesh till yet whereas manure contains minimum 45-55% feed nutrient fed to animals. A survey based research work was conveyed to find out the major channel of using this valuable livestock manure by farmers from twelve selected district of Bangladesh. Results showed that most of the cattle and buffalo farmers prefer solid storage system to manage their manure. From this stored manure, about 35% was used for land fertilization, 47% for burning fuel preparation, 8% for composting and remaining 10% become completely wasted. A very few of cattle manure (4.65) was utilized by the care of anaerobic digestion. But this improved system was completely absent in case of buffalo and small ruminants manure management. Dung produced from small ruminants fully goes for solid piling. About 20% of poultry manure managed in improved way and the remaining portion was mostly utilized in a very disparage way. In anaerobic digestion system, the produced gas went for home consumption and bio-slurry creates havoc for both farmer and environment. Land fertilization and aquaculture coves its utilization but the amount is too low compared to its production. Above 52% of total bio-slurry become wasted due to limited knowledge and lack of appropriate handling techniques. The scenario of urine and liquid slurry management was very melancholic. About 0.37 and 0.203 kg methane emission per head per year was calculated from solid storage system of cattle and small ruminant animal manure. The value is also high in burning fuel preparation (5.46 kg) and liquid slurry (5.81 kg) and a bit low in anaerobic digestion system (1.24 kg) per head per year.
 Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2019, 5(1): 63-70

Dairy donkey: an alternative building layout

In Italy, donkey dairies are growing in popularity to produce an alternative milk source for human infants. The use of donkey milk is not limited to the paediatric field, being used in geriatric nutrition and in the cosmetic industry. In 2010, the Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, was involved in a project supported by the Tuscany Region Rural Development Fund 2007- 2013 dealing with the creation of a donkey milk productive chain. The project has as its main partner the Bandite di Scarlino, an agro-forestry complex of considerable size. It covers approximately 9000 hectares, which fall in Scarlino, Castiglione della Pescaia, Follonica and Gavorrano municipalities, under Tuscany regional control. The so-called FILAMI project (Filiera Latte Asino Amiatino, acronym of the goal of the project in Italian) had among its goals helping preserve an indigenous breed of donkeys called Amiatina. Salimei (2011) assessed that the presence of the foal during milking does not affect milk ejection in jennies (the female donkey) adapted to the milking procedure, but when foals are not present the milking routine is more manageable for the animals and for optimal milk harvest; in accordance, in the present farming system the jenny has been kept separately from the foal during the milking session. To this purpose, the stable, the milking parlour and the paddocks must be well organised with a proper milking routine. Milking facilities must be designed for the milk treatment and storage at low temperature or for freezing. Currently, the milk undergoes a pasteurisation cycle for human consumption, or directed to the cosmetic industry. Moreover, the milking facilities should fulfil the creation of a milk collection centre in order to play an important role between the dairy donkey farms and the dairy industry. In this paper, the technical and technological aspects of the donkey stable, paddocks, milking parlour, mobile milking unit, and processing plants have been described and the main issues addressed.

Assessment of sweetpotato farming systems, production constraints and breeding priorities in eastern Tanzania

Sweetpotato is an important food security crop in Tanzania. The crop is grown under diverse farming systems with very low yields. The objective of this study was to assess the present sweetpotato farming systems, farmers’ preferences, production constraints and breeding priorities in eastern Tanzania. Participatory rural appraisal was conducted in the Gairo, Kilosa and Kilombero districts of the Morogoro region and Mkuranga district of the Coast region of Tanzania. Primary and secondary data were collected using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and field observations. The study showed that more than 94% of the respondents depended on farming for their livelihoods. Main sweetpotato production constraints were Sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) and pests, drought, unavailability of markets and lack of transport, low prices, inadequate extension services and postharvest losses. Preferred sweetpotato attributes included high yield, high dry matter content, tolerance to diseases and early maturity. Farmers expressed their persuasive needs towards improved extension service delivery, SPVD-tolerant cultivars, and reliable and coordinated market systems for sweetpotatoes.

