Design, assessment and feasibility of legume-based cropping systems in three European regions

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 902 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Pelzer ◽  
C. Bourlet ◽  
G. Carlsson ◽  
R. J. Lopez-Bellido ◽  
E. S. Jensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Design Assessment ◽  
Chemical Inputs

Grain legumes in cropping systems result in agronomic and environmental benefits. Nevertheless, their areas in Europe have strongly decreased over the past decades. Our aim was to design locally adapted innovative cropping systems including grain legumes for three European local pedoclimatic contexts, to assess their sustainability, and to discuss their feasibility with stakeholders. The methodology included an initial diagnosis of the most frequent cropping systems and local improvement targets in each local context (e.g. improve legume profitability, limit diseases of legumes, reduce intensive use of chemical inputs in cropping systems), the design of innovative legume-based cropping systems during a common workshop, focusing on three aims ((i) decrease pesticide use, (ii) reduce mineral N fertiliser dependency, and (iii) increase yield stability of grain legume crops and other crops of the crop sequence), and their multicriteria sustainability assessment. Stakeholders meetings were organised in each local context to discuss the feasibility of implementing the innovative cropping systems in farmers’ fields (technical implementation of cropping systems and possibility of development of legume sectors). Four to five cropping systems were designed in each local context, with crop sequences longer than references. They included at least two grain legumes (pea, faba bean, chickpea, lentil or lupine), as sole crops or intercropped with cereals. Overall sustainability was similar or improved in 71% of the legume-based cropping systems compared with their corresponding references. Among the designed cropping systems, stakeholders identified feasible ones considering both technical issues and development of legume sectors. The results indicate that reintegrating more grain legumes in the three European local contexts tested will contribute to more sustainable farming systems.

Potential and realities of enhancing rapeseed- and grain legume-based protein production in a northern climate

2012 ◽  
Vol 151 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. PELTONEN-SAINIO ◽  
A. HANNUKKALA ◽  
E. HUUSELA-VEISTOLA ◽  
L. VOUTILA ◽  
J. NIEMI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soybean Meal ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Realistic Potential ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Self Sufficiency

SUMMARYCrop-based protein self-sufficiency in Finland is low. Cereals dominate the field cropping systems in areas that are also favourable for legumes and rapeseed. The present paper estimated the realistic potential for expanding protein crop production taking account of climatic conditions and constraints, crop rotation requirements, field sizes, soil types and likelihood for compacted soils in different regions. The potential for current expansion was estimated by considering climate change scenarios for 2025 and 2055. By using actual regional mean yields for the 2000s, without expecting any yield increase during the expansion period (due to higher risks of pests and diseases), potential production volumes were estimated. Since rapeseed, unlike grain legumes, is a not a true minor crop, its expansion potential is currently limited. Thus, most potential is from the introduction of legumes into cropping systems. The current 100000 ha of protein crops could be doubled, and areas under cultivation could reach 350000 and 390000 ha as a result of climate warming by 2025 and 2055, respectively. Such increases result mainly from the longer growing seasons projected for the northern cropping regions of Finland. Self-sufficiency in rapeseed could soon increase from 0·25 to 0·32, and then to 0·50 and 0·60 by 2025 and 2055, respectively. If legume production expands according to its potential, it could replace 0·50–0·60 of currently imported soybean meal, and by 2025 it could replace it completely. Replacement of soybean meal is suitable for ruminants, but it presents some problems for pig production, and is particularly challenging for poultry.

Nitrogen availability in a Darling Downs soil following cereal, oilseed and grain legume crops. 1. Soil nitrogen accumulation

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
WM Strong ◽  
J Harbison ◽  
RGH Nielsen ◽  
BD Hall ◽  
EK Best
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Availability ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Mineral Nitrogen ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Nitrogen Accumulation ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Soil Mineral Nitrogen ◽  
Mineral N

Available soil mineral nitrogen (N) was determined in a Darling Downs clay at intervals of 4-6 weeks throughout summer and autumn after harvest of two cereals (wheat and oats), two oilseeds (rapeseed and linseed), and four grain legumes (chickpea, fieldpea, lupin and lathyrus). Soil mineral N (0-1.2 m) at 40,68, 107, 150 and 185 days after harvest was affected (P < 0.05) by the prior crop. At 40 days it was generally higher following grain legumes (34-76 kg/ha N) than following oilseeds or cereals (16-30 kg/ha N). Net increase during the next 145 days was in the order of cereals (2 1-27 kg/ha N) < oilseeds (40 kg/ha N) <grain legumes (53-85 kg/ha N). These differences are partly accounted for by differences in the quantities of N removed in the grain of these crops. However, a large quantity of mineral N accumulated following lupin even though a large quantity (80 kg/ha) was removed in the grain.

