Biochar for crop production: potential benefits and risks

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 685-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mubshar Hussain ◽  
Muhammad Farooq ◽  
Ahmad Nawaz ◽  
Abdullah M. Al-Sadi ◽  
Zakaria M. Solaiman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Potential Benefits

scholarly journals Effect of arsenic on Amaranthus gangeticus

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-264
Author(s):  
MZ Hossain ◽  
Sushmita Dey ◽  
MS Islam
Keyword(s):  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Arsenic Contamination ◽  
Pot Experiment ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Groundwater Arsenic ◽  
Major Nutrients

Groundwater arsenic contamination has become a threat to the crop production potential in the soils of vast areas of Bangladesh. Situation is grave in some districts of the country, particularly the southern part. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of arsenic treated irrigation water (0, 1, 2, 5 and 10 mgL-1), where a total of ten (10) irrigations were provided thus the treatments received 0, 10, 20, 50, and 100 mg arsenic (As) pot-1. Effects of applied levels of arsenic on Amaranthus gangeticus (Lal shak) were evaluated in terms of the growth, yield, major nutrients’ content, and their translocation in the plant. As treatments significantly reduced (p≤0.05) the dry weight of shoot and root by 19.31% and 44.03% respectively. Both total and available concentrations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and sulfur (S) were significantly (p≤ 0.05) suppressed by the As treatments, while only higher three doses significantly (p≤ 0.05) affected both levels of concentrations of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). Translocation coefficients for soil to root for P, K, S, and Mg were significantly reduced (p≤ 0.05), while translocation coefficients for root to shoot were significantly increased (p≤ 0.05) for K and S by 5 and 10 mgL-1 of arsenic treatments.Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.53(4), 259-264, 2018

scholarly journals Major Root and Tuber Crops Production in South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-82
Author(s):  
Kutoya Kusse
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Ipomoea Batatas ◽  
Agricultural Technology ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Extension System ◽  
Tuber Crop ◽  
South Omo ◽  
Tuber Crops

Increasing production and productivity of agriculture in general and root and tuber crops in particular require a strong linkage between the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. The growing in agriculture sector does not occur without non-agricultural sectors. The major root and tuber crops production and productivity in South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia is very low in relation to the land coverage under the crops, due to poor and under recommended rate of improved agricultural technology utilization and low skill of management and related practices by the producers. To solve these root and tuber related problems and increase the production and productivity of the crops, strong and result based farmers training centers and interlinked research extension system are important and strongly interconnected . This study was conducted in five districts of South Omo Zone namely Debub Ari from agricultural based, Malle and Bena-Tsemay from agro-pastoral, Hammer, and Dasenech from pastoral. The districts are selected purposively based on root and tuber crop production potential. The result shows that the area coverage, production and productivity of the major root and tuber crops decreases from time to time and their diseases and pests increases thoroughly. Farmers in the study area should use disease resistance varieties and the production inputs at a recommended rate and time. The major root and tuber crops that are grown in the study area are sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), potato (Solanum tuberosum), cassava (Manihot esculenta), taro (Colocasia esculenta), and enset (Ensete ventricosum).

scholarly journals Estimation of Winter Wheat Production Potential Based on Remotely-Sensed Imagery and Process-Based Model Simulations

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 2857
Author(s):  
Tingting Lang ◽  
Yanzhao Yang ◽  
Kun Jia ◽  
Chao Zhang ◽  
Zhen You ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Gis Technology ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Dssat Model

Crop production potential is an index used to evaluate crop productivity capacity in one region. The spatial production potential can help give the maximum value of crop yield and visually clarify the prospects of agricultural development. The DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) model has been used in crop growth analysis, but spatial simulation and analysis at high resolution have not been widely performed for exact crop planting locations. In this study, the light-temperature production potential of winter wheat was simulated with the DSSAT model in the winter wheat planting area, extracted according to Remote Sensing (RS) image data in the Jing-Jin-Ji (JJJ) region. To obtain the precise study area, a Decision Tree (DT) classification was used to extract the winter wheat planting area. Geographic Information System (GIS) technology was used to process spatial data and provide a map of the spatial distribution of the production potential. The production potential of winter wheat was estimated in batches with the DSSAT model. The results showed that the light-temperature production potential is between 4238 and 10,774 kg/ha in JJJ. The production potential in the central part of the planting area is higher than that in the south and north in JJJ due to the influences of light and temperature. These results can be useful for crop model simulation users and decision makers in JJJ.

