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Increased adoption of no-till and extensive cultivation of herbicide-resistant (HR) crops in low diversity rotations are some transformations that occurred during the 1970s–2000s in western Canada. Historical data analysis of weed survey data (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta) in canola crops and a canola rotation field experiment were used to understand how tillage, herbicide-resistant cropping systems, and the temporal frequency of canola in the rotation can impact weed abundance, composition, and diversity in the Canadian prairies. Weed survey data revealed that the spatial frequency of many weed species declined in years after 1995 compared with before 1995, the year HR cultivars were introduced. False cleavers (Galeum spurium L.) and volunteer wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were the only species showing a continuous increase in frequency throughout the surveyed years. Species richness showed no trajectories but varied depending on climatic conditions. Roundup-Ready (RR) systems were associated with green foxtail (Setaria viridis L.) irrespective of their frequency in the rotation. Continuous canola systems had an obvious association with chickweed (Stellaria media L.) regardless of herbicide systems. Wild oats (Avena fatua L.) were predominant in the longer rotations with glufosinate and imidazolinone-resistant canola. In the field study, weeds associated before in crop herbicide application were relatively controlled after herbicides were applied, except for foxtail barley (Hordeum Jubatum L.), which was not controlled in most HR systems. Overall, both weed survey data and field experiment data revealed greater control of most weed species due to the adoption of HR canola cultivars and the associated cultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the soil bacterial communities involved in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling can inform beneficial tillage and crop rotation practices for sustainability and crop production. This study evaluated soil bacterial diversity, compositional structure, and functions associated with C-N cycling at two soil depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) under long-term tillage (conventional tillage [CT] and no-till [NT]) and crop rotation (monocultures of corn, soybean, and wheat and corn–soybean–wheat rotation) systems. The soil microbial communities were characterized by metabarcoding the 16S rRNA gene V4–V5 regions using Illumina MiSeq. The results showed that long-term NT reduced the soil bacterial diversity at 15–30 cm compared to CT, while no significant differences were found at 0–15 cm. The bacterial communities differed significantly at the two soil depths under NT but not under CT. Notably, over 70% of the tillage-responding KEGG orthologs (KOs) associated with C fixation (primarily in the reductive citric acid cycle) were more abundant under NT than under CT at both depths. The tillage practices significantly affected bacteria involved in biological nitrogen (N2) fixation at the 0–15 cm soil depth, as well as bacteria involved in denitrification at both soil depths. The crop type and rotation regimes had limited effects on bacterial diversity and structure but significantly affected specific C-N-cycling genes. For instance, three KOs associated with the Calvin–Benson cycle for C fixation and four KOs related to various N-cycling processes were more abundant in the soil of wheat than in that of corn or soybean. These findings indicate that the long-term tillage practices had a greater influence than crop rotation on the soil bacterial communities, particularly in the C- and N-cycling processes. Integrated management practices that consider the combined effects of tillage, crop rotation, and crop types on soil bacterial functional groups are essential for sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: This research was conducted in order to compare conservation tillage methods compared to conventional tillage on the moisture retention, organic matter and bulk density of the soil. Materials and Methods: Experiments were conducted on permanent raised bed (PRB), no-till with SFOGGIA (NT) and Jab Planter (JP) equipments, in a wheat- rapeseed-corn cropping system, during 2018-2020, as a randomized complete block design with three replicates in Yazd. Barzegar and Neptune cultivars and SC704 hybrid were used for wheat, rapeseed and corn, respectively. The examined characteristics included levels of soil moisture, bulk density and amount of soil organic matter. Results: Average of organic matter in 0-30 cm soil depth was increased from 0.23% at the beginning of experiment to 0.53%, 0.67% and 0.48% at the end of experiment in PRB, NT and JP treatments, respectively. The amount of soil organic matter in CT treatment was about 0.49% at the end of the experiment. The highest amount of available water was observed in PRB (0.207 %), CT (0.193 %) and JP (0.163 %) treatments, respectively. The lowest value of this parameter was observed in NT treatment (0.143%). The lowest value of the average bulk density of soil was observed in the CT treatment (1.47 g.cm³ ) and the highest value was observed in the NT treatment (1.60 g.cm³ ). Results showed significant differences among different tillage treatments in terms of wheat grain yield. Wheat grain yield in PRB treatment was significantly higher than the other treatments. The lowest wheat grain yield was obtained at NTs and NTj treatments. Wheat grain yield in CT, PRB and NTs and NTj treatments, were 4422, 5186,3762 and3547 kg.ha-1, respectively. The highest grain yield for rapeseed was obtained at CT and PRB treatments with no significant differences. The lowest grain yield was also observed for NTj treatment. The highest fresh weight of corn forage (71021 kg.ha-1 ) was observed in PRB treatment which was not statistically different from fresh weight in NTs and NTj treatments. The fresh weight of corn forage in CT treatment was 29% lower than fresh weight in PRB treatment. Conclusion: The use of conservation tillage methods and preservation of residues in the field can help to improve soil organic matter. Also, the average bulk density, water holding capacity, saturated moisture and field capacity moisture of the soil are strongly affected by the application of tillage methods and also the type of equipment used in tillage operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No-till is often referred to as a climate change mitigation option, possibly with a stronger conviction, than as a practice to manage soil organic C (SOC) content. We conducted a global meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of no-till (NT) on SOC concentration (SOCc, g C kg−1 soil) and stock (SOCs, Mg C ha−1 land) across climate, soil texture, cropping systems, and no-till duration to appraise the priority-setting. Compared to conventional tillage, NT favoured a significant rise (ΔSOCc) of 38% in the 0–5 cm soil layer and a much lesser 6% increase in the 5–10 cm layer and no change beyond 10 cm. The temperate climate had nearly twice ΔSOCc in the 0–5 cm layer compared to other climates, while the tropical climate favoured sub-surface accumulation. Coarse- and medium-textured soils and the inclusion of legumes in crop rotation facilitated larger positive ΔSOCs under NT. The microbial biomass C was the most abundant C pool, with 61% and 23% increases under NT in 0–5 and 5–10 cm layers. A large ΔSOCc in aggregates also characterized the top 0–5 cm layer. The difference in SOCs was realized to a maximum 30 cm depth (5.4 Mg ha−1 or 14%) in favour of NT, although varying with the duration of its adoption. The contribution of NT in mitigating global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions is meagre, although it can substantially offset emissions from agriculture (17–58%). The benefit of NT in improving SOC is primarily restricted to the surface layer, which is potentially exposed, and therefore an increase could be short-lived. Nevertheless, a short-term gain in SOC is likely to enhance soil quality and crop productivity. Thus, NT may be promoted as a sustainable agricultural management practice rather than emphasizing its role as a potential climate change mitigation option.

Soil compaction between crop rows can increase a machine’s performance by reducing rolling resistance and fuel demand. Controlled Traffic Farm (CTF) stands out among modern techniques for increasing agricultural sustainability because the machines continuously travel along the same path in the field, reducing plant crush and compacting the soil in the traffic line. This study evaluated fuel consumption and CO2 emissions at different CTF intensities in different soil management strategies for soybean crop. The experimental design involved randomized blocks in a split-plot scheme with four replications. The plots constituted the three types of soil management: conventional tillage, no-tillage with straw millet cover, and no-tillage with brachiária straw cover. The subplots constituted for agricultural tractors were passed over in traffic lines (2, 4, and 8 times). We evaluated agricultural tractor fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and soybean productivity. The straw cover and tractor-pass significantly affected the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the soybean cultivation. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions were reduced due to the machine-pass increase, regardless of soil management. Thus, a CTF reduces rolling resistance and increases crop environmental efficiency. Bare-soil areas increased by 20.8% and 27.9% with respect to fuel consumption, compared to straw-cover systems. Brachiária straw and millet reduce CO2 emissions per hectare by 20% and 28% compared to bare soil. Lower traffic intensities (two passes) showed (13.72%) higher soybean yields (of 4.04 Mg ha−1). Investigating these effects in other types of soil and mechanized operations then becomes essential.