Promoting Effects of a Single <i>Rhodopseudomonas palustris</i> Inoculant on Plant Growth by <i>Brassica rapa chinensis</i> under Low Fertilizer Input

Several Rhodopseudomonas palustris strains have been isolated from rice paddy fields in Taiwan by combining the Winogradsky column method and molecular marker detection. These isolates were initially screened by employing seed germination and seedling vigor assays to evaluate their potential as inoculants. To fulfill the demand in the present farming system for reducing the application of chemical fertilizers, we assessed the plant growth-promoting effects of the R. palustris YSC3, YSC4, and PS3 inoculants on Brassica rapa chinensis (Chinese cabbage) cultivated under a half quantity of fertilizer. The results obtained showed that supplementation with approximately 4.0×106 CFU g−1 soil of the PS3 inoculant at half the amount of fertilizer consistently produced the same plant growth potential as 100% fertility, and also increased the nitrogen use efficiency of the applied fertilizer nutrients. Furthermore, we noted that the plant growth-promotion rate elicited by PS3 was markedly higher with old seeds than with new seeds, suggesting it has the potential to boost the development of seedlings that were germinated from carry-over seeds of poor quality. These beneficial traits suggest that the PS3 isolate may serve as a potential PGPR inoculant for integrated nutrient management in agriculture.

Studies on utilization pattern of camel and tractor in hot arid desert ecosystem

The present farming system research was carried out in eighteen arid villages of two districts in Rajasthan covering four zones. Analysis of data indicated that mixed farming (51.08%) was the major occupation although 48.91 % of respondents opted animal husbandry as major occupation. The advantages of camel in comparison to tractor were so many where as maximum number of demerits of tractor in comparison to camel were perceived by arid farmers with favorable attitude towards the utilization of camel. Most of the farmers having 1 camel (88.64%) fed their animal at household level where as farmers having more than 4 camels, majority of them reared their camel in extensive management practices. The Chi-square test indicated that camel keeping pattern significantly (P

The effect of system innovations on water productivity in subsistence rainfed agricultural systems in semi-arid Tanzania

Abstract Rainfed subsistence farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa generally obtain low crop yields as a result of highly erratic rainfall seasons. This paper presents results of research conducted to test the effects of improvements in farming techniques for subsistence rainfed systems. The research was carried out in the Makanya catchment of northern Tanzania where rainfall of less than 600 mm a −1 and spread over two agricultural seasons per year is clearly insufficient to support staple food crops under the present farming systems in the area. The research sought to prove that, with improved efficiency in tillage techniques, grain yields can improve even under the existing challenging hydro-climatic conditions. The research tested farming system innovations (SIs) at four sites located within a spatial distance of 10 km where a combination of runoff diversion (RD), on-site rain water harvesting (WH) and conservation tillage (CT) were compared against the traditional farming methods of hand-hoeing under strict rainfed conditions (Control). For RD, runoff generated from natural storms was directed into infiltration pits dug along the contour with the excavated soil deposited upward of the trenches ( fanya juus ). The impact of these techniques on maize yields under different SIs was investigated. The results showed that the innovations resulted in increased maize grain yields of up to 4.8 t ha −1 compared against current averages of less than 1 t ha −1 . The average productivity of the available water over four seasons was calculated to range between 0.35 and 0.51 kg m −3 . For the SIs that were tested, the distribution of yields within a cultivated strip showed variations with better yields obtained on the down slope side of the cultivated strip where ponding effects resulted in higher water availability for infiltration and storage. However, due to the large seasonal climate variability, statistical analysis did not show significant differences in the yields ( p The study showed that there is scope to improve grain yields with the little available rainfall through the adoption of techniques which promote water availability and retention within the field. The re-partitioning of water within the field creates mitigation measures against the impact of dry spells and allows alternative cropping in addition to the traditional maize cultivated in the rainfall seasons.

