Single Crop Research Articles

Watershed management intervention on land use land cover change and food security improvement among smallholder farmers in Qarsa Woreda, East Hararge zone, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Natural resource bases are the basic foundations of food security. However, they are facing problems both in quantity and quality, leading to decreased land productivity and societal issues. Watershed management is the most effective technique for managing and utilising these resources while improving food security. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the watershed management approach using Arc GIS 10.5 to track changes in land use cover for the years 2009, 2014, and 2020 and surveyed 337 households in three different Programmes. The findings showed six land-use land cover areas, where the proportion of farmland and bare land decreased while the proportion of settlements and shrub land increased in the three micro-watersheds. Population pressure and exotic species' invasion were significant factors contributing to the decline in farmland, while a decrease in bare land and an increase in shrub land were the results of successful watershed management interventions. Survey results showed that approximately 93.4% and 84.9% of respondents reported reduced soil erosion and deforestation, respectively. Further, the integrated watershed approach implemented in the area improved water availability, reduced dependency on single crops, and increased off-farm activity. Thus, scaling up an integrated watershed approach can enhance food security and protect natural resources.

Pineapple Cultivation in Uttar Pradesh Central Zone: Challenges and Opportunities

Pineapple cultivation in the central zone of Uttar Pradesh represents a dynamic agricultural endeavor, characterized by both challenges and opportunities. This abstract explores the unique factors that farmers face in this region, shedding light on the potential for this tropical fruit's growth and economic contribution. The central zone of Uttar Pradesh experiences a diverse climate, ranging from hot summers to cold winters. Pineapple, originally a tropical fruit, demands consistent warmth [1]. This climatic variability presents a significant challenge for pineapple growers, who must adapt their cultivation practices to ensure optimal growth and yields. Moreover, the soil quality in this region often falls short of the sandy loam and fertility requirements that pineapple plants thrive in [2]. Soil testing and enhancement become critical tasks for farmers looking to establish a suitable environment for pineapple cultivation. Pests and diseases further compound the challenges. Pineapple plants are susceptible to a range of issues, including mealybugs, aphids, and the dreaded fusarium wilt. Effective pest and disease management strategies are vital to maintaining healthy crop yields while minimizing the use of chemical pesticides [3]. Additionally, many farmers in the central zone may lack the requisite technical knowledge and skills needed for successful pineapple cultivation. Access to training and extension services, as well as modern farming practices, becomes essential to enhance agricultural techniques and overcome these challenges. On the flip side, there are significant opportunities awaiting pineapple growers in this region [4]. Pineapples are increasingly sought after for their unique flavor and nutritional value, creating a robust market demand in both local and national markets. Farmers have the potential to tap into this growing demand and enhance their income through pineapple cultivation. Furthermore, integrating pineapple cultivation into existing cropping systems offers an avenue for crop diversification, reducing dependency on a single crop and enhancing overall farm sustainability. Value addition through processing, such as converting pineapples into juice, jam, or canned fruit, allows farmers to expand their product range, increase shelf life, and reduce post-harvest losses [5]. Government support in the form of initiatives and subsidies designed to promote horticulture and agricultural diversification provides a crucial opportunity for pineapple growers to access financial and technical assistance.

Long-Term Maize Intercropping with Peanut and Phosphorus Application Maintains Sustainable Farmland Productivity by Improving Soil Aggregate Stability and P Availability

The intercropping of maize (Zea mays L.) and peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) (M||P) significantly enhances crop yield. In a long-term M||P field experiment with two P fertilizer levels, we examined how long-term M||P affects topsoil aggregate fractions and stability, organic carbon (SOC), available phosphorus (AP), and total phosphorus (TP) in each aggregate fraction, along with crop yields. Compared to their respective monocultures, long-term M||P substantially increased the proportion of topsoil mechanical macroaggregates (7.6–16.3%) and water-stable macroaggregates (>1 mm) (13.8–36.1%), while reducing the unstable aggregate index (ELT) and the percentage of aggregation destruction (PAD). M||P significantly boosted the concentration (12.9–39.9%) and contribution rate (4.1–47.9%) of SOC in macroaggregates compared to single crops. Moreover, the concentration of TP in macroaggregates (>1 mm) and AP in each aggregate fraction of M||P exceeded that of the respective single crops (p < 0.05). Furthermore, M||P significantly increased the Ca2-P, Ca8-P, Al-P, and Fe-P concentrations of intercropped maize (IM) and the Ca8-P, O-P, and Ca10-P concentrations of intercropped peanuts (IP). The land equivalent ratio (LER) of M||P was higher than one, and M||P stubble improved the yield of subsequent winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) compared with sole-crop maize stubble. P application augmented the concentration of SOC, TP, and AP in macroaggregates, resulting in improved crop yields. In conclusion, our findings suggest that long-term M||P combined with P application sustains farmland productivity in the North China Plain by increasing SOC and macroaggregate fractions, improving aggregate stability, and enhancing soil P availability.

