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In Sub-Saharan Africa, fish ponds are often an integral part of farming systems but have suffered from a lack of viability and sustainability. The present study aims to understand the strategies used by fish farmers to overcome economic and environmental constraints. In 2008 and 2009, fish farmers were surveyed in Central and Western Cameroon, and the fish production systems were classified by cluster analysis. Four broad types were identified according to the complexity of household operations. The development of extensive systems (large-scale and low-input) in rural areas of central Cameroon is induced mainly by abundant available land. For semi-intensive systems in both regions (small-scale and high-input in the Western Region, large-scale and high-input in peri-urban areas of the Central Region), horizontal integration is not sufficient to make fish production profitable and sustainable. More intensive fish farms tend towards vertical integration, in which farmers establish close links with input suppliers. Main causes of low productivity of semi-intensive systems (1–2 t/ha/yr) are both lack of knowledge of fish farming principles by farmers and lack of technical improvement by extension agents and researchers which need to consider the local complexity of farming systems to develop and intensify fish production. The adaptation of development strategies to socio-economic and environmental contexts is a necessity to hope for an increase in fish pond aquaculture production in Africa.

Conversion to organic farming can require deep technical changes that can be implemented through various pathways. This study aimed to better understand and characterize the various pathways that can be followed during conversion to organic farming. Our results highlight four types of trajectories of technical changes that depend on the number and type of technical changes implemented. These trajectories have been associated with four strategies on equipment, labor and vineyard area. Finally, we claim that the study developed herein can support the further understanding of the strategies to be applied for successful agroecological transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farming systems promoting crop production are important to match food security concerns. This research explores food security levels of different farming systems using the indicators of food availability, food access and food utilization. In Yamethin District, various households cultivated a combination of different crop of farming systems. Structured interviews were conducted with 282 farm households: monoculture farming system, multiple farming systems, and mixed farming system. The data were analyzed using weighted sum models. The assessment identified that the monoculture farming system had low food availability, high food access and moderate food utilization, while the multiple and mixed farming systems had moderate food availability, high food access and low food utilization. The study suggested that monoculture farm households should grow vegetables and build up crop exchanges to fulfill staple rice and increase food availability. Moreover, multiple and mixed farm households should allocate farm plots based on average farm land to hold high food security. Under adequate irrigation, 70% farm land for staple rice, 20% farm land for field crops and the rest (10%) for vegetables should be carried out from season to season. In rain-fed area, similar farm allocation should be performed during monsoon and short-season crops during post monsoon season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Mediterranean region, the long-term provision of agro-ecosystem services is threatened by accelerating climate change, unsustainable farming practices, and other pressures. Alternative management practices such as conservation agriculture could be expected to ensure sustainability of ecosystem services from Mediterranean agro-ecosystems. Conservation agriculture is characterized by minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and diversification of crop species. We analyzed the impacts of several forms of alternative agricultural management practices (conservation tillage, cover cropping, mulching, manual weed management, organic fertilizer use, no-irrigation system) on multiple ecosystem services based on 155 published case studies (1994–2015). The effect size of various management options on four provisioning and four regulating ecosystem services were quantified. Impacts of conservation management options are not uniform. All regulating services were positively affected by the conservation management options except for the system without irrigation. In contrast, the provisioning services were inconsistently influenced by the conservation management options. For crop yield, environmentally sustainable soil management was beneficial, but organic fertilization (effect size = − 0.17), manual weed management (effect size = − 0.35), and no-irrigation system (effect size = − 0.5) led to lower crop yields. The impact on crop biomass was mainly negative but not significant. Water availability was especially important to enhance both provisioning and regulating services. Overall, alternative agriculture management practices led to more positive