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Poor irrigation practices are accelerating groundwater depletion, together with negative effects on climate change and had therefore threatened agricultural sustainability in North China Pain (NCP). Integrated optimization of cropping systems and water-saving cultivation techniques is critical. We developed a novel water-saving cultivation system that incorporates application of disposable pre-sowing irrigation in wheat to 85−90% of field capacity and irrigation only while sowing maize under winter wheat-summer maize rotation system (T1W0) and winter wheat/summer maize-single maize rotation system (three harvests in two years, T2W0). The T1W0 significantly reduced irrigation amount by 42.1% and mitigated carbon footprint by 35.5%, and achieved 92.2% of grain yield compared with conventional farming practice (three irrigation for wheat). Crop modeling showed that T2W0 had the potential of sustainable irrigation with groundwater decline at 0.12 m year−1. The T1W0 is recommended for most areas in NCP while T2W0 is for severe ground funnel areas. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No-tillage of summer maize after the harvest of winter wheat is the main agricultural practice on the Huang-Huai-Hai (HHH) Plain of China. However, long-term no-tillage in the absence of deep tillage practices affects soil properties, and this effect is not beneficial for the growth and yield production of summer maize. Field experiments were conducted in 2016 in two agricultural sub-zones (Luancheng and Guoyang) in the HHH Plain. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of deep vertical rotary tillage (DVRT), compared to no-tillage with strip subsoiling (NTSS), on dry matter accumulation (DMA) and yield formation. DVRT significantly reduced the soil bulk density of the top soil layer (0–40 cm), especially for the lime concretion black soil in the Guoyang experimental site. Compared with NTSS, the soil water content in the 20–60 cm soil layer was increased under the condition of DVRT. DVRT also significantly increased root DMA in the 0–30 cm soil layer in Luancheng and in the 0–40 cm soil layer in Guoyang. The total shoot DMA, seed DMA, and harvest index of DVRT were significantly higher than those of NTSS, primarily due to a significant increase in post-anthesis DMA. In addition, DVRT increased the maximum and mean grain filling rate and thus significantly increased the maximum grain weight at harvest. Compared with NTSS, DVRT significantly increased grain yield by 21.3% and 27.8% under the plant density of 6.75 pl m −2 and 9 pl m −2 , respectively, in Luancheng and it increased by 12.3% in Guoyang. The present results indicate that DVRT can be used as a deep tillage practice to improve soil properties and grain yield of summer maize, and this may provide guidance regarding the requirements to cope with a diversity of deep tillage machines and develop sustainable agriculture in the HHH Plain of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing and maintaining high productivity levels presents a major challenge facing farmers today and will continue into the near future. More integrative and complex approaches to decision-making, besides adopting new technologies, are necessary for redesigning more productive, stable, and sustainable farming systems. Thus, novel crop sequences should be implemented to improve these properties of farming systems. The aim of our research was to characterize how different preceding crops that open recurrent sequences will impact on the productivity and resource use of the following crops, in order to determine the possibilities of increasing the frequency of double crops in rotations. Three field experiments were conducted under rainfed conditions at three sites in the Rolling Pampas of Argentina. The effects of seven cropping systems on the productivity of succeeding crops were evaluated at each location. The seven cropping systems included five double crops (rapeseed/soybean, wheat/soybean, barley/soybean, field pea/soybean, and field pea/maize) and two single crops (maize and soybean). The seven cropping systems were followed by the same crop sequence: wheat/soybean double crop and maize single crop in the first and second growing seasons, respectively. Radiation use and grain yield, water use and nitrogen uptake were evaluated for each crop in the sequence. Results indicate that repeating cereal crops in the cropping sequence reduces their productivities, while well balanced sequences that include legumes resulted in the highest productivities of cereal crops. Our findings highlight that diversifying cropping systems by adopting different double crops are practical options that can contribute to a more sustainable intensification of cropping systems specialized for grain crops. Increasing crop diversity in sequence influenced nitrogen uptake, among other factors, and may explain the enhanced crop yield in such systems. Our research highlights that crop diversification is critical in designing efficient and