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The use of phosphogypsum (PG) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for agricultural purposes are good options to improve soil properties and increase crop yield. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different rates of PG (ton ha−1; 0 (PG1), 3 (PG2), 6 (PG3), and 9 (PG4)) combined with PGPR inoculation (Azospirillum lipoferum (control, T1), A. lipoferum + Bacillus coagulans (T2), A. lipoferum + B. circulance (T3), and A. lipoferum + B. subtilis (T4)) on soil properties, plant physiology, antioxidant enzymes, nutrient uptake, and yield of maize plants (Zea mays L., cv. HSC 10) grown in salt-affected soil. Over two growing seasons, 2019 and 2020, field experiments were conducted as a split-plot design with triplicates. The results show that applying PG (9 ton ha−1) and co-inoculation (A. lipoferum + B. circulance) treatment significantly increased chlorophyll and carotenoids content, antioxidant enzymes, microbial communities, soil enzymes activity, and nutrient contents, and showed inhibitory impacts on proline content and pH, as well as EC and ESP, thus improving the productivity of maize plant compared to the control treatment. It could be concluded that PG, along with microbial inoculation, may be an important approach for ameliorating the negative impacts of salinity on maize plants.

Rain-fed maize production in Mexico includes approximately 6 million hectares which variation in productivity represents huge challenges to meeting the sustainable intensification goals of the Sustainable Modernization of Traditional Agriculture (MasAgro) program. We use the information available from farmers participating in this program to investigate the differences in productivity and the effects of the promoted practices and technologies in seven defined rain-fed maize regions. We do this by applying metafrontier analysis to measure the technical efficiency and the technology gap. The results show a range of technical efficiency from 70 to 100%, which indicates the gains that can be achieved through improved management of the current inputs and practices of farmers in the program, and a range of the environment–technology gap between 32 and 82%, which indicates the limitations of the production environment which would require innovations in technologies and policies particularly adapted for the dry, the tropical and the more traditional regions. Furthermore, the results show that the use of hybrid seed and selling into maize markets have the largest impact in increasing maize yields in all regions. The difference between the MasAgro farmers and the average farmers in each region suggest that scaling the project will contribute to increasing maize production and Mexico’s food self-sufficiency.

Since 2002, a long-term field experiment has been conducted to determine the effects of different organic fertilization treatments on the bacterial community characteristics and maize productivity in dryland red soil using high-throughput sequencing technology. The experiment consisted of four treatments:no manure, M0; low manure, M1; high manure, M2; and high manure with lime addition, M3. Our results showed that the different organic fertilization treatments(M1, M2, and M3) significantly promoted maize productivity with the highest values of pH, soil organic matter(SOM), total nitrogen(TN), and total phosphorus(TP) compared to that under the M0 treatment, and the high manure with lime addition(M3) treatment had the highest level of maize production. The different organic fertilization treatments significantly increased the Shannon index, Evenness index, Chao1 index, and ACE index and significantly shaped the composition of the bacterial community. TP and pH were the main variables determining soil bacterial diversity index based on random forest modeling analysis, whereas pH, SOM, TP, and TN were the main variables determining the structure of the soil bacterial community. Correlation analysis and structural equation modeling determined that TP and SOM indirectly affected maize productivity by varying the bacterial diversity and community structure. The results of this study provide the scientific basis for ensuring food security and sustainable agricultural development by improving the fertility and bacterial diversity in dryland red soil.

This research was premeditated to estimate the impact of climate change on maize productivity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Peshawar, and D.I. Khan Districts were selected from different agro-ecological zones of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The climatic and non-climatic variables employed for the study were area under maize, maximum temperature, minimum temperature and precipitation, respectively. For statistical analysis, panel data record for twenty years (1996-2015) across five districts of the province were scrape together from Development Statistic of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Bureau of Statistic and Pakistan Meteorological Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Hausman test recommended fixed effect model (as opposed to random effect) as a fit model for given estimation. The major findings proclaim that maximum temperature has negative impact on the yield of maize. Impact of precipitation show a positive and significant contribution to maize yield. High temperature has deleterious impact on maize productivity. Therefore, policy exertions needs to be concentrated toward impact of climate change on maize productivity. Development of temperature resistant maize verities for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also a good option. Moreover, awareness among farmers on climate change is required regarding plantation of trees and afforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Biochar amendment improves hydrophysical and chemical properties of field soil. • Biochar amendment reduces soil water depletion during maize growth in the field. • Deficit irrigation reduced the growth