• Authors:
    • Hameed, M
    • Afzal, M
    • Rana, S. A.
    • Ruby, T.
  • Source: International Journal of Agriculture & Biology
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Arthropods are the most integral part of an agro-ecosystem, but the crop intensification practices are badly affecting these key components. Studies pertaining to biodiversity of arthropods in the cropland of two zones i.e., mixed crop zone (Faisalabad) and Cotton-Wheat zone (Multan) Punjab, Pakistan were conducted for a period of one year. The main focus was to collect, identify and compare the species richness and evenness. Sugarcane, Fodder, Wheat and Brassica were sampled round the year showed variations in species composition of their fauna in the two districts representing the two zones. Mixed-crop zone was highly diversified with respect to species and abundance of individuals per species. On the whole order Orthoptera was dominant followed by Araneae, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Odonata, Diptera and Thysanoptera, Neuroptera, Prostigmata each represented by single species except Mantodea with two species. This data base will be helpful in future ecological pest management strategies. The mixed-crop zone was found better than cotton-wheat zone with respect to faunal diversity that may be functional in keeping the sustainability of agro-ecosystem intact.
  • Authors:
    • Buttar, G. S.
    • Thind, H. S.
    • Aujla, M. S.
  • Source: Irrigation Science
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: A 4-year field experiment was conducted in a semi-arid area to evaluate the response of each furrow and alternate furrow irrigation in wheat-cotton system using irrigation waters of different qualities in a calcareous soil. Irrigation was applied to each and alternate furrow of bed-planted wheat followed by ridge-planted cotton for comparison with standard check-basin method of irrigation to both the crops. These methods of irrigation were evaluated under three water qualities namely good quality canal water (CW), poor quality tube well water (TW) and pre-sowing irrigation to each crop with CW and all subsequent irrigations with TW (CWpsi+TW). The pooled results over 4 years revealed that wheat grain yield was not affected significantly with quality of irrigation water, but significant yield reduction was observed in alternate bed irrigation under canal water and tube well water irrigations. In cotton, poor quality tube well water significantly reduced the seed cotton yield in all the three methods of planting. The pre-sowing irrigation with canal water and all subsequent irrigations with tube well water improved the seed cotton yield when compared with tube well water alone. However, this yield increase was significant only in alternate furrow irrigation, and the yield obtained was on a par with yield under alternate furrow in CW. When compared to check-basin irrigation, each furrow and alternate furrow irrigation resulted in a saving of 30 and 49% of irrigation water in bed-planted wheat, whereas the corresponding savings in ridge-planted cotton were 20 and 42%, respectively. Reduced use of irrigation water under alternate furrow, without any significant reduction in yield, resulted in 28.1, 23.9 and 43.2% higher water use efficiency in wheat under CW, TW and CWpsi+TW, respectively. The corresponding increase under cotton was 8.2, 2.1 and 19.5%. The implementation of alternate furrow irrigation improved the water use efficiency without any loss in yield, thus reduced use of irrigation water especially under poor quality irrigation water with pre-sowing irrigation with canal water reduced the deteriorating effects on yield and soil under these calcareous soils.
  • Authors:
    • Raut, D. V.
    • Bhopale, A. A.
    • Awaghad, P. R.
    • Rathod, A. L.
  • Source: Annals of Plant Physiology
  • Volume: 24
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: The study of cropping pattern assumes a great significance as it is one of the important path for balanced development of agriculture to meet the human requirements. In this context, an effort has been made to examine the changes in cropping pattern in Akola district (M.S.) extent of crop diversification and economics. The present study was based on secondary data collected from different government publications. The data covered a period of 21 years i.e. 1986-87 to 2006-07. In all 8 crops were considered for study. Simple tabular analysis was used to examine the changes in cropping pattern in various tahsils of Akola district (M.S.). In order to study the extent of crop diversification Herfindahl index has been used. In order to study the economics of crop diversification, land concentration ratio in tahsils with comparative advantage was computed for selected years. Tahsil wise analysis showed that the area under kharif jowar has found to be decreased in all the tahsils of Akola district Area under tur crop was decreased in Barshitakali and patur tahsil. The area under mung has found to be increased in all the tahsils. Cotton still remains as major crop of the district. In majority of tahsils of Akola district i.e. Balapur, Barshitakali and Patur, Crop diversification has significantly increased during the study period. While in Murtizapur tahsil it has showed more or less stationery diversification. The results of analysis of economics of crop diversification revealed that, no one crop has shown increasing or decreasing trend of land concentration ratio over the time. Particular crop was beneficial in the particular year in the district.
  • Authors:
    • Bartosik, R.