sustainable intensified crop sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New avenues are being explored to increase food production in the extensive agriculture of highly productive temperate regions. Intensifying the use of land by sequencing two crops in a season (double cropping) may enhance annual land productivity in relation to single annual crops. Single soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.) and maize ( Zea maize L.) are widespread in the Argentine Pampas while wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)–soybean double crop system is the most common land-intensive cropping system. The possibility for expanding the double cropping system is large although it has received insufficient attention. The objectives of the present study were to (i) describe the association between major environmental variables and grain yield of wheat–soybean double crop, maize and soybean single crops and (ii) compare their annual grain yield over a wide range of environments as a basis to evaluate the possible contribution to productivity expected from wheat–soybean double crop compared with maize and soybean single crops. Yield data from farms widely distributed across the Argentine Pampas and meteorological information from 30 stations distributed in the region were recorded and analyzed. A five-year period of on-farm yields were obtained from 132 groups of farmers nested in 11 zones. Variables analyzed were crop grain yields, glucose equivalents grain yields, rainfall, temperature, radiation, and frost-free period. The ratio between radiation and temperature (photo-thermal quotient; PTQ) was also considered as a grain yield determinant for wheat. Mean daily temperature during crop reproductive stages was an important determinant of maximum yields for all crops as described by a boundary-function fit. The highest grain yields of maize and soybean were obtained at moderate summer temperatures (21.8–23.5 °C and 21.8–23.8 °C, respectively). Wheat maximum yields increased with low spring temperatures (<18.3 °C), following high photo-thermal quotients during reproductive stages. In contrast, the highest yields of double crop soybean were obtained at high summer temperatures (>21.2 °C), which were associated with extended frost free periods. High yields of the wheat–soybean double crop system were obtained with cool temperatures during spring combined with a relatively extended frost free period and substantial summer rainfall. On-farm yields below the boundary-function appeared associated to low rainfall scenarios, especially in double cropped soybean fields. The geographical patterns of yield for wheat–soybean double crop system tended to be similar to that of maize and soybean single crops. The most highly productive area for the three cropping systems evaluated was located in the center of the Argentine Pampas. However, wheat–soybean double crops were more productive than soybean at any site, but their yields were slightly lower than those of maize. In addition, the work helped to identify possible areas where wheat–soybean double crop system may give relative higher advantages; particularly, in some of the currently least productive areas. Since nowadays, almost 60% of the studied area is sown with single soybean, the results suggest that there is an effective possibility to have a substantial increase in on-farm productivity, while still producing soybean, simply by expanding the double crop system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Biofuels could become increasingly important for agriculture; however there is growing concern regarding the possible environmental drawbacks due to the risks of increased inputs during crop cultivation. These risks need to be evaluated in order to assess the best management practices. In this study, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out: (i) to evaluate the environmental impacts of three cropping systems characterized by different external input levels (low S1, medium S2 and high S3) applied to sunflower and maize, both in rotation with wheat, in a Mediterranean region; (ii) to estimate the environmental benefits of the optimization of cropping systems for energy management. Output–input ratio, net energy balance, global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP) and acidification potential (AP) were used as LCA impact categories. Data from cropping systems (external input and crop yields) were collected from a long-term experiment carried out in the coastal plain of Tuscany; data regarding fertilizers, machinery and pesticide production were taken from literature. The results obtained showed S1 with the highest output–input ratios and the lowest impact for the selected impact categories. The other cropping systems S2 and S3 showed limited differences between them for all the impact categories evaluated. Fertilizer use and application, irrigation and machinery use caused most of the environmental impacts and energy consumption. The allocation procedure, showing residues as co-products, had a