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To evaluate dryland wheat genotypes' performance under different pre-crop and residue managements under dryland conditions, a split–split plot experiment based on the RCB design, with three replications, was conducted for two years (2017–2018 and 2018–2019). The site of the study has a long-term average precipitation, temperature, and relative humidity of 376 mm, 9 °C, and 50%, respectively. Wheat–wheat and vetch–wheat cropping systems were considered in the main plots, different wheat and vetch residue levels, including 0, 2, and 4 t ha−1, were located in the subplots, and five dryland wheat genotypes, including Sadra, Hashtroud, Baran, Varan, and Ohadi, were allocated in the sub-sub plots. The results indicated that the leaf chlorophyll content index (CCI) and stomatal conductance (gs) were greater in the vetch–wheat cropping system compared to the wheat monoculture system for all genotypes. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of the genotypes improved by applying the crop residue. Over two years, the application of crop residues resulted in higher variable fluorescence at the J and I steps, as well as an increase in the photosynthesis performance index (PI). The Varan and Baran genotypes stood out as the superior genotype, exhibiting the highest values in physiological characteristics and grain yield under the application of 4 t ha−1 of vetch residue. The grain-filling rate (GFR) was reduced, while the grain-filling duration (GFD) was increased with increasing the crop residue levels. The enhanced grain yield of the wheat genotypes grown under vetch residue was attributed to factors such as improvement in leave pigments and photosynthetic efficiency, which facilitate longer grain filling duration, with high grain weight. As a result, it is advisable to adopt a vetch–wheat cropping system with a high proportion of crop residue in dryland regions to achieve increased and sustainable wheat production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal saline zone of West Bengal in India is the home to millions of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people. Due to a gradual increase in salt accumulation on soils of the coastal saline zone of West Bengal in India from winter to summer days, cultivation of the second crop in the winter season becomes possible in a limited area. To address these issues, field experiments was conducted in rainy and winter seasons of 2016–17 and 2017–18 at the farmer's field of the coastal saline zone (CSZ) of West Bengal, India. The experiment was carried out to study the system productivity, nutrient uptake, and profitability vis-à-vis salinity dynamics of the crops in rice-pulse-based cropping systems under different land elevations (medium upland and medium lowland). The experiment was conducted in a strip-split plot design having horizontal factors namely, Factor A: Six dates of sowing of rice at an interval of one week (2nd week of June to 3rd week of July), Factor B: Two land situations (medium upland and medium lowland) and Two Cropping Systems (Rice-Lathyrus and Rice-Lentil) as vertical factor, replicated four times. The results suggest that irrespective of land situation, early sown rice (15 June to 21 June) produces higher dry matter and grain yield compared to late sown crops. This early sowing of rice also facilitated the better performance of subsequent lathyrus and lentil, by avoiding the worst situation of the salinity build-up and drought stress later in the winter. Moreover, significantly higher productions were obtained from medium-lowland situations for both the cropping systems. Sowing date has also significantly influenced macro-nutrient uptake (NPK) by rice and pulse grains. It may be concluded that early sowing of rice may be a potential option for intensification of rice-pulse-based cropping systems under CSZ of West Bengal, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity is the major constraint for cropping system intensification in the coastal region of the Ganges Delta. Salts build up on the soil surface, as well as in the crop root zone, due to the capillary rise in underground brackish water, hampering the growth and development of crops and resulting in mortality and low yields. We studied, for three years (2020–2021 to 2022–2023), the effect of conservation agricultural practices (zero tillage planting, crop residue recycling, and crop rotations) on the major soil properties (soil salinity and organic carbon status), crop performance (yield and economics), and water footprint. Conservation agricultural practices significantly reduce soil salinity, build soil organic carbon, reduce water footprint, and increase the profitability of cropping systems compared to tillage-intensive conventional practices. Under conventional agriculture, the sole cropping of rice is more profitable than double and triple cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversified cropping systems offer an alternative to sustainable agriculture, but they present high spatial variability. This study aims to develop and evaluate an automated irrigation system and a variable-rate water application for areas with diversified vegetable crops. The prototype comprises a mobile drip line, a winding reel, and an electronic control system. The drip line irrigates plants individually, with irrigation depths along the beds controlled by the displacement speed and between beds by adjusting the timing of electrical pulses to activate the water flow control valves. To evaluate the drip line, irrigation depths were defined for different crops, followed by performance assessments, which included evaluating the uniformity (Christiansen's Uniformity Coefficient—CUC) of the line under constant and variable rates. A hydraulic evaluation of the system was also carried out, as well as the calculation of the potential irrigable area. The drip line showed CUC ≥96% for depths under a constant rate and 95% for depths under a variable rate. The application efficiency reached 93.4% for a degree of suitability of 83%, considering variable depths along and between beds. The potential irrigable area obtained was 360 m2 day−1. The developed drip line effectively meets the spatial variability of crop water requirements in diversified cropping systems by adopting the variable-rate irrigation technique. The control of irrigation depth through valve activation via electrical pulses allows for the application of variable depths between the beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) invigorates a sustainable agricultural system with a desirable effect on crop productivity. This study investigates the potential of seaweed extracts, humic and fulvic acids and amino acids as biostimulants for certifying wheat and chickpea intercropping enhancements. Field experiments were conducted during the Rabi season of 2022-2023. A split plot design was employed, with main plot treatments of varying row ratios (M1: sole wheat, M2: sole chickpea, M3: wheat: chickpea ratio 2:1 and M4: wheat: chickpea ratio 4:1) and sub plot treatments with different biostimulants (S0: no biostimulant, S1: seaweed extract, S2: humic acid + fulvic acid and S3: amino acid). Results revealed significance of row ratios and biostimulants on growth and yield attributes. Notably, the 2:1 row ratio treatment (M3) magnified plant height with a maximum of 101.45 cm for wheat crop and 58.44 cm for chickpea at 120 DAS. The seaweed extract application treatment (S1) demonstrated maximum plant height of 104.18 cm and 61.00 cm for wheat and chickpea crops, respectively, at 120 DAS. The grain yield of wheat was established to be higher in the sole cropping system (M1: 7.59 kgha-1) with an accumulated harvest index of 41.23%. Seed yield of chickpea was also higher in the sole crop (M2: 2.09 kgha-1) with a harvest index of 49.00%. This research delves into the application of biostimulants to maximize the benefits of wheat and chickp ea intercropping, potentially advancing sustainability for future food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is a short‐season annual crop known for high water‐use efficiency and drought tolerance. The low water requirement makes this ancient grain an excellent rotational crop for the winter wheat‐based dryland cropping system in the High Plains of the United States. The genetic base of the commonly grown US cultivars is very narrow. Assessment of proso millet germplasm for agronomic traits is essential for its efficient utilization in the genetic improvement of this crop. The objectives of this study were to (1) characterize the US proso millet germplasm based on nine important morpho‐agronomic traits and (2) classify the germplasm into clusters based on these morpho‐agronomic traits. A total of 77 genotypes from 24 different countries were evaluated in the field during 2014 and 2015 at Scottsbluff and Sidney, NE. The genotypes showed significant variations for all the traits across locations. Many traits showed genotype × environment interactions and were highly correlated. Several genotypes were identified as sources of desired traits, such as maturity, lodging, and grain shattering. The genotypes formed six clusters based on morpho‐agronomic data. Principal component analysis revealed that these nine traits explained maximum phenotypic variance and could be used as selection indices in proso millet breeding. This is the most comprehensive study of the US proso millet core collection based on morpho‐agronomic traits and would be useful for developing improved proso millet cultivars. Core Ideas: The intent of this study was to evaluate 77 proso millet genotypes in the field for nine morpho‐agronomic traits.The genotypes were significantly different for all traits, and new genotypes with desired traits were identified.Many traits were significantly correlated and were affected by genotype by environment interactions.Cluster analysis grouped all the genotypes into six major clusters.The information from this study can be used for selecting parents and selection indices for proso millet breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cropping systems in semiarid regions have frequently relied on continuous tillage and irrigation, but declining groundwater resources have prompted a greater focus on conservation practices to improve soil health and water storage. We compared soil health responses from cotton production systems in semiarid, coarse-textured soils with different crop management strategies under high or low irrigation levels. Management systems included continuous cotton with conventional tillage (CCCT) compared to no-till cotton with a rye cover crop (NTCR) and no-till cotton with a wheat-fallow rotation (NTCW), including high or low irrigation zones within each system. Samples were collected annually from two bulk soil depths (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) and root-associated soils 7 years after systems were established and continued for 2 years. We found that cropping system, but not irrigation level, altered soil microbial communities and other soil health indicators. Despite variation between study years and sampling zones, the conservation systems had greater soil microbial community size via ester-linked fatty acid methyl ester (EL-FAME or FAME) analysis, extracellular enzyme activities, and soil organic matter than the CCCT system. The NTCW system also had greater arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi FAME abundance. Our study suggests that no-till and conservation strategies such as cover cropping and rotation can improve biological soil health indicators in these sandy semiarid soils even with limited irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grazing annual forages in dryland cropping systems has been used to integrate crop and livestock systems, rejuvenate soils, enhance in-field nutrient cycling and soil organic carbon (SOC), and increase net returns by eliminating harvest expenses and feed delivery. However, cattle (Bos taurus) could potentially degrade soil physical properties by increasing compaction and reducing water infiltration in no-tillage (NT) systems. Minimum tillage (MT) may help correct some of these potential soil quality concerns. The objective of this study was to quantify MT effects on soil properties, forage mass, and weeds compared to NT in a grazed winter triticale [×Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus (Secale × Triticum)] annual forage system from 2020 to 2022 near Jetmore, KS. The experiment had two tillage treatments, NT and MT (sweep plow to a depth of 5–13 cm twice during summer fallow), in a grazed continuous winter triticale cropping system. Bulk density was greater in June, pre-till (1.31 g cm−3), compared to August, post-till (1.23 g cm−3), across tillage treatments. The mean weight diameter of dry aggregates decreased, and wind-erodible fraction increased with MT. Across years, the mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregates was greater with NT compared to MT. The SOC stocks did not differ between tillage practices near the soil surface, but MT increased SOC at the 5- to 15-cm depth. Nitrate (NO3-N) concentration was 28% higher with MT compared to NT across depths at the August sampling time. Soil pH was slightly lower in NT (5.81) compared to MT (5.94). Penetration resistance was high due to frequently dry soil conditions, but there were no differences between tillage systems. Early-season forage biomass was greater in MT compared to NT in one out of two seasons. Our findings suggest that MT could be used to mitigate adverse effects of grazing on soil bulk density in NT systems but could cause short-term decreases in dry and wet aggregate stability and increased wind-erodible fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management practices such as relay cropping, cover crops, and no-tillage may promote soil health in the North Central United States. However, soil health indicators in corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] systems involving multiple management practices are not well documented. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity of soil health metrics and the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) to contrasting management systems with different tillage, crops, and fertilization in a North Central US Mollisol. Different management systems, including conservation tillage and nitrogen fertilization strategies, cover cropping, and camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] relay intercropping, were compared to a conventional corn–soybean system. Different systems did not affect most soil health indicators compared to the conventional system. Aggregate stability was the only indicator to change due to management, where no-till with cover crops increased aggregate stability by 38% compared with camelina relay cropping. The SMAF scores for all the soil quality indices were unaffected by treatments but displayed high values of over 90%. Overall, crop yields were more closely related to weather conditions and management systems than to soil health indicators. Soybean yields were decreased (between 1 and 2 Mg ha−1 ) in the camelina relay cropping system, while corn yields were lower (up to 70%) in the treatment that received no N fertilization. Ultimately, these findings suggest that soil health indicators are resilient to change due to management in these highly productive Mollisols and may not be closely associated with crop yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple food for a large segment of the population worldwide, many attempts have been made to improve the nutritional value of its grain and at the same time to achieve sustainable cropping systems. The present study aimed to characterize the composition and nutritional value of maize grain as influenced by cropping system, genetic background (variety), and growing year using untargeted NMR metabolomics. The composition of both water- (sugars and polyols, organic acids, and amino acids) and liposoluble metabolites (free and esterified fatty acids, sterols, and lipids) extracted from the maize grain was determined. Multivariate statistical analyses (PCA and ANOVA) pointed to the growing year and the variety as the most important random and fixed factors, respectively, influencing the metabolite profile. The samples were separated along PC1 and PC3 according to the growing year and the variety, respectively. A higher content of citric acid and diunsaturated fatty acids and a lower content of tyrosine, trigonelline, and monounsaturated fatty acids was observed in the organic with respect to the conventional variety. The effect of the cropping system was overwhelmed by the random effect of the growing year. The results provide novel knowledge on the influence of agronomic practices on maize micronutrient contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote sustainable cultivation and soil health in agriculture, urgent strategies are needed to address the challenges posed by continuous cropping for high-quality pepper production. This study investigated the impact of oats incorporation and biochar amendment in a 12-year continuous pepper cropping system. Compared with the pepper monoculture system (CK), the combination treatment of intercropping with oats and biochar amendment (T1) significantly increased the soluble solids content by 3.13% and the β-carotene content by 8.83-fold in pepper fruits (P < 0.05). The soil pH under intercropping with oats or biochar modification was comparable to that of the CK. Notably, lower soil bacterial operational taxonomic units were observed under this treatment, and soil bacterial diversity decreased consistently with pepper development, regardless of the cultivation system. In contrast, fungal diversity exhibited fluctuations under the companion oat/biochar condition, with fungal community patterns modulated throughout the pepper development process (P < 0.05). Dominant microbes such as Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas, Chrysosporium, Mortierella, and Cladosporium were identified in continuous cropping pepper soils. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes metabolic profiling revealed significant effects of the cultivation type on the metabolic pathways of functional genes in soil microbial communities. Overall, the practice of planting oats and using biochar in the soils of continuously cropped pepper fields is feasible and sustains the pepper industry as an agroecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pest infestation poses a significant threat to agricultural crop yields, and to control it, farmers spray chemical pesticides. The persistent use of these chemical agents not only leads to pesticide residues within crops but also exerts collateral damage on the beneficial pest population. In this research work, we formulate a nonlinear mathematical model to assess the impacts of pesticide on crop yields within a multiple cropping system. Model analysis illustrates that crop consumption rates destabilize, and the spraying rate of pesticide stabilizes the system. Furthermore, we determine conditions for the global stability of the coexisting equilibrium and conduct a global sensitivity analysis to identify model parameters that significantly influence pest population density. Our findings emphasize that, for effective pest population control and enhanced crop yields, farmers should choose either pesticides with a high pest abatement rate or those with a higher pesticide uptake rate. Considering the spraying rate of pesticide as time-dependent, we also suggest an optimal control strategy to minimize the pest population and associated costs. We provide analytical results backed by numerical simulations implemented through the non-standard finite difference scheme to support our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-year field experiment was conducted at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara during the Rabi season of 2018–2019 and 2019-20 to study the effect of crop establishment methods and sowing schedule on the growth and yield of wheat under the rice-wheat cropping system. The experiment comprised different rice residue management-based wheat establishment methods, sowing dates, and varying nitrogen levels. The results confirmed that growth, yield and yield attributes were all influenced by different crop establishment methods, sowing dates and level of nitrogen application. The results showed that maximum plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of spikes per plant, spike length, number of grains per spike and grain yield were observed under 20th November sowing (timely sowing) and with 100% RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen). Moreover, the maximum number of spikes per plant, spike length and grain yield were significantly highest for the residue incorporation method of wheat establishment. The optimum time of sowing also improved the grain yield of wheat. Among the different crop establishment methods, the best attainment of available nitrogen status in soil was found in residue incorporation treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional paddy-wheat-green