scholarly journals Long-term effect of farming systems on the yield of crop rotation and soil nutrient content

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
INDREK KERES ◽  
Maarika Alaru ◽  
Viacheslav Eremeev ◽  
Liina Talgre ◽  
Anne Luik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Organic System ◽  
Wheat Field

The effects of organic (manure, cover crop) and mineral fertilisers on total yield, soil phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) dynamics and soil pH changes were studied over 10 years. Five field crops (spring barley, red clover, winter wheat, field pea, potato) were grown organically and conventionally in rotation. The total yield of the five crops fertilized similarly was 24–25% higher in conventionally fertilised treatments than in organic treatments. The higher yielding conventionally fertilised treatments (annual total yield 29.0–29.8 t ha–1) removed 12–18 kg ha–1 P and 45–73 kg ha–1 K per year, which was respectively 28–35% and 28–40% higher than organic treatments. The soil became more acidic in the conventional system (pH 5.4–5.9 versus 5.9–6.3). The highest annual P and K uptake was by potato, followed by winter wheat. Use of winter cover crops and composted cattle manure in the organic system did not maintain the levels of P and K in the soil at baseline.

scholarly journals The Effects of Crops Together with Winter Cover Crops on the Content of Soil Water-Stable Aggregates in Organic Farming

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1035
Author(s):  
Mihkel Are ◽  
Tanel Kaart ◽  
Are Selge ◽  
Endla Reintam
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Soil Aggregates ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Farmyard Manure ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops

The stability of the soil aggregates is an important soil quality indicator, as it affects the soil’s overall functionality. As the soil aggregates are highly affected by agricultural practices, it is essential to know how crops interact with the aggregation process. Therefore, for obtaining more knowledge, this research was conducted in Estonia in an organic crop rotation field experiment from 2012/2013 through 2015/2016 to study the effects of crops (potato → spring barley undersown with red clover → red clover → winter wheat → pea) under different treatments (TC—control; TW—winter cover crops; TW+M—TW with farmyard manure 40 Mg ha−1 per crop rotation). The results showed that in the topsoil (5–10 cm), the soil water-stable aggregate (WSA) content (determined by the wet sieving method) from highest to lowest was following: pea (61.7%), winter wheat (61.6%), spring barley (61.5%), red clover (59.3%), potato (57.1%); whereas in the subsoil (30–35 cm): potato (50.6%), pea (48.5%), red clover (47.9%), spring barley (47.7%), winter wheat (46.4%). Therefore, potato was a noticeable crop, as among the crops, it had the lowest WSA content in the topsoil, while highest in the subsoil. The results shown gave an assumption that the after-effects of some crops (foremost with pea) were noticeable in the soil properties during the following crop. In the topsoil, the differences between crops were significant among crops just for TW and TW+M treatments. In TW, potato was lower than spring barley and winter wheat, but not significantly lower than pea or red clover. In the subsoil, significant differences between crops were observed for TC and TW treatments: in TC, potato was just significantly greater than red clover (but similar to other crops), and in TW, significantly greater than winter wheat. Furthermore, in the topsoil the soil organic carbon (SOC) content was not significantly affected by crops, and the use of winter cover crops generally increased the SOC content while concurrently decreased the WSA content and the soil maximum water holding capacity. This was probably caused by the additional tillage operations which cancelled out the possible benefits for the soil aggregates. As a consequence of the constantly declining SOC content, caused by the weakened soil aggregates, the plant-available P and K contents, especially in the absence of manure applications, decreased as well, probably due to the combination of fixation and removal of plant biomass. Therefore, it is expected that by continuing this trend, the plant growing conditions decline, which in turn will have a negative effect for the aggregate formation and carbon sequestration, which are essential for plant growth.

scholarly journals Temporal Change of Soil Carbon on a Long-Term Experimental Site with Variable Crop Rotations and Tillage Systems

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Laamrani ◽  
Paul R. Voroney ◽  
Aaron A. Berg ◽  
Adam W. Gillespie ◽  
Michael March ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
No Till