Влияние температурного стресса на урожайность ячменя в Оренбуржье

Abstract. The purpose is to identify the potential yield of barley under the influence of temperature stress in conjunction with the prolonged action of mineral fertilizers and predecessors in the conditions of the steppe zone of the Southern Urals. Methods. The content of macroelements in the soil was determined: nitrate nitrogen – by the ionometric method according to Tyurin, mobile phosphorus according to Machigin, exchangeable potassium according to Maslova. Soil moisture was determined by the thermostatic-weight method. Mathematical processing of the obtained data was performed using the Statistica 12.0 program. Results. The experiment was carried out on two backgrounds of soil nutrition (with mineral fertilizers N40P80K40 and unfertilized). It was established that the growing season on average for 1993–2022 was warmer than the norm (19.1 °C) by 0.9 ± 1.6 °C, and in years with very strong aridity by 1.3 ± 1.7 °C. By harvesting barley in the dry years in a meter-long layer of soil, the consumption of soil moisture by the crop in the crop rotation increased by 21.0 %, with permanent cultivation by 31.8 %. The systematic introduction of mineral fertilizers under crop rotation increases their content in the soil and provides a prolonged effect. When cultivating barley in crop rotation, in severely dry years, potassium consumption increases for two backgrounds of nutrition (on a fertilized background up to 35.7 mg, on an unfertilized background up to 22.7 mg/kg), in single crops up to 3.4 and 17.4 mg/kg according to backgrounds. The average yield of barley over 30 years of research was 1.29–1.45 tons on a fertilized background, and 1.38–1.66 t/ha on an unfertilized background. Scientific novelty: with increased temperature stress and water deficit, over 18 very dry years, there was a noticeable decrease in barley yield in all variants of the experiment, especially single crops were most affected by drought, when crop yield on a fertilized background decreased by 0.45 tons, without fertilizer by 0, 38 t/ha.

Estimation of Crop-coefficients and Evapotranspiration of Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Using Lysimeter and Empirical Models under Temperate Climate

During Rabi 2020-21, a field experiment was conducted at SKUAST-K, Shalimar, India, focusing on field Pea (Pisum sativum L.). The aim of this study was to determine the water requirement and single crop coefficient (Kc) of pea using a lysimeter setup. Four empirical models were employed to calculate the reference evapotranspiration and were then compared with the actual crop evapotranspiration at different growth stages. The Kc values for field pea were 0.50, 0.80, 1.15, and 1.10 during the initial, development, mid-season and late season stages, respectively. The water requirement was found as 239.9 mm for the whole cropping period of the pea. Among the models, the Penman Montieth crop evapotranspiration model exhibited the closest agreement with the corresponding values obtained in the field through water balance study, yielding RMSE, RSR, and NSE values of 0.97, 9.5, and 11.6, respectively. These findings highlight the significance of using Penman Monteith crop evapotranspiration model for estimating crop evapotranspiration in temperate regions.

