Traditional Cultivation System Research Articles

Parental Effect on Agronomic and Olive Oil Traits in Olive Progenies from Reciprocal Crosses.

Olive growing is undergoing a transition from traditional cultivation systems to a more technological model characterized by increased mechanization and a higher density of plants per hectare. This shift implies the use of less vigorous varieties that can adapt to the new system. Most traditional varieties are highly vigorous, and breeding programs can provide solutions to this challenge. This study investigates the parental effect on different agronomic and olive oil characteristics and its role in breeding programs. The objectives were to evaluate and characterize different agronomic and olive oil traits in the progenies from 'Arbosana' × 'Sikitita' cross and its reciprocal cross 'Sikitita' × 'Arbosana'. The results showed a high variability of the characters evaluated in the progenitors of the reciprocal crosses. The highest coefficients of variation were observed in traits related to ripening index, phenolic compounds, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and Δ5-avenasterol, with phenolic content exhibiting the greatest variability. No statistically significant maternal effect was detected for any of the evaluated traits, although a slight positive maternal effect was systematically observed in the mean values of the evaluated traits. These results suggest that the maternal effect on olive is quite subtle, although due to a slight tendency of the maternal effect in the descriptive analyses, future studies are suggested to understand in depth the possible maternal effect on olive breeding.

Development and production of cowpea inoculated with Bradyrhizobium strains in a traditional cultivation system in Southwestern Amazonia

Traditional cowpea cultivars are conserved in the Juruá Valley (Acre) by farmers who adopt a "beach" production system, in lowland areas on the banks of the Juruá River and tributaries. Cowpea inoculation is a sustainable and low-cost technique that has provided an increase in the growth and productivity of the crop, but that has not yet been tested in this production system. The objective of this work was to evaluate the development and production of cowpea inoculated with Bradyrhizobium strains in a traditional cultivation system in Southwestern Amazonia. A randomized block design with three replications and four treatments was used: seeds inoculated with strains BR 1808, BR 3262, and BR 3267, and a control without inoculation. Inoculation provided an increase in the majority of the studied variables. The productivity obtained in the treatments with BR 3262 and BR 1808 was superior to the other treatments. The strain BR 3262 showed higher levels of total chlorophyll and nitrogen. Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium proved to be a promising technology for the cultivation of cowpea beans in lowland soils of the Juruá River.

Assessment of the energy consumption of indoor farming for different climates and lighting system intensity

Nowadays, due to the energy, water, and arable land crises, as well as the constant global population growth and urbanization, water, energy, and food sources are strongly linked to each other, and a comprehensive analysis including all the influencing factors has to be carried out. In this context, the need to improve the energy performance of traditional cultivation systems, as well as to develop alternative and innovative ones, is causing a shift in interest from greenhouses to indoor farming methods (such as vertical farms) in the agricultural sector. In fact, they allow for completely controlled crop production without the use of chemical pesticides. Moreover, their productivity is independent of external conditions and improved compared to traditional systems. However, their energy consumption is larger than that of greenhouses. To evaluate the techno-economic feasibility of such systems, a comprehensive model of a vertical farm, including air conditioning, lighting systems, and plant evapotranspiration, has been developed to quantify the energy share for the different elements of the system (air conditioning and lighting) and to relate the energy consumption to the kilogram of produced crop, analysing exclusively the growth phase. The analysis is carried out for different cities and considers different scenarios in terms of lighting and electricity costs.