EFFECTS OF TOPSOIL LOSS AND INTENSIVE CROPPING ON SOIL PROPERTIES RELATED TO THE CROP PRODUCTION POTENTIAL OF A PODZOLIC GREY LUVISOL

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. SADLER
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Nitrogen Levels ◽  
Ap Horizon ◽  
Intensive Cropping ◽  
Mineralizable Nitrogen ◽  
Intact Soil

A 5-yr field study was conducted at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island to determine the effect of losses of topsoil and organic matter likely to accrue from intensive potato production on the crop production potential of a loam to fine sandy loam Podzolic Grey Luvisol representative of major soil types used for potato production on P.E.I. The top 7.5 or 15 cm of the original 20-cm-thick Ap horizon was removed from strips on either side of a control (intact soil) strip. These strips were cropped under a 5-yr potato-barley rotation. Soil-loss treatments reduced the organic carbon content of the new 20-cm-thick Ap horizons formed by tillage by 9.4 and 37%, respectively, from 51.3 tonnes (ha∙20 cm)−1 in the original Ap horizon. Similarly, mineralizable nitrogen levels were reduced initially by 21 and 64%, respectively, compared with the intact soil. During the subsequent 2 yr, mineralizable nitrogen levels in the Ap horizons of the intact and minus 7.5-cm strips fell by 35%. Soil-loss treatments had no effect on Ap horizon texture, porosity, or bulk density. However, losses of topsoil reduced the soil’s capacity to store plant-available water (33 kPa – 1500 kPa) within the rooting zone above a Bt, horizon (bulk density 1.67 tonnes∙m−3) by 1.3 and 3.4 cm of water, respectively, from 9.8 cm for the intact soil. Rainfall patterns on P.E.I. suggest that such reductions in water storage capacity may reduce the soil’s crop production potential in 2 out of 5 yr. Key words: Topsoil loss, intensive cropping, Luvisol, organic carbon, mineralizable nitrogen, water storage capacity

COMPETITIVENESS OF POLISH ORGANIC FARMS WITH DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS OF PRODUCTION IN THE LIGHT OF FADN DATA

2018 ◽  
Vol XX (5) ◽  
pp. 146-153
Author(s):  
Maria Jolanta Orłowska
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Labor Productivity ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Field Crops ◽  
Economic Parameters ◽  
Grazing Livestock

The purpose of the work was to assess the effectiveness and competitiveness of Polish organic farms with different production directions. Their production potential, intensity and production costs were also presented. The information from holdings conducting Polish FADN accounting was used. It was included in the publications: Technical and economic parameters by groups of agricultural holdings participating in the Polish FADN in 2013-2015. The following methods were used: descriptive, using tabular, and comparative tables. The research covered the years 2013-2015. In the analyzed period, the direction of production influenced the efficiency and competitiveness of Polish organic farms. Farms running only crop production were characterized by higher labor productivity than farms keeping animals. From among the surveyed organic farms, only permanent crops showed full competitive ability. Farms specialized in field crops showed ability to compete. And lack of competitive ability was showed by farms keeping animals: with dairy cows, other grazing livestock and mixed.

Understanding design scales for a range of potential green infrastructure benefits in a London Garden City

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 728-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hareth Pochee ◽  
Innes Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Critical Appraisal ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Pollution Reduction ◽  
Energy Crop ◽  
Community Gardening ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Urban Heat

It has been proposed that increasing the amount of foliage, trees and soft landscaping in our cities could prove useful environmentally, economically and socially. Benefits of greener urban environments that have been suggested range from reduction in water pollution to improved mental health. This paper outlines a critical appraisal of the science and reasoning behind several cited benefits of greening cities. The specific potential benefits addressed are urban heat island mitigation, improved insulation, stormwater management, air pollution reduction, energy crop production, acoustic attenuation, food production and community gardening for health and wellbeing. London, UK, has been used as an example case with an aim of estimating the extent, types and distributions of green that would be required to yield meaningful city-scale benefits. The work takes a broad-brush approach, from a designer's perspective, to begin the process of understanding how greenery designs work, to what extent, and how they might be applied in urban environments. The characteristics of some concept design options for a Garden City version of London that illustrate the scale of greening required to realise the benefits are presented. Practical application: This paper outlines a critical appraisal of the science and reasoning behind several cited benefits of greening cities. The specific potential benefits addressed are urban heat island mitigation, improved insulation, stormwater management, air pollution reduction, energy crop production, acoustic attenuation, food production and community gardening for health and wellbeing. A collection of concept designs, for London, UK, has been examined with the aim of estimating the extent, types and distributions of greenery that would be required to yield meaningful city-scale benefits. The work has direct relevance to city planning and the design of green infrastructure in London, UK; however, many of the issues covered are applicable to other cities worldwide.

A survey of cover crop practices and perceptions of sustainable farmers in North Carolina and the surrounding region

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 550-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. O'Connell ◽  
J.M. Grossman ◽  
G.D. Hoyt ◽  
W. Shi ◽  
S. Bowen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Cover Cropping ◽  
Survey Population ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Production Areas