PSXIV-12 Evaluation of an Ensiled, Self-Fed Diet for Backgrounding Beef Cattle

Abstract Self-feeding of ensiled forages consists in allowing the animals to feed from the silo face through a physical barrier. Energy, protein, and mineral supplements are offered separately in free-choice portable feeders. Compared with offering a total mixed ration, the self-feeding system could result in differences in ensiled forage and supplement intake and may increase animal performance variability. Ensiling a complete diet may contribute to overcome these drawbacks. This study compared the performance of calves that consumed an ensiled backgrounding diet from a silo-bag face (self-feeding, SF) with that of calves fed a diet mixed and delivered daily in a feed bunk (TMR). A single forage sweet sorghum crop was harvested and bagged to be used in the TMR treatment, or harvested and added a dry supplement (45% finely-ground corn grain, 50% extruded soybean meal, and 5% vitamin-mineral premix without ionophore) during bagging, using an adjustable-discharge hopper mounted above the bagger’s packing rotor, to be used in the SF treatment. Regardless of treatment, the diet consisted of 61% forage sorghum and 39% dry supplement (DM basis; 9.9 and 11.6% CP, 42.3 and 43.8% NDF, and 9.8 and 9.5% starch for TMR and SF diets, respectively). Bagged feeds were allowed to ensile for 50 d before experiment began. Two hundred fifty-two, non-implanted Angus calves (224 ± 4.6 kg) were blocked by body weight (BW) and coat color resulting in 6 blocks and 1 pen/block per treatment with 12 or 30 animals per TMR or SF pen, respectively; more animals were required in the SF pens to maintain feed fresh and reduce spoilage, though BW was measured on 12 calves. Pens assigned to SF treatment were each equipped with a silo bag blocked off with an iron fence. The TMR animals were fed ad libitum once a day. In SF pens, feed was carved from the silo-bag face manually twice daily using a pitchfork onto a pile on the fence’s bag side. Cattle were fed for 70 d and held off feed and water for 16 h to record initial (day 1) and final BW (day 70). Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design. Rate of BW gain, DMI, and DMI relative to BW were greater (P < 0.01; Table 1) for SF calves compared with TMR, resulting in greater (P = 0.03) final BW but similar (P = 0.36) ADG:DMI. Coefficient of variation (CV) of final BW and ADG and the increase in CV of BW did not differ (P ≥ 0.93) between treatments. Similar feed efficiency and animal performance variability were achieved by feeding an ensiled ration offered in a self-feeding system or a traditional TMR. The former might represent a simple and feasible feeding alternative for small-size beef cattle operations.

Cover cropping promotes soil carbon sequestration by enhancing microaggregate-protected and mineral-associated carbon

Cover cropping can improve soil C sequestration compared to no cover cropping, but the mechanism of C sequestration in soil aggregates and minerals needs more exploration. We explored C sequestration using C fractions in soil aggregates and minerals by cover crops in a five-year old summer cover crop – winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation system at Changwu National Agroecology Experimental Station in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Three cover crops as soybean (Glycine max L., SB), sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf, SG), soybean and sudangrass mixture (SS) were planted during summer fallow and incorporated into the soil two weeks prior to wheat planting each year. Soil samples at 0–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm depths were collected at wheat harvest after 5-yr and analyzed for C fractions which were coarse particulate organic C (cPOC), intra-microaggregate fine particulate organic C (iPOC), free fine particulate organic C (fPOC), and mineral-associated organic C (MOC). The iPOC and MOC are considered as protected C against mineralization. Compared to no cover crop (CK), cover crops increased large macroaggregate proportion at 0–10 cm by 18–22 %, with SS having a greater mean-weight diameter (MWD) than other treatments. Cover crops had greater MOC, iPOC, and fPOC fractions than CK in most aggregate-size classes and the bulk soil at all depths, with SS having the greatest C fractions. The MOC was greater than any other C fractions, regardless of cover crop species. Cover cropping can enhance soil aggregation and C sequestration by increasing microaggregate-protected and mineral-associated C compared to no cover cropping, resulting in improved soil C stabilization. Cover crop mixture was more effective in promoting soil aggregate stability and C fractions than single cover crop species.

Whole-sediment toxicity bioassays with Hyalella curvispina as a valuable bioanalytical tool for assessing pesticide risks in watercourses with different types of agro-productive activities