Strategy for sustainable agroindustry development of grass jelly origin from Garunggang Village, Kuala Subdistrict, Langkat Regency

Grass jelly (cincau) are the mainstay commodities for farmers in Garunggang Village because it is cultivated by more than 90% of farmers, with the traditional cultivation system. The objectives of this research are to identify and analyze internal and external factors and to analyze the strategy of developing sustainable grass jelly agroindustry. The Slovin method used to obtain a sample of 75 farmers. Sampling was done by simple random sampling method. To assess strategies for developing sustainable grass jelly agroindustry, ten categories of respondents were determined, namely officers of the Regencial Agriculture Service, Provincial SME Association, Provincial Agriculture Service, Provincial Industry Service, extension worker, NGOs, village officer, lecturer, traders, and grass jelly consumers. In addition to the category of farmers, each category was represented by 1 respondent. Data were analyzed using SWOT Analysis Method. The results showed that the internal factors of sustainable grass jelly agroindustry development include the spirit of business actors/farmers and land area suitable for grass jelly cultivation; while the external factors include market/consumer demand for processed grass jelly and the development of the tourism sector in the region. Strategy for sustainable agroindustry development of grass jelly should be implemented with a diversification strategy.

An IoT-Based Model for Monitoring Plant Growth in Greenhouses

The unstable climatic conditions are promoting the adoption of smart agriculture. The introduction of IoT technology in the cultivation process allows for the monitoring and control of plant growth through automation. While the traditional greenhouse system is already an upgrade to the traditional cultivation system, it still has room for improvement with the integration of technology. The traditional greenhouse system requires close monitoring of growth rates through manual intervention and can be prone to various hazards. Incorrect interpretations of plant requirements can result in wrong interventions that may severely affect plant growth. It is imperative to have accurate data to maintain the health of plants throughout the cultivation process. IoT plays a predominant role in providing accurate data for constant monitoring of plant growth. The aim of this paper is to present a fully functional greenhouse automation model using microcontrollers, sensors, fans, pumps, and appropriate networking routing technology capable of providing instant data for proper monitoring of plant growth. The presented model includes safety features and can issue alerts in case security measures are breached. The system may even allow users to perform remote monitoring using a web application. Therefore, the proposed model will contribute to enhancing the horticultural industry by increasing output and reducing the need for human intervention.

Influence of Biochar Mixed into Peat Substrate on Lettuce Growth and Nutrient Supply

The use of peat in traditional cultivation systems and in commercial nurseries is an environmental problem. In this work, we evaluated the partial replacement of peat with different amounts of biochar sourced from vineyard pruning as plant growing substrates. We studied its effect on the growth of lettuce plants under greenhouse and semi-hydroponic conditions. Substrate mixtures contained 30% (v/v) of vermiculite and 70% (v/v) of different biochar:peat treatments as follows: 0:70 (B0), 15:55 (B15), 30:40 (B30), 50:20 (B50), and 70:0 (B70). Higher biochar treatments increased the pH and electrical conductivity of the substrate, negatively affecting plant growth and germination (especially in B70). The partial substitution of peat by 30% biochar (B30) delayed seed germination but improved plant growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), with shoots containing higher levels of organic nitrogen and nitrate. Moreover, it increased the water holding capacity (WHC) and led to an efficient use of nutrients. Our study demonstrates that biochar can successfully replace and reduce peat and N fertilizer consumption. This has the potential to promote more sustainable farming with positive impacts on both plant growth and the environment.

The Potential Application of Single‐Use Bioreactors in Cultured Meat Production

AbstractProduction of cultured meat by proliferation of stem cells is a fast‐growing field drawing significant attention and big investments. Replacement of traditional meat by cell‐based meat can have a huge positive impact on the environmental burden of human meat consumption. Large‐scale production to make cell‐based meat economically feasible and comparable to the cost of conventional meat requires further bioprocess optimization and large investments. Application of single‐use bioreactors at a restricted scale of operation reduces the overall capital expenditures for cultured meat production. The advantages of single‐use bioreactors as experienced in biopharmaceutical applications are applicable to cultured meat production. Here, it is shown that the transfer from traditional cultivation systems to single‐use systems is easily possible. Single‐use bioreactors can contribute to the realization of cultured meat production at “farm level”, thus limiting the investment and technical risks of very large‐scale productions.