Abstract Background Achieving a net zero greenhouse gas United States (US) economy is likely to require both deep sectoral mitigation and additional carbon dioxide removals to offset hard-to-abate emissions. Enhancing the terrestrial carbon sink, through practices such as the adoption of no-till and cover cropping agricultural management, could provide a portion of these required offsets. Changing domestic agricultural practices to optimize carbon content, however, might reduce or shift US agricultural commodity outputs and exports, with potential implications on respective global markets and land use patterns. Here, we use an integrated energy-economy-land-climate model to comprehensively assess the global land, trade, and emissions impacts of an adoption of domestic no-till farming and cover cropping practices based on carbon pricing. Results We find that the adoption of these practices varies depending on which aspects of terrestrial carbon are valued. Valuation of all terrestrial carbon resulted in afforestation at the expense of domestic agricultural production. In contrast, a policy valuing soil carbon in agricultural systems specifically indicates strong adoption of no-till and cover cropping for key crops. Conclusions We conclude that under targeted terrestrial carbon incentives, adoption of no-till and cover cropping practices in the US could increase the terrestrial carbon sink with limited effects on crop availability for food and fodder markets. Future work should consider integrated assessment modeling of non-CO2 greenhouse gas impacts, above ground carbon storage changes, and capital and operating cost considerations.

Intensive farming has caused soil degradation, including the loss of humus, soil structure breakdown, compaction, and a decrease in both potential and effective fertility. Therefore, research into farming systems is highly relevant. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to scientifically substantiate, develop, and implement an ecologically friendly modern farming system under Ukrainian conditions. The primary methods used to determine the effectiveness of various farming systems and ensure the accuracy and reliability of experimental data were field, laboratory, and statistical methods. The study substantiated that an industrial farming system with the input of approximately 12.0 tonnes per hectare of crop rotation area of organic matter (8.0 tonnes per hectare of manure and 4.0 tonnes per hectare of plant residues) produces about 0.81 tonnes per hectare of humus, although 1.33 tonnes per hectare of it is mineralised, leading to a negative humus balance in the soil. The output of grain units in this system is 8.21 tonnes per hectare, feed units – 9.63, and digestible protein – 0.86 tonnes per hectare, with stability at 91.2% and profitability at 88.0%. The organic farming system, which includes the use of 24 tonnes per hectare of organic fertilisers and biological products to control weeds, diseases, and pests in agrocenoses, does not ensure a positive humus balance in the soil (-0.14 tonnes per hectare) and has significantly lower productivity. The no-till system, which involves the application of 12 tonnes per hectare of organic fertilisers in the form of root and stubble residues, by-products of crop production, and mineral fertilisers during sowing and foliar feeding, ensures a positive humus balance (+0.12 tonnes per hectare) but has productivity levels comparable to the organic system. The ecological system provides stable, economically viable, and resource-adequate productivity of arable land, enhances the quality indicators of products, and preserves and restores soil fertility. It increased the output of grain units by 8.9%, feed units by 7.2%, and digestible protein by 8.1%, ensuring high stability at 94.1% and an increase in production profitability by 8.5% compared to the control. The materials in this study are of practical value for agricultural enterprises of various ownership forms and will serve as technological guidelines for the implementation of modern, ecologically safe, economically and energetically justified agricultural production

