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Aim: Assessing water consumption in intercropping systems relative to sole crop systems is important for planting system planning. Methods: This study focused on wheat/maize (Triticum aestivum L./Zea mays L.) relay intercropping to evaluate water use advantage of relay intercropping system based on the same period. Field experiments were conducted from 2014 to 2016, and three cropping patterns were designed: sole wheat, sole maize, wheat/maize intercrops. Method for evaluating water use advantage in intercropping was revised by considering water consumption of sole crops during the fallow period (periods where no plants are grown). Results: Intercropping grain yield was higher than sole cropping yield. Based on the existing method, the intercropping system had 20.4% greater water use than the sole cropping system and the water equivalent ratio (WER) was lower than 1; after revision, intercropping had 7.7% less water use than sole cropping, and the WER was greater than 1. Before revision, intercropped wheat used 3.1% more water than sole wheat, and the intercropped maize used 38.8% more water than sole maize; after revision, intercropped wheat used 24.4% less water than sole wheat, and intercropped maize used 11.0% more water than sole maize. Conclusion: These results indicated that the revised method can be better used to evaluate water use advantage of relay intercropping system. This study implied that wheat/maize intercropping increased both yield and water use based on revised method, and relay intercropping can be a suitable production practice employed in fallow policy, especially in areas with limited water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter wheat–summer maize cropping system in the North China Plain often experiences droughtinduced yield reduction in the wheat season and rainwater and nitrogen (N) fertilizer losses in the maize season. This study aimed to identify an optimal interseasonal water- and N-management strategy to alleviate these losses. Four ratios of allocation of 360 kg N ha-1 between the wheat and maize seasons under one-time presowing root-zone irrigation (W0) and additional jointing and anthesis irrigation (W2) in wheat and one irrigation after maize sowing were set as follows: N1 (120:240), N2 (180:180), N3 (240:120) and N4 (300:60). The results showed that under W0, the N3 treatment produced the highest annual yield, crop water productivity (WPC), and nitrogen partial factor productivity (PFPN). Increased N allocation in wheat under W0 improved wheat yield without affecting maize yield, as surplus nitrate after wheat harvest was retained in the topsoil layers and available for the subsequent maize. Under W2, annual yield was largest in the N2 treatment. The risk of nitrate leaching increased in W2 when N application rate in wheat exceeded that of the N2 treatment, especially in the wet year. Compared to W2N2, the W0N3 maintained 95.2% grain yield over two years. The WPC was higher in the W0 treatment than in the W2 treatment. Therefore, following limited total N rate, an appropriate fertilizer N transfer from maize to wheat season had the potential of a ‘‘triple win” for high annual yield, WPC and PFPN in a water-limited wheat–maize cropping system [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change significantly affects crop production and is a threat to global food security. Conventional tillage (CT) is the primary tillage practice in rain-fed areas to conserve soil moisture. Despite previous research on the effect of tillage methods on different cropping systems, a comparison of tillage methods on soil water storage, crop yield and crop water use in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and maize (Zea mays) under different soil textures, precipitation and temperature patterns is needed. We reviewed 119 published articles and used meta-analysis to assess the effects of three conservation tillage practices (NT, no-tillage; RT, reduced tillage; ST, subsoil tillage), on precipitation storage efficiency (PSE), soil water storage at crop planting (SWSp), grain yield, evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (WUE) under varying precipitation and temperature patterns and soil textures in dryland wheat and maize, with CT as the control treatment. Conservation tillage methods increased PSE, SWSp, grain yield, ET and WUE in both winter wheat-fallow and spring maize cropping systems. More precipitation water was conserved in fine-textured soils than in medium-textured and coarse-textured soils, which improved ET. Conservation tillage increased soil water conservation and yield under high mean annual precipitation (MAP) and moderate mean annual temperature (MAT) conditions in winter wheat. However, soil water conservation and yield were greater under MAP <400 mm and moderate MAT. We conclude that conservation tillage could be promising for increasing precipitation storage, soil water conservation and crop yield in regions with medium to low MAPs and medium to high MATs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system in north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains performed a crucial role in the national food security. However, the widespread and intensive cultivation of this system has led to serious problems such as declining groundwater table (~1 meter year−1) with sharp increase in number of districts under over-exploitation category, residue burning, higher greenhouse gases emission and herbicide resistance in weeds, causing stagnant crop productivity and lesser profitability. In this review article, an attempt has been made to discuss the major issues pertaining to intensive rice–wheat cultivation amidst climate vagaries and futuristic approach to address these challenges. Different tillage- and crop-specific recommendations such as adoption of direct seeded rice, diversification with lesser resource guzzling crops such as maize (Zea mays L.) at least on the periodic manner especially in light-medium soils, inclusion of summer legumes and alternative tillage systems (permanent beds and zero tillage with residue retention) have been suggested to address these issues. However, crop performance under these techniques has been found to be location, soil and cultivar specific. The absence of aerobic tailored genotypes and weeds have been identified as the major constraints in adoption of direct seeded rice. The integrated strategies of conservation tillage, crop breeding program and resource conserving region- and soil-specific agronomic measures with crop diversification would be helpful in tackling the sustainability issues. It requires future efforts on developing crop genotypes suited to conservation tillage, effective weed control strategies and trainings and demonstrations to farmers to switch from conventional rice–wheat system to alternative cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidating how different fertilization treatments affect the resilience of farming systems and the environmental adaptability of agricultural crops is relevant to assess their efficacy as a strategy for minimizing yield fluctuations and supporting global food security. The aim of this work was to compare the effects of fertilization practices and to distinguish the effect of macronutrients on the resilience of maize, wheat, and soybean cropping systems. A long‐term experiment involving the three crops and five fertilization treatments (control without fertilization, nitrogen and sulphur fertilization, phosphorus and sulfur fertilization, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur fertilization) was conducted for 19 years in the Pampean region (Argentina) that includes five study sites. The four combinations of nutrient additions increased crop yields in unfavorable environments, which indicates that even in adverse years, fertilization was a valid tool to sustain yield performance. The Finlay and Wilkinson regression slopes in maize and