Sustainable Agricultural Production Research Articles

Innovative fertilizers with added plant extracts in the cultivation of Valeriana officinalis and Raphanus sativus and in the control of Botrytis and powdery mildew

Research objective: The main objective of this article is to report the results obtained from the use of innovative fertilisers with added plant extracts in agriculture. In particular, this article will deal with two important topics: i) study of the effect of innovative fertilisers on the biomass of vegetable plants; ii) possible control on mortality due to diseases such as Botrytis and powdery mildew. The information reported in this research work can support the design of cultivation systems in which agricultural sustainability is fundamental due to the presence of plant extracts as an alternative to synthetic plant protection products. Materials and Methods: The plants were grown in pots under controlled conditions; 30 seedlings per thesis, divided into 3 replications of 10 plants each, were planted in early January 2024. The plants used in the trial were Valeriana officinalis L. and Raphanus sativus. The five experimental groups in cultivation were: i) group control, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate; ii) group with Aktigen, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week); iii) group with Lifegen, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week); iv) group with QI-gen, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week); v) Group with Ecklonia maxima (EK): (peat 70% + pumice 20%), irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week). On 5 May 2024, plant height, number of leaves, primary root length (mm), biomass of the aerial and root system, and number of dead plants (Botrytis and powdery mildew) were recorded. Results and Discussion: The experiment showed that the use of innovative fertilisers enriched with plant extracts can indeed significantly improve the vegetative and root growth of Valeriana officinalis L. and Raphanus sativus. All treatments showed a significant improvement over the untreated control and the commercial Ecklonia maxima treatment for the agronomic parameters analysed, but the Qi-gen treatment was significantly the best for increasing vegetative and root biomass. Improvements were also found in plant height, leaf number and root length. The trial also revealed the significant effect on Botrytis control of the product Aktigen and on powdery mildew of the product Lifegen, in fact they reduced the mortality of Valeriana officinalis and Raphanus sativus seedlings. Conclusions: A number of scientific studies have shown that the application of biofertilizers can improve plant growth, productivity, quality, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Because of their multiple properties, they have become increasingly important as advanced agricultural techniques in global agriculture. This type of product, which includes natural substances, will contribute significantly to ecologically and economically sustainable agricultural production systems in the coming years, as well as serving as the foundation for large-scale sustainable agriculture in the future.

Adapting to diversified garlic-maize rotation systems by adjusting nitrogen application: Assessing crop yield, nitrogen utilization, and nitrogen footprint

Diversified crop rotation is crucial for maintaining sustainable agricultural production by improving resource use efficiency, balancing soil nutrients, and preserving biodiversity. Despite these benefits, there is a notable gap in research concerning the nutrient transport characteristics in cash crop-grain rotation systems. This study was to investigate: (i) the nitrogen (N) uptake and distribution among the different plant organs in rotation crops; (ii) the N footprint in different growth seasons in response to crop N fertilization and residual N in the soil; and (iii) the influence of environmental factors on the productivity and N footprint in cash-grain rotation systems. In the three-year rotation system, N fertilizer was applied at the rates of 220, 175, and 130 kg N eq ha−1 for maize, and 300 and 240 kg N eq ha−1 for garlic. Results showed that maintaining a high N application rate during the garlic season and appropriately reducing it during the maize season (G300M175) enhanced N transfer to the grains of maize, increasing maize N use efficiency by 18.9%, while simultaneously increasing garlic dry matter and N accumulation. While the maize yield remained stable, garlic yield decreased with the reduced N rate, resulting in a significant reduction in N footprint. Water supplies (precipitation and irrigation) positively impacted dry matter accumulation, N absorption and yield, while reducing N footprint in both crops. Elevated air temperature favored maize yield but hindered garlic production and raised garlic N footprint. Although N fertilizer increased N footprint per unit land area (NFa), it decreased the N footprint per unit N uptake by crops (NFn) while boosting crop yields. Maintaining a suitable N input rate for cash crops in previous season while reducing N input in the following season staple crops can enhance the whole systems’ productivity while decreasing the nitrogen footprint.