gram cropping system in the North-Bihar, area experienced issues such as diminishing yield, water constraint, and uneven fertilizer usage. Researchers wanted to boost sustainability and productivity by testing alternative tillage and crop establishment (TCE) practices within this cropping pattern. The research was conducted out at the Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) the village in the Muzaffarpur region of Bihar. The purpose was to compare five distinct (TCE) utilization in the present rice–wheat-green gram cropping system. The study indicated that the TCE technique designated SN 5 (ZTDSR-HSZTW-HSG) resulted in the greatest yields across all crops, with 15–18% greater rice yield, 20–25% higher wheat yield, and 20–22% higher green gram yield compared to other TCE methods. Additionally, SN 5 produced 20.2% larger net returns employing a conservation agriculture (CA)-based system compared to the conventional technique. These results suggest that CA-based TCE outperformed conventional approaches in terms of net returns and overall efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In semi-arid regions, production of good quality fodder is a challenge; cereal-legume intercropping can be a better alternative in improving forage yield and quality. The present study was conducted to assess the performance of feather Pennisetum (FP) in groundnut (GN) intercropping and for determining a sustainable forage cropping system. Therefore, an experiment was conducted with groundnut and feather Pennisetum as a monocrop and intercrop (2GN:1FP and 3GN:1FP), where FP was harvested at 60, 75, 90, and 120 days after sowing. The land equivalent ratio of intercropping was 15–29% higher indicating yield advantages and economic benefits over sole stands. Crude protein and fiber content was increased by 10 and 8% in intercropping, lignin content was reduced by 15% and neutral detergent fiber by 5% indicating the better quality of FP due to intercropping with GN. Intercropping of GN and FP increased the content of non-fibrous carbohydrate (13%), gas production (6.5%) and volatile fatty acids (6%) indicating better fodder digestibility. Furthermore, intercropping of GN and FP also increased the mineral content by 8-20% than sole stands. Apart from productivity, intercropping of FP and GN, improved water use efficiency over sole stand of both component crops. Considering, forage yield, quality and profitability, 3GN:1FP intercropping was superior and can be recommended as an alternative to monoculture. Our study concluded that in semi-arid regions double dual cropping of food and fodder can be achieved by intercropping which can provide opportunities to produce food and fodder simultaneously for livelihood, animal rearing and long-term sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Hops are grown mainly for the brewing market due to the rich chemical composition that gives beer aroma and bitterness. Brazil is one of the largest beer producers and consumers in the world and one of the largest hop importers. There is growing demand and interest in producing hops for domestic supply; however, as this crop originates from a temperate climate and the Northern Hemisphere, it is important to carry out research that describes the development of hops in a tropical climate to provide information on its cultivation in Brazil, as well as to determine its behavior in organic cultivation. A randomized block design was adopted, the treatments consisted of two cropping systems, conventional and organic, for Hallertau Mittelfrueh variety cultivation, with four blocks and three plants per plot. Gas exchange analyzes of plants under both cultivation systems were performed to obtain measurements of A, gs, Ci, E, WUE and A/Ci, morphometric and yield analyzes were also carried out. In comparison with the plants of the organic system, the plants of the conventional cultivation had greater photosynthetic efficiency; however, the practices adopted in the organic cultivation system provided the plants with greater productive capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Replacing the pressurized irrigation system with surface irrigation is one of the proposed solutions to increase irrigation efficiency. The low-pressure network consists of pipes that receives water from main and/or secondary canals or pipes and usually delivers it to farm units or hydro-flume pipes for surface irrigation with a pressure of lower than 10m of water. Various parameters affect the feasibility and design of low-pressure irrigation, which determine the economic justification of the plan, energy consumption, and its social desirability. In recent years, there has been more interest in implementing low-pressure irrigation instead of open tertiary canals. The reason for this is the reduction of water losses in the distribution and delivery process, the possibility of better management of water distribution, the possibility of volume delivery of water to agricultural plots, and the possibility of irrigating more lands. But there are still ambiguities in its economic and technical issues, and no significant research has been done on its design issues and parameters affecting its economic aspect. In this research, the design of a low-pressure distribution system instead of the open canals and the simultaneous consideration of social and executive issues in an irrigation area are considered. In addition, network design based on different design options (pressure-energy consumption), evaluation and comparison of two types of sub-networks from an economic and operational view have been proposed as research objectives. Focusing on the correct selection of the pump (with a lower energy consumption approach) and estimating for the economic comparison of the two methods of irrigation have been done. Methodology The land of Keyzarin village (with an area of 144 hectares) is located on the right bank of the Tangab river in Fars province. The lands of the right bank use the springs of the region. Although these springs can reduce the withdrawal from underground aquifers as a suitable water source, but the low efficiency of water transfer and distribution in the traditional canals has caused a significant reduction in the delivered water to the farms. The characteristics of the irrigation network in the current situation are as follows: a canal with a length of 610 meters and a design flow of 360 L s-1, leads a part of the water of the "Qomp Atashkade" spring to the dividing point and divides it equally into two canals. In order to design low-pressure instead of the open canal, the layout of water conveyance and distribution lines is determined. The initial pipes' diameter is determined according to the optimal speed, and then, the appropriate pump is selected based on the design flow rate and the topography of the area. In this research, the pressure control system is selected according to the topography of the region and the slope of the land, the type of closed system. Socially, the available option for the layout of pipes is to follow the arrangement of the traditional canals. From a technical point of view, there are several options that, the main difference between them is in the hydraulic design and the type of pump used; So that, accordingly, the number of pumps, the commercial diameter of the pipes and the amount of energy consumed in each option are determined. Therefore, these options need to be compared technically and economically. In this research, 14 scenarios are defined based on 7 types of pump designs and two output pressures. The energy consumption of each scenario has been calculated according to the flow rate and cropping pattern in each irrigation season. Then, the comparison of costs in low-pressure and open canals network is calculated and compared. Findings The cost of constructing an open tertiary network per hectare of land is equal to 990 million Rials. The costs of earthworks with machines, which are related to the volume of cut and fill, and then the cost of in-situ concrete, respectively, constitute the largest percentage of the total costs of the canal networks. Based on the results of the quantity surveying and estimating of the low-pressure sub-network, the cost of constructing for each hectare is equal to 1654 million Rials. The costs of providing polyethylene pipes, purchasing valves and piping operations constitute the highest costs of constructing a low-pressure network, respectively. However, if the operation and maintenance costs are not met (by the government or farmers) and if the maintenance and operation of the low-pressure pipes is neglected, the resulting problems will disable the network completely. The construction of the low-pressure network in the studied area can make 3.6 hectares of land available to farmers due to the less space occupied by this network and also increase the cultivated area by 21.6 hectares (A total of 17.5% is added to the cultivated land in the irrigated area). Considering the quality of land in the region, the price of each hectare of irrigated land and rainfed land in the region is estimated to be one billion Rials and 300 million Rials, respectively. Therefore, as a result of the implementation of the low-pressure network, the profit from the increase in the price of agricultural land (conversion of rainfed to irrigated) will be equal to 18 billion Rials, which is equal to 83% of the total cost of the construction of the low-pressure network. Proper layout of lands in low pressure irrigation can reduce the costs of construction of the network. Also, the amount of more land that can be cultivated after the implementation of low-pressure irrigation and the amount of reduction of land waste compared to open canals can be effective in the economic justification and acceptability of the development of low-pressure irrigation. In low-pressure networks, repairs and maintenance, unlike open canals, are somehow mandatory, and if it is not done to a reasonable extent, water will not be distributed. From this point of view, the cost of maintenance and operation of low-pressure networks in developing countries is estimated to be more than that of open irrigation canals. Conclusion Low-pressure networks were chosen as the superior option for tertiary canals due to various technical advantages and also to compensate for the initial implementation costs by increasing the water transmission efficiency and increasing the cultivated area. Based on the results obtained, it can be said that despite the acceptability of low-pressure irrigation, comprehensive studies should be done in each region for its implementation, and the specific topographical, agricultural, operation, and economic-social conditions in a region may not be consistent with its implementation. Also, for the design, special attention should be paid to the final output pressure, the precise design of the pumps based on different options and the type of lowpressure irrigation network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a trend analysis of rainfall in the Tlawng River basin of Mizoram, India from 1984 to 2023. The study finds that while there is an increasing trend in annual rainfall, it is not statistically significant. However, there are statistically significant increasing trends in the monsoon and winter seasons. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding rainfall patterns for effective water resource management. It also references two articles on the Northeast Monsoon in South Asia and the application of trend analysis to study rainfall variability in the Mahanadi River basin. These articles may be useful for library patrons researching meteorology, monsoons, rainfall variability, and statistical analysis. [Extracted from the article]