The impacts of tillage practices and crop rotations are fundamental factors influencing changes in the soil carbon, and thus the sustainability of agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to compare soil carbon status and temporal changes in topsoil from different 4 year rotations and tillage treatments (i.e., no-till and conventional tillage). Rotation systems were primarily corn and soy-based and included cereal and alfalfa phases along with red clover cover crops. In 2018, soil samples were collected from a silty-loam topsoil (0–15 cm) from the 36 year long-term experiment site in southern Ontario, Canada. Total carbon (TC) contents of each sample were determined in the laboratory using combustion methods and comparisons were made between treatments using current and archived samples (i.e., 20 year and 9 year change, respectively) for selected crop rotations. Overall, TC concentrations were significantly higher for no-till compared with conventional tillage practices, regardless of the crop rotations employed. With regard to crop rotation, the highest TC concentrations were recorded in corn–corn–oats–barley (CCOB) rotations with red clover cover crop in both cereal phases. TC contents were, in descending order, found in corn–corn–alfalfa–alfalfa (CCAA), corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW) with 1 year of seeded red clover, and corn–corn–corn–corn (CCCC). The lowest TC concentrations were observed in the corn–corn–soybean–soybean (CCSS) and corn–corn–oats–barley (CCOB) rotations without use of cover crops, and corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW). We found that (i) crop rotation varieties that include two consecutive years of soybean had consistently lower TC concentrations compared with the remaining rotations; (ii) TC for all the investigated plots (no-till and/or tilled) increased over the 9 year and 20 year period; (iii) the no-tilled CCOB rotation with 2 years of cover crop showed the highest increase of TC content over the 20 year change period time; and (iv) interestingly, the no-till continuous corn (CCCC) rotation had higher TC than the soybean–soybean–corn–corn (SSCC) and corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW). We concluded that conservation tillage (i.e., no-till) and incorporation of a cover crop into crop rotations had a positive effect in the accumulation of TC topsoil concentrations and could be suitable management practices to promote soil fertility and sustainability in our agricultural soils.

scholarly journals Xanthomonas Wilt of Banana Drives Changes in Land-Use and Ecosystem Services Across Infected Landscapes

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Ocimati ◽  
Jeroen J. C. Groot ◽  
Pablo Tittonell ◽  
Godfrey Taulya ◽  
Jules Ntamwira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
African Great Lakes ◽  
Soil Nutrient Content ◽  
Chemical Attributes

Changes in land-use have been observed in banana-based systems in the African Great Lakes region affected by Xanthomonas wilt disease (XW) of banana. Through focus group discussions (FGDs) and the 4-cell method (to map the area under production and the number of households involved), changes in land-use were assessed in 13 XW-affected landscapes/villages along a 230 km transect from Masisi (where XW arrived in 2001) to Bukavu (XW arrived around 2014) in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Farmers’ perceptions on the sustainability of new land uses were also documented. Soil nutrient content and erosion levels were measured for five major land-use options/trajectories on 147 fields across 55 farms in three landscapes along the transect. From banana being ranked the most important crop (92% of landscapes) before XW outbreaks, its importance had declined, with it grown on smaller farms by most households in 36% of the landscapes, while in 64% of cases by few households on smaller plots. Farmers uprooted entire banana mats or fields, expanding land under other crops. Species richness did not change at landscape level, although 21 crops were introduced at farm level. Banana is, however, still perceived as more sustainable due to its multi-functional roles. Soils under banana had better chemical attributes, while high erosion levels (Mg ha−1 year−1) occurred under cassava (1.7–148.9) compared with banana (0.3–10.7) and trees (0.3–5.9). The shifts from banana could thus affect supply of key services and sustainability of the farming systems. This study offers a good basis for interventions in XW-affected landscapes.

scholarly journals Undersown cover crops have limited weed suppression potential when reducing tillage intensity in organically grown cereals

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Salonen ◽  
E. Ketoja
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Perennial Weeds ◽  
Weed Infestation

Abstract Adoption of reduced tillage in organic cropping has been slow, partly due to concerns about increasing weed infestation. Undersown cover crops (CCs) are considered to be a feasible option for weed management but their potential for weed suppression is insufficiently investigated in low-till organic cropping. The possibilities to reduce primary tillage by introducing CCs to maintain weed infestation at a level that does not substantially jeopardize crop yield were studied in a field experiment in southern Finland during 2015–2017. Eight different CC mixtures were undersown in cereals and the response in weed occurrence was consecutively assessed in spring barley, winter wheat, and finally, as a subsequent effect, in spring wheat. Growth of CCs was too slow to prevent the flush of early emerging weeds in spring barley whereas in winter wheat, CCs succeeded in hindering the growth of weeds. However, CCs could not prevent the increase of perennial weeds in a reduced tillage system in which the early growth of spring wheat was retarded in cool 2017. Consequently, after 2 years of reduced tillage, weed biomass was about 2.6 times higher and spring wheat yield was 30% lower than in plowed plots, respectively. No major differences in weed control efficacy among CC treatments were evident. A grain yield benefit was recorded after repeated use of leguminous CCs. The need for long-term field studies remains of particular interest regarding post-harvest performance and influence of CCs on perennial weeds before the inversion tillage.

