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Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) and recovery with nitrogen (N) fertilization rates in crop rotations need further exploration. The effect of cropping sequence and N fertilization rate were evaluated on spring wheat N concentration and uptake, N harvest index (NHI), N-use efficiency (NUE), and N recovery index (NRI) from 2012 to 2019 in the northern Great Plains, USA. Cropping sequences were conventional till spring wheat-fallow (CTWF), no-till spring wheat-fallow (NTWF), no-till spring wheat-pea (Pisum sativum L.) (NTWP), and no-till continuous spring wheat (NTCW), and N fertilization rates to spring wheat were 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N ha−1. Straw N concentration and N uptake were greater for CTWF than NTWP and NTCW in 4 out of 8 years and increased with increased N fertilization rate. Grain N concentration and NHI varied with treatments and years. Grain N uptake was greater for CTWF and NTWF than NTWP and NTCW at most N fertilization rates and years. In contrast, NUE was greater for NTCW than CTWF and NTWF at all N fertilization rates in most years. The NRI was greater for NTWP or NTCW than CTWF or NTWF in most years. Increasing N fertilization rate increased grain N uptake for most cropping sequences in all years but had a variable effect on NUE and NRI. Although spring wheat N concentration and N uptake were superior for CTWF and NTWF, and NUE for NTCW, NTWP with 50 to 100 kg N ha−1 can be used to sustain grain yield, N uptake, NUE, and NRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversifying wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-based cropping systems is important for the sustainability of dryland agriculture. Research has focused on the agronomic benefits of increased crop diversity in semi-arid environments, but less is known about the impacts of increased crop diversity on the soil microbial community. This work compared soil health parameters between a continuous wheat crop sequence to a diverse sequence that included pea (Pisum sativum L.), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius, L.), and spring wheat. Respiration was higher (p <.005) in the diverse sequence while activity of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase was lower (p <.05) with a mean rate of 26.3 and 16.3 mg ρ-nitrophenol kg−1 soil h−1 for the continuous wheat and diverse sequences, respectively. The mean net nitrogen mineralized during the growing season was 33.2 ± 2.5 kg ha−1 and was not different between treatments (p >.05). No difference was observed in bacterial alpha diversity, while fungal community diversity was 52% lower in the diverse rotation. The results of this work suggest that specific crops in a rotation may impact microbial processes related to nitrogen mineralization and that the soil fungal community may be more sensitive to changes in crop sequence than the soil bacterial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous addition of inorganic fertilizer and farm yard manure (FYM) alone or in combination is necessary to assess the changes in yield and soil properties. Therefore, a study was conducted for consecutive two years on nutrient management with nine treatments viz. T1- control, T2-100% FYM (N equivalent basis), T3-100% N, T4-NP, T5-NK, T6-PK, T7-NPK, T8-100% NPK+ FYM (recommended Practice) and T9- 150% NPK+ FYM to assess the influence of different treatments on yield, sustainable yield index, soil physic-chemical properties and soil carbon stock and sequestration rate in cauliflower and capsicum cropping sequence. Results showed that the addition of farm yard manure alone or in a combination with chemical fertilizers contributed to higher soil organic stock and soil carbon sequestration rate. Application of 150% NPK + FYM improved the SYI of system by 49.4% over a control. This treatment increases soil carbon stock by 12.5% from 25.9 Mg ha−1 to 29.6 Mg ha−1 and recorded with maximum soil carbon sequestration rate, i.e. 2.21 Mg C m−3 year−1 over the 2 years. Thus, balanced fertilization of NPK and FYM is beneficial for the maintenance of soil physical health, improving CEC and macro and micronutrient levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversified crop rotations can be a win-win solution for farmers and society given increased agronomic yield and improved ecosystem services. However, the adoption of sustainable production practices must be widespread and accelerated to create resilient agroecosystems that can remain productive as the climate changes. In this paper, we use modified measures of sense of place (SOP) and social responsibility (SR) to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of diversified crop rotations (DCR) among producers in South Dakota (SD). Data was collected from 34 SD counties east of the Missouri River. Through the application of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), we identified 3 constructs of SOP on working landscapes 1) place attachment and identity, 2) social networks, and 3) physical place dependence. Using a binary logistic regression, a positive association between the adoption of DCR and place attachment and identity was found. This suggests that farmers have an emotional bond to their land that plays a role in their usage of DCR. Our results suggest that measuring some dimensions of SOP in a working landscape context is important, but needs more refinement, specifically economic dependence, given that the items measuring it did not emerge as a factor in the EFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) re-cropping has a special place in the crop rotation of rice plants in terms of increasing the efficiency of land productivity. A two-year research (2013–2014) was done with three replications to determine the best planting density and appropriate nitrogen splitting in rice re-cropping at Qaemshahr Agricultural Faculty, Mazandaran, northern Iran. For this purpose, a split plot design in RCBD format was used. Experimental factors consisted of plant density (33.3, 25, and 16 plants per sq m at intervals of 30 × 10, 20 × 20, and 25 × 25 cm2, respectively) as the main factor, and nitrogen splitting (NS1: all as a base, NS2: 1 2 base + 1 2 tillering, NS3: 1 2 base + 1 2 panicle formation, NS4: 1 3 base + 1 3 tillering + 1 3 panicle formation, and NS5: 1 3 base + 1 3 panicle formation + 1 3 end of panicle emergence) as subfactors. The results showed that the grain yield was higher for 2014 than in 2013 by 60.0%, due to increasing the number of panicles per sq m (27.2%) and the weight of 1000 grains (7.2%). The maximum grain yield was achieved at a density of 33.3 plants per sq m along with NS4 treatment. The highest straw nitrogen uptake was observed in 2013 by NS4 treatment. The maximum grain nitrogen concentration, nitrogen harvest index, and grain protein yield were recorded in 2014 along with NS4 treatment. The density of 33.3 plants per sq m and NS of 1 3 base + 1 3 tillering + 1 3 panicle formation are suggested for rice re-cropping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full inversion tillage (FIT) at pasture renewal is a management option aiming to increase carbon stocks in long-term pasture, to achieve carbon neutrality. This study investigated the effects of FIT on carbon and nutrient distribution in the soil profile (0–7.5, 7.5–15, 15–22.5 and 22.5–30 cm depths) as well as nutrient uptake, and subsequent fodder crop and/or pasture yields across three pasture renewal trials (Trials 1 and 3: Alfisol; Trial 2: Andisol). These effects of FIT were assessed against standard tillage treatments (no till, shallow till), and non-renewed pasture within 8–18 months post-tillage. FIT changed soil carbon stratification, causing 16%–46% reduction in topsoil (0–7.5 cm) cation exchange capacity across the three trials. However, nutrient levels after FIT remained within recommended ranges for crop and/or pasture growth, avoiding any yield reductions. Topsoil fertility post-FIT depended on original degree of nutrient stratification in the soil profile. At Trial 1, temporary deficiencies caused by low subsoil P and K soil tests pre-FIT were anticipated and corrected with fertiliser nutrients for the following break crop and resown pasture. We conclude that soil testing the cultivation depth prior to FIT at pasture renewal provides the necessary soil test information to manage yield expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the dynamics of soil phosphorus (P) over extended periods of soil and crop management practices is essential for sustainable P management. This study assessed the impact of four crop rotations [maize-wheat (M-W), maize-wheat-mungbean (M-W-Mb), maize-wheat-maize-chickpea (M-W-M-C), and pigeonpea-wheat (P-W)] each with three levels of nutrient management [control (CT), integrated nutrient management (suboptimal fertilizer+ farmyard manure + crop residue + bio-fertilizers; INM), and sole-chemical fertilizers (CF)] on soil inorganic and organic P (Pi and Po) pools and crop–soil relationships at the end of 15-year cropping. Legume-inclusive rotations resulted in higher labile-P pools, being higher with M-W-M-C and P-W. M-W-M-C rotation had higher moderately labile organic P (Po) in both surface (+23%) and subsurface (+18%) depths over M-W. Di-calcium P (Ca2-P) (+6%) and microbial biomass P (MBP) (+46%) increased in M-W-Mb over M-W, while iron-P (Fe-P) was reduced (−12%) in subsurface soil. INM enhanced bioavailable-P [soluble-P (+17%), labile-Pi (+15%) labile-Po (+12%), MBP (+96%), moderately labile-Po (+22%)] over CF in surface soil, while CF had a higher Fe-P (+16%). Legumes in rotation caused notable changes in the surface-to-subsurface ratio (SSBR) of Ca2-P (1.18–1.50) and occluded-P (1.64–2.78). INM had a higher SSBR of labile-P pools but had a lower SSBR of occluded-P facilitating mobilization of the later in the surface. Hence, in tropical soils, legume-inclusive diversification (particularly with chickpea) and INM involving crop residue recycling could be a sustainable option to improve P use efficiency, crop productivity, and save fertilizer resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use maps containing crop rotational information are very important in land management and physical planning. Such maps are usually generated using multitemporal data. Although recent technology allows analysts to process multitemporal information effectively, the use of single date imagery for such purpose is more efficient. This study aimed to map detailed agricultural land-use with crop rotational information based on a single date Landsat 8 imagery and SRTM-derived terrain attributes. A landscape ecological approach assuming the influence of terrain characteristics on the existence of crop and land-use types was implemented in multisource classification using random decision forest (RDF) machine learning algorithm. The use of seven optical bands and five terrain attributes could provide a land-use map at 88.03% accuracy, compared to seven optical bands only that generate 82.45% accuracy. These results are also better than those of maximum likelihood. The most influential variables in the achieved accuracy are elevation and thermal band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canola (Brassica napus L.) production is threatened by blackleg disease caused by Leptosphaeria maculans. Disease outcome is determined by interactions among pathogens, plants, farming practices, and environmental factors. Although the gene-for-gene interactions between the pathogen and its plant host are relatively clear, how precisely the pathogen interacts with the environment and farming practices is still poorly understood, making disease forecasting challenging for commercial farmlands. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been successful in forecasting disease risks based on environmental factors. In this study, we evaluated two AI methods and a data augmentation method to forecast disease risk using a dataset collected from 116 farmlands in Alberta in 2021 and 2022. We first assessed a machine learning model (support vector machine or SVM) and a deep-learning model (convolutional neural network or CNN) to predict blackleg severity based on five weather variables, flea beetle damage, root maggot damage, and crop-rotation variables. Both SVM and CNN predicted the disease risk with an accuracy of over 66%. The data augmentation method did not improve model performance. Flea beetle feeding and maggot damage contribute little to the model's performance, and omitting these data did not appear to affect the results. In contrast, crop rotation contributes substantially to model performance. The five weather variables contribute roughly equally to the model's performance, and removing any of the individual weather variables did not impact prediction ability for both models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argentina stands as one of the leading consumers of herbicides. In a laboratory incubation experiment, the persistence and production of degradation metabolites of Atrazine, 2,4-D, and Glyphosate were investigated in a loamy clay soil under two contrasting agricultural practices: continuous soybean cultivation (T1) and intensified rotations with grasses and legumes (T2). The soils were collected from a long-term no-till trial replicating the influence of the meteorological conditions in the productive region. The soil was enriched with diluted concentrations of 6.71, 9.95, and 24 mg a.i./kg-1 of soil for the respective herbicides, equivalent to annual doses commonly used in the productive region. Samples were taken at intervals of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 32, and 64 days, and analysis was conducted using high-resolution liquid chromatography UPLC MS/MS. An optimal fit to the first-order kinetic model was observed for each herbicide in both rotations, resulting in relatively short half-lives. Intensified crop sequences favored the production of biotic degradation metabolites. The impact of the high frequency of soybean cultivation revealed a trend of soil acidification and a reduced biological contribution to attenuation processes in soil contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although New Zealand is developing an increasing number of herbicide-resistant weed populations, it has a much lower incidence of herbicide resistance than Australia. Understanding the reasons for these differences may help with future management of herbicide resistance in both countries. Australia is much larger than New Zealand so greater areas of weeds are exposed to herbicides annually in Australia. Another difference is the high frequency of Lolium rigidum in Australian agricultural systems, a species almost absent in New Zealand, and many of the cases of resistance in Australia involve this species. However, species closely related to L. rigidum are increasingly being found resistant to herbicides in New Zealand. Higher rainfall in most parts of New Zealand allows much more crop rotation than is possible in Australia, and greater crop yields give New Zealand farmers more flexibility to use higher application rates and more expensive herbicides in rotation than is feasible in Australia. Dry conditions result in more use of summer fallows in Australia using glyphosate which has caused some of the problems. Selection pressure for resistance still occurs in New Zealand, so herbicide and crop rotation may just be delaying the appearance of resistance in this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the steppe zone of Ukraine during the growing season autumn 2021 through the beginning of summer 2022, water balancing in a winter wheat crop with peas as a precursor was 3–9 times greater than with a cereal (spring barley) or sunflower as a precursor; Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) following peas was 1.6–1.7 times greater; the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI, the rate of moisture supply) in the plant leaf at the macro-stages BBCH 10–61 was 1.54–1.82 times higher; and productivity 1.43–1.56 times higher. Water consumption for the formation of a tonne of winter wheat grain following peas was one third less compared to other precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural production can be raised sustainably by a scientifically based crop structure. We determine the influence of the saturation of crop rotations with sunflower and basic soil tillage on the number and species composition of weeds, including the parasitic sunflower broomrape. The experiment included crop rotations with sunflower comprising 12.5, 20, 25, 33.3, 50 and 100%, and three systems of tillage: mouldboard plough, disking, and no-till. Compared with the mouldboard plough, disking and no-till left 1.3 to 1.5-times as many weeds. The greatest damage by sunflower broomrape was observed in the 2-field rotation of winter wheat – sunflower, and in continuous sunflower, with 16 and 32% of crop plants affected, respectively. Broomrape infestation was highest under the mouldboard plough where infestation was 1.2–1.6 times greater than under disking and no-till, respectively. The best oil seed yields (2.92 and 2.95t/ha) were achieved by 8- and 5-field rotations under the plough; the lowest in short rotations with a sunflower saturation of 50%, and with continuous sunflower, amounting to 1.75–2.21t/ha under the plough, 1.57–2.01t/ha with disking, and 1.49–1.95t/ha with no-till. Given market demand, it would be expedient to increase the proportion of sunflower in the structure of sown areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop rotations with residue incorporation can be beneficial to the sustainability of agriculture, however as long-term studies are required to determine effects on soil properties, farmers usually don't practice crop rotations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of crop rotations with residue incorporation (0%, 50%, 100%, and 200%) on soil chemical properties of a volcanic soil after 4 years of cultivation. The evaluated rotations were canola (Brassica napus L.)-bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), canola-durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.), canola-corn (Zea mays L.), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)-bread wheat, bean-durum wheat, and bean-corn. The experiment consisted of six crop rotations, four levels of residue incorporation, and four replicates, analyzed as split-plot design. Samples were taken from the topsoil, and the following soil chemical properties were evaluated: pH, organic matter, electrical conductivity, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), aluminum (Al), and sulfur (S). The results showed that crop rotations affected all the chemical properties evaluated, whereas the level of residue incorporation only affected the concentrations of exchangeable Mg and K. Most of the evaluated crops rotations had beneficial effects on the soil properties. The canola-durum wheat crop rotation recorded the lowest values in OM, available N and the exchangeable Ca, Mg, and Na. Exchangeable Mg and K had a directly proportional relationship with the level of residue incorporation. In conclusion, the incorporation of residues in different doses during 4 years of crop rotation in this volcanic soil had little effect on its chemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries have integrated agroforestry into their sustainable development policies, particularly in Southeast Asia. In Timor-Leste, the national strategy to promote agroforestry has adopted a modern, technique-oriented approach focused on crop rotation, intercropping and agro-silvo-pasture. In so doing, it has largely overlooked the pre-existence, diversity and performance of traditional agroforestry systems (AFS). The data collected in seven villages located in four districts of the eastern municipalities of Timor-Leste identified five common AFS: home garden, crop field and fallow, young agroforest, forest garden and silvopastoralism. The combined use of the customary AFS by rural households depends on the households' ability to access the four types of capital (land, financial, labour and social) underpinning their development strategies. Four rural household archetypes were therefore distinguished. Six farming strategies used by these archetypes were identified: cattle specialisation, palm and tree product harvesting, crop intensification, diversification of off-farm and on-farm income, abandonment of farming, and survival. Each of these farming strategies combine certain customary AFS. The diversity and complexity of AFS require a better description of how they function and a better understanding of how they fit into the heterogeneous development strategies of rural households before actions are considered to improve their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain legume production offers multiple environmental benefits and can enhance the sustainability of farming, but the legume area has been small and declining over the last decades in most European countries. Recently, grain legumes have gained importance because of the increases in prices of feed and food proteins, fertilizers and fuel, in addition to sustainability concerns. This study investigated the impacts of introducing grain legumes [faba beans (Vicia faba L.)] in cereal-dominated crop production systems typical for southwestern Finland. To investigate the economic effects as well as the effect grain legumes have on production and land use a dynamic optimization model was used. The results suggest significant crop yield gains if farmers consistently utilize the pre-crop value of legumes and other crops in crop rotations over several years. The farm economic gains of diversified legume rotations were found to be positive but relatively small assuming past prices, but they can be significantly higher if legume and nitrogen fertilizer prices increase in the future. Overall, faba bean-based rotations have positive long-term implications on soil quality and biodiversity and thus future viability and societal reputation of farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic studies on the economic competitiveness of organic farming systems compared to conventional farming systems are particularly lacking in tropical environments. In tropical regions, the evaluation of organic production systems typically concentrates on main cash crops earmarked for export markets. Consequently, crops grown in rotation or in association with these main crops have been largely overlooked, with their contribution to farm profitability is often considered negligible due to perceived challenges in securing premium organic prices. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted an analysis of twelve years of economic data from four long-term farming system comparison trials in tropical regions. Our objective was to delve into the economic competitiveness of both organic and conventional production systems at the system level, considering not only the main cash crops but also the associated and rotational crops. The outcomes of our analysis revealed that in three out of four systems, the gross margins of organic and conventional systems were comparable. In the fourth system, the gross margins of the organic system were 13.13% lower, equivalent to $169.8 per hectare per year compared to the conventional system. Furthermore, the contribution of crops grown in rotation with these main crops remains similar even when premium prices are not obtained. In instances where premium prices for non-cash crops are secured, their profitability can even surpass that of cash crops. Additionally, in the case of agroforestry, companion plantings serve as valuable additions for both dietary and income diversity. These findings suggest that the profitability of an agricultural system is not solely dependent on whether it is organic or conventional but is instead influenced by various system components. The emphasis should shift from a singular focus on main cash crops to a more comprehensive understanding that considers the entire spectrum of crops within a farming system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) plays a key role in soil conservation, which in turn is important in sustainable agriculture and carbon farming. For mapping NPV image spectroscopy proved to outperform multispectral sensors. PRISMA (PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa) is the forerunner of a new era of hyperspectral satellite missions, providing the proper spectral resolution for NPV mapping. This study takes advantage from both spectroscopy and machine-learning techniques. Exponential Gaussian Optimization was used for modelling known absorption bands (cellulose-lignin, pigments, water content and clays), resulting in a reduced feature space, which is split by a decision tree (DT) for mapping different field conditions (emerging, green and standing dead vegetation, crop residue and bare soil). DT training and validation exploited reference data, collected during PRISMA overpasses on a large farmland. Mapping results are accurate both at pixel and parcel level (O.A. > 90%; K > 0.9). Field status and crop rotation trajectories through time are derived by processing 12 images over 2020 and 2021. Results proved that PRISMA data are suitable for mapping field conditions at parcel scale with high confidence level. This is important in the perspective of other hyperspectral missions and is a premise toward quantitative estimates of NPV biophysical variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural soils can act as a repository for atmospheric carbon and hence mitigate global warming. One of the best management practices that can increase the soil organic carbon (SOC) is the selection of high carbon input crops. Some crops like soybean would lead to SOC decrease due to its low residue production. This is the main crop in the Pampas region of Argentina. The objective of the present study was to determine how soybean monoculture impacts the SOC in the region. Data were collected from 11 long-term field experiments. Results of nine