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Abstract The constant changes experienced in agricultural activities due to climate change pose a great challenge to melon production. Hence, this research examined the determinants of melon farmers’ adaptation strategies to cope with climate change hazards in southern–southern Nigeria. The research ultimately depended on primary data collected by using a set of questionnaires and interviews. The data were obtained from 260 samples retrieved from melon farmers by using multistage sampling techniques. The data were analyzed using the multivariate probit (MVP) model and partial eta squared test. The results of the MVP model showed that age (− 0.009), marital status (0.200), access to information on climate change (0.567) and crop insurance (0.214) were significant at the 0.01 level, while household size (− 0.030) was significant at the 0.05 level and determined the adoption of crop diversification. Educational level (0.012), extension contact (0.138) and access to credit (0.122) were significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.415) was significant at the 0.01 level and determined the adoption of change in planting dates. Age (− 0.010) and access to information on climate change (0.381) were significant at the 0.01 level, while sex (− 0.139), marital status (0.158) and off-farm income (− 2.3E-7) were significant at the 0.05 level and determined the adoption of mixed farming. Farming experience (0.005) is significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.529) and crop insurance (0.272) are significant at the 0.01 level and determine the adoption of drought-tolerant crop species. Access to information on climate change (0.536) is significant at the 0.01 level, indicating the adoption of improved crop species. Age (− 0.010), farm size (− 0.085) and crop insurance (0.206) were significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.353) was significant at the 0.01 level and determined the adoption of off-farm job opportunities. The study recommends the availability and accessibility of credit, climate-smart agricultural practices, and the establishment of public‒private partnerships, among others.

Background: Inadequate food intake is the most common cause of malnutrition worldwide. There is paucity of knowledge on the influence of farming systems, a proxy for contextualizing community-based food networks, and sociocultural perspectives necessary for creating impactful nutritional programs and policies for young children from infancy to early childhood in Kenya and their mothers, especially in Kenya. This study sought to evaluate nutrient intakes of young children and their mothers from Pastoral, Agro-pastoral and Mixed farming system in Kenya. Methods: Mothers and their children were recruited from households in Narok south as part of the Animal Health Innovation Study. One day multiple pass 24-h dietary recall was completed for a sample of infants 6-11 months, and toddlers aged 12-48 months (n = 161), and women of reproductive age (15-49 years) (n = 161) via face-to-face interviews with the primary caregiver. Nutrient intakes were estimated using CS Dietary Software and compared with the Adequate Intakes, Recommended Dietary Allowance and/or Estimated Average Requirement. Results: The mean intake of key nutrients varied across farming systems. Children aged 6-11 months, met the Adequate Intake and Recommended Dietary Allowance levels for protein and Vitamin A. However, deficiencies were noted in thiamine, vitamin C, vitamin B6, selenium, and niacin across different farming systems, with insufficient Iron intake, particularly in pastoral and agro-pastoral systems (3 mg/d vs. 7 mg/d and 5 mg/d vs. 7 mg/d respectively. Folate intake was significantly lower in pastoral and mixed farming systems, with levels below the recommended 100 Îg dfe/d. Calcium intake was sufficient across all farming systems, while phosphorus intake was consistently below the AI of 180 mg/d in children aged 12-48 months. In the mixed farming group, intake exceeded the Recommended Nutrient Intake for calcium, while phosphorus intake remained low across all age groups in agro-pastoral and mixed farming systems. Magnesium intake fell below AI levels in all groups (<65AI). Among women of reproductive age (15-49 years), the agro-pastoral group exhibited the highest carbohydrate intake, while the mixed farming group had the highest protein intake (51.07 ± 6.5). Women met vitamin A recommendations, with zinc, iron, and selenium intake felling below the Adequate Intake in all groups. Conclusion: While certain nutrients such as protein and vitamin A intake were met in children and mothers, deficiencies were noted in crucial nutrients like iron and folate across various farming systems. These findings underscore the importance of considering local contextual factors when designing nutrition interventions. To address nutritional disparities and improve overall health outcomes and wellbeing for children and mothers in diverse agricultural settings in Kenya, it is important to prioritize an understanding sociocultural contexts and/or regional variations in designing and implementation of targeted interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The constant changes experienced in agricultural activities due to climate change pose a great challenge to melon production. Hence, this research examined the determinants of melon farmers' adaptation strategies to cope with climate change hazards in southern–southern Nigeria. The research ultimately depended on primary data collected by using a set of questionnaires and interviews. The data were obtained from 260 samples retrieved from melon farmers by using multistage sampling techniques. The data were analyzed using the multivariate probit (MVP) model and partial eta squared test. The results of the MVP model showed that age (− 0.009), marital status (0.200), access to information on climate change (0.567) and crop insurance (0.214) were significant at the 0.01 level, while household size (− 0.030) was significant at the 0.05 level and determined the adoption of crop diversification. Educational level (0.012), extension contact (0.138) and access to credit (0.122) were significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.415) was significant at the 0.01 level and determined the adoption of change in planting dates. Age (− 0.010) and access to information on climate change (0.381) were significant at the 0.01 level, while sex (− 0.139), marital status (0.158) and off-farm income (− 2.3E-7) were significant at the 0.05 level and determined the adoption of mixed farming. Farming experience (0.005) is significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.529) and crop insurance (0.272) are significant at the 0.01 level and determine the adoption of drought-tolerant crop species. Access to information on climate change (0.536) is significant at the 0.01 level, indicating the adoption of improved crop species. Age (− 0.010), farm size (− 0.085) and crop insurance (0.206) were significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.353) was significant at the 0.01 level and determined the adoption of off-farm job opportunities. The study recommends the availability and accessibility of credit, climate-smart agricultural practices, and the establishment of public‒private partnerships, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock production plays a significant role in improving the livelihoods of poor smallholder farmer households in the Majang zone. However, despite its importance, there is limited information on husbandry practices and constraints on livestock production to design and implement effective interventions to maximize productivity. The aim of this study was to assess husbandry practices and major constraints on livestock production in the Majang zone, southwest Ethiopia. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 168 households (HHs) through a face-to-face interview from January to May 2021. The results revealed that mixed crop-livestock farming is the dominant livestock production system in the study area. The overall average herd size per household (HH) was 2.15 ± 0.11 cattle, 0.15 ± 0.01 sheep, 0.31 ± 0.09 goats, 0.10 ± 0.02 donkey, 0.04 ± 0.00 mule, 0.13 ± 0.02 horses and 0.24 ± 0.02 chickens. Overall herd size did not differ significantly by AEZ except for sheep (p