Effect of Flowering Strips in Associated Broccoli and Lettuce Crops on Increasing Land Use Efficiency

Diversifying agroecosystems enhance the sustainability of agricultural production and reduce input dependency during agroecological transitions. To achieve this objective, a study was conducted to assess the impact of intercropping and the introduction of flowering plant strips on land use efficiency and crop damage in a lettuce and broccoli association. The results indicated that the introduction of flowering plant strips alone led to a significant increase in land use efficiency, while intercropping alone did not have any such effect. The efficiency was measured using the land use equivalent ratio (LER), which consistently showed values greater than 1, suggesting a significant increase in efficiency. It should be noted that the presence of flower strips in the crop fields were found to increase the incidence of molluscs and Plutella xyllostella. Additionally, the competitive ratio analysis revealed that broccoli was more competitive than lettuce in the intercropping system. Therefore, farmers can increase the efficiency of land use and profitability by incorporating flower strips in the intercropping systems of broccoli and lettuce.

Multi-disciplinary strategy to optimize irrigation efficiency in irrigated agriculture

Equilibrium among water, food, energy, and climate actions is necessary for life to exist, quality, and sustainability. This article explored how to ensure sustainability, and equilibrium in the irrigation processes by proposing irrigation equilibrium indicators (IEIs) for sustainable irrigated agriculture (SIA). The primary purpose of IEIs is to achieve a state of sustainable climate and environmental balance. The pressures driving agriculture and irrigation professionals to enhance the irrigation scheme performance are tremendous in all agricultural communities. Monitoring, assessment, and improvement of agriculture practices and irrigation schemes for enhancing the Climate, water, food, and energy (CWFE) nexus is a must. As an auspicious climate action, IEIs were developed to enhance the irrigation scheme’s efficiency, within the scope of SIA. Subsequently, water, agricultural, food, and energy productivity could be optimized. Then, the appropriate equilibrium indicators could identify the actual performance of the CWFE nexus as a whole and the performance of each component. The effective irrigation scheme is the backbone of SIA. IEIs could measure the degree of achieving the overall and specific objectives and designated irrigation processes. The ultimate measure of equilibrium is optimizing sustainable agricultural yields and productivity, ensuring environmental balance, strengthening life quality, and maximizing economic returns.

Evaluating Land Suitability for Wheat Cultivation Criteria Analysis Fuzzy-AHP and Geospatial Techniques in Northern Basrah Governorate.

Land suitability assessment is essential for planned land management strategies aimed at preserving soil and increasing productivity while ensuring sustainable agricultural production. Land degradation resulting from poor land management and fallowing practices typically leads to low land productivity in Iraq. To maintain agricultural productivity in the targeted area, agricultural requirements must align with available resources through land suitability analysis. In the northern region of Basrah Governorate in Iraq, the study focused on integrating GIS-based land suitability analysis with the fuzzy-analytical hierarchy process (F-AHP) approach. The analysis revealed varying suitability categories throughout the study area, with the largest proportion of unsuitable areas found in category N2, covering 31,202.36 hectares (37.76%), and category N1, currently unsuitable, covering an area of 19,956.24 hectares (24.15%). On the other hand, the moderately suitable category (S3) covered 8,297.26 hectares (10.04%), while the moderately suitable category (S2) covered 23,177.79 hectares (28.05%) of the total study area. No highly suitable lands were identified. The key determining factors for the suitability of lands for wheat cultivation were high values of electrical conductivity, carbonate minerals, bulk density, and low organic carbon content. Most agricultural lands are being used in a manner that contradicts their suitable potentials in the study area. Therefore, the pattern of agricultural land use needs to be adjusted based on their current potentials to reduce soil degradation.

Landscape-Scale Biodiversity Impacts Analysis of Côte d'Ivoire's Cocoa Cultivation along Export Supply Chains.

Agricultural land use for export commodities leads to significant biodiversity impacts. A spatially detailed assessment of these impacts is crucial for implementing effective mitigation policies. Using cocoa cultivation and exports in Côte d'Ivoire as an example, we present a novel framework that combines earth observations, enhanced landscape-scale biodiversity models, and subnational export supply chain data sets to track the tele-connected potential biodiversity impacts of export groups and importing countries. We found that cocoa cultivation accounts for ∼44% of the biodiversity impacts in Côte d'Ivoire's cocoa cultivation areas, with >90% attributable to cocoa exports. The top 10 importing countries account for ∼84% of these impacts. Our method offers improved spatial detail compared to the existing approaches, facilitating the identification of biodiversity impact hotspots. Additionally, the biodiversity impacts of agroforestry cocoa are not always lower compared to full-sun cocoa, especially when agroforestry systems are established in regions of high biodiversity importance. Our transferable framework provides a comprehensive understanding of biodiversity footprint and promotes informed decision-making for sustainable agricultural production, processing, and trade. Our framework's application is currently constrained by the scarcity of detailed supply chain data sets; we underscore the urgent need for improved supply chain transparency to fully unlock the framework's potential.