Background: Achieving a net zero greenhouse gas United States (US) economy is likely to require both deep sectoral mitigation and additional carbon dioxide removals to offset hard-to-abate emissions. Enhancing the terrestrial carbon sink, through practices such as the adoption of no-till and cover cropping agricultural management, could provide a portion of these required offsets. Changing domestic agricultural practices to optimize carbon content, however, might reduce or shift US agricultural commodity outputs and exports, with potential implications on respective global markets and land use patterns. Here, we use an integrated energy-economy-land-climate model to comprehensively assess the global land, trade, and emissions impacts of an adoption of domestic no-till farming and cover cropping practices based on carbon pricing. Results: We find that the adoption of these practices varies depending on which aspects of terrestrial carbon are valued. Valuation of all terrestrial carbon resulted in afforestation at the expense of domestic agricultural production. In contrast, a policy valuing soil carbon in agricultural systems specifically indicates strong adoption of no-till and cover cropping for key crops. Conclusions: We conclude that under targeted terrestrial carbon incentives, adoption of no-till and cover cropping practices in the US could increase the terrestrial carbon sink with limited effects on crop availability for food and fodder markets. Future work should consider integrated assessment modeling of non-CO2 greenhouse gas impacts, above ground carbon storage changes, and capital and operating cost considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil compaction between crop rows can increase a machine's performance by reducing rolling resistance and fuel demand. Controlled Traffic Farm (CTF) stands out among modern techniques for increasing agricultural sustainability because the machines continuously travel along the same path in the field, reducing plant crush and compacting the soil in the traffic line. This study evaluated fuel consumption and CO2 emissions at different CTF intensities in different soil management strategies for soybean crop. The experimental design involved randomized blocks in a split-plot scheme with four replications. The plots constituted the three types of soil management: conventional tillage, no-tillage with straw millet cover, and no-tillage with brachiária straw cover. The subplots constituted for agricultural tractors were passed over in traffic lines (2, 4, and 8 times). We evaluated agricultural tractor fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and soybean productivity. The straw cover and tractor-pass significantly affected the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the soybean cultivation. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions were reduced due to the machine-pass increase, regardless of soil management. Thus, a CTF reduces rolling resistance and increases crop environmental efficiency. Bare-soil areas increased by 20.8% and 27.9% with respect to fuel consumption, compared to straw-cover systems. Brachiária straw and millet reduce CO2 emissions per hectare by 20% and 28% compared to bare soil. Lower traffic intensities (two passes) showed (13.72%) higher soybean yields (of 4.04 Mg ha−1). Investigating these effects in other types of soil and mechanized operations then becomes essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are still great uncertainties about effects of climate warming and no-tillage on soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents and pH in alpine farmlands. A warming (control; daytime warming, DW; nighttime warming, NW; all-day warming, DW + NW) and no-tillage (no-tillage vs. tillage) experiment was conducted in an alpine farmland of the Lhasa, Xizang since 2015. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium (TK), available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), active organic carbon, particulate organic carbon (POC), light fraction organic carbon, and heavy fraction organic carbon contents and pH at four depths (0–5, 5–15, 15–25, and 25–35 cm) were measured. Warming effects on concerned soil variables differed with warming time, soil depth, and no-tillage. No-tillage effects on concerned soil variables differed with warming-time (daytime, nighttime, and all-day warming) and soil depths. Therefore, daytime warming and nighttime warming have different effects on soil variables, although the effects of nighttime warming on soil variables are not always greater than those of daytime warming. Effects of daytime warming and nighttime warming on soil variables are not simple addition or subtraction effects. There are interactions between diurnal asymmetrical warming and no-tillage on soil variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: No tillage (No-till, NT), a form of conservation agricultural management, can improve food security and alleviate world climate change by influencing crop yield and soil organic carbon (SOC), but the effects of NT on crop yields and SOC and the major factors which influence these effects remain poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a global meta-analysis using 5230 paired observations from 446 studies to evaluate the effects of NT on upland crop yield and SOC and to explore the associated influencing factors. Results: Generally, NT decreased upland crop yields by 5% (P < 0.05) and increased SOC sequestration by 9.9% (P < 0.05). Specifically, wheat and maize yields decreased by 7.7% and 2.3%, respectively. Our analyses indicate that NT combined with crop residue return and crop rotation reduced the negative effect of NT on crop yield from 5% to 2.44% and increased SOC up to 12.77%. The effects of NT on yield and SOC varied depending on the regulating factors. No-till increased yields in relatively arid areas, but reduced yields in more humid areas, whereas SOC is more likely to increase in humid regions. Soil organic carbon sequestration increased with temperature, but yield losses also increased in warmer regions. Conclusions: Our study suggests that NT combined with crop residue return and crop rotation could enhance SOC sequestration under moist and warm conditions without compromising crop yield. It may also improve soil quality and help alleviate global food security and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agricultural management practices aimed at improving soil health can alter the soil microbiome, which can influence plant health and defenses against insects. The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is a major belowground pest of corn. Pest management relies heavily on the planting of transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins. In this study, we ask how corn-WCR interactions via the soil microbiome are affected by a conservation management system (extended corn-soybean-wheat rotation with cover crops under no-till) compared with a conventional management system (corn-soybean rotation under mulch tillage and no cover crops) when combined with transgenic Bt corn. To do this, we applied soil microbes from the conservation and conventional management systems to two corn lines, one producing Bt and one non-Bt. We then reared Bt-resistant and Bt-susceptible WCR on inoculated seedlings to examine plant and insect changes in fitness. We found that Bt was effective against susceptible larvae in both soil treatments. Bt-resistant larvae were ~ 20% smaller when reared in the presence of soil microbes from the conservation management system. Thus, control of Bt-resistant WCR may be improved in a conservation system without sacrificing Bt effectiveness in susceptible insects. Comparing the microbial communities using 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that management practices influenced the microbiomes associated with the soil and the plant rhizosphere, but not WCR. Our findings suggest value for growers in utilizing conservation management practices, such as no-till and cover crops, in agricultural systems through bottom-up changes to plant–insect interactions via the soil microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agriculture sector is responsible for approximately one-quarter of Brazilian greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the present study, we aimed to quantify the CO2 equivalent (CO2eq) balance on annual basis of three farms with soybean‒maize crop systems in the state of Mato Grosso. Each farm had an areas with native vegetation and two other areas cultivated with soybean under no-till practices with different conversion times [2–5 years (S1) and more than 10 years (S2)]. Soil samples were taken to determine soil C stocks. GHG emissions were estimated for the 2020/2021 crop season according to the scope, GHG type, and source. The results showed that, on average, the soil total carbon (C) stocks under S1 and S2 underwent a 12% reduction relative to native vegetation (< 15 Mg ha−1), but they increased by 30% (> 22 Mg ha−1) with increasing time since conversion (S2 vs. S1). The scope 1 (direct emissions from the use of fuels in mobile and stationary implements when applying lime and nitrogen fertilizers, and from decomposition of crop residues) represented 67% of the total emissions, whereas the scope 3 (indirect emissions associated with the production of synthetic fertilizers, lime, fuels and seeds) were responsible 33% of the total GHG emissions on the three farms. On average, for the soybean‒maize farms, the observed GHG emissions (losses) were approximately 2.1 Mg CO2eq ha−1 yr−1, while soil C sequestration amounted to 4 Mg CO2eq ha−1 yr−1, resulting in a mean CO2eq balance of approximately -1.9 Mg CO2eq ha−1 yr−1. Our study showed that the sequestration of C in soil can be adopted in initiatives as a carbon dioxide removal strategy in agriculture systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazilian agriculture is constantly questioned concerning its environmental impacts, particularly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This research study used data from a 34-year field experiment to estimate the life cycle GHG emissions intensity of maize production for grain in farming systems under no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) combined with Gramineae (oat) and legume (vetch) cover crops in southern Brazil. We applied the Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator for modeling the "field-to-farm gate" emissions with measured annual soil N2O and CH4 emissions data. For net CO2 emissions, increases in soil organic C (SOC) were applied as a proxy, where the CT combined with oat was a reference. The life cycle GHG emissions intensity for maize was negative under NT farming systems with Gramineae and legume cover crops, −0.7 and −0.1 kg CO2e kg−1 of maize, respectively. CT with oats as a cover crop had a GHG intensity of 1.0 kg CO2e kg−1 of maize and 2.2 Mg CO2e ha−1. NT with cover crops increased SOC (0.7 C Mg ha−1 yr−1, 0–100 cm) and contributed to the mitigation of life cycle GHG emissions of maize production. This research shows that NT with cover crops is a sustainable solution for farming in southern Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management practices such as no-tillage (NT) have the potential to provide many benefits, such as reduced runoff and soil erosion and increased infiltration and soil water holding capacity. Most hydrological models that are used to simulate the effects of soil management are built based on empirical relationships between management and hydrology outcomes, and they tend to ignore or oversimplify the effects of soil structure. However, soil structure is management dependent and is a driver of water movement and storage in soil. The goal of this study was to better understand the effects of differences in soil structure between NT and conventional tillage (CT) on field-scale hydrology and plant available water (PAW). This study employed in-field measurements of soil structure in NT and CT fields in the Texas Blackland Prairies and used the Precision Agricultural-Landscape Modeling System (PALMS), which can simulate the effects of differences in soil structure. Regression analysis was performed on simulated soil water to understand the relative contributions of variations in surface roughness and macropore properties due to tillage on PAW. Results from this study showed that NT accumulated 44.8, 20.4, and 5.7 cm more PAW than CT in the top 150 cm of the soil profile during the summer growing season in the years 2006, 2008, and 2011, respectively, all of which encountered considerable dry spells. It was also found that the changes of soil structure due to tillage had about 4.5 times more impact on PAW than surface roughness. This study highlights the benefits of adopting NT over CT and showcases the importance of considering soil structure in modeling the effects of soil management on PAW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The percent canopy cover and health of winter wheat are important crop performance indicators. Thus, understanding how tillage management practices affect these indicators is beneficial for improving crop performance and consequently yield. The availability of high-resolution drone data with spectral characteristics provides an opportunity to examine the percent canopy cover and health of winter wheat in different tillage systems. This is because the use of drones provides real-time high spatial resolution and temporal images to effectively monitor winter wheat conditions throughout the growing season. Nonetheless, very limited studies have utilized drone data for assessing the percent canopy cover and health conditions of winter wheat for different tillage practices. This study aimed to examine the percent canopy cover and health of winter wheat in no-till and conventional tillage plots using a drone. We used the mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) ± Standard Deviation (SD) (0.89 ± 0.04) of winter wheat for the growth stages of tillering, jointing, and boot/heading to generate the percent wheat canopy cover. The Normalized Difference Red-Edge (NDRE) produced for winter wheat at the middle and late growth stages was used as a proxy for wheat health condition. We found that the mean percentage canopy cover of winter wheat was about 4% higher in no-till compared to conventional tillage plots in most of the growing season. The mean NDRE ± standard error (SE) of winter wheat was about 0.44 ± 0.01 and 0.43 ± 0.01 for no-till and conventional tillage plots, respectively, during the mid- and late growth stages. There was no significant difference in either the percent canopy cover or health of winter wheat between no-till and conventional tillage plots. The results generated in this study could be used to support farmers' decision-making process regarding tillage practices and wheat crop performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfed agriculture is primarily limited by unstable low precipitation, poor soil fertility and monocropping, which are the main factors leading to decreased crop production. This long-term research was conducted under a rainfed agroecosystem from 2019 to 2023 on the sierozem soil of the Karshi steppe, Uzbekistan. Along with winter wheat (WW) which was the main crop covering 50% of each proposed cropping pattern, chickpea (CH), safflower (SA), flax (FL), barley (BA) and canola (CA) were evaluated to find the most suitable rotation systems under no-till (NT) i.e. NT1: WW–CH–WW–FL, NT2: CH–WW–SA–WW, NT3: WW–SA–WW–BA and NT4: SA–WW–CA–WW compared against continuous WW produced with conventional tillage (CT). Results showed that the integrated effect of NT x crop diversification x residue retention positively affected crop productivity; however, their impact were significantly higher under the NT2 treatment, but not with continuous WW under CT. The highest grain yield of WW in the 2020-2021 growing season was recorded under NT2 and NT4 treatments with values of 1.47 and 1.30 Mg ha-1, while the lowest index (1.02 Mg ha-1) was found at the CT treatment. The grain yield in the NT treatments increased with the improvement of soil chemical and physical parameters, i.e. NPK and humus content. When comparing NT2 to CT treatment at the project end, the total N, P, and K values at the 0–20 cm soil profile were 27.9%, 13.9%, and 33.9% higher, respectively. This study concluded that implementation of NT along with strategic selection of legumes incorporated into the cropping system and residue management can be prioritized as rehabilitation measures in rainfed croplands.