Effects of plastic mulching on soil CO2 efflux in a cotton field in northwestern China

In Northwestern China, more and more traditional cultivation system (TC) with no mulching and flood irrigation have been replaced by modern cultivation technology (MC) combining plastic film mulching with drip irrigation. Does plastic film mulching increase or reduce soil CO2 emission in arid areas? In order to study the effects of plastic mulching on soil CO2 efflux, a field study was conducted to compare soil CO2 concentration, soil CO2 efflux, soil temperature and moisture between the TC treatment and the MC treatment during a cotton growing season in Northwestern China. The seasonal patterns of soil profile temperature and soil moisture in the TC treatment were similar to that in the MC treatment. The mean value of soil profile temperature in the MC treatment was higher than that in the TC treatment. Except for soil moisture at 15 cm depth, the mean value of soil moisture at 5 cm and 10 cm depths in the MC treatment was higher than that in the TC treatment. The variation patterns of soil CO2 concentration and soil CO2 efflux in MC treatment were different to that in the TC treatment. Although the peak of soil CO2 concentration in the TC treatment was earlier than that in the MC treatment, the duration of soil CO2 concentration with high values in TC treatment was shorter than that in the MC treatment. Based on the model of Fick’s first diffusion law, soil surface CO2 efflux in the MC and TC treatments were determined. The surface CO2 efflux in the TC treatment calculated by Fick’s first diffusion law model was in good agreement with the value measured by chamber method. The seasonal curve of soil surface CO2 efflux in the MC treatment indicate the similar pattern with that in the TC treatment, and the rate of CO2 efflux was lower in the MC system. In the MC treatment, the seasonal variation of soil surface efflux was explained more by soil moisture than by soil temperature. However, in the TC treatment, the seasonal variation of soil surface efflux was explained more by soil temperature than by soil moisture. Over the completely experimental period, accumulated rates of soil CO2 efflux were 361 g C m−2 and 474 g C m−2 for the MC and TC system, respectively. We concluded that converting agricultural practices from traditional cultivation to the plastic mulching cultivation could reduce soil CO2 efflux by approximately 110 g C m−2 year−1 in agricultural land in arid areas of Northwestern China.

ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE CONTROL IN A CROP ROTATION GREENHOUSE

The development of energy policies aimed at reducing energy consumption and the environmental impact together with the importance of the agricultural sector and its associated industries in certain regions, such as Extremadura, where most of the agricultural production is carried out by traditional cultivation systems, makes that the use of land that is not naturally suitable for crops and get a productivity improvement thanks climate control through renewable energies in greenhouses it and interested proposal. So, the purpose of this work is assist small farmers in obtaining the fruits demanded by the market, through the use of renewable energies and the use of soils that are not very favourable for cultivation, contributing to achieve an economically profitable and environmentally sustainable agriculture. The intervening factors are the outdoor climate throughout the year, the interior requirements for the crop-sequence and the covering greenhouse with auxiliary energy supply, it's possible estimate the energy demand throughout the year and the contribution of each source to this demand, contrasted with a practical case study in Extremadura. The estimated result for this case it is an energy demand of 9 GJ/m2 with 62 % covered by solar radiation, 33 % by natural ventilation systems, 3 % with refrigeration and 2 % covered by heating. An economic analysis of the operation is included, taking into account the main intervening factors. In conclusion, thanks to greenhouse cultivation, by means of current fertigation systems that allow the use of the most suitable solution to be added to the irrigation water it is possible to cultivate in unsuitable soils, controlling the humidity and components present in them, as well as the tension generated by the roots of the plants. The energy demand is satisfied by solar radiation and ventilation mostly, which are renewable sources of energy, by making the contribution of heating by local biomass is covered almost entirely by renewable energy sources.

Integrating UAVs and Canopy Height Models in Vineyard Management: A Time-Space Approach

The present study illustrates an operational approach estimating individual and aggregate vineyards’ canopy volume estimation through three years Tree-Row-Volume (TRV) measurements and remotely sensed imagery acquired with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Red-Green-Blue (RGB) digital camera, processed with MATLAB scripts, and validated through ArcGIS tools. The TRV methodology was applied by sampling a different number of rows and plants (per row) each year with the aim of evaluating reliability and accuracy of this technique compared with a remote approach. The empirical results indicate that the estimated tree-row-volumes derived from a UAV Canopy Height Model (CHM) are up to 50% different from those measured on the field using the routinary technique of TRV in 2019. The difference is even much higher in the two 2016 dates. These empirical findings outline the importance of data integration among techniques that mix proximal and remote sensing in routine vineyards’ agronomic practices, helping to reduce management costs and increase the environmental sustainability of traditional cultivation systems.