than negative effects on ecosystem services in the study region. Stimulating the application of conservation management practices is therefore an important policy option for decision-makers given the vulnerability of ecosystem services in the Mediterranean basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) is an important grain legume cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world for its high nutritive value and nitrogen-fixing potential. Since cowpea utilization patterns, seed preferences, and cropping system vary from one region to another, constraints to its optimal production by subsistence farmers such as cropping practices and insect pest infestation continue to pose challenges at various spatial and temporal scales. To maximize crop yield quality and quantity, various communities use or practice farming systems that are adapted to their climate, agro-ecology, socio-cultural and economic needs. These practices are being adopted as part of an integrated strategy, aimed at minimizing adverse effects of excessive pesticide usage while encouraging sustainable ecological pest control and higher crop yield. Field experiments were undertaken in the Mhlontlo Municipality, Transkei region of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa during the 2014-2015 cropping season to determine the effects of cowpea farming system on arthropod communities. Five cowpea varieties (TVU-244-9, TVU-170-6, TVU-659-6, TVU-455-7 and Ife- Brown) were planted using a split-plot experimental design in four replications and two farming systems (conservation and conventional) as main plots, and cowpea varietal treatments as subplots. A total of 8 orders, 17 families and 20 species of arthropods were recorded. Overall, higher species richness trends were observed at conservation sub-plots. Significant differences (P<0.05) were obtained for total arthropod population count amongst cowpea varieties and farming system, whereas the interaction between cowpea varieties and farming system for beneficial arthropods was not significant (P>0.05). Also, Significant (P<0.05) differences were observed for pest species populations across trial plots. All cowpea varieties were susceptible to insect pest infestation irrespective of farming system. Cowpea variety TVU-244-9 had the highest insect pest population count at conventional and conservation plots. Conservation plots provided more optimal habitat requirements for a broad spectrum of arthropod assemblages including natural enemies (predators and parasitism), pollinators and decomposers. The study, therefore, recommends conservation agriculture as a complementary method for cultivating cowpea especially in subsistence farming communities of the Transkei region of South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined fatty acid profile and protein carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition in muscle of wild and farmed eels, in order to discriminate the geographical origin of fish and their dietary habits. The samples were divided into groups according to the farm origin (Italy, Denmark and Netherland), the market size (capitoni and buratelli) and the farming system (pond, RAS, lagoon and wild). Biometric measurements, proximate composition analysis (moisture, ash, lipid and protein content), fatty acids profile and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes measurements were performed. Statistical analysis was fulfilled to investigate the homogeneity of variance and the means distribution, including Principal Component Analysis and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis. The results suggested that the different farming conditions represented the main factor affecting fish muscle composition. In this scenario, fatty acid profile and δ13C and δ15N values of the defatted muscle represented useful tools to distinguish between eels reared under different feeding regimes (wild vs captive-bred). No differences were found between eels reared in different farms. • Dietary regime of eels is the most influent factor in their meat composition. • Wild and breeded eels meat present significant differences. • Fatty acids composition of eels muscle varies depending on feeding sources. • Stable isotope analysis has the potential to discriminate between different samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the agricultural census of 2010, this article explores a methodology to identify a statistical field of farms in agro-ecological transition in the French metropolitan context. The work leads to a proposition of a typology of farming systems where the mode of production (organic or not), product marketing, and turnover percentage from direct sales channels are combined. After a socio-economic characterization of the different types of farms, the analysis proposes a fine-scale mapping of geographic combinations of agriculture in transition in Metropolitan France, thereby starting a discussion on the socio-territorial factors in favor of the emergence of one type of transition over another. In the end, the geography deduced by this overall typology of agriculture in transition certainly borrows from explanatory elements of the geo-agronomic context of farms. But it also seems to indicate that the nature of the socio-territorial context in which farms operate influences the