Malawi's export earnings are dominated by tobacco, accounting for over 60% of export earnings. The demand for an alternative export commodity, pigeon pea, has been rising over the past decade, especially from India. In addition to their export potential, pigeon pea is an effective cover crop to protect soil heath and productivity in the dry season. They are mostly grown in southern region on very small farms, however, there are opportunities for expansion into central region given the existence of larger farms and agroecological suitability for the crop. Currently, social norms in the central region constrain this expansion. Livestock, and goats in particular, are left to roam free in the dry season by over two-thirds of farmers, relative to only one-third in the south. This leads to significant damage to pigeon pea crops and discourages farmers from growing them and taking advantage of the increased export demand. Much land is left bare and the few farmers that do grow crops during the dry season are forced to put up fences. This study assesses ex-ante implications, especially on agroecological transformation and economic growth, of shifting local governance arrangements among farmers around keeping livestock towards controlled systems. These externalities have been understudied in the development programming, yet their impacts are substantial, especially in lower-income countries. The policy solution under study is for the local government and non-state actors to support local governance arrangements through indirect payments to agroecosystem services. These can include information campaigns on benefits of controlled livestock systems, training and subsidizing modern goat house construction and feed preservation, and contract farming and product certification for adhering to acceptable community norms. Medium-term policy interventions include varietal development of adaptable short duration pigeon pea, initiating a review of the appropriate laws, and instituting more studies to understand these community norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil management in orchards can have several economic and environmental implications. In this study, three different soil management systems were compared in a dry-farmed olive grove: conventional tillage (tillage), glyphosate-based herbicide (herbicide) and sheep grazing. The experiment lasted eleven years (2011–2022) and was carried out after a previous trial conducted on the same plot with the same treatments and duration (2001–2011). However, in the earlier trial, the herbicide and sheep grazing treatments switched positions in the plot, while the tillage treatment remained in its original place. The average total accumulated olive yields between 2011 and 2022 were 225.1, 230.9, and 245.0 kg tree−1 for the sheep grazing, tillage, and herbicide treatments, respectively. However, no significant differences were observed between the treatments. The levels of total organic carbon in the soil, measured in samples collected in the last year of the study, were 41.3, 33.7, and 37.3 g kg−1, respectively, for the same treatments. These findings indicated that the tillage treatment exhibited lower soil organic matter content and reduced bioavailability of some nutrients, which raises concerns about its sustainability. On the contrary, employing sheep grazing with an appropriate stocking rate, effectively controlling vegetation in the spring, ensured favourable soil properties and olive yields comparable to the other treatments. Moreover, the sheep grazing approach provides supplementary advantages to the farmer, including revenue from the sale of animal products and the opportunity to transition to organic farming systems, which better align with the preferences of contemporary societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundInadequate food intake is the most common cause of malnutrition worldwide. There is paucity of knowledge on the influence of farming systems, a proxy for contextualizing community-based food networks, and sociocultural perspectives necessary for creating impactful nutritional programs and policies for young children from infancy to early childhood in Kenya and their mothers, especially in Kenya. This study sought to evaluate nutrient intakes of young children and their mothers from Pastoral, Agro-pastoral and Mixed farming system in Kenya.MethodsMothers and their children were recruited from households in Narok south as part of the Animal Health Innovation Study. One day multiple pass 24-h dietary recall was completed for a sample of infants 6–11 months, and toddlers aged 12–48 months (n = 161), and women of reproductive age (15–49 years) (n = 161) via face-to-face interviews with the primary caregiver. Nutrient intakes were estimated using CS Dietary Software and compared with the Adequate Intakes, Recommended Dietary Allowance and/or Estimated Average Requirement.ResultsThe mean intake of key nutrients varied across farming systems. Children aged 6–11 months, met the Adequate Intake and Recommended Dietary Allowance levels for protein and Vitamin A. However, deficiencies were noted in thiamine, vitamin C, vitamin B6, selenium, and niacin across different farming systems, with insufficient Iron intake, particularly in pastoral and agro-pastoral systems (3 mg/d vs. 7 mg/d and 5 mg/d vs. 7 mg/d respectively. Folate intake was significantly lower in pastoral and mixed farming systems, with levels below the recommended 100 μg dfe/d. Calcium intake was sufficient across all farming systems, while phosphorus intake was consistently below the AI of 180 mg/d in children aged 12–48 months. In the mixed farming group, intake exceeded the Recommended Nutrient Intake for calcium, while phosphorus intake remained low across all age groups in agro-pastoral and mixed farming systems. Magnesium intake fell below AI levels in all groups (

The UK Government has set an ambitious target of achieving a national "net-zero" greenhouse gas economy by 2050. Agriculture is arguably placed at the heart of achieving net zero, as it plays a unique role as both a producer of GHG emissions and a sector that has the capacity via land use to capture carbon (C) when managed appropriately, thus reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Agriculture's importance, particularly in a UK-specific perspective, which is also applicable to many other temperate climate nations globally, is that the majority of land use nationwide is allocated to farming. Here, we present a systematic review based on peer-reviewed literature and relevant "grey" reports to address the question "how can the agricultural sector in the UK reduce, or offset, its direct agricultural emissions at the farm level?" We considered the implications of mitigation measures in terms of food security and import reliance, energy, environmental degradation, and value for money. We identified 52 relevant studies covering major foods produced and consumed in the UK. Our findings indicate that many mitigation measures can indeed contribute to net zero through GHG emissions reduction, offsetting, and bioenergy production, pending their uptake by farmers. While the environmental impacts of mitigation measures were covered well within the reviewed literature, corresponding implications regarding energy, food security, and farmer attitudes towards adoption received scant attention. We also provide an open-access, informative, and comprehensive dataset for agri-environment stakeholders and policymakers to identify the most promising mitigation measures. This research is of critical value to researchers, land managers, and policymakers as an interim guideline resource while more quantitative evidence becomes available through the ongoing lab-, field-, and farm-scale trials which will improve the reliability of agricultural sustainability modelling in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Paddy fields and mixed farming apply intensive agricultural cultivation, and sustainable land use causes changes in land quality, one of which affects soil chemical properties. This study aimed to compare soil chemical properties based on differences in the use of paddy fields and mixed farming in Sungai Kakap District, Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan. Research in the field in Pal IX Village, Sungai Kakap Sub-district, Kubu Raya Regency, for sampling soil samples at 0-20 cm depth. Soil analysis was conducted at the Chemistry and Soil Fertility Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanjungpura University. The results showed that the two fields, paddy fields, and mixed farming, had almost the same chemical properties in paddy fields pH, organic C, available P, cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable Ca and exchangeable Mg.