full‐season soybean did not differ between fertilization treatments, which suggests that fertilization did not change crop adaptation to the environment and that the observed positive effect of fertilization in unfavorable environments was maintained along the environmental gradient. In contrast, wheat and double‐cropped soybean were able to capitalize on the environmental conditions of favorable years, as shown by the progressive increases in yields as the environment became more favorable. Maize had the highest response to nitrogen, whereas wheat and double‐cropped soybean exhibited the highest responses to phosphorus and sulfur, respectively. Our findings are useful to extract guidelines that may lead to greater resilience through fertilization management practices. Core ideas: Crop yield resilience was studied for five contrasting fertilization treatments over 19 years on five sites.All fertilization treatments raised maize, wheat, and soybean yields in unfavorable environments.These benefits were maintained along the environmental gradient in maize and full‐season soybean.Fertilization helped wheat and double‐cropped soybean to capitalize favorable environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For sustainable productivity, a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–summer crop (corn [Zea mays L.] or grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L.])–fallow (W‐SC‐F) cropping system could benefit from optimal wheat stubble cutting height management, but only limited information is available. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of wheat stubble height on subsequent corn and grain sorghum yields, available soil water, crop water use, and precipitation storage efficiency in a W‐C‐F and W‐S‐F cropping system. This study was conducted from 2006 through 2020 at the Kansas State University Southwest Research‐Extension Center near Tribune, KS. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three wheat stubble heights (high, low, and strip). Average across all years, there was a 9%–10% corn yield and 7%–11% corn biomass advantage from high and stripper harvested wheat stubble compared with low cut stubble, and a 5% sorghum yield advantage from high cut stubble compared with low cut stubble. Kernel weight of corn was the only yield component that significantly differed among stubble height treatments. Water productivity of corn in the high and stripper harvested stubble treatments (15.3 kg ha−1 mm−1) was significantly greater compared with the low cut stubble (14 kg ha−1 mm−1). Water productivity of sorghum in the high cut stubble treatment (18.9 kg ha−1 mm−1) was also significantly greater compared with low cut stubble (17.7 kg ha−1 mm−1). Total available soil water at planting (ASWP) and available soil water at harvest (ASWH) of corn were both greater for high cut stubble compared with stripper harvested stubble but total ASWP and ASWH of grain sorghum were not significantly different among stubble height treatments. We concluded that low cut wheat stubble decreased subsequent corn and grain sorghum yields in a W‐C/S‐F cropping system. Core ideas: There was a 9%–10% corn yield and 7%–11% biomass advantage from high and stripper harvested compared with low cut wheat stubble.There was a 5% sorghum yield increase from high cut stubble compared with low cut wheat stubble.Kernel weight of corn was the only yield component that significantly differed in response to wheat stubble height.Water productivity of corn and sorghum in the high and stripper harvested was significantly greater compared with low cut wheat stubble. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil degradation and high environmental costs impede agricultural production in North China. A 6-year field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of tillage practice and nitrogen application rate on changes in soil fertility and wheat yield. Four tillage systems (rotary tillage without maize straw return through 6 years, RT; rotary tillage with maize straw return through 6 years, RS; deep tillage with maize straw return through 6 years, DS; and rotary tillage through 2 years followed by deep tillage next year with maize straw applied for two cycles, RS/DS) and three N levels (HN, 300 kg N ha−1, refers to traditional farming practice; MN, 0.75 × HN, 225 kg N ha−1, to recommended N rate; and LN, 0.5 × HN, 150 kg N ha−1, to reduced N rate) were tested. The soil organic carbon, labile organic carbon, inorganic N, available phosphorus, and available potassium under straw return treatments were significantly higher than RT in the 0–30 cm soil layer (p < 0.05). The microbial diversity, invertase, urease, and alkaline phosphatase activities also increased when maize straw was returned. Tillage practices could distribute maize straw in different depths of the soil and then affect soil nutrients, enzyme activity, and microbial diversity. The RS treatment presented the greatest effects in the 0–10 cm layer, while more significant impacts were observed in DS and RS/DS treatments at the 10–30 cm depths. The levels of soil nutrients and enzyme activity increased with an increased N rate. Compared to that under LN, wheat yields increased under HN and MN treatments, whereas there were no significant differences between HN and MN (p > 0.05). An increasing tendency of grain yield was observed in DS and RS/DS, while conversely so in RS. RS/DS had lower farm costs than DS during the study duration. Thus, RS/DS at 225 kg N ha−1 is the best method for improving soil fertility and wheat yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retention of crop biomass is widely recommended to improve soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the magnitude of contribution of above‐ground residues and below‐ground roots from C3 and C4 crops to SOC is unclear.Data from a 10‐year field experiment and a 60‐day laboratory incubation were synthesized to identify the respective contribution of C3 (e.g., wheat) and C4 (e.g., maize) residues and roots to SOC, as well as its underlying mechanisms under no‐till (NT) using 13C labelling trace in wheat‐maize rotations.The field experiment showed that residue retention significantly increased SOC accumulation, and SOC derived from wheat was 126.0% higher than that from maize. Conversion to NT promoted SOC derived from wheat and thus accumulated 17.6% higher SOC stock compared with plough tillage (PT) under residue returning at 0–20 cm soil depth (p < 0.05). The data from laboratory incubation revealed the mechanisms that lower priming effects at 0–10 cm depth decreased total mineralization by 91.8% after inputs of wheat residues and roots compared with that of maize residues and roots, especially under NT compared with PT. Priming effects were negatively correlated with enzyme activities associated with the C recycle, SOC, and total nitrogen (TN) contents (p < 0.01). NT increased enzyme activities, SOC, and TN contents and thus reduced priming effects and improved residual carbon.Synthesis and applications. These results suggested that wheat may contribute more to SOC accumulation than maize, and carbon increment efficiency in farmland could be enhanced by considering the crucial roles of C3 crops in SOC accumulation. NT practice sustains the benefits of C3 crops to SOC sequestration in the upper soil depths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Redroot (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) and smooth pigweed (A. hybridus L.) are troublesome weeds in row crops in Serbia. Both species are very competitive, hosts for pathogens and insects, produce pollen which is highly allergenic; and the most recent research reported herbicide resistance in some populations across Serbia. An integrated approach for the control of both Amaranthus species must be evaluated and presented in order to reduce their negative potential in agriculture. In this paper, 9 yr results on redroot pigweed and smooth pigweed weed control are presented. In