Search

The entomofauna of agricultural crops comprises a diverse range of insect species, each playing a distinct role in crop ecosystems. This diversity includes pollinators, natural predators, and pest insects, all of which contribute to crop productivity, health, and ecological stability. Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and certain beetles, enhance crop yield by facilitating cross-pollination, which is essential for the reproduction of many crop plants. On the other hand, pest species, including aphids and caterpillars, can cause substantial crop damage and loss. However, natural predators like ladybugs, predatory beetles, and parasitic wasps act as biological control agents by preying on these harmful insects. This paper highlights the importance of fostering beneficial insects as a sustainable approach to pest management and reducing reliance on chemical pesticides, which can harm ecosystems and beneficial insect populations. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies that incorporate biological control can help maintain a balanced agricultural environment, enhance biodiversity, and improve crop productivity. This study concludes that a comprehensive understanding of entomofauna and their interactions with crops is crucial for advancing sustainable agriculture, supporting ecological health, and promoting resilience in agroecosystems (Altieri, 1999, pp. 19-31). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Summary To understand why certain plants have been domesticated into crops, we need to recognize that the environmental conditions plants experience in wild populations are totally different from those of agricultural fields. In this study, we investigated whether the characteristics that promote growth and survival in these different environments may have influenced domestication. Our results revealed that ancestral crops were selected because they developed better than other plants in dense single‐species stands, with selection for increased yield likely occurring after domestication. These insights shed light on the origins of agriculture and offer valuable guidance for future crop breeding efforts. In spite of a large history of research, it is still unclear which functional traits may have mediated plant domestication. Solving this problem requires consideration of the ecological and demographic disparities between natural plant populations and cultivated fields. Since population density tends to be higher in the latter, we hypothesized that traits facilitating growth and survival in dense, monospecific populations might have been relevant for initial domestication. We investigated whether functional traits that respond to population density varied across three different domestication stages: undomesticated crop wild relatives, natural populations of crop progenitors, and landraces. To do this, we compared traits influencing competition (lodging; growth rate), resource acquisition (plant height; total aerial and root biomass) and yield (fruit number) in three annual legume crops—lentil, grasspea, and vetch—grown without resource limitation at three different densities. Our results showed clear differences among species, likely reflective of the distinct uses of the crops and their domestication pathways. Nevertheless, undomesticated relatives consistently differed from crop progenitors and landraces, producing smaller, slower‐growing plants that were more prostrate and allocated less biomass to roots. The effect of selection under domestication on these vegetative traits appeared to be largely negligible. Conversely, landraces produced more fruits. We conclude that early agriculturalists selected for domestication wild legumes that performed well in dense monocultures and were more effective in resource capture. Later domestication and breeding efforts likely had more significant effects on reproductive traits, such as fruit and seed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food crops are a vital source of nutrition for humans and domestic animals, with an estimated 4 billion metric tons of food produced per year. Crops do not only provide yields, but their traits also play a significant role in regulating the ecosystem processes of croplands, affecting local biotas, water balance, nutrient and carbon cycling. Domestication has led to significant changes in crop traits, making it important to understand the recent evolution of crops and how they differ from wild plants.In this paper I review the evidence on how the ecological traits of herbaceous crops have evolved during and after domestication. Loss of seed dispersal mechanisms, increased plant and organ sizes, high rates of consumption by herbivores and fast decomposition of residues by decomposer microbes in the soil, all have evolved independently in domestication processes of different crops.I also point out types of traits for which we have not identified common responses to domestication, be it because domestication processes of the different crop species are disparate, or because of lack of strong evidence. Those traits include resource acquisition rates of leaves and roots, and whole‐plant growth rates. Then, I discuss research gaps in the field, including how to advance knowledge for those traits that show apparently idiosyncratic responses to domestication.Finally, I emphasize the importance of understanding the interactions of crops with other organisms and the environment to breed crops that deliver yield and other services required from croplands. To this end, I introduce an ideotype for sustainable agriculture, which might inspire the breeding of multipurpose herbaceous crops, in the same way than the ideotypes of the Green Revolution inspired the breeding of elite varieties to foster yields under conventional agriculture. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunflower represents the main oil crop in Romania and is considered a moderately crop drought tolerant but in years with low precipitations seed yield is affected. In recent years, the temperature increased by 2-3 degrees Celsius compared to multi-year average over 60 years. In south-eastern of Romania (agricultural area Fundulea), in 2020, the average annual temperature was 13.5°C, in 2021, it was 12.1°C and in 2022, it was 13.3°C compared with multi-year average over 60 years who was 10.9°C. Rainfalls decreased in last four years from value of 303.3 mm, multi-year average over 60 years total from months April to August in South eastern of Romania, to a total of 180 mm in years 2020 and 2022, 269 mm in year 2021 and a total of 200 mm in 2023. In conditions of water stress and global warming we must identify sunflower genotypes with tolerance at drought and heat. In this paper we present results regarding resistance at water stress through observations development root system of sunflower genotypes under artificial condition in greenhouse and behavior in non-irrigated field in Calarasi county (Fundulea area) and Braila, in year 2023. Sunflower genotypes, S 23-5, S 23-6 and S 23-7 with very developed root system in water stress conditions was obtained thought interspecific hybridization with wild annual specie Helianthus argophyllus and with wild perennial species Helianthus tuberosus and Helianthus maximiliani. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction of row spacing and increase of crop population density are important tools for maximizing crop yield. For this strategy to be effective, the crop population should not create intraspecific crop competition that penalizes yield. Thus, planting arrangements that increase light interception throughout the canopy without increasing row spacing might be needed to maintain yield. In this study, heterogeneous planting arrangements on evenly spaced rows were analyzed for maize (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Each crop had four planting arrangements: (1) normal density in all rows, considered the control, (2) doubled density in all rows, (3) a sequential arrangement of normal and tripled densities (each in every other row; NTNT), and (4) normal-tripled-tripled-normal (NTTN). Maize and cotton did not exhibit changes in growth and architecture when comparing uniform and variable planting arrangements. Soybeans were more adaptable and increased biomass production by 44% to 45% in variable arrangements. None of the crops showed differences in yield due to planting arrangement, so the use of rows with different densities might not be needed when using high densities to maximize yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of agriculture is to optimize the population yield, but natural selection has produced active competition among plants, which decreases population performance. Therefore, cultivar breeding should be based on group selection, increasing yield by weakening individual competitive responses. We hypothesize that this has occurred inadvertently to some degree, so modern cultivars have weakened competitive traits and responses, such as reduced root proliferation in response to neighboring roots. We conducted a field experiment with eight cultivars of spring wheat that have been released over the last hundred years, which we grew at two densities. Two contrasting wheat cultivars, a landrace and a modern cultivar, were used in a second field experiment on competition within