and yield of maize. • Biochar amendment improve the water use of maize. • Combined biochar and inorganic fertiliser significantly enhanced maize growth, yield, Irrigation and Crop Water Use Efficiency under deficit irrigation. Abstract The additions of biochar and inorganic fertiliser to agricultural soils have been reported to enhance soil fertility and crop production under rainfed and irrigation conditions. However, it is unclear how biochar improve the growth, yield, irrigation and crop water use efficiency of a field grown maize under deficit irrigation. The objective of this study is to determine the main and interactive effects of biochar and fertiliser on the maize growth, yield, crop water use efficiency (CWUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) under deficit irrigation, which has been scarcely studied. Therefore, a field experiment which consisted of factorial combination of Irrigation (100% Full Irrigation (FI), 80% FI and 60% FI), biochar (0 and 20 t/ha) and fertiliser (0 and 300 Kg/ha) was conducted over two growing seasons. The 100% FI, 80% of FI and 60% of FI received 1, 0.8 and 0.6 of the estimated irrigation need required to bring the soil water to field capacity, respectively. Effect of the soil amendments were determined on the crop evapotranspiration (water use), soil hydrophysical and chemical properties. Maize growth parameters were determined weekly while the yield components were determined at harvest. Results showed that the application of the soil amendments improved the soil hydro-physical, chemical properties, and water use by maize plant which consequently resulted in increased maize growth, yield, IWUE and CWUE under all irrigation treatments. Combined addition of the soil amendments gave significant (P < 0.05) improvement on the maize grain yield, biomass yield, CWUE and IWUE compared to the unamnded plot in all irrigation treatments. Also, insignificant interaction occurred between biochar and irrigation on maize productivities. Therefore, amending soil with biochar under limited water supply might be a novel approach for enhancing maize yield and water use efficiencies by minimizing the negative impact of drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress adversely affects crop growth and yield. Water availability at critical crop growth stages reduces water losses and improves water use efficiency and yield of a crop. Potassium is a major plant nutrient required in large quantity by crops and has a significant role in increasing crop growth and yield by reducing the adverse effects of drought stress. Although a large quantity of potassium can be found in soil but is mostly in an unavailable form. A field experiment was, therefore established at Agronomy Research Farm the University of Agriculture Peshawar-KP to evaluate the response of maize toward different K levels under varied irrigation frequencies, during Autumn, 2015. Randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement was used with a subplot size of 3m × 2m. Treatments consisted of six irrigation frequencies; I0 (no irrigation), I1 (irrigation at V1 stage), I2 (two irrigations; each at V1 and V7 stage), I3 (three irrigations; each at V1, V7 and VT stage), I4 (four irrigations; each at V1, V7, RT and R2 stage) and I5 (five irrigations; each at V1, V7, RT, R2 and R4 stage) allocated to main plot and five levels of potassium (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg ha-1) assigned to subplots. Results exhibited significant effects of irrigation frequencies and K levels on crop growth, yield and yield components. Increasing irrigation numbers substantially increased yield of maize crop and taller plants with higher number of grains ear-1, 1000-grain weight, biological and grain yield, and harvest index were observed in plots irrigated five times. Likewise, 75 kg K ha-1 application resulted in higher biological (plant height and biological yield) and grain yield (grains ear-1, thousand grains weight, grain yield and harvest index) components of maize. Increase in K levels beyond 75kg ha-1 showed a slight decrease in yield. It is concluded that water stress at each critical crop growth stage can drastically reduce crop yield, therefore, five times irrigation each at (mentioned) crop growth stage along with 75 kg ha-1 K is recommended for higher maize production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Application of controlled release urea (CRU) is recommended to reduce the undesirable environmental effects resulting from urea application. However, the overall effects of CRU on maize productivity and reactive nitrogen (N) losses remain unclear. Our global meta-analysis based on 866 observations of 120 studies indicated that application of CRU instead of urea (same N rate) increased maize yield by 5.3% and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by 24.1%, and significantly decreased nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emission, N leaching and ammonia (NH 3) volatilization by 23.8%, 27.1% and 39.4%, respectively. The increase of NUE and reduction of N 2 O emission by CRU application were greater with medium and high N rates (150 ≤ N < 200 and N ≥ 200 kg N ha−1) than with low N rates. The reduction in N 2 O emission and N leaching with CRU application were enhanced when soil organic carbon (SOC) content was <15.0 g kg−1, and soil texture was medium or coarse. The reduction in N 2 O emission and NH 3 volatilization with CRU were greater in soils with pH ≥ 6.0. We concluded that use of CRU should be encouraged for maize production, especially on light-textured soils with low organic matter content. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The integrated effects of controlled release urea (CRU) on maize were quantified. • CRU increased maize yield by 5.3% compared to urea in this global meta-analysis. • N 2 O and NH 3 emissions, and N leaching were decreased by CRU more than 20%. • CRU was most effective in light-textured or low organic carbon soils. The agronomic and environmental effects of controlled release urea (CRU) on maize production were quantified based on global scale meta-analysis. The use of CRU in maize production increased yield and nitrogen use efficiency, meanwhile decreased N 2 O emission, N leaching and NH 3 volatilization, especially when N application rates were high and especially on light-textured soils with low organic matter content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar and organic fertilizers are important alternatives to mineral fertilizers. Thus, it is important to understand how the co-application of biochar and organic fertilizers influences crop productivity and soil-plant phosphorus (P) trade-offs. Herein, we conducted a field fertilization experiment for eight years with maize-cabbage rotation. This experiment contained five treatments: no fertilization (CK), mineral fertilizers (CF), CF + biochar (BF), 20% substitution of mineral nitrogen (N) with organic fertilizers (OF), and OF + biochar (BOF). The fertilization regimes of all plots were maintained since 2013. The results showed that soil P pool composition but not P bioavailability differed significantly between the five treatments. Compared with the CF treatment, soil labile-P content in the BF, OF, and BOF treatments significantly increased by 12–23% and soil stable-P content decreased by 13–19%. Besides, the soil moderately labile-P content in the OF and BOF significantly decreased by 40% and 10% and increased by 31% in the BF as compared to the CF. The activities of soil acid (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the BF, OF, and BOF significantly increased by 8–44% and 16–49% respectively compared to the CK. Furthermore, the abundance of P-acquiring genes (bpp , phoD , phoX , ppx , ppk , and phnK) in the BF, OF, and BOF increased by 22–114% compared to the CK. Plant P uptake and maize yield were significantly correlated with soil ACP and ALP activities as well as the abundance of phnK , ppx , phoD , phoX , and pqqC genes but not to the contents of soil P components. In conclusion, the co-application of biochar and organic fertilizer on maize productivity increases was mainly related to the improvement of soil phosphatase activity and P-acquiring gene abundance. [Display omitted] • Long-term biochar and organic fertilizer inputs affected soil P pool and maize growth. • Biochar and organic fertilizer increased 12–23% labile-P but reduced 13–19% stable-P. • Biochar and organic fertilizer enhanced soil P-cycling enzyme activity and gene abundance. • Organically-amended increase in maize productivity relied on microbial-driven P dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic fertilizer is an effective substitute for mineral fertilizer that improves crop yield and is environmentally friendly. However, the effects of substitution often vary due to complicated interactions among the organic fertilizer substitution rate (Rs), total nutrient supply, and type of cropping system used. We performed a meta-analysis of 133 maize studies, conducted worldwide, to assess maize yield and environmental performance with substitution of mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizer. At an equivalent nitrogen (N) rate, substituting mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizer increased maize yield by 4.22%, reduced NH3 volatilization by 64.8%, reduced N leaching and runoff by 26.9%, and increased CO2 emissions by 26.8%; however, it had no significant effect on N2O or CH4 emissions. Moreover, substitution with organic fertilizer increased the soil organic carbon sequestration rate by 925 kg C ha−1 yr−1 and decreased the global warming potential by 116 kg CO2 eq ha−1 compared with mineral fertilizer treatment. The net global warming potential after organic fertilizer substitution was −3507 kg CO2 eq ha−1, indicating a net carbon sink. Furthermore, the effect of organic fertilizer substitution varied with the fertilization rate, Rs, and treatment duration. Maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency tended to increase with increasing N application rate following substitution of mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizer. Full substitution reduced N losses more than partial substitution. Further analysis revealed that the yield-optimal Rs for organic N in maize production was 40–60%. Moreover, maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency were further increased after long-term (≥ 3 years) combined use of organic and mineral fertilizers. These findings suggest that rational use of organic and mineral fertilizers improves maize productivity, increases soil organic carbon sequestration, and reduces N and C losses.

A long-term study was carried out in the Zidyana Extension Planning Area (EPA), Malawi and in the Zimuto Communal Area, Zimbabwe, to evaluate the effect of different conservation agriculture (CA) systems on crop productivity, soil quality and economic performance. Maize productivity results from Zidyana showed that CA systems out-yielded the conventional system in seven out of nine cropping seasons. Labour savings relative to the conventional control ranged from 34–42 labour days ha−1 due to reduced time needed to make manual ridges and for weed control, leading to higher net benefits of 193–444 USD·ha−1. In Zimuto, yield benefits were apparent from the second season onwards and there was a much clearer trend of increased yields of CA over time. Greater net benefits (in USD·ha−1) were achieved on CA systems in Zimuto compared with conventional control treatments due to overall higher yields from CA systems. In Zimuto, both increased infiltration and a gradual increase in soil carbon were recorded, which may have contributed to the greater yield response of CA in this area. In Zidyana, yield increases were attributed primarily to enhanced water infiltration since no increases in soil carbon levels were measured. Farmers highlighted critical challenges to the adoption of CA. These will have to be addressed in future research and extension to provide effective solutions to farmers.