Drought events are a major cause of large crop yield losses with implications for food security and farmers' incomes. Growing multiple crops simultaneously during a cropping season is a well‐known on‐farm risk management strategy to cope with these drought risks. However, the effectiveness of this crop diversification under different severity levels of drought and how this effectiveness is influenced by the crop composition is unclear. This article provides new methodological and empirical insights to assess the effectiveness of such diversification, in particular to cope with extreme drought. We apply and evaluate nested Archimedean copulas and elliptical copulas to assess simultaneous farm‐level yield losses of different cash crops in German agriculture (winter wheat, winter barley, winter rapeseed, sugar beet, and grain maize) under different drought severity levels (N = 249,756; regionally pooled farm‐level crop‐yield pairs, 1995–2019). We show that on‐farm crop diversification contributes to cope with drought risks, but its effectiveness varies considerably across regions, crop pairs, and drought severity. Our results underline that cropping system diversification alone is often not sufficient to cope with drought risks, but that the right crop combinations are needed. For example, during a severe drought (one in 20 years event), 26.4% of farmers in eastern Germany suffered simultaneous yield losses of at least 20% in winter wheat and winter barley, while 19.1% of farmers in eastern Germany suffered simultaneous yield losses of at least 20% in winter wheat and sugar beet. Farmers should therefore be encouraged to grow crops with more diverse phenological requirements throughout the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate projections across Québec indicate increased water stress and recurrent vulnerability of cropping systems. In recent years, reports of droughts and water stress have been recorded across the province. Many parts of Québec have experienced droughts in the past few years, which have had uninvestigated impacts on crops. These droughts have been described as some of the most significant in the last 80 years. On the positive side, climate change is likely to trigger shorter winters and therefore longer growing seasons for several crops. However, for crops like maple syrup, the regions suitable for their cultivation will shift northwards. Despite these projections, studies monitoring the susceptibility of barley to environmental changes, climate variability, and adaptive capacity across Québec are still limited. This study aims to provide a provincial-scale portrait of vulnerability of barley in Québec based on historical growing season precipitation, barley yield, and socioeconomic data (literacy and poverty rates) using a composite statistical model. Growing season precipitation data were downloaded from Ouranos. Barley yield data were collected from the Institut de la Statistique du Québec, and the socio-demographic data were collected from the Advisory Council of Poverty and the Institut de la Statistique du Québec. A vulnerability index with sub-indices (sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity) is deployed. It is hypothesised that (1) vulnerability is inversely associated with adaptive capacity, and (2) the peripheral regions of Québec are more vulnerable and less adaptive to climate stressors. Initial results show that when the vulnerability index for barley is more prominent, the associated index of adaptive capacity is relatively lower. A significant gradient between the peripheral and southern regions of Québec is observed, with vulnerability lowest around Montreal/Laval and gradually increasing towards the peripheral regions. A better understanding of vulnerability warrants a change in approach from focusing solely on climate-related variables to integrating socioeconomic proxies. The challenge, however, has been how to introduce these socioeconomic proxies into empirical and process-based crop models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research was conducted to compare the growth, yield, and phytochemical composition of basil (Ocimum basilicum) in the open field and the soil and hydroponic cultivation in a greenhouse. Furthermore, the effect of foliar spraying of micronutrients on this crop was also evaluated. In each of the cultivation systems, foliar spraying of one micronutrient, either iron sulfate (Fe), zinc sulfate (Zn), copper sulfate (Cu), manganese sulfate (Mn), or boric acid (B), at a concentration of 0.1% was applied in a randomized complete block design. Plants grown in the hydroponic system had higher yield and biomass. The concentration of the elements K, Ca, Mg, N, P, Mn, Fe, B, and Zn in the leaves of hydroponic plants was higher. Contrarily, plants cultivated in the field showed higher stem dry weight, essential oil content, phenolic and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity. The level of methyl chavicol was higher in the hydroponic culture, but the level of 1,8-cineole was much lower in this cropping system. Foliar spraying of Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, or B significantly increased leaf dry weight and anthocyanin content. In field conditions, the highest levels of phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity were observed with Zn or Mn application. In the hydroponic system, foliar spraying of Zn or B led to the highest antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Overall, the basil plants cultivated in the field showed higher bioactive ingredients. However, the essential oil of plants cultivated in the hydroponic system had a higher economic value due to its higher percentage of methyl chavicol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation using direct seeding is susceptible to chilling stress, particularly during seed germination and early seedling growth in the early season of a double cropping system. Alternatively, seed priming with various plant growth-promoting hormones is an effective technique to promote rapid and uniform emergence under chilling stress. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of gibberellin A3 (GA3) and brassinolide (BR) priming on rice seed emergence, examining their proteomic responses under low-temperature conditions. Results indicated that GA3 and BR increased the seed germination rate by 22.67% and 7.33% at 72 h and 35% and 15% at 96 h compared to the control (CK), respectively. Furthermore, proteomic analysis identified 2551, 2614, and 2592 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in GA, BR, and CK, respectively. Among them, GA exhibited 84 upregulated and 260 downregulated DEPs, while BR showed 112 upregulated and 102 downregulated DEPs, and CK had 123 upregulated and 81 downregulated DEPs. Notably, under chilling stress, both GA3 and BR are involved in peroxide metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and inositol phosphate metabolism, enhancing antioxidant capacity and providing energy substances for germination. In addition, GA3 triggers the specific regulation of stress responsive protein activation, GTP activation, and ascorbic acid biosynthesis and promotes the stability and integrity of cell membranes, as well as the synthesis of cell walls, providing physical defense for seeds to resist low temperatures. At the same time, BR triggers specific involvement in ribosome synthesis and amino acid synthesis, promoting biosynthetic ability and metabolic regulation to maintain plant life activities under low-temperature stress. Furthermore, the various genes' expression (OsJ_16716, OsPAL1, RINO1) confirmed GA3 and BR involved in peroxide metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and inositol phosphate metabolism, enhancing antioxidant capacity and providing energy substances for germination. This study provides valuable insights into how rice seed embryo responds to and tolerates chilling stress with GA3 seed priming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroecological ecosystems produce significant carbon dioxide fluxes; however, the equilibrium of their carbon sequestration, as well as emission rates, faces considerable uncertainties. Therefore, sustainable cropping practices represent a unique opportunity for carbon sequestration, compensating greenhouse gas emissions. In this research, we evaluated the short-term effect of different management practices in alleys (tillage, no tillage, alley cropping with Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus hyemalis on soil properties, carbon sequestration, and CO2 emissions in a grapefruit orchard under semiarid climate). For two years every four months, soil sampling campaigns were performed, soil CO2 emissions were measured, and rhizosphere soils were sampled at the end of the experimental period. The results show that alley cropping with Thymus and Rosmarinus contributed to improve soil fertility, increasing soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and nutrients. The CO2 emission rates followed the soil temperature/moisture pattern. Tillage did not contribute to higher overall CO2 emissions, and there were no decreased SOC contents. In contrast, alley crops increased CO2 emission rates, especially Rosmarinus; however, the bigger root system and biomass of Rosmarinus contributed to soil carbon sequestration at a greater rate than Thymus. Therefore, Rosmarinus is positioned as a better option than Thymus to be used as an alley crop, although long-term