Tillage is one of the major factors affecting soil biological activity, resulting in changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) content, providing for carbon sequestration and shifts in carbon dioxide emission from soils. Current climate change and aggravation of global warming through the increased emission of carbon dioxide are main driving forces for global transformation of agricultural practices in the direction of climate-smart agriculture (CSA), which requires the implementation of such crop cultivation practices that result in the minimization of SOC losses and carbon dioxide emissions. The magnitude and direction of different tillage practices affecting soil biological activity are different, therefore, the best tillage options should be chosen for implementation in national CSA systems to ensure achieving the global sustainability goals. This nationwide meta-analysis, conducted for tillage practices utilized in Ukrainian agriculture examines scientifically recorded effects of moldboard tillage depth, flat cutter and no-till options on soil respiration rates and cellulose decomposition intensity in dark-chestnut and chernozem soils of Ukraine. This meta-analysis enrolled 45 studies, which met the stipulated scientific quality criteria. Statistical processing was conducted through the standardized mean difference (SMD) model without subgroups at 95% confidence interval (CI). As a result, it was determined that there is subtle impact of moldboard tillage depth on soil biological activity, which is inconclusive and unclear. The similar results were obtained for the comparison between the tillage and no-till groups, where high heterogeneity of the dataset (I2 = 82.8%) resulted in low quality of evidence for the benefits of no-till in SOC sequestration. Besides, zero fail-safe numbers support the suggestion of low-quality evidence in favor of shallow plowing advantage over deep plowing, as well as no-till against tillage. As for the difference between the groups of moldboard and flat cutter tillage, it was established that there is strong enough evidence for the advantage of flat cutter tillage in terms of soil respiration rates and cellulose decomposition intensity reduction. Further studies in this direction are required to fill the gaps in current meta-analysis, especially in terms of no-till options and their effect on biological activity of Ukrainian soils in different cropping systems.

Abstract U.S. agricultural producers are increasingly able to participate in private voluntary carbon initiatives that compensate their efforts to sequester CO2, reduce GHG emissions, and provide ecosystem services through eligible conservation practices. This study examines the potential effects of alternative private payment regimes (per practice vs. per output), prices paid to farmers relative to out-of-pocket costs (low vs. high), and the availability of information on CO2 sequestration (limited vs. full), on the adoption of cover crops and no-till in the United States, the resulting CO2 sequestration, and changes in farmers’ net returns. The analysis relies on a highly stylized model of heterogeneous farms calibrated with county-level agronomic data, and simulated for current estimates of GHG impacts of cover crop planting and no-till under different scenarios. Our results indicate that agricultural carbon markets can be profitable for U.S. farmers, although with substantial geographic variability, and that annual carbon sequestration could range between 17 and 75 million mtCO2e. Payments per output would incentivize higher carbon sequestration than payments per practice, but the former regime would be less favored by farmers as a unified group than the latter (due to lower aggregate net returns). However, if operators of farms with high carbon sequestration potential could decide the payment regime to be implemented, they would choose the payment per output regime (due to higher net returns per enrolled hectare). Total projected net changes in GHGs under payments per practice, based solely on county-average net GHG effects of cover crops and no-till, over-estimate actual total GHG sequestration (based on the entire distribution of net effects by county) by 2.1 and 14.2 million mtCO2e, or 18% and 21%, respectively.

This article discusses the decrease in adoption of cover crops and no-till practices in the United States, despite the overall increase in these conservation practices. The authors analyze data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture and highlight the consequences of disadoption, such as reduced soil health and the release of carbon. They emphasize the need to understand regional patterns of adoption and disadoption to inform conservation programs. The article also mentions the role of economic incentives and cost-share programs in farmer adoption, as well as the potential negative implications for carbon and ecosystem services markets. The document is a research article that explores the adoption and impact of cover crops in the United States, providing insights into the benefits, challenges, and economic effects of implementation. It emphasizes the importance of cover crops in promoting soil health and sustainability in agriculture. The article is published in Choices Magazine, a free publication of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association. [Extracted from the article]

Intensive farming has caused soil degradation, including the loss of humus, soil structure breakdown, compaction, and a decrease in both potential and effective fertility. Therefore, research into farming systems is highly relevant. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to scientifically substantiate, develop, and implement an ecologically friendly modern farming system under Ukrainian conditions. The primary methods used to determine the effectiveness of various farming systems and ensure the accuracy and reliability of experimental data were field, laboratory, and statistical methods. The study substantiated that an industrial farming system with the input of approximately 12.0 tonnes per hectare of crop rotation area of organic matter (8.0 tonnes per hectare of manure and 4.0 tonnes per hectare of plant residues) produces about 0.81 tonnes per hectare of humus, although 1.33 tonnes per hectare of it is mineralised, leading to a negative humus balance in the soil. The output of grain units in this system is 8.21 tonnes per hectare, feed units - 9.63, and digestible protein - 0.86 tonnes per hectare, with stability at 91.2% and profitability at 88.0%. The organic farming system, which includes the use of 24 tonnes per hectare of organic fertilisers and biological products to control weeds, diseases, and pests in agrocenoses, does not ensure a positive humus balance in the soil (-0.14 tonnes per hectare) and has significantly lower productivity. The no-till system, which involves the application of 12 tonnes per hectare of organic fertilisers in the form of root and stubble residues, by-products of crop production, and mineral fertilisers during sowing and foliar feeding, ensures a positive humus balance (+0.12 tonnes per hectare) but has productivity levels comparable to the organic system. The ecological system provides stable, economically viable, and resource-adequate productivity of arable land, enhances the quality indicators of products, and preserves and restores soil fertility. It increased the output of grain units by 8.9%, feed units by 7.2%, and digestible protein by 8.1%, ensuring high stability at 94.1% and an increase in production profitability by 8.5% compared to the control. The materials in this study are of practical value for agricultural enterprises of various ownership forms and will serve as technological guidelines for the implementation of modern, ecologically safe, economically and energetically justified agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study reviewed the literature on soil conservation practices and analyzed four case studies in different soil zones and diverse cropping systems of Manitoba (MB), western Canada, to show the potential impacts of no-till/reduced tillage practices on field crop economic performance. Primary and secondary data, such as tillage type, input cost, crop price, crop yield, and net revenue (NR), were used to assess the tillage practices in each of the case studies. Based on crop economic analysis, over 9 years (1998–2006) in southern Manitoba, cereal-based (spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgareL.)) cropping systems were more profitable under conservation tillage than conventional tillage practices, whereas the opposite was true for oilseed crops (e.g., canola, Brassica napus L.). In plot-scale studies at Portage, MB, low intensity tillage increased NR for soybean (Glycine max L.) in 1 of 3 years when compared to high intensity tillage, and there appeared to be lower NRs for canola as tillage intensity increased. However, in studies near Brandon, MB, NRs for a 4-year wheat-pea (Pisum sativum L.) rotation were lower in low disturbance seeding than high disturbance seeding systems for a clay loam soil but similar for a loam soil. While no single tillage system was found to consistently provide the highest NR based on these case studies, these findings provide insights into some of the factors behind decisions surrounding tillage management and the rationale for the continued use of a combination of conventional, reduced, and zero-till systems in the eastern Prairies of Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