SOC comparisons of soybean monoculture with rotations and seven comparisons of other crop monocultures with rotations were extracted. Meta-analytic methods were used for the analysis. SOC stock in the 0–20 cm layer was 10% lower under monoculture of soybean than under rotations. The average duration of the experiments was 10 years. On the contrary, no differences of the SOC were detected when monocultures of wheat, corn or sunflower were compared with rotations. When the initial and final SOC stocks were compared in each treatment, it was estimated that in nearly all cases there were losses of SOC. The average loss of SOC was 8.1 t ha−1 under soybean monoculture and 3.9 t ha−1 under the corresponding rotations. Consequently, the reviewed experiments indicate losses of SOC due to agriculture in the Pampas that double with soybean monoculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice straw (RS), biochar (BC) and lime (LM) have proved to be effective immobilizing agents in acidic contaminated soil. Up-to-date scientific data is lacking regarding residual effects of these amendments in acidic soils and wheat/rice cropping system. The objective was to analyze the efficacy of amendments to improve grain yields, nutritional quality, and reduce Ni bioavailability of wheat/rice rotation system. A pot experiment was conducted to examine the efficacy of RS, BC 10 and 20 g kg−1 and LM 10 g kg−1 application rates on plant growth, nutritional quality and Ni contents in wheat and rice tissues and grain. Amendments enhanced Ni immobilization, declined their uptake by plants and accumulation in the grains of both crops. Rice straw biochar reduced several factors like health risk assessment, Ni uptake and bioconcentration factor. BC 20 g kg−1 increased shoot, root and grain yields, while enhanced essential nutrients in the wheat/rice cropping system compared to untreated soil. Soil amendments significantly decreased toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP) extractable Ni by 42.25% and 42.62% and simple bioaccessibility extraction test (SBET) by 42.1% and 45.25% in post- wheat/rice crops. This process enhanced the safety of wheat/rice rotation cropping system to be consumed and mitigated security risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the traditional ecological knowledge that existed for generations along the southern coast in Korea with an example from the site of Gungokri. Traditional subsistence along the Korean coast and islands is known as half-farming and half-fishing, Ban-nong ban-eoh in Korean, and we argue that this strategy applies to over 500 years of history at the site. Our data from 150 b.c.–a.d. 400 focuses on archaeobotanical remains recovered from floated sediments, 25 radiocarbon dates, and starch granules extracted from vessels. Our research indicates that Gungokri residents practiced a rotation of crops in both wetlands and uplands to prevent the loss of soil nutrition and erosion from seawater. Furthermore, they diversified food resources by fishing, shellfishing, hunting, and harvesting wild plants from forest edges and wetlands. This type of long-term resilience and ecological flexibility in coastal adaptation was achieved through niche construction of complex seasonal resource management and inheritance of traditional ecological knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cauliflower and tomato are two most important cash crops of the North-Western part of Himalayas often grown in sequence and bring remunerative returns to the farmers of mid-hill region. The study was undertaken in order to evaluate the effect of application of various nutrient combinations through organic and inorganic inputs on the post harvest soil fertility status, crop quality parameters, nutrient use efficiencies, nutrient harvest indices, and economics of the cauliflower–tomato production system. The total of 11 treatment combinations, comprising sole organics, graded doses of inorganics and substitution of inorganics with organic inputs were studied. The study concluded that the application of 75% NPK + 100% FYM + 25% recommended N through FYM and VC on 50:50 N-equivalence basis significantly improved most of the quality and yield parameters in both the crops simultaneously giving highest N (197.8 kg ha−1) and K (167.4 kg ha−1) uptake, NUE (46.3%), AE (57.0 kg kg−1), P harvest index (50.7%) and net returns (5476 US$ ha−1) in cauliflower. This treatment was also accorded with significantly highest N (141.9 kg ha−1), P (30.6 kg ha−1), and K (185.0 kg ha−1) uptake, NUE (33.6%), AE (115.4 kg kg−1), and net returns (7858 US$ ha−1) in tomato. Hence, it is concluded that 75% NPK + 100% FYM + 25% recommended N through FYM and VC on 50:50 N-equivalence basis may be adopted as cost-effective nutrient module for farmers following cauliflower–tomato cropping sequence to achieve higher crop production on sustainable basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of wheat and maize rotations and the application of plant-animal compost on potato bacterial wilt and yield was investigated. The proposed method was tested in three separate locations, each two acres in size, with an untreated control. The first two were naturally infested, but the third was pathogen-free. Infested locations that had been treated experienced a significant reduction in disease incidence. The addition of a bio-fertilizer mixture (Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp., Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus circulans) improved the compost's suppressive potential. The method increased soil organic matter (SOM), N, P, K, Ca+2, and Mg+2 while decreasing Na+ levels and increasing potato yield. The relative abundance of Ralstonia decreased while that of Arthrobacter, Streptomyces, and Nocardioides increased. The presence of Gracilibacillus, Cellvibrio, Bacillus, and Paenibacillus was associated with a decrease in Ralstonia, whereas the presence of Propionibacterium (a nitrogen-fixing bacteria) was associated with an increase in Ralstonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A long-term experiment was initiated on potassium (K)-rich clay soils in a rice-wheat-green gram cropping sequence to assess the feasibility of K fertilizer recommendation. Treatment consists of absolute control, farmyard manure to rice (25 t ha−1), 50% nitrogen and phosphorus (NP), 100% NP (257:160 kg NP ha−1), 50% NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium), 100% NPK (257:160:135 kg NPK ha−1), NP (257:127 kg NP ha−1) and NPK (257:120:67 kg NPK ha−1) as per soil test, 50% N, 100% N (257 kg N ha−1) to the sequence. NP and NPK application as per soil test significantly increased the yield of rice (4.15 and 3.92 t ha−1), wheat (2.59 and 2.56 t ha−1), green gram (0.66 and 0.62 t ha−1) and rice equivalent yield (8918 and 8660 kg ha−1) and net returns (1018 and 959 US $ ha−1), respectively. Sustainable yield index for rice, wheat and green gram was 0.53–0.63, 0.32–0.45 and 0.10–0.23, respectively. Apparent nutrient balance for N (38.7–120.9 kg ha−1) and P (43.6–113.5 kg ha−1) was positive and negative for K (−34.9 to −154.8 kg ha−1). Residual water-soluble (3.3 and 4.0 mg kg−1), exchangeable (84.2 and 95.1 mg kg−1) and available K (87.2 and 98.9 mg kg−1) were higher with full K dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover crop (CC) inclusion in cropping sequences could ameliorate negative effects of continuous agriculture on soil properties. The use of CC as a sustainable management tool can reverse the soil degradation process and improve soil health in the short term. The present study evaluated soil properties following short-term cover cropping in on-farm conditions. Three strip-trial experiments were conducted. Treatments were: i) oat (Avena sativa), ii) vetch (Vicia villosa), and iii) control (without CC). Prior to CC chemical termination, shoot and root dry matter (DM) and DM nitrogen accumulation in CC shoot (Nac) were determined. After CC termination, we determined: soil bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR), infiltration (INF), aggregate stability, total and particulate organic carbon (POC), organic nitrogen, nitrogen mineralized in anaerobic incubation (Nan) and soil glomalin. On average across sites, grater shoot, and root DM were determined in oat than vetch, while Nac was greater in vetch. The POC and Nan increased by CC inclusion mainly in 0–5 cm soil depth. Improvements of over 50% in INF (0–20 cm) and 8% in BD (0–5 cm) were determined in CC treatments compared to control. The effects of CC on some soil parameters depended on the previous management practices (i.e. tillage system, crop sequences). In the short-term, CC inclusion improves some soil properties, depending