monitoring is required to evaluate if the reported short-term benefits are maintained over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of pulse crops in Canadian rotations has the potential to improve cropping system efficiencies, reduce the overall amount of applied nitrogen, provide economic opportunities for producers, and reduce the overall carbon footprint of the cropping system. Although primarily grown in western Canada, many pulse species—field pea in particular, are well suited to temperate growing conditions in the Maritime region of Canada. A study was conducted over 2 years at Harrington, Prince Edward Island, and consisted of four field pea varieties including two yellow varieties (AAC Lacombe and CDC Saffron) and two green varieties (CDC Limerick and CDC Raezer) planted at three plant population densities: 75, 100, and 125 plants m−2. The study also measured the effects of nitrogen fertilizer applied pre-plant (0 kg ha−1 vs. 15 kg ha−1) and applied plant available sulfur (0 kg ha−1 vs. 25 kg ha−1). Overall, yellow pea varieties were higher yielding than green pea varieties, and there was a linear increase in yield with increased seeding rate. There were no significant effects of pre-plant nitrogen fertilizer on yield, although it did slightly increase seed protein. Applied sulfur had a positive effect on yield and a slightly negative effect on thousand seed weight. This experiment provides a recommendation for the optimal seeding rate (100 plants m−2) and fertility recommendations to achieve profitable yields growing field pea in the Maritime region of Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present field study was conducted on silty loam soil at 'long-term fertilizer experiment' Research Farm, Department of Soil Science, CSK HPKV, Palampur (HP), India under a maize–wheat cropping to study the influence of long-term integrated nutrient management (INM) involving chemical fertilizers, organics and lime on the availability of micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu) in soil, yield and uptake of these micronutrients by maize and wheat. Ten fertilizer treatments comprising different amounts of NPK fertilizers, farmyard manure (FYM) and lime, and Natural Farming and control, were replicated thrice in a randomized block design. Soil availability of micronutrients and their plant concentrations were estimated in grain and stover/straw of both the crops. Soil recovery coefficient (SRC) was calculated to find out micronutrients availability in relation to their plant uptake. The continuous use of chemical fertilizers along with organics and lime in maize–wheat cropping system for 47 years has resulted to an increase in the availability of micronutrient cations (Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu). Build-up of soil organic carbon and decrease in soil pH has resulted in the increase of bio-available forms of micronutrients. Low SRC values of Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn indicated that long-term INM can meet their plant nutritional requirement in maize–wheat cropping system. This study concluded that long-term integration of FYM with NPK fertilizers has an edge over chemical fertilizers alone in regulating the supply of micronutrients in soil–plant system and correcting the micronutrients deficiencies in maize–wheat cropping system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to address economic and environmental concerns surrounding nitrogen (N) have motivated attempts to improve estimates of plant-available N in soil. Several soil health indicators, including CO2 burst, permanganate oxidizable carbon (C) (POXC), and autoclaved-citrate extractable (ACE) soil protein, assess labile C and N, and therefore may help to estimate soil N mineralization in long-term cover cropping systems (>3 years). This study evaluated the relationship of CO2 burst, POXC, ACEsoil protein, and pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT) with agronomic optimum N rate (AONR) in corn (Zea mays L.). The study also looked at relationship between other soil test and corn yield parameters, relative yield (RY) and yield without N sidedress at 25 long-term cover crop sites across Virginia. Results showed relatively weak correlations between AONR and CO2 burst, POXC, ACE-soil protein, and NO3-N (r = 0.00 to −0.48), which indicates that these soil health tests may not reliably predict soil N availability and corn yield. Corn yield with zero-sidedress N rate had a negative relationship with cover crop C:N ratio (r = −0.66) and a positive relationship with cover crop N content (r = 0.59), and NO3-N at pre-planting (r = 0.54) and sidedress (PSNT) (r = 0.63). The PSNT showed a better relationship (r = 0.65) compared to 72-h CO2 burst (r = 0.48) with RY. Soil health indicators (CO2 burst, POXC and ACE-soil protein) resulted in a poor or no relationship with AONR. Our results indicate that the PSNT was a more reliable indicator of the sidedress N rate in corn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One strategy currently being developed to increase rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity is using a multi-canopy cropping system in rice cultivation. This method involves planting tall and short rice genotypes in the same hill. The objective of this experiment was to estimate the genetic parameters and response to selection in multi-canopy rice. Each experiment was arranged in an augmented randomized complete block design with five replications for the checks. In the first planting season, 200 F3 families from IPB196 and IPB197 populations were planted in monoculture and multi-canopy as the short genotypes. IPB187-F-40-1-1 was used in multi-canopy as the tall genotype. Selection of 25% based on grain weight per hill of short genotype in multi-canopy was performed, and 50 families were selected and their F4 seeds were planted in the second season along with the same tall genotype. The results indicated the genotype × cropping system was significant for grain weight per hill in the F3 and F4 generations. Grain weight per hill has a similar realized h² ns in the multi-canopy (0.58) with monoculture (0.54). Meanwhile, the response to selection in multi-canopy (3.60) was higher compared to monoculture (2.09), and therefore the selection of rice lines for a multi-canopy system should be conducted in the multicanopy environment. A selection percentage of 5% resulted in a higher response to selection. These findings may provide insight into the acceleration of breeding rice varieties for the multi-canopy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated forage–row cropping systems provide important agronomic and economic benefits to producers. However, little attention has been given to incorporating forages into row crop systems unique to the southeastern United States. This study assessed the viability of intercropping cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) on perennial, cool-season legumes during the summer months in the Southeast Coastal Plain over two production years. Treatments included a weedy fallow, annual ryegrass (ARG; Lolium multiflorum Lam.) monoculture, a red clover (RC; Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (WC; Trifolium repens L.) mixture, and a three-species mixture of ARG, RC, and WC. Plots were established in fall 2020 with forage grown until May 2021 and 2022, when plots were strip-tilled and planted with cotton. Cotton was managed with minimal herbicide use to preserve perennial clovers. Results indicated WC was more persistent than RC (>40 plants m−2 vs. <40 plants m−2), and the presence of perennial clovers suppressed weeds at similar levels to the ARG monoculture (35 weeds m−2) during the second spring. Perennial clovers grew taller (4–5 cm) when mixed with ARG. The presence of clovers mixed with ARG during the second spring reduced acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentration and increased crude protein (CP) concentration (280 g ADF kg−1; 167 g CP kg−1) compared to the ARG monoculture (315 g ADF kg−1; 126 g CP kg−1). Benefits of intercropping perennial forages with cotton were maximized during the second year of growth, but future work is necessary to improve stand survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term experiments can help to understand soil phosphorus (P) dynamics and improve nutrient management strategies. This research evaluated long-term (2002– 2021) soil P dynamics and yield response to a range of P fertilizer rates in a continuous high-yielding irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) experiment with low initial soil phosphorus test (SPT, 10.5 mg kg−1). The experiment was established near Clay Center, NE, and five P rates (0, 10, 20, 39, and 59 kg P ha−1) were evaluated. Soil samples at 20-cm depth were collected in eight cropping seasons. Yield response to P fertilizer increased after 20 years from 0.64 to 2.79 Mg ha−1. The application of 39 kg P ha−1 year−1 increased soil Bray-1 P to 19.5 mg kg−1, outyielded all other P treatments, and resulted in a positive relative P balance. Over 20 years, 0 kg P ha−1 year−1 decreased Bray-1 P from 10.5 to 5.5 mg kg−1. Annual P rates of 0, 10, and 20 kg P ha−1 produced a negative relative P balance and SPT below the critical soil test value (CSTV). The CSTV was 22.2 mg kg−1 for a continuous irrigated corn cropping system. A 53% increase in the P fertilizer rate (from 39 to 59 kg P ha−1 year−1) produced a threefold increment in the soil test P build-up rate. High yielding irrigated continuous corn production systems (>14 Mg ha−1) are required to apply at least 39 kg P ha−1 year−1 to maintain SPT and a positive relative P balance over years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 90% of the Texas High Plains area depends on the water supply from the Ogallala aquifer. The decline of the Ogallala water table raises a concern for the sustainability of producing the traditional irrigated field crops due to their high water demand. Thus, diversifying cropping systems may be a solution. However, about 70% of the irrigated cropland uses center pivots that may negatively impact specialty crop quality. Thus, a 3-year experiment was conducted to assess the potential of using mobile drip irrigation (MDI) to produce fresh watermelon compared to center pivot sprinkler irrigation using low-elevation spray application (LESA), and surface drip irrigation with plastic mulch (DI). The study evaluated the effects of irrigation systems on crop yield, fruit quality, physiological responses, water use efficiency (WUE), and irrigation use efficiency (IUE). On average, plants