U.S. agricultural producers are increasingly able to participate in private voluntary carbon initiatives that compensate their efforts to sequester CO2, reduce GHG emissions, and provide ecosystem services through eligible conservation practices. This study examines the potential effects of alternative private payment regimes (per practice vs. per output), prices paid to farmers relative to out-of-pocket costs (low vs. high), and the availability of information on CO2 sequestration (limited vs. full), on the adoption of cover crops and no-till in the United States, the resulting CO2 sequestration, and changes in farmers' net returns. The analysis relies on a highly stylized model of heterogeneous farms calibrated with county-level agronomic data, and simulated for current estimates of GHG impacts of cover crop planting and no-till under different scenarios. Our results indicate that agricultural carbon markets can be profitable for U.S. farmers, although with substantial geographic variability, and that annual carbon sequestration could range between 17 and 75 million mtCO2e. Payments per output would incentivize higher carbon sequestration than payments per practice, but the former regime would be less favored by farmers as a unified group than the latter (due to lower aggregate net returns). However, if operators of farms with high carbon sequestration potential could decide the payment regime to be implemented, they would choose the payment per output regime (due to higher net returns per enrolled hectare). Total projected net changes in GHGs under payments per practice, based solely on county-average net GHG effects of cover crops and no-till, over-estimate actual total GHG sequestration (based on the entire distribution of net effects by county) by 2.1 and 14.2 million mtCO2e, or 18% and 21%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term cultivation experiments are gaining more attention due to the possibility of following the changes in soil parameters (e.g., soil organic carbon (SOC), stock and soil health indicators, etc.). Our objective was to assess the status of soil in an 18-year-old tillage experiment after almost two decades of systematic tillage. In this research, soil physical (bulk density, moisture content), chemical (pH, SOC), and biological properties (soil microbial respiration, abundance, biomass, species composition of earthworms, yield) were used as indicators in three soil cultivation methods representing different degrees of disturbance (no-till—NT; shallow cultivation—SC; and ploughing—P). Based on our results, there were significant differences in bulk density (NT > SC, P) in 0–10 cm, and NT > P in deeper layers (10–20, 20–30, 30–40 cm), while the SOC content in 0–10 cm was the highest in NT (2.5%), followed by SC (2.4%) and P (2.0%). Soil microbial respiration was significantly greater in NT than in SC and P. The abundance and biomass of earthworms was the highest in NT (189 ind m−2, 41.26 g m−2), followed by SC (125 ind m−2, 36.9 g m−2) and P (48 ind m−2, 7.4 g m−2). We concluded that NT offered a beneficial habitat for earthworms and microorganisms and a high SOC storage capacity; however, bulk density was less convenient due to soil compaction in our experiment. Therefore, SC can be used as an alternative approach for sustainable soil tillage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weeds are a major threat to crop yield and quality but an important component of the agro-system. Estimating the response of weed species to cultural practices is crucial to selecting weed control methods. The study was realized in Setif, a Mediterranean semi-arid region in northeastern Algeria, on two fields (Beni-Fouda and Rmada ) practicing the direct seeding since 2008 The experiment was carried out over two campaign years (2015-2017) to examine the effects of rotations compared to monoculture on weed diversity and abundance. Among 40 species inventoried, dicotyledons are the best represented, with 85% (34/40) of the species, belonging to 15 families, the Asteraceae have nearly 27.5% of the total inventoried flora. Monocotyledons are composed of just the Poaceae, comprising 15% of the total flora. Between the two fields, the diversity indices show controversial values and a great dissimilarity is noted. The wheat-crop and rotations at Beni-Fouda (W/T/L/V) were distinguished by both high species diversity and low dominance, while the same treatments (W/T/L/P) at the Rmada site showed strong dominance with low diversity. The results indicate potential changes in the dominance of weed species between the two fields and the impact of the rotations on weeds is insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Soil health has been used worldwide for soil monitoring in different soil use and management. The objective of the study was to evaluate, in a Subtropical Oxisol of the Campos Gerais region in Paraná state, if the Visual Evaluation of Soil structure (VESS) and Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) approaches allow evaluate soil response to various land uses or soil tillage used in the region. The land use and tillage practices consist of conventional tillage, minimum tillage, no-tillage, and secondary forest. The SMAF was used as a tool to evaluate the soil health using five indicators: pH, phosphorus, potassium, bulk density, and soil organic carbon. The VESS was used to determine the soil structural quality. The secondary forest showed the best soil structure and tillage practices declined soil structure quality. Similarly, the soil health index was higher in secondary forest compared to tillage practices, and the tillage had little effect on soil health. The SMAF showed differences between land use and tillage practices. The VESS method could be used as a complementary tool for monitoring the soil health.

Abstract Surface runoff in agricultural areas promotes the transport of biological structures, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spores, along with mineral particles, nutrients, and organic matter. Limited information exists regarding the relationships between the erosive process and the loss of AMF spores at the hillslope scale, as well as the effect of terracing on these relationships. The objective of this study was to quantify the loss of AMF spores in surface runoff water from agricultural soil managed under no-till and terraced conditions. The research was conducted in the Ribeirão Vermelho watershed, in a hillslope area in Cambé, Paraná, Brazil. Two experimental plots measuring 2.5 hectares each were installed, with one managed without terraces (NTP) and the other with level terraces (TP). At the lower end of the plots, a runoff flow measurement structure (H-channel) was installed to determine the flow rate and suspended spore count. The runoff duration, peak flow rate, and spore count were determined during the period from October 2019 to October 2022. The terrace reduced over 35% of suspended spore loss, and the hysteresis pattern showed a counterclockwise loop in NTP and a clockwise loop in TP for events with higher peak flow rates. The hysteresis pattern indicated rapid spore mobilization and transport in TP, suggesting that spores originated from more distant sources or required more energy for transportation in NTP. Overall, there is evidence that the terrace influences spore variability on the hillslope, reinforcing the need for terracing in agricultural hillslope areas.

Understanding the soil bacterial communities involved in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling can inform beneficial tillage and crop rotation practices for sustainability and crop production. This study evaluated soil bacterial diversity, compositional structure, and functions associated with C-N cycling at two soil depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) under long-term tillage (conventional tillage [CT] and no-till [NT]) and crop rotation (monocultures of corn, soybean, and wheat and corn–soybean–wheat rotation) systems. The soil microbial communities were characterized by metabarcoding the 16S rRNA gene V4–V5 regions using Illumina MiSeq. The results showed that long-term NT reduced the soil bacterial diversity at 15–30 cm compared to CT, while no significant differences were found at 0–15 cm. The bacterial communities differed significantly at the two soil depths under NT but not under CT. Notably, over 70% of the tillage-responding KEGG orthologs (KOs) associated with C fixation (primarily in the reductive citric acid cycle) were more abundant under NT than under CT at both depths. The tillage practices significantly affected bacteria involved in biological nitrogen (N2) fixation at the 0–15 cm soil depth, as well as bacteria involved in denitrification at both soil depths. The crop type and rotation regimes had limited effects on bacterial diversity and structure but significantly affected specific C-N-cycling genes. For instance, three KOs associated with the Calvin–Benson cycle for C fixation and four KOs related to various N-cycling processes were more abundant in the soil of wheat than in that of corn or soybean. These findings indicate that the long-term tillage practices had a greater influence than crop rotation on the soil bacterial communities, particularly in the C- and N-cycling processes. Integrated management practices that consider the combined effects of tillage, crop rotation, and crop types on soil bacterial functional groups are essential for sustainable agriculture.