Access to credit is crucial to improve farm performance as it allows farmers to procure inputs and technology. However, on the empirical front, evidence of the impact of agricultural credit access remains scanty. This study examines how access to credit from formal and informal sources influences the productivity and technical efficiency of maize farming in ten major maize-producing provinces in Indonesia. Secondary Food Crops Survey data by Statistics Indonesia were employed and analyzed using a quasi-experimental approach, i.e., the propensity score matching (PSM). The estimation shows that agricultural credit access improves farm performance. In fact, the ability to obtain credit from institutions increased productivity and technical efficiency more effectively than from informal sources. This study suggests that agricultural credit access remains relevant in Indonesia and needs to be improved continuously., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Maize yield dynamics generally involve temporal changes, because increasing soil organic matter through manure application influences maize yields over the longer term, while inorganic nutrient application controls shorter term yields. These temporal soil properties and yield changes have been measured with long-term experiments. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), long-term experiments (more than 20 years) are rare due mainly to lack of funds. Farmers in the semi-arid northern Ethiopian Rift Valley (NERV) apply manure to maize fields in the long term. The relationships between the manure application levels, nutrient supply, soil nutrient levels, maize grain yields, and above-ground plant nutrient uptake levels were investigated by field measurement, interviews with farmers, laboratory analyses, and 2-years’ yield trials. The farmers applied on average 6.0 Mg ha−1 yr−1 of manure over 16.8 years on average. Significant linear or curve-linear correlations were found (1) between the annual nutrient supply and soil nutrient levels and (2) between the soil nutrient levels and maize productivities with minor exceptions. The regression equations determined from the yield trials proved 3.0 and 4.0 Mg ha−1 of maize yields can be expected when soil available N contents were 3.9 and 5.1 mg kg−1 in an ordinary rainfall year in NERV. For the farmers who apply 6.0 Mg ha−1 yr−1 manure, they are recommended to use 30 kg ha−1 yr−1 additional Urea to attain 3.0 Mg ha−1 maize yields. These types of assessment methods do not require much cost, and yet it can provide long-term scientific information in SSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted along two successive seasons of summer 2015 and 2016 at Giza Agricultural Experimental Station of the Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt. Treatments included four mulching: (1) bare soil (un-mulched) as control (BS) (2) black plastic (BP) (3) rice straw (RS) at a rate of 4.8 Mg ha-1 (4) maize straw (MS) at a rate of 4.8 Mg ha-1. Temperature, moisture content, physical properties of soil and maize productivity were significantly affected by the different mulch treatments compared to BS. The highest values of temperature, moisture content, total porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil and maize productivity, as well as, lowest values of bulk density and penetration resistance were obtained under BP. The RS and MS treatments increased most studied characters. The RS and MS decreased soil temperature. There were no significant differences between RS and MS. The non-mulched treatment had the lowest values of most studied characters except soil temperature where it was between BP and both of RS and MS. Temperature and moisture content of soil decrease as soil depth increase. Although RS or MS gave lower maize productivity than BP but they are inexpensive and available under Egyptian condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rain-fed maize production in Mexico includes approximately 6 million hectares which variation in productivity represents huge challenges to meeting the sustainable intensification goals of the Sustainable Modernization of Traditional Agriculture (MasAgro) program. We use the information available from farmers participating in this program to investigate the differences in productivity and the effects of the promoted practices and technologies in seven defined rain-fed maize regions. We do this by applying metafrontier analysis to measure the technical efficiency and the technology gap. The results show a range of technical efficiency from 70 to 100%, which indicates the gains that can be achieved through improved management of the current inputs and practices of farmers in the program, and a range of the environment-technology gap between 32 and 82%, which indicates the limitations of the production environment which would require innovations in technologies and policies particularly adapted for the dry, the tropical and the more traditional regions. Furthermore, the results show that the use of hybrid seed and selling into maize markets have the largest impact in increasing maize yields in all regions. The difference between the MasAgro farmers and the average farmers in each region suggest that scaling the project will contribute to increasing maize production and Mexico's food self-sufficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of the present investigation was to improve the productivity of calcareous sandy soil of Arab El-Awammer Experimental Station, Assiut governorate, Egypt. For this purpose a field experiment under minimum soil tillage conditions in summer season of 2010 was conducted in split split plot design with three replicates to detect the production of maize and soil fertility as influenced by previous and immediately some soil cultural treatments in main plot, levels of powder elemental S (zero and 300 kg S/fed) in the sub plots and mineral nitrogen fertilization levels (120 and 180 kg N/fed) in the sub sub plots. The four soil cultural treatments in main plots were two different crop sequences with crop residues completely removed (-CR) or with crop residues incorporated in soil surface layer 0-25 cm (+CR). The different two crop sequences (depend on it's inclusions from legume crop) were:- Year 2009 2010 legume crop% Sequence 1 = wheat - maize - wheat - maize (0%) Sequence 2 = wheat - maize - clover - maize (25%) The obtained results from the maize crop cultivated in season four of this study show that, crop residues applied in legume cereal cropping systems (25% legume crops) resulted in higher maize growth, yields, yields components, NP uptake by maize plants and improved soil fertility (soil organic matter content, soil total N, soil available P and soil pH). Powdered elemental S applied seasonally at a level of 300 kg S/fed and N-fertilizer at the high levels (180 kg N/fed) were also efficient in improving maize productivity and improving fertility status of calcareous sandy soil.The study