on their sensibility to management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term, excessive application of synthetic N fertilizers will reduce soil aggregate stability and N supply capacity in corn–wheat (Zea mays L. – Triticum aestivum L.) rotation. This study aimed to determine the effects of soybean (Glycine max L.) on soil aggregation, soil organic N (SON) and net amount of N mineralization (NANM) in wheat season compared with corn. Three rotation systems, corn–wheat (C-W), soybean–wheat (S-W) and soybean inoculated with Rhizobium-wheat (SR-W) were established in 2017. In wet screening, compared with C-W rotation, the mass proportions of large macro-aggregates (LM%) + small macro-aggregates (SM%) at 0–20 cm was increased by 51.9% and 16.6% under S-W and SR-W rotations, respectively, and was increased by 50.6% and 59.8%, respectively, in the 20–40 cm. The proportions of LM + SM-associated N (LMN% + SMN%), ammonium N (AN) and amino acid N (AAN) were higher under the S-W and SR-W rotations. Furthermore, the NANM of S-W and SR-W rotations increased by 34.1% and 28.6% compared with C-W rotation, respectively, and the non-N benefits of soybean played an important role. In conclusion, the improvement degree of soil aggregation by soybean is an important factor affecting soil N mineralization in wheat season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2] is used widely for soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. production in Japan to amend soil pH, although magnesium (Mg) in the dolomite can inhibit soybean growth and yield. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Mg on soybean production in a paddy – upland rotation field in 2019–2020 by comparing the application of dolomite and calcite (CaCO3). The field test included three replications with three lime applications: control (no lime), dolomite, and calcite. The amounts of calcite and dolomite applied in each year were 253 and 259 g m−2, respectively. The soil pH was almost similar following the applications of calcite and dolomite, whereas the soil exchangeable Mg content was higher following the dolomite application than following the other applications. The shoot weight from the flowering stage to the harvest stage (R8) was significantly higher following the calcite application than following the other applications. However, the shoot weight at only R8 was significantly higher following the dolomite application than following the control application. In 2019–2020, the highest soybean yield was resulted from the calcite application (355 g m−2) followed by the dolomite application (312 g m−2) and the control application (260 g m−2). The severity of soil-borne diseases was lower following the dolomite application than following the control application, and even lower following the calcite application. Thus, the application of dolomite increased soybean yield by improving soil pH; however, Mg in the dolomite inhibited a further increase in soybean yield in a paddy – upland rotation field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce tobacco production suggested by the Chinese government, a 12-year field experiment was established by planting other crops in a traditional tobacco growing system every 2 years. Thus, tobacco-wheat, tobacco-canola, tobacco-wheat-maize, and tobacco-canola-maize rotations were implemented to compare the changes in soil properties. Compared to the initial soil, available N, P, and K increased or changed little after 12-year cropping except for decreased available N in the tobacco-wheat rotation soil. Compared with two-crop rotations, soil organic matter, available N, microbial biomass, enzyme activities (urease, phosphatase, and dehydrogenase), and bacterial community indexes (16S rDNA sequences, operational taxonomic units (OTUs), and richness and diversity indexes) increased in the three-crop rotations. The return of voluminous maize stubble should be the important reason for the change of these soil properties. All cropping soils were dominated by five bacteria (Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes) accounting for 53.5–62.3% of the 16S rDNA sequences. Among the top 20 predominant bacteria, 10 were commonly found in all soils and only 2–5 were unique. Therefore, maize incorporation into the traditional two-crop systems increased stubble return and improved soil properties. However, bacterial community composition was more influenced by the soil itself than cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight integrated crop management (ICM) practices were evaluated for six years consecutively, which are ICM1&2: 'business-as-usual' (conventional transplanted rice fb flatbed wheat), ICM3&4: conventional direct seeded rice (DSR) fb furrow irrigated raised-bed wheat without residues, ICM5&6: conservation agriculture (CA)-based zero-tilled (ZT) DSR fb ZT wheat with the wheat and rice residues and ICM7&8: CA-based ZTDSR fb ZT wheat with the wheat, mungbean and rice residues. ICM7-8 produced 9.6–16.4% and 9.4–9.9% greater system rice equivalent yield (REY) than the ICM1-4 and ICM5-6, respectively. Residue-retained CA-based ICM5-8 had 23.2% and 58.5% greater N and P balance, respectively, than the residue removed (ICM1-4); subsequently, negative K balance (–53 to –115.5 kg ha−1) was recorded in ICM1-4. ICM5-8 consumed ~60-78% of total energy and produced the highest energy output (Eo) in rice (11.5–12.6%)/wheat (7.3–13%) than ICM1-4. In contrast, ICM1-4 had a greater energy use efficiency (EUE) compared to ICM5-8 due to lesser energy input (EI) through indirect renewable sources. At a soil depth of 0.0–0.45 m, the ICM5-8 contributed 7.9% and 20.2% greater active and passive OC pools over the ICM1-4. Thus, CA-based ICM in rice-wheat rotation (RWR) could be a possible substitute for the positive nutrient balance, system yields and energy and carbon dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field survey was conducted in 2021 to determine distribution and association of white rust intensity with biophysical factors. Spatio-temporal analysis of its epidemics in the farms revealed a wide distribution of the disease. The prevalence ranged from 80% to 100% indicating that white rust was distributed almost in all of the surveyed areas. Its incidence varied from 41% to 100% and the severity ranged from 4% to 50%. White rust epidemics were significantly influenced by weeding frequency, crop rotation, source of seed and planting date with an incidence of ≤ 50.5% and severity of ≤16.2%. Overall, the present study concludes that the management practices such as tillage, crop rotation, source of seed and weed management are very important for white rust. Again, the assessment of white rust status in other areas and the evaluation of management practices are very important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of leguminous crops for crop rotation can mitigate the negative effects of continuous cropping on soil health. In this experiment, we designed ten cropping patterns to optimise the rotation effect with different combinations of crop types, planting years, and order in a mainly potato-growing region. A 5-year cycle with three crops, undertaken in Inner Mongolia since 2009, was used to test soil properties and microbial structure. The relative abundance of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) was 32.1% in the cycle oats oats alfalfa alfalfa alfalfa and 22.4% in 5-year mono-cropping of alfalfa, which was higher than that of mono-cropping of potatoes and other crop rotations. Soil moisture was the main factor influencing bacterial and fungal communities. The effect of the type of plant introduced into the rotation on soil was greater than that of the number of years a certain crop was planted in the rotation, and this effect was greater than that of planting order. The findings suggest that the rotation of oats and alfalfa mixed → alfalfa → oats → potatoes → potatoes is a suitable 5-year cycle to maintain biodiversity and better soil physico-chemical properties for sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate nitrogen (N) fertilization in vegetable-maize rotations is effective in improving agricultural production and mitigating environmental impacts to ensure sustainable food security. The dynamic and sustainability of crop yields, crop root biomasses, and accumulations and sequestration rates of soil organic C (SOC) and total N (STN) were explored and analyzed under four N application rates (kg N ha−1 year−1): 0 (Control), 285 (Low-N), 480 (Medium-N), and 720 (High-N). The Low-N and Medium-N applications increased Chinese cabbage yield by 22% and 20.7% than the High-N application, respectively. The Medium-N application gained the highest grain yield