forms of agricultural transition. Rural areas that are least dynamic and most marked by the legacy of the productivist model remain in their majority the most resistant to the emergence of forms of transition discussed in this article. Geographical proximity to more affluent social spaces would be a favorable factor for the development of farms in agro-ecological transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-nine ewe-lamb pairs were used to evaluate the effects of the diet of lactating ewes, the type of forage (pasture vs hay) and the inclusion of 10% quebracho in the concentrate on the fatty acid (FA) profile of their milk and the meat of their suckling lambs. The estimated forage–concentrate ratio was 80 : 20. Milk from pasture ewes had a higher percentage of saturated FAs (SFAs; 62.3 vs 56.5), lower percentages of monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs; 30.4 vs 36.6) and n-6 polyunsaturated FAs, and a lower n-6 : n-3 ratio (1.9 vs 2.3) than did that of hay ewes (P < 0.001). Meat of pasture lambs had higher percentages of total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs; 23.0 vs 20.4; P < 0.05) and n-3 (7.0 vs 5.0; P < 0.001) and lower percentages of MUFAs (37.9 vs 41.8; P < 0.001) and n-6:n-3 (2.0 vs 2.8; P < 0.001) than did that of hay lambs. The inclusion of quebracho increased MUFAs in milk (P < 0.05) and decreased SFAs in meat (P < 0.05). Ewes were correctly classified to the different treatments by using the FA profile of milk (100% score outcome), and to a lesser extend by using the FA profile of lamb (82–100% score outcome); de novo synthesis of FAs in lamb muscle might have reduced the classification accuracy. In conclusion, forage type had a greater effect on the FA profiles of ewe milk and the meat of suckling lambs than did the inclusion of quebracho in the concentrate. To improve the classification of meat of suckling lamb, other biomarkers should be examined. These results are relevant for ewes farmed for the production of milk as well as lambs. Consumers demand animal products from grazing animals and that such products are guaranteed. The effects of the type of forage and the inclusion of quebracho, as a natural additive, in the concentrate during the lactation period on the FA profiles of milk and the meat of suckling lamb were evaluated. The FA profile of milk was mainly affected by the type of forage and can be used to trace ewe diet more accurately than can the FA profile of the meat of suckling lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Highlights • Chemometric analysis of near infrared spectra of sea bass was performed. • Untargeted authentication of sea bass from different origins was feasible. • Variables responsible for discrimination were identified. • Discriminant models were internally and externally validated. Abstract Chemometric analysis of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) data was applied to investigate the possibility to rapidly authenticate European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) according to production method (wild or farmed), rearing system (extensive, semi-intensive or intensive), and geographical origin (Western, Central or Eastern Mediterranean Sea). NIR spectra from 1100 to 2500 nm were subjected to an exploratory principal component analysis (PCA) followed by orthogonal partial last square-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to develop classifiers able to distinguish samples according to the various conditions under study. Models provided a correct classification rate of 100% for both wild and farmed sea bass, and of 67%, 80%, 100% for extensively, semi-intensively, and intensively-reared subjects, respectively. As for geographical provenance, 100% of Eastern, 88% of Central and 85% of Western Mediterranean Sea samples were correctly discriminated. The successful results obtained confirmed suitability of chemometric analysis applied to NIRS data for fast authentication of European sea bass origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Farming systems influence population genetics of C. zeina. • High microsatellite allele diversity in Cercospora zeina ; gray leaf spot pathogen of maize. • Higher genetic diversity of C. zeina in smallholder compared to commercial maize farms. • Partial population differentiation between smallholder and commercial farms. • Greater clonality and linkage disequilibrium, biased mating type ratios in commercial farms. Abstract Gray leaf spot (GLS) is an important foliar disease of maize. This disease, caused by Cercospora zeina, is prevalent in both smallholder and commercial maize farms in South Africa. Notably, smallholder practices are geared towards conservation agriculture, planting diverse maize genotypes within a field and avoiding chemical control. This study examined the population genetic structure of 129 C. zeina isolates from three smallholder farm sites in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa using 13 microsatellite markers. These were analysed, together with 239 isolates previously analysed from four commercial farms in the same province, to determine whether farming systems influence the genetic diversity of C. zeina. In addition, we wanted to determine whether the smallholder farming system harboured a greater diversity of C. zeina haplotypes