and between the two cultivars to quantify their competitiveness. Finally, a greenhouse experiment was conducted with these two cultivars gown (a) in mixture and monoculture, (b) at four densities, (c) two watering levels, and (d) with permeable vs. non-permeable soil dividers, to study root proliferation responses to competition. Results of field experiment 1 showed that the population aboveground biomass (AGB) had increased, while belowground biomass had decreased over the course of breeding, so that the root to shoot ratio (R/S) was negatively correlated with the release year of the cultivar. The landrace had stronger competitiveness than the modern cultivar in the field experiment 2. There was clear evidence of root proliferation and a resultant reduction in AGB in response to neighboring roots in the greenhouse experiment, and the modern variety showed less root proliferation in response to neighbors. We conclude that the newer cultivar was a weaker competitor but higher-yielding in two ways: (1) it had higher reproductive effort and therefore less allocation to structures that increase competitive ability, and (2) it had reduced root proliferation in response to the roots of neighboring plants. Our results show that wheat plants change their biomass allocation in response to resource levels and the presence of neighboring roots. The presence of root proliferation in the modern cultivar, albeit less than in the landrace, suggests that further increases in yield via group selection are possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a historical account of the emergence of crop ecology, a precursor of modern agroecology, in the twentieth century. It focuses on the transnational career of agronomist Ioannis Papadakis, a founding figure in this scientific discipline, while contextualizing his work as part of broader state-led projects of agricultural modernization in Europe and Latin America. This study has two implications concerning the history of agroecology. First, that agricultural productivism and a cosmopolitan outlook on plant breeding, often considered to be at odds with agroecology's principles, were in fact necessary elements for the emergence of crop ecology, and therefore of agroecological thought more generally. Second, we argue that the excesses of the Green Revolution, against which agroecology reacted in the last decades of the twentieth century, did not just stem from a disregard for the agricultural knowledge of indigenous peasants. They also resulted from the marginalization of intellectual dispositions that had taken shape in peripheral areas within the global geography of scientific production. A third implication, specific to the history of Greek agriculture, is that the claim that interwar Greece's rural economy failed to substantially develop needs to be nuanced when the priorities of Greek agronomists are taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of agriculture is to optimize the population yield, but natural selection has produced active competition among plants, which decreases population performance. Therefore, cultivar breeding should be based on group selection, increasing yield by weakening individual competitive responses. We hypothesize that this has occurred inadvertently to some degree, so modern cultivars have weakened competitive traits and responses, such as reduced root proliferation in response to neighboring roots. We conducted a field experiment with eight cultivars of spring wheat that have been released over the last hundred years, which we grew at two densities. Two contrasting wheat cultivars, a landrace and a modern cultivar, were used in a second field experiment on competition within and between the two cultivars to quantify their competitiveness. Finally, a greenhouse experiment was conducted with these two cultivars gown (a) in mixture and monoculture, (b) at four densities, (c) two watering levels, and (d) with permeable vs. non-permeable soil dividers, to study root proliferation responses to competition. Results of field experiment 1 showed that the population aboveground biomass (AGB) had increased, while belowground biomass had decreased over the course of breeding, so that the root to shoot ratio (R/S) was negatively correlated with the release year of the cultivar. The landrace had stronger competitiveness than the modern cultivar in the field experiment 2. There was clear evidence of root proliferation and a resultant reduction in AGB in response to neighboring roots in the greenhouse experiment, and the modern variety showed less root proliferation in response to neighbors. We conclude that the newer cultivar was a weaker competitor but higher-yielding in two ways: (1) it had higher reproductive effort and therefore less allocation to structures that increase competitive ability, and (2) it had reduced root proliferation in response to the roots of neighboring plants. Our results show that wheat plants change their biomass allocation in response to resource levels and the presence of neighboring roots. The presence of root proliferation in the modern cultivar, albeit less than in the landrace, suggests that further increases in yield via group selection are possible.

The reduction of row spacing and increase of crop population density are important tools for maximizing crop yield. For this strategy to be effective, the crop population should not create intraspecific crop competition that penalizes yield. Thus, planting arrangements that increase light interception throughout the canopy without increasing row spacing might be needed to maintain yield. In this study, heterogeneous planting arrangements on evenly spaced rows were analyzed for maize (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Each crop had four planting arrangements: (1) normal density in all rows, considered the control, (2) doubled density in all rows, (3) a sequential arrangement of normal and tripled densities (each in every other row; NTNT), and (4) normal-tripled-tripled-normal (NTTN). Maize and cotton did not exhibit changes in growth and architecture when comparing uniform and variable planting arrangements. Soybeans were more adaptable and increased biomass production by 44% to 45% in variable arrangements. None of the crops showed differences in yield due to planting arrangement, so the use of rows with different densities might not be needed when using high densities to maximize yield.

Jordan suffers from drought and depletion of water resources. In-field crop management, the issue of irrigation scheduling is important and influential. In this research note, a simple method was developed for scheduling surface irrigation of field crops based on inputs of crop ecology, effective root depth, soil texture, soil hydrology, and logical mathematics. It was concluded that the science of mathematics has succeeded to meet academic irrigation scheduling in terms of surface irrigation for field crops based on both soil hydrological and physical traits. Extension scholar has a decision to choose mathematical irrigation model depends on the traditional inputs or updating the model by searching for renewable inputs such as different varieties root depths, optimum row spacing of each crop, drip irrigation mathematical modelling, and digital sensing. In both cases, the input related to the effective root depth is a major and basic factor in mathematical irrigation scheduling. It is, therefore, recommendable that extension research-based systems should focus on basic mathematics to capacitate the complementary role of academics, research, and extension in irrigation modelling, and rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allotment gardens (AGs) serve various socio-cultural, ecological and economic functions, mostly for the urban community, and they also provide agricultural produce for their users. German and Polish legislation includes this function in the definitions regulating allotment gardening. The article aims to compare the legal regulations for allotment gardening in operation in Germany and Poland. This study analyses legal acts concerning the development and functioning of allotments, since they may greatly influence their production function. Moreover, field research and structured interviews were carried out and, as a result, the collected data were contrasted with the actual state of development of selected allotments. The study shows that some of the provisions of legal acts, both German and Polish, are not strictly adhered to by the users. Also, the analysis of use of allotments in both countries reveals the strong influence of the present legal norms. The regulations concerning allotment gardening in Germany are conducive to preserving plant cultivation, while in Poland unclear provisions on the way in which crop cultivation is to be developed have led to a replacement of the farming function by recreational and residential uses. It is necessary, then, to maintain and observe the existing regulations in Germany. In Poland, on the other hand, there is a strong need for a regulation at the national level which would specify the principles regarding the obligatory use of part of a plot for food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agricultura Sociedad y Desarrollo is the property of Colegio de Postgraduados 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.)