and root biomass in the maize season when compared with the Low-N application. The sustainable yield index had no difference between Low-N and Medium-N treatments in Chinese cabbage-maize rotation. Compared to the Low-N application, the Medium-N application improved the storage and sequestration rates of SOC and STN. Simultaneously, the Medium-N application significantly enhanced the soil C:N ratio than the High-N application. In conclusion, the Medium-N application is a promising fertilization strategy in the Chinese cabbage-maize cropping system as it increases the yield and root biomass of crops, improves the accumulation and sequestration rates of SOC and STN, and maintains a high soil C:N ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-increasing global population presents a looming threat to food production. To meet growing food demands while minimizing negative impacts on water and soil, agricultural practices must be altered. To make informed decisions, decision-makers require timely, accurate, and efficient crop maps. Remote sensing-based crop mapping faces numerous challenges. However, recent years have seen substantial advances in crop mapping through the use of big data, multi-sensor imagery, the democratization of remote sensing data, and the success of deep learning algorithms. This systematic literature review provides an overview of the history and evolution of crop mapping using remote sensing techniques. It also discusses the latest scientific advances in the field of crop mapping, which involve the use of machine and deep learning models. The review protocol involved the analysis of 386 peer-reviewed publications. The results of the analysis show that areas such as crop rotation mapping, double cropping, and early crop mapping require further exploration. The use of LiDAR as a tool for crop mapping also needs more attention, and hierarchical crop mapping is recommended. This review provides a comprehensive framework for future researchers interested in accurate large-scale crop mapping from multi-source image data and machine and deep learning techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated concentrations of manganese (Mn2+) can persist after drainage in soil following wetland rice production, leading to toxicity in subsequent legume crops. To evaluate Mn2+ concentration causing adverse impacts on crop establishment and growth, a controlled environment experiment using hydroponics was designed. Germination and growth of field pea, faba bean and mung bean were evaluated over 21 d with an increase in Mn2+ (0 − 50 mg Mn2+L−1). Germination of all crops was impacted significantly with an increase in concentration of Mn2+. Leaf chlorophyll content as well as all plant growth parameters assessed (dry weight, height) were negatively impacted (p < 0.05) by increasing concentrations of Mn2+. Field peas and faba beans proved more sensitive to Mn2+ than did mung beans at concentrations of 5 − 10 mg L−1. Field pea and faba bean specifically exhibited reduced height (30 − 60% and 4 − 41%, respectively), root length (12 − 30% and 20 − 25%, respectively), and shoot weight (41 − 69% and 47 − 81%, respectively). Mung bean was less impacted in terms of plant height with 23% reduction at 25 mg Mn2+ L−1 and shoot dry weight reduced by 48% at 50 mg Mn2+ L−1. Total chlorophyll content of mung bean was severely affected (86% reduction at 50 mg Mn2+ L−1), with field pea least impacted. Our findings suggest that significant Mn2+ toxicity could potentially occur in terms of legume germination and overall growth if legume crops are sown into post-rice soils with ≥5 mg Mn2+L−1. Soil Mn2+ level must be considered when developing cropping strategies following flooded rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization significantly restricts crop yield, animal foraging, and biomass production for biofuels. Identifying an efficient farming system to mitigate these concerns has become a major research focus. The present study addresses the potential of rotating triticale and sweet sorghum at various planting densities to alleviate soil salt stress, enhance production, improve agronomic characteristics, and boost soil microbial communities in a saline agricultural environment in East China. Several indicators in 2017 and 2018. Results show that triticale and sweet sorghum planting significantly decreased soil salt contents compared to bare land plots. Multiple agronomic traits were measured for each planting density. For triticale, a density of 180 × 104 plants ha−1 showed the best plant height, tiller number per plant, yield, and lodging rate; for sweet sorghum, a density of 7 × 104 plants/ha showed the best plant height, yield, and lodging rate. High-density planting of triticale (180, 260, 320 × 104 plants/ha) and sweet sorghum (7, 8, 9 × 104 plants/ha) was associated with high counts of bacteria, Actinomycetes, and salt-tolerant Actinomycetes. However, planting density had no significant effect on the counts of fungi or salt-tolerant bacteria. Redundancy Discriminant Analysis (RDA) showed that plant height, yield, lodging rate, bacteria, salt-tolerant bacteria, Actinomycetes, and salt-tolerant Actinomycetes were negatively correlated with soil salinity, while tiller number per plant and stem thickness were positively correlated with soil salinity. In conclusion, a rotation system of triticale and sweet sorghum with planting densities of 180 × 104 and 7 × 104 plants/ha, respectively was established to improve and make full use of saline soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on fundamental and applied research of leading scientists in the field, we outline the state of the land in Ukraine, identify the factors contributing to its degradation, and propose restorative measures. Soil degradation may be arrested by land use that takes account of soil-landscape and climatic factors; a science-based structure of sown areas and crop rotation; soil-protective and resource-saving cultivation; anti-erosion measures applying GIS and remote sensing but, also, simply restoring vegetation cover; and reclamation of disturbed lands. These well established technologies should become integral to agricultural enterprises and the practice of ministries and departments of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The form and opener configuration used to apply phosphorus fertilizer can influence its effectiveness and crop response. A growth chamber study was conducted to examine the response of crop (canola, wheat, and pea grown in rotation) and soil to P fertilizer form (monoammonium phosphate and struvite), opener spread (narrow versus wide), and rate treatments of 0, 20, 40, and 60 kg P2O5 ha−1 added to canola (B. napus) in the seed-row, followed by wheat and pea without P fertilization to examine residual effects. Crop emergence, 30 days above ground biomass yield, uptake of P and apparent recovery of fertilizer P were determined, along with labile soil residual P concentrations at the end of the rotation. Both MAP and struvite produced similar crop biomass yield and P uptake response. The narrow opener spread (1") performed better in canola yield response to added P and in recovery of P fertilizer compared to the wide (3") spacing and did not appear to reduce canola emergence even at the highest rates of added P fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) is the major input for cereal grain production. N management in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) is critical for optimizing grain yield, protein concentration, and utilization efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer. A two-year study was conducted in the semi-arid region of the US Northern Great Plains (NGP) to investigate nitrogen input levels and application methods under fallow-durum and pea-durum systems. A durum wheat (cv. Joppa) was planted in the field following fallow or field pea with N input levels of 65 and 135 kg ha−1 and four application methods for each N input level. Results showed that water was the major limiting factor determining grain yield and protein concentration. Grain yield was greater but with similar protein concentration following fallow (1958 kg ha−1, 16.7%) than following field pea (1754 kg ha−1, 16.4%). Increasing N input from 65 kg ha−1 to 135 kg ha−1decreased grain yield from 1933 to 1779 kg ha−1 but improved protein concentration from 16.3 to 16.8%, which resulted in a negative nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Application method of N did not significantly affect yield and protein, but there was a trend of yield increase via split application of N at the lower rate in a wetter year. The drought in 2017 resulted in lower test weight and harvest index (HI). The