recommends that seasonally application of crop residues in legume cereal cropping systems with seasonally application of powdered elemental S at a level of 300 kg S/fed and N-fertilizer at the height levels (180 kg N/fed) is the best treatment for producing high production of maize crop and improving fertility status of calcareous sandy soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field trials were conducted in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons to evaluate some herbicide mixtures and manual weed control method in the production of maize in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. The experiment consisted of 10 treatments as follows: metolachlor + atrazine at 1.0 + 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1, metolachlor + atrazine at 2.0+2.5 kg a.i. ha-1, metolachlor + atrazine at 3.0 + 3.0 kg a.i. ha-1, pendimethalin + atrazine at 1.0 + 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1, pendimethalin + atrazine at 2.0 + 2.5 kg a.i. ha-1, pendimethalin+ atrazine at 3.0+3.0 kg a.i. ha-1, metolachlor + atrazine at 1.0 + 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 plus one supplementary hoe weeding (SHW) at 6 weeks after sowing (WAS), pendimethlin + atrazine at 1.0 + 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 plus one supplementary hoe weeding (SHW) at 6 weeks after sowing (WAS), hand weeding at 3 and 6 WAS and a weedy check. These treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Data collected included weed dry matter, weed density, relative importance value (RIV%) of weed species, leaf area, plant height and grain yield of maize. Also, economic assessment of the weed control methods was carried out. Results showed that metolachlor + atrazine and pendimethalin + atrazine at 1.0 + 2.0kg a.i. ha-1 plus one SHW at 6 WAS significantly reduced weed infestation and gave higher grain yield of maize and economic returns. These methods are therefore recommended to farmers as alternatives to two hand weeding at 3 and 6 WAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupled amendments of biochar and organic fertilizers may be one of the effective practice to ensure high cropland productivity and resource use efficiency, but there is little field-based evidence for this. Herein, we employed a eight-years (2014–2021) field experiment to explore the effectiveness of biochar and organic fertilizer amendments on crop productivity and nutrient runoff losses, as well as to further explored their relationships with the carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P) stoichiometry of soil, microbiome, and enzymes. Experiment treatments include No fertilizer (CK), chemical-only fertilizer (CF), CF + biochar (CF + B), 20% chemical N was replaced by organic fertilizer (OF), and OF + biochar (OF + B). Compared with the CF, the CF + B, OF, and OF + B treatments increased average yield by 11.5%, 13.2%, and 32%, average N use efficiency by 37.2%, 58.6%, and 81.4%, average P use efficiency by 44.8%, 55.1%, and 118.6%, average plant N uptake by 19.7%, 35.6%, and 44.3%, as well as average plant P uptake by 18.4%, 23.1%, and 44.3%, respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Compared with the CF, the CF + B, OF, and OF + B decreased average average total N losses by 65.2%, 97.4%, and 241.2%, and average total P losses by 52.9%, 77.1%, and 119.7%, respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Organic-amended treatments (CF + B, OF, and OF + B) significantly changed soil total and available C, N, and P content, soil microbial C, N, and P content, as well as the potential activities of soil C-, N-, and P-acquiring enzymes. Plant P uptake and P-acquiring enzyme activity were the main drivers of maize yield, which was influenced by the contents and stoichiometric ratios of soil available C, N, and P. These findings suggest that organic fertilizer applications combined with biochar have the potential to maintain high crop yields while reducing nutrient losses by regulating the stoichiometric balance of soil available C and nutrients. [Display omitted] • Biochar and organic fertilizer improved 12–32% yield and 18–44% plant N and P uptake. • N and P losses in organic amendment decreased by 65–241% and 53–120%, respectively. • Organic input increased soil and microbial C–N–P content, and C–N–P enzyme activity. • Regulation of soil stoichiometry on P uptake and P-acquiring enzyme affected yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increasing concerns regarding plastic pollution throughout the world, biodegradable mulch is considered a promising alternative to polyethylene film and its suitability has been verified in some crops. However, it is unclear whether the long-term continuous use of biodegradable mulch as a substitute for polyethylene film is sustainable in rainfed agricultural areas, and whether its effect is consistent under different climatic conditions. Therefore, we conducted 7-year (2013–2019) and 4-year (2015–2018) field experiments in two regions with different precipitation levels (semiarid and semi-humid regions) on the Loess Plateau in China. We compared the effects of polyethylene film mulching (PM), biodegradable film mulching (BM), and traditional flat planting without film mulching (TF) on the soil temperature, soil moisture, grain yield, crop water productivity (WPc), and economic benefit (EB). The results showed that compared with TF, the grain yields under BM and PM increased by 2.1–93.3% and 7.6–34.6%, respectively, WPc increased by 2.1–93.3% and 7.6–34.6%, and EB increased by –16.6–131.5% and –7.8–27.0%. The differences in these indexes under the two mulching methods mainly occurred in the dry years with less precipitation in the semiarid region, whereas there were no significant differences in the grain yield, WPc, and EB under BM and PM in the semi-humid region. Therefore, the decision regarding whether BM can replace PM to improve maize productivity is significantly affected by the annual precipitation in rainfed areas. Furthermore, the univariate quadratic equation model was used to simulate that BM can obtain a higher crop yield and EB than PM when the precipitation is more than 600 mm and less than 800 mm, so as to achieve a win–win situation with continuous yield and income increases, and environmental friendliness in the Loess Plateau of China. However, the yield increase effect of plastic film mulching is also related to crop types, mulch types and farming practices except for climate. In addition, reducing the production cost will still be important for encouraging farmers to use biodegradable film instead of polyethylene film. [Display omitted] • Mulching effects of biodegradable and polyethylene film in a wide time range at two sites were compared. • Precipitation affected whether Biodegradable film (BM) could replace polyethylene film (PM) in rainfed areas. • In semiarid areas, BM increased yield and water productivity variation compared with PM. • BM could replace PM in