One of the key ways to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems is through diversification, taking advantage of synergies between farm enterprises. Among diversified systems, multispecies livestock farms with at least two animal enterprises have rarely been studied. We explored 95 organic farms from six countries, accounting for the proportion of animal enterprises, sales management, workforce size, and work organization. The study reveals various types of interactions between animal enterprises. Complementarities were observed between ruminant and monogastric enterprises, particularly fertilizer transfer from monogastric manure to grasslands. Milk production was often associated with on-farm processing and short distribution channels, which enhanced farm viability and reduced its dependency on herd productivity. Eleven out of the 95 farms combined above-average production efficiency, on-farm processing, and the majority of sales in short distribution channels. Their labor productivity converged toward 22 livestock units per annual work unit, regardless of the number of workers. Combining farm structure; livestock production efficiency; social elements, such as the workforce; and sales management led us to distinguish four types of farms: (i) small and very autonomous grassland farms with on-farm processing and short distribution channels; (ii) dairy farms associated with a high-density pig or poultry enterprise, whose feed purchase contributes to high rates of cattle feeding self-sufficiency and stocking rate; (iii) large farms with an extensive, grassland beef enterprise associated with either sheep or monogastrics; and (iv) dairy sheep associated with goat or beef cattle on rangelands, with high added-value products enhancing salaries. This study highlights for the first time the diversity of organic multispecies livestock farms and how consistent patterns of interactions among farm structure, livestock management, sales management, and workforce management shape them. The results are a preliminary basis for designing policy interventions aiming to scale up organic farming and value social assets of diversified and small farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerative agriculture (RA) is an approach to farming pursued globally for sustaining agricultural production and improving ecosystem services and environmental benefits. However, the lack of a standardized definition and limited bioeconomic assessments hinder the understanding and application of RA more broadly. An initial systematic review revealed a wide range of definitions for regenerative agriculture, although it is generally understood as a framework consisting of principles, practices, or outcomes aimed at improving soil health, biodiversity, climate resilience, and ecosystem function. To address existing gaps, we propose a working definition that integrates socioeconomic outcomes and acknowledges the significance of local knowledge and context to complement established scientific knowledge. A second systematic review identified indicators, tools, and models for assessing biophysical and economic aspects of RA. Additionally, a third literature review aimed to identify the potential integration of advanced analytical methods into future assessments, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. Finally, as a case study, we developed a conceptual framework for the evaluation of the bioeconomic outcomes of RA in the mixed farming setting in Australia. This framework advocates a transdisciplinary approach, promoting a comprehensive assessment of RA outcomes through collaboration, integrated data, holistic frameworks, and stakeholder engagement. By defining, evaluating assessment methods, and proposing a pragmatic framework, this review advances the understanding of RA and guides future research to assess the fit of RA practices to defined contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil management in orchards can have several economic and environmental implications. In this study, three different soil management systems were compared in a dry-farmed olive grove: conventional tillage (tillage), glyphosate-based herbicide (herbicide) and sheep grazing. The experiment lasted eleven years (2011–2022) and was carried out after a previous trial conducted on the same plot with the same treatments and duration (2001–2011). However, in the earlier trial, the herbicide and sheep grazing treatments switched positions in the plot, while the tillage treatment remained in its original place. The average total accumulated olive yields between 2011 and 2022 were 225.1, 230.9, and 245.0 kg tree−1 for the sheep grazing, tillage, and herbicide treatments, respectively. However, no significant differences were observed between the treatments. The levels of total organic carbon in the soil, measured in samples collected in the last year of the study, were 41.3, 33.7, and 37.3 g kg−1, respectively, for the same treatments. These findings indicated that the tillage treatment exhibited lower soil organic matter content and reduced bioavailability of some nutrients, which raises concerns about its sustainability. On the contrary, employing sheep grazing with an appropriate stocking rate, effectively controlling vegetation in the spring, ensured favourable soil properties and olive yields comparable to the other treatments. Moreover, the sheep grazing approach provides supplementary advantages to the farmer, including revenue from the sale of animal products and the opportunity to transition to organic farming systems, which better align with the preferences of contemporary societies.

Agroforestry (AF) and mixed farming (MF) are two multifunctional land use systems that harbor an untapped potential for future climate mitigation, however, they remain outside of the norm. This review collected and analyzed the policy landscape for AF and MF in 19 European countries. The results show that while the policy landscape in Europe has been growing for AF, with support found within the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy and Green Deal, as well as European state polices, direct MF support is largely missing. No country assessed supports AF in its entirety (traditional, establishment, yearly maintenance) although, there are countries like Portugal, which show robust policies for at least one of these aspects. This paper also assessed the degree to which policies found can be considered agroecological, or contributing to an agroecological transition. Our analysis indicates that while agroecological elements do exist in some of the policies, it is currently primarily on plot, field, and farm level, involving input substitution or the change of one practice for another. We conclude that policies are currently not designed in a cohesive manner, and at times work against one another. We therefore recommend that all future policies center themselves on the High-Level Panel of Expert's 13 Principles of Agroecology, as well as on transformative and inclusive policy design frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, hazards to productive assets, social-related shocks, and land productivity reduction are all likely to make poor households less resilient. In Ethiopia's highlands, the ability to deal with household resilience against poverty in the face of uncertainty is minimal. In the Goncha district of Ethiopia's Northwest highlands, the study attempts to identify factors of household resilience to livelihood insecurity under crop-livestock mixed agricultural systems. Face-to-face interviews with 280 households were conducted using a structured questionnaire to acquire primary data. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and structural equation modeling. The results revealed that household resilience to livelihood insecurity was significantly influenced by perceptions of sustainable farming practices, the cultivation of more fertile farmland, savings performance, diversification of income-generating activities, intensification of livestock husbandry practices, access to irrigation practice, and familiarity with practical technologies. Hence, scaling up sustainable farming systems and practical technologies, improving saving habits, increasing income diversification, and intensifying agroforestry are perceived to be significant to increase smallholder household resilience to livelihood insecurity over agroecologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoption of rotational grazing or multi-species herbal leys, planting trees and integrating livestock into arable rotations can increase agricultural productivity and carbon storage on temperate ruminant livestock farms. However, farmers frequently have rational reasons for not adopting seemingly beneficial management practices. Here, we conduct semi-structured interviews with sheep and beef cattle farmers and industry representatives in England, to determine the advantages, disadvantages, and reasons for non-adoption of these four management practices. We find key reasons that farmers rationally do not adopt these practices include capital outlay, incompatibility with farming objectives, and the risk that desired benefits are not delivered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was twofold: i) to characterise the main applications of the life cycle assessment (LCA) for assessing and representing mixed farming systems (MFS), and then ii) to propose a general methodological framework for conducting a comparative LCA of a case study of an MFS versus a specialised system in Romania. For this purpose, the main applications of LCA to MFS have been analysed in all its phases. Overall, the reviewed LCA studies highlighted the potential of MFS to improve environmental sustainability, but scarcity of real data hindered the assessment process. In addition, some studies focused on a single product rather than taking into account all products (crops and livestock) when comparing MFS with specialised ones. This may exclude interactions between farm components in the MFS and therefore may not reflect the overall impact of these systems. Therefore, an LCA based on a farm-level approach is recommended to provide a fairer comparison of MFS versus specialised systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic shocks are exerting pressure on livelihoods of Zimbabwe's smallholder farmer—who irrigate only 2% of their farms. The smallholder farmers in drought-prone areas are more exposed to drought because of their limited ability to cope with shocks and their greater concentration in less favorable climatic regions. This study was done to analyze shock-response approaches, which farmers use to cope with climatic shocks. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to analyze impact of World Vision Zimbabwe (WVZ) and other actors' interventions on farmer resilience to climatic shocks. Results show that mixed cropping and diversification in general were among the major strategies that pastoralists and crop farmers used to cope with climatic shocks. Crop farmers diversified types of crops as well as raising livestock. Similarly, pastoralists started growing short-term crops. Other coping strategies included intercropping, selling livestock, moving livestock to other places that did not experience drought. Both crop producers and livestock keepers engaged in nonfarm activities. About 60% of WVZ households reported that World Vision and partners helped them respond to shock and build resilience against climate change. These coping strategies had favorable impacts on household welfare. Diversification increased dietary diversity index by more than two and the increase was much greater among female-headed households than male-headed households. The WVZ intervention also significantly reduced the odds of going to bed without eating food or sleeping hungry. Non-farm income and value of assets for WVZ beneficiaries increased by about 20% and by 22% among treated female-headed households. The results show that diversification and providing grass root training of smallholder farmers increases their resilience to climate shocks.

