SOIL LIMITATIONS TO CROP PRODUCTIVITY IN CANADA

1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. MILLER
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Root Growth ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Nutrient Deficiency ◽  
Mechanical Impedance ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Physiological Factor ◽  
Water Holding

The highest crop yields obtained in a region are usually much lower than the potential yields estimated from light interception. The roles of soil characteristics and soil-root interrelations as causes of the failure to achieve the potential yields are discussed. It is concluded that, on our best soils, it is possible to overcome all limitations with the exception of soil temperature and possibly some mechanical impedance to root growth. It is suggested that some physiological factor other than light interception is responsible for the failure to obtain the potential yields. Many soils possess characteristics which do restrict yields. Occurrences of acidity, poor aeration, nutrient deficiency, and water stress due to poor soil structure in various regions of Canada are discussed. It is concluded that the most difficult limitations to overcome are those associated with fine-textured soils with compact, poorly structured subsoils. These soils are frequently wet in the spring delaying planting operations, and/or causing crop losses due to poor aeration. In the summer, crops on these soils may suffer from water stress because of low available water holding capacity and restricted root growth. Although management practices can overcome many limitations, improper management may also lead to loss in productivity. Increases in salinity and soil erosion are serious problems in Canada.Key words: Root-soil interactions, root growth, nutrient absorption, soil acidity, soil aeration, soil-plant water relations.

Future global crop production increases by adapting crop phenology to local climate change

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Minoli ◽  
Jonas Jägermeyr ◽  
Senthold Asseng ◽  
Christoph Müller
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Crop Phenology

<p>Broad evidence is pointing at possible adverse impacts of climate change on crop yields. Due to scarce information about farming management practices, most global-scale studies, however, do not consider adaptation strategies.</p><p>Here we integrate models of farmers' decision making with crop biophysical modeling at the global scale to investigate how accounting for adaptation of crop phenology affects projections of future crop productivity under climate change. Farmers in each simulation unit are assumed to adapt crop growing periods by continuously selecting sowing dates and cultivars that match climatic conditions best. We compare counterfactual management scenarios, assuming crop calendars and cultivars to be either the same as in the reference climate – as often assumed in previous climate impact assessments – or adapted to future climate.</p><p>Based on crop model simulations, we find that the implementation of adapted growing periods can substantially increase (+15%) total crop production in 2080-2099 (RCP6.0). In general, summer crops are responsive to both sowing and harvest date adjustments, which result in overall longer growing periods and improved yields, compared to production systems without adaptation of growing periods. Winter wheat presents challenges in adapting to a warming climate and requires region-specific adjustments to pre and post winter conditions. We present a systematic evaluation of how local and climate-scenario specific adaptation strategies can enhance global crop productivity on current cropland. Our findings highlight the importance of further research on the readiness of required crop varieties.</p>

scholarly journals Evaluation of Long-Term SOC and Crop Productivity within Conservation Systems Using GFDL CM2.1 and EPIC

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kieu N. Le ◽  
Manoj K. Jha ◽  
Jaehak Jeong ◽  
Philip W. Gassman ◽  
Manuel R. Reyes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Upland Rice ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Global Climate Model ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Epic Model

Will soil organic carbon (SOC) and yields increase for conservation management systems in tropical zones in response to the next 100 years? To answer the question, the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model was used to study the effects of climate change, cropping systems, conservation agriculture (CA) and conservation tillage management practices on SOC and crop productivity in Kampong Cham, Cambodia. The EPIC model was successfully calibrated and validated for crop yields, biomass, SOC and nitrogen based on field data from a five-year field experiment. Historical weather (1994–2013) was used for baseline assessment versus mid-century (2046–2064) and late-century (2081–2100) climate projections generated by the Geophysical Fluids Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) CM2.1 global climate model. The simulated results showed that upland rice yield would increase the most under the B1 scenario in mid-century for all treatments, followed by soybean and maize. Cassava yield only increased under CA treatment when cultivated as a continuous primary crop. Carbon sequestration was more sensitive to cropping systems and crop rotation than climate change. The results indicated that the rotated CA primary crop (maize) systems should be prioritized for SOC sequestration as well as for increasing crop productivity. In addition, rice systems may increase SOC compared to soybean and cassava.

scholarly journals Factors contributing to maize and bean yield gaps in Central America vary with site and agroecological conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (04) ◽  
pp. 300-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Eash ◽  
S. J. Fonte ◽  
K. Sonder ◽  
N. Honsdorf ◽  
A. Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central America ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Plant Competition ◽  
Nutrient Deficiency ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Potential Yield ◽  
Yield Gaps