HI was lower in the135 kg ha−1 N rate than in the 65 kg ha−1 N rate, especially in the dryer year. Excessive N inputs in a water-limited environment may result in 'haying-off'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn performance is often unchanged by modifying the potassium fertilizer application timing, especially when soil K is not a limiting factor. Consequently, there is no literature reporting K timing on K-fertilizer contribution (or use) in high-yielding corn fields. We evaluated corn performance and K-fertilizer use based on timings of K-fertilizer application in the oat-corn sequence at subtropical environment with highly weathered soils. Additionally, we propose a timing strategy to ensure high corn use of fertilizer. The crop sequence study was conducted in two field experiments to investigate corn performance with respect to K-leaf, K uptake, and yield. Additionally, we evaluated K-fertilizer use by rubidium as potassium derived from fertilizer and potassium use efficiency. Application timings were two before and three during corn growth and development. Timings did not change corn performance even for late K application, and this was attributed mainly to soil K sufficiency levels. Corn K-fertilizer use, on the other hand, was different and higher for timings before (versus during) corn growth and development. Importantly, timing of K application ∼22 days before corn sowing improved corn K-fertilizer use approximately 2-fold versus the two late timings. Timings in oat or during corn sowing were identical for corn K-fertilizer use. We link our rainfall data with literature K-fertilizer movement (positional aspect), and the corn ability to acquire it. Application of K at 3-weeks before corn sowing constituted the optimal timing for fertilizer supply. This finding will assist farmers in large-scale areas to manage K-fertilizer application to promote higher efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different fertilizer management systems such as organic, chemical and integrated fertilizer systems in increasing total quality and quantity yields of canola and wheat in two rotations included canola–soybean–wheat and canola-wheat. In this experiment, the effects of zeolite incorporation with different organic and chemical fertilizers were investigated on the improvement of yield components, crop yield and nutrient uptake of canola and wheat in Iran during 2014–2018. Two crop rotations of canola-soybean-wheat and canola-wheat provided the whole-plot treatments with nine fertilization management (F1: urea, F2: urea + zeolite, F3: composted manure, F4: composted manure + zeolite, F5: urea + composted manure, F6: urea+ composted manure + zeolite, F7: urea+ azocompost, F8: urea+ azocompost + zeolite and F9: Control) providing the sub-plots. The highest yield of canola and wheat were observed under F6 and F8. Embedding soybean in the rotation was not significantly efficacious in increasing canola and wheat yields. Also, soybean did not reduce wheat and canola yield, it could fulfill its own requirements. Elemental composition of seeds in crops was affected by the treatments. Principal component analysis (PCA) perfectly displayed that organic fertilizers, especially composted manure accompanied with the application of 8 ton ha−1 zeolite and urea (F6) had the most predominant effect on yield and yield components in both wheat and canola. Crop rotation in the short-term programs might not produce desirable results, but it is expected to see the efficacy of crop rotation in long-term farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive tillage practices have degraded soil physical quality and reduced soil organic carbon (SOC) content. As a result, crop productivity has decreased over time, highlighting the need for conservation practices. For this, a long-term field experiment at Research Farm, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour dominated by Inceptisols in Indo-Gangetic plains of Bihar was conducted to study the effect of three tillage practices, that is, zero tillage (ZT), permanent raised bed (PB) and conventional tillage (CT) and three cropping system namely maize-maize, maize-wheat and maize-chickpea on different pools of carbon and soil aggregation. After 7 years, it was observed that conservation tillage practices (ZT and PB) had significant positive effect on total soil organic carbon, active pools of carbon and percentage distribution of aggregates. The total organic carbon (TOC) and mean weight diameter (MWD) was found highest under PB (8.62 g kg−1 and 1.70 mm, respectively) which was at par with ZT (8.50 g kg−1 and 1.68 mm, respectively) and the lowest in CT (7.89 g kg−1 and 1.37 mm, respectively) while, among cropping systems, maize-chickpea system recorded significantly higher TOC and MWD (8.48 g kg−1 and 1.67 mm, respectively). Carbon Management Index (CMI) was also found higher under ZT (152) and maize-chickpea system (149). As a result of our study, it was observed that combining conservation practices (PB and ZT) with appropriate crop rotation (maize-chickpea) appears to be the best option for restoring and improving the health of light-textured Inceptisols by increasing soil organic matter (SOM) and improving soil physical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of long-term (45-year) fertilization of the crop rotation on soil organic carbon concentration (SOC%) changes in different periods of the experiment and its trend under conditions of more northerly marine climate changes. In this work, the data of the long-term NPK fertilization experiment of sandy loam Calcisols located in Northern Estonia (longitude 58.584816, latitude 24.422128) have been used. The crop rotation was divided into six blocks: potato-spring barley-spring barley under sowing with forage grasses – 1y and 2y forage grasses-winter rye. Different combinations of mineral (N 40—180; P 18—54; K 50—105 kg ha−1) and organic (manure (FYM) 30 and 60 Mg ha−1) fertilizers were used in the study. Two periods were observed: the last 20y vegetation period was 10% warmer and 15% less rainy than the earlier period. Under conditions of climate warming, the yield of barley and potatoes increased the most, especially with manure application. SOC% increased from 2.01 to 2.04 under the influence of mineral fertilizers, and from 2.08 to 2.22 with mineral + FYM. The soil is sustainable if manure is used at least 5–10 Mg ha−1 per y−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosolid-borne heavy metals are the main concern in soils. Therefore, the effects of biosolid biochar application in soils were evaluated in our study through a rice-wheat rotation in fields. The results showed that after the application of biosolid biochar, soil organic matter (SOM), soil pH, and soil total heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb) were significantly increased. But the CaCl2 extracted metals concentrations were decreased, and no significant differences in metal concentrations of soil deeper layers (20-100 cm) were found among different treatments. The Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb concentrations in rice decreased by 13.2%, 37.0%, 9.92%, and 63.0%, respectively, and the concentrations of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb in wheat decreased by 20.85%, 19.7%, 48.6%, and 23.6%, respectively, compared with the control treatment. Biosolid biochar can decrease metal availability in soils and increase crop production in fields, thus is suggested to use in fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-crop values are used to indicate the benefits of a previous crop for a subsequent crop in crop sequencing. A better understanding and research on pre-crop values has the potential to facilitate the diversification of crop production. Despite the various benefits of diversification, the limited knowledge and incentives concerning the pre-crop values in the market conditions have contributed to the persistence of cereal-dominated land use. The present study evaluated the benefits of utilizing pre-crop values in a Finnish context. Results based on dynamic optimization modelling showed that incorporating more information on pre-crop values into farmers' decision-making contributes to increased net present values (NPV). The adoption of pre-crop values was analysed under five different scenarios: Removal of the Common Agricultural Policy land constraints, 30% increase in labour costs, +/−10% change in crop prices, and 30% increase in N fertilizer price. Under each scenario, the response of the baseline model (without pre-crop values) was compared to the response of the model with pre-crop values. In all scenarios, the results of the model with pre-crop values showed