Five cotton cultivars and their parents were tested for induction of germination of Orobanche cumana Wallr. (sunflower broomrape) seeds in pot and field experiments. Germination rates induced by cotton root extracts were the highest followed by stem extracts then leaf extracts. Cotton seedlings at the six-leaf stage induced higher germination than seedling at the two- and four-leaf stage, in all five cotton cultivars and their parents. In the field, the highest concentration of cotton root extracts gave the highest germination rate of O. cumana, and the lowest concentration of cotton root extracts gave the lowest germination rate. Methanol extracts of cotton rhizosphere soil gave the highest germination of O. cumana. In general, the root, stem and leaf extracts were more active at the six-leaf stage than other seedling stages. In conclusion, extracts of cotton rhizosphere soil and tissues have high activity in the seedling stage. Extracts of cotton across the whole growing season were able to induce O. cumana germination but displayed significant cultivar interactions.

Plant diversity fosters productivity in natural ecosystems. Biodiversity effects might increase agricultural yields at no cost in additional inputs. However, the effects of diversity on crop assemblages are inconsistent, probably because crops and wild plants differ in a range of traits relevant to plant–plant interactions. We tested whether domestication has changed the potential of crop mixtures to over‐yield by comparing the performance and traits of major crop species and those of their wild progenitors under varying levels of diversity. We found stronger biodiversity effects in mixtures of wild progenitors, due to larger selection effects. Variation in selection effects was partly explained by within‐mixture differences in leaf size. Our results indicate that domestication might disrupt the ability of crops to benefit from diverse neighbourhoods via reduced trait variance. These results highlight potential limitations of current crop mixtures to over‐yield and the potential of breeding to re‐establish variance and increase mixture performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The role of subsoil to store stable carbon (C) has become an important research topic in recent decades. In doing so, pools of subsoil C are compared to surface soil. The present study identified differences in mineral associated C (as separated by density fractionation) and aggregate occluded C in surface and subsurface soils. It also considered the impact of submerged rice as well as upland non-rice ecology on soil C stability. Results indicated that subsoil had a significantly greater amount of soil microaggregates as well as microaggregates within macroaggregates compared to surface soils. Subsequently, subsoil also had higher microaggregate occluded C, inaccessible to microorganisms. The higher 'ratio of C present in the heavy density fraction with C present in bulk soils' suggested that more C was strongly associated with the subsoil mineral fraction. Besides, spectroscopic analysis of functional groups indicated higher stability of subsoil aggregate occluded C than the aggregate C of surface soils. Summarily, results indicated that subsoil is a potential niche for recalcitrant C storage. Contrariwise, submerged rice ecology resulted in marginally higher soil aggregation compared to upland non-rice soils. Crop ecology did not influence aggregate occluded C dynamics and mineral-C association. As soil physical and aggregation dynamics differ substantively in puddled rice soils and upland non-rice soils, more research is warranted before making a strong conclusion. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • C pools were studied for surface and subsoils of rice and non-rice ecologies. • Microaggregate formation and microaggregate occluded C were higher in subsoil. • Spectroscopic study inferred higher stability of subsoil aggregate occluded C. • Recalcitrant subsoil C was further confirmed by high soil mineral-C association. • No decisive outcome confirmed the impact of crop ecology on C stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The ecological processes on wetlands are crucial for supporting and enhancing agricultural land use planning. • Agricultural drainage affect the health of wetland ecosystems. • Determining crop yield estimates for wetland basin is crucial for both economy and ecology. Abstract This research aims to develop a decision support system based on the conservation of biotopes within a Mediterranean agricultural landscape through the optimization of agricultural productivity. The first stage of this research includes mapping crop patterns using medium-resolution satellite sensor data recorded by LANDSAT and Sentinel-2 over Lower Seyhan Plain (LSP) located at the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey between 2010 and 2016. In the second stage, crop productivity of three major crops namely winter wheat, corn, and cotton derived from image classification was modelled spatially and temporally through the CropSyst model. Additionally, the model was also revealed irrigation return flow from the drainage and the related N load. In the last stage, conservation principles and policies were recommended to diminish the detrimental impacts of agricultural fertilizer loads to the biotopes through drainage channels. The model results indicated that crop productivity of wheat, cotton, first crop corn, and second crop corn 21%, 28%, 47%, and 4% of total production in LSP, respectively. The average annual crop production of the wetlands region was 161,548 tons and equal to 16,5% of the total plain area. The largest amount of drainage water comes from cotton and second crop corn cultivation; the smallest amount comes from wheat and first crop corn cultivation. The largest amount of nitrogen remaining within the system was from second-crop corn, whereas, the smallest amount from wheat. It can be concluded that nitrogen fertilizer should be applied according to the soil characteristics, reduced by 5% for wheat, 10% for first crop corn, and 50% for second crop corn. As a result of this reduction fertilizer uptake efficiency will increase and N load to the wetlands will decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased plant genotypic diversity in crop fields can promote ecosystem services including pest control, but understanding of mechanisms behind herbivore population responses to cultivar mixtures is limited. We studied aphid settling on barley plants exposed to volatiles from different cultivars, aphid population development in monocultures and two‐cultivar mixtures, and differences in volatile composition between studied cultivars. Aphid responses to one cultivar in a mixture were neighbor‐specific and this was more important for pest suppression than the overall mixture effect, aphid colonization patterns, or natural enemy abundance. Aphid populations decreased most in a mixture where both cultivars showed a reduced aphid–plant acceptance after reciprocal volatile exposure in the laboratory, and reduced population growth compared to monocultures in the field. Our findings suggest that herbivore population responses to crop genotypic diversity can depend on plant–plant volatile interactions, which can lead to changes in herbivore response to individual cultivars in a mixture, resulting in slower population growth. The impact of plant–plant interaction through volatiles on associated herbivore species is rarely considered, but improved understanding of these mechanisms would advance our understanding of the ecological consequences of biodiversity and guide development of sustainable agricultural practices. Combining cultivars in mixtures based on how they interact with each other is a promising strategy for sustainable pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the variability of yield of the three main crop cultures in the Khakassia Republic: spring wheat, spring barley, and oats. In terms of yield values, variability characteristics, and climatic response, the agricultural territory of Khakassia can be divided into three zones: (1) the Northern Zone, where crops yield has a high positive response to the amount of precipitation, May-July, and a moderately negative one to the temperatures of the same period; (2) the Central Zone, where crops yield depends mainly on temperatures; and (3) the Southern Zone, where climate has the least expressed impact on yield. The dominant pattern in the crops yield is caused by