• Authors:
    • Srinivasarao, C.
    • Vittal, K.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Fertilisers
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2007
  • Summary: Soil samples from 21 locations of the All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRPDA) were characterized for organic carbon and availability of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and B. These twenty one locations cover agro-ecological regions from 2.3 to 12.3, semiarid, and sub-humid climate, soils examined were Vertisols, Vertic sub-groups, Affisols, Inceptisols and Aridisols from different Indian states including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Orissa, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharshtra, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Haryana. Representative soil profile samples from following production systems were collected: upland rice, groundnut, soyabeans, cotton,Rabi sorghum, pearlmillet, fingermillet and maize-based system. Rainfall ranged from 412 to 1378 mm among locations. Various physico-chemical properties of the 21 profiles indicated that most of the locations were low in organic carbon showing less than 0.5% organic C. Clay content varied widely among soil types. Low organic matter in these soils was one of the important factors contributing to low soil fertility. Except few locations, most of the soils were low in available N. Available P varied from low to very high. Available K and sulfur varied from low to high. Available Zn was below critical limit in Rajkot, Anatapur, Rewa, Akola, Bellary, Bijapur and Solapur, Agra, S.K. Nagar, Arjia, Hoshiarpur and Rakh Dhiansar. Iron was deficient in Rajkot, Bellary and Bijapur. Surface layers of several profiles were deficient in available Ca (<1.5 me 100/g) such as Phulbani, Anantapur, S.K. Nagar and Bangalore. Surface layers of soils at Phulbani, Ranchi, Anantapur, Agra, Hisar, S.K. Nagar, Bangalore, Arjia, Hoshiarpur and Rakh Dhiansar were Mg deficient (<1.0 me 100/g). Out of the 21 locations, 11 were boron deficient. Except Indore, all other soils were multinutrient deficient. Results suggest that dryland soils are multinutrient deficient, thus proper nutrient management strategies and soil water conservation practices in dryland agriculture are needed.
  • Authors:
    • Shah, Z.
    • Stromberger, M.
    • Westfall, D.
  • Source: Applied Soil Ecology
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2007
  • Summary: In degraded agricultural soils, organic C levels can be increased and conserved by adopting alternative management strategies such as no-tillage and increased cropping intensity. However, soil microbial community responses to increased soil organic C (SOC) may be constrained due to water limitations in semi-arid dryland agroecosystems. The purpose of this study was to assess SOC, microbial biomass C (MBC) and community ester-linked fatty acid methyl ester (EL-FAME) composition under winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) in no-till systems of wheat-corn ( Zea mays L.)-fallow (WCF), wheat-wheat-corn-millet ( Panicum miliaceum L.) (WWCM), wheat-corn-millet (WCM), opportunity cropping (OPP), and perennial grass across a potential evapotranspiration gradient in eastern Colorado. Rotations of WWCM and OPP, in which crops are chosen based on available soil water at the time of planting rather than according to a predetermined rotation schedule, increased levels of SOC to those measured under perennial grass. However, MBC under OPP cropping accounted for the smallest fraction (2.0-3.6%) of SOC compared to other systems, in which MBC ranged from 2.4 to 6.3% of SOC. Microbial community structure was most divergent between OPP-cropped and perennial grass soils, whereas few differences were observed among microbial communities of the WCF, WCM, and WWCM rotations. Compared to perennial grass and other cropping systems, microbial biomass in OPP-cropped soil was low and contained less of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biomarker 16:1omega5 c. Microbial stress, as indicated by the ratio of 17:0 cy to 16:1omega7 c, was greatest under OPP and WCF cropping. In contrast, soils under perennial grass contained lower ratios of bacterial:fungal EL-FAMEs and higher levels of MBC, ratios of MBC:SOC, and relative abundances of 16:1omega5 c. Across locations, SOC and moisture content increased as soil texture became finer, whereas trends in MBC and community structure followed the potential evapotranspiration gradient. Soil from the high potential evapotranspiration site contained the lowest level of MBC but greater relative amounts of 16:1omega5 c and lower ratios of stress indicator and bacterial:fungal EL-FAMEs compared to soil located at the moderate and low potential evapotranspiration sites. Indistinct microbial communities under WCF, WCM, and WWCM could be explained by EL-FAME limitations to detecting slight differences in microbial community structure or to the overwhelming response of microbial communities to environmental rather than management conditions. Further research is needed to assess potential legacy effects of long-term agricultural management that may mask microbial responses to recent management change, as well as to identify conditions that lead to high microbial community resiliency in response to management so that communities are similar under a given crop despite different preceding crops.