The current Argentine agricultural production model is dependent on agrochemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. Extensive agriculture and horticulture are the two major productive activities that use copious amounts of pesticides. Extensive agriculture is characterized by areas of 50 to 100 ha of a single crop, while peri-urban horticulture is characterized by intense land use, with farms ranging from 1 to 3 ha cultivated with a variety of vegetables. Despite the relevance of pesticides, data on their effects on the biota associated with nearby watercourses are scarce. Given this paucity of knowledge, the objective of the present work was to assess the relative impact of extensive agriculture and horticulture on sediment quality in representative watercourses by conducting whole-sediment toxicity bioassays with the native amphipod Hyalella curvispina. The lower Gualeguay Basin, in the Province of Entre Ríos, was selected as a representative watercourse impacted by extensive agriculture, and the Carnaval Creek, on the periphery of La Plata, Province of Buenos Aires, was selected as a horticulture-impacted watercourse. Growth inhibition (sublethal effect) was observed in both systems, whereas mortality (lethal effect) was largely observed in horticulture. The observed effects were integrated with pesticide concentrations in the same sediments and correlated by multivariate analysis, revealing that toxicity was mainly due to insecticides, particularly λ-cyhalothrin. Therefore, horticultural practices and their associated pesticide use could potentially endanger the benthic fauna of nearby watercourses.

How to determine temporal yield variances of various cropping systems for modelling farmers’ production risk – Illustrated by results from a long-term field trial

When making choices among different cropping systems like conventional farming, organic farming or cropping systems without pesticides, but with mineral fertilizers, risk averse farmers will not only account for expected (i.e. average) farm income but also for income stability. The smaller the variance of a farm’s total contribution margin, the more stable is the income from a cropping system. The overall income variance can be calculated and included in quadratic risk programming models that apply the expected value-variance criterion when temporal (co-)variances of the contribution margins of the single crops are known. In this context, there is a lack in empirically well-founded approaches to identify the latter. Thus, taking a single farmer’s perspective, we first outline a way to derive temporal (co-)variances of contribution margins for crops grown at one location. Second, neglecting variances of crop prices and variable costs, we show for different cropping systems how to consistently estimate temporal crop yield (co-)variances based on available yield data from a long-term field trial by the Julius Kühn-Institut in Dahnsdorf (Germany). The four cropping systems were (b1) without fertilizer and pesticides; (b2) without fertilizer but with pesticides; (b3) with fertilizer but without pesticides; and (b4) with fertilizer and pesticides. For each system, we estimated a covariance matrix for yield data of winter rye, winter barley and pea grown from 1998 to 2021 using a mixed effects model. Moreover, we calculated means, standard deviations and coefficients of variation for the different crop yields. The size of the (co-)variances found is a valuable indicator for their order of magnitude to be used as input in quadratic risk programming with the intention of optimizing a cultivation program that accounts for individual farmers’ preferred levels of risk. Further, our statistical approach should be applied to other long-term field experiments to get deeper insights into average yield level and (co-)variance structures of crops grown in different cropping systems.

Use of intercropping and mulch to improve the water and natural resources use efficiencies of forage cactus and millet production in a semiarid region

1. CONTEXT - Improving the use of natural resources (e.g., water, nutrients, and radiation) within production systems under different technologies (mulch and intercropping) is fundamental to intensifying sustainable agriculture. 2. OBJECTIVE - The objective was to quantify the parameters of water consumption and the efficiency of using natural resources of forage cactus and millet under different technologies of crops in a semiarid environment. 3. METHODS - The forage cactus (clone Orelha de Elefante Mexicana) and millet (cv. IPA Bulk-1-BF) were evaluated to six cropping arrangements: single cactus with mulch (CWM), single cactus with no mulch (CNM), single millet with mulch (MWM), single millet with no mulch (MNM), a cactus-millet intercropping system with mulch (CMWM), and cactus-millet intercropping system with no mulch (CMNM). Data on crop growth, crop production, and soil moisture were collected, and the following were determined: crop evapotranspiration (ETc), crop transpiration (T), soil water evaporation (E), single crop coefficient (Kc), dual crop coefficient (Kcb and Ke), water use efficiency (WUE), nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and radiation use efficiency (RUE). Biological efficiency and competitive ability indicators were calculated for the intercropped systems. 4. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS - The ETc (mm day −1) was higher under MWM (4.69), MNM (3.60), and CMWM (3.81). There was little variation in the values of ETc, T, or E between CNM and CWM, unlike between MNM and MWM. Intercropping reduced E compared to the single crops of cactus (8%) and millet (58%). On average, Kc was higher under MWM (0.98), CWM (0.69), and CMWM, (0.88), compared to MNM (0.75), CNM (0.63), and CMNM (0.48). The intercrops were more efficient for WUE (44%) and RUE (2.28 g MJ −1), with no difference for NUE. It can be concluded that the cactus-millet intercropping system is a good alternative for more-resilient agriculture in semi-arid environments, especially when the use of mulch. 5. SIGNIFICANCE - The results of this study are significant for the management of water resources in the semi-arid region, as they favour knowledge of the water needs of these crops in different production systems, and how the adoption of technologies such as intercropping and mulching can improve efficiency in the use of available natural resources, compared to exclusive planting.