A participatory investigation into multifunctional benefits of indigenous trees in West African savanna farmland

Loss of trees has contributed to soil erosion and depletion of soil organic matter and nutrient status across sub-Saharan Africa, enhanced by a period of dependence on subsidized inorganic fertilizer. This paper is based on an eight-year study with farmers on the northern Gambia/Senegal border. It documents farmers' perceptions of past and present farming systems and their attitudes to farmland trees, communicates results of a literature review to them, and facilitates farmer experimentation into the potential of tree leaf mulches for groundnut production. Trees have many use values but little value was initially perceived for farming. Information provided on the use of trees in cropping systems elsewhere in the region was not thought to be relevant locally. The exception was for Faidherbia albida which was initially encouraged for cultural reasons, and tree density increased from one to 17 trees per hectare over the subsequent six years in response to protection by farmers. Farmer experimentation with tree mulches identified Guiera senegalensis as a beneficial species when used in combination with low rate inorganic fertilizer and this species is now valued by some farmers, rather than being perceived as a weed. Such protection of indigenous trees is likely to maintain the natural resource base, benefiting local people and wildlife species associated with the trees, as well as providing ecosystem services that benefit the wider community.

Minimising diffuse pollution from livestock manures – the challenges ahead

In the region of 90 million tonnes of farm manures, supplying 450,000 tonnes of nitrogen (N) and 119,000 tonnes of phosphorus (P) are applied to agricultural land in the UK each year. These applications are a valuable source of plant nutrients but they are also recognised as the largest source of controllable pollution in present day farming systems. Over 70% of nitrate entering water systems is estimated to originate from agricultural land and the transfer of particulate and soluble P from agricultural land has been estimated to contribute 40-50% of P loads in watercourses. Ammonia (NH3) emissions from UK agriculture contribute c.80% of total UK emissions with losses following the land spreading of farm manures responsible for c.96,000 tonnes of NH3 each year.

Managing farming systems for nitrate control: a research review from management systems evaluation areas.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded the Management Systems Evaluation Area (MSEA) research project in 1990 to evaluate effectiveness of present farming systems in controlling nitrate N in water resources and to develop improved technologies for farming systems. This paper summarizes published research results of a five-year effort. Most research is focused on evaluating the effectiveness of farming system components (fertilizer, tillage, water control, cropping systems, and soil and weather variability). The research results show that current soil nitrate tests reliably predict fertilizer N needed to control environmental and economic risks for crop production. A corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation usually controls risk better than continuous corn, but both may result in unacceptable nitrate leaching. Reduced tillage, especially ridge-till, is better than clean tillage in reducing risk. Tile drainage controls nitrate in ground water, but discharge may increase nitrate in surface waters. Sprinkler irrigation systems provide better water control than furrow irrigation because quantity and spatial variability of applied water is reduced. Present farming systems have two major deficiencies: (i) entire fields are managed uniformly, ignoring inherent soil variability within a field; and (ii) N fertilizer rates and many field practices are selected assuming normal weather for the coming season. Both deficiencies can contribute to nitrate leaching in parts of most fields.

Integrated Toposequence Analysis at the confluence zone of the River Ebonyi headwater catchment (south eastern Nigeria)

An integrated survey along a continuum of two representative toposequences, crossing fluvial and interfluvial landscapes downstream of the confluence of two perennial rivers of the upper reaches of the River Ebonyi catchment resulted in a methodology for characterising toposequences and for identifying priorities for land evaluation. The so-called Integrated Toposequence Analysis (ITA) merges conventional biophysical surveying and participatory research techniques along toposequences and sets a framework for developing relational databases for land resource mapping at village and catchment scale. Relationships between physiographic position, soil characteristics, vegetation and land use demonstrate the physical and human influences affecting the current land status along the catenae. Indigenous appraisal of soil characteristics and productivity provides insight in current land use strategies at farm level, whereas, analysis from standard biophysical methods demonstrates the constraints to present land use trends. Results indicate the limited scope for further agricultural intensification on the upland interfluve areas with the present farming system practices, and show the increasing pressure to exploit the fluvial wetlands.