  • Authors:
    • Babu, C.
    • Sureshkumar, P.
    • Sivakumar, S.
    • Chandaragiri, K.
    • Thirukumaran, K.
    • Ramesh, S.
    • Umashankar, R.
  • Source: Journal of Ecobiology
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2007
  • Summary: Field experiments were carried out at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University farm, Coimbatore, India, during north-east monsoon seasons of 2000-01 and 2001-02 to design a viable farming system by linking the crop and animal components viz., goat, rabbit and pigeon to sustain crop productivity and profitability and increasing the employment opportunity of dry land farmers. Among the different crops in the farming systems, pearl millet (cumbu) + soyabean grain, maize + cowpea fodder and Cenchrus ciliaris + Stylosanthes scabra fodder system with goat, rabbit and pigeon system were higher economic parameters in the second year than the first year. The economics of the integrated farming system revealed the superiority of pearl millet + soyabean grain, maize + cowpea fodder and C. ciliaris + S. scabra fodder with goat, rabbit and pigeon system in terms of higher total returns of Rs. 162 616 and 206 942, net returns of Rs. 80 924 and 125 250, benefit-cost ratio of 1.99 and 2.53 for every rupee invested and the per day returns (Rs.222 and 343) compared to other systems in first and second year, respectively. It also generated maximum employment opportunity of 490 man-days per year compared to other systems.
  • Authors:
    • Karunanithi, S.
    • Sureshkumar, P.
    • Umashankar, R.
    • Sivakumar, S.
    • Chandaragiri, K.
    • Thirukumaran, K.
    • Ramesh, S.
    • Babu, C.
  • Source: Journal of Ecobiology
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2007
  • Summary: Field experiments were carried out at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University farm, Coimbatore (India) during north-east monsoon seasons of 2000-01 and 2001-02, to design a viable farming system by linking the crop and animal components, viz., goat, rabbit and pigeon to sustain the production and productivity of dry land through effective recycling of organic wastes. Results revealed that among the different crops in the farming systems, pearl millet (cumbu)+soyabean grain, maize+cowpea fodder and Cenchrus ciliaris+ Stylosanthes scabra fodder system added higher crop residues of 4250 and 5360 kg ha -1 in the first and second year, respectively. The cumbu+soyabean grain, maize+cowpea fodder and Cenchrus ciliaris+ Stylosanthes scabra fodder system added higher NPK through the residues addition in both the years by recording 31.0, 8.9 and 45.9 kg ha -1; and 39.1, 11.3 and 57.9 kg ha -1 of NPK for the first and second year, respectively. The conventional system (sorghum+cowpea grain) recorded the least amount of NPK addition through the crop residues in both the years. The total organic residues added by the crops+goat+rabbit+pigeon farming system were higher than other system in both the years (9527 and 8170 kg ha -1) and crop+goat+ rabbit+pigeon system added higher total NPK in both the years.
  • Authors:
    • Oenema, O.
    • Perdok, U. D.
    • Hoogmoed, W. B.
    • Cai, D.
    • Wang, X.
  • Source: Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems
  • Volume: 79
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2007
  • Summary: The rapidly increasing population and associated quest for food and feed in China has led to increased soil cultivation and nitrogen (N) fertilizer use, and as a consequence to increased wind erosion and unbalanced crop nutrition. In the study presented here, we explored the long-term effects of various combinations of maize stover, cattle manure and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer applications on maize ( Zea mays L.) yield and nutrient and water use efficiencies under reduced tillage practices. In a companion paper, we present the effects on nutrient balances and soil fertility characteristics. The ongoing factorial field trial was conducted at Shouyang Dryland Farming Experimental Station in northern China from 1993 onwards. The incomplete, determinant-optimal design comprised 12 treatments, including a control treatment, in duplicate. Grain yields and N, P, and potassium (K) uptakes and N, P and K use efficiencies were greatly influenced by the amount of rain during the growing season (GSR), and by soil water at sowing (SWS). There were highly significant interactions between GSR and added stover and manure, expressed in complex annual variations in grain yield and N, P and K use efficiencies. Annual mean grain yields ranged from 3,000 kg ha -1 to 10,000 kg ha -1 and treatment mean yields from 4,500 kg ha -1 to 7,000 kg ha -1. Balanced combination of stover (3,000-6,000 kg), manure (1,500-6,000 kg) and N fertilizer (105 kg) gave the highest yield. Stover and manure were important for supplying K, but the effects differed greatly between years. Overall mean N recovery efficiency (NRE) ranged from 28% to 54%, depending on N source. NRE in wet years ranged from 50% to 90%. In conclusion, balanced combinations of stover, manure and NP fertilizer gave the highest yield and NRE. Reduced tillage with adding stover and manure in autumn prior to ploughing is effective in minimizing labour requirement and wind erosion. The potentials of split applications of N fertilizer, targeted to the need of the growing crop (response farming), should be explored to further increase the N use efficiency.