Farmers’ Participation in Climate Smart Agriculture Initiatives and Adoption Decisions in the Arsi and East Shewa Zones of Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Climate change is a major challenge to sustainable agricultural production in the world. The intricacy of the problem requires farmers’ compliance with regenerative agricultural practices that can facilitate the conservation of fragile productive systems while sustaining their productivity. Accordingly, various climate change management strategies have been promoted in Ethiopia. This paper analyzed farmers’ participation in CSA practices and the determinants of adoption in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. The data were collected during the 2020 cropping season from 420 randomly selected farmers in the Arsi (highland) and East Shewa (lowland) zones of the Oromia region. The data was analyzed with descriptive and Logit regression. The results showed that of the total thirteen climate-smart agricultural practices that were assessed, about 6 and 4 were adopted by more than 50% of the farmers in the highland and lowland, respectively. Also, 21.0% and 42.4% of respondents from highland and lowland respectively participated in CSA programs or projects. Moreover, 35.5% and 34.8% of the highland and lowland agroecology farmers respectively adopted some CSA after project participation. In highland agroecology, crop rotation, crop residual management, crop diversification, and intercropping were the mostly used practices, while crop rotation, adjustment of planting time, minimum tillage, and planning of drought-resistant varieties were mostly used by lowland agroecology farmers. Moreover, logistic regression results reveal that CSA adoption is influenced by age, education, gender, family size, credit support, experience, extension support, non-agricultural income, and livestock holding. It was concluded that adoption of CSA was low, and promotion of extension support and CSA participation experiences will facilitate adoption of some CSA practices. More importantly, extension support should focus on CSA practices that were widely used by the farmers. Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. Vol. 11, No. 1, April 2024: 79-91

Ameliorating saline‐sodic soils: A global meta‐analysis of field studies on the influence of exogenous amendments on crop yield

AbstractAs the demand for food continues to rise, soil salinization and sodification pose an increasingly pressing challenge. Currently, there is a knowledge gap regarding how to effectively improve saline‐sodic soils to support sustainable agricultural production, especially the lack of systematic analysis on the effects of different amendments at a global scale. To address this gap, this study aims to explore the feasibility of using exogenous amendments to ameliorate saline‐sodic soils, conducting a global‐scale meta‐analysis based on 685 data pairs from 70 published studies. Our results showed that applying amendments to saline‐sodic soils significantly reduced electrical conductivity of saturated paste extract (ECe) by 33.0% and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) by 44.6%, while simultaneously increasing crop yield by 50.7%. Heterogeneity analysis further unveiled significant variations (p < 0.05) in the overall effect size, driven by factors such as initial soil properties (salinity and ESP levels), amendment type, climate and practical management conditions (application dose and experimental duration). The categorical variable analysis showed that, compared to soils with other salinization levels, the application of amendments in severe salinization soils was most effective in reducing soil ECe and enhancing crop yield. Considering the goals of mitigating soil salinity, sodicity, and increasing crop yield, the study suggests the application of mixed‐type amendments in practical settings. It is noteworthy that while extremely high doses (greater than 40 t ha−1) effectively increased crop yield, they also posed a risk of salt accumulation. In conclusion, this research offers critical insights for sustainable agriculture, guiding future work on soil health and food security in the context of global environmental challenges.

The importance of sustainable practices and whole foods in Brazilian schools

This review article analyzes the importance of sustainable practices and whole foods in Brazilian schools. The qualitative data was collected from articles corresponding to the years 2018 to 2022, through access to: SCIELO, CAPES journal portal and the BDTD (Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations) under the criteria: national and complete publications, and with the themes: (i) integral use of food; (ii) existence of the practice and incidences in the consumption of food in its entirety; (iii) investigation of the importance of sustainability and its implication today. Of the 23 articles, 14 were selected, with consultations on laws for discussion and analysis. The aim is to highlight the provocation and promotion of healthy food consumption. School communities provide food as one of the premises for forming healthy eating habits. Therefore, the SDGs: 2, 4 and 12 - zero hunger and sustainable agriculture, quality education and responsible consumption and production - are correlated with situations in which school meals reflect on food waste.

