Socio-Ecological Niches for Minimum Tillage and Crop-Residue Retention in Continuous Maize Cropping Systems in Smallholder Farms of Central Kenya

2012 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 188-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Guto ◽  
P. Pypers ◽  
B. Vanlauwe ◽  
N. de Ridder ◽  
K. E. Giller
Keyword(s):  
Crop Residue ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
Minimum Tillage ◽  
Continuous Maize ◽  
Residue Retention ◽  
Central Kenya

EFFECT OF REDUCED TILLAGE AND MINERAL FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON MAIZE AND SOYBEAN PRODUCTIVITY

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. KIHARA ◽  
A. BATIONO ◽  
B. WASWA ◽  
J. M. KIMETU ◽  
B. VANLAUWE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Residue ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Continuous Maize

SUMMARYReduced tillage is said to be one of the potential ways to reverse land degradation and ultimately increase the productivity of degrading soils of Africa. We hypothesised that crop yield following a modest application of 2 t ha−1 of crop residue in a reduced tillage system is similar to the yield obtained from a conventional tillage system, and that incorporation of legumes in a cropping system leads to greater economic benefits as opposed to a cropping system involving continuous maize. Three cropping systems (continuous maize monocropping, legume/maize intercropping and rotation) under different tillage and residue management systems were tested in sub-humid western Kenya over 10 seasons. While soybean performed equally well in both tillage systems throughout, maize yield was lower in reduced than conventional tillage during the first five seasons but no significant differences were observed after season 6. Likewise, with crop residue application, yields in conventional and reduced tillage systems are comparable after season 6. Nitrogen and phosphorus increased yield by up to 100% compared with control. Gross margins were not significantly different among the cropping systems being only 6 to 39% more in the legume–cereal systems relative to similar treatments in continuous cereal monocropping system. After 10 seasons of reduced tillage production, the economic benefits for our cropping systems are still not attractive for a switch from the conventional to reduced tillage.

scholarly journals The effect of crop residues, cover crops, manures and nitrogen fertilization on soil organic carbon changes in agroecosystems: a synthesis of reviews

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 929-952
Author(s):  
Martin A. Bolinder ◽  
Felicity Crotty ◽  
Annemie Elsen ◽  
Magdalena Frac ◽  
Tamás Kismányoky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Residue Retention

Abstract International initiatives are emphasizing the capture of atmospheric CO2 in soil organic C (SOC) to reduce the climatic footprint from agroecosystems. One approach to quantify the contribution of management practices towards that goal is through analysis of long-term experiments (LTEs). Our objectives were to analyze knowledge gained in literature reviews on SOC changes in LTEs, to evaluate the results regarding interactions with pedo-climatological factors, and to discuss disparities among reviews in data selection criteria. We summarized mean response ratios (RRs) and stock change rate (SCR) effect size indices from twenty reviews using paired comparisons (N). The highest RRs were found with manure applications (30%, N = 418), followed by aboveground crop residue retention and the use of cover crops (9–10%, N = 995 and 129), while the effect of nitrogen fertilization was lowest (6%, N = 846). SCR for nitrogen fertilization exceeded that for aboveground crop residue retention (233 versus 117 kg C ha−1 year−1, N = 183 and 279) and was highest for manure applications and cover crops (409 and 331 kg C ha−1 year−1, N = 217 and 176). When data allows, we recommend calculating both RR and SCR because it improves the interpretation. Our synthesis shows that results are not always consistent among reviews and that interaction with texture and climate remain inconclusive. Selection criteria for study durations are highly variable, resulting in irregular conclusions for the effect of time on changes in SOC. We also discuss the relationships of SOC changes with yield and cropping systems, as well as conceptual problems when scaling-up results obtained from field studies to regional levels.

scholarly journals Long-term cropping system studies support intensive and responsive cropping systems in the low-rainfall Australian Mallee

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 553 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Whitbread ◽  
C. W. Davoren ◽  
V. V. S. R. Gupta ◽  
R. Llewellyn ◽  
the late D. Roget
Keyword(s):  
Crop Residue ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Continuous Cropping ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
No Till ◽  
Residue Retention ◽  
Term Field