AbstractIn Central America, population and food demands are rising rapidly, while yields of staple crops, maize and beans, remain low. To identify the main factors limiting production, field trials were established in six maize- and bean-producing regions in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, representing about three-quarters of the maize-producing area. Potential yield-limiting factors were evaluated in 2017 and included: water stress, nutrient deficiency, pest and disease pressure, and/or inter-plant competition. When considering all sites, improved fertilization and pest and disease control significantly improved yields in maize by 11 and 16%, respectively but did not have a significant effect in beans. Irrigation had no effect due to good rainfall distribution over the growing season. Optimized planting arrangement resulted in an average 18% increase in maize yield, making it the most promising factor evaluated. The treatment and site combinations that increased both crop productivity and net profit included management changes that improved resource use efficiency. However, the contribution of each limiting factor to yield gaps varied across sites and no treatment was effective at increasing yield consistently across sites. Production constraints are highly dependent on local management practices and agroecological location. Therefore, public and private development efforts that seek to increase production should conduct multi-year, participatory experiments to identify limitations pertinent to the area in question. The next step is then to evaluate sustainable and profitable practices, to address those limitations and provide sound recommendations to farmers while decreasing the environmental and economic costs.

Restricted growth of lupin and wheat roots in the sandy A horizon of a yellow duplex soil

1993 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 1273 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Dracup ◽  
PJ Gregory ◽  
RK Belford
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Frictional Resistance ◽  
Mechanical Impedance ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Root Penetration ◽  
Good Growth ◽  
Wheat Roots ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Local Soil

Yellow duplex soils are the dominant soil type in the cropping region of Western Australia, but crop yields on these soils are often variable and below potential. We are seeking to understand the causes of the spatially variable crop growth, and a preliminary study conducted in 1988 at a site east of Beverley indicated that variable shoot growth was associated with variable early (< 6 weeks after sowing) root growth in the sandy A horizon. The present study aimed to identify the constraints to early root growth by locating the position in the A horizon where root growth becomes restricted and measuring the local soil properties. In poor growth areas, root penetration slowed markedly at about 15 cm (about 2 weeks after sowing), while in the good growth areas roots continued to grow downwards at about 8 mm day-1 for lupin and 4 mm day-' for wheat. The soil was a particularly difficult environment for root growth, with generally low pH, low K and B, low porosity and aeration and high strength. Roots in poor growth areas appeared to experience greater mechanical impedance than in the good areas, most likely due to much lower clay contents leading to higher frictional resistance to particle movement or less stability of soil pores created by past roots or fauna.

Impact of Intensive Forest Management Practices on the Bulk Density of Lower Coastal Plain and Piedmont Soils

1985 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Gent ◽  
R. Ballard
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Mechanical Impedance ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Intensive Forest Management ◽  
Lower Coastal Plain

Abstract Trafficking during harvesting significantly increased soil bulk density to depths of 3 to 6 inches in areas outside of primary skid trails and 9 to 12 inches in primary skid trails. On the Coastal Plain site, bedding was effective in offsetting soil compaction in areas outside of primary skid trails, forming a new soil surface, 7 to 8 inches in height, over the surface trafficked during harvest. Bedding may not be so effective in the skid trails, because the original soil surface under the bed was so compacted that root growth may be inhibited. On the Piedmont site, disking was effective in restoring bulk density to preharvest levels in the upper 3 to 5 inches of soil, but soil compaction in the upper 3 to 9 inches of drum-chopped areas may result in reduced root growth, because of mechanical impedance.

scholarly journals Drought and salinity stresses in barley: Consequences and mitigation strategies

2019 ◽  
pp. 810-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman EL Sabagh ◽  
Akbar Hossain ◽  
Md. Shohidul Islam ◽  
Celaleddin Barutcular ◽  
Saddam Hussain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Foliar Application ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Present Review ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Barley Plant

Recent trends show reductions in crop productivity worldwide due to severe climatic change. Different abiotic stresses significantly affect the growth and development of plants, leading to decreased crop yields. Salinity and drought stresses are the most common abiotic stresses, especially in arid and semi–arid regions, and are major constraints for barley production. The present review attempts to provide comprehensive information related to barley plant responses and adaptations to drought and salinity stresses, including physiological and agronomic, in order to alleviate the adverse effect of stresses in barley. These stresses reduce assimilation rates, as they decrease stomatal conductance, disrupt photosynthetic pigments, reduce gas exchange, enhance production of reactive oxygen species, and lead to decreased plant growth and productivity. This review focuses on the strategies plants use to respond and adapt to drought and salinity stress. Plants utilize a range of physiological and biochemical mechanisms such as adaptation strategies, through which the adverse effects can be mitigated. These include soil management practices, crop establishment, as well as foliar application of anti-oxidants and growth regulators that maintain an appropriate level of water in the leaves to facilitate adjustment of osmotic and stomatal performance. The present review highlighted the adverse effect of drought and salinity stresses barley and their mitigation strategies for sustainable barley production under changing climate. They review also underscored that exogenous application of different antioxidants could play a significant role in the alleviation of salinity and drought stress in plant systems.