Tillage is one of the major factors affecting soil biological activity, resulting in changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) content, providing for carbon sequestration and shifts in carbon dioxide emission from soils. Current climate change and aggravation of global warming through the increased emission of carbon dioxide are main driving forces for global transformation of agricultural practices in the direction of climate-smart agriculture (CSA), which requires the implementation of such crop cultivation practices that result in the minimization of SOC losses and carbon dioxide emissions. The magnitude and direction of different tillage practices affecting soil biological activity are different, therefore, the best tillage options should be chosen for implementation in national CSA systems to ensure achieving the global sustainability goals. This nationwide meta-analysis, conducted for tillage practices utilized in Ukrainian agriculture examines scientifically recorded effects of moldboard tillage depth, flat cutter and no-till options on soil respiration rates and cellulose decomposition intensity in dark-chestnut and chernozem soils of Ukraine. This meta-analysis enrolled 45 studies, which met the stipulated scientific quality criteria. Statistical processing was conducted through the standardized mean difference (SMD) model without subgroups at 95% confidence interval (CI). As a result, it was determined that there is subtle impact of moldboard tillage depth on soil biological activity, which is inconclusive and unclear. The similar results were obtained for the comparison between the tillage and no-till groups, where high heterogeneity of the dataset (I² = 82.8%) resulted in low quality of evidence for the benefits of no-till in SOC sequestration. Besides, zero fail-safe numbers support the suggestion of low-quality evidence in favor of shallow plowing advantage over deep plowing, as well as no-till against tillage. As for the difference between the groups of moldboard and flat cutter tillage, it was established that there is strong enough evidence for the advantage of flat cutter tillage in terms of soil respiration rates and cellulose decomposition intensity reduction. Further studies in this direction are required to fill the gaps in current meta-analysis, especially in terms of no-till options and their effect on biological activity of Ukrainian soils in different cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dryland Mediterranean Vertisols, split nitrogen (N) application is usual in wheat crops. Because of the high clay content of these soils and the low rainfall, a single application might offer ecological and economic benefits without yield loss. We conducted a 5-year study as part of a long-term experiment and compared the split application of N (50% at tillering, 50% at stem elongation phase) with a single application (tillering) in 10 cropping systems resulting from the combination of type of cultivation (no-till and conventional tillage) and 2-year crop rotations (wheat-wheat, wheat-fallow, wheat-chickpea, wheat-faba bean and wheat-sunflower). Depending on the system × crop rotation interaction, a single application of 100 or 150 kg N ha-1 maintained grain yield, protein content and apparent N recovery, with no effect on nitrate content compared with a traditional split application. The average grain yield did not differ between split and single application of N (3.27 and 3.23 Mg ha-1, respectively, for single and split application of 100 kg N ha-1 rate; 3.46 and 3.40 Mg ha-1, respectively, for single and split application of 150 kg N ha-1 rate). The soil nitrate concentration at pre-seeding in the 0-0.3 m layer showed similar results, except in the case of the wheat-faba rotation, with lower nitrate concentration in the sub-subplots of single application and no-till. This work shows that adopting the single N application strategy in rotations on Mediterranean dryland Vertisols will reduce economic and environmental costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to study the effect of the No-till technology on the content of plant-available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in ordinary chernozem of the Central Ciscaucasia. The work was carried out in 2013–2020 in a four-field crop rotation. Soil samples were taken after the first and second rotations. A two-factor experiment was performed to study soil cultivation options (recommended for the region and No-till) on different agricultural backgrounds (unfertilized and fertilized). During the entire observation period, despite the cultivation option used, the content of nitrate nitrogen in the 0–30-cm soil layer was low and ranged from 3.8–5.8 to 9.7–10.7 mg/kg. Such low nitrogen content indicates the need of application of nitrogen fertilizers. During two crop rotations, no significant changes in the content of available phosphorus have been determined on an unfertilized arable soil for the both variants of the used cultivation technologies. In all soil layers, the values of this indicator correspond to the average level of availability (from 15.2 to 17.2 mg/kg). The application of fertilizers led to an increase in the content of available phosphorus by the end of the second rotation of crop rotation in the soil layer of 0–30 cm. The content of available phosphorus increased up to 24.8 and 33.4 mg/kg with the recommended technology and the No-till option, respectively. The content of mobile potassium after the first crop rotation was similar for the variants with both studied technologies and natural soil fertility (261–266 mg/kg). However, on the fertilized soil, the difference associated with the application of the cultivation technique is significant: the No-till technology is associated with higher content of mobile phosphorus. In the 0–10 cm layer this difference amounted to 18 mg/kg, or 6.3%. The second rotation was characterized by a decrease in the K2O content in the 0–30 cm layer, which was more pronounced for the variant with the recommended technology (by 39–48 mg/kg (13.8–20.2%) and 28–39 mg/kg (9.8–16.5%) on an unfertilized and fertilized backgrounds, respectively). The use of No‑till technology on the unfertilized soil results in a decrease of this indicator by 22–34 mg/kg. In the 0‒10-cm layer, in the option with this technology, K2O content tends to increase on the unfertilized background by 9 mg/kg (3.1%) and significantly increases on the fertilized background (by 30 mg/kg or 9.9%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil productivity and crop yield were examined in response to legume-based short crop rotation under conventional (CT) and no-till (NT) tillage practices in saline meadow-alluvial soils of the arid region in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Compared with the CT treatment, crop yield was consistently higher under NT, i.e., winter wheat 9.63%, millet 9.9%, chickpea 3.8%, and maize 10.7% at the first experiment cycle during 2019–2021. A further crop productivity increase was observed at the second experiment cycle during 2021–2023 under NT when compared to CT, i.e., winter wheat 17.7%, millet 31.2%, chickpea 19.6%, and maize 19.1%. An increase in total phyto residue by 20.9% and root residue by 25% under NT compared to CT contributed to the improvement in soil structure and played a vital role in the sustained improvement of crop yields. In turn, the increased residue retention under NT facilitated soil porosity, structural stability, and water retention, thereby improving soil quality and organic matter content. Soil salinity more significantly decreased under NT than in CT, reducing salinity buildup by 18.9% at the 0–25 cm and 32.9% at the 75–100 cm soil profiles compared to CT. The total forms N and P were significantly increased under NT when compared to CT, while the efficiency of the applied crop rotation was essential. This study showed the essential role of the NT method with legume-based intensive cropping in the maintenance of soil health and crop yield, thereby touching on recent advances in agro-biotechnology and the sustainable land management of drylands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in farmers' fields under No-till farming compared to conventional farming with two management practices: 'Research recommended' vs 'Local farmers' practices. The study was conducted over a period of three cropping seasons in the Chaouia plain in Western Morocco, a Mediterranean semi-arid area with low rainfall. Trials were set up in a split-plot design with two factors: (1) management method (No-till vs. Conventional), and (2) practices (research recommended vs. Farmers' local practices), with four replications and were carried out at four farmers' fields (sites). Data collected included: stand density, canopy height, average number of tillers per plant, number of spikes per plant, biological yield, grain yield and harvest index. The results obtained show a significant effect of climatic years on the measured parameters. No-till system significantly improved yield components, canopy height, biological yield, and grain yield, particularly in dry years. No-till as practiced by farmers (C2) improved biological and grain yields, respectively, by 18 and 42% compared with farmers' current local practices (C1). These gains were, respectively, 83% and 142%, for the research recommended package under No-till, those of the research recommended package under conventional management (without direct seeding), were 61% and 81% for the biological and the grain yields, respectively. The harvest index increased from 27% under the current conventional farmers' local management (C1), to 31% with the research recommended package under the same management mode. Under No-till management, this index increased to 33% with local practices (C2) and 36% with the research recommended packages. No-till system can be a adaptative and resilient practice for wheat cultivation in the low rain fall semi-arid areas impacted by climate change, but farmers should consider the adoption of the whole No-till system, rather than limiting themselves solely to the zero-till seeder technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to assess the adoption of circular agricultural practices as a tool to improve the recovery use efficiency of phosphorus (P) applied to tropical soils. Two Brazilian farms (1 and 2) that are under long-term no-till and cropped year-round with cover and/or cash crops were used in this study. Soybean, maize and common bean were grown during the summer season (October–February), followed by wheat, common bean and maize during the winter season (February–August). Brachiaria ruziziensis was intercropped with off-season maize. Farm 1 also grew sweet potatoes in rotation with grains. In the integrated crop–livestock system, the leftovers from the silos and crop residues were used to feed beef cattle, while the residues not used in the confinement were turned into compost and applied in the production fields. During the last 3 years, 80 (farm 1) and 71 (farm 2) kg/ha/year of P-fertilizer was applied to meet the demand of the different crops and 56% (farm 1) and 58% (farm 2) of P-fertilizer was exported through the crops and livestock. P-recovery represented more than 50% on both farms. Around 60% of the P consumed by animals was excreted in the form of faeces and urine and the animal manure was used to produce organic compost. Therefore, most of the P consumed by the livestock was returned back to the field to serve as organic fertilizer. This study showed that circular agricultural practices can enhance P-recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aims: In the context of increasing population and decreasing soil fertility, food security is one of humanity's greatest challenges. Large amounts of waste, such as sewage sludge, are produced annually, with their final disposal causing environmental pollution and hazards to human health. Sludge has high amounts of nitrogen (N), and, when safely recycled by applying it into the soil as composted sewage sludge (CSS), its residual effect may provide gradual N release to crops. A field study was conducted in the Brazilian Cerrado. The aims were to investigate the residual effect of successive applications of CSS as a source of N in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. BRS Estilo)-palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha (A.Rich.) R.D. Webster)-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation under notillage. Additionally, N cycling was monitored through changes in N metabolism; the efficiency of biological N2 fixation (BNF) and its implications for plant nutrition, development, and productivity, was also assessed. Methods: The experiment consisted of a randomized complete block design comparing four CSS rates (10, 15, 20, and 25 Mg ha-1, wet basis) to a control treatment (without adding mineral or organic fertilizer) over two crop years. Multiple plant and soil analyses (plant development and crop yield, Falker chlorophyll index (FCI), enzymatic, biochemical, 15N natural abundance, was evaluated, root and shoot N accumulation, etc.) were evaluated. Results and discussion: Results showed that CSS: i) maintained adequate N levels for all crops, increasing their productivity; ii) promoted efficient BNF, due to the stability of ureide metabolism in plants and increased protein content; iii) increased the nitrate content and the nitrate reductase activity in soybean; iv) affected urease activity and ammonium content due to changes in the plant's urea metabolism; v) increased N accumulation in the aerial part of palisade grass. Composted sewage sludge can be used as an alternative source to meet crops' N requirements, promoting productivity gains and N cycling through forage and improving N metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power sources such as batteries, used for both on-road and off-road vehicles, are advancing at a rapid pace. Electric batteries are becoming more power dense, thus allowing them to be used as a power source to replace previous diesel or gasoline-powered systems. Efforts are underway to transition off-road agricultural vehicles from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs); however, the energy requirements of typical agricultural field operations need to be fully understood before such a transition can occur. Theoretical prediction equations available in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) standards or the use of engine load data from a tractor's Controller Area Network (CAN) bus are two methods for determining the energy demands of implements on tractors. In this study, tractor CAN bus data was collected from multiple no-till corn planting operations to estimate the energy requirements of the planting operation in kWh. The estimated energy requirement was used to determine the equivalent physical mass and volume of a lithium-ion battery needed to power a hypothetical fully electric tractor for comparable planting operations. The estimated battery capacities using the worst-case field-use scenario in this study were 1117 kWh for operating a 16-row planter to plant 68 ha (168 acre) in a day at an average ground speed of 8.6 km h-1 (5.4 mph) for 14 hours, and 2658 kWh for operating a 48-row planter to plant 158 ha (391 acre) in a day at an average ground speed of 8.9 km h-1 (5.6 mph) for 15 hours. Given the current battery energy density requirements, the equivalent battery masses and volumes were found to be 5,319 kg and 3.33 m³, 12,657 kg and 7.93 m³, for 16-row planter and 48-row planter, respectively. These high kWh estimates needed to power future fully-electric tractor power units are based on worst-case scenarios that could be encountered in real field operations that use wide planters over long operating hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing climate crisis merits an urgent need to devise management approaches and new technologies to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations (GHG) in the near term. However, each year that GHG concentrations continue to rise, pressure mounts to develop and deploy atmospheric CO2 removal pathways as a complement to, and not replacement for, emissions reductions. Soil carbon sequestration (SCS) practices in working lands provide a low‐tech and cost‐effective means for removing CO2 from the atmosphere while also delivering co‐benefits to people and ecosystems. Our model estimates suggest that, assuming additive effects, the technical potential of combined SCS practices can provide 30%–70% of the carbon removal required by the Paris Climate Agreement if applied to 25%–50% of the available global land area, respectively. Atmospheric CO2 drawdown via SCS has the potential to last decades to centuries, although more research is needed to determine the long‐term viability at scale and the durability of the carbon stored. Regardless of these research needs, we argue that SCS can at least serve as a bridging technology, reducing atmospheric CO2 in the short term while energy and transportation systems adapt to a low‐C economy. Soil C sequestration in working lands holds promise as a climate change mitigation tool, but the current rate of implementation remains too slow to make significant progress toward global emissions goals by 2050. Outreach and education, methodology development for C offset registries, improved access to materials and supplies, and improved research networks are needed to accelerate the rate of SCS practice implementation. Herein, we present an argument for the immediate adoption of SCS practices in working lands and recommendations for improved implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are still great uncertainties about effects of climate warming and no-tillage on soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents and pH in alpine farmlands. A warming (control; daytime warming, DW; nighttime warming, NW; all-day warming, DW + NW) and no-tillage (no-tillage vs. tillage) experiment was conducted in an alpine farmland of the Lhasa, Xizang since 2015. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium (TK), available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), active organic carbon, particulate organic carbon (POC), light fraction organic carbon, and heavy fraction organic carbon contents and pH at four depths (0–5, 5–15, 15–25, and 25–35 cm) were measured. Warming effects on concerned soil variables differed with warming time, soil depth, and no-tillage. No-tillage effects on concerned soil variables differed with warming-time (daytime, nighttime, and all-day warming) and soil depths. Therefore, daytime warming and nighttime warming have different effects on soil variables, although the effects of nighttime warming on soil variables are not always greater than those of daytime warming. Effects of daytime warming and nighttime warming on soil variables are not simple addition or subtraction effects. There are interactions between diurnal asymmetrical warming and no-tillage on soil variables.