Support for animal feed innovation technology in the North Sulawesi border area

One of the visions of the Nawacita Program proclaimed by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr Jokowi, is to build Indonesia from the periphery by strengthening the regions and villages in the NKRI region and the developing of border areas. Each border area has the potential of diverse agricultural and cultural resources, but so far, most of the potential resources have not been managed well or even underutilized. The potential of livestock, land, feed and human resources is available enough to support the development of farms in the border areas. Livestock activities in general in border areas can contribute economically to farmer households. The current problem is that livestock productivity in this region is relatively low. This is due to several things, namely where farmers in raising livestock still use traditional cultivation systems and the use and mastery of technological innovations that are still very limited, especially in the provision of animal feed sources, as a production area of plantation crops and food that produces a lot of untapped side waste. Through several touches of technological innovation, side waste can be processed into a quality source of feed, so it is expected to increase livestock productivity and welfare of farmers in the border region of North Sulawesi.

Crop intensification with short-duration pulse crop(mungbean)using climate-smart agriculture technology in northeastern region of Bangladesh

Despite the economic progress in Bangladesh, a hot spot of hunger remained within the rapidly growing population and even the Covid-19 Pandemic made the hunger more intensive. Increasing the cropping intensity by replacing fallow with a short-duration pulse crop using climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technology in the northeastern area of Bangladesh might increase food security and the livelihood of poor farmers. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate short-duration mungbean crop in between the two rice-based cropping systems following CSA technology. The study was conducted at two locations following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in the farmers' field of Netrokona and Sunamganj Districts of Bangladesh during the period from March to May 2021. Results from both the study areas showed that CSA technology had substantially increased the total yield of mungbean, and BINA-8 variety performed the best results of 1061 kg/ha yield in the Sunamganj area. In mungbean cultivation, the lower tillage, 50% less fertilization, manuring, crop residues and efficient irrigation of CSA technology had a positive impact on water infiltration, soil nutrient status and water use efficiency of more than 40% compared to traditional cultivation systems. Nevertheless, the CSA in mungbean cultivation had enhanced carbon sequestration and reduces GHG emissions. The results also revealed that mungbean plant residues add an average 4.35 ton/ha green mass to the soil and saved more than 25% labor costs for mungbean cultivation. Therefore, crop intensification with mungbean using CSA technology in the disasters pruned area would be a good approach to combat food security and income generation of farmers. The study also argues that there is an immediate need for more intensive research to better quantify the mitigation effects of CSA technology.

Evaluating recycling fertilizers for tomato cultivation in hydroponics, and their impact on greenhouse gas emissions

Soilless culture systems offer an environmentally friendly and resource-efficient alternative to traditional cultivation systems fitting within the scheme of a circular economy. The objective of this research was to examine the sustainable integration of recycling fertilizers in hydroponic cultivation—creating a nutrient cycling concept for horticultural cultivation. Using the nutrient film technique (NFT), three recycling-based fertilizer variants were tested against standard synthetic mineral fertilization as the control, with 11 tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Pannovy) per replicate (n = 4) and treatment: two nitrified urine-based fertilizers differing in ammonium/nitrate ratio (NH4+:NO3−), namely (1) “Aurin” (AUR) and (2) “Crop” (CRO); as well as (3) an organo-mineral mixture of struvite and vinasse (S+V); and (4) a control (NPK). The closed chamber method was adapted for gas fluxes (N2O, CH4, and CO2) from the root zone. There was no indication in differences of the total shoot biomass fresh matter and uptake of N, P and K between recycling fertilizers and the control. Marketable fruit yield was comparable between NPK, CRO and S+V, whereas lower yields occurred in AUR. The higher NH4+:NO3− of AUR was associated with an increased susceptibility of blossom-end-rot, likely due to reduced uptake and translocation of Ca. Highest sugar concentration was found in S+V, which may have been influenced by the presence of organic acids in vinasse. N2O emissions were highest in S+V, which corresponded to our hypothesis that N2O emissions positively correlate with organic-C input by the fertilizer amendments. Remaining treatments showed barely detectable GHG emissions. A nitrified urine with a low NH4+:NO3– (e.g., CRO) has a high potential as recycling fertilizer in NFT systems for tomato cultivation, and S+V proved to supply sufficient P and K for adequate growth and yield. Alternative cultivation strategies may complement the composition of AUR.