water stress during periods of high temperatures and low moisture supply with heat stress as additional reason. Differences between zones are due to combinations of temperature latitudinal gradient, precipitation altitudinal gradient, and the presence of a well-developed hydrological network and the irrigational system as moisture sources in the Central Zone. More detailed analysis shows differences in the climatic sensitivity of crops during phases of their vegetative growth and grain development and, to a lesser extent, during harvesting period. Multifactor linear regression models were constructed to estimate climate- and autocorrelation-induced variability of the crops yield. These models allowed prediction of the possibility of yield decreasing by at least 2-11% in the next decade due to increasing of the regional summer temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) is a perennial grass that is being domesticated and improved for use as a grain crop. As a perennial grain crop, intermediate wheatgrass has the potential to produce economically viable, food‐grade grain while providing environmental benefits such as reduced erosion and nitrate leaching. To guide agronomic activities for this new crop, more information on intermediate wheatgrass growth and development is needed. We sampled plants every 3–5 days throughout the growing season at three environments to measure growth and development in response to accumulating growing degree days (GDD). A numerical growth index was used to quantify morphological development. Growth index, plant height, biomass, height of the tallest node, and biomass partitioning to leaf, stem, and inflorescence were modelled as a function of GDD. We predicted dates (in GDD and day of the year) for critical morphological events as they relate to grain crop production using model equations. The fraction of total biomass allocated to leaves decreased and stems increased in response to GDD, and both components represented equal proportions of aboveground biomass at plant maturity. Growth and development was similar across environments, but variation in yield components (e.g., 50 seed weight, seed mass inflorescence−1) was observed. Our results provide the first quantification of growth and development of intermediate wheatgrass, and have application to growers seeking to determine optimal timing of agronomic practices, as well as crop modellers working to integrate new crops into simulation models. As intermediate wheatgrass expands as a perennial grain crop, growth and development should be measured in a broader range of temperature and precipitation conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the quick upgrading and improvement of SAR sensors provide beneficial complements for the traditional optical remote sensing in the aspects of theory, technology and data. In this paper, Sentinel-1A SAR data and GF-1 optical data were selected for image fusion, and more emphases were put on the dryland crop classification under a complex crop planting structure, regarding corn and cotton as the research objects. Considering the differences among various data fusion methods, the principal component analysis (PCA), Gram-Schmidt (GS), Brovey and wavelet transform (WT) methods were compared with each other, and the GS and Brovey methods were proved to be more applicable in the study area. Then, the classification was conducted based on the object-oriented technique process. And for the GS, Brovey fusion images and GF-1 optical image, the nearest neighbour algorithm was adopted to realize the supervised classification with the same training samples. Based on the sample plots in the study area, the accuracy assessment was conducted subsequently. The values of overall accuracy and kappa coefficient of fusion images were all higher than those of GF-1 optical image, and GS method performed better than Brovey method. In particular, the overall accuracy of GS fusion image was 79.8%, and the Kappa coefficient was 0.644. Thus, the results showed that GS and Brovey fusion images were superior to optical images for dryland crop classification. This study suggests that the fusion of SAR and optical images is reliable for dryland crop classification under a complex crop planting structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate crops classification remains a challenging task due to the same crop with different spectra and different crops with same spectrum phenomenon. Recently, UAV-based remote sensing approach gains popularity not only for its high spatial and temporal resolution, but also for its ability to obtain spectraand spatial data at the same time. This paper focus on how to take full advantages of spatial and spectrum features to improve crops classification accuracy, based on an UAV platform equipped with a general digital camera. Texture and spatial features extracted from the RGB orthoimage and the digital surface model of the monitoring area are analysed and integrated within a SVM classification framework. Extensive experiences results indicate that the overall classification accuracy is drastically improved from 72.9% to 94.5% when the spatial features are combined together, which verified the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric deposition has become one of the main sources of heavy metals in crops in developed and industrial zones in China for the past several years. However, lack of data of the agro-ecosystems on the vast areas of China makes it difficult to assess the impacts of air pollution on the heavy metal accumulation in crops. In this study, with deposit samples from 67 sites located at different agro-ecosystems (typical, factory nearby, town nearby, roadside, and remote) of four natural regions [Huanghuai (HH), Southeast (SE), Southwest (SW) and upper-mid Yangzi River (Up-mid YR)], atmospheric heavy metal deposition in agro-ecosystems on a large scale in China was studied. The results showed that during the growing season, the deposition fluxes of Cr, Ni, As, Cd, and Pb in typical agro-ecosystems were 0.60–36.86, 0.65–25.37, 0.05–8.88, 0.12–5.81, and 0.43–35.63 μg m−2 day−1, respectively, which varied greatly between the four different regions. The average deposition fluxes of Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb in the HH region, as well as the fluxes of As in the SW region, were significantly higher than those in the SE region. Heavy metal deposition rates among agro-ecosystems were very similar, except for the sites around cement factory in flat HH region. In mountainous SW region, however, deposition rates varied widely with sites nearby towns relatively higher and remote regions much lower. Higher correlation coefficients were observed between Cr, As, Pb, and Ni deposition rates, suggesting that they had similar sources. Samples from the SW and SE regions exhibited higher 207Pb/206Pb and 208Pb/206Pb ratios than those from the HH and Up-mid YR regions. Airborne Pb in SW agro-ecosystems were mainly derived from vehicle exhaust and local smelting, whereas that in the HH region from burning of northern Chinese coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the Midwestern USA ranks among the world’s most important corn-soybean production regions, the area also produces a variety of high-value specialty crops. These crops are an important component of the region’s rural economy with an estimated value of $1.8 billion in 2012. More profitable per-acre than many row crops, specialty crops also have higher production-related risks. They are generally more sensitive to climatic stressors and require more comprehensive management compared to traditional row crops. Temperature and precipitation fluctuations across the Midwest directly impact specialty crop production quantity and quality and indirectly influence the timing of crucial farm operations and the economic impacts of pests, weeds, and diseases. Increasingly variable weather and climate change pose a serious threat to specialty crop production in the Midwest. In this article, we assess how climate variability and observed climatic trends are impacting Midwestern specialty crop production using USDA Risk Management Agency data. In addition, we review current trends in grower perceptions of risks associated with a changing climate and assess sustainable adaptation strategies. Our results indicate that weather-induced losses vary by state with excessive moisture resulting in the highest total number of claims across all Midwestern states followed by freeze and drought