The percent canopy cover and health of winter wheat are important crop performance indicators. Thus, understanding how tillage management practices affect these indicators is beneficial for improving crop performance and consequently yield. The availability of high-resolution drone data with spectral characteristics provides an opportunity to examine the percent canopy cover and health of winter wheat in different tillage systems. This is because the use of drones provides real-time high spatial resolution and temporal images to effectively monitor winter wheat conditions throughout the growing season. Nonetheless, very limited studies have utilized drone data for assessing the percent canopy cover and health conditions of winter wheat for different tillage practices. This study aimed to examine the percent canopy cover and health of winter wheat in no-till and conventional tillage plots using a drone. We used the mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) ± Standard Deviation (SD) (0.89 ± 0.04) of winter wheat for the growth stages of tillering, jointing, and boot/heading to generate the percent wheat canopy cover. The Normalized Difference Red-Edge (NDRE) produced for winter wheat at the middle and late growth stages was used as a proxy for wheat health condition. We found that the mean percentage canopy cover of winter wheat was about 4% higher in no-till compared to conventional tillage plots in most of the growing season. The mean NDRE ± standard error (SE) of winter wheat was about 0.44 ± 0.01 and 0.43 ± 0.01 for no-till and conventional tillage plots, respectively, during the mid- and late growth stages. There was no significant difference in either the percent canopy cover or health of winter wheat between no-till and conventional tillage plots. The results generated in this study could be used to support farmers’ decision-making process regarding tillage practices and wheat crop performance.