scholarly journals Evaluating Different Catch Crop Strategies for Closing the Nitrogen Cycle in Cropping Systems—Field Experiments and Modelling

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 394
Author(s):  
Matthias Böldt ◽  
Friedhelm Taube ◽  
Iris Vogeler ◽  
Thorsten Reinsch ◽  
Christof Kluß ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Catch Crops ◽  
Cereal Grain

For arable stockless farming systems, the integration of catch crops (CC) during the fallow period might be a key for closing the nitrogen (N) cycle, reducing N leaching and increasing the transfer of N to the subsequent crop. However, despite considerable research efforts, the fate of N in such integrated systems remains unclear. To address this, a two-year field experiment was carried out in northern Germany with different CC, including frost-tolerant and frost-killed CC. The experiment started following a two-year ryegrass/red clover ley, which was subsequently sown with a cereal (CE) or a grain legume (field pea, PE). This provided two contrasting systems with high residual N in autumn. The results showed high N uptake of the CC, ranging from 84 to 136 kg N ha−1 with PE as the pre-crop, and from 33 to 110 kg N ha−1 with CE. All CC reduced N leaching compared with the control, a bare fallow over autumn/winter. Of the various CC, the frost-killed CC showed higher leaching compared with the other CCs, indicating mineralisation of the CC residue in the later autumn/winter period. The process based APSIM (Agricultural Production SIMulator) model was used to simulate N cycling for a cereal grain legume rotation, including a frost-killed and a frost resistant CC. While the model simulated the biomass and the N uptake by the crops, as well as the reduction of N leaching with the use of CC well, it under-estimated N leaching from the frost-killed CC. The study showed that all CC were affective at reducing N leaching, but winter hard catch crops should be preferred, as there is a risk of increased leaching following the mineralisation of residues from frost-killed CC.

Prospects to utilise intercrops and crop variety mixtures in mechanised, rain-fed, temperate cropping systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 1252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew L. Fletcher ◽  
John A. Kirkegaard ◽  
Mark B. Peoples ◽  
Michael J. Robertson ◽  
Jeremy Whish ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Hydraulic Redistribution ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Genotypic Differences ◽  
Potential Productivity ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Productivity Increase

Despite the potential productivity benefits, intercrops are not widely used in modern, mechanised grain cropping systems such as those practised in Australia, due to the additional labour required and the added complexity of management (e.g. harvesting and handling of mixed grain). In this review we investigate this dilemma using a two-dimensional matrix to categorise and evaluate intercropping systems. The first dimension describes the acquisition and use of resources in complementary or facilitative interactions that can improve resource use efficiency. The outcome of this resource use is often quantified using the land equivalent ratio (LER). This is a measure of the relative land area required as monocultures to produce the same yields as achieved by an intercrop. Thus, an LER greater than 1 indicates a benefit of the intercrop mixture. The second dimension describes the benefits to a farming system arising not only from the productivity benefits relating to increased LER, but from other often unaccounted benefits related to improved product quality, rotational benefits within the cropping system, or to reduced business risks. We contend that a successful intercrop must have elements in both dimensions. To date most intercropping research has considered only one of these two possible dimensions. Intercrops in large, mechanised, rain-fed farming systems can comprise those of annual legumes with non-legume crops to improve N nutrition, or other species combinations that improve water use through hydraulic redistribution (the process whereby a deep-rooted plant extracts water from deep in the soil profile and releases a small proportion of this into the upper layers of the soil at night), or alter disease, pest or weed interactions. Combinations of varieties within cereal varieties were also considered. For our focus region in the southern Australian wheatbelt, we found few investigations that adequately dealt with the systems implications of intercrops on weeds, diseases and risk mitigation. The three main intercrop groups to date were (1) ‘peaola’ (canola-field pea intercrops) where 70% of intercrops (n = 34) had a 50% productivity increase over the monocultures, (2) cereal-grain legume intercrops (n = 22) where 64% showed increases in crop productivity compared with monocultures and (3) mixtures of cereal varieties (n = 113) where there was no evidence of a productivity increase compared with the single varieties. Our review suggests that intercropping may have a role in large rain-fed grain cropping systems, based on the biophysical benefits revealed in the studies to date. However, future research to develop viable intercrop options should identify and quantify the genotypic differences within crop species for adaptation to intercropping, the long-term rotational benefits associated with intercrops, and the yield variability and complexity-productivity trade-offs in order to provide more confidence for grower adoption. Farming systems models will be central to many of these investigations but are likely to require significant improvement to capture important processes in intercrops (e.g. competition for water, nutrients and light).

scholarly journals The future of grain legumes in cropping systems

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Sinclair ◽  
Vincent Vadez
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Phosphorus Recovery ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Legume Production ◽  
Economic Constraints