events. Overall, specialty crop growers are aware of the increased production risk under a changing climate and have identified the need for crop-specific weather, production, and financial risk management tools and increased crop insurance coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximum perennial ryegrass seed production potential is substantially greater than harvested yields with harvested yields representing only 20% of calculated potential. Similar to wheat, maize and other agriculturally important crops, seed yield is highly dependent on a number of interacting seed yield components. This research was performed to apply and describe path analysis of perennial ryegrass seed yield components in relation to harvested seed yields. Utilising extensive yield components which included subdividing reproductive inflorescences into five size categories, path analysis was undertaken assuming a unidirectional causal-admissible relationship between seed yield components and harvested seed yield in six commercial seed production fields. Both spikelets per inflorescence and florets per spikelet had a significant ( p < .05) direct effect on the overall seed yield; however, total path correlation coefficients showed that inflorescence size had the largest positive influence on seed yield via its indirect effects on other seed yield components. Our results will allow seed producers, seed production researchers and plant breeders alike to more efficiently increase harvested seed yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cash crop expansion has become a global land use issue in recent decades. While the enlarging cash crop cultivation brings promising profitability, it can impair the delivery of various ecosystem services, with a risk of threat to sustainability and human well being. In order to make well-informed land use policy decisions, it requires elaborate efforts to characterize the trade-off between the benefit and cost of cash crop cultivation. This paper focuses on the enlarging tea cultivation in subtropical China, using a case of Anji County. We first monitor tea expansion from 1985 to 2016 based on time-series Landsat imageries, and then analyze the subsequent changes of water conservation service through an in-field survey of soil loss. Monetary approach is finally employed to evaluate the trade-off between economic benefit and ecological cost associated with the growing age of tea plantations. Results show that tea plantations expanded rapidly from 1985 to 2016 in Anji County. Delivery of water conservation service has been significantly impaired by the conversion from natural forests to tea plantations, but it can be gradually improved during the long rotational life cycles of tea plantations. For a given plot (1 ha at moderate slope), in theory, the economic benefit and ecological cost exhibit opposite trend associated the growing age of tea plantations, and an equilibrium point is approximately achieved at the 12-year growing age. In reality, ecological cost exceeds the economic benefit throughout the study period in Anji County. More specifically, the net difference increases from 11575 Yuan in 1985–1469167 Yuan in 2016. It denotes that economic benefit fails to compromise the ecological cost of the enlarging tea cultivation in Anji County. Conflicting land use policies (ecological conservation vs cash cropping promotion) and ‘household contract responsibility’ system should account for the unbalanced relationship between economic benefit and ecological conservation. We finally propose four major options towards the win–win possibilities between economic gain and ecological conservation associated with tea cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate warming increases the active accumulated temperature (AAT) of crops and may change crop structures and patterns. Climate warming along with farmland responses has combined consequences for watershed hydrological indicators, which would be expected to exhibit different temporal-spatial patterns. In our study we investigate the combined impacts of increased temperature and shifted farmland on the hydrological features in middle-high latitude agricultural watersheds. The AAT responses in latitudinal and altitudinal directions were revealed by using an agro-climate model under different warming scenarios (△T = 0.1 °C is applied to the interval from 0.7 °C to 1.5 °C). Then, the spatial distributions of dryland shifting to paddy land were determined considering △AAT. For every 1 °C increase in average annual temperature, the boundary for planting paddy fields will shift northward by approximately 160 km and upward in the altitudinal direction by 180 m. Increasing temperature values and the new crop distributions were imported into the SWAT model, which quantified the temporal (monthly and yearly) and spatial changes of runoff and actual evapotranspiration (ET). Annual runoff decreased at a rate of 9.5 mm/°C, and annual ET increased at a rate of 7 mm/°C under climate warming combined with shifted farmlands. Combined impacts increased runoff in February, March and September, and decreased runoff from April to July. ET increased from March to July and decreased in August and September. The comparison of spatial water resource responses indicated that lower altitude and lower latitude areas experienced larger changes in runoff and ET than was the case for higher altitude and higher latitude areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization has resulted in often unplanned increases in population, and food demand in cities. Historically, hinterlands to these cities have acted as breadbaskets producing food to the urban residents. Accordingly, a large amount of available freshwater has been needed to support these croplands. However, the rapid expansion of cities in developing countries has significantly changed both the croplands around cities and the water demand. It is thus important to quantitatively investigate the water-food nexus of cities related to the changing hinterland agriculture. Water footprint is an indicator reflecting the human impact on water. In this study, we quantified both the blue and green water footprint of major crop products in Suzhou city, China using a bottom-up accounting method. A novel decomposition analysis was carried out with a Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method to study the driving forces that changed the water footprint during the period 2001–2010. The drivers were designed to reflect the factors related to farmland, such as yield and crop area. This is different from previous decomposition analyses, which focused on economic factors such as GDP. The results show that the crop water footprint of Suzhou city has seen a general decreasing trend between 2001 and 2010. The decomposition analysis showed that the decline of crop area was the main driver that decreased the crop water footprint, followed by the virtual water content (water consumption per unit of production). In contrast the changes of crop combination and yield contributed to an increase in the crop water footprint. Although the shrink of urban croplands decreased the water footprint of crop products. Cities’ increasing demand for food will increase the crop water footprint of consumption. This will increase the dependence of cities on external water footprint of crop products (water embodied in imported crops), which may impact upon food security in cities in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of its high abundance and long lifetime compared to other volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere, methanol (CH 3 OH) plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry. Even though agricultural crops are believed to be a large source of methanol, emission inventories from those crop ecosystems are still scarce and little information is available concerning the driving mechanisms for methanol production and emission at different developmental stages of the plants/leaves. This study focuses on methanol emissions from Zea mays L. (maize), which is vastly cultivated throughout the world. Flux measurements have been performed on young plants, almost fully grown leaves and fully grown leaves, enclosed in dynamic flow-through enclosures in a temperature and light-controlled environmental chamber. Strong differences in the response of methanol emissions to variations in PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) were noticed between the young plants, almost fully grown and fully grown