Continuous-cropping systems based on no-till and crop residue retention have been widely adopted across the low-rainfall cereal belt in southern Australia in the last decade to manage climate risk and wind erosion. This paper reports on two long-term field experiments that were established in the late 1990s on texturally different soil types at a time of uncertainty about the profitability of continuous-cropping rotations in low-rainfall environments. Continuous-cereal systems significantly outyielded the traditional pasture–wheat systems in five of the 11 seasons at Waikerie (light-textured soil), resulting in a cumulative gross margin of AU$1600 ha–1 after the initial eight seasons, almost double that of the other treatments. All rotation systems at Kerribee (loam-textured soil) performed poorly, with only the 2003 season producing yields close to 3 t ha–1 and no profit achieved in the years 2004–08. For low-rainfall environments, the success of a higher input cropping system largely depends on the ability to offset the losses in poor seasons by capturing greater benefits from good seasons; therefore, strategies to manage climatic risk are paramount. Fallow efficiency, or the efficiency with which rainfall was stored during the period between crops, averaged 17% at Kerribee and 30% at Waikerie, also indicating that soil texture strongly influences soil evaporation. A ‘responsive’ strategy of continuous cereal with the occasional, high-value ‘break crop’ when seasonal conditions are optimal is considered superior to fixed or pasture–fallow rotations for controlling grass, disease or nutritional issues.

scholarly journals Residue retention promotes soil carbon accumulation in minimum tillage systems: Implications for conservation tillage

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Li ◽  
Zhou Li ◽  
Scott X. Chang ◽  
Song Cui ◽  
Sindhu Jagadamma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Texture ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Carbon Accumulation ◽  
Minimum Tillage ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Double Cropping ◽  
Soc Stock ◽  
Residue Retention

AbstractCrop residue retention and minimum tillage (including no-tillage, NT, and reduced tillage, RT) are common conservation tillage practices that have been extensively practised for improving soil health and reducing the negative environmental impact caused by intensive farming. However, the complex effect of conservation tillage practices on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage has not been systematically analyzed, and particularly, the synergistic effect of crop residue retention and minimum tillage on SOC storage remains nonexistent. We conducted a global meta-analysis using a dataset consisting of 823 pairs of data points from 164 studies. We analyzed the effect of crop residue retention and minimum tillage on SOC storage and how the above effects were influenced by various soil/environmental (soil sampling depth, soil texture, and climate) and management conditions (cropping intensity and treatment duration). We found that either residue retention or minimum tillage alone increased SOC stock, while the former increased SOC more. The NT and RT increased SOC stock by 10 and 6%, respectively, in comparison to conventional tillage (CT). The NT plus residue retention (NTS) and RT plus residue retention (RTS) resulted in 20 and 26% more increase in SOC than NT and RT, respectively. Compared with CT, NTS and RTS further increased SOC stock by 29 and 27%, respectively. The above effects were greater in the topsoil than in the subsoil. Availability of initial soil nutrient played a greater role in affecting SOC stock than climatic conditions and management practices. Both residue retention and NT increased SOC rapidly in the first 6 years regardless of soil texture or climate condition, followed by a period of slower sequestration phase before reaching a slow steady rate. Double cropping generally increased SOC stock across all conservation tillage practices as compared to single or multiple cropping. Therefore, we conclude that minimum tillage coupled with residue retention in a double cropping system is the most beneficial management system for increasing cropland SOC storage, which can inform sustainable soil management practices aimed at increasing global C sequestration.

scholarly journals Conservation agriculture options for a Rice-Maize cropping systems in Bangladesh

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 44-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
AKM Saiful Islam ◽  
MM Hossain ◽  
MA Saleque
Keyword(s):  
Oryza Sativa L ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Minimum Tillage ◽  
Land Preparation ◽  
Single Pass ◽  
Strip Tillage ◽  
Residue Retention

Over the last two decades, Rice (Oryza sativa L.)-Maize (Zea mays L.) cropping systems have become one of the most dominant cropping systems in Bangladesh. This has coincided with the expansion in use of two-wheel tractors, which has facilitated options for minimum tillage. A three-year trial examined the prospects of conservation agriculture practices for Rice-Maize cropping in Bangladesh, with respect to minimum tillage and residue retention. Main plot tillage treatments of conventional full tillage, single pass wet tillage in rice (rotated with zero tillage in maize), bed planting and strip tillage were combined with residue retention treatments of 0, 50 and 100% in sub-plots. Compared to conventional tillage, minimum tillage saved 60-66% of fuel and 70-74% of labour required for land preparation. Although minimum tillage reduced the land preparation cost significantly through saving fuel and labour, weed infestation was higher compared to conventional tillage, which influenced the cost of production. Rice seedlings transplanted under unpuddled strip tillage required more time than in conventional or single pass wet tillage due to poor visibility of strips and the hard surface of untilled soil. Bed planting incurred the lowest production cost. Tillage methods and residue treatment produced no significant grain yield differences. Rice grown with single pass wet tillage and maize grown with strip tillage gave the highest gross margin over time. Despite lack of treatment effects on yields, the results suggest that profitability of Rice-Maize cropping could be increased with minimum tillage, provided there is adequate control of weeds by herbicides.Bangladesh Rice j. 2014, 18(1&2): 44-53