Exploitation of Wheat Genome through Triticale x Wheat Cross for Improvement and Identification of Large Anther

Triticale is a man-made cereal crop that combines the rye and wheat genome in a single crop. Rye is a cross pollinated cereal crop that has large anther size in comparison of wheat. To improve wheat anther size, cross with triticale is a noble practice to combine the A, B, D and R genome. In the current investigation wheat (AABBDD) were crossed with triticale (AABBRR) with the help of Ph suppressor Chinese Spring. Subsequently triticale wheat derivative lines populations were developed. The BC2F7 generations of the derived population were planted in alpha lattice design to further evaluation. With the help of fixative, the fresh spikes were collected from individual derivative lines to measure anther the size. The anther size was measured in millimeter by the help of ocular micrometer. Twenty-two triticale wheat derivative lines were identified with grater anther size in comparison of triticale anther. The TWD26 (5.7mm) has larger anther size followed by TWD18 (5.4mm) and TWD36 (5.3mm). These derivative lines may use as a donor parent in hybrid wheat breeding programme.

Agri-Fuse: A novel spatiotemporal fusion method designed for agricultural scenarios with diverse phenological changes

Images of key phenological periods play a vital role in agricultural applications as they capture the unique spectral characteristics of crops. Unfortunately, acquiring high-spatial-resolution images of the key phenological period from a single satellite platform remains challenging due to its short duration and synchronization with the rainy season. Spatiotemporal fusion (STF) is an effective tool for the prediction of missing high spatial resolution images on the required date, however, most STF methods assume a uniform relationship between the reflectance on the base date and the predicted date for the same land-cover type, which fails to hold in agricultural scenarios because of the diverse phenological changes among different crop types or different growth processes, even within a single crop type. To address these challenges, we propose a novel spatiotemporal fusion method for agricultural scenarios called Agri-Fuse. Agri-Fuse emphasizes change information and classifies change types based on the difference image derived from the fine image on the base date and the coarse image on the predicted date. Considering the various regression relationships between reflectance on the base date and the predicted date for different change types, a category-based linear regression model was built, and we introduced an unmixing model to solve these regression coefficients. We validated the performance of Agri-Fuse at two experimental sites where diverse phenological changes occurred during the key phenological periods of the same and different crop types. Compared to the four typical fusion methods (FSDAF, RASDF, STARFM, and Fit-FC), Agri-Fuse achieved the best performance in preserving both spectral fidelity and spatial details. Ablation experiments further confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed change-type classification and category-based regression in capturing diverse phenological change information. Thus, Agri-Fuse is expected to precisely reconstruct high-spatial-resolution images of key phenological periods necessary for agricultural applications.

Optimization of Irrigation of Wine Grapes with Brackish Water for Managing Soil Salinization

Water scarcity and quality are critical impediments to sustainable crop production. In this study, HYDRUS-2D was calibrated using field measurements of water contents and salinities in the soil under wine grapes irrigated with river water (Rw, 0.32 dS/m). The calibrated model was then used to evaluate the impact of (a) four different water qualities ranging from 0.32 (Rw) to 3.2 dS/m (brackish water, Gw) including blended (Mix) and monthly alternating (Alt) irrigation modes; (b) two rainfall conditions (normal and 20% below normal); and (c) two leaching options (with and without 30 mm spring leaching irrigation) during the 2017–2022 growing seasons. Irrigation water quality greatly impacted root water uptake (RWU) by wine grapes and other water balance components. Irrigation with brackish water reduced average RWU by 18.7% compared to river water. Irrigation with blended water or from alternating water sources reduced RWU by 8.8 and 7%, respectively. Relatively small (2.8–8.2%) average annual drainage (Dr) in different scenarios produced a very low (0.05–0.16) leaching fraction. Modeling scenarios showed a tremendous impact of water quality on the salts build-up in the soil. The average electrical conductivity of the saturated soil extract (ECe) increased three times with Gw irrigation compared to Rw (current practices). Blended and alternate irrigation scenarios showed a 21 and 28% reduction in ECe, respectively, compared to Gw. Irrigation water quality substantially impacted site-specific actual basal (Kcb act) and single (Kc act) crop coefficients of grapevine. Threshold leaching efficiency estimated in terms of the salt mass leached vs. added (LEs; kg/kg) for salinity control (LEs > 1) was achieved with LFs of 0.07, 0.12, 0.12, and 0.15 for the Rw, Mix, Alt, and Gw irrigations, respectively. Applying annual leaching irrigation (30 mm) before bud burst (spring) in the Mix and Alt with Rw and Gw scenarios was found to be the best strategy for managing irrigation-induced salinity in the root zone, lowering the ECe to levels comparable to irrigation with Rw. Modeling scenarios suggested that judicious use of water resources and continuous root zone monitoring could be key for salinity management under adverse climate and low water allocation conditions.