leaves. Moreover, young maize plants showed strong emission peaks following light/dark transitions, for which guttation can be put forward as a hypothetical pathway. Young plants’ average daily methanol fluxes exceeded by a factor of 17 those of almost fully grown and fully grown leaves when expressed per leaf area. Absolute flux values were found to be smaller than those reported in the literature, but in fair agreement with recent ecosystem scale flux measurements above a maize field of the same variety as used in this study. The flux measurements in the current study were used to evaluate the dynamic biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emission model of Niinemets and Reichstein. The modelled and measured fluxes from almost fully grown leaves were found to agree best when a temperature and light dependent methanol production function was applied. However, this production function turned out not to be suitable for modelling the observed emissions from the young plants, indicating that production must be influenced by (an) other parameter(s). This study clearly shows that methanol emission from maize is complex, especially for young plants. Additional studies at different developmental stages of other crop species will be required in order to develop accurate methanol emission algorithms for agricultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic wastes contain significant amounts of organic matter and nutrients and their recycling into agriculture can potentially contribute to closing the natural ecological cycle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the improvement in overall soil fertility and soil nitrogen (N) supply capacity in a long-term field experiment with repeated application of different urban and agricultural organic waste amendments. Soils from the CRUCIAL field experiment in Denmark, in which diverse types of urban (human urine, sewage sludge, composted household waste) and agricultural wastes (cattle slurry, farmyard manure and deep litter) have been applied annually for 11 years (at normal and accelerated rates), were used to estimate the effects of the different qualities of organic wastes on soil fertility, N turnover and crop N availability. Soil physical fertility parameters, such as water retention and total carbon, improved with the application of organic wastes. Cattle manure, sewage sludge and composted household waste in single or accelerated rates of application increased soil total N by 13–131% compared to the mineral fertiliser NPK treatment. The highest net N mineralisation capacity was observed for the accelerated rate of composted household waste, followed by all the other organic waste amendments and with the lowest net N mineralisation in the NPK-only and the unfertilised treatments. In soils amended for 11 years with NPK, human urine, cattle slurry, sewage sludge, cattle farmyard manure, cattle deep litter and composted household waste, the apparent crop N-use efficiencies (NUE, compared to unfertilised control) were 88, 73, 55, 51, 21, 16 and 11%, respectively. The continuous application of organic wastes generally increased NUE in the last year in comparison with the first year, except for composted household waste where N-use efficiency declined from 27 to 11%. The corresponding long-term mineral fertiliser N-equivalent (MFE) value ranged between 82% (human urine) and 13% (compost). Overall, continuous application of organic wastes improved soil fertility, with low C:N waste improving soil N availability, crop uptake and NUE the most, while the most C-rich and high C:N organic wastes (cattle deep litter and household waste compost) had a negative effect on crop NUE over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is mounting evidence that non-crop vegetation can promote natural enemies of crop pests but most studies use only one or a few approaches to explore key processes. Here we integrate field sampling, insect marking, insecticide disruption, and molecular gut content analysis to explore the potential value of non-crop habitats to predators of brassica pests in temperate Australia. Twelve monthly surveys of 13 farms established that an exotic ladybird ( Hippodamia variegata ) and a native lacewing ( Micromus tasmaniae ) were numerically dominant predatory arthropod species in brassica crops and present in adjacent perennial pasture, bushland and riparian vegetation. We applied dye to non-crop vegetation on three sites and subsequently sampled predators from adjacent brassica crops. Relatively large proportions of H. variegata and M. tasmaniae were marked, especially close to the non-crop vegetation though also extending 100 m into the crop, indicating predator immigration into the crop. In a third study, predators were monitored in three brassica crops after the host farmers sprayed insecticide to control what they considered to be excessive pest densities. Within two days, H. variegata and M. tasmaniae adults were present in the crops and numbers increased significantly over 12 days showing rapid crop recolonisation. Finally, molecular gut analysis indicated large proportions of both predator species sampled from non-crop (non-brassica) vegetation contained DNA of brassica-specialist herbivores suggesting predator movement from crop to non-crop vegetation, possibly to access nectar. Findings demonstrate H. variegata and M. tasmaniae are likely to be important predators of brassica pests in the region and expand our understanding of the significance of non-crop vegetation for coccinellids and lacewings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periphyton is widely distributed in paddy fields and its interactions with paddy soil and rice growth have been reported rarely. In this study, model paddy ecosystems with different additional soil substrates were simulated under controlled conditions to investigate the effects of periphyton on rice seed germination and seedling growth. Results show that the selected soil substrates had significant effects on the metabolic activities and growth of periphyton in paddy fields. The addition of straw to soil enhances but the addition of biochar leads to attenuation of periphyton growth. The presence of periphyton in the paddy system, especially with straw in soil greatly increased the germination index of rice seed (by maximally 21%). However, the biochar treatment in the presence of periphyton was detrimental for the seed vitality with a decrease of 30%. As a result, the periphyton cover on paddy soil surface significantly inhibited the growth of rice seedling, including rice height, leaf width and biomass. To summarize, this study indicates that the presence of periphyton during seed germination period was detrimental for rice growth, but could be used to control the weed growth. Thus, this study provided insight into understanding the periphyton-plant relationships with different soil-substrates and also new approaches to controlling weeds in paddy fields by regulating the growth of periphyton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive variation in gross primary production (GPP) among growing seasons in rice ecosystems, which has previously been reported, may be caused by a number of biophysical factors. Two field-based studies, one on Oryza sativa L. cv. Odae in the Haean Basin and the other on O. sativa L. cv. Unkwang in Gwangju, South Korea, were conducted to evaluate physiological regulators of the ecosystem. A literature survey across climatic zones was additionally undertaken to unravel the roles of relevant climatic factors. The results from the two field studies showed that the correlation between the fraction of canopy light interception (fPAR) and leaf area index (LAI) across all data sets exhibited a common trajectory. Analogous values of canopy light use efficiency (LUE c ) at similar growth stages of the two rice crops, but, clearly varietal and nutritional differences in LAI development were present, which implies that temporal differences in carbon gain capacity are related to modifications in LAI, thereby influencing fPAR. The literature survey revealed that most variations in growing season GPP can be explained by changes in daily solar radiation (SR) which is negatively correlated to the proportion of rainy days; this is supported by the two field studies. In the context of temperature warming, a reduction in SR noticeably exacerbated impacts on photosynthetic productivity. Moreover, global values of maximum carbon gain capacity over the growing season (GPP day-max ) in