three different experiments, weed density and biomass of redroot and smooth pigweed were recorded: a) Crop rotation, b) row spacing and time of herbicide application, c) influence of nozzles and adjuvants. The influence of crop rotation and PRE herbicide mixture, PRE and POST mixture, and impact of nozzles and adjuvants were evaluated. PRE herbicide mix of S-metolachlor and isoxaflutole influenced 98.1% and 100% efficacy in the maize (Zea mays L.) continuous and in maize rotated with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), respectively. The mixture of two herbicides, applied either in PRE or POST, resulted in 100% of control of both species. Finally, similar results were obtained for nicosulfuron application with extended range (XR) or turbo TeeJet induction (TTI) nozzles, and combined with nonionic surfactant (NIS) or ammonium sulphate (AMS) adjuvants. The novelty of obtained results indicates that only holistic approach based on different weed management practices can contribute to sustainable Amaranthus control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field cultivation practices have changing the carbon and nitrogen cycles in farmland ecosystem, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) were the important pa- rameters in maintaining soil quality and increasing agricultural productivity, however, N application's effects on the SOC and TN storage capacity under intensive wheat- maize cropping system remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the characteristics and relationships of SOC and TN for wheat-maize cropping system under nitrogen treatments. In doing so, continuous applications of four nitrogen application rates were examined: 0, 180, 240 and 300 kg ha-1 (N0, N180, N240 and N300, respectively). Wheat yields under N180 and N240 were significantly higher than that under N300, while the maize yields under N180, N240 and N300 were significantly higher than that under N0 by 79.79, 85.23 and 86.85%, respectively; the TN content and storage were significantly higher under N240 than that under other N levels in 40-60 cm soil layer after wheat growing season; the SOC content and storage under N180 and N240 were significant higher than that under N300 in 20-40 cm after maize growing season. The correlations between SOC and TN contents (or storage) were stronger after wheat planting than maize planting. These findings provide a basis for further studies on the effect of long-term N application on SOC and TN storage, crop quality and nitrogen use efficiency under wheat-maize cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current context of food security and global geopolitical crises calls for proactive efforts to seek adaptive strategies for limited resources in agriculture. The production of phosphatic-based fertilisers has caused a substantial depletion of natural phosphorus (P) reserves, raising concerns about price increases due to the growing demand for P. The aim of the study is to assess whether the use of liquid organo-mineral P-complexes can be an adaptive strategy to address the issue of the limited P-fertiliser resource. A complete randomised block design was implemented with three replicates, spanning two contrasting cropping seasons under a Mediterranean climate with reduced tillage and rainfed conditions. The study aimed to assess the response of a durum wheat–maize rotation to various rates of liquid organo-mineral P-complexes (humic-complexed phosphate; HCP) in comparison to granular triple superphosphate (TSP). The evaluation focused on several parameters, including P availability, plant architecture, dry matter accumulation, grain yield and yield components and P use efficiency (PUE) for both durum wheat and maize. The results revealed that applying HCP at a rate of 4 or 8 kg ha−1 increased soil P availability on average by 66% and 144%, respectively, compared to the control (no P-fertilisation), although a significant interaction with the monitoring year emerged. For wheat, applying HCP at a rate of 8 kg ha−1 of P resulted in higher grain yield (+15%), protein content (+0.9%) and P uptake (+48%) than the control on average considering both monitoring years. In the season characterised by favourable rainfall patterns, the application of HCP at 5 or 10 kg ha−1 of P for maize showed similar effects in terms of soil P availability, dry matter accumulation, grain yields and PUE. Conversely, in the season marked by a deficiency in summer precipitation, low PUE for maize was observed for HCP fertilisers, although they remained positive, unlike the case of TSP. Using HCP in conservation agriculture appears promising as an adaptive solution to address P-fertiliser scarcity, especially amid food security challenges and global crises. However, further studies are required to validate these findings in diverse pedo-climatic contexts and cropping systems. • Humic complexed P fertiliser (HCP) enhances soil P availability, especially at 0–10 cm depth. • HCP resulted in a general higher maize and wheat grain yield and crops P efficiency. • HCP is promising in the context of conservation agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversification of crop species and minimum mechanical soil disturbance are the interlinked principles of conservation agriculture that are beneficial in improving soil physical and hydrological properties, and hence crop productivity. The present study was conducted to assess the long-term impacts of crop rotational diversity and tillage on soil water infiltration ([q.sub.s]), soil water retention (SWR), pore size distribution (PSD), bulk density ([[rho].sub.b]) and soil penetration resistance (SPR). The study was established in 1991 at Beresford, South Dakota, and included three crop rotation systems (2-year, maize (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.); 3-year, maize-soybean-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.); and 4-year, maize-soybean-wheat-oat (Avena saliva L.)) and two tillage systems (NT, no-tillage; and CT, conventional tillage). Soil samples were collected only under maize and soybean phases of the crop rotations. Our results showed that NT with 4-year rotation had the lowest [[rho].sub.b] under maize and soybean phases (1.21 and 1.19 g [cm.sup.-3] respectively) compared with the CT system. Similarly, NT with 4-year rotation decreased SPR by 20% compared to CT with 4-year rotation in the soybean phase. Soils managed under NT with 4-year rotation in the soybean phase retained 27, 28, 28,32,33,31 and 26% more water compared with CT and 4-year system at 0-7.5 cm depth at 0, -0.4, -1.0, -2.5, -5.0, -10 and -30 kPa matric potentials respectively. A similar trend was observed for [q.sub.s] under the same treatments, in which it was 31 % higher under NT than under CT, both with 4-year rotation. Data from this study showed that diversified crop rotation under NT enhanced soil physical and hydrological properties compared with CT with less diverse systems (e.g. maize-soybean). Additional keywords: chisel plow, diverse crop rotations, maize-soybean rotation, soil bulk density, soil penetration resistance, soil water retention, water infiltration rate. Received 29 August 2018, accepted 11 September 2019, published online 2 October 2019, Introduction Conservation management practices are being adopted to protect soil and enhance soil moisture conservation. The main conservation practices involve minimal soil disturbance, maintaining soil cover and enhancing crop productivity [...]