Legume-grass mixtures increase forage yield by improving soil quality in different ecological regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Information on the relationship between soil quality and forage yield of legume-grass mixtures in different ecological regions can guide decision-making to achieve eco-friendly and sustainable pasture production. This study's objective was to assess the effects of different cropping systems on soil physical properties, nitrogen fractions, enzyme activities, and forage yield and determine suitable legume-grass mixtures for different ecoregions. Oats (Avena sativa L.), forage peas (Pisum sativum L.), common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), and fava beans (Vicia faba L.) were grown in monocultures and mixtures (YS: oats and forage peas; YJ: oats and common vetch; YC: oats and fava beans) in three ecological regions (HZ: Huangshui Valley; GN: Sanjiangyuan District; MY: Qilian Mountains Basin) in a split-plot design. The results showed that the forage yield decreased with increasing altitude, with an order of GN (3203 m a.s.l.; YH 8.89 t·ha-1) < HZ (2661 m; YH 9.38 t·ha-1) < MY (2513m; YH 9.78 t·ha-1). Meanwhile, the forage yield was higher for mixed crops than for single crops in all ecological regions. In the 0-10 cm soil layer, the contents of total nitrogen (TN), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), soil organic matter (SOM), soluble organic nitrogen (SON), urease (UE), nitrate reductase (NR), sucrase (SC), and bacterial community alpha diversity, as well as relative abundance of dominant bacteria, were higher for mixed crops than for oats unicast. In addition, soil physical properties, nitrogen fractions, and enzyme activities varied in a wider range in the 0-10 cm soil layer than in the 10-20 cm layer, with larger values in the surface layer than in the subsurface layer. MBN, SON, UE, SC and catalase (CAT) were significantly and positively correlated with forage yield (P < 0.05). Ammonium nitrogen (ANN), nitrate nitrogen (NN), SOM and cropping systems (R) were significantly and positively correlated with Shannon and bacterial community (P < 0.05). The highest yields in the three ecological regions were 13.00 t·ha-1 for YS in MY, 10.59 t·ha-1 for YC in GN, and 10.63 t·ha-1 for YS in HZ. We recommend planting oats and forage peas in the Qilian Mountains Basin, oats and fava beans in the Sanjiangyuan District, and oats and forage peas in Huangshui valley. Our results provide new insights into eco-friendly, sustainable, and cost-effective forage production in the Qinghai Alpine Region in China.

Influence of cover cropping and conservation tillage on weeds during the critical period for weed control in soybean

AbstractLimited research has been directed at evaluating the ability of single cover crop plantings to suppress weeds in crops beyond the initial field season. Thus, this experiment was conducted to investigate the ability of a second-year self-regenerated annual and second-year perennial cover crop planting to suppress weeds during the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in soybean crops. Whole-plot treatments included 1) conventional till, 2) no-till with cover crop residue, 3) living mulch + cover crop residue, and 4) living mulch + winter-killed residue. Subplot treatments involved weed management intensity: a) no weed management (weedy), b) weeds manually removed through the CPWC (third node soybean stage; V3), and c) weeds manually removed until soybean canopy closure (weed-free). Overall, total annual cover crop biomass during the second field season was comparable to biomass obtained from direct seeded stands during the initial field season. All cover crop treatments reduced total weed biomass through the CPWC compared to conventional till. Soybean yield was low across all treatments in this experiment. Still, yield was similar between cover crop and conventional till treatments at one site-year, however, yields were lower in all cover crop treatments at the other site-year.