strong influence on the overall efficiency of agricultural systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Efficiency of fertilizer N is becoming increasingly important in modern agricultural production owing to increasing food requirement and growing concern about environments. However, there is almost no study regarding its long-term efficiency in wheat and maize cropping systems. Long-term (15 years) experiments involving wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) rotations at five field sites with various soil and climate characteristics in China were used to determine the nitrogen (N) efficiency, including the physiological efficiency, recovery efficiency and N mass balance of soil–plant systems in response to different fertilization treatments. The present study consisted of nine treatments: unfertilized, N, phosphorus, potassium, straw and manure or their combinations. The contribution of N fertilizers to wheat yield was higher than to maize and suggested that wheat could be given priority over maize when determining N application rates. Uptake of 1kg N produced 35.6kg of wheat grain and 39.5kg of maize grain. The deficit of N in soils without applied N ranged from 40 to 103kgNha−1 year−1, while N surpluses in soils with applied N fertilizers ranged from 35 to 350kgNha−1 year−1. The apparent accumulated N recovery efficiency (NREac) varied widely from 4% to 90%: unbalanced fertilization and other soil limiting factors (such as aluminium toxicity) were associated with low NREac. In the treatments of combination of N, phosphorus and potassium with normal application rates, the average of NREac in four out of five sites reached 80%, which suggested that best management of N fertilizers could recover most of N fertilizers applied to soils. The results will be helpful to understand the long-term fate of N fertilizers and to optimize the N fertilization for agricultural practices and environment protection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Agricultural system models are potential tools for evaluating soil-water–nutrient management in intensive cropping systems. In this study, we calibrated and validated the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) with both a generic plant growth module (RZWQM-G) and the CERES plant growth module (RZWQM-C) for simulating winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) double cropping systems in the Northern China Plain (NCP), China. Data were obtained from an experiment conducted at Yucheng Integrated Agricultural Experimental Station (36°57′N, 116°36′E, 28m asl) in the North China Plain (NCP) from 1997 to 2001 (eight crop seasons) with field measurements of evapotranspiration, soil water, soil temperature, leaf area index (LAI), biomass and grain yield. Using the same soil water and nutrient modules, both plant modules were calibrated using the data from one crop sequence during 1998–1999 when detailed measurements of LAI and biomass growth were available. The calibrated models were then used to simulate maize and wheat production in other years. Overall simulation runs from 1997 to 2001 showed that the RZWQM-C model simulated grain yields with a RMSE of 0.94Mgha−1 in contrast to a RMSE of 1.23Mgha−1 with RZWQM-G. The RMSE for biomass simulation was 2.07Mgha−1 with RZWQM-G and 2.26Mgha−1 with RZWQM-C model. The RMSE values of simulated evapotranspiration, soil water, soil temperature and LAI were 1.4mm, 0.046m3 m−3, 1.75°C and 1.0 for RZWQM-G and 1.4mm, 0.047m3 m−3, 1.84°C and 1.1 for RZWQM-C, respectively. The study revealed that both plant models were able to simulate the intensive cropping systems once they were calibrated for the local weather and soil conditions. Sensitivity analysis also showed that a reduction of 25% of current water and N applications reduced N leaching by 24–77% with crop yield reduction of 1–9% only. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In northwest Mexico wheat is planted as a winter crop in rotation with maize in summer. Permanent beds as a form of conservation tillage is an alternative planting system for grain production in this area. The planting system on permanent beds reduces the operational costs up to 40% and enhances physical and biological soil quality parameters. Research plots were established in the 1992 crop season to study the effect of conventional tilled-bed (CTB) with all plant residues incorporated versus permanent beds (PB) with four plant residue alternatives (all burned, removed, as stubble, and partially removed, maize stover removed and wheat straw retained). The objective of this work was to compare, after 10 and 12 years of plot establishment, the effect of CTB with PB management on biological and physical soil attributes during the wheat phase of the rotation. Results indicate that degree of soil aggregation, estimated by means of fractal dimension (D) from dry sieving, was comparable for CTB-all residues incorporated and PB-all residues retained as stubble. But the soil dispersion index, as shown by the numerical difference of D