Design of intelligent agricultural landscape planning and ecological balance control system based on remote sensing images

Abstract With the modernization of agricultural production and the acceleration of urbanization, agricultural landscape planning and ecological balance control have become important issues in promoting sustainable development. Traditional agricultural production methods have problems such as resource waste, environmental pollution, and ecological damage. This article aimed to achieve scientific planning and management of agricultural landscapes, and promote the efficiency of agricultural production, rational utilization of resources, and protection of the ecological environment, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural development. This study first focused on denoising and feature extraction of agricultural remote sensing data images, using remote sensing technology to obtain agricultural landscape information. After that, artificial intelligence was adopted to achieve intelligent agricultural landscape planning, with the goal of maintaining ecological balance and promoting efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable agricultural production. This study took the landscape of a certain city as an example to test the processing effect of remote sensing images, and it was proved that the effect was good. We tested the performance of an intelligent agricultural landscape planning and ecological balance control system based on remote sensing images. According to the experimental results, it can be concluded that the resource utilization efficiency of farmland A monitored by the intelligent agricultural landscape planning system using remote sensing image technology was 82%, while the traditional one was only 60%. This indicated that the collection effect of remote sensing image technology was much better than that of traditional technology. This article comprehensively and timely monitored and evaluated farmland through remote sensing image technology, including crop growth status, soil moisture, nutritional status, etc. The system can provide precise planting and management suggestions for farmers based on this information, and help them optimize farmland layout, crop selection, and irrigation management, thereby improving the production efficiency of farmland and crop yield.

Irrigation Practices and Their Effects on Soil Quality and Soil Characteristics in Arid Lands: A Comprehensive Geomatic Analysis

Comprehension of the long-term effects of irrigation on basic soil characteristics and quality is essential for sustainable land management and agricultural production, particularly in arid regions where water availability is limited. This study aimed to investigate long-term irrigation effects on soil quality, soil organic carbon (SOC), and nitrogen (N) stocks in the arid lands of Egypt. Seventy soil samples were collected and analyzed to determine various soil properties. A soil quality index (SQI), SOC, and N stocks were computed. ANOVA and PCA analyses were used to identify significant differences between alluvial soils in the southwest part of the investigated area and coastal marine soils in the northeast of the study area. The results demonstrated that most of the studied soil parameters had significantly greater values in alluvial compared to coastal marine soils. Long-term irrigation led to an 8.00% increase in SOC and 7.22% increase in N stocks compared to coastal marine soils production. Furthermore, a 39.53% increase was found in the SQI upon long-term irrigation practice. These results suggest that shifting from rain-fed in coastal marine areas to irrigated production systems in alluvial fields can improve soil quality, SOC, and N stocks. Therefore, further studies are required to investigate the impact of additional factors, such as irrigation method and salinity status of sub-surface soil layers, to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainable land use.

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Alleviate Salt Stress in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) by Adjusting Na+/K+ Ratio and Antioxidative Ability.

Soil salinization poses a threat to the sustainability of agricultural production and has become a global issue. Cotton is an important cash crop and plays an important role in economic development. Salt stress has been harming the yield and quality of many crops, including cotton, for many years. In recent years, soil salinization has been increasing. It is crucial to study the mechanism of cotton salt tolerance and explore diversified materials and methods to alleviate the salt stress of cotton for the development of the cotton industry. Nanoparticles (NPs) are an effective means to alleviate salt stress. In this study, zinc oxide NPs (ZnO NPs) were sprayed on cotton leaves with the aim of investigating the intrinsic mechanism of NPs to alleviate salt stress in cotton. The results show that the foliar spraying of ZnO NPs significantly alleviated the negative effects of salt stress on hydroponic cotton seedlings, including the improvement of above-ground and root dry and fresh weight, leaf area, seedling height, and stem diameter. In addition, ZnO NPs can significantly improve the salt-induced oxidative stress by reducing the levels of MDA, H2O2, and O2- and increasing the activities of major antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, RNA-seq showed that the foliar spraying of ZnO NPs could induce the expressions of CNGC, NHX2, AHA3, HAK17, and other genes, and reduce the expression of SKOR, combined with the CBL-CIPK pathway, which alleviated the toxic effect of excessive Na+ and reduced the loss of excessive K+ so that the Na+/K+ ratio was stabilized. In summary, our results indicate that the foliar application of ZnO NPs can alleviate high salt stress in cotton by adjusting the Na+/K+ ratio and regulating antioxidative ability. This provides a new strategy for alleviating the salt stress of cotton and other crops, which is conducive to the development of agriculture.