Located in the transitional region between northern and southern China, the middle Han River valley is of pivotal significance for current debates on rice domestication and the formation of mixed farming in early China. Based on phytoliths and macro-plant remains from 10 sites, along with radiocarbon dating, this study has narrowed the 2000-year gap in early rice utilization by 700 years in the middle Han River valley, and demonstrated the continuous development of rice agriculture in this region. This new evidence also reveals that as early as 7000 cal. BP, mixed farming emerged in this region and facilitated the further southward dispersal of foxtail millet and broomcorn millet into southern China and beyond. In addition, a sample-by-sample comparison of our results with phytoliths and macro-plant remains highlighted the potential biases inherent in these methods. This work emphasized the importance of multi-index archaeobotanical analysis to reconstruct ancient crop assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the first directly dated physical evidence of crop remains from the Early Neolithic archaeological layers in Taiwan. Systematic sampling and analysis of macro-plant remains suggested that Neolithic farmers at the Zhiwuyuan (Botanical Garden) site in Taipei, northern Taiwan, had cultivated rice and foxtail millet together at least 4,500 years ago. A more comprehensive review of all related radiocarbon dates suggests that agriculture emerged in Taiwan around 4,800-4,600 cal. BP, instead of the previous claim of 5,000 cal. BP. According to the rice grain metrics from three study sites of Zhiwuyuan, Dalongdong, and Anhe, the rice cultivated in northern and western-central Taiwan was mainly a shortgrained type of the japonica subspecies, similar to the discoveries from the southeast coast of mainland China and the middle Yangtze valley. These new findings support the hypothesis that the southeast coast of mainland China was the origin of proto-Austronesian people who brought their crops and other cultural traditions across the Taiwan Strait 4,800 years ago and eventually farther into Island Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The government of Rwanda is promoting agricultural intensification focused on the production of a small number of targeted commodities as a central strategy to pursue the joint policy goals of economic growth, food security and livelihood development. The dominant approach to increase the productive capacity of the land, crops and animal resources has been through large-scale land consolidation, soil fertility management, and the intensive use of biotechnology and external inputs. However, evidence has shown that many Rwandan farmers, who employ various strategies and mixed farming practices based on their specific economic, social, and environmental circumstances, face difficulties adopting the singular prescribed approach to become more productive, modern commodity producers. To empirically explore diversity in smallholders' strategies and their contributions to livelihoods and compatibility with the recent intensification policies, we conducted household surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews in rural and peri-urban zones in Rwamagana district in Eastern Rwanda. Our analysis demonstrates how the dominant approach to intensification and specialisation overlooks the heterogeneity and dynamic nature of smallholder strategies. Moreover, our findings illustrate that a comprehensive understanding of farmer heterogeneity is necessary to explain the critical disjuncture between the government's vision of modern agriculture and the ability of many smallholders to engage with this agenda and may inform opportunities to adapt policies to better align productivity goals and livelihoods. In doing so, we contribute to debates about the current framing of intensification policy that promotes Green Revolution technologies and emphasise alternative pathways for more inclusive and resilient agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ICLS combines the benefits of specialization with increased resilience of the system.• Clear opportunities but also barriers for ICLS were observed.• ICLS need to be embedded within future environmental legislation.• ICLS systems with a range of intensities are needed to support a biodiverse landscape.Ongoing specialization of crop and livestock systems provides socioeconomic benefits to the farmer but has led to greater externalization of environmental costs when compared to mixed farming systems. Better integration of crop and livestock systems offers great potential to rebalance the economic and environmental trade-offs in both systems. The aims of this study were to analyze changes in farm structure and review and evaluate the potential for reintegrating specialized intensive crop and livestock systems, with specific emphasis on identifying the co-benefits and barriers to reintegration. Historically, animals were essential to recycle nutrients in the farming system but this became less important with the availability of synthetic fertilisers. Although mixed farm systems can be economically attractive, benefits of scale combined with socio-economic factors have resulted in on-farm and regional specialization with negative environmental impacts. Reintegration is therefore needed to reduce nutrient surpluses at farm, regional and national levels, and to improve soil quality in intensive cropping systems. Reintegration offers practical and cost-effective options to widen crop rotations and promotes the use of organic inputs and associated benefits, reducing dependency on synthetic fertilisers, biocides and manure processing costs. Circular agriculture goes beyond manure management and requires adaptation of both food production and consumption patterns, matching local capacity to produce with food demand. Consequently, feed transport, greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient surpluses and nutrient losses to the environment can be reduced. It is concluded that reintegration of specialized farms within a region can provide benefits to farmers but may also lead to further intensification of land use. New approaches within a food system context offer alternatives for reintegration, but require strong policy incentives which show clear, tangible and lasting benefits for farmers, the environment and the wider community.