field-cultivated rice were significantly affected by SR. We suggest that: 1) temporal differences in carbon gain capacity and variations in GPP day-max are jointly driven by LAI development, which varies according to nutrient availability and rice genotypes, and SR, especially at the reproductive stage; 2) although photosynthetic productivity of rice ecosystems is vulnerable to temperature increasing and prolonged growth duration contributes to larger photosynthetic productivity, its fluctuations across growing seasons are profoundly mediated by SR, which statistically correlates with the amount of precipitation; and 3) the important regulating implication of SR changes is attributed to the structure rather than physiology dependent light sensitivity of canopy photosynthesis at the reproductive stage. Further researches regarding interactions among climate change, phenology and canopy carbon dynamics are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-year field experiment was conducted in wheat ecosystem to assess the key soil biological characteristics in inceptisols of northeastern region of India. Nine treatments using organic inputs (farmyard manure and vermicompost) and mineral fertilizers were applied by modulating the doses of organics and mineral N fertilizer. Soil enzymes (urease, phosphatase, dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and arylsulphatase), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), bacteria and fungi populations were measured before seed sowing (GS1), at flowering stage (GS2) and after harvest (GS3) of wheat, whereas total organic carbon (TOC) was studied at GS3. GS2recorded significantly higher soil enzyme activities, except FDA, which increased considerably at GS3. Enzyme activities, available N and TOC significantly (p ≤ 0.05) enhanced with application of organic inputs even with reduced (50%) mineral N. Except urease and phosphatase, other enzymes did not respond significantly to mineral fertilization. Vermicompost application increased mean enzyme activities, MBC, microbial growth and TOC fractions (particulate organic carbon, humic acid and fulvic acid carbon) than farmyard manure. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) positive correlations (r = 0.61–0.87) were obtained between TOC and its fractions with studied soil enzymes. Thus, in conclusion, 5 t ha–1organics incorporation (especially vermicompost) in wheat fertility programme can uphold soil biological health, reduce (50%) N application and would be a sustainable option for wheat grown in inceptisols of northeastern region of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cañahua ( Chenopodium pallidicaule) is grown in the Altiplano of Bolivia and Peru, between 3810 and 4200 m a.s.l. Rural indigenous households have cultivated the cañahua as a subsistence crop for millennia. The seeds have a high content and quality of protein. We studied the relation between the following: (i) temperature and seed germination and (ii) the effect of temperature and sowing depth on seedling emergence of five cultivars and one landrace. Three experiments were conducted as follows: (i) seeds of a cultivar were germinated in Petri dishes at six temperatures (3, 5, 10, 14, 20 and 24 °C), (ii) sown at five depths (0, 5, 10, 25 and 50 mm) in a mixed peat soil substrate at three temperatures and (iii) one landrace (Lasta) and 5 cultivars (Lasta and Saihua growth habit) were sown in 6 depth (0, 5, 10, 25, 35 and 50 mm) in a sandy loam at two temperatures (5 and 15 °C). Temperature had significantly effect on the germination percentages of the plants (P < 0.001). Seeds germinated at the lowest temperature (3 °C). The estimated base temperature was close to 0 °C. A polynomial function described well the relation between time to 50% germination ( t 50) and temperature in the interval from 3 to 24 °C resulting in a linear relationship between germination rate and temperature. Shallow sowing depth (5-25 mm) resulted in 80% germination at 15 °C. There were significant differences of emergence in relationship to burial depth (P < 0.001). Only few seedlings emerged when seeds were sown at 50 mm depth. We did not find significant differences in emergence of seedlings between Lasta and Saihua at 15 °C. Nevertheless, at 5 °C, seedlings of cañahua belonging to the Lasta growth habit form did have higher germination rate as were shown for the Kullaca cultivar and the Umacutama landrace. This may be attributed to larger seed size of these cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a large comparison of experimental and published data across a wide range of environmental conditions, a cross-over interaction of durum vs . bread wheat yield was found to be the reverse of expectations, where the former would outyield the latter under low-yielding conditions and vice-versa . In this study, we aimed to establish the physiological basis of this species cross-over interaction, analysing whether it was established before or after anthesis and to determine if it was related to differences in sink-strength. Our study indicates that the consistent species-by-environment interaction for yield is the consequence of a few traits related to sink-strength that are determined around anthesis. Thus, differences in the spike weight and N accumulated at anthesis, which produced important variations in the number of grains and presumably generated differences in sink-strength, seemed to be involved. This conclusion is supported by the strong relationship between grain yield and the biomass produced during grain filling, in addition to the fact that the variation in individual grain weight, as well as its rate or the duration of grain filling, was poorly related to yield and the post-anthesis biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing crop viruses is difficult due to complex interactions among vectors, reservoirs, and mediating factors such as land cover. Identifying the appropriate ecological neighborhood, or the spatial area in which the most influential interactions occur affecting virus epidemiology, would therefore be beneficial in exposing which of the many explanatory variables to target in the plant-pathogen system. We constructed partial least squares path models to find the neighborhood size for vectors of stylet-borne nonpersistent viruses infecting pumpkins, and compare the relative influence of within-field and extra-field land cover. Two economically important aphid-vectored viruses in the U.S. Midwest are included in these analyses: papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) and watermelon mosaic virus (WMV). In 2010 and 2011, we used commercial pumpkin fields to quantify virus infection, vector (aphid) alightment (i.e., landing rates), and within-field weed communities, and subsequently analyzed extra-field cover from 1 to 5 km concentric buffer zones within the surrounding landscape. Alightment rates of total noncolonizing vectors and the top three numerically dominant species ( Aphis craccivora Koch, Therioaphis trifolii (Monell), and Rhopalosiphum padi [L.]) were included in individual path models. Overall, we found that extra-field landscape composition had a far stronger influence on vector alightment than within-field weed cover; this pattern was consistent for seven of eight statistical models. In one exception, weed cover influenced alightment of the putative PRSV vector, A. craccivora, while surrounding landscape had no effect. In this case, weed coverage and vector alightment were inversely related, demonstrating that aphids were less likely to land in weed-infested fields. However, weed cover did not predict alightment of T. trifolii or total noncolonizers. The neighborhood size scales for total noncolonizers’ tended to be larger than for individual species (4–5 km), suggesting future studies of dispersal by multi-species aphid groups may benefit from an extended gradient. On balance, our results indicate that while surrounding land cover interactions are complex, they exert greater influence over vector dispersal than within-field weed cover, calling into question whether management of local weeds is an effective method of crop virus prevention in some systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusion of a rye cover crop into maize-based systems can offer environmental benefits, but adoption of the practice in the US Midwest is still low. This is related to the possible risk of reduced maize yields following rye. We hypothesized that the magnitude of rye effects on maize yields and