scholarly journals Effect of Fertilizers on the Yield of Alternative Small Grains

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
Željko Dolijanović ◽  
Dušan Kovačević ◽  
Snežana Oljača ◽  
Svetlana Roljević Nikolić ◽  
Srđan Šeremešić
Keyword(s):  
Triticum Aestivum ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Wheat Variety ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Control Treatment

SummaryThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of organic farming technologies on the yield of alternative types of wheat: hard wheat (Triticum durum), spelt (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta) and a common variety of (soft) winter wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare). The experiment was carried out during 2010-11 and 2011-12, at the Radmilovac experimental field of the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade, according to the randomized block design in four replications. In addition to the control treatment (without fertilizers), microbiological fertilizers were applied in topdressing (alone) and in combination with organic fertilizer before sowing. Crops were grown under a four-crop rotation on leached chernozem in the rainfed water regime. The average yields of the varieties examined were not significantly different depending on the growing year, whereas fertilization showed a highly significant effect on the grain yield. The combined application of microbiological and organic fertilizers resulted in the highest yields in both years (5,209 and 4,992 kg ha-1, respectively). The selected wheat varieties exhibited different responses to the treatments applied. The highest yield was observed in the common soft wheat variety examined (5,170 and 5,611 kg ha-1), whereas the lowest in durum wheat (3,138 and 2,429 kg ha-1). The analysis of experimental factor interactions showed that statistically significant effects on the yield could be attributed to the year-fertilization interaction. The wheat yields obtained are similar to those observed in the conventional production system due to favorable weather conditions and a proper selection of the type and sequence of crops that are part of the four-crop rotation (winter wheat, maize, spring barley + red clover, and red clover).

scholarly journals Enzymatic Activity of Loess Soil in Organic and Conventional Farming Systems

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cezary A. Kwiatkowski ◽  
Elżbieta Harasim ◽  
Beata Feledyn-Szewczyk ◽  
Jacek Antonkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Loess Soil ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Organic System ◽  
Organic And Conventional Farming

This study was conducted over the period 2017–2019 in Czesławice (central Lublin region, Poland). The aim of the present study was to compare chemical soil quality parameters (soil pH, available P and K, organic carbon, and total nitrogen content) and soil enzymatic activity (dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, urease, protease) in organic and conventional farming systems. The experimental design included two crop rotations (organic and conventional) in which identical plant species were grown: sugar beet-spring barley-red clover-winter wheat-oats. The loess soil on which the experiment was conducted was characterized by the grain size distribution of silt loam, and this soil was categorized as good wheat soil complex (soil class II). The experiment was set up as a split-plot design in triplicate in plots with an area of 40 m2. Soil sampling was carried out using a soil auger within an area of 0.20 m2 (from the 0 to 20 cm layer) in each plot during the autumn period. Over the 3-year study period, it was found that the organic system contributed to an increased soil content of organic carbon and total nitrogen. Moreover, a significantly higher soil pH value and a favorable narrow C/N ratio were found under the organic system (regardless of the crop species). Under the conventional system, in turn, a higher soil phosphorus and potassium content was observed. Enzymatic tests of the soil in the five-field crop rotation proved significantly higher activity of all the enzymes studied (in particular that of dehydrogenase, protease, and urease) in the organic system relative to the conventional one, regardless of the crop plant. Among the plants grown in crop rotation, sugar beet, and red clover had the most beneficial effect on the activity of the soil enzymes, followed by oats (especially under the organic system). The activity of the studied enzymes in the organic system was positively correlated (statistically significantly) with favorable soil pH, a higher content of organic C, and total N, and C/N ratio.