The Zang-Yi Corridor is of pivotal significance for the interactions between northwest China, southwest China, and mainland Southeast Asia. It has been hypothesized that the formation of mixed farming in this region and its surrounding areas was based on multiple waves of crop dispersal, with foxtail millet and broomcorn millet arriving first from northwest China around 5,300 cal. BP and rice from middle Yangtze valley after 4,700 cal. BP. Based on the systematic sampling and direct dating conducted at the Guijiabao site, Sichuan Province, this study demonstrates that by no later than 5,000 cal. BP, mixed farming had already emerged in the south part of Zang-Yi corridor, which was much earlier than expected before. With this new evidence, it is argued that the transformation into farming in Southwest China was based on the dispersal of a crop package comprising foxtail millet, broomcorn millet, and rice instead of different waves of introduction. A further comparison of all archaeobotanical data in this region revealed that crop patterns varied significantly between different sites because of their diverse environmental conditions.

This study investigated the agriculture contribution to the nutritional status of children from farming families by comparing situation of the annual crop with agroforestry and mixed farming systems. A survey was conducted from December 2015 to January 2016 in Buol, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Household socioeconomic and agricultural data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The dietary intake information of the oldest under‐five children was gathered using a 24‐hour recall of food intake, and the results were converted into food groups and nutrient contents. Focus group discussions among male and female farmers were performed to complement the survey's results. The prevalence of respiratory infection and diarrhea in children in the last 2 weeks was assessed. Furthermore, the weight and height of the children were measured. In total, 200 female/male farmers and their under‐five children from annual food crop (n = 79), agroforestry (n = 53), and mixed (n = 68) farming systems were recruited. A very high prevalence of stunted children (above 30%) was recorded in all the groups, whereas the proportion of wasted children was above 5%. The children's nutritional status indicated that an immediate intervention was needed to prevent further deterioration. The results of the binary logistic regression revealed that yearly food expenditure per capita was negatively and significantly correlated with the risk of being stunted (p = 0.047), whereas nonbreastfed children had a 2.9‐fold higher risk of wasting at the time of the survey (p = 0.014). Of all the farmer groups, mixed farming farmers tended to benefit the most from having high cash revenue and food production, leading to a slightly better nutritional status compared to farmers managing annual crop production or agroforestry systems only. Notably, actions need to be undertaken to improve the resilience of all smallholders as well as promote the provision and spending on nutrient‐dense food for children in all the farmer groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic systems, integrated crop–livestock systems (ICL) and leys are posited as strategies to increase soil carbon (C) stocks. However, previous studies have: (i) only considered one driver of change; (ii) evaluated soil C content instead of stocks; (iii) been limited to the 0.20 m depth; (iv) used short‐term leys; and (v) rarely assessed the distribution of C among soil organic matter (SOM) fractions, which relates to C stabilization. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of conventional vs. organic agricultural systems, grazing regimes (non‐grazed vs. grazed) and different proportions of temporary grass‐clover leys in crop rotations (ley time proportion – LTP) on soil C stocks and C distribution among SOM fractions down to 0.60 m soil depth. SOM fractions assessed were particulate organic matter (POM > 53 μm), heavy fraction (HF > 53 μm) and mineral‐associated silt and clay fraction (SC < 53 μm). There were no differences in soil C stocks between the conventional and the organic system, but the former had higher SC‐C in the 0.15 m depth. Increasing the LTP associated with livestock grazing increased: (a) soil C stocks in the topsoil (0.30 m); and (b) POM‐C and HF‐C in the 0.15 m and POM‐C in the 0.30–0.60 m depth under both agricultural systems. The inclusion of the longer grazed grass‐clover leys was especially important for topsoil POM‐C and HF‐C under the conventional system. These results suggest that ICL systems with increasing LTP in crop rotations can play an important role in achieving a net C benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-input agriculture is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa but it cannot deliver future food security. Soil nutrients are being mined by small-scale farmers who continue to remove large quantities of nutrients from their soils without using sufficient manure or fertilizer inputs to maintain soil fertility. Declining soil fertility must be addressed in order to achieve sustainable intensification. A large increase in nutrient inputs is seen as a requirement but small-scale farmers face severe constraints in obtaining supplies of mineral fertilizer. Better use of available livestock manure is a possible solution. We present here a case study from Marsabit County in the largest, most arid, and least developed region of Kenya. Evidence was gathered from field studies at four locations during 2016 and 2017 combined with a farmer survey. We show that a typical smallholder farm can achieve satisfactory yields and an acceptable nitrogen balance through better use of available livestock manure. An acceptable balance can also be achieved for phosphorus, however, there is a deficit for potassium. This case study demonstrates that an integrated crop-livestock farming system offers a potential solution to soil nutrient mining and can provide a pathway to sustainable intensification for small-scale farmers in a challenging semi-arid environment.

Crop-livestock production is the major farming system in the highlands of Ethiopia. This study aimed to describe crop-livestock diversification pattern, examine determinants of diversification patterns, and evaluate effects of diversification on household income. Principal component analysis (PCA), seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) and ordinary least square (OLS) regression models were employed. Five major crop-livestock diversification patterns: sheep and goat, staple crops, chicken, vegetables, and animal feed-based farming were identified. The SUR model revealed that sex, education, income, extension contact, land size, market and road distance, irrigated land, and household size were significant factors that influence crop-livestock diversification patterns. It is also found that sheep and goat, vegetable, and chicken-based farming were significant production patterns that had positive effects on household income. We suggest that adoptive and adaptive agricultural practices such as small-scale irrigation, chicken rearing and sheep-based production patterns are the most potential farming systems in the highlands of Ethiopia.

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that mineral supplementation (sodium chloride and magnesium oxide at 1:1 weight ratio) for dairy heifers grazing mature wheat in the spring-summer period will improve live weight gain compared with the non-supplemented group. In addition, the potential of mineral supplementation to reduce environmental pollution through diluting urinary nitrogen content was evaluated in this study. The grazing study was conducted at the Dookie Campus, The University of Melbourne, Australia between September and November 2017. The study comprised two temporal trial replications with two dietary treatments; graze wheat with (supplemented, SUP) or without mineral supplementation (control, CTR). The first and second trial replications used 22 and 24 heifers, respectively to conduct a 22-day and 21-day weight gain measurement. Heifers in the CTR group had 11% lower daily water intake than those in the SUP group. No differences were observed in heifers’ weight gain and urinary nitrogen content and excretion. The study indicates that protein deficiency may override the mineral deficiency when heifer grazed mature wheat, and this may have led to no mineral supplementation effect on heifer performance. The level of protein in grazing wheat needs to be considered in feeding minerals to heifers.