from wet and dry sieving (ΔD), was less for PB-all residues retained as stubble, indicating that soil aggregates are greater in size and more stable for this treatment. By contrast, soil aggregates from dry and wet sieving for PB-all residues burned were highly fractionated. The largest degree of dispersion between the wet and dry aggregate size distribution in all PB treatments was for the 1–2mm soil fraction, while for the CTB-all residues incorporated, a constant and high degree of dispersion occurred to each of the soil fractions from 0.053 to 8mm. The amount of C and N from microbial biomass for PB treatments was bigger, as the amount of crop residues left on the soil surface increased. Kernel weight from PB treatments was negatively related to the N mineralized from microbial biomass (r =−0.57 in 2002 and r =−0.39 in 2004). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Current agri-nutrition research focuses on micronutrient malnutrition and stunting. • The dietary contribution of many essential bioactive food components is understated. • Cereals are rich in bioactives such as dietary fibre that have major health benefits. • Research should address the full health benefits of cereals like maize and wheat. • Agri-nutrition studies should be multidisciplinary and whole food systems-oriented. Research linking agriculture and nutrition has evolved since the mid-20th century. The current focus is on child-stunting, dietary diversity and 'nutrient-rich' foods in recognition of the growing burdens of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. This article concerns the global dietary and health contribution of major cereals, specifically maize and wheat, which are often considered not to be 'nutrient-rich' foods. Nevertheless, these cereals are major sources of dietary energy, of essential proteins and micronutrients, and diverse non-nutrient bioactive food components. Research on bioactives, and dietary fibre in particular, is somewhat 'siloed', with little attention paid by the agri-nutrition research community to the role of cereal bioactives in healthy diets, and the adverse health effects often arising through processing and manufacturing of cereals-based food products. We argue that the research agenda should embrace the whole nutritional contribution of the multiple dietary components of cereals towards addressing the triple burden of undernutrition, micronutrient malnutrition, overweight/obesity and non-communicable diseases. Agri-nutrition and development communities need to adopt a multidisciplinary and food systems research approach from farm to metabolism. Agriculture researchers should collaborate with other food systems stakeholders on nutrition-related challenges in cereal production, processing and manufacturing, and food waste and losses. Cereal and food scientists should also collaborate with social scientists to better understand the impacts on diets of the political economy of the food industry, and the diverse factors which influence local and global dietary transitions, consumer behavioural choices, dietary change, and the assessment and acceptance of novel and nutritious cereal-based products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Stakeholders' engagement in the assessment process helps build capacity. • Stakeholders help define local sustainability goals, opportunities, and indicators. • Local champions, coordination, and sustained support are key to success. • Timely monitoring and continual improvement are part of the iterative approach. • Trust, engagement, communication, and capacity are required for improvement. A systematic process for assessing progress toward landscape sustainability goals is developed and tested. Application of the approach builds capacity and promotes continual improvements in management practices, thus enabling timely action to address changing conditions while progressing toward locally defined goals. We consider how the approach applies to agricultural landscapes, that is farm ecosystem interactions with the environment and human well-being. We present lessons learned from applying the assessment approach in two contrasting situations: large, high-input, commercial agriculture in northwestern Mexico and small, low-input family farms in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Applying the approach reveals five attributes required for success and the means to achieve those conditions. (1) Having a capable local champion for the project is critical. (2) Implementation of the approach must be in concert with local people and organizations as well as with regional and national policies and programs. (3) Identification and engagement of key stakeholders is essential. (4) Application of the approach is not meant to be a one-time effort but rather an ongoing and systematic process. (5) Engagement and buy-in from stakeholders including multiple agency levels is essential for allocation of necessary resources and logistic support in the continuing implementation of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]