  • Source: Julius-Kühn-Archiv
  • Issue: 425
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Concerning grain production, South America is divided in two main regions: (1) the Mercosur region (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay) which produces more than 250 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds, and (2) the Andes Mountain region countries, which are net importers of these products. The main challenges related to grain postharvest that South America is facing are to minimize the quality and quantity losses; improve the food safety; enhance the capability for segregation and traceability of identity preserved (IP) grains; and incorporate technology to maintain the overall efficiency of the postharvest system. Among the critical points affecting the efficiency of the system are the shortage of permanent storage capacity; large storage structures which affects the segregation of IP grains; deficient transportation system (roads and railroads); poor management of integrated pest control system; and unsatisfied demand of formal and informal education in suitable grain postharvest technologies and practices. However, the region remains highly competitive in producing and delivering food for the rest of the world and it has demonstrated high capacity for incorporating cost efficient grain handling technologies. As a result, one of the main changes in the region was the appearance of the silobag system for temporary storage of dry grain and oilseeds. Each silobag can hold approximately 200 tonnes of wheat and with the available handling equipment is quite simple to load and unload. During the 2008 harvest season, more than 33 million tonnes of grain were stored in these plastic bags in Argentina (including corn, soybean, wheat, sunflower, malting barley, canola, cotton seed, rice, lentils, sorghum, beans and even fertilizers). The silobag technology is also being adopted not only in neighbor countries, but also in countries around the world such as the USA, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Russia and Ukraine, among others.
  • Authors:
    • Frederick, J. R.
    • Fortnum, B. A.
    • Bauer, P. J.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 102
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Longer rain-free periods are predicted to occur more often in the southeastern United States as a result of global climate change. This nonirrigated field study was conducted from 1997 through 2002, which coincided with the 1998-2002 drought that affected most of the United States. The objective was to determine the effect of rotation and tillage on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) productivity. Treatments in the study were rotation [cotton rotated with corn (Zea mays L.), cotton planted after a rye (Secale cereale L.) winter cover crop, and continuous cotton with no cover crop] and tillage system (conventional tillage and conservation tillage). Two levels of aldicarb [2-methyl-2-(methylthio)propanal O-{(methylamino)carbonyl}oxime] (0 and 1.18 kg a.i. ha(-1)) were also included because of known soil management effects on thrips (Frankliniella sp.) and root-knot nematodes (Meloidigyne incognita). The predominant soil types were Bonneau loamy sand (loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Arenic Paleudult) and Norfolk loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kandiudult). Rotation did not affect cotton yield in any year. Tillage did not affect cotton yield in 1997. Conservation tillage resulted in an average 25% yield increase in cotton lint yield over conventional tillage during the 5-yr drought. Tillage and aldicarb affected both thrips and root-knot nematodes, but lack of interaction among these factors for lint yield suggested that management of these pests was not the predominant cause for the cotton yield increase with conservation tillage. Conservation tillage for cotton production could be an important method to help mitigate the effects of climate change in the region if change occurs as predicted.
  • Authors:
    • Sousa, D. M. G. de
    • Rein, T. A.
  • Source: Informações Agronômicas
  • Issue: 126
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Soyabean monoculture with inadequate agricultural practices has resulted in losses of soil organic matter in the Brazilian cerrado, especially in sandy soils. This has led to erosion, reduced cation exchange capacity and water storage, and diminished fertilizer use efficiency. One of the ways of avoiding the loss of soil organic matter is to reduce tillage, as in the system of direct (as opposed to conventional) planting, and the use of this system is growing in the cerrado region. This paper reviews work that has been done on the correction of soil acidity and fertilizing with macronutrients in the direct planting system, both before and after crop establishment. The section on soil acidity discusses both surface (0-20 cm) and subsurface (20-60 cm) acidity, and the effects of correction with limestone or gypsum under conventional and no tillage systems, and on cotton and soyabean yields under a direct planting system. The section on fertilizers looks at the effects of liming, conventional and no tillage systems and dry farming on soil macronutrient content (with particular reference to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) and crop yield (with data for maize). Soil organic matter content is also compared under conventional and no tillage systems.
  • Authors:
    • Komecki, T. S.
    • Balkcom, K. S.
    • Raper, R. L.
    • Arriaga, F. J.
    • Price, A. J.
    • Reeves, D. W.
  • Source: Journal of Cotton Science
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: An integral component of conservation agriculture systems in cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the use of a high-residue winter cover crop; however, terminating cover crops is an additional expense and planting into high-residue can be a challenge. An experiment was conducted using black oat ( Avena strigosa Schreb.), rye ( Secale cereale L.), and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cover crops established in early November at three locations. In mid-April each year all winter cover crops were flattened with a straight-blade mechanical roller-crimper alone or followed by three rates of glyphosate (0.84, 0.42, 0.21 kg ae/ha). Additionally, glyphosate alone at each rate and a non-treated check were included to complete the factorial treatment arrangement. Cotton was then planted 3 weeks after treatments were administered following in-row sub-soiling at E.V. Smith and direct seeding at Tennessee Valley and Robertsdale. Results showed that rolling followed by reduced glyphosate rates as low as 0.42 kg ae/ha can effectively and reliably terminate mature cereal winter cover crops; thus maintaining cotton population and protecting growth. Additionally, reduced glyphosate rates applied as low as 0.84 kg ae/ha alone can effectively terminate immature cereal covers while conserving soil moisture. Rolling mature winter cereal cover crops will likely conserve more soil moisture compared to standing covers; however, rolling immature cereal cover crops provides no benefit. In 2005 at E.V. Smith and at Tennessee Valley in 2006, increasing glyphosate rate increased cotton yield likely due to less mature cereal covers at time of treatment application. However, the inclusion of glyphosate did not increase cotton yield for any other comparison.