Regional application of a cropping systems simulation model: crop residue retention in maize production systems of Jalisco, Mexico

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.D Hartkamp ◽  
J.W White ◽  
W.A.H Rossing ◽  
M.K van Ittersum ◽  
E.J Bakker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Model ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Systems Simulation ◽  
Model Crop ◽  
Residue Retention

Assessing climate adaptation options for cereal-based systems in the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains, South Asia

2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (03) ◽  
pp. 189-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Tesfaye ◽  
A. Khatri-Chhetri ◽  
P. K. Aggarwal ◽  
F. Mequanint ◽  
P. B. Shirsath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Climate Scenarios ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Intensive Cropping ◽  
Residue Retention

AbstractNew farming systems and management options are needed in South Asia as the intensive rice–wheat production system is set to become increasingly unsustainable under climate change. In the current study, six cropping systems options/treatments varying in tillage, crop establishment method, residue management, crop sequence and fertilizer and water management were evaluated using a cropping systems model under current (1980–2009) and future (2030 and 2050) climate scenarios in the state of Bihar, India. The treatments were current farmers' practice (CP), best fertilizer and water management practices, zero tillage (ZT) with no crop residue retention, ZT with partial crop residue retention (ZTPR), future conservation agriculture-based rice–wheat intensive cropping system (FCS-1) and future conservation agriculture-based maize–wheat intensive cropping system (FCS-2). The results indicate that climate change is likely to reduce rice–wheat system productivity under CP by 4% across Bihar. All the crop management options studied increased yield, water productivity and net returns over that of the CP under the current and future climate scenarios. However, the ZTPR treatment gave significantly higher relative yield, lower annual yield variability and a higher benefit-cost-ratio than the other treatments across cropping system components and climate periods. Although all the new cropping system treatments had a positive yield implication under the current climate (compared to CP), they did not contribute to adaptation under the future climate except FCS-2 in wheat. It is concluded that adaptation to future climate must integrate both cropping system innovations, and genetic improvements in stress tolerance.

scholarly journals Establishment of Crops under Minimal Soil Disturbance and Crop Residue Retention in Rice-Based Cropping System: Yield Advantage, Soil Health Improvement, and Economic Benefit

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 581
Author(s):  
Nazmus Salahin ◽  
Mohammad Jahiruddin ◽  
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam ◽  
Md. Khairul Alam ◽  
M. Enamul Haque ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Economic Return ◽  
Extractable P ◽  
Seasonally Flooded ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Residue Retention

Minimum soil disturbance and increased crop residue retention practices are promising options to enhance soil organic matter, nutrient concentration and crop yield. However, the potentials of the practices in improving soil properties, increasing crop yield and in ensuring economic return have not been tested in the monsoon rice (Oryza sativa L.)‑lentil (Lens culinaris L.)/wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)‑jute (Corchorus culinaris L.) cropping systems on seasonally flooded lowlands of the Eastern Gangetic Plain of South Asia. A field trial for consecutive three years was conducted in the Gangetic Plains of Bangladesh to evaluate the effects of zero tillage (ZT), strip-tillage (ST), bed planting (BP) and conventional tillage (CT) with two residue retention levels (RL—a low level similar to current farmers’ practice and RH—increased retention) on soil properties, yield and economic return. Between rice and jute crops, lentil was grown for the 1st and 2nd years and wheat for the 3rd year during the dry winter season. The ST and BP performed better than the CT and ZT in terms of yield of rice and lentil, whereas ST and ZT performed better than other practices in the case of jute. Higher residue retention (RH) increased crop yield for all the years. The highest rice equivalent yield (sum of 3 crop yields, expressed as rice yield) and the greatest benefit-cost ratio (BCR) were recorded with ST and RH. The increased yield in the ST was associated with reduced soil bulk density (BD), while ST with RH increased soil water (SW) and decreased penetration resistance (PR) of soil. Compared to CT, minimum soil disturbance of ZT and ST increased soil organic matter (SOM) stock by 24% and 23%, respectively; total nitrogen (TN) by 23.5% and 18.4%, respectively; extractable sulphur (S) by 21% and 18%, respectively; whereas Zinc (Zn) concentrations increased by 53% and 47%, respectively, in the upper 0–5 cm soil depth. Accumulation of extractable P, S and Zn in the 0–5 cm depth of soil followed the sequence as ZT > ST > BP > CT practice. The higher amount of residue retention significantly increased SOM, TN and extractable P, K, S and Zn concentrations at 0–5 cm and 5–10 cm soil depths. The 3-year study suggests that ST with RH is a potential crop management approach for the seasonally flooded rice-lentil/wheat-jute cropping systems to enhance soil nutrients status, crop yield and farm economy.

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