under MDI had higher yields (106 Mg ha−1) than those under DI (70 Mg ha−1) and LESA (68 Mg ha−1). Plants under MDI and DI also had more fruits per plant (1.9) than those under LESA (1.4). The higher yield was associated with higher biomass and photosynthetic function. In general, fruit quality was not affected by irrigation system. In addition, plants under MDI system showed a higher WUE and IUE, and less water stress than those under LESA and DI systems. Results of this study suggest that irrigating under an MDI system is a good alternative for growers in the Texas High Plains that aim to diversify their cropping system with high-value vegetable crops such as watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] genotypes, along with three checks, were evaluated over three seasons across five communes in Benin. The experiments were laid out in an alpha lattice design with three replicates. Additive multiplicative mean interaction (AMMI) and best linear unbiased predictor (BLUP) analysis were combined to assess differential agronomic performance and yield stability among genotypes. There was significant variation (p < 0.001) between genotypes for all traits, with highly significant environmental and genotype × environment interaction (GEI) effects on soybean grain yield (p < 0.001). The likelihood ratio test indicated that both genotype and interaction effects were highly significant (p < 0.001). The low R² (0.21) for GEI reflected the presence of high residual variation in the GEI component, in contrast to the AMMI analysis of variance, which explained a high proportion of the GEI through the first two interaction principal component axes (52%). The very high value of the predictive accuracy (0.89) confirmed the model’s reliability in selecting superior genotypes. The low (0.33) genotypic correlation between environments indicated that it was difficult to select superior genotypes for each environment. Based on the superiority index (weighted average absolute scores from BLUP for yield) of BLUP, simultaneous selection led to the identification of Jenguma 2.67 ± 0.06 t ha−1 as the most stable and productive genotype across environments, followed by Favour 2.34 ± 0.08 t ha−1, and Afayak 2.46 ± 0.08 t ha−1. The agronomic performance of soybean in this study suggested great potential for diversifying cotton-based cropping systems in Benin, thereby improving their sustainability. The effect of these soybean genotypes on the productivity of intercrop combinations and sequences of cash crops, such as cotton, is yet to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping systems and exogenous microorganism additives are recognized for their potential to influence silage fermentation and quality. This study aims to evaluate the impacts of maize–lablab bean intercropping and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) additives on silage yield, nutritional quality, and economic profitability. A randomized block design was employed with two cropping patterns—maize monocrop (M) and maize–lablab intercrop (ML)—and five additive treatments: No additives (CK), and varying ratios of Lactobacillus Plantarum (LP) and Lactobacillus Buchneri (LB), T1 (100% LP), T2 (9LP:LB), T3 (8LP:2LB), and T4 (100% LB). The silage was analyzed and evaluated for its nutritional quality, fermentation quality, and fermentation effect after 90 days of fermentation. ML intercropping significantly enhanced the fresh matter yields by 8.59% and crude protein content by 8.73% compared to M. From the point of view of inoculation with different lactobacilli, the pH, AA, and NH3-N/TN were lower in the T2 and T3 treatments than in the other treatments, while LA was significantly higher. The V-score, which reflects the overall fermentation quality, was excellent across all treatments, with scores exceeding 80 points; the T2 treatment in ML silage achieved the highest score of 99.58. In addition, intercropping can increase the net income of farmers by 21.67%. In conclusion, maize–lablab intercropping combined with LAB inoculation, particularly with the T2 and T3 treatments, significantly enhances the silage quality and economic returns by reducing pH, increasing the LA content, and improving the CP levels. This study is the first to comprehensively analyze the synergistic effects of altering cropping systems and adding functional microorganisms on forage yield and fermentation quality, offering strategic insights for farms, especially mixed farms, to produce high-quality feed. We recommend adopting these methods to improve feed quality and maximize the profitability of silage production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orseolia oryzivora is a major insect pest of rice in Burkina Faso. This study aimed at assessing the incidence of this pest on an integrated irrigated rice cropping system in Bama, western Burkina Faso. The work was carried out during two consecutive wet cropping seasons, 2020 and 2021. The experiment was conducted using a randomized split-plot design in a latice design. The main plots (MP) were divided into secondary plots, made up of a combination of two factors: two rice varieties (FKR64 and Orylux6) and four types of crop management before rice (Mucuna, cowpea forage, organic matter and a no-crop control); the third factor, mineral fertilization (F0, F1, F2, F3) was distributed in secondary plots (SP). Weekly entomological assessments were carried out from day 28 after transplanting (DAT) to DAT 84. Symptoms of O. oryzivora damage were assessed during the vegetative and reproductive phases of rice and examined in the laboratory. Results showed that all rice varieties were infested with O. oryzivora. The higher amount of NPK, the higher the damage caused by the insect pest. The FKR64 variety recorded the highest average rate of pre-imaginal O. oryzivora populations. The results of this study could contribute effectively to the sustainable management of O. oryzivora in Bama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry is widely promoted to mitigate climate change and strengthen agricultural systems; this study thus evaluates various agroforestry systems practiced in South Asian countries based on the sustainability parameters for the agriculture sector. A hierarchical model for sustainable development in agriculture is formulated considering four criteria, twenty sub-criteria, and seven alternatives. Four pillars of sustainability, namely economic, environmental, social, and human, have been considered as the criteria in this study. The proposed model is evaluated using the multi-criterion decision-making technique fuzzy analytical hierarchical process (FAHP). The investigation of the results shows that environmental and economic criterion holds the utmost value implying the need to consider both ecology and economy while formulating a sustainable system. Among the sub-criteria, farm income, timber produce, watershed protection, and carbon sequestration obtained the highest weightage. Alley cropping system and silvopastoral system have been identified to be the most sustainable agroforestry system among the considered alternatives; as they are found to possess immense potential to boost farm income and transform the animal husbandry sector, respectively. The findings of this study will assist stakeholders such as farmers and policymakers at various levels of decision-making to formulate policies regarding the adoption, development, and promotion of agroforestry interventions. The outcomes of this study will also assist researchers working in the domain of agricultural sustainability in devising a system that is sustainable, taking into account the key attributes identified in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world grapples with the escalating threat of global warming, exploring sustainable agricultural practices has become imperative. Carbon sequestration is one such efficient method to mitigate carbon emissions and reduce global warming. Among the numerous sequestration options, terrestrial methods, notably via horticultural crops, have enormous potential. Horticultural crops, which encompass a diverse array of fruits, vegetables, plantations, and ornamental plants, offer a unique chance to sequester a considerable amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide. In particular, perennial horticultural systems provide numerous benefits over annual crops, such as increased productivity, reduced water and input requirements, and higher economic returns via carbon credits. However, the transition from annual to perennial crops presents logistical and financial challenges. The carbon sequestration capacity of plantations and horticulture crops is larger, at 16.4 Gt C, compared to the agroforestry system, which is at 6.3 Gt C. In order to fully use this capacity, it is essential to employ effective carbon management systems. These methods include growing higher biomass, recycling agricultural waste, employing animal manure, switching to perennial crops, adopting crop rotation, and encouraging agroforestry systems. Although there are advantages, substantial initial investments and continuous management are required to ensure effectiveness, and these demands might hinder widespread acceptance. This review emphasizes the critical role of horticulture systems in improving soil carbon levels, soil organic matter dynamics, different forms of carbon, and their overall potential for carbon sequestration. By unlocking the potential of horticultural crops to sequester carbon, we can help minimize atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, lessen the impact of climate change, and ensure nutritional security and economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of using enhanced evapotranspiration rates of willow plantation is a modern environmentally friendly practice for advanced treatment of effluent WWTP flow. The key idea is that through advanced willow evapotranspiration rates, a significant proportion of the effluent flow can be transferred into the atmosphere through the physical process of evapotranspiration. This study further discusses the concept in a real-world problem using a wide dataset consisting of a recent PET monthly remote dataset namely RASPOTION, monthly recorded rainfall gauge, and experimental willow evapotranspiration surveys across Ireland, to identify the monthly cropping pattern. A Monte Carlo water balance model has been developed for the period 2003–2016. The model was applied in an existing willow plantation at Donard WWTP co. Wicklow, Ireland to identify the exceedance probability of willow plantation runoff against estimated low flows (i.e., Q95, Q99) at the adjacent small tributary. In this case study, any failure which can lead to river quality deterioration was not assessed. The overall framework aims to provide new insights considering the multiple sources of uncertainty (i.e., monthly willow cropping pattern and WWTP effluent flow) in associated environmental engineering problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is very important to enhance the risk resistance of the agricultural sector to realize the modernization transformation of the agricultural industry and strengthen the competitiveness of national agriculture. Based on the relevant spatial data of 30 provincial administrative regions in China from 2013 to 2022, this study constructs a multi-dimensional index framework to comprehensively evaluate the resilience of China's agricultural economy by comprehensively considering the three key aspects of adaptability, management strategy, and innovation drive. This study adopts several quantitative analysis tools including the Theil index, global and local analysis of the Moran I index, and kernel density estimation (KDE), and further combines with the spatial Durbin model (SDM) to conduct an in-depth spatiotemporal analysis of the resilience of China's agricultural economy. This study not only reveals the evolution trend of agricultural economic resilience in different times and spaces but also analyzes the differences in resilience among regions and its spread in space. Through these refined analytical tools, we aim to reveal how agricultural economic resilience changes over time, the differences in resilience levels among regions, and the geospatial interactions and diffusion. This study reveals a series of key findings: (1) The resilience of China's agricultural economy shows a trend of steady improvement. (2) Differences within the three regions are the main factors generating differences in the development of resilience in China's agricultural economy. (3) The resilience of the agricultural economy in different regions shows obvious spatial correlations. (4) Further analysis shows that the efficiency of agricultural production and the urbanization process have a positive direct impact on the resilience of the agricultural economy, and this impact has a significant positive spatial diffusion effect. Meanwhile, although the level of agricultural mechanization is not significant in its direct impact, it has a positive spatial impact on the enhancement of agricultural economic resilience in other regions. In addition, the restructuring of agricultural cropping has both direct negative impacts and positive spatial spillover effects on the resilience of the agricultural economy. Based on these findings, this paper suggests that agricultural policies should consider regional development differences, implement differentiated agricultural support policies, fully account for the spatial spillover effects of agricultural ecological efficiency, and strengthen the exchange and cooperation of resources between regions. This study deepens the understanding of the spatial and temporal characteristics of the resilience of China's agricultural economy, reveals its inherent dynamic processes and spatial interactions, and provides valuable references for policymakers and practitioners to better cope with the various challenges encountered in agricultural production, and to jointly promote the sound development of China's agricultural economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effect of using selected herbs as companion crops in soybean cultivation on the yield and overall health of soybeans. A three-year field experiment (2021–2023) was conducted using a randomized block design with three replications, where the primary experimental variable was the sowing method. The innovative cropping system involved cultivating soybeans alongside different companion herbs, such as alyssum (Lobularia maritima L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), borage (Borago officinalis L.), French marigold (Tagetes patula L.), calendula (Calendula officinalis L.), and a herbal mixture referred to as 'MIX'. The study showed that cultivation of soybean with fennel improved the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the yield, with a significant increase in seed yield (on average by 0.27 t ha−1) as well as protein (7.67%) and oil yield (8.57%) compared to the pure soybean crop. The following fungal diseases were identified during the three-year study period (2021–2023): Cercospora leaf blight, Ascochyta blight, Fusarium wilt, and downy mildew. Cultivation of soybean with herbs as companion crops was implemented to improve the health of soybean to a varied extent. Borage, marigold, and calendula companion crops reduced infection of soybean by the fungi C. kikuchii and F. oxysporum. Cultivation with fennel and marigold was also beneficial for soybean health. On the other hand, cultivation with sweet alyssum and a mixture of herbs increased the occurrence of the fungus A. sojaecola. Cultivation of soybean in association with herbs is legitimate and requires further research given the priorities facing 21st-century agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns and driving mechanisms of cropping patterns' evolution tailored to local conditions is crucial for the effective allocation of black soil in northeast China and the advancement of agricultural development. This study utilized the Google Earth Engine platform to extract the spatial distribution data of major grain crops in northeast China for the year 2022. Using crop classification data from 2000 to 2022, the spatial overlay analysis method identified cropping pattern types based on spatial and temporal changes. The primary cropping patterns identified were continuous maize cropping, maize–soybean rotation, mixed cropping, and continuous soybean cropping. Simultaneously, this research constructed three distinct crop periods: Period I (2000–2002), Period II (2010–2012), and Period III (2020–2022). Over three periods, these patterns covered 94.73%, 88.76%, and 86.39% of the area, respectively. The evolution of the dominant cropping pattern from Period I to Period II involved the transition from continuous soybean cropping to continuous maize cropping, while from Period II to Period III, the main shift was from continuous maize cropping to maize–soybean mixed cropping. From a spatial perspective, since Period I, maize has increasingly replaced soybean as the dominant crop, with continuous maize cropping expanding northward and continuous soybean cropping contracting. The maize–soybean rotation area also migrated northward, particularly in the core area of the Songnen Plain, evolving mostly into continuous maize cropping. Maize cropping areas exhibited significant regional characteristics, being densely distributed in the Sanjiang Plain and Liaohe Plain, and along major tributaries in northeast China. Consequently, the interplay of the natural environment, economic policies, and agricultural technologies drove these changes. The findings offer valuable insights for optimizing cropping patterns and developing rotation systems in northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real water saving is a important concept in water resources management, which can express previous failures in reducing agricultural water consumption, despite increasing irrigation efficiency. In the present research, while calculating the water requirement for the cultivation of the cropping pattern document in Khuzestan province of Iran and harvesting the intended yield, the crop substitution and changing the planting date method (in four scenarios) has been considered as a sustainable solution to reduce the actual agricultural water consumption. Scenarios 1 to 4, respectively, included replacing part of the cultivated area of sugarcane, fodder corn, and rice with sugar beet, fodder sorghum, and sesame, in 3 consecutive years, and changing the planting date of watermelon and tomato from summer to winter in 1 year. For this purpose, the actual evapotranspiration was determined using FAO-56 Penman–Monteith equations and the expected crop yield at the county scale. Then, using the history of cultivation of different crops in each county and the subwatershed map of the Khuzestan province, the actual evapotranspiration, net irrigation requirement, and water withdrawal from rivers in each subwatershed of Khuzestan province were determined. Results showed that implementation of scenarios 1, 2, 3, and 4 can reduce 551, 25, 194, and 79 hm3 of actual water consumption and decreases 2,160, 104, 775, and 303 hm3 of water withdrawal, respectively. If all the scenarios are implemented together, it can be expected that the reduction in actual agricultural water consumption and its water withdrawal will be equivalent to 5% and 20% of the rivers discharge in Khuzestan province, with a probability of 80%. By considering the real water saving, economic, and social criteria, it can be concluded that replacing sugarcane with sugar beet is the first priority of implementation, whereas changing rice with sesame is the last priority of implementation. Practical Applications: Water reduction consumption is one the most challenging issues in agricultural water management. We know that agriculture consumes mostly fresh water to produce all kinds of agricultural products. The water is converted from liquid to vapor and removed from the target catchment area by atmospheric currents. Therefore, one of the most useful ways to reduce actual water consumption in agriculture is to improve the cropping pattern. Modifying the cropping pattern can challenge the indigenous knowledge of farmers and affect their habits as well as reduce the income of local communities in some cases. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the profit of the replaced crop and the level of familiarity of the farmer with how to cultivate it in determining the cropping pattern. This research examines the modification of the cropping pattern in Khuzestan province of Iran, which includes replacement of sugarcane, fodder corn, and rice with sugar beet, sorghum, and sesame, respectively, to reduce agricultural water consumption. For this purpose, the reduction of water consumption, reduction of farmer's income, and social tendencies have been seen in the defined scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2022, seniors studying horticulture at Montana State University (MSU; Bozeman, MT) had the opportunity to participate in a unique community-based learning project in collaboration with the newly built PreK-12 public school in the rural town of Winifred, MT, to establish the greenhouse infrastructure to be used in curriculum at the school. The new greenhouse facility presented an opportunity for Winifred students to not only gain experience growing vegetables, but also to provide a source of fresh vegetables for school lunches and for community members. This course presented two unique opportunities for the MSU horticulture students: (1) to experience problem-solving horticultural challenges through designing and troubleshooting the setup of the cropping systems for the greenhouse and (2) to participate in a course with a real-world impact on improving food security in rural areas of Montana. Over the course of the semester, the MSU students successfully established the infrastructure for the Winifred School greenhouse, which has continued to be integrated into the curriculum as well as providing fresh produce for students and community members. By the end of the course, MSU students demonstrated program learning outcomes including demonstrating the content knowledge and skills necessary to function successfully in a horticultural career and being able to identify and analyze plant growth problems and develop solutions or strategies to solve those problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to optimize the methods for determining methane emission in a continuously flooded (CF) and an alternately wetted and dried rice system. A field experiment was conducted at Block B1, Pili Drive, Los Baños, Laguna for one cropping season to evaluate the CH4 emission in both FP and AWD treatment plots. Fertilizer application rates were similar across treatments and were based on the recommended rate. Gas sampling was done weekly at 0, 15, and 30 - minute intervals and gas samples were analyzed using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame-ionization detector (FID). Results showed that FP plots emitted methane at 15.07 to 459.14 mg CH4 day-1 m-2, which was higher than those produced in AWD plots which ranged from 1.68 to 36.26 mg CH4 day-1 m-2 throughout the cropping period. In both treatments, a decreasing trend in methane emission was observed which was attributed to the depleting carbon source of methanotrophs where methane was utilized rather than produced at an unfavorable redox potential for methane production. Global warming potential (GWP) of 7.000 kg CO2-eq and 1.350 kg CO2-eq was contributed by FP and AWD treatments, respectively. Overall, CH4 emission was reduced by 80-85% when AWD was employed without having a yield compromise. The result of this pilot study is limited to a 1.300 m2 field area but it showed a significant comparison between the two water management strategies in rice systems. Also, the learnings in this study will be used further for landscape greenhouse gas measurements in major rice-producing areas in the Philippines and ultimately will contribute to the carbon footprint assessment of rice cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The stability of cropping systems in a changing climate context depends on numerous factors, including row orientation, to optimize the use of environmental resources. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of agricultural systems based on the row orientation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and maize (Zea mays) in three different ecological conditions in Côte d’Ivoire, in 2020 and 2021. An experimental design with plots divided into three complete randomized blocks with six subplots per block and three repetitions was set up, varying the row orientation in intercropping and monoculture. Row orientation, cropping system used, and ecological zone significantly influenced crop yield and its components. In intercropping, cowpea (tiligré) showed the best yields when oriented North–South (NS) in the tropical rainforest zone and the sub-Sudanian savannah, while East–West (EW) orientation was optimal in the forest-savannah mosaic zone. In contrast, maize (GMRP18) yielded the best in intercropping when rows were oriented East–West, regardless of the season. In monoculture, cowpea yielded best when oriented EW in the tropical rainforest zone (488.17 kg ha−1) and in the forest-savannah mosaic zone (1262.12 kg ha−1), while NS orientations were preferable (228.6 and 259.54 kg ha−1) in the sub-Sudanian savannah zone. For maize monoculture, EW orientation was also preferable. Throughout the study, for both seasons, the highest yield advantages in maize-cowpea intercropping were obtained in EW orientation, regardless of the ecological zone. Overall, the forest-savannah mosaic zone yielded the best cowpea yields (1262.12 and 663.9 kg ha−1).

The quality of soil plays a crucial role in sustainable agriculture. To better understand the changes in soil quality across different agroecosystems, long‐term experiments are considered as the most effective approach. Moreover in spite of their significance, there is paucity of information pertaining to long‐term impact of fertilizer and manure application on soil quality in Vertisols of Central India. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the soil quality in an ongoing 46‐year long‐term fertilizer experiment conducted in central India, where a soybean‐wheat cropping system (SWCY) was implemented on a Vertisol. The experiment involved the application of inorganic and integrated nutrient treatments, including farmyard manure (FYM). By analyzing various biological and physiochemical properties of the soil, a soil quality index (SQI) was developed. The SQI encompassed treatments with both optimal and suboptimal nutrient dosages, revealing the range of soil quality variations resulting from different nutrient applications over the long term. The study found a significant correlation between the SQI values and the grain yields of soybean (R2 = 0.85**) and wheat (R2 = 0.85**). The main indicators identified for assessing soil quality were large macro‐aggregates, dehydrogenase activity, microbial biomass nitrogen and carbon, and available nitrogen. Overall, the findings highlighted the importance of soil biological and physiochemical properties in determining soil quality, emphasizing the significance of integrating both inorganic and organic sources of nutrients for improving soil quality and crop productivity of soybean and wheat sequence in Vertisols of Central India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field investigation took place at Central Research Farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India during winter seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22 with the aim to evaluate system productivity, economics, energetics and carbon footprint (CF) of oat + grasspea intercropping systems under different integrated nutrient managements (INM). The experiment was executed in split-plot design with 4 cropping systems in main plots and 4 levels of nutrient management in sub plots. The 3:3 intercropping system of oat + grasspea ensured highest system productivity, whereas sole grasspea stood best in terms of economics, energetics and environment safety by lowering CF. Notably, INM involving 75% N through urea + 25% N through vermicompost registered significantly higher system productivity in case of 3:3 oat + grasspea intercropping system (CS4N3) (18.77 q ha−1). Further, this intercropping system yielded high economic profitability (net return: US$ 430.4 ha−1, benefit–cost ratio: 1.71) as well as energy indices (energy output: 71179.1 MJ ha-1, net energy gain: 60352.0 MJ ha−1, energy ratio: 6.57 and energy profitability: 5.57). CF was also found relatively low under CS4N3 (Yield scaled CF: 62.2 kg CO2-e q−1). Furthermore, high carbon efficiency (7.92) and carbon sustainability index (6.92) were also exhibited by CS4N3 as it produced maximum carbon output (1801.2 kg ha−1). In conclusion, the 3:3 oat + grasspea intercropping system using INM can be viable option to ensure economic and energy viability and minimize greenhouse gas emissions without compromising system productivity. Particularly, this intercropping system combined with 75% N through urea + 25% N through vermicompost as INM option can be recommended for the cereal and legume growers of India, specifically under intensive cropping scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blueberry is an important perennial fruit crop with expanding consumption and production worldwide. Consumer demand for blueberries has grown due to the desirable flavor and numerous health benefits, and fresh market production in the U.S. has risen in turn. U.S. imports have also increased to satisfy year-round consumer demand for fresh blueberries. Pre- and post-harvest fruit diseases such as anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum spp.) and botrytis fruit rot (caused by Botrytis spp.) have a significant impact on fruit quality and consumer acceptance. These are also among the most difficult diseases to control in the blueberry cropping system. These latent pathogens can cause significant losses both in the field, and especially during transport and marketplace storage. Although both diseases result in rotted fruit, the biology and infection strategies of the causal pathogens are very different, and the management strategies differ. Innovations for management, such as improved molecular detection assays for fungicide resistance, postharvest imaging, breeding resistant cultivars, and biopesticides have been developed for improved fruit quality. Development and integration of new strategies is critical for the long-term success of the blueberry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil, a leading rice producer globally, faces challenges in systematically mapping its diverse rice fields due to varying cropping systems, climates, and planting calendars. Existing rice mapping methods often rely on complex techniques like deep learning or microwave imagery, posing limitations for large-scale mapping. This study proposes a novel approach utilizing Sentinel-2 spectral–temporal metrics (STMs) in conjunction with a random forest classifier for rice paddy mapping. By extracting diverse STMs and training both regional and global classifiers, we validated the method across independent areas. While regional models tended to overestimate rice areas, the global model effectively reduced discrepancies between our data and the reference maps, achieving an overall classifier accuracy exceeding 80%. Despite the need for further refinement to address confusion with other crops, STM exhibits promise for national-scale rice paddy mapping in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]