due to lack of chemical spraying of these crops. Overall, farming systems exhibited partial, but significant, population differentiation, contributing 10% of the genetic variation observed. A 16% genetic variation conferred between KwaNxamalala (smallholder) and Cedara (commercial) areas that are in close proximity, confirmed this. Private alleles accounted for 29% of the 52 alleles observed in smallholder farms. Smallholder farms harboured a higher gene and genotypic diversity, with a clonal fraction of only 13% compared to 32% in commercial farms. Mating type ratios indicative of sexual recombination and lower linkage disequilibrium in most smallholder populations were consistent with higher levels of diversity. This study suggests that commercial farming practices, such as fungicides and monoculture crop planting, may result in a narrower genetic diversity of the pathogen that is then propagated by asexual reproduction. In contrast, management of GLS disease in smallholder farms should consider the greater diversity of pathogen genotypes, especially if future research shows that this equates to a greater diversity of pathogenicity alleles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice-wheat rotation is the main farming system in the Yangtze River regions, and plays a critical role in maintaining food safety in China. However, some serious issues are emerging during agricultural production. One is that long-term conservation tillage leads to shallow and stringent ploughing layers. The other is that large quantity of straws is difficult to effectively manage in the limited rotation gaps between both crops. Our group designed a novel soil tillage practice, ditch-buried straw return (DB-SR), to overcome such problems. In this chapter, we summarized our current advances from 10-year's research for DB-SR in the rice-wheat rotation systems. DB-SR showed excellent straw incorporation capability, improvements in soil ecological processes as well as positive effects on pest control, crop growth and final yield performance. Our results suggested that DB-DR is effective in sustaining crop production and has a great potential for extension in the rice-wheat rotation farming regions. However, we also need more agricultural engineering scientists to join us for developing an all-in-one machine which supports this novel soil tillage practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic farming is a management system which to an essential extent protects the natural environment, for example by preventing soil erosion. The objective of the research was to determine the effect of organic and conventional cultivation of cereals on the volume of soil losses and on the amount of plant nutrients washed away from the stands where the cereals were sown. A two-factor field experiment was carried out over a period from 2013 to 2016 at the Mountain Experimental Station situated in Czyrna near Krynica Górska (Poland). Experimental plots were set up on Eutri-Gleyic Cambisols, developed from eluvium of flysch rocks. The first factor included two farming systems: organic and conventional. The second factor involved three spring crops grown in pure stands: spring barley, spring triticale, and oats as well as three mixtures of cereals: spring barley + oats, spring barley + spring triticale, spring triticale + oats. The experimental plots were 22 m x 2 m in size. The soil losses were measured with the use of Słupik catchers. Based on the experiment results, it was found that on the stands with cereals grown using the conventional system, the losses of the following components were, on average, higher, i.e. the N-NO3 losses: 55.8% higher, the N-NH4 losses: 72.2% higher, and the P and K losses: 60.0% and 48.3% higher, respectively. As regards the soil loss, no statistically significant differences were found between the two farming systems. The cultivation of spring barley and mixture of spring barley + oats turned out to be the best at protecting the soil. Oats grown in pure stands were the least soil protective. The Leaf Area Index (LAI) applied to characterize the canopy of the organically grown cereals was 14% smaller than that of the cereals grown in the conventional system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Trees are increasingly being planted on the levees of paddy fields of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in northeast Thailand. We investigated and compared the yields of rice grown in rain-fed paddies under and far from canopies of three different tree species: eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), mango (Mangifera indica L.), and the indigenous neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). Rice yields tended to decrease near trees of all types at five sites, but there was no change in yields at the remaining 11 sites during the 3-year study. The reduced yields likely resulted from lower aboveground biomass, leading to fewer rice panicles and spikelets, particularly near trees with a dense canopy. Extremely low yields were observed near eucalyptus in paddy fields suffering from severe drought. These results, as well as information provided by farmers’, suggest that eucalyptus trees may have detrimental effects on rice and should not be planted on the levees of paddy fields with relatively low productivity.