The Hungarian diversification strategy: Constraints and opportunities

Although agricultural work is declining in Hungary, farming remains an important source of employment. However, the agrarian population should not be regarded as homogenous because many small farms are worked only for subsistence and family income supplement. This is because of prolonged economic crisis which makes for a shortage of job opportunities in other sectors of the economy. Until economic growth accelerates there is a need for transitional solutions to the problem of unemployment. It is argued that the present farming system could be diversified through labour-intensive programmes to provide piped water and drainage in small towns and villages and simultaneously engage many of the long-term unemployed who are no longer entitled to benefit and lack the qualifications for jobs that require special skills. The environment could also be protected by the afforestation of 300–400 000 ha of arable land or its conversion to grassland. Light industry could also generate employment while stimulating the growth of local farm production and the improvement of the infrastructure. Training for unemployed young people should also be a priority if the erosion of rural labour resources is not to become irreversible. A much more proactive approach is needed from government to safeguard rural labour resources and achieve greater integration between forestry, farming and processing.

Analysis of deforestation and economically sustainable farming systems under pressure of population growth and income constraints at the village level in Tanzania

The main aim of this paper is to apply mathematical programming and welfare maximization theory to analyze the effect of population growth on agriculture/forest land use competition, per capita cash income and subsistence consumption from privately owned farms as a basis to determine the economic sustainability of the present farming systems in the West Usambara Mountains. Two working hypotheses are presented: (1) given present population growth trends, present farming systems are not economically sustainable; (2) population growth will cause deforestation over time due to the expansion of farmlands. The analysis presented in this paper indicates that the present farming systems can sustain the present population growth rate (2.1% per annum for Lukozi Village) and per capita income for a maximum duration of 25–30 years. Life expectancy in Tanzania is over 45 years (based on 1988 population census). Thus, the present farming systems cannot sustain even one human generation. This suggests that, for the existing farming systems to become economically sustainable, it is important to improve farming technology which could increase crop production through improvements of land productivity, and to increase income from other sources. Such a strategy will meet the increased food demand as a result of population growth as well as limiting the expansion of farmlands through forest clearing. In addition, the welfare of the farmers and rural populace could be enhanced and improved. Also, it might be relevant to expand small-scale industrial activities to increase income from off-farm activities.

The High Country Environment

The most important environmental factors influencing farming and the choice of pasture species are: l Temperature l Soil moisture 0 Soil fertility 0 Pasture management. Temperature and moisture gradients define the general pattern of soils, original vegetation and present farming systems within New Zealand (Figure 1). With decreasing moisture and temperature, pasture production falls, so pasture yields in the high country are generally much lower than elsewhere. The traditionally large size of both paddocks and runs in the high country was related to the low level of pasture yield from native vegetation.

The Dutch Programme on Soil Ecology of Arable Farming Systems. 2. Geogenesis, agricultural history, field site characteristics and present farming systems at the Lovinkhoeve experimental farm

The field site characteristics at the experimental farm where the Dutch Programme on Soil Ecology of Arable Farming Systems is being carried out are described in relation to the geogenesis of the soil and more than 30 years of arable farming with different organic inputs in 6- or 8-year rotations in which conventional crop protection and soil tillage were practised. The inputs were: inorganic fertilizers only (System 1), resulting in a reduction from 2.8 to 2.3% in organic-matter content and a relatively high bulk density of the topsoil; green manures in addition to inorganic fertilizers (System 2), resulting in a reduction from 2.8 to 2.4% in organic-matter content of the topsoil and a bulk density slightly below that of System 1; and farmyard manure in addition to inorganic fertilizers and green manures (System 3), resulting in maintenance of the 2.8% organic-matter content and a relatively low bulk density of the topsoil. An analysis of soil physical characteristics and soil micromorphology was performed in 1985 in Systems 1 and 3 and a nearby Minimum-Tillage System where arable farming had been practised in a 6-year rotation for 18 years, organic inputs being comparable to those of System 2. Great differences in type, size and quantity of voids were found among the soils of Systems 1, 3 and Minimum-Tillage, mainly owing to the differential effects of the soil biota on soil structure formation. However, the volume occupied by continuous voids was virtually the same in the 3 agroecosystems owing to the counteracting effect of internal slaking and the absence of earthworms in the Minimum-Tillage System. Hence, soil moisture-retention characteristics and hydraulic conductivities differed only slightly among the 3 systems. In 1985/1986, Systems 1–3 were transformed into the conventional, integrated and integrated with minimum-tillage systems of the Dutch Programme on Soil Ecology of Arable Farming Systems. These farming systems are described and it is expected that the research results presented in this paper will provide an excellent background for the interpretation of changes in and differences among the soil characteristics in the present systems.