  • Authors:
    • Qin, Y.
    • Li Fengmin
    • Li, Y.
    • Xiang, S.
    • Cao, X.
    • Wu, T.
  • Source: Dryland crop production: technology breakthroughs and study cases
  • Year: 2007
  • Summary: Fertilization according to soil hydraulic conditions, fertilization in balance of nutrition and fertilization with nutrient use efficiency and sustainability are reestablished as the principles of fertility management in dryland area on the Loess Plateau according to the natural conditions and soil properties. Corresponding techniques to the principles are reviewed and represented in the paper.
  • Authors:
    • Ascough, J. C.,II
    • McMaster, G. S.
    • Andales, A. A.
    • Hansen, N. C.
    • Sherrod, L. A.
  • Source: Transactions of the ASABE
  • Volume: 50
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2007
  • Summary: Alternative agricultural management systems in the semi-arid Great Plains are receiving increasing attention. GPFARM is a farm/ranch decision support system (DSS) designed to assist in strategic management planning for land units from the field to the whole-farm level. This study evaluated the regional applicability and efficacy of GPFARM based on simulation model performance for dry mass grain yield, total soil profile water content, crop residue, and total soil profile residual NO 3-N across a range of dryland no-till experimental sites in eastern Colorado, USA. Field data were collected from 1987 through 1999 from an on-going, long-term experiment at three locations in eastern Colorado along a gradient of low (Sterling), medium (Stratton), and high (Walsh) potential evapotranspiration. Simulated crop alternatives were winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum), maize ( Zea mays), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor), proso millet ( Panicum miliaceum), and fallow. Relative error (RE) of simulated mean, root mean square error (RMSE), and index of agreement (d) model evaluation statistics were calculated to compare modelled results to measured data. A one-way, fixed-effect ANOVA was also performed to determine differences among experimental locations. GPFARM simulated versus observed REs ranged from -3 to 35% for crop yield, 6 to 8% for total soil profile water content, -4 to 32% for crop residue, and -7 to -25% for total soil profile residual NO 3-N. For trend analysis (magnitudes and location differences), GPFARM simulations generally agreed with observed trends and showed that the model was able to simulate location differences for the majority of model output responses. GPFARM appears to be adequate for use in strategic planning of alternative cropping systems across eastern Colorado dryland locations; however, further improvements in the crop growth and environmental components of the simulation model (including improved parameterization) would improve its applicability for short-term tactical planning scenarios.
  • Authors:
    • Bandyopadhyay, K. K.
    • Wanjari, R. H.
    • Manna, M. C.
    • Misra, A. K.
    • Mohanty, M.
    • Rao, A. S.
    • Ghosh, P. K.
  • Source: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
  • Volume: 30
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2007
  • Summary: This article deals with the beneficial effect of important legumes on increasing productivity and nutrient use efficiency in various systems. Sorghum, pearl millet, maize, and castor are mainstay in dry lands and marginal and sub-marginal lands. Sorghum yield increased when sown after cowpea, green gram, and groundnut. Grain legumes like groundnut or cowpea provide an equivalent to 60 kg N ha on the subsequent crop of pearl millet. Various studies have shown that among legume/cereal intercropping system, the combination of maize/pigeon pea is considered to be highly suitable with a minimum competition for nutrients, while legume/legume intercropping system, pigeon pea/groundnut system is the most efficient one in terms of resource use-efficiency. In alley cropping system, Leucaena leucocephala (Subabul) prunings provide N to the extent of 75 kg, which benefits the intercrop castor and sorghum. Nitrogen economy through intercropped legume is still a researchable issue because the key point for leguminous crop grown in intercropping system is the problem of nodulation. Incorporation of whole plant of summer green gram/black gram into soil (after picking pods) before transplanting rice resulted in the economizing (40-60 kg N ha -1, 30 kg P 2O 5, and 15 kg K 2O per ha) of rice in rice-wheat system. Similarly, 6-8 weeks old green manure crop of sunhemp or dhaincha accumulates approximately 3-4 t ha -1 dry matter and 100-120 kg N ha -1 which, when incorporated in situ, supplements up to 50% of the total N requirement of rice. Legumes with indeterminate growth are more efficient in N 2 fixation than determinate types. Fodder legumes in general are more potent in increasing the productivity of succeeding cereals. The carryover of N for succeeding crops may be 60-120 kg in berseem, 75 kg in Indian clover, 75 kg in cluster bean, 35-60 kg in fodder cowpea, 68 kg in chickpea, 55 kg in black gram, 54-58 kg in groundnut, 50-51 kg in soyabean, 50 kg in Lathyrus, and 36-42 kg per ha in pigeon pea. Direct and residual effect of partially acidulated material and mixture of rock phosphate + single superphosphate were observed to be better when these were applied to green gram in winter season than to rice in rainy season simply because of legume effect.