The protection of urban soils and soils located near arterial highways from heavy metal contamination is an environmental issue which has not been resolved in megalopoleis. Purposeful scientific experimental data obtained on the basis of field and laboratory studies is required in order to solve these problems, which has determined the choice of the research objective: to assess the degree of degradation changes in anthropogenically transformed soils in Moscow and Orel regions in terms of total content of heavy metals and their degree of mobility.

Eighteen (18) lactating she-camels and two mature male for mating were used to determine the effect of Management System on camel calving interval, The camels were maintained under semi-intensive (N = 9) and Traditional management system (N = 9) in North Kordofan State, western Sudan. The experimental females in each group kept together with the bull during 18 months. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein since 4-months post-partum and continue 14 successive months at monthly interval. The serum samples were separated and stored at -20°C and were analysed for progesterone concentration using progesterone specific radio immuno assay (RIA) kits. The results indicated that under semi-intensive system 77.8% of females had been pregnant in 5th - 8th month post-partum and the calving interval varying between 17 to 20 months. Under traditional system and during the experimental period 44.5% of females were pregnant in the 11th – 16th month and the calving interval varying between 23 to 28 months. The ratios of pregnant vs non-pregnant during experimental period in semi-intensive and traditional were 88.9% vs 11.1% and 44.5% vs 55.5%, respectively. Beside the behavioural signs progesterone level consider a good indicator for pregnancy in camels. In pregnant females Progesterone concentration increased significantly during early months. The range of Progesterone concentration varied between 1.10 – 5.76 ng/ml and 0.67 – 2.53 ng/ml in semi-intensive and traditional system, respectively. Our results allow quantifying this impact. With a supplemented diet including 2 Kg of concentrates and 5 kg of roughages per day, the fertility rate will be improved of 67%. It would be possible to expect more than two fold young camels in a year by supplemented 5 kg of concentrates. We conclude that under semi-intensive management dietary supplement during post-partum and early lactation period improves reproductive parameters for instance shortened calving interval.

Introduction: One of the fundamental issues in the agricultural sector in Iran is the absence of optimal water and soil resources utilization and lack of new agricultural science and technology adoption through major prevailing transformations in agricultural land exploitation system. The studies conducted in the history of agricultural development in Iran cast light on the fact that the farming system’s role in the agricultural development in Iran is of great importance. And water and soil resources utilization has been one of the fundamental issues of agriculture which has enjoyed major consideration after the implementation of land restructuring. The agriculture farming systems are referred to as the focus of all activities related to sustainable agricultural development in Iran and it is believed that the shift and transition from traditional agriculture to modern and profitable agriculture through appropriate, improved and newly developed agricultural establishments are the major activities which can increase productivity and improve the overall performance of the agricultural sector and thus contribute to sustainable development more than any other factor. Hence, such significance will be more evident when the small and scattered farmlands in many cases have imposed some limitations in the application of agricultural techniques and machinery, equipping and developing the infrastructure and efficient use of resources with appropriate performance forcing agricultural policymakersto be always looking for ways to deal with it. Therefore, identifying the relative advantage of any farming system specified for each area and region in the country seems important. Accordingly, the Mazandaran province is regarded as one of the production hubs in producing crops such as rice, wheat and canola in the country playing a major role in supplying food. With a detailed analysis of research literature, the economic, ecological, social, technical and policy criteria were identified as sustainability criteria for agricultural activities in the province along with Cooperative, Commercial and Peasant alternatives as the dominant farming system in the present study. Consequently, the identification of the most suitable farming system for sustainable agricultural