Pineapple quality in a traditional cultivation system in different soil classes

Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merril) is considered one of the most important fruits of the tropical and subtropical regions, and the third most-produced in the world due to its high commercial expansion in the world market, in recent years. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the influence of landscape position on pineapple quality. The work was developed at the Providência Farm, located in the municipality of Miracema do Tocantins. The following soil parameters were evaluated: hydraulic conductivity - KS, soil bulk density – DS, and total porosity – TP, as well as the following quality attributes: titratable acidity - TA, length and diameter of infructescences, total fresh mass - TM, fresh mass of infructescences – IM, and soluble solids – SS. The analyses were performed at the Agri-Environmental Laboratory of the Agricultural Sciences Complex of the Federal University of Tocantins. Less massive infructescences developed on more porous soils. The variation in the mass of infructescences is not associated with soil types, but rather with soil porosity. Soils with higher KS tend to increase the chances of producing infructescences with high acidity and high levels of soluble solids. The DS did not result in a significant association with the pineapple quality attributes. The infructescences were not affected by the landscape position. No position in the landscape influenced fruit quality. In general, the infructescences showed low acidity and low levels of soluble solids, with length and diameter of infructescences below the standard of the cultivar ‘Pérola’.

Exploring the potential of using 7Be measurements to estimate soil redistribution rates in semi-arid areas: results from Western Iran and Southern Italy

The need for further research to investigate the possibility of using 7Be as a soil erosion tracer under a range of climatic conditions, specifically in arid and semi-arid agro-environments, has been emphasised in the literature. In this context, this paper reports research conducted in two semi-arid areas located in Western Iran and Southern Italy in order to assess the potential of using 7Be measurements for estimating soil erosion over short timescales. The two study sites differ in terms of land use. More specifically, the area in Western Iran, under cultivation, is cropped mostly under wheat, barley and pea rotation. The area in Southern Italy has never been cultivated, has few eucalyptus trees, resulting from re-afforestation conducted in 1966 and retains a sparse grass cover. Soil sampling required two field campaigns undertaken in April 2011 and April 2016 in Western Iran and Southern Italy, respectively. In Western Iran, the 7Be reference inventory was estimated at 326 ± 40 Bq m−2 and the corresponding value of the shape factor was equal to 3.57 kg m−2. The soil loss was calculated to be 6.8 Mg ha−1, resulting in a Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) of ca. 80%. In Southern Italy, the 7Be reference inventory was equal to 180 ± 20 Bq m−2, emphasising a lower penetration of 7Be into the soil that is documented by a lower value of the shape factor (2.45 kg m−2). The overall results provided a net soil loss of ca. 20.7 Mg ha−1. In this case, no deposition was documented and a SDR value of ca. 100% was calculated. The magnitude of soil erosion reflects, for both sites, the steep topography, the different management system and the heavy rainfall occurring during a period that coincides with the absence of vegetative cover. The results obtained in this study are in line with similar studies carried out in other countries and suggest that, in cultivated areas, care must be taken when traditional cultivation systems are applied; in re-afforested areas, the presence of a uniform vegetative cover is crucial in protecting soil from erosion. However, there still is a need for further work to assess the feasibility of using 7Be in different areas and under different land uses or vegetation covers. Also, further refining of the conversion model, which is based here on the simple exponential function, are still possible.