higher NPVs, higher yields and slightly lower GHG emissions. Hence, increasing knowledge and utilization of pre-crop values may significantly promote shifts towards more sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil hydraulic parameters (SHPs) required as inputs for numerical models are scarce in Sahelian regions. Instead, they are estimated using pedotransfer functions (PTFs), but their ability to simulate soil water dynamics has not been evaluated. This study aims to parameterize SHPs with seven different PTFs and inverse modelling to examine their ability to simulate water fluxes in Senegal's Groundnut basin. We used four years of field measurements of soil water content (SWC) and actual evapotranspiration (ETa) under pearl millet and groundnut crop rotation for model evaluation. Inverse modelling for SWC (root mean square error [RMSE] ≤ 0.015 cm3 cm−3) and ETa (RMSE ≤ 0.62 mm d−1) yielded the best model performance compared to PTFs (0.024–0.175 cm3 cm−3 and 0.68–0.96 mm d−1, respectively). Where field measurements are lacking for inverse estimation, three of the seven tested PTFs yielded good modelling results and could be used as a parsimonious approach for cultivated Sahelian soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the relationship between Macrotyloma axillare 'Java' and Meloidogyne javanica at different levels of nematode inoculum, and to assess the activity of plant defence enzymes in the presence of nematodes. In Experiment 1, 'Java' and soybean (control) were inoculated with 300 to 8000 eggs + second-stage juveniles (J2) of M. javanica in two different periods (Trials 1 and 2). To confirm the results, a third trial was conducted using 1000 to 4000 eggs + J2 per plant. In Experiment 2, β-1,3-glucanase (GLU), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities were measured in non-inoculated plants and in plants inoculated with 2000 eggs + J2. 'Java' presented a reproduction factor (RF) < 1 at all inoculum levels in Trial 1 (RF of 0.17–0.78) and at 2000, 3000, and 6000 eggs + J2 in Trial 2 (RF of 0.47, 0.86, and 0.59, respectively). In Trial 3, 'Java' showed a RF < 1 at all inoculum levels except for 3000 eggs + J2 (RF = 1.1). There was no difference in 'Java' vegetative variables in relation to inoculum levels in any experiment. In Experiment 2, inoculated plants showed increased GLU, PAL, POX, and PPO activities, when compared with non-inoculated plants. 'Java' appears to be moderately resistant to M. javanica, reducing nematode reproduction at different inoculum levels. The plant exhibits increased GLU, PAL, POX, and PPO activities in the presence of M. javanica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For decades, there has been debate about the possibility that organic farming can feed the world's population. The most recent studies, analyzing the yields of individual crops, show a yield gap between organic and conventional farming. The rotations and the intensity of soil use are also different between systems and the impact of this factor on productivity has not been assessed. A meta-analysis of the yield data of organic and conventional crops and the intensity of soil use (years with harvest crop in relation to rotation duration) was carried out using studies published in peer-reviewed journals. The yields under organic farming were on average 25% lower than the conventional ones, reaching a yield gap of 30% for cereals. The intensity of soil use was also lower in organic systems, the size of the reduction depending on the type of study: field experiments (7%) or on-farm studies (20%). Combining the yield gap with the reduction in the number of crops harvested in the rotation, a productivity gap of 29% to 44% was estimated depending on the type of crops included in the rotation. These results show that the productivity gap is greater than the yield gap between organic and conventional farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil test is a key step toward providing recommendations for better crop management. Several soil samples have been traditionally assumed to be sufficient for soil tests to represent field-specific values in conventional Japanese small-scale paddy fields. However, rethinking soil sampling design is required, as many small-scale (<0.3 ha) paddy fields have been consolidated into large-scale (>1 ha) paddy fields to enhance the efficiency of crop production. The purpose of this study is to explore an efficient soil sampling design, including sample size for representing field-specific values and sampling distance for representing spatial variations, in central Japan using bootstrap sampling and geostatistical analysis. Fourteen soil properties were quantified from 553 samples, which was collected at a distance of 24.4 m on average in large-scale paddy fields with continuous rice cultivation and rotation of rice and upland crops (winter wheat and soybean). The results show that the conventional sampling size (n = 3 for each field) achieved mean estimation within 10% error with 95% confidence intervals only for pH and sand content in almost all fields; thus, an optimization of field-specific uniform liming rate is recommended for reducing cost. Geostatistical analysis shows that the recommended soil sampling distance should be 15–163 m, depending on specific soil properties. The results further show that it was difficult to obtain reliable estimates of exchangeable K and mineralizable N because of the high level of spatial uncertainty with high nugget variance. Thus, practitioners should note that the outcomes from soil tests inherently included fine-scale errors in available nutrient levels which may preclude rationale prescriptions. This study demonstrated that appropriate soil sampling design and the subsequent soil management can differ depending on specific soil properties in the actual farming scale of large-scale paddy fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme climate events have increased in recent years, leading to huge losses of agricultural products. A field study of a two-year organic horticultural rotation (2015–16 and 2016–17) was conducted to evaluate the effects of soil hydraulic arrangement and cover crops management on cash crops productivity, soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sequestration, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and C balance. The experiment consisted of two simultaneous rotation systems, a cauliflower-tomato rotation on raised beds and a zucchini-lettuce one on flat strips between them, combined with cover crops as living mulch or break crops. The results pointed out that the use of proper hydraulic arrangements may partially reduce the exposure of crops to extreme climate events, like heavy rains and floods, allowing the preservation of soil fertility. The cover crops increased the yields and enhanced the soil nutrient pools. Our study showed the important role of cover crops since the soil C stock values were significantly higher when they were used in the rotations. The analysis of the GHG emissions, C balance and C efficiency revealed that combining agro-ecological and conservation practices can improve environmental sustainability in organic farming in the Mediterranean area, allowing farmers to maintain/increase their agricultural systems sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of myriad environmental challenges associated with industrial agriculture, some farmers and researchers have looked to diversified farming systems as a promising alternative. Despite well-documented ecological benefits, diversification practices remain rare in many regions of the U.S, even amongst organic farmers. Our study focuses on organic farmers in the Central Coast region of California, an area that has played a crucial role in the rise of organic agriculture over the last several decades. Through 20 interviews with farmers who all grow lettuce and 8 interviews with technical assistance providers, we investigate the persistent barriers that growers in this region face in adopting diversification practices including cover cropping, compost application, crop rotation, insectary strips, and hedgerows. We find that high land rents, the predominance of short-term leases, stringent food safety standards, and other supply chain pressures significantly hamper the adoption of diversification practices. In order to surmount these barriers and increase adoption, solutions must be pursued at three interconnected levels: innovation at the farm level, and policy change at the technical and structural levels. Locally-informed, integrated, and innovative policies across these three levels must be explored to support the creation of a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]