activities in the province serves as the main objective of this research. Materials and Methods: The study adopted an applied survey approach to conduct the study in 2014 in Mazandaran. The statistical population comprised of all professionals and experts working in the field of sustainability aspects and farming systems with a deep understanding and sufficient information on the issue being selected through purposive and snowball sampling summing up to 15 subjects. A questionnaire was used to collect data. In order to determine the face and content validities, the professors’ and specialists’ comments were taken into account and to estimate the reliability, the inconsistency rate was used. To achieve the main objective, the analytic hierarchy process technique by considering 5 criteria and 33 sub-criteria on three farming types (cooperative, commercial and peasant) were used. The Expert Choice software 2000 was applied for data analysis. It should be noted that the analytic hierarchy process is a multi-criteria decision-making approach being based on paired comparison which enables managers and policymakers to review various scenarios. Likewise, it is sought to consider the experts’ opinions from the most central units involved instead of focusing on the number of decision-makers. Results and Discussion: Based on the results and considering criteria prioritization reveal the fact that the ecological,policy, social dimensions compared with the economic and technical criteria remain more imperative. Therefore, the ecological, political and social dimensions are the most important aspects of agricultural activities sustainability in the province. Hence, it can be concluded that in order to maintain the sustainability of agricultural activities, the emphasis should be placed on ecological issues which are at present a great challenge and crisis at the international level and social policy based on sustainable agriculture. The growing integration of land restructuring and biological and organic farming development in recent years advocates the importance of the ecological aspect. Similarly, considering the ecological, political, economic and technical criteria, the commercial and cooperative farming system ranked first and second, respectively. Nevertheless, consistent with social criterion, the cooperative and commercial farming system kept the first and second priorities. Conclusion: Combining the relative weight of criteria and sub-criteria in agricultural activities sustainability and the farming system, the commercial farming system with good Inconsistency Ratio was the most desired and applicable farming system in sustainable agricultural activities and cooperative farming system with a diminutive difference ranked second. Based on the research findings, the most appropriate system was the commercial farming system and the cooperative farming system was second.However, since such model is not widely applied in the province at present, it is necessary that provincial and even national policymakers and practitioners consider the issue and the agricultural activities development and establishment mechanisms in terms of modern commercial and cooperative farming system be provided. As in most of these types of farming systems, the criteria identified in this research are substantially observed and their emphasis can serve as an effective step towards the development of sustainable agriculture.

This study aimed to determine whether isotopic ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) can discriminate farmed European sea bass according to different farming systems and geographic origins. Dicentrarchus labrax of commercial size from three different rearing systems (concrete tank inland, sea cages, and extensive methods in valleys or salt works) were collected at the trading period (autumn–winter). For each farming type, different locations spread over Italy were monitored. Once the fish were harvested, the muscle and feed were sampled. For both muscle and feed, δ13C and δ15N were measured by continuous flow elemental analyzer isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-EA-IRMS) with the goal of discriminating samples based on the rearing system. Additional δ2H and δ18O measurements of fish samples were performed by continuous flow total combustion elemental analyzer isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-TC/EA-IRMS) to track the geographical origin. The measurements of δ13C and δ15N made it possible to discriminate cultured sea bass from different farming systems (extensive vs. intensive) reared at different geographical sites in Italy. Additional information was obtained from δ18O and δ2H, which enabled the geographical areas of origin of the sea bass farmed extensively and intensively (in cages) to be distinguished.