scholarly journals Increasing crop richness and reducing field sizes provides higher yields

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ainhoa Magrach ◽  
Angel Gimenez ◽  
Alfonso Allen-Perkins ◽  
Lucas Garibaldi ◽  
Ignasi Bartomeus
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Small Field ◽  
Working Landscapes ◽  
Yield Values ◽  
High Yields ◽  
Unique Dataset

Working landscapes represent >60% of terrestrial landscapes and thus represent opportunities for biodiversity conservation outside of traditional protected areas. For long, biodiversity conservation and crop productivity have been seen as mutually exclusive options. Here, we use a unique dataset that includes annual monitoring of 12,300 permanent 25 ha-plots over two decades across Spain to assess how working landscapes are changing over time and how these changes affect their ability to ensure high yields. We find that win-win strategies that are good for biodiversity conservation can also lead to increasing crop yields. Specifically, we find that management practices that favor increasing biodiversity values such as maintaining small field sizes and high crop richness values at the landscape scale actually lead to the greatest yield values across 54 crops considered. Win-win scenarios for biodiversity conservation and crop productivity are thus possible, yet not as widespread as they could be.

scholarly journals Root growth responses to mechanical impedance are regulated by a network of ROS, ethylene and auxin signalling in Arabidopsis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy G.R. Jacobsen ◽  
Jian Xu ◽  
Jennifer F. Topping ◽  
Keith Lindsey
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Plant Root ◽  
Reactive Oxygen ◽  
Mechanical Impedance ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
List Type ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Auxin Signalling

SummaryThe growth and development of root systems, essential for plant performance, is influenced by mechanical properties of the substrate in which the plants grow. Mechanical impedance, such as by compacted soil, can reduce root elongation and limit crop productivity.To understand better the mechanisms involved in plant root responses to mechanical impedance stress, we investigated changes in the root transcriptome and hormone signalling responses of Arabidopsis to artificial root barrier systems in vitro.We demonstrate that upon encountering a barrier, reduced Arabidopsis root growth and the characteristic ‘step-like’ growth pattern is due to a reduction in cell elongation associated with changes in signalling gene expression. Data from RNA-sequencing combined with reporter line and mutant studies identified essential roles for reactive oxygen species, ethylene and auxin signalling during the barrier response.We propose a model in which early responses to mechanical impedance include reactive oxygen signalling that is followed by integrated auxin and ethylene responses to mediate root growth changes. Inhibition of ethylene responses allows improved growth in response to root impedance, a result that may inform future crop breeding programmes.

scholarly journals COTTON ROOT VOLUME AND ROOT DRY MATTER AS A FUNCTION OF HIGH SOIL BULK DENSITY AND SOIL WATER STRESS

Irriga ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 476-491
Author(s):  
Charles Duruoha ◽  
Cassio Roberto Piffer ◽  
Paulo Roberto Arbex Silva
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Root Growth ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Mechanical Impedance ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Root Volume