areas with precipitation of 600–800 mm in the Loess Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tillage systems (minimum, conventional and deep) with different sources of nitrogen (bioslurry, poultry manure and chemical fertilizer) were studied through field experiments at Gujjar Seed and Nursery Farm, Haripur, Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, for two consecutive years (2012-2013) in a randomized-complete-block-design with split plots and four replicates. The tillage systems were kept in main plots while nitrogen treatments with different combinations of chemical fertilizer, poultry manure and bioslurry were distributed in sub-plots. The results showed that deep tillage with 100% chemical fertilizer (135 kg N ha-1) produced maximum plant height, stem diameter, cob length, cob diameter and number of grain rows per cob. However, deep tillage with combined application of 50% chemical fertilizer (67.5 kg N ha-1), 25% poultry manure (1.9 t ha-1) and 25% bioslurry (2.1 t ha-1) produced maximum 1000 grain weight, biological yield, grain yield, plant nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium concentrations in maize shoot, and seed protein contents compared to other treatments. It is concluded that integrated use of bioslurry and poultry manure with a reduced rate of chemical fertilizer can improve maize productivity and reduce cost of chemical fertilizers. The results also suggest that, in this soil and climate, deep tillage is needed to maximise yield potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solving the disparity between rainwater supply and crop water demand is a fundamental issue in semiarid rainfed agriculture. Over the last decades, the ridge-furrow-plastic-mulching (RFM) farming system has been widely used as an on-site (in-situ) rain-harvesting farming strategy, providing a partial solution to the supply-demand mismatch of rainwater. The off-site rain-harvesting system (ex-situ water cistern) for supplemental irrigation has been little used. We established an integrated ex-situ rain-harvesting system incorporated into maize RFM in a semiarid site of northwest China from 2018 to 2019. Five treatments were designed as: (1) CK-1, flat planting without mulching and irrigation, (2) CK-2, RFM without irrigation, (3) RFM60, RFM with 60 mm irrigation, (4) RFM105, RFM with 105 mm irrigation, and (5) RFM150, RFM with 150 mm irrigation. We found that supplemental irrigation treatments significantly increased grain yield, total biomass, and crop water productivity compared to CK-1 and CK-2 (P < 0.05) across two growing seasons, suggesting that ex-situ rain-harvesting irrigation can significantly promote field productivity based on widely used RFM system. The differences mentioned above were the greatest in RFM105 and RFM150, significantly greater than those of RFM60. No significant difference was observed between RFM150 and RFM105. Greater output in RFM150 and RFM105 was closely associated with improved soil water storage and thermal state in two growing seasons. Particularly, RFM150 and RFM105 harvested the highest soil organic carbon and total nitrogen after the second fallow period. The highest economic benefit was found in RFM105, followed by RFM150 and RFM60, the least in the two control groups. Our findings provided a critical case to solve the rainfall supply-demand mismatch. The ex-situ rainwater-harvesting supplemental irrigation can act as a promising solution to upgrade the current widely-used RFM farming system for better adaptation to climate change in the semiarid region. • Off-site (ex situ) rain-harvesting for supplemental irrigation was combined with RFM. • Off-site rain-harvesting system showed great potential to upgrade rainfed agriculture. • It significantly increased grain yield and water use efficiency on the basis of RFM. • About 105 mm irrigation amount in growing season led to the highest profitability. • It also improved soil organic carbon and total nitrogen after the 2nd fallow period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined constraints influencing farmers' access to credit and the effect that credit has on maize productivity, using the endogenous switching regression approach with survey data collected from 595 maize farmers in the Ashanti and BrongAhafo Regions of Ghana. The study revealed that credit constraint has a dampening effect on input use and farm productivity. The results showed that engagement in off-farm income-generating activities, farm size and farmers' perception on operational modalities are factors that influence credit constraint conditions for farmers. In addition, the marginal productivity of credit differs between credit-constrained and credit-unconstrained farmers: thus, access to credit would enable credit-constrained farmers to take advantage of the available productive opportunities and increase maize productivity. Therefore, farmers in need of additional credit should be served to increase farm productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate use of cover crops and crop rotation in agriculture can contribute to food security and sustainable production. However, the impacts of Orychophragmus violaceus (O. violaceus) as rotation cover crop in maize on soil physicochemical properties and crop nutrient uptake have rarely been verified and quantified via field studies. With a conventional wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-maize (Zea mays L.) rotation used as a control, a field experiment was conducted on the North China Plain in 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 to evaluate the dynamic variations in soil chemical properties and maize agronomic indexes and the impacts on maize nutrient uptake and yield under continuous maize and O. violaceus -maize rotation. We observed that rotation of O. violaceus with maize positively impacts soil chemical properties and subsequent maize productivity. Compared to those in the wheat-maize rotation, the mean contents of soil organic matter (SOM), soil alkali–hydrolyzable nitrogen (SAN), soil available phosphorus (SAP), and soil available potassium (SAK) in the O. violaceus -maize rotation increased by 8%, 11%, 13% and 18%, respectively, within the 0–60 cm soil layer, thereby increasing the maize N and P uptake and yield at maturity. According to correlation analysis and path model results, the most powerful direct factor affecting the maize yield was plant nutrient uptake rather than biomass accumulation. The O. violaceus -maize rotation was superior to the wheat-maize rotation and continuous maize in term of SOM, SAN, plant agronomic indexes, and maize nutrient uptake and yield. Overall, O. violaceus -maize is a reasonable rotation system for use on the North China Plain and provides new insight into the mechanisms and processes underlying crop yield and nutrient uptake. • O. violaceus -maize greatly increased soil organic matter and soil available nitrogen. • The maize nutrients uptake was increased at