Key soil parameters, organic matter, soil pH and plant nutrients determine the capacity of a soil to sustain plant and animal productivity. Conservation agriculture (CA) and crop diversification or intensification may change these soil parameters positively or negatively, which eventually affect long-term sustainability. We monitored these key soil properties (at depths of 0-15 and 15-30 cm) under CA-based sustainable intensification practices: zero-till (ZT), and crop residue retention, and crop rotations on Inceptisols and Entisols in the Eastern Ganga Alluvial Plains from 2014 to 2017. The rainfall of this sub-tropical region is 1273-3201 mm. Soil organic carbon (C) ranged within 0.46-1.13% and generally followed (positive) rainfall gradients. At all sites, the soil under ZT tended to have higher organic C than conventional tillage (CT). Soil pHH2o ranged within 5.7-7.8 across the region. At all sites, soil pH generally decreased under ZT compared to CT. This was most marked at some acidic soil sites where pH decreased by up to 0.4 units; the lower the initial soil pH, the higher was the decrease in pH under ZT practice. In contrast, the reverse trend was observed for soil organic C. Partial nutrient balances for N, P and K in rice-wheat and rice-maize systems were positive for N and P ( Additional keywords: cropping systems, maize, partial nutrient balance, rice, soil organic C, soil pH, South Asia, wheat. Received 14 June 2019, accepted 30 July 2019, published online 10 September 2019, Introduction Conservation agriculture (CA) and crop diversification or intensification are the major components of the emerging farming systems for ensuring food security in South Asia (Jat et al. 2014; Islam [...]

The intercropping of legumes with cereals help to achieve sustainable intensification by their mutual complementarity at efficiently using radiation, nutrients, etc. Several studies indicated such beneficial effects on the other component crop however, little research has been conducted to quantify their effects on the subsequent crop in a cropping system. In this study, the effect of the legume intercropping on the entire cropping system, particularly the maize + legume-wheat system was studied. Four legumes intercropped to maize followed by wheat crop were studied for intensification measures such as wheat equivalent yield (WEY), land equivalent ratio (LER), sustainable value index (SVI), and economic returns. N saving effect of legumes on the subsequent wheat crop was quantified with two N levels. Maize + cowpea-wheat combination was the most productive and economic intercrop combination (LER = 1.71, SVI = 0.96) with an increase in net economic return (43.63%) with a B:C ratio of 1.94. An additional 25% N (37.5 kg ha−1) was saved in the wheat crop when the legume intercropping was undertaken with maize. The results suggest that intercropping is the key to diversification and reduces the risk of crop failures by enhancing land-use efficiency, soil fertility, and economic returns under weather vagaries. This will be beneficial to small and marginal farmers of many countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Dry matter and grain productions depend on the ability of crops to capture resources. Productivity of resourses is defined based on the amount of grain or dry matter produced per unit of available resource (solar radiation or rainfall) during the year. Our main objective was to evaluate the effect of different crop sequences on the productivity of water (WP) and radiation (RP) resources for grain production and total dry matter (DM). The trial was carried out during 2014/15 and 2015/16. Nine sequences were established, including different cultures and fertilization doses with a 25, 50 or 75 % -variable-participation of grasses. Increases of the order of 125 and 125 % were determined in WP, and of 141 and 142 % for RP for grain and DM respectively, in the sequence b/fc-w/s respect v/s-w/s (b: barley; w: wheat; s: soybean; v: vicia; fc: fertilized corn). The results showed that the sequences of crops that included higher percentage of grasses and the adequate fertilization, increased water and radiation efficiency and productivity, achieving a greater contribution of carbon from crop residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Soil amendment with biochar is considered as a means to improve soil fertility and other soil properties. However, the effects of biochar on soil biota specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have received less attention. This study was therefore executed to assess the effect of biochar amendment on AMF in soil and roots of wheat and maize crops in a rotation experiment involving cereals {wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays L.)} and legumes {chickpea (Cicer arientinum), mungbean (Vigna radiata)} in a calcareous alkaline soil of Peshawar valley during 2015/16 and 2016/17. This study was conducted in an already established experiment which was in a randomized complete block design with split plot settings. Keeping cropping systems in main plots and biochar levels in subplots. Biochar treatments were no biochar (T1), 20 t biochar ha-1 in each season (T2), 40 t biochar ha-1 in winter (T3) and 40 t biochar ha-1 in summer season (T4). Root samples of wheat and maize were collected at harvest stages and assessed for AMF colonization. Soil samples were also collected at the time of root sampling and analyzed for AMF spores. The results showed that neither root colonization of AMF in wheat and maize nor AMF spores density in soil were significantly (P<0.05) affected by cropping systems in any year. The average AMF spores in soil ranged from 45.1 to 39.8 per 20 g soil in wheat phase and 41.2 to 37.0 per 20 g soil in maize phase suggesting no considerable variation with season. However, the root colonization of AMF in maize (42.7-26.0%) was considerably greater than that in wheat (14.5-14.9%). Biochar treatment significantly increased both the AMF spores density in soil and root colonization in wheat and maize crops relative to the control treatment. The maximum AMF spores in soil in both seasons (wheat and maize) were found in T2 where biochar was applied at 20 t ha-1 each in summer and winter. In each season, control treatment had the lowest spores density in soil. The same trend was observed for root colonization of AMF in wheat and maize with maximum colonization in T2 and lowest in T1. These results suggested that indigenous AMF can be increased in soil and roots of wheat and maize with biochar amendment in an alkaline calcareous soil with low fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of different sources of organic matter on soil biochemical properties and crop productivity and to find the best substitute for cow manure in the fields, a field experiment was carried out in a wheat-maize cropping system during 2012-2015. Three types of fertilizer applications, including a mineral fertilizer (CK), straw (S) and biogas slurry (B) were compared with cow manure (M) under an equal dose of nitrogen. In the 0-20 cm soil layer, the soil total nitrogen, microbial biomass nitrogen and carbon content of the M treatment was the highest, and the total organic carbon equivalent ratio of M decreased by 28.60% respectively, relative to S. Compared with CK, S and B, the urease activity equivalent ratio in the M treatment increased by 52, 12 and 21%, and the invertase activity equivalent ratio increased by 21, 20 and 26%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the hydrogen peroxidase activity among the four treatments. The annual crop yield and water use efficiency of the M treatment was significantly higher than other treatments, followed by S, B and CK. Our findings indicated that straw returning was the best substitute for cow manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite conservation agriculture (CA) is being promoted as a climate resilient technology, limited information is available on its impacts on N storage within soil aggregates vis a vis global warming potential (GWP) under tropical agro-ecosystems. Hence, this study assessed the effects of a medium-term (5-years) CA on total soil N (TSN) changes in bulk soils and aggregates, N 2 O and CO 2 emission, GWP and total C fixed in soils under maize ( Zea mays L.)- wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) system on the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). The treatments were: conventional tillage (CT), zero tillage (ZT) with planting on permanent narrow beds (PNB), PNB with residue (PNB + R), ZT with planting on permanent broad beds (PBB), PBB with residue (PBB + R), ZT on flat land/plains without crop residue (ZT) and with crop residue retention (ZR + R). Soil samples were collected after five years of a maize–wheat system and TSN in bulk soils and their aggregates of the 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil layers were measured along with N 2 O and CO 2 emissions during the fifth year (2014–15).The soils under PBB + Rhad 37 and 9% more macro-aggregate-and micro-aggregate-associated N concentrations in topsoil (0–5 cm layer) than CT (248 and 299 kg N ha −1 ). However, topsoil soil aggregation and aggregate-associated N contents of PNB + R and ZT + R were similar to CT plots. The dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate activities and TSN, microbial biomass N, NO 3 -N and NH 4 -N concentrations were also highest in PBB + R plots in topsoil. The topsoil dehydrogenase activity was significantly correlated (r = 0.426, n = 21, p < 0.05) with CO 2 emission and with N 2 O emission (r = 0.770, n = 21, P < 0.01) during wheat (2014–15). However, topsoil FDA activities and MBN concentrations were only significantly correlated with N 2 O emission in wheat. In the maize–wheat system, highest N 2 O emission was observed in PNB + R plots and least in CT plots. But, PBB + R and PNB + R plots had similar CO 2 emissions to CT plots in both crops. Despite GWP of ZT + R and PBB + R plots in the maize-wheat system were ∼5% higher than CT, greenhouse gas (GHG) intensities in the CT, PBB + R and ZT + R plots were similar. Thus, PBB + R practice is a better management alternative for soil N improvement (and a reduced fertilizer N dose could be adopted in future) than CT since this practice also had 36% and 8.2% higher biomass productivities of maize and wheat, respectively in the maize-wheat cropping system and similar GHG intensity to CT plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two of the most important agricultural practices aimed at improving soil properties are crop rotations and no-tillage, yet relatively few studies have assessed their long-term impacts on crop yields and soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of tillage and crop rotation on soil GHG emissions and yields following 15 years of treatment implementation in a long-term cropping systems experiment in Illinois, USA. The experimental design was a split-plot RCBD with crop rotation as the main plot: (continuous corn [ Zea mays L.] (CCC), corn-soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (CS), continuous soybean (SSS), and corn-soybean-wheat [ Triticum aestivum L.] (CSW); with each phase of each crop rotation present every year) and tillage as the subplot: chisel tillage (T) and no-tillage (NT). Tillage increased the yields of corn and soybean. Tillage and crop rotation had no effect on methane (CH 4 ) emissions (p = 0.4738 and p = 0.8494 respectively) and only rotation had an effect on cumulative carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) (p = 0.0137). However, their interaction affected cumulative nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions significantly (p = 0.0960); N 2 O emissions from tilled CCC were the greatest at 6.9 kg-N ha −1 -yr −1 ; while emissions from NT CCC (4.0 kg-N ha −1 -yr −1 ) were not different than both T CS or NT CS (3.6 and 3.3 kg-N ha −1− yr −1 , respectively). Utilizing just a CS crop rotation increased corn yields by around 20% while reducing N 2 O emissions by around 35%; soybean yields were 7% greater and N 2 O emissions were not affected. Therefore results from this long-term study indicate that a CS rotation has the ability to increase yields and reduce GHG emissions compared to either CCC or SSS alone, yet moving to a CSW rotation did not further increase yields or reduce N 2 O emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow (WF) remains a prominent cropping system throughout the Central Great Plains despite documentation confirming the inefficiency of precipitation storage during the summer fallow period. Wheat yield is greatly influenced by available soil water at planting, and that quantity is influenced by cropping intensity, tillage intensity, crop grown prior to winter wheat planting, and length of the non-crop period prior to winter wheat planting. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cropping system intensity, tillage, and crop prior to wheat planting on available soil water at planting and the probabilities of having certain minimum amounts of available soil water at wheat planting. Available soil water was measured at wheat planting for nine cropping systems varying in fallow frequency, tillage intensity, and crop prior to wheat over a 25-yr period at Akron, CO. Available soil water at wheat planting was found to be greatest (average 218 mm) for no-tillage (NT) and reduced-tillage (RT) systems in which a fallow period of 12–14 months preceded wheat planting. The lowest amounts of available soil water at wheat planting were found for the continuously cropped rotations (average 100 mm). The cumulative probability exceedance graphs of available soil water at planting fell into three groupings: 1) the five rotations that had a NT or RT fallow period prior to the next wheat crop; 2) the WF (conventional till) rotation; 3) the three rotations with either pea ( Pisum sativum L.) or proso millet ( Panicum miliaceum L.) prior to the next wheat crop. These graphs provide a valuable decision support tool for helping farmers assess risk in moving from a WF cropping system to a system of greater cropping intensity and diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India is dominated with rice − wheat cropping system that occupies almost 10.5 million ha area. The sustainability of rice-wheat system is under threat due to numerous water-, nutrients-, weeds- and environment-related problems, mainly, due to the cultivation of rice. Suitable crop and soil management practices with a bias to conservation agriculture (CA) that can sustain soil and environmental health as well as improve crop and water productivity, are required for the Indian IGP. Maize can be a viable alternative to rice and a potential driver for diversification of rice-wheat system. The acreage of maize is on the increase in conventional and conservation agriculture-based cereal systems of India in recent years. Therefore, a field experiment, involving a maize ( Zea mays L.)-wheat cropping system was undertaken on a sandy clay loam soil for three years (2010–11 to 2012-13) in New Delhi to evaluate the impacts of CA on crop and water productivity, profitability and soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. There were five CA-based treatments in first year, and two treatments were introduced in second year (2011-12) onwards. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In all the residue retention plots, wheat residue was retained in maize crop and maize residue was retained in wheat crop under zero till conditions. Results showed that the plots under permanent broad bed with residue (PBB + R) and without residue (PBB) resulted in ∼29 and ∼26% higher maize grain yield, respectively than conventional tillage (CT) (2.6 t ha −1 ), but wheat grain yields were comparable in all the treatments in first year. Maize grain yield in second year under PBB + R and zero tillage with residue (ZT + R) were 55 and 43% higher than CT plots (2.8 t ha −1 ). Three-year mean maize yields due to PBB + R and permanent narrow bed with residue (PNB + R) were 28 and 15% higher than that in CT plots (3.3 t ha −1 ). The PBB + R resulted in 11% higher two-year mean water productivity in maize than PBB (∼without residue), but both these treatments were comparable in this regard in wheat. The ZT + R plots resulted in 14% and 22% higher two-year mean water productivity, respectively in maize and wheat than ZT plots. Overall, the plots under PBB + R had 57% and 19% higher mean water productivities in maize and wheat, respectively compared with CT plots. Again, the PBB + R plots gave 12% higher two-year mean net returns compared with CT plots. With regard to net returns, the plots under permanent narrow bed with and without residue (PNB + R; PNB) were inferior to PBB, PBB + R, ZT and ZT + R plots. Retention of both-season crop residues could significantly improve SOC concentration in surface (0–5 cm) soil. The PBB + R resulted in highest SOC pool at 0–30 cm soil layer, which was significantly higher than that in CT. This system showed maximum carbon sequestration potential. Thus, this CA practice, which involves PBB + R is superior to other practice. This would save water through higher water-use efficiency, and lead to accumulation of more carbon in soil with higher sequestration potential, besides giving sustainable production through maize-wheat system over the years. This can be adopted across the IGP regions of India, where irrigated rice-wheat system is in practice, and in similar agro-ecologies of the tropics and sub-tropics under irrigated conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil CO 2 emissions respond differently to different tillage practices. However, limited information is available regarding the impact of conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) on soil CO 2 emissions and the primary controlling factors or processes. The goal of this study is to derive the relationship of soil CO 2 emissions with soil physicochemical properties from differently tilled soils in a typical winter wheat summer maize rotation system. We hypothesized that soil tillage practices would impact the soil carbon cycle by modifying soil physical and chemical properties, which would in turn affect the soil CO 2 emissions. The study was conducted from 2018 to 2022 with two tillage practices using a randomized complete block design with three replicates. A leading international real-time monitoring system in situ was used to collect soil CO 2 emission data. Cumulative soil CO 2 emissions were reduced by 28.7% in maize and increased by 9.0% in wheat under NT as compared to CT. On an annual scale, the cumulative CO 2 emissions were decreased by 20.5% in NT as compared to CT. Maize season accounted for 70% 78% of soil CO 2 emissions. NT improved the aboveground biomass by 7.74% and 6.44%, and grain yields by 10.2% and 4.49% for maize and wheat, respectively. The soil CO 2 emission intensity of maize was reduced by 35.9% under NT as compared to CT. No significant differences were discovered under the two tillage practices for soil CO 2 emission intensity of wheat. For maize, NT increased the bulk density, subsequently decreasing soil temperature and increasing soil moisture. NT also led to higher soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content, ultimately resulting in a significant reduction in soil CO 2 emissions. For wheat, NT increased soil bulk density, further increasing soil moisture and lowering soil pH. NT thus resulted in lower soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content, ultimately leading to enhanced soil CO 2 emissions. Some of these observations might not be consistent with theoretical predictions, which indicated that the unconsidered factors of actual field conditions might have much significant effects. Overall, NT can be extensively used as an eco-friendly cropland tillage practice based on its positive effects of reducing CO 2 emissions and increasing crop yields. [Display omitted] • CO 2 emission variations by tillage were evaluated by the structural equation model. • No-tillage (NT) decreased CO 2 emissions by 28.7% in maize and increased by 8.99% in wheat. • Annual CO 2 emissions were decreased by 20.5% under NT than conventional tillage (CT). • Maize season accounted for 70% 78% of soil CO 2 emissions. • CO 2 emission intensity of maize was reduced by 35.9% under NT compared with CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field study was carried out to determine the effect of tillage with and without residues and organic and inorganic fertilizers on yield of wheat-maize cropping systems in the erosion-vulnerable sub-humid area. Treatments included tillage levels i.e. ST (shallow tillage), STR (shallow tillage with residues), DT (deep tillage) and DTR (deep tillage with residues). Sub plots had three fertilizer's levels viz. F1 (control), F2 (inorganic fertilizers) and F3 (farm yard manure; FYM+ inorganic fertilizers). Deep tillage increased wheat yield by 60%, 37% and 29% over ST, STR and DTR, respectively. F2 and F3 increased grain and straw yield compare to F1. In the case of maize, DT increased grain yield by 53%, 20% and 15%, over ST, STR and DTR, respectively. Deep tillage showed statistically higher water use efficiency (WUE) of 4.56 kg ha-1 mm-1 and 4.02 kg ha-1 mm-1 for both wheat and maize, respectively. However, similar WUE of wheat and maize was recorded for F2 and F3. Soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium after wheat-maize cropping rotations significantly responded to tillage, residues and organic and inorganic fertilizers. These results suggest that deep tillage has the potential to increase crop yield and WUE of wheat-maize cropping system in mountainous and sub-humid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tillage practice can change soil properties, regulate crop root development and nutrient availability, thus affecting crop growth and yield. However, the effect of no tillage (NT) and deep tillage (DT) on crop yield relative to conventional tillage (CT) under varied environmental and management conditions is unclear in China. We assessed the yield response of wheat and maize to NT and DT relative to CT based on collected field data (518 observations) with a meta-analysis. In general, NT led to negative yield response of both crops relative to CT, whereas maize presented a positive yield response (6.0 %) to NT in sandy soil, and crop yield responses to NT were not significantly different among environmental and management factors. DT significantly increased the yield of wheat (8.7 %) and maize (8.2 %) over CT. For wheat, the yield response to DT was similar across soil textures, climate conditions, experiment durations, N fertilizer rates, and residue managements; however, the interval DT every 2–3 years (13.2 %) and monoculture (13.9 %) increased yield response than the continuous DT (8.4 %) and double cropping system (8.9 %), respectively. The yield response of maize to DT was greater in semidry region (16.1 %) and under high N fertilizer rate (>300 kg N ha−1) (16.1 %), interval DT (12.4 %) compared with those in humid (7.5 %) and semi-humid (6.8 %) regions, low N fertilizer rates (<300 kg N ha−1) (6.9 %−7.5 %), and continuous DT (7.8 %), respectively; but other environmental and management factors did not affect its yield response. Overall, NT presented similar yield of wheat and maize to CT, while DT significantly enhanced their yields; this analysis revealed the crucial environmental and management factors influencing yield response to tillage practices in China, we also gave some suggestions on selecting appropriate tillage methods to realize high crop yield or/and agricultural sustainable development. • NT led to negative yield response of wheat and maize relative to CT. • DT significantly enhanced wheat and maize yields over CT. • Interval DT and monoculture presented better effects on crop yield response to DT. • Environmental and management factors should be considered to enhance yield using DT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive rice (Oryza sativa)-based cropping systems in south Asia provide much of the calorie and protein requirements of low to middle-income rural and urban populations. Intensive tillage practices demand more resources, damage soil quality, and reduce crop yields and profit margins. Crop diversification along with conservation agriculture (CA)-based