COTTON ROOT VOLUME AND ROOT DRY MATTER AS A FUNCTION OF HIGH SOIL BULK DENSITY AND SOIL WATER STRESS  Charles Duruoha1; Cassio Roberto Piffer2; Paulo Roberto Arbex Silva21United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS), National Soil Dynamics Laboratory,  Auburn, AL, U.S.A,. [email protected] 2Rural Engineering Departament, School of Agronomic Sciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP  1 ABSTRACT Soil compaction reduces root growth, affecting the yield, especially in the Southern Coastal Plain of the USA. Simulations of the root restricting layers in greenhouses are necessary to develop mechanisms which alleviate soil compaction problems. The selection of three distinct bulk densities based on the Standard Proctor Test is also an important factor to determine which bulk density restricts root penetration. This experiment was conducted to evaluate cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) root volume and root dry matter as a function of soil bulk density and water stress. Three levels of soil density (1.2, 1.4, and 1.6 g cm-3), and two levels of  water content (70 and 90% of field capacity) were used. A completely randomized design with four replicates in a 3x2 factorial pattern was used. The results showed that mechanical impedance affected root volume positively with soil bulk density of 1.2 and 1.6 g cm-3, enhancing root growth (P>0.0064). Soil water content reduced root growth as root and shoot growth was higher at 70% field capacity than that at 90% field capacity. Shoot growth was not affected by the increase in soil bulk density and this result suggests that soil bulk density is not a good indicator for measuring mechanical impedance in some soils. KEY WORDS: soil density, water stress, root growth.  DURUOHA, C.; PIFFER, C. R.; SILVA, P. R. A. VOLUME E MATÉRIA SECA RADICULAR DE ALGODÃO EM FUNÇÃO DA DENSIDADE DO SOLO ELEVADA E DO ESTRESSE HÍDRICO  2 RESUMO A compactação do solo reduz o crescimento radicular e, conseqüentemente, afeta a produção, especialmente no sudoeste do EUA. Simulações de camadas de restrição de raízes em casa de vegetação são necessárias para desenvolver mecanismos que reduzam problemas de compactação dos solos. A seleção de três diferentes densidades de solo baseadas no ensaio de Proctor é também um fator importante para determinar qual densidade restringe a penetração da raiz. O presente trabalho foi realizado para avaliar o volume e matéria seca radicular em função da densidade do solo e da disponibilidade hídrica em algodão (Gossypium hirsutum L.).  Foram utilizados três níveis de densidade do solo (1,2; 1,4 e 1,6 g.cm-3) e dois níveis de teor de água no solo (70 e 90% da capacidade de campo). Os tratamentos foram inteiramente casualizados com quatro repetições em arranjo fatorial (3 x 2). Os resultados mostraram que o impedimento mecânico afetou o volume radicular com densidade do solo de 1,2 a 1,6 g.cm-3, proporcionando aumento do crescimento radicular (P>0,0064). A compactação subsuperficial restringiu a matéria seca radicular com densidade do solo de 1,2 cm.cm-3, aumentando a quantidade de matéria seca radicular na camada compactada (P<0,0291). O teor de água reduziu o crescimento radicular onde, na capacidade de campo de 70 %, houve aumento de raízes e da parte aérea, em relação à capacidade de campo de 90%. O crescimento da parte aérea não foi afetado pela densidade do solo, este resultado sugere que a densidade do solo não é um bom indicador de impedimento mecânico em alguns solos. UNITERMOS: densidade do solo, estresse hídrico, crescimento radicular.

scholarly journals Precision Nutrient Rates and Placement in Conservation Maize-Wheat System: Effects on Crop Productivity, Profitability, Nutrient-Use Efficiency, and Environmental Footprints

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2320
Author(s):  
Raj K. Jat ◽  
Deepak Bijarniya ◽  
Suresh K. Kakraliya ◽  
Tek B. Sapkota ◽  
Manish Kakraliya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
System Productivity ◽  
Nutrient Use ◽  
Use Efficiency

Intensive tillage-based production systems coupled with inefficient fertilizer management practices have led to increased production costs, sub-optimal productivity, and significant environmental externalities. Conservation agriculture (CA) is being increasingly advocated as a management strategy to overcome these issues but precision nutrient management under the CA-based maize-wheat system is rarely studied. Two year’s (2014–2015 and 2015–2016) research was conducted at the research farm of BISA, Pusa, Bihar, India to develop precision nutrient management practices for CA-based management in the maize-wheat system. Seven treatment combinations involving (i) tillage (conventional tillage; CT & permanent beds; PB) and (ii) nutrient management rates, application methods (farmers’ fertilizer practices; FFP, state recommended dose of fertilizer; SR and precision nutrient management using Nutrient Expert tool; NE and GreenSeeker; (GS), applied using two methods; broadcasting (B) and drilling (D)) were investigated for multiple parameters. The results showed that NE, NE+GS, and SR-based nutrient management tactics with drilling improved crop yields, nutrient-use efficiency (NUE), and economic profitability relative to NE-broadcasting, SR broadcasting, and FFP broadcasting methods. Maize-wheat system productivity and net returns under NE+GS-drilling on PB were significantly higher by 31.2%, 49.7% compared to FFP-broadcasting method, respectively. Total global warming potential (GWP) was lower in the PB-based maize-wheat system coupled with precision nutrient management compared to CT-based maize-wheat system with FFP. Higher (15.2%) carbon sustainability index (CSI) was recorded with NE-drilling compared to FFP-broadcasting method. Results suggests that PB-based maize-wheat system together with precision nutrient management approaches (NE+GS+drilling) can significantly increase crop yields, NUE, and profitability while reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from maize-wheat systems in eastern Indo Gangetic Plains (IGP).

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