maturity in O. violaceus -maize system. • Replacing wheat or fallow field with O. violaceus increased maize yield by 8%−12%. • The relationship between soil chemical property and maize yield was quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil properties in Andosols of the western highlands of Guatemala were investigated and evaluated in relation to maize (Zea maysL.) productivity in comparison to the standard of soil diagnosis for Andosols in Japan to provide basic information. The soil samples were collected from maize fields in 28 sites at a soil depth of 0 to 30 cm in 2008. A maize cultivation experiment was conducted with the same treatment of fertilizer application at 23 sites to discuss the influence of soil properties on maize productivity. The soils were characterized by sandy loam texture, acidic pH, low available phosphorus (P) reflecting high phosphate sorption coefficient, low exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), and high exchangeable potassium (K). Cation imbalance derived from relatively low exchangeable Mg and high exchangeable K was observed. Maize yield of the cultivation experiment ranged widely from 0.75 to 6.39 Mg ha−1. Principal component analysis summarized the soil properties into four components relating (1) organic matter and P sorption capacity, (2) soil texture, (3) exchangeable Mg and (4) P availability. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the first component generally related negatively and the third and fourth components related positively to maize yield, and these three components explained as much as 49% of the total variance of maize yield. These results suggested that soil properties greatly influenced maize productivity and low P availability due to high P sorption coefficient, and low exchangeable Mg to K ratio were the main constraints to maize cultivation in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The need to improve maize production and develop agriculture led to the design and implementation of many flagship programmes in Ghana. Among these programmes is the rural growth credit programme. This paper used current data (2021) from credit-constrained maize farmers in the rural growth credit programme to extend the propensity score matching method to the analysis of credit impacts on farm productivity. The study used a sample of 130 farmers, comprising 65 farmers as a treatment group and 65 farmers as a control group. The findings of this paper indicate that, credit-constrained farmers who have access to the rural growth credit relatively have more productivity than credit-constrained farmers who did not have access to the credit. The paper therefore conclude that, the rural growth credit intervention program did achieved its intended purpose in respect of improving farm productivity in Ghana. It could therefore be deduced that credit interventions programs do have a positive impact on farm productivity in Ghana., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Aims: A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of biochar on maize yield and greenhouse gases (GHGs) in a calcareous loamy soil poor in organic carbon from Henan, central great plain, China. Methods: Biochar was applied at rates of 0, 20 and 40 t ha with or without N fertilization. With N fertilization, urea was applied at 300 kg N ha, of which 60% was applied as basal fertilizer and 40% as supplementary fertilizer during crop growth. Soil emissions of CO, CH and NO were monitored using closed chambers at 7 days intervals throughout the whole maize growing season (WMGS). Results: Biochar amendments significantly increased maize production but decreased GHGs. Maize yield was increased by 15.8% and 7.3% without N fertilization, and by 8.8% and 12.1% with N fertilization under biochar amendment at 20 t ha and 40 t ha, respectively. Total NO emission was decreased by 10.7% and by 41.8% under biochar amendment at 20 t ha and 40 t ha compared to no biochar amendment with N fertilization. The high rate of biochar (40 t ha) increased the total CO emission by 12% without N fertilization. Overall, biochar amendments of 20 t ha and 40 t ha decreased the total global warming potential (GWP) of CH and NO by 9.8% and by 41.5% without N fertilization, and by 23.8% and 47.6% with N fertilization, respectively. Biochar amendments also decreased soil bulk density and increased soil total N contents but had no effect on soil mineral N. Conclusions: These results suggest that application of biochar to calcareous and infertile dry croplands poor in soil organic carbon will enhance crop productivity and reduce GHGs emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the humid tropics, the continuous use of the same area reduces nutrient availability and increases the incidence of weeds. To circumvent these obstacles, farmers practice itinerant agriculture associated with slashing and burning with negative effects on the local and global environment. In search for a suitable system for humid tropical agriculture, the objective of this study was to investigate the performance of no-till alley cropping in conjunction with the use of annual legume crops grown during the off-season. The experiment was implemented in a one-hectare alley cropping system in which the leguminous tree clitoria (Clitoria fairchildiana R.A. Howard) was used. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with four replications of the following treatments: Stylosanthis (Stylosanthis capitata), showey rattlebox (Crotalaria spectabilis), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) and a control with clitoria alone, without an annual legume. In January 2007 and 2008, maize was planted in each alley. One hundred and twenty days after annual legumes were sown, the total biomass was recorded. Weed incidence was assessed 35 days after maize planting. Analyses of the C, N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents of the legumes were carried out. To assess soil organic matter (SOM), composite soil samples from the surface 0–5 cm were collected from experimental plots. Two adjacent areas were also sampled for comparison: a 10-year-old secondary forest and an area of conventional tillage. The SOM was fractionated using a densitometric and a granulometric method. Conventional systems reduce the silt and free light organic matter fractions more than no till. The use of annual legumes changes the composition of the weed community, replacing the more aggressive types with those less competitive. The use of showy rattlebox (C. spectabilis) may be an effective strategy for reducing weed density in the long-season crop. Furthermore, relative to the use of leguminous trees alone, higher yields of maize can be obtained with the use of showy rattlebox (C. spectabilis) and sunn hemp (C. juncea) without the application of additional N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Widening the range of organic nutrient resources, especially N sources, is a major challenge for