Abstract This study investigated the agriculture contribution to the nutritional status of children from farming families by comparing situation of the annual crop with agroforestry and mixed farming systems. A survey was conducted from December 2015 to January 2016 in Buol, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Household socioeconomic and agricultural data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The dietary intake information of the oldest under‐five children was gathered using a 24‐hour recall of food intake, and the results were converted into food groups and nutrient contents. Focus group discussions among male and female farmers were performed to complement the survey's results. The prevalence of respiratory infection and diarrhea in children in the last 2 weeks was assessed. Furthermore, the weight and height of the children were measured. In total, 200 female/male farmers and their under‐five children from annual food crop (n = 79), agroforestry (n = 53), and mixed (n = 68) farming systems were recruited. A very high prevalence of stunted children (above 30%) was recorded in all the groups, whereas the proportion of wasted children was above 5%. The children's nutritional status indicated that an immediate intervention was needed to prevent further deterioration. The results of the binary logistic regression revealed that yearly food expenditure per capita was negatively and significantly correlated with the risk of being stunted (p = 0.047), whereas nonbreastfed children had a 2.9‐fold higher risk of wasting at the time of the survey (p = 0.014). Of all the farmer groups, mixed farming farmers tended to benefit the most from having high cash revenue and food production, leading to a slightly better nutritional status compared to farmers managing annual crop production or agroforestry systems only. Notably, actions need to be undertaken to improve the resilience of all smallholders as well as promote the provision and spending on nutrient‐dense food for children in all the farmer groups.