Policy support strategies for organic farming extensification in Nigeria

AbstractTo achieve a more sustainable agricultural production system, the focus should extend beyond solely promoting the adoption of organic farming to include an emphasis on extensification. A synergistic approach involving Branding/informal certification, price premiums for organic produce, and government subsidies holds the potential to drive higher levels of organic farming extensification among smallholder producers. This study encompassed 415 organic growers engaged in varying degrees of organic farming. These participants were drawn from the Southeast region of Nigeria. Employing a multi-endogenous instrumental variable regression, the research uncovered compelling insights. Notably, it revealed that providing premiums for organic products and utilizing Branding or informal certification significantly supported growers' inclination to expanding the land area under organic agriculture. Conversely, government subsidies exhibited a negative influence on extensification rates. In light of these findings, it becomes imperative to envision a more robust future for organic farming in Nigeria that hinges on strategic investments in formal certifications, thereby facilitating enhanced integration of organic producers into larger domestic and global markets.

A 30 m annual cropland dataset of China from 1986 to 2021

A 30 m annual cropland dataset of China from 1986 to 2021

Baccharis essential oils from the Atlantic Forest as sources of natural pesticides

Substances derived from bioactive plants of the Atlantic Forest can potentially be used for agricultural pest control, with fewer environmental consequences than other measures. Baccharis species present several biological properties, including insecticidal action. The present study aimed to characterize and evaluate the insecticidal activity of the following essential oils (EOs) obtained from native species of the Atlantic Forest: Baccharis articulata (Lam.) Pers., Baccharis calvescens DC., and Baccharis milleflora (Less.) DC. (Asteraceae), the last two of which are endemic to Brazil. EOs were obtained by steam extraction in a vat for 3 h, and the constituents were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Insecticidal activity was evaluated against Anticarsia gemmatalis, Sitophilus oryzae, Sitophilus zeamais, and Lucilia cuprina. A total of 7, 16, and 27 compounds were identified in EO samples from B. articulata, B. calvescens, and B. milleflora, respectively. All EOs caused 100 % mortality to A. gemmatalis, and 76.67 %, 98.33 %, and 95 % mortality to L. cuprina using EOs of B. milleflora, B. calvescens, and B. articulata, respectively. Only B. articulata caused mortality greater than 80 % to S. zeamais (83.88 %) and S. oryzae (86.03 %) by fumigation. The present study provides information on the use of EOs from Baccharis species as natural alternative substances to chemical pesticides, contributing to more sustainable production in Brazilian agriculture.

Perspectives on improving photosynthesis to increase crop yield.

Improving photosynthesis, the fundamental process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, is a key area of research with great potential for enhancing sustainable agricultural productivity and addressing global food security challenges. This perspective delves into the latest advancements and approaches aimed at optimizing photosynthetic efficiency. Our discussion encompasses the entire process, beginning with light harvesting and its regulation and progressing through the bottleneck of electron transfer. We then delve into the carbon reactions of photosynthesis, focusing on strategies targeting the enzymes of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle. Additionally, we explore methods to increase CO2 concentration near the Rubisco, the enzyme responsible for the first step of CBB cycle, drawing inspiration from various photosynthetic organisms, and conclude this section by examining ways to enhance CO2 delivery into leaves. Moving beyond individual processes, we discuss two approaches to identifying key targets for photosynthesis improvement: systems modeling and the study of natural variation. Finally, we revisit some of the strategies mentioned above to provide a holistic view of the improvements, analyzing their impact on nitrogen use efficiency and on canopy photosynthesis.