Environmentally friendly agricultural production necessitates manipulation of microbe–plant interactions, requiring a better understanding of how farming practices influence soil microbiota. We studied the effect of conventional and organic treatment on soil bacterial richness, composition, and predicted functional potential. 16S rRNA sequencing was applied to soils from adjacent plots receiving either a synthetic or organic fertilizer, where two crops were grown within treatment, homogenizing for differences in soil properties, crop, and climate. Conventional fertilizer was associated with a decrease in soil pH, an accumulation of Ag, Mn, As, Fe, Co, Cd, and Ni; and an enrichment of ammonia oxidizers and xenobiotic compound degraders (e.g., Candidatus Nitrososphaera, Nitrospira, Bacillus, Pseudomonas). Soils receiving organic fertilization were enriched in Ti (crop biostimulant), N, and C cycling bacteria (denitrifiers, e.g., Azoarcus, Anaerolinea; methylotrophs, e.g., Methylocaldum, Methanosarcina), and disease-suppression (e.g., Myxococcales). Some predicted functions, such as glutathione metabolism, were slightly, but significantly enriched after a one-time manure application, suggesting the enhancement of sulfur regulation, nitrogen-fixing, and defense of environmental stressors. The study highlights that even a single application of organic fertilization is enough to originate a rapid shift in soil prokaryotes, responding to the differential substrate availability by promoting soil health, similar to recurrent applications.

The chemical properties and enzymatic activity of the surface soil horizon were compared between an organic farm (OF) (crop rotation with legume plants, fertilisation with manure) and a conventional farm (CF) (simplified crop rotation, mineral fertilisation, chemical crop protection products). In the years 2001-2017 on the OF (near the village of Juchowo, northern Poland), a reduced tillage system (ploughless) was used, while plough cultivation was used on a CF located in its immediate vicinity. The parameters used to assess the properties of soils were: particle size composition, pH, total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). The activity of dehydrogenases (DEH), catalase (CAT), alkaline phosphatase (AlP) and acid phosphatase (AcP) and the content of easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EEGRSP) were also determined. Sixteen years of soil use in accordance with ecological principles significantly increased the average content of TOC, NT, DOC and DON. Soil samples rich in TOC and DOC showed significantly higher DEH and AcP activity, and EEGRSP content. Statistical analysis showed that the activity of DEH, AlP and CAT in the soil was significantly higher for the OF than for the conventional cultivation system. Limiting soil cultivation procedures on the OF improved the balance of soil organic matter (SOM) and pH value, and significantly increased the content of EEGRSP as compared to the cultivation system used on the CF.

In the last decade, efforts to re-localize the food system have been gaining ground in a way that is intended to induce changes in the primary sector, thereby improving its conditions and sustainability. The European Union has identified food as one of the ten key sectors with outstanding potential for an ecological transition, and public procurement of (organic) food as an appropriate policy to foster agricultural development and support small farmers. In this study, we analyze changes in land use and farming dynamics in three municipalities close to the metropolitan area of Madrid (Spain). We also explore how stakeholders and farmers perceive the driving forces of these changes and the potential for public procurement in providing stability for farmers and more specifically, boosting the articulation and consolidation of the emerging agroecological sector in an up-to-date hostile peri-urban environment. Some urban policies and food strategies in nearby cities, such as Madrid, have introduced measures to promote sustainable food in public procurement. The procurement could drive 10% of the total food grown in the Comunidad de Madrid, with large variations in the impact on different food subsectors. However, if public procurement is to be organic, local production has no capacity to meet increases in demand, except for honey and oil. Food procurement would not lead to improved stability and increases in farmers’ incomes if public policies to boost ecological transition are not adopted in parallel. For farmers, economic viability takes precedence over other problems, and although public procurement has been mainstreamed as a valuable tool to support local agriculture, stakeholders do not have high expectations for it. The research shows that farm size and specialization have a strong influence on market orientation, and the agroecological farmers and social movements that support them are primed for innovation adoption and may act as catalysts for the process.

The Mediterranean Basin is at the same time a region of stark social and ecological contrasts and a global biodiversity hotspot, where complex local evolving land use and land cover patterns compose the region’s landscapes. In this context, we aimed for a specific case study of the southeast of France, to assess land and farming systems’ dynamics, to identify their underlying drivers, and to propose possible shared future scenarios for local policies’ implementation. We based our analyses on a mixed approach and operated at downscale from territorial to local scale. First, we applied a quantitative statistical approach for the Vaucluse department. Then, we identified a subzone of the study area and pursued a local analysis through a qualitative and participative approach based on stakeholders’ knowledge. The study highlighted two main dynamics in land and farming systems that involve several changes. The first one is a process of land abandonment, strongly connected to a peri-urbanization process in some areas or to the loss of traditional farming systems in others. The second one is a process of specialization, at both territorial and farm levels, that corresponds to an intensification process and is linked to vineyards’ expansion dynamic with a landscape homogenizing effect.