Livestock production plays a significant role in improving the livelihoods of poor smallholder farmer households in the Majang zone. However, despite its importance, there is limited information on husbandry practices and constraints on livestock production to design and implement effective interventions to maximize productivity. The aim of this study was to assess husbandry practices and major constraints on livestock production in the Majang zone, southwest Ethiopia. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 168 households (HHs) through a face-to-face interview from January to May 2021. The results revealed that mixed crop-livestock farming is the dominant livestock production system in the study area. The overall average herd size per household (HH) was 2.15 ± 0.11 cattle, 0.15 ± 0.01 sheep, 0.31 ± 0.09 goats, 0.10 ± 0.02 donkey, 0.04 ± 0.00 mule, 0.13 ± 0.02 horses and 0.24 ± 0.02 chickens. Overall herd size did not differ significantly by AEZ except for sheep (p < 0.05). The primary reason for keeping cattle, goats, sheep, equines and poultry were milk production (27.4 %), meat for home consumption (33.9 %), cash income (33.3 %), transportation (85.1 %), and meat for home consumption (72 %), respectively. In the dry and wet seasons, natural pasture, crop residues, indigenous fodder trees and shrubs (IFTSs), nonconventional feed resources (NCFRs), crop stubbles and improved forages were the main livestock feed resources. The majority (60.1 %) of respondents practiced free-grazing systems. Separate sheds, family dwellings, kraals, and open-walled sheds were the main housing systems used for animals. The majority (79.2 %) of respondents used rivers as a source of livestock drinking water. Trypanosomiasis (18.45 %), African horse sickness (66.1 %) and Newcastle disease (47.02 %) were the most important diseases of livestock. Diseases (35.7 %), lack of access to artificial insemination (35.7 %) and inadequate veterinary services (11.3 %) were identified as the top three constraints limiting production. It is recommended that constraints identified by farmers should be considered in developing and implementing effective interventions to improve livestock productivity and their contribution to poverty alleviation in the study area., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is an annual plant with very rapid growth and a major species in the assortment of leafy vegetables. Plant parasitic nematodes are economically important pests of leafy vegetables in monoculture and intensive organic fertilization. The simultaneous cultivation of several plant species in the same area can overcome the disadvantages of crops from homogeneous crops. The purpose of this work is to determine the quantitative changes in soil nematode communities in the joint cultivation of medicinal and vegetable species. Methods: The experiments were carried out in a vegetation house. To create mixed crops, the plants the lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), cutivar 'Bohemia', tagetes (Tagetes sp. L.), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), calendula (Calendula officinalis L.) summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and arugula (Eruca sativa L. Cav.) were used. Result: The results of the nematological analysis showed a decrease in the number of nematodes when mixed growing of lettuce with arugula, calendula and tagetes. The mixed growing of lettuce and calendula resulted in a significant reduction in nematodes, with a Pf/Pi value of 0.3. As a result of the decrease in the nematode population, there was an increase in lettuce yields when mixed grown with arugula and calendula, compared to when grown alone. The study of plant parasitic nematodes based on comparative evaluation of different combinations of plants shows that combinations of crops can be applied as a control method in integrated plant protection systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils with toxic levels of boron (B) are widespread in the cereal-livestock zone of southern Australia. The annual pasture legume burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.) is widely grown in rotation with grain crops in this zone, but current cultivars are susceptible to high levels of B. We tested the boron tolerance of several putative B tolerant burr medic accessions and developed four F2 populations by crossing two tolerant accessions with two susceptible cultivars. We tested a B tolerance SSR marker developed for barrel medic (M. truncatula Gaernt) on tolerant burr medic accessions but found a new marker was required. We identified several B tolerant burr medic accessions. In our four F2 populations tolerance was inherited in a 3 : 1 (tolerant : susceptible) ratio and we identified a molecular marker that accounts for 0.84 of the variation. The B tolerant accessions, along with the B tolerance marker, will allow for the efficient introgression of B tolerance into widely adapted genetic backgrounds and will allow breeders to efficiently develop cultivar(s) that are tolerant of a widespread subsoil constraint. Burr medics (Medicago polymorpha) are widely grown annual pasture legumes in southern Australia, but all cultivars are susceptible to high levels of boron in subsoils. We report on boron tolerance of several accessions, demonstrate boron tolerance is inherited in a 3 : 1 ratio and present a molecular marker for boron tolerance. This will allow for the efficient introgression of boron tolerance into widely adapted genetic backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In Australia's high-rainfall zone (>550 mm/year), winter-type canola (Brassica napus L.) can be sown in spring and grazed as a forage crop during its vegetative phase, producing a canola grain crop in late spring of the second year. The timing, length and intensity of grazing or defoliation that can be imposed on canola before a grain yield penalty occurs remains largely unknown. Aim: Our research aimed to determine the impact of grazing spring sown canola during summer and autumn on the subsequent canola grain yield. Methods: A paddock-scale field experiment was conducted over 2 years, 2013–14 and 2015–2016, at Hamilton, Victoria, Australia, with two winter-type canola treatments and three grazing–defoliation sub-treatments replicated four times in a replicated block design. The canola cultivars used were Hyola971CL and Taurus in 2013–14 and Hyola971CL and Brazzil in 2015–16. The three grazing–defoliation sub-treatments were: NG, no grazing; VG, grazing with sheep for a 10-week period during the vegetative phase over summer–autumn; RG, grazing with sheep as per the VG sub-treatment and then in the reproductive phase, either cutting the canola for silage in August (2013–14) or grazing with sheep between 28 July and 17 August 2016 (2015–16). Key results: The VG sub-treatment resulted in no grain-yield penalty (P > 0.05) relative to NG in either year. In 2014, canola grain yields from VG for Hyola971CL and Taurus were 2.32 and 2.13 t/ha, compared with NG grain yields of 2.66 and 2.19 t/ha. In 2016, grain yields from VG for Hyola971CL and Brazzil were 2.14 and 1.74 t/ha, compared with NG grain yields of 1.87 and 1.90 t/ha. The RG sub-treatment reduced (P < 0.05) canola grain yield by ~65% in 2014 and 80% in 2016 compared with NG and VG. Conclusions: Spring-sown winter-type canola can be grazed during summer and autumn in southern Australia with no grain-yield penalty relative to ungrazed canola. However, further grazing or defoliation in winter once bud elongation commences can result in large grain-yield penalties. Implications: Spring-sown winter-type canola is a viable forage option for filling the summer–autumn feed gap in southern Australia while also providing a dual-purpose income in mixed-farming systems. In southern Australia, summer–autumn is a period of feed shortage for livestock producers, with lack of green feed limiting livestock production or increasing farm expenditure on supplementary sources of feed. Winter-type canola can be sown in spring and grazed during its vegetative phase in summer and autumn, thus providing a source of green feed at a time when feed is limiting. If correct grazing management is applied, the canola can then produce a grain yield without penalty in its second spring, thus benefiting livestock producers by filling the summer–autumn feed gap and providing a second income stream in a mixed-farming system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil quality (SQ) is the ability of soil to provide ecosystem functions and services. Implementation of a certain agricultural system can affect SQ and therefore play an essential role in achieving sustainable agriculture. The aim of this study was to explore how agricultural systems (conventional vs. organic), grazing regime (non‐grazed vs. grazed) and the different proportions of temporary grass‐clover leys in crop rotations (ley time proportion, LTP) affect SQ within a mixed (cropping and pasture/dairy system) commercial farming enterprise in the UK. Seven SQ indicators were evaluated, including chemical (pH; available phosphorus (P); potassium (K)), physical (bulk density, BD; aggregate stability, AS) and biological (total carbon (C); microbial biomass carbon, MBC) sectors. All SQ indicators were measured at three depth intervals (0–0.15, 0.15–0.30, 0.30–0.60 m), except for AS and MBC, which were only considered for the topsoil (0–0.15 m). The findings reflected existing knowledge on the advantages of organic vs. conventional systems for SQ indicators, with the former showing higher MBC and similar K, BD, AS and C in the 0–0.30‐m compared to the latter. Lower topsoil available P in organic systems can be related to the lack of measurements in all P pools. When grazing was included: (a) both agricultural systems showed higher topsoil available P, C and MBC; and (b) there was a higher topsoil K in organic systems, whereas it positively affected topsoil BD and C (0.15–0.30 m) in conventional systems. Increasing LTP to 30–40% of the full crop rotation increased topsoil AS and C (0–0.30 m) in a linear fashion. Subsoil conditions (>0.30 m) favoured K, BD and C in conventional systems, but these results should be considered carefully. It was concluded that both organic and conventional systems delivered similar levels of SQ and that reviving mixed farming systems may be a key factor for delivering multifunctional agroecosystems that maintain SQ and optimize ecosystem services. Highlights: Single‐farm comparison of top‐ and subsoil quality in organic and non‐organic systems.The organic system increased microbial biomass carbon but decreased topsoil available phosphorus.Grazing increased topsoil available phosphorus, carbon concentration and microbial biomass carbon.Temporary leys in rotations increased topsoil aggregate stability and carbon concentration.Mixed farming is a key factor for delivering multifunctional agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The GIS-based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique has been applied to effectively map alternative agriculture zones. • In this context, six factors with fifteen parameters are utilized to identify potential alternative agricultural zones. • Seven different alternative agricultural zones have been recognized, including plantation agriculture, integrated farming, fruit culture, folk rice culture, medicinal plant farming, mixed farming and horticulture. • The outcome, with a Kappa coefficient (k) of 95.34 and an overall accuracy of 96%, indicates a reasonably precise delineation of alternative agricultural zones. • The proposed method is found reasonably useful in drought-prone areas for alternative agricultural modeling. Delineation of potential alternative agriculture region is an essential tactics of the drought prone to mitigate the harmful effect of drought for maintaining food security and sustainable economy. These alternatives can be integrated into existing cropping systems for providing additional income to farmers. The present study deals with site suitability analysis of alternative agriculture in the drought-prone upper Dwarakeswer river basin considering 15 parameters using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) based Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. The alternative agriculture zones are then delineated on the basis of 15 separate thematic layers such as Slope, landuse and landcover, soil depth, ground water, distance from roads, soil texture, distance from settlements, ruggedness index, drainage density, soil drainage, proximity to ponds, distance from vegetation, distance from streams, nitrogen and organic carbon. Finally, seven alternative agricultural zones are identified; these are plantation agriculture, integrated farming, fruit culture, folk rice culture, medicinal plant farming, mixed farming and horticulture covering an area of 96 km2, 234 km2, 295 km2, 341 km2, 298 km2, 199 km2 and 74 km2 respectively. This is also to note that the 'Not Suitable Zone' has been identified accounting 397 km2 area and covering 20.5% of total study area. A total of 350 alternative agricultural sites are identified for validation purpose and the computed kappa coefficient (k) of 95.34 denote a overall accuracy of 96%. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes agricultural practices of fertilization in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula between 1750 and 1900, where a leguminous plant called gorse (Ulex Europaeus) was used as bedding for livestock in order to produce manure. During the period examined, this whole region experienced a process of agricultural intensification which resulted in a net loss of nutrients in the soil. Peasants dealt with the increasing nutrient requirements by adapting land and livestock management in order to produce more manure during the second half of the 20th century. However, this was done at the expense of nutrient reserves in extensively managed areas, all of which resulted in an unsustainable agricultural pattern. Our data also suggest that the context of nutrient scarcity could be related to changes in the migration pattern, which started to be more intense after 1850 and preferred distant destinations (America), thus switching from seasonal to permanent stays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we test the hypothesis that mixed crop-livestock farms realize economies of inputs. To do so, we use the standard cross-frontier model to evaluate overall input efficiencies and develop a slacks-based (SB) cross-frontier model to evaluate input-specific efficiencies of mixed farms related to the best practice production frontier of specialized farms. These models are applied to an unbalanced panel with 825 observations on 247 French farms from 1991 to 2011. Regarding the standard cross-frontier framework, we find that 72% of the mixed farms exhibit diseconomies of inputs. This suggests that the mixed production technology is largely dominated by the specialized one in terms of input savings. Under the SB cross-frontier model, we find that the mixed farms exhibit, on average, diseconomies of inputs for each of their production factors. We also find that almost a quarter of the mixed farms realizes economies of inputs on the use of labour, fertilizers, and pesticides. Finally, regression results indicate that public subsidies and farm size are negatively associated with the probability of observing input economies. This suggests that, for our sample, the concept of mixed crop-livestock farming faces structural and socio-economic realities, mainly regarding farm size and public subsidies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Mediterranean area, semi-extensive mixed farming systems characterise the inland landscape and guarantee the maintenance of several agroecosystem services. Rationed and rotational grazing have been proposed as efficient agroecological practices for sustainable intensification. Previous studies have highlighted that, during spring, restricted access time to pasture of below four hours per day decreases herbage intake and milk production of rotationally stoked ewes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of restricted access time on daily herbage intake and milk productivity of Sarda ewes under rotational grazing management in a real farm located in southern Tuscany. The entire flock of 145 lactating ewes was allotted two homogenous groups and rotationally stoked on a grass-legume mixed pasture and fed about 1.7 kg of DM ewe-1 d-1 of supplementation. Each group was then assigned to the following treatments: two hours per day of access time to pasture, from 10:00 to 12:00 CET, and four hours per day of access time to pasture, from 10:00 to 14:00 CET. Data on herbage yield and quality, dry matter intake and milk yield were collected from April 5 to May 10, 2018. The rotational grazing schedule was conducted allowing for abundant herbage and exploiting high-nutritive biomass of the upper horizon sward. The results of our on-farm experiment showed that restricting daily access time to pasture down two hours did not reduce the potential daily herbage intake and the milk performance of dairy ewes rotationally stocked on a mixed pasture in spring. Our study also highlighted the capacity of ewes to self-regulate the herbage intake in order to meet their energy requirements, when neutral detergent fibre is not a limiting factor. Our outcomes should encourage researchers and farmers to co-design further on-farm experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Mediterranean area, semi-extensive mixed farming systems characterise the inland landscape and guarantee the maintenance of several agroecosystem services. Rationed and rotational grazing have been proposed as efficient agroecological practices for sustainable intensification. Previous studies have highlighted that, during spring, restricted access time to pasture of below four hours per day decreases herbage intake and milk production of rotationally stoked ewes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of restricted access time on daily herbage intake and milk productivity of Sarda ewes under rotational grazing management in a real farm located in southern Tuscany. The entire flock of 145 lactating ewes was allotted two homogenous groups and rotationally stoked on a grass-legume mixed pasture and fed about 1.7 kg of DM ewe-1 d-1 of supplementation. Each group was then assigned to the following treatments: two hours per day of access time to pasture, from 10:00 to 12:00 CET, and four hours per day of access time to pasture, from 10:00 to 14:00 CET. Data on herbage yield and quality, dry matter intake and milk yield were collected from April 5 to May 10, 2018. The rotational grazing schedule was conducted allowing for abundant herbage and exploiting high-nutritive biomass of the upper horizon sward. The results of our on-farm experiment showed that restricting daily access time to pasture down two hours did not reduce the potential daily herbage intake and the milk performance of dairy ewes rotationally stocked on a mixed pasture in spring. Our study also highlighted the capacity of ewes to self-regulate the herbage intake in order to meet their energy requirements, when neutral detergent fiber is not a limiting factor. Our outcomes should encourage researchers and farmers to co-design further on-farm experiments.