AbstractThe environmental benefits of cover cropping are widely recognized but there is a general consensus that adoption levels are still quite low among US farmers. A survey was developed and distributed to more than 200 farmers engaged in two sustainable farming organizations in NC and the surrounding region to determine their level of utilization, current practices and perceptions related to cover cropping. The majority of farms surveyed had diverse crop production, production areas <8 ha, and total gross farm incomes <US$50,000. Approximately one-third of the survey population had an organic production component. Eighty-nine percent of participants had a crop rotation plan and 79% of the total survey population utilized cover cropping. More than 25 different cool- and warm-season cover crops were reported. The statements that generated the strongest agreement about cover crop benefits were that cover crops: increase soil organic matter, decrease soil erosion, increase soil moisture, contribute nitrogen to subsequent cash crops, suppress weeds, provide beneficial insect habitat and break hard pans with their roots. Economic costs associated with cover cropping were not viewed as an obstacle to implementation. A factor analysis was conducted to identify underlying themes from a series of positive and negative statements about cover crops. Pre- and post-management challenges were able to explain the most variability (30%) among participant responses. Overall, participants indicated that the incorporation of residues was their greatest challenge and that a lack of equipment, especially for no-till systems, influenced their decisions about cover cropping. Farmers did not always appear to implement practices that would maximize potential benefits from cover crops.

scholarly journals Agroforestry: An Appropriate and Sustainable Response to a Changing Climate in Southern Africa?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan P. Sheppard ◽  
Rafael Bohn Reckziegel ◽  
Lars Borrass ◽  
Paxie W. Chirwa ◽  
Claudio J. Cuaranhua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Income Generation ◽  
African Region ◽  
Climate Change Effects ◽  
Changing Climate ◽  
Policy Frameworks ◽  
Potential Benefits

Agroforestry is often discussed as a strategy that can be used both for the adaptation to and the mitigation of climate change effects. The climate of southern Africa is predicted to be severely affected by such changes. With agriculture noted as the continent’s largest economic sector, issues such as food security and land degradation are in the forefront. In the light of such concerns we review the current literature to investigate if agroforestry systems (AFS) are a suitable response to the challenges besetting traditional agricultural caused by a changing climate. The benefits bestowed by AFS are multiple, offering ecosystem services, influence over crop production and positive impacts on rural livelihoods through provisioning and income generation. Nevertheless, knowledge gaps remain. We identify outstanding questions requiring further investigation such as the interplay between trees and crops and their combination, with a discussion of potential benefits. Furthermore, we identify deficiencies in the institutional and policy frameworks that underlie the adoption and stimulus of AFS in the southern African region. We uphold the concept that AFS remains an appropriate and sustainable response for an increased resilience against a changing climate in southern Africa for the benefit of livelihoods and multiple environmental values.

POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW GREEN DEAL IN THE FIELD OF MINERAL FERTILIZATION ON THE YIELD OF MAIN AGRICULTURAL CROPS

2021 ◽  
Vol XXIII (2) ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
Mariusz Matyka
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Current Trend ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Upward Trend ◽  
Mineral Fertilization ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Rational Management ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
The Impact

The aim of the article is to estimate the impact of reducing the consumption of mineral fertilizers resulting from the New Green Deal assumptions on the yields of major crops in the 2030 perspective. The material for analysis was statistical data from the CSO and FAO. The collected data was processed dynamically by using trend analyzes and Pearson linear correlation. Maintaining the current trend of increasing the dose of NPK mineral fertilization will allow the use of crop production potential in Poland. On the other hand, the introduction of the NGD assumptions may result in a stagnation of crop yield at the current level. However, in relation to the scenario assuming the continuation of the current upward trend, these yields will be much lower. Reducing mineral fertilization introduced by means of an administrative decision without taking the principles of rational management of fertilizer components into consideration may have negative environmental consequences.

scholarly journals Impact of Farmland Change on Soybean Production Potential in Recent 40 Years: A Case Study in Western Jilin, China

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 1522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luoman Pu ◽  
Shuwen Zhang ◽  
Fei Li ◽  
Ranghu Wang ◽  
Jiuchun Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Land Resources ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Potential Models ◽  
Soybean Production ◽  
Eastern Area ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Western Jilin

During the last 40 years, the quantity and spatial patterns of farmland in Western Jilin have changed dramatically, which has had a great impact on soybean production potential. This study used one of the most advanced crop production potential models, the Global Agro-Ecological Zones model, to calculate the soybean production potential in Western Jilin based on meteorological, topography, soil and land use data, and analyzed the impact of farmland change on soybean production potential during 1975–2013. The main conclusions were the following: first, the total soybean production potential in Western Jilin in 2013 was 8.92 million tonnes, and the average soybean production potential was 1612 kg/ha. The production potential of eastern area was higher than the other areas of Western Jilin. Second, farmland change led to a growth of 3.30 million tonnes in soybean production potential between 1975 and 2000, and a decrease of 1.03 million tonnes between 2000 and 2013. Third, taking account of two situations of farmland change, the conversion between dryland and other categories, and the change of irrigation percentage led to the total soybean production potential in Western Jilin increased by 2.31 and only 0.28 million tonnes respectively between 1975 and 2000, and increased by 0.12 and 0.29 million tonnes respectively between 2000 and 2013. In general, the increase of soybean potential production was mainly due to grassland and woodland reclamation. The results of this study would be a good guideline for protecting safe baseline of farmland, managing land resources, and ensuring continuity and stability of soybean supply and food security.

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