management practices may reduce external input use, improve resource-use efficiency, and increase the productivity and profitability of intensive cropping systems. A field study was conducted on loamy soil in a sub-tropical climate in northern Bangladesh to evaluate the effects of three tillage options and six rice-based cropping sequences on grain, calorie, and protein yields and gross margins (GM) for different crops and cropping sequences. The three tillage options were: (1) conservation agriculture (CA) with all crops in sequences untilled, (2) alternating tillage (AT) with the monsoon season rice crop tilled but winter season crops untilled, and (3) conventional tillage (CT) with all crops in sequences tilled. The six cropping sequences were: rice-rice (R-R), rice-mung bean (Vigna radiata) (R-MB), rice-wheat (Triticum aestivum) (R-W), rice-maize (Zea mays) (R-M), rice-wheat-mung bean (R-W-MB), and rice-maize-mung bean (R-M-MB). Over three years of experimentation, the average monsoon rice yield was 8% lower for CA than CT, but the average winter crops yield was 13% higher for CA than CT. Systems rice equivalent yield (SREY) and systems calorie and protein yields were about 5%, 3% and 6%, respectively, higher under CA than CT; additionally, AT added approximately 1% more to these benefits. The systems productivity gain under CA and AT resulted in higher GM by 16% while reducing the labor and total production cost under CA than CT. The R-M rotation had higher SREY, calorie, protein yields, and GM by 24%, 26%, 66%, and 148%, respectively, than the predominantly practiced R-R rotation. The R-W-MB rotation had the highest SREY (30%) and second highest (118%) GM. Considering the combined effect of tillage and cropping system, CA with R-M rotation showed superior performance in terms of SREY, protein yield, and GM. The distribution of labor use and GM across rotations was grouped into four categories: R-W in low-low (low labor use and low GM), R-M in low-high (low labor use and high GM), R-W-MB and R-M-MB in high-high (high labor use and high GM) and R-R and R-MB in high-low (high labor use and low GM). In conclusion, CA performed better than CT in different winter crops and cropping systems but not in monsoon rice. Our results demonstrate the multiple benefits of partial and full CA-based tillage practices employed with appropriate crop diversification to achieve sustainable food security with greater calorie and protein intake while maximizing farm profitability of intensive rice-based rotational systems. • Rice-maize (R-M) outperformed over all other rice-based cropping systems considering yields and profits. • Conservation agriculture (CA) and alternate tillage (AT) outperformed than conventional tillage (CT). • R-M and rice-wheat-mungbean systems are more beneficial when layered with CA and AT. • Rice-rice system is more labor intensive and less profitable than other systems. • CA is good for winter crops and for cropping systems but not for rice but AT can be viable alternative option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for high-quality animal protein calls for parts of cereal cropping systems converting to forage or forage-livestock integrated systems. This study aimed at evaluating potential environmental impacts of this transition at the farm level on the Loess Plateau of China through a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. Four dominating crops: alfalfa, wheat, grain maize and silage maize were studied based on the ten impact categories. Based on standard unit land area (1 ha) and timestamp (2018–2020) settings, alfalfa production indicated the lowest environmental impact in nine categories compared to other crops, while wheat indicated better performance in seven of ten impact categories than other crops except alfalfa. With respect to the environmental loads of grain maize and silage maize production, both systems were very comparable. Because of the common adoption of open-land burning of straws (mainly for fuel and winter heating) in the local region, the respiratory inorganics and photochemical oxidant formation potential impact of alfalfa and silage maize per hectare produced is much lower than those of wheat and grain maize. Great differences in environmental impacts between the two types of cropping systems (cereal vs forage) indicate that transitioning from cereal to forage production should effectively reduce air pollution and enhance environmental sustainability on the Loess Plateau. Besides, uncertainty and variability of LCAs results were analyzed in this study. [Display omitted] • Environmental impacts of four types of cropping systems were compared by land unit. • Impact variability among farms was analyzed through 607 LCAs. • Performance of most impact categories was alfalfa>wheat>silage maize>grain maize. • Forage cropping systems incurred less air pollution than cereal systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change constitutes a major threat to the future of our planet. To be able to adapt to climate change and develop climate resilient cropping systems it is crucial to first assess climate change impact on crop production. With more and more studies published over the past two decades, increasing evidence is available regarding the potential impact of climate-related changes on agricultural productivity. However, there is a lack of an integrated assessment of the current state of knowledge regarding climate change impact on crop yields in 2050 in Germany. Therefore, this study aims to summarize and analyse all relevant literature that project yields of winter wheat and silage maize in Germany in the mid-21st century conducting a meta-analysis. Twenty peer-reviewed papers and reports were selected following a systematic literature review. Available data were extracted from all studies covering change in yield, temperature, precipitation and CO2 level, as well as information on the study location, modelling approach and considered climate scenario. In total 328 and 478 data points on yield change available for maize and wheat, respectively. Descriptive analysis was used to display relative yield changes according to crop, region, modelling approach and whether or not CO2 effects were included. Furthermore, a local linear quantile regression model and linear mixed effects model were conducted to describe the relationship between relative yield changes and changes in mean temperature, mean precipitation, and CO2 level and to determine and quantify the effect of the three climate variables on yield change. The descriptive analysis shows that the vast majority of projected changes in average yields in 2050 vary from -10% to +10% for both crops, while wheat yields tend to increase and maize yields tend to slightly decrease. Moreover, maize is projected to experience mostly negative mean yield changes in eastern and southern Germany. Also statistical models project merely negative yield developments for maize. On the other side, yield increases are projected all-over Germany for wheat. Quantile regression revealed more distinct relations of CO2-, temperature- and precipitation-change on future yields in wheat compared to maize. The linear mixed-effects model confirmed these results with regard to precipitation showing a strong positive relation with wheat yields but a rather indistinct effect on maize yields. Accordingly, no effect was found for temperature change on maize yields, but an exponentially negative effect on wheat yields, i.e., slight temperature increase acted positive, while an increase >2°C acted negative on future yields. An increase in CO2 level excerpts positive effects on yields for both crops, with the increase more prominent for wheat than for maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of profile distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) in long-term agricultural systems could help to store atmospheric carbon in the soil. We investigated profile distribution of easily oxidisable