Grain legume production is increasing worldwide due to their use directly as human food, feed for animals, and industrial demands. Further, grain legumes have the ability to enhance the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in cropping systems. Considering the increasing needs for human consumption of plant products and the economic constraints of applying fertiliser on cereal crops, we envision a greater role for grain legumes in cropping systems, especially in regions where accessibility and affordability of fertiliser is an issue. However, for several reasons the role of grain legumes in cropping systems has often received less emphasis than cereals. In this review, we discuss four major issues in increasing grain legume productivity and their role in overall crop production: (i) increased symbiotic nitrogen fixation capacity, (ii) increased phosphorus recovery from the soil, (iii) overcoming grain legume yield limitations, and (iv) cropping systems to take advantage of the multi-dimensional benefits of grain legumes.

scholarly journals Diversifying European agricultural systems by intercropping

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-186
Author(s):  
Erik S. Jensen ◽  
Iman R. Chongtham ◽  
Nawa R. Dhamala ◽  
Carolina Rodriguez ◽  
Nicolas Carton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Ecological Intensification ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Key Factor

Cropping system diversification is a key factor in developing more sustainable cropping and food systems. The agroecological practice of intercropping, meaning the simultaneous cultivation of two or more species in the same field, has recently gained renewed interest as a means of ecological intensification in European agricultural research. We discuss some recent research developments regarding 1) intercropping for ecological intensification in agroecological and conventional cropping systems, 2) studies on nitrogen resource use by cereal-grain legume intercropping cultivation, 3) the role of intercropping in the management of biotic stressors, especially weeds, and 4) intercropping as a means of creating cropping systems that are more resilient to the abiotic and biotic stress associated with climate change. Finally, we propose methods for the greater adoption of intercropping in European agriculture by unlocking farming systems from upstream and downstream barriers, with the aim of developing more sustainable agricultural and food systems.

scholarly journals Sustainability of Diversified Organic Cropping Systems—Challenges Identified by Farmer Interviews and Multi-Criteria Assessments

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Rodriguez ◽  
Linda-Maria Dimitrova Mårtensson ◽  
Mozhgan Zachrison ◽  
Georg Carlsson
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Crop Diversification ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Income Sources ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Sustainability Assessments

Diversification of cropping and farming systems is a central agroecological principle, which may improve resource use efficiency, reduce pests and diseases, diversify income sources, and enhance the resilience of the production. The main objective of this study was to identify challenges related to the sustainability of organic cropping systems that were diversified according to one or several of the following practices: diverse crop rotation, integration of cover crops, and intercropping. The sustainability assessments were made using a multi-criteria decision aid method (MCDA) and a framework based on the FAO Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agricultural Systems (SAFA) guidelines. Social, economic and environmental aspects were integrated in the sustainability assessments and combined with semi-structured interviews to identify and discuss farmer's perceptions of barriers to crop diversification and sustainability transition. The results showed that diversified organic cropping systems could achieve high overall sustainability, especially in the environmental dimension thanks to non-inputs of pesticides or mineral fertilizers and efficient use of resources. On the other hand, social and economic dimensions were more variable, with challenges of lower sustainability in profitability and management complexity for several of the diversified cropping systems. Limited access to knowledge, technology and markets for minor crops, and concerns about the consistency of policies were highlighted by farmers as barriers for crop diversification. We discuss how the identified challenges can be overcome and argue that fostering collaboration among stakeholders may increase investment capacity and improve access to new or alternative markets, thereby stimulating transitions toward more diversified and sustainable cropping systems.

scholarly journals Agro-ecological benefits of faba bean for rainfed Mediterranean cropping systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Ruisi ◽  
Gaetano Amato ◽  
Giuseppe Badagliacca ◽  
Alfonso Salvatore Frenda ◽  
Dario Giambalvo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Faba Bean ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Higher Plant ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Plant Soil ◽  
Subsequent Crop

This paper reviews the main results from a set of experiments carried out in a semiarid Mediterranean environment during the past 25 years on faba bean (<em>Vicia faba</em> L.), a crop traditionally grown in southern Italy and Sicily under rainfed conditions. These experiments focused on the residual effects of faba bean on subsequent crop(s) and assessment of the nitrogen (N) balance during the crop cycle, paying attention to both the environmental release of N (losses via volatilisation and denitrification) and estimates of N2 fixation as influenced by tillage system, intercropping, and presence/absence of mycorrhizal inoculum. Faba bean relied on N2 fixation more than other grain legumes typically grown in the Mediterranean region (<em>e.g.</em>, chickpea). Contributing reasons were the higher plant N demand of faba bean and its lower capacity to use soil mineral N. This implies higher N benefits for subsequent crop(s) as well as higher risk of N losses from the plant–soil– atmosphere system via leaching, denitrification, and volatilisation. Results from these experiments contribute to better defining the role of faba bean in Mediterranean agro-ecosystems and to identifying technical solutions that maximise the potential benefits of faba bean as a fertility-building crop.