Agriculture in central Tibet: an assessment of climate, farming systems, and strategies to boost production

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Paltridge ◽  
Jin Tao ◽  
Murray Unkovich ◽  
Alessandra Bonamano ◽  
Alexandra Gason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Stubble Retention ◽  
Tibet Autonomous Region

In the south of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China there is a network of valleys where intensive agriculture is practiced. Although considered highly productive by Tibetans, farm incomes in the region are low, leading to a range of government initiatives to boost grain and fodder production. However, there is limited information available on current farming practices, yields, and likely yield constraints. The present paper uses available data and farmer interviews to describe the agro-climate and current systems of crop and livestock production, and considers possible strategies to boost production. Although winters in Tibet are cold and dry, summer and autumn provide ideal conditions for crop growth. Cropping systems are characterised by heavy tillage, frequent irrigation, high seeding rates and fertiliser applications, some use of herbicides, and little stubble retention or mechanisation. Spring barley and winter wheat are the predominant crops, followed by rapeseed, winter barley, and minor fodder and vegetable crops. Average yields for the main grain crops are around 4.0 t/ha for spring barley and 4.5 t/ha for winter wheat, significantly lower than should be possible in the environment. Farmers typically keep five or six cattle tethered near the household. Cattle are fed diets based on crop residues but are generally malnourished and rarely produce beyond the needs of the family. It is suggested that research and extension in the areas of crop nutrition, weed control, irrigation, seeding technology, and crop varieties should enable significant increases in grain yield. Increases in cattle production will require increases in the supply of good quality fodder. Cereal/fodder intercrops or double crops sown using no-till seed drills might enable the production of useful amounts of fodder in many areas without jeopardising food grain supply, and allow more crop residues to be retained in fields for improved soil health.

Reduced tillage in temperate organic farming: Effects on soil nutrients, nutrient content and yield of barley, rye and associated weeds

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Vakali ◽  
Johann G. Zaller ◽  
Ulrich Köpke
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Soil Nutrients ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Nutrient Contents ◽  
Wheat Field ◽  
Long Term Experiment

AbstractIn temperate regions, reduced tillage is still not broadly accepted in organic farming although the guidelines often recommend the reduction of tillage intensity. During the years 5–7 of a long-term experiment, we studied the effects of the three tillage systems moldboard plowing (MP, soil inversion to 30 cm depth), two-layer plowing (TP, inversion to 15 cm, loosening to 30 cm) and layer cultivation (LC, loosening to 30 cm) on soil nutrients, nutrient content of barley, rye and associated weeds, and yield on a clay loam soil. Crops were cultivated within a five-course crop rotation consisting of green fallow, winter wheat, field peas, winter rye and spring barley; no additional fertilizers were applied. Tillage affected only soil nitrate under barley, which decreased with decreasing tillage intensity. Soil humus, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were unaffected by tillage under both crops. Barley shoot nitrogen content was significantly influenced by tillage, with, across years, 38 and 83% higher values under MP than under TP or LC, respectively. Weeds in barley had a higher P and K content at LC than at MP or TP. This resulted, across years, in 73% higher barley yields in MP than in LC. The TP showed a 29% higher barley yield than the LC. Tillage methods had no effect on rye nutrient contents, rye yields or on weeds associated with rye. The significant interaction between tillage and year for rye yield suggests that weather conditions in a given year (e.g., amount of rainfall) can considerably alter the effect of reduced tillage.

scholarly journals Healthiness and fungus composition of barley roots under organic, integrated and conventional farming systems

2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26
Author(s):  
Anna Baturo ◽  
Czesław Sadowski ◽  
Jan Kuś
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Bipolaris Sorokiniana ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Maturity Stage ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Conventional System ◽  
Organic System ◽  
Disease Symptoms

The researched material was healthiness of roots and fungus composition of spring barley cultivated under organic, integrated and conventional farming systems. The studies were carried out in 1998-2001 on experimental fields in Osiny near Puławy, south-eastern Poland. In the emergence stage the roots health status was the lowest in organic system however in the end of vegetation season, in dough maturity stage the most disease symptoms were stated in conventional system. The mycological analyses revealed the occurrence of two important pathogens: <i>Bipolaris sorokiniana</i> and <i>Fusarium</i> spp. Despite of root healthiness macroscopic analyses showed their lower health status in organic system only in emergence stage and the most quantity of plants with disease symptoms in dough maturity stage were observed in conventional system, but pathogens like <i>Bipolaris sorokiniana</i> and <i>Fusarium</i> spp. were mostly isolated in organic system in both phases. It can suggest that disease symptoms in conventional system can be caused by different than fungus factors. The lowest percent of mentioned pathogens was stated in integrated system. It is worth to notice that organic conditions could be favourable to <i>Gliocladium roseum</i>. Because of growing interest in ecology, giving up of using pesticides and more and more popular biological disease control, these fungi of <i>Gliocladium</i> genus be used in this system due to their antagonistic properties.

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