improving crop productivity of smallholder farms in southern Africa. A study was conducted over three seasons to evaluate different species of indigenous legumes for their biomass productivity, N2-fixation and residual effects on subsequent maize crops on nutrient-depleted fields belonging to smallholder farmers under contrasting rainfall zones in Zimbabwe. Under high rainfall (>800mmyr−1), 1-year indigenous legume fallows (indifallows), comprising mostly species of the genera Crotalaria, Indigofera and Tephrosia, yielded 8.6tha−1 of biomass within 6 months, out-performing sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) green manure and grass (natural) fallows by 41% and 74%, respectively. A similar trend was observed under medium (650–750mmyr−1) rainfall in Chinyika, where the indifallow attained a biomass yield of 6.6tha−1 compared with 2.2tha−1 for natural fallows. Cumulatively, over two growing seasons, the indifallow treatment under high rainfall at Domboshawa produced biomass as high as 28tha−1 compared with ∼7tha−1 under natural fallow. The mean total N2 fixed under indifallows ranged from 125kgha−1 under soils exhibiting severe nutrient depletion in Chikwaka, to 205kgha−1 at Domboshawa. Indifallow biomass accumulated up to 210kgNha−1, eleven-fold higher than the N contained in corresponding natural fallow biomass at time of incorporation. Application of P to indifallows significantly increased both biomass productivity and N2-fixation, translating into positive yield responses by subsequent maize. Differences in maize biomass productivity between indifallow and natural fallow treatments were already apparent at 2 weeks after maize emergence, with the former yielding significantly (P <0.05) more maize biomass than the latter. The first maize crop following termination of 1-year indifallows yielded grain averaging 2.3tha−1, significantly out-yielding 1-year natural fallows by >1tha−1. In the second season, maize yields were consistently better under indifallows compared with natural fallows in terms of both grain and total biomass. The first maize crop following 2-year indifallows yielded ∼3tha−1 of grain, significantly higher than the second maize crop after 1-year indifallows and natural fallows. The study demonstrated that indigenous legumes can generate N-rich biomass in sufficient quantities to make a significant influence on maize productivity for more than a single season. Maize yield gains under indifallow systems on low fertility sandy soils exceeded the yields attained with either mineral fertilizer alone or traditional green manure crop of sunnhemp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses a study made to determine the differences in cropping systems strategies, soil fertility investments and land management practices of farmers in Zimbabwe. It cites the selection criteria based on the villages' time of settlement, characteristic of soil quality while sharing the same farmers' production objectives, climate and access to markets. It concludes that effective policies backing an efficient fertilizer distribution system and improved soil management are needed to prevent land decay and increase food security in Zimbabwe.

A simple model of yield was used along with climate scenarios to assess the impact of climate change on grain maize productivity and associated economic risk in Switzerland. In a first application, changes in the precipitation regime alone were shown to affect the distribution of yield considerably, with shifts not only in the mean but also in the standard deviation and the skewness. Production risk was found to respond more markedly to changes in the long-term mean than in the inter-annual variability of seasonal precipitation amounts. In a further application, yield projections were generated with respect to a full climate scenario, with the emission pathway as specified in the IPCC A2 scenario. Anticipation of the sowing date was found to reduce the negative impact of climate change on yield stability, but was not sufficient to ensure average productivity levels comparable to those observed at present. We argued that this was caused by the reduction in the duration of the growing season, which had a stronger impact than suggested by previous studies. Assuming no change in price relations, the results also revealed a strong increase in production risk with climate change, with more than a doubling in the probability of yield falling short of a critical threshold as compared to today’s situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of phosphogypsum (PG) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for agricultural purposes are good options to improve soil properties and increase crop yield. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different rates of PG (ton ha−1; 0 (PG1), 3 (PG2), 6 (PG3), and 9 (PG4)) combined with PGPR inoculation (Azospirillum lipoferum (control, T1), A. lipoferum + Bacillus coagulans (T2), A. lipoferum + B. circulance (T3), and A. lipoferum + B. subtilis (T4)) on soil properties, plant physiology, antioxidant enzymes, nutrient uptake, and yield of maize plants (Zea mays L., cv. HSC 10) grown in salt-affected soil. Over two growing seasons, 2019 and 2020, field experiments were conducted as a split-plot design with triplicates. The results show that applying PG (9 ton ha−1) and co-inoculation (A. lipoferum + B. circulance) treatment significantly increased chlorophyll and carotenoids content, antioxidant enzymes, microbial communities, soil enzymes activity, and nutrient contents, and showed inhibitory impacts on proline content and pH, as well as EC and ESP, thus improving the productivity of maize plant compared to the control treatment. It could be concluded that PG, along with microbial inoculation, may be an important approach for ameliorating the negative impacts of salinity on maize plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of sulfate uptake was evaluated in excised roots of 22 maize genotypes, 12 inbreds and 10 hybrids, in order to study the relationship between the kinetic characteristics of the uptake and the grain productivity. During root elongation, the uptake capacity showed a pulse which appeared when the root reached ⅓ to ½ of its final length. The size of the accumulated pool of sulfate was significantly correlated with the productivity. The kinetic parameters of the uptake, Vmax and Km, followed the same trend, showing pulses, whose maximum had the same position for Vmax and Km in each genotype. The variability with the genotype of the size and duration of the Vmax pulse was not strictly connected with that of Km. The main correlation between Vmax and Km patterns was the following: inhreds were generally characterized by low Vmax and low Km: hybrids by high Vmax and high Km. As a consequence, in most cases, the benefit of the heterotic stimulation of Vmax was contrasted by the loss of affinity of the transport system or the nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]