scholarly journals Inclusion of grain legumes in rice based systems in the mid-hills of central Nepal

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 61-66
Author(s):  
R Khadka ◽  
MN Paudel
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Mung Bean ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Soil Condition ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Cropping Patterns ◽  
Agronomic Practices ◽  
Pod Yield ◽  
Central Nepal

Grain legumes are the important crops for improving soil condition and dietary status of humans. These crops could improve both soil and human health if grown in the prevailing farming systems. Keeping these view in mind, participatory varietals selection (PVS) on lentil (Lens esculents L.), mung bean (Vigna radiata ) and cowpea (Vigna ungiculuta) was conducted in the central mid hills (Ramechha and Sindhuli districts) of Nepal. Five varieties of lentil (ILL 7982, ILL 6829, ILL 7537, ILL 7723 and Simal), four of mung bean (VC 3960, Kalyan, Pratiksha and Farmers' Local) and cowpea (Surya, Prakash, IT 86-2089-5F and America) were tested at different locations of those districts under rice-wheat-fallow and rice-fallow-maize systems during 2007 to 2009. All of those varieties were tested in farmers’ field condition keeping farmers as a replication in RCB design with ten replications for each crop. Agronomic practices were performed by farmers as and when necessary. Among the tested varieties of lentil, ILL 7982 produced the highest grain yield of 1347 kg/ha whereas Sital produced the lowest grain yield of 1003kg/ha. Similarly for mung bean, the variety VC 3960 gave the highest grain yield of 1145kg/ha and Pratiksha produced the lowest grain yield of 975 kg/ha. Likewise, among the tested varieties of cowpea, America gave the highest pod yield of 5320 kg/ha and Prakash gave the lowest pod yield of 3400 kg/ha. These varieties were identified suitable for further promotion in different cropping patterns such as rice-lentil- maize, rice-maize/mung bean, ricemaize/ cowpea systems. Simple economic analysis of the cropping systems under question indicated that inclusion of legumes in the systems seemed highly lucrative compared to maize and wheat. Therefore, it is anticipated that integration of legumes in the systems could enrich soil as well as it would be beneficial to farmers because of nutritional status attractive price in the market of these crops. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajn.v1i0.7543 Agronomy Journal of Nepal (Agron JN) Vol. 1: 2010 pp.61-66

Nitrogen availability in a Darling Downs soil following cereal, oilseed and grain legume crops. 2. Effects of residual soil nitrogen and fertiliser nitrogen on subsequent wheat crops

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
WM Strong ◽  
J Harbison ◽  
RHG Nielsen ◽  
BD Hall ◽  
EK Best
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Wheat Grain ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Top Soil

Two dryland wheat crops were grown in 1977 and 1978 following each of 18 cereal, oilseed, or grain legume crops grown in 1976 on a black earth soil on the Darling Downs of Queensland. Combined grain yields of the two crops following the grain legumes fieldpea, lathyrus, lentil and lupin cv. Ultra were higher (P< 0.05) than those following all cereal and oilseed crops except canary seed, safflower and rapeseed cv. Torch. Urea (0-90 kg/ha N), applied to wheat in 1977 on a site adjacent to the crop comparison experiment, had little effect on grain yield in that year. However, in 1978, wheat responded to residues of these applications up to the 50 kg/ha N rate. Variation in wheat yields following the 18 crops appeared to be related to nitrogen (N) supply. The quantity of N assimilated into wheat grain was directly related to the quantity of soil mineral N to a depth of 1.2 m when the 1977 crop was planted. This varied from 37 kg/ha N after oats to 160 kg/ha N after lathyrus. Efficiency of recovery of soil mineral N by the 1977 wheat crop was very low, due probably to the unavailability of N in top soil during the dry winter. Poor availability of N in the top soil was also the most likely cause of a similarly low recovery of fertiliser N applied to the 1977 wheat crop. There was a better apparent recovery of N by the second wheat crop; soil mineral N levels for all treatments had declined to between 17 and 28 kg/ha N after crop harvest. In spite of a low overall efficiency of N uptake by wheat in 1977, more N was assimilated into the grain following legumes (27-39 kg/ha) than following cereals (1 6-2 1 kg/ha), even when fertilised with up to 90 kg/ha N (19 kg/ha). The presence of mineral N in subsoil layers (0.3-0.9 m) following legumes was considered responsible for relatively high grain yields and N uptakes of the following wheat crop in this season of limited growing-season rainfall. Protein concentration of wheat grain was generally higher following grain legumes than following all cereals or oilseeds except safflower. Grain protein concentration was increased by the application of N fertiliser, but fertilised wheat in 1977 generally showed a lower protein content than wheat following grain legumes. However, the second wheat crop following most legumes (except lathyrus) showed a protein content similar to the second wheat crop following N fertiliser application.

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