Integrated assessment of irrigation and agriculture management challenges in Nepal: An interdisciplinary perspective

Agriculture plays a critical role in ensuring food and nutrition security, livelihood, and rural employment in Nepal. Despite substantial investments and institutional reforms, irrigation projects have faced consistently low performance. While existing studies have shed light on technical aspects of irrigation performance, they often focus on specific themes rather than holistic evaluations of sustainability. This research systematically assesses barriers and challenges to effective irrigation water management in Nepal by assessing and ranking the challenges faced by three irrigation systems located in western Nepal: Mahakali, Rani Jamara Kulariya, and Babai. To investigate these challenges, we collected data from 449 households, which provided insights into 33 indicators representing key barriers to effective irrigation and agricultural management. The identified challenges were categorized into four broad thematic areas: physical and structural, agricultural and water, socioeconomic and market, and gender and governance. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted to compare these challenges among the three irrigation schemes, different thematic areas, and various locations within each scheme (namely, the head, mid, and tail sections of the system). The findings revealed that timely access and availability of fertilizers, spring water availability and fair market prices of agricultural products are the most significant challenges. The Babai irrigation system faced the most substantial challenges among the three systems, particularly in the middle section. These findings emphasize the interconnectedness of these challenges, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to planning, implementation, and management. Integrated strategies are essential to address socioeconomic, market, and endogenous farming issues, ensuring reliable irrigation water availability for sustainable agricultural production.

Unveiling Environmental Influences on Sustainable Fertilizer Production through Insect Farming

Entomocomposting is fast and environmentally friendly, boosts soil quality and crop production, and improves resilience to climate change. The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) catalyze the composting process, but their efficiency is highly influenced by environmental factors and the quality of the substrate. This study employs response surface methodology to discern physical–chemical factors that influence the nutrient quality of BSF frass fertilizer. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors were deployed to monitor in real-time both independent variables (air temperature, moisture content, humidity, and substrate temperature) and dependent variables (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium); the data were relayed to the cloud. A non-linear regression model was used to study the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Results showed that air humidity and air temperature did not have a significant effect on nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation in frass fertilizer, respectively, but phosphorus was significantly influenced by air humidity. On the other hand, neither air temperature nor moisture content has a significant effect on potassium concentration in frass fertilizer. We found that an air temperature of 30 °C and 41.5 °C, substrate temperature of 32.5 °C and 35 °C, moisture content between 70 and 80%, and relative humidity beyond 38% can be conducive for the production of high-quality BSF frass fertilizer. Model validation results showed better robustness of prediction with R2 values of 63–77%, and Radj2 values of 62–76% for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Our findings highlight the potential for the application of digital tools as a fast and cost-effective decision support system to optimize insect farming for the production of high-quality frass fertilizer for use in sustainable agriculture and crop production.

Assessment of Performance in Cereal Fodder Crops with Relation to Seeding Rates and Cutting Stages

Cereal fodder crops serve as indispensable sources of nutrition for livestock, contributing significantly to the efficiency and sustainability of animal production systems worldwide. Maximizing the productivity and quality of these crops requires careful management, with seed rates and cutting stages playing pivotal roles in determining crop performance. Seeding rates play a critical role in crop establishment and growth, with both low and high rates affecting plant competition and ultimately yield. Cutting stages, on the other hand, are pivotal in determining the quality and nutrient composition of the forage. Optimal cutting stages vary depending on the intended use, such as hay, silage, or grazing and can significantly influence digestibility and overall nutritional value. The assessment of cereal fodder crops is therefore pivotal for optimizing agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable livestock feed production. Understanding the intricate relationship between seeding rates, cutting stages and crop performance is essential for sustainable agriculture and livestock production systems, contributing to improved resource efficiency and economic viability.

Modelling the impact of different irrigation regimes and mulching on strawberry crop growth and water use in the arsenic-contaminated Bengal basin

Replacement of water-intensive winter rice with strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) may restrict groundwater extraction and improve water productivity and sustainability of agricultural production in the arsenic-contaminated Bengal basin. The potential of strawberry cultivation in terms of yield obtained and water use efficiency need to be evaluated under predominant soil types with mulch applications. Water-driven model AquaCrop was used to predict the canopy cover, soil water storage and above-ground biomass of strawberry in an arsenic-contaminated area in the Bengal basin. After successful calibration and validation over three seasons, AquaCrop was used over a range of management scenarios (nine drip-irrigation × three soil types × four mulch materials) to identify the best irrigation options for a drip-irrigated strawberry crop. The most appropriate irrigation of 176 mm for clay loam soil in lowland and 189 mm for sandy clay loam in medium land rice areas and the use of organic mulch from locally available jute agrotextile improved 1.4 times higher yield and 1.7 times higher water productivity than that of without mulch. Strawberry can be introduced as an alternative crop replacing rice in non-traditional upland and medium land areas of the arsenic-contaminated Bengal basin with 88% lower groundwater extraction load and better economic return to farmers.