Effects of Irrigation with Desalinated Seawater and Hydroponic System on Tomato Quality

The use of desalinated seawater (DSW) as an alternative to conventional water resources is gradually gaining more interest due to the strong water deficit and increasing pressure on water resources in semi-arid regions. Furthermore, the combination of this alternative irrigation with the hydroponic cultivation system would allow continuous production almost through the whole year and hydroponic-related high crop yield. Nevertheless, the effects of DSW irrigation in hydroponic systems on the product quality need to be firstly studied to avoid product quality losses. In this study, we evaluated the effects on the quality of two tomato cvs. (Ramyle and Racymo) of three different irrigation treatments (T1, DSW; T2, DSW/well water mix; and T3, well water) under hydroponic or traditional cultivation systems. The soluble solid content of samples (highly correlated to dry matter content) grown under hydroponic conditions and T3 irrigation showed the highest values (5.8 °Brix) although such differences (<0.6 °Brix) with T1 might not be sensorially appreciated. Similarly, although T3 samples showed higher acidity than T1 samples, such differences (0.06%) would be not appreciated by the consumer. Tomatoes grown in hydroponic conditions had 1.1–1.2-fold higher firmness than conventional soil conditions showing hydroponic T3 samples had the highest value (21–23 N). Tomato cv. Racymo displayed higher color index (chroma) than cv. Ramyle, registering hydroponic T1 samples the most intense red color correlated with the highest lycopene content of 41.1 mg/kg. T1 irrigation of tomatoes cv. Ramyle did not induce significant changes while differences lower than 10% were observed in the tomato cv. Racymo. The highest total antioxidant capacity, which was highly correlated to the total phenolic content (R2 = 0.80), was found for hydroponic T1 samples with 1637/1243 µmol/kg for the tomato cvs. Ramyle/Racymo. Conclusively, the use of DSW would not compromise the consumer acceptance of tomatoes due to the low (not appreciable) quality differences, with even the total antioxidant capacity of these samples being increased. Furthermore, the mix of DSW with conventional water resources (lower cost) would not compromise the tomato quality.

Carbon sequestration in sugarcane plant and soil with different cultivation systems.

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a multi-purpose crop, mainly planted in South-western (SW) parts of Iran. However, the capability of sugarcane farms to sequestrate carbon into soil and plant is not well documented. In this research, the carbon sequestration in sugarcane plant and soil in a ratooning traditional cultivation system at the Amirkabir Sugarcane Agro-Industry Complex in Khuzestan Province was evaluated during 2013-2014. The soil samples were randomly collected at 0-30 cm top layer and soil organic carbon (SOC) was analysed in laboratory. Simultaneously, both aboveground and underground parts of sugarcane plants were sampled and the carbon content of each part was measured separately. The carbon stored in the aboveground parts (leaves and shoots) was significantly (p≤0.01) higher (1292 kg ha-1) than that (655 kg ha-1) of underground organs (roots). The total SOC (1987.3 kg ha-1) was not considerably higher than the sequestrated carbon (1947 kg ha-1) in plant parts. Furthermore, a positive and significant correlation was found between SOC and soil clay content. Overall, 3934.5 kg ha-1 sequestrated carbon equal to 14439.6 kg ha-1 atmospheric CO2 was estimated to be in sugarcane farms. In conclusion, the results showed that the Ratoon I has the highest potential of carbon sequestration than other treatments. Current sugarcane farming practices in Khuzestan could act as an important pool for carbon sequestration and consequently enhancing the mitigation of climate change impacts. It seems that changing the current sugarcane traditional harvesting system which is predominantly based on burning the residues towards the suitable management could enhance the capability of carbon sequestration even more.