Potentially significant amounts of sulfate‐S found in phosphorus fertilizers

Core Ideas Phosphorus fertilizers contain sulfate‐sulfur (SO4‐S). SO4‐S concentration decreased in the order monoammonium phosphate &gt; diammonium phosphate &gt; triple superphosphate. Liquid ammonium polyphosphate fertilizer contained less SO4‐S than granular P sources. Sulfur applied in granular P fertilizers in some situations can be as much as half of grain S removal. Sulfur applied in P fertilizers should be considered in crop S fertilization needs and cycling in the environment.

Total Carbon and Nitrogen and Granulometric Fractions of Soil Organic Matter Under No-Till System and Conventional Tillage with Onion Cultivation

Objective: The objective of this work was to evaluate the total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents and the granulometric fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) under different management systems with single and intercropped winter cover crops in the cultivation of onion in Ituporanga, SC. Theoretical framework: Onion cultivation typically occurs in a conventional tillage system (CTC), which favors the loss of C and N from the soil due to soil mobilization. The vegetable no-tillage system (VNTS) uses sustainable practices with continuous soil cover and restricted soil tillage, promoting improvement of edaphic attributes. Methodology: The experiment was implemented in 2009 and the collection of soil samples took place in 2019 in the layers of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-30 cm in the treatments under VNTS, being black oat (AV); rye (CE); oilseed radish (NB); rye + radish (CE+NB); black oat + oilseed radish (AV+NB) and spontaneous vegetation (VE). In addition to these treatments, two adjacent areas were used, one under CTS and the other in a secondary forest area (MATA). The content of total organic C (TOC), total N (NT), light organic matter in water (LOM), particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate nitrogen (PN), C associated with minerals (COam) and N associated with to minerals (NAM). Results and conclusions: VNTS increased TOC and NT contents with the use of grass and cruciferous intercropping to the detriment of single crops and CTS. The LOM content was higher in VNTS with the use of single grasses and stood out in relation to VNTS with consortium. There were no differences for PN between MATA, CE and CE+NB, demonstrating that VNTS is efficient in raising these levels in substitution of CTS. The CE+NB consortium increased the levels of COam and NAM in the surface layer of the soil after replacing CTS with VNTS. Research implications: In VNTS, the use of intercropping between cover crops is an efficient management in adding C and N to the soil, as the simultaneous cultivation of different species of cover crops produces straw with an intermediate C/N ratio, the roots exploit different soil extracts and nutrient cycling is more efficient. Originality/Value: The results of this study are from a long-term experiment (10 years), which demonstrates the effectiveness of VNTS in recovering and increasing C and N levels in soil previously cultivated for a long period in the CTS, in addition to to match the forest area.

Soil Carbon and Biochemical Indicators of Soil Quality as Affected by Different Conservation Agricultural and Weed Management Options

Burning of agricultural residues, cultivation of single crop varieties such as rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and traditional soil tillage practices collectively contribute to the degradation of environmental quality, water systems, and soil resources. To address these issues, conservation agriculture (CA)-based crop management practice has emerged as one of the viable options. The current study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the effect of CA and weed management (WM) practices on carbon dynamics and biochemical properties of soil. The experiment included two factors, viz., CA and WM practices. The CA levels vary from conventional agriculture to partial CA (pCA1, pCA2, and pCA3) and full CA, while WM had three levels consisting of chemical control, integrated weed management, and weedy check. The results demonstrated that soil organic carbon (SOC) under the full CA treatment, was 30.6, 23.5, and 20.6 percent higher than conventional agriculture (T1), partial CA1, and partial CA2 practices, respectively. Similarly, labile fractions of carbon, KMnO4-C MBC, WSOC, and POC, in full CA increased by 46.3, 52.3, 152.4, and 15.6 percent, respectively, over conventional agriculture. Nonetheless, the total organic carbon exhibited no significant impact. The highest SOC stock was sequestered under full CA treatment, which was higher by 26.5 to 40.6 per cent than the rest of the CA treatments. Among biological properties, full CA resulted in 104.3 and 40.6 percent higher dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activity than conventional agriculture. The impact of weed management practices was significant for KMnO4-C, with very labile carbon and alkaline phosphatase activity only in the surface soil layer. Soil quality index (SQI) followed the decreasing order as full CA (0.94) &gt; partial CA3 (0.88) &gt; partial CA2 (0.78) partial CA1 (0.77) &gt; conventional agriculture (0.67) under different CA treatments, whereas WM followed herbicide (0.82) &gt; weedy check (0.81) &gt; IWM (0.80). The current study offered incredible information on soil carbon and biological indicators to monitor soil quality changes in rice–wheat cropping systems in response to conservation agriculture practices.