Abstract Background This paper devotes to determinants of crop–livestock diversification in the mixed farming systems in the Gudo Beret watershed, central highlands of Ethiopia. In the highland agro-ecologies, the mixed farming-dominated agriculture is persistently confronted with food insecurity, feed scarcity and land degradation. During heavy rains or drought periods, farmers become vulnerable to food and feed shortfalls. To fill such gaps, the government of Ethiopia has made efforts to enhance the productive capacity of soils and thereby increase productivity on diversified farms in different agro-systems. Anthropogenic and natural calamities adversely affect the livelihoods of smallholders in general and crop–livestock systems in particular. The aim of this study is to examine the determinants of crop–livestock diversification and evaluate the link between farm activities and household food supplies. Methods Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 211 randomly selected household-heads in Gudo Beret watershed, central highlands of Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics, inferential tests, and econometric models were employed for analysis. Results Tobit model results revealed that livestock holding is positive and significantly influence the extent of crop–livestock diversification at 1% significant level. Extension contact and irrigated land are also positive and significantly influence the extent of diversification at 5% level, while land rent-out, improved seed and soil fertility status are negative and significantly influence the crop–livestock diversification at 1, 5, and 5% significant levels. Ordinary least square regression results show that barley, wheat- and faba bean-based farming have positive correlation and significant effects on the household food energy, while vegetables and highland fruits production have negative correlation with the household food supply and significant at 1% level. Conclusions Crop–livestock diversification is the best potential livelihood strategy for farm households. Barley, wheat and faba bean are the most dominant crops that have immense contribution for human nutrition and crop residue mainly used to feed livestock. Therefore, crop–livestock producers, agricultural practitioners, the Ethiopian government and partner organizations need to give due attention for agricultural extension service, investment for supplementary irrigation and integrated mixed crop–livestock systems.

Three decades ago, West Nusa Tenggara or Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) was a resource of Bali cattle meat, to either provides national supply or export. However, since the year 2000, meat supply from NTB has been limited and there has been decreasing Bali cattle productivity. Low productivity of Bali cattle has been caused by severals factors such as: traditional way, in a small scale number cattle, in a relatively small size of land with limitation of feed availability in raising cattle. On the other hand, rice straw which potential for cattle feeding, has been burned which may induce pollution. In addition, cattle manure was also thrown to the field or to the river which may spread parasites infestation. As a consequuence, under NTB condition, Bali cattle has low productivity, with high cost of raising. Application of mixed farming may lead farm efficiency by reducing feeding cost, by using rice straws and processing manure as organic fertilizer. Mixed farming may provide solution to NTB farmers by leading zero waste and by inducing environmental friendly (eco-farming). Under mixed farming system, in order to improve cattle production, appropriate technology are essential to be implemented. Hopefully, production of Bali cattle and others agricultural comodities may increase optimally. Finally, higher income can be obtained and farmers may have a better live.

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