  • Authors:
    • Hunt, J. R.
    • Dalgliesh, N. P.
    • McCown, R. L.
    • Whish, J. P. M.
    • Robertson, M. J.
    • Foale, M. A.
    • Poulton, P. L.
    • Rees, H. van
    • Carberry, P. S.
    • Hochman, Z.
  • Source: Crop & Pasture Science
  • Volume: 60
  • Issue: 11
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Crop simulation models relevant to real-world agriculture have been a rationale for model development over many years. However, as crop models are generally developed and tested against experimental data and with large systematic gaps often reported between experimental and farmer yields, the relevance of simulated yields to the commercial yields of field crops may be questioned. This is the third paper in a series which describes a substantial effort to deliver model-based decision support to Australian farmers. First, the performance of the cropping systems simulator, APSIM, in simulating commercial crop yields is reported across a range of field crops and agricultural regions. Second, how APSIM is used in gaining farmer credibility for their planning and decision making is described using actual case studies. Information was collated on APSIM performance in simulating the yields of over 700 commercial crops of barley, canola, chickpea, cotton, maize, mungbean, sorghum, sugarcane, and wheat monitored over the period 1992 to 2007 in all cropping regions of Australia. This evidence indicated that APSIM can predict the performance of commercial crops at a level close to that reported for its performance against experimental yields. Importantly, an essential requirement for simulating commercial yields across the Australian dryland cropping regions is to accurately describe the resources available to the crop being simulated, particularly soil water and nitrogen. Five case studies of using APSIM with farmers are described in order to demonstrate how model credibility was gained in the context of each circumstance. The proposed process for creating mutual understanding and credibility involved dealing with immediate questions of the involved farmers, contextualising the simulations to the specific situation in question, providing simulation outputs in an iterative process, and together reviewing the ensuing seasonal results against provided simulations. This paper is distinct from many other reports testing the performance and utility of cropping systems models. Here, the measured yields are from commercial crops not experimental plots and the described applications were from real-life situations identified by farmers. A key conclusion, from 17 years of effort, is the proven ability of APSIM to simulate yields from commercial crops provided soil properties are well characterised. Thus, the ambition of models being relevant to real-world agriculture is indeed attainable, at least in situations where biotic stresses are manageable.
  • Authors:
    • Gotosa, J.
    • Gwenzi, W.
    • Chakanetsa, S.
    • Mutema, Z.
  • Source: Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems
  • Volume: 83
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: In southern Africa, tillage research has focused on rainfed smallholder cropping systems, while literature on high-input irrigated cropping systems is limited. We evaluated the effects of conventional (CT), minimum (MT) and no-till (NT) tillage systems on soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density, water-stable aggregates (WSA), mean weighted diameter (MWD) and crop yields in an irrigated wheat-cotton rotation. Soil data were monitored in the first and final year, while yields were monitored seasonally. Average bulk densities (1.5-1.7 Mg m -3) were similar among tillage systems, but often exceeded the critical limit (1.60 Mg m -3) for optimum root growth. Conversion from CT to MT and NT failed to ameliorate the high bulk densities associated with the alluvial soil. SOC (g kg -1) at 0-15 cm was higher ( P<0.05) under MT (3.9-5.8) and NT (4.2-5.6) than CT (2.9-3.3). Corresponding horizon SOC stocks (Mg C ha -1) for the tillage treatments were; 9.3-13.9 (MT), 9.3-13.5 (NT) and 7.3-7.7 (CT). In the final year, significant ( P<0.05) tillage effects on SOC stocks were also observed at 15-30 cm. Cumulative SOC stocks (Mg C ha -1) in the 0-60 cm profile were higher ( P<0.05) under MT (32.8-39.9) and NT (32.9-41.6) than CT (27.8-30.9). On average, MT and NT sequestered between 0.55 and 0.78 Mg C ha -1 year -1 at 0-30 cm depth, but a net decline (0.13 Mg C ha -1 year -1) was observed under CT. At 0-30 cm, MT and NT had higher ( P<0.05) MWD (0.19-0.23 mm) and WSA (2.3-3.5%) than CT (MWD: 0.1-0.12 mm, WSA: ~1.0%). Both MWD and WSA were significantly ( P<0.05) correlated to SOC. Seasonal yields showed significant ( P<0.05) tillage effects, but 6-year mean yields (t ha -1) were similar (CT: 4.49, MT: 4.33, NT: 4.32 for wheat; CT: 3.30, MT: 2.82, NT: 2.83 for cotton). Overall, MT and NT improved soil structural stability and carbon sequestration, while impacts on crop productivity were limited. Therefore, MT and NT are more sustainable tillage systems for the semi-arid regions than conventional tillage.
  • Authors:
    • NASS
    • USDA
  • Year: 2009