Crop production with little to no tillage, permanent plant or residue soil cover, and diverse crop rotations are frequently marketed throughout the world as a way to sustainably produce crops. While these management techniques contribute a wide suite of ecosystems services to crop production systems, they typically come at the expense of increased reliance on herbicides for weed control, which is known to negatively impact ecosystems. This two-year study investigated three cropping systems (i.e., integrated, organic transition and no-till) to determine their effects on granivorous invertebrate activity-density, invertebrate weed seed predation and crop yield. A redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed significant effects of cropping system on invertebrate community structure and associated seed predation rates. Specifically, species abundance and seed predation rates in the integrated treatment differed from those found in the organic and no-till systems (F = 6.97, p = 0.002). Secondarily, no-till systems differed from organic systems (F = 3.09, p = 0.006). The analysis indicated that most invertebrate groups, and seed predation rates for all weed species assessed, were more highly associated with the integrated system. Crop yields did not differ significantly between cropping systems (One-way ANOVAs, p>0.05). This work shows that the application of an integrated crop management system results in an increase in beneficial invertebrate activity-densities and increases surface seed predation when compared to no-till and organic systems. These results suggest that integrated cropping systems can reduce herbicide application while effectively controlling weeds and thereby help to reduce the ecosystem impact of agricultural systems.

The aim of this work is to assess the impact of no-till based cropping system on soil erosion using two indicators. The experiment plot was under no-tillage (NT) for four years, adjacent to a plot under conventional tillage (CT) with same other management practices. The two used indicators are Le Bissonnais soil aggregates’ stability test and the activities of the fallout radionuclides (FRN) 7Be and 137Cs. For each radionuclide, the reference sites were identified and sampled using grid sampling approach and the study sites (the two plots) were sampled by applying a one-dimensional point transect sampling. Five samples were collected from each study site with 10m incre-ment. The results showed that the mean weighted diameter (MWD) was of 2.2 for the NT plot and 2.0 for the CT plot, this indicates a lower soil detachability under the no-till system. For the FRN results, the 7Be activity showed that the NT plot retained 79% of the reference site activity and the CT plot retained 54%. The 137Cs activity tests showed also that the NT plot retained more of reference site activity. The mass balance conversion models application to the FRN results showed that the no-till system generated 10% less soil erosion rate than the con-ventional tillage. The results showed that in spite of needing more than 4 years implementation for statistical significance, no-till helps reducing water erosion in the hilly agricultural lands of Northern Morocco.

Summer fallow practice is common in the US semiarid Southern Great Plains ecoregion. Its primary objective is to store water to enhance winter wheat production for grain and grazing. Prior research on replacing fallow with legume cover crops (CC) (green manure) reported a yield loss through soil moisture depletion for winter wheat. Recent research has shown the potential of grass CC to enhance soil physical properties compared to legume CC. Cost-benefit analyses of CC make it difficult to justify their adoption. Grazing, however, offers an opportunity to mitigate CC costs. The impact of a grazed CC mix on stored soil water, CN cycling, intercropping, and wheat yields was evaluated. Although CC used soil moisture early in the growing season and nitrate+nitrite-N, they recharged soil moisture by the critical wheat seeding and dormancy-breaking periods. In the summer of 2014, net mineralization in CC increased nitrate+nitrite-N by 10-fold compared to 2013 concentrations, resulting in no significant differences in yields in 2015. Nitrate+nitrite-N was reduced by 28% in 2015 compared to the preceding year due to CC growth and net nitrate+nitrite-N immobilization in residues, resulting in 25% less yield in CC treatments in 2016 compared to no-till (NT) fallow. Grazed and ungrazed CC enhanced organic N by up to four times that in NT fallow and sequestered particulate organic N and C by 7–17% and 6–10%, respectively, in micro-aggregates. Despite reducing biomass by 56%, grazing did not differ from most ungrazed measured soil parameters, offering the potential for mitigating CC production costs.

Weed management is often a predominant and costly problem in the production of organic blueberries. Geotextile weed fabrics of woven polyethylene are widely used in organic blueberry fields to suppress weeds growing within the rows. Weeds, such as Convolvulus arvensis L., grow at the base of the blueberry plants or through openings and around the edges of the weed fabric, thus requiring hand weeding. This study evaluates the integration of saturated steam (SS), a rotary brush (RB), and organic herbicides for weed control in blueberries. Dose–response studies indicated that SS applied at 121°C and at 7.4 m3 ha−1 of steam (3,655 MJ ha−1) resulted in over 90% control and a reduction in the dry weights of C. arvensis. When treatments were directed to the base of the blueberry plants, SS at 7.4 m3 ha−1 provided 80% control of C. arvensis 28 days after treatment (DAT) and was comparable to hand weeding. Both of these treatments outperformed capric plus caprylic acid (CC) (33.2 kg ai ha−1) or ammonium nonanoate (AN) (24.3 kg ai ha−1) applications, despite C. arversis regrowth being observed. Four repetitive basal applications of SS of up to 29.6 m3 ha−1 over two consecutive years caused minimal and transient damage to new basal shoots of ‘Elliot’ and ‘Duke’ blueberries; basal shoot cross-sectional area compared with the non-treated was unaffected. In contrast, basal application of AN treatments damaged or killed basal shoots. When treatments were applied to the edge of the weed fabric, SS (7.4 m3 ha−1) reduced weed biomass by 42% to 93% at 28 DAT compared with the non-treated. The RB treatment reduced weed biomass from 72% to 99% in all experiments, while CC and AN reduced biomass by 18% to 54%. A partial budget analysis indicated that SS and the RB were 3- and 6.5-fold less expensive than organic herbicides, respectively. Integrating physical (SS) and mechanical (RB) treatments improved weed control. The latter, however, damaged the weed-suppressing fabric where preexisting holes were present, generated dust, and increased the chance of fruit contamination. The SS was safe for the weed-suppressing fabric and the blueberry, but weed regrowth following treatment and copious water requirements hindered its feasibility.

Canola is an important oilseed crop and its performance was influenced by tillage system. However, no study on this influence has been carried out in North Africa. Also, the effect of tillage system on physiological and biochemical traits in canola has never been investigated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tillage system on agronomic, physiological, and biochemical traits in canola during two cropping seasons (2019/2020 (Y1) and 2020/2021 (Y2)) under Moroccan conditions. The experiment was conducted according to a complete random block design with three replications and the tillage systems studied were deep ploughing (DP), chisel ploughing (CP), minimum till (MT), and no-till (NT). Over both seasons, tillage significantly affected all traits except for proline content. Notably, NT consistently exhibited superior performance with the highest seed yield (272 kg ha−1 in Y1, 1760 kg ha−1 in Y2) and oil content (36 % in Y1, 44 % in Y2). In contrast, DP faced challenges during severe drought in Y1, resulting in no production. On the other hand, in Y2, DP showed the highest stomatal conductance and sugars content, while NT exhibited the highest chlorophyll content. Considering these findings, no-till can be recommended for canola cultivation in Morocco as well as in other North-African and Mediterranean countries with similar climate and soil conditions.

ABSTRACTConservation agriculture (CA) is being promoted as an energy efficient and cost-effective farming system that conserves soil and water and improves crop yields. Adoption of this farming system can contribute to attainment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. However, the adoption rate of this new farming technique by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is low. The trade-offs and synergies related to the three pillars that anchor CA have not, however, been investigated in the context of Botswana. Farmers are faced with trade-offs in the use of crop residue in CA as mulch with traditional use as feed for livestock. This paper reviews the components of CA with a view to contribute to the development of CA strategies for Botswana. We show that adoption of CA in SSA is challenged by lack of weed control measures, the lack of a market for grain legumes and competing uses of crop residue. The paper highlights the discrepancy between CA methods and current government subsidies, issues that may restrain the adoption of CA in Botswana. The paper concludes by making recommendations for research and policy development for sustainable CA practices in Botswana.