Comparison of no-till and traditional technologies for Triticum Aestivum L. cultivation

The research purpose is to compare the no-till Triticum aestivum L. cultivation technology with a traditional cultivation system and their influence on soil moisture, the number of weeds, soil density, aggregate composition and a structure coefficient. The studies were conducted in 2015–2018 in the Steppe Crimea. Crop rotations consist of the same set of plants with the exception of the first link: under the traditional system: black fallow – winter wheat — oil flax — winter barley — grain sorghum; under the no-till system, pea was sowed at the first field. The experiments were conducted in accordance with generally accepted methods of field experiments in agriculture and crop production. By the time of sowing, a larger amount of moisture accumulated in the black fallow compared to the field of peas. It was 0–10; 0–20; 0–100 cm for 1.9; 5.5 and 20.6 mm, respectively. In spring, the amount of productive moisture was at the same level. Under the traditional system, it was 104; under the direct sowing, it was 102 mm. Using the direct sowing technology, the absence of mechanical soil loosening had no effect on the density parameter in comparison with the traditional farming system: density was normal, regardless of the farming system: 1.13 g/cm3 under the traditional system, and 1.19 g/cm3 under the direct sowing system; in the 10-30 cm layer, it was 1.45 g/cm3; in general, in the 0–30 cm layer, the difference was not significant (1.34 and 1.36 g/cm3). The species composition of weeds did not change. The direct sowing technology used for untreated soil had a positive effect on the soil structure. By the third year of research, the coefficient of structure was 2.94 (under the traditional system), and 4.05 (under the direct sowing system).

Suitability of Indigenous Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars in Garhwal Hills of Uttarakhand Himalayas based on Seed Quality Parameters

Hill agriculture systems of Garhwal Himalayas harbour wealth of rice landraces contributing to the agricultural biodiversity of the region. These landraces are an integral part of traditional cultivation systems for these have evolved against the adversities of agroclimatic conditions and have proven their suitability in the prevailing agro-climate of the region. However, intrusion of the high external-input intensive agriculture systems to increase crop productivity is posing great threat to the agro-biodiversity of the crop in the region. This wealth needs to be conserved for sustaining the traditional agriculture through implementation and integration of ecofriendly approaches suiting to the local conditions without harming the crop diversity. In the present study, the comparative suitability of certain widely cultivated landraces confined to mid Himalayan hills in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India, was investigated on the basis of seed quality parameters. Local cultivars China-4, Lal dhan and Rikhwa showed considerably high germination (>90%) despite high levels of seed infection (>35%) like the improved varieties Prasad, PD-10, PD-11 and VL-62. Local cultivars China-4 and Lal dhan showed maximum germination to the range of >90% with high seedling vigour (1500–2077). The study concluded that local cultivars/landraces showing higher seed vigour despite higher levels of discoloration and seed infection are better suited for cultivation in mid-hills of Uttarakhand.

Compartive life cycle assessment of mechanized and semi-mechanized methods of potato cultivation

Evaluating the environmental performance of production systems is necessary for the assessment of ecosystems from the perspective of sustainability. Life cycle assessment is a suitable method of evaluating the environmental impact of a product, process or activity by identifying, quantifying and assessing the resources expended and the emissions and waste released into the environment. The present study used life cycle assessment (LCA) of one ton of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) from the boundary of a farm in Markazi province in Iran. The data were obtained from 120 questionnaires and include input sources from the cities of Arak and Shazand for semi-mechanized and traditional cultivation systems. Investigation of the environmental impact of potato cultivation was done using the LCA method and Simapro 8.0.4 software. It was estimated for abiotic depletion potential, global warming potential and ozone layer depletion potential. The results show that the semi-mechanized farming system has destructive effects on global warming (1.71 kgSbeq) and causes abiotic depletion (227.56 kgco2eq). The traditional cultivation method causes ozone layer depletion (0.00005 kgCFC-11) from diesel fuel consumption by water pumps. The strategies outlined in the alternative framework include replacement by renewable energy, ecological and agronomic pest control and optimization strategies such as development and improvement of machinery in conformity with international standards, training farmers to make optimal use of inputs and education to reduce damaging effects to the environment.