Walkley-Black SOC pool (SOCWB) under long-term rice-wheat (R-W) and maize-wheat (M-W) cropping systems under soils of different pedogenesis. The soil samples were collected from the characteristic genetic horizons and analysed for carbon fractions. The SOCWB was the highest in soils under R-W systems in both Alfisols and Inceptisols. The SOCWB stock in the deeper profile horizons under R-W system was significantly ( p < 0·05) higher than that under M-W system especially in Typic Hapludalfs. Long-term R-W system could store on average 3·55 Mg ha−1 more SOCWB than M-W system in the Ap horizon. The SOCWB stock in the Ap horizon of all pedons was significantly ( p < 0·05) higher in Alfisols than that in Inceptisols. About 60-90% of the total profile SOCWB stock was contributed by B-horizon because of its greater extent. Considering the whole profile, clay was negatively correlated with SOC fractions; however, the SOC fractions were closely related to each other. This study reveals that the distribution of SOCWB is different in long-term R-W and M-W systems not only in surface but also in the deeper horizons and the magnitude of the variation is influenced by the specific pedogenic processes. This indicates the significance of profile SOCWB stock instead of topsoil SOCWB stock in quantifying carbon retention potential of the long-term management practices. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon management index (CMI) and labile organic carbon (LOC) pools are postulated as very sensitive indicators of changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) due to land degradation within a short time in response to management practices. To test this hypothesis, we investigated LOC and CMI under a field experiment (2007–2013) in relation to runoff, soil loss, maize and wheat yields on a 2% (1.15°) land slope of the Indian Himalayas. In this study, the impacts of several resource conservation practices, including different combinations of vegetative barriers (VB), minimum tillage (MT), different organic amendments (OA) and weed mulch, were evaluated. Results revealed that the plots under MT + OA with three applications of weed mulch had more SOC, macroaggregate-associated C concentrations and macroaggregates than conventional tillage (CT) + NPK with chemical weed control. Carbon management index varied from 47 to 59 and 42 to 55% with different conservation practices at depths of 0–5 and 5–15 cm depths, respectively. Incorporation of weed mulch along with application of OM, MT and VB (by Palmarosa ) under MT improved CMI by 19.7 and 24.2% compared to CT plots with VB (by Panicum ) and inorganic NPK at depths of 0–5 and 5–15 cm, respectively. Significant positive correlations were observed between CMI and maize yield ( r = 0.948; n = 24; P < 0.01), CMI and wheat yield ( r = 0.872; n = 24; P < 0.01) and CMI and wheat equivalent yield ( r = 0.906; n = 24; P < 0.01). However, significant negative correlations were obtained for CMI and runoff ( r = −0.701; n = 20; P < 0.01) and CMI and soil loss ( r = −0.768; n = 20; P < 0.01). Results established that Palmarosa as VB along with OA plus weed-mulch under MT was the best management practice for decreasing runoff and soil loss and increasing system productivity on a 2% slope in the region. The single value CMI was strongly positively correlated with crop productivity and negatively correlated with soil loss. Hence, this single value CMI could potentially be used for assessment of soil degradation elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of various agrotechnical measures on macrostructural changes in topsoil and subsoil was studied in the course of a four-year experiment. Macrostructure was evaluated according to the ability of soil aggregate to resist degradation. Three variants of soil tillage were established: ploughing to a depth of 0.22 m, reduced tillage (subsoiling to 0.35-0.40 m, and shallow disking of soil to a depth of 0.15 m). For observation, three locations were chosen in various production areas of the Czech Republic with differing soil and climatic conditions. In these locations crops were grown under the same crop rotation: rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), maize (Zea mays), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and barley (Hordeum vulgare). After four years of different tillage, a change in the water stability of soil aggregates (WSA) was evident. It was found out that reduced tillage of soil positively influenced both the WSA and the yield of the crops grown. A relationship of positive dependence between WSA, the content of humus substances, and cation exchange capacity of soil was also found. According to the obtained results, for agricultural practice a classification scale of structural quality was proposed on the basis of statistics of one variable (average, its mean error and distribution normality). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management practices have significant effects on crop micronutrient contents. This study examined effects of applying chemical fertilizers of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) (NPK), alone or supplemented with straw or manure, under a wheat-maize cropping system in a 18-year experiment, on the crops’ iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) contents throughout the crops’ development. The micronutrient contents of both wheat and maize were above critical values during vegetative development, but Zn contents of maize ear leaves were sub-sufficient under all treatments. The wheat grain Mn, Cu, and Zn contents were lower under fertilized treatments than in unfertilized controls. Nutrient balance calculations showed that NPK application alone or with straw resulted in deficits of the four micronutrients, but not application of NPK supplemented with manure. Hence, application of micronutrients, such as Zn, through organic or inorganic fertilizers is recommended for this cropping system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aimed to identify whether nitrogen (N) use efficiency in a summer-maize/winter-wheat double-cropping system of the North China Plain (NCP) could be increased by adjusting N supply to crop N demand, and through the use of alternate N fertilizers and application strategies. In a static experiment conducted on a farmers’ field six reduced N treatments were compared to farmers’ practice (FP: 550 kg (N) ha −1 a −1 ) and a control treatment (CK). With few exceptions of single treatments in single cropping-seasons, the optimized fertilization of N did not lead to a yield reduction of either summer-maize or winter-wheat. The grain yield of summer-maize ranged between 5.8 and 7.1 Mg ha −1 . The grain yield of wheat ranged between 4.4 and 6.2 Mg ha −1 . For the first two vegetation periods of summer-maize, the recovery efficiency (RE N : 0.09–0.30 kg kg −1 ) and agronomic efficiency of N (AE N ) were mainly affected by the yield achieved in the control treatment (5.7 and 5.9 Mg ha −1 ), which was not significantly reduced compared to most fertilized treatments. In the third vegetation period of summer-maize, an increase of RE N of the reduced treatments (0.37–0.58 kg kg −1 ) was determined compared to FP (0.21 kg kg −1 ). In both vegetation periods of wheat RE N of the reduced treatments (0.34–1.0 kg kg −1 ) was significantly higher compared to FP (0.26 and 0.27 kg kg −1 ). The highest cumulated AE N , as well as cumulated grain yields were observed when ammonium sulphate nitrate + 3,4-dimethylpyrazolephosphate (ASN DMPP ) was applied according to crop N demand and residual soil mineral N. The highest RE N was observed when urea ammonium nitrate was applied in a shallow, banded depot (UAN DEP ). This research demonstrates that N application rates in a maize/wheat double cropping system may be significantly reduced compared to common farmers’ practice, without negatively affecting grain yield, thereby increasing N use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]