A Review on Soil and Phytomicrobiome for Plant Disease Management

Pests and pathogens significantly reduce crop yields and cost the global economy USD 540 billion annually. The phytomicrobiome is becoming a cornerstone of a comprehensive rethink of agricultural management practices, with microbiome-assisted plant breeding focusing on three principles: minimal soil disturbance, continuous soil cover with crops, cover crops, or a mulch of crop residues, and crop rotation. Plant diseases, phytomicrobiomes, and agricultural practices can all affect plant health. Conservational agricultural practices like minimum tillage and no-tillage have been implemented to reduce anthropogenic activity and preserve microbial diversity. Mulching is a common practice in agriculture to stop moisture loss, maintain soil temperature, control weed growth, and stop soil erosion. Monoculture farming is the practice of cultivating a single crop continuously over several growing seasons on the same field. Intercropping systems encourage the growth of beneficial fungi, such as mycorrhiza, endophytes, saprophytes, decomposers, and bioprotective fungi, and can benefit forest ecosystems by creating disease-suppressive soils. By combining conservation tillage and crop rotation, farmers can reduce disease pressure by disrupting the life cycles of soil-borne pathogens linked to particular crops or genotypes. Composed manure and plant residues can control plant pathogens like Pythium, but the effect is thought to be due to microbial competition or plant host resistance. Green manure can control plant diseases brought on by pathogens in Rhizoctonia, Verticillium, Sclerotinia, Phythophthora, Pythium, Aphanomyces, and Macrophomina, but manure-derived fertilizers may contain antibiotic resistance genes and mobilomes, which could pose risks to both human and animal health. Climate change impacts crop yields by reducing crop physiology and productivity, increasing pathogen diversity, and affecting pathogen genetic traits and speciation. The state of the environment and the availability of suitable hosts significantly impact the ability of these pathogens to survive and spread. However, PGPRs are unpredictable and soil warming can interfere with their effectiveness. Interdisciplinary collaborations between plant biologists, microbiologists, climatologists, and agronomists are required to create effective strategies to reduce the effects of climate change on plant health, crop production, and ecosystem stability.

The Energy and Environmental Evaluation of Maize, Hemp and Faba Bean Multi-Crops

Agriculture uses a lot of fuel, fertilizers, pesticides and other substances, while emitting large amounts of GHGs. It is important to optimize these inputs and outputs. One such way is by increasing crop biodiversity. For this reason, single crops and mixtures of maize, hemp and faba bean as binary and ternary crops were investigated at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania. The results showed that consumption of diesel fuel was 31–46% higher than in single and 22–35% higher than in binary cultivations was found in a ternary crop. This had influence on the highest energy input of near twice higher than in maize and hemp single crops and maize+hemp binary crop, but similar with binary crops with faba bean. Despite this, the productivity of the ternary crop and, at the same time, the energy output were 2–5 times higher than in other treatments. This compensated for higher energy inputs and the energy efficiency ratio. In the ternary crop, energy productivity was from 1.1 to 2.8 times higher and net energy was 1.9–5.3 times higher than in other tested cultivations. The highest total GHG emissions were obtained in binary maize+hemp and maize+faba bean cultivations (1729.84 and 2067.33 CO2eq ha−1). Ternary cultivation with the highest energy inputs initiated average GHG emissions of 1541.90 kg ha−1 CO2eq. For higher efficiency, the ternary crop could be sown and harvested in one machine pass. Faba beans should be included in ternary crops, as their biomass makes up a significant part of the total biomass produced. We recommend reviewing the intercropped faba bean seeding rates, as faba bean seeds have a high energy input equivalent.