Soil compaction by multiple passes of a rigid wheel relevant for optimization of traffic

Agricultural field operations of various levels of mechanization are heavily dependent on wheel tractors as a source of traction power. It is common practice to use the same tractor for different operational requirements. Hence the soil with different load bearing capacity is exposed to repeated compressive stress of the same magnitude. This results in the formation of a dense layer within the soil mass which is poor in hydraulic conductivity, aeration, and unfavorable for the growth of plants. It creates a cyclic effect of change in soil strength and increases in power requirements together with decreases in productivity year after year. This paper presents an experimental study of soil compaction as a result of multiple loading by the running device. It is valuable for present farming systems in determining the combined effects of load and number of passes so as to utilize the field power effectively with minimum compaction effect. In this work soil compaction was studied in the laboratory using soil bin facilities. An analysis was made based on investigations on experimental results of surface and sub-surface deformation, specific volume and compaction index (coefficient) which characterize soil compaction phenomena. The results showed that the number of passes and the load as independent variables significantly affected the compaction capacity of the soil. According to the experimental results, the first three passes of a loaded wheel are critical and the intensity of soil compaction within a depth of 120 mm is serious.

Population-Supporting Capacities A Case Study in the Central Himalayas

Abstract A methodology incorporating an integrated basic-needs approach has been introduced to determine the population-supporting capacity (PSC) of a forest-dependent region. The linear programming technique was employed to model six different scenarios. Each model is a mathematical representation of the many physical, biological, ecological, socio-economic, administrative and political constraints of what constitutes a realistically attainable and improved future version of the present hill farming system. The population specified by PSC represents the maximum number of people which can be sustained in perpetuity without degrading the environment or depleting the resource base – given some acceptable and desired levels of welfare and environmental quality.In these impoverished rural areas, any definition of improved welfare must necessarily mean the provision of increased supplies of the basic material needs of the population. The determination of PSC allows the quantification of many hitherto unsolved ...

Changes in the Structure and Role of Farming in the Economy of a West Norwegian Island

URING the past sixty years, considerable changes have been wrought in the patterns of economy and society of western Norway. Before 1900, much of western Norway existed under conditions of localized economy, centered upon the small family holdings (bruk) and the farm groups (gdrd), and supplemented by use of the much larger resource fields of the sea and the mountain pastures. The use of the word peasant to describe the condition of the economy is no longer appropriate, except in a few isolated localities. The dual subsistence economy of farming and fishing has given place to a specialized commercial economy. Today, the production of the small family holdings is integrated in a commercial economy designed primarily for the domestic market, whilst the fishing activity has (leveloped as a highly-organized separate economy engaged in supplying both the domestic and export markets. But from the point of view of the individual inhabitants of the rural areas of western Norway, the separation of the two economies is incomplete for many are still both farmers and fishermen; indeed, the necessity for combinations of employment may well continue until some major reorganization in the scale and structure of the two economies is effected. The aims of this paper are, first, to trace the stages in the development from a subsistence to a commercial agricultural economy, and, secondly, to examine the success of the present farming system in the light of a detailed study of a sample area from the island fringe of western Norway.