drainage water and nitrate (NO 3 )-N losses would be proportionally related to rye biomass. We tested this hypothesis by analyzing data from continuous maize treatments (with and without cover crop) in Iowa, US, that were fertilized following recommendations from late spring nitrate tests. Dataset included measurements (2009–2014) of soil water and temperature, drainage water and NO 3 -N losses, soil NO 3 , rye shoot and root biomass and C:N, and maize yields. We supplemented our analysis with a literature review and the use of a cropping systems model (APSIM) to calculate trade-offs in system performance characteristics. Experimentally, rye cover crop reduced drainage by 12% and NO 3 -N losses by 20% (or 31% per unit of N applied), and maize yields by 6%. We also found minimal effects on soil temperature, water deficits that reduced yields only during drought years (2012 and 2013), and lower NO 3 -N losses that were related to reduced NO 3 -N concentrations in drainage. Results also revealed a linear relationship between drainage and precipitation ( r 2 = 0.96), and rye transpiration and shoot biomass ( r 2 = 0.84). Model scenario analysis (4 termination dates × 30 years) indicated that rye cover crop decreases NO 3 -N losses (-25.5 ± 26%) but does not always reduce drainage water (-3.9 ± 13%) or grain yields (-1.84 ± 6%), which is consistent with experimental and literature results. However, analysis of the synthesized measured and simulated dataset do not support a strong relationship between these variables and rye biomass. These results are valuable for decision-making and add new fundamental knowledge on rye water and nitrogen use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different paddy cultivation methods were introduced to offset the heavy cost of traditional paddy cultivation by minimizing the use of fertilizers, pesticides and water utility by scientific management practices thereby increasing the profits of the farmers. As the agricultural land is shrinking and water availability for irrigation is declining with time. Rice consumes 3000-5000 litres of water for producing one kg of rice depending on different methods of cultivation. To find out efficient resource utilization methods, a long term investigation was carried out on conservation agriculture in paddy eco-systems at Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Kathalagere, Tq. Channagiri, Davanagere District, Karnataka, India from 2009 to 2013. Among different methods of rice cultivation, system of rice intensification (SRI) paddy cultivation has recorded highest grain yield of (5471 kg/ha), water use efficiency (101.8 kg/ha-cm) and 40.15% water saving over normal/traditional method of rice cultivation. Similarly, it was recorded 14.29% higher grain yield and additional returns of Rs. 23431 over normal/traditional rice cultivation. Adoption of drum seeder has given 6.6% higher grain yield with an additional return of Rs. 20168 and 2.70% water saving over normal planting. Among different rice cultivation methods, highest water saving was recorded in Aerobic method of paddy cultivation (50.05%). Based on the above results, we conclude that adoption of system of rice intensification (SRI) showed higher water use efficiency, productivity and profitability and it was found to be the best method of effective utilization of available natural resource (water) in paddy cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research is to classify agricultural land use in a region of the Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) biome using a time series of Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from Landsat 8 OLI. Phenological metrics extracted from EVI time series, a Random Forest algorithm and data mining techniques are used in the process of classification. The area of study is a region in the Cerrado in a region of the municipality of Casa Branca, São Paulo state, Brazil. The results are encouraging and demonstrate the potential of phenological parameters obtained from time series of OLI vegetation indices for agricultural land use classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife can cause serious crop damages, and factorial analyses focusing ecological aspects have been conducted to resolve this problem. However, ethological perspectives should also be considered. Individuals often show consistent biases in behaviour-so-called personality; e.g., boldness may cause to intrude into a farmland. Here, we hypothesized that boldness-shyness traits in wildlife could be managed through selective harvesting on the base of personality traits. We considered several scenarios involving the selective harvesting and fencing as means to prevent crop damage, and assessed their effects on the average boldness and population size using simulation models, assuming that bold individuals tend to enter farmlands, while shy ones prefer to stay in forests. The results showed that fencing and selective harvesting in farmlands reduced both the average boldness and crop damages, while harvesting in forests caused the increase of the both. Those results came from the selective harvesting and fencing on the base of personality traits, and indicate that not only population ecology but also an ethological approach is needed for wildlife management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disposal of rice stubbles after harvest of crop remains a major concern in all rice growing areas. In lowland rice ecosystems, where sole cropping is mostly practiced, low energy in situ composting may contribute tremendously towards recycling of solid waste and long-term sustenance of soil fertility. Spraying of a bacteria, isolated and characterized for its cellulose degrading ability (CDM), was done singly or in consortium with Azospirillum sp or with Bacillus sp or with both to rice stubbles under field condition after harvest of the crop. Spraying with glyphosate, or with glyphosate and sugar significantly reduced stubble dry weight, and carbon content during the three months period. Consortium of CDM, Azospirillum sp and Bacillus sp performed better compared to the others. Further works may complement the findings of the present study into a low energy, simple and easily acceptable in situ rice stubble management technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological characteristics of wheat phytonematodes and wild-growing cereals in Uzbekistan are given in the article. During the study, 237 species of phytonematodes belonging to 2 subclasses, 8 orders, 37 families and 83 genera were found. The observed species by ecological groups were distributed as follows: pararisbionts-51 species, eusaprobes-18, devisaprobionts-63, potential parasites-84, present parasites-21 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the changes of soil respiration under increasing N fertilizer in cropland ecosystems is crucial to accurately predicting global warming. This study explored seasonal variations of soil respiration and its controlling biochemical properties under a gradient of Nitrogen addition during two consecutive winter wheat growing seasons (2013–2015). N was applied at four different levels: 0, 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha-1 year-1 (denoted as N0, N12, N18 and N24, respectively). Soil respiration exhibited significant seasonal variation and was significantly affected by soil temperature with Q10 ranging from 2.04 to 2.46 and from 1.49 to 1.53 during 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 winter wheat growing season, respectively. Soil moisture had no significant effect on soil respiration during 2013–2014 winter wheat growing season but showed a significant and negative correlation with soil respiration during 2014–2015 winter wheat growing season. Soil respiration under N24 treatment was significantly higher than N0 treatment. Averaged over the two growing seasons, N12, N18 and N24 significantly increased soil respiration by 13.4, 16.4 and 25.4% compared with N0, respectively. N addition also significantly increased easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EEG), soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, ammonium N and nitrate N contents. In addition, soil respiration was significantly and positively correlated with β-glucosidase activity, EEG, SOC, total N, ammonium N and nitrate N contents. The results indicated that high N fertilization improved soil chemical properties, but significantly increased soil respiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]