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) persistence is important for farming systems in south east Australia. Defoliation of lucerne that is too frequent (arguably more than once every six weeks) reduces yield and accelerates stand decline. Three experiments were conducted in south east Australia (Burraja, New South Wales; Rutherglen and Hamilton, Victoria) to investigate different cutting regimes on lucerne persistence. At Burraja lucerne was cut 16 (lax) or 33 (severe) times over three years at different plant densities. At Rutherglen and Hamilton lucerne was cut every 21 days (short rotation), every 42 days (long rotation), when new shoots (2.5 cm long) emerged (new shoots) or cutting when new shoots emerged but allowing the lucerne to flower in autumn (new shoots flowering). It was hypothesised that the frequent cutting of lucerne would result in lower plant densities. At Burraja there was little difference between treatments at any density or assessment. At Hamilton, apart from the assessment in June 2016, there was no difference (p > 0.1) between treatments. At Rutherglen, there was no difference (p > 0.1) between treatments at any assessment although plant numbers declined in 2016 from waterlogging. The results provide evidence that lucerne has intrinsic mechanisms that protect it from cutting, often at short intervals, thus promoting its persistence over three to four-year periods.

The mixed crop–livestock systems are acknowledged as sustainable due to its complementarity and synergy, contribution to welfare, food security, income, and poverty alleviation. The lack of efforts in the long-term impact for increased and more efficient food production, however, threatens the livelihoods and food security of smallholder producers. This paper provides a description on smallholder crop–livestock systems in the dominant system unit of crop and livestock production discretely subdividing in different agroecological zones (AEZs) into land-use land-cover class for considering factors influencing socioeconomic and agricultural intensification. A linear mixed-effects model was carried out to fit the relationship between the land-cover measurement and the corresponding farm enterprise in land use. The repeated measurements of linear predictors that fit in full and reduced model analysis were conducted in the system framework. The landscape slope (%), elevation (m) and market distance (minute) analysis were used in spatial adjustment in the specific system. The overall area of land-use system of the peasant holdings was 599.86 ha. The area covered by annual crops was 56%, which was higher (p

Small and marginal farmers are the core of the Indian rural economy constituting 85% of the total farming community but possessing only 44% of the total operational land. Indian agriculture is labour oriented and requires lot of man-power and energy but even after this hard work farmers are not in a position to earn their livelihood, especially small farmers because there is very little left after they pay for all inputs (seeds, livestock breeds, fertilizers, pesticides, energy, feed, labour, etc.). To fulfill basic needs of these farm families including food (cereal, pulses, oilseeds, milk, fruit, honey, meat etc.), feed fodder, fibre and fuel warrant an attention about integrated farming system (IFS). The emergence of IFS has enabled us to develop a framework for an alternative development model to improve the feasibility of small sized farming operations in relation to larger ones. IFS refer to agricultural systems that integrate livestock and crop production or integrate fish and livestock and may sometimes be known as integrated bio systems. In this system, an inter-related set of enterprises are used so that the waste from one component becomes an input for other enterprises of the system, which reduces cost and improves production and thereby income. Integrated farming systems seem to be the possible solution to the continuous increase of demand for food and nutrition, income stability and livelihood upliftment particularly for small and marginal farmers with little resources. Based on the research works conducted all over the country, it is clear that crop cultivation alone can't fulfill the demand of food and nutritional requirement and we have to focus on multi-component farming as it is the only way of efficient resource recycling within the system with increased economic profitability, economic stability, enhanced soil sustainability, and preserving environmental quality and maintaining biological diversity and ecological stability.