  • Authors:
    • Arkebauer, T. J.
    • Grant, R. F.
    • Dobermann, A.
    • Hubbard, K. G.
    • Schimelfenig, T. T.
    • Verma, S. B.
    • Suyker, A. E.
    • Walters, D. T.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 99
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2007
  • Summary: Estimates of agricultural C sequestration require an understanding of how net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and net biome productivity (NBP) are affected by land use. Such estimates will most likely be made using mathematical models that have undergone well-constrained tests against field measurements of CO 2 exchange as affected by management. We tested a hydraulically driven soil-plant-atmosphere C and water transfer scheme in ecosys against CO 2 and energy exchange measured by eddy covariance (EC) over irrigated and rainfed no-till maize-soybean rotations at Mead, NE. Correlations between modeled and measured fluxes ( R2>0.8) indicated that <20% of variation in EC fluxes could not be explained by the model. Annual aggregations of modeled fluxes indicated that NEP of irrigated and rainfed soybean in 2002 was -30 and -9 g C m -2 yr -1 (net C source) while NEP of irrigated and rainfed maize in 2003 was 615 and 397 g C m -2 yr -1 (net C sink). These NEPs were within the range of uncertainty in annual NEP estimated from gap-filled EC fluxes. When grain harvests were subtracted from NEP to calculate NBP, both the modeled and measured maize-soybean rotations became net C sources of 40 to 80 g C m -2 yr -1 during 2002 and 2003. Long-term model runs (100 yr) under repeated 2001-2004 weather sequences indicated that a rainfed no-till maize-soybean rotation at Mead would lose about 30 g C m -2 yr -1. Irrigating this rotation would raise SOC by an average of 6 g C m -2 yr -1 over rainfed values. Modeled and measured results indicated only limited opportunity for long-term soil C storage in irrigated or rainfed maize-soybean rotations under the soil, climate, and management typical of intensive crop production in the U.S. Midwest.
  • Authors:
    • Surek, D.
    • Karacam, M.
    • Meyvec, K.
    • Akar, T.
    • Avc, M.
  • Source: Wheat production in stressed environments. Proceedings of the 7th International Wheat Conference, Mar del Plata, Argentina, 27 November - 2 December, 2005
  • Year: 2007
  • Summary: Because most of the dryland cereal varieties were improved under fallow/cereal rotation system, their performances in other cropping systems were questionable and reported unsatisfactory by some farmers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the performances and adaptation of newly registered varieties in different two course rotations for targeted recommendations. 12 cereal varieties were tried on 9 different 23-year-crop rotations plots for three consecutive years, 1999/2000, 2000/2001, 2001/2002. The varieties were 4 barley (malting two rowed Aydanhanm, and feeding Tarm and six rowed Cetin and Avci), 4 durum wheat (Altn, Ankara, Altntas, and Ylmaz), and 4 bread (Dagdas, Gun, Krgz and Mzrak) wheat. The cereal varieties were rotated with fallow, wheat, winter vetch, winter lentil, sunflower, safflower, lentil, chickpea and barley/vetch mixture. Grain and biomass yields, plant height, harvest index, kernel per spike, kernel weight and spike number per square meter were traits determined. Biplot analysis showed that responses of cereal varieties varied in dry (2001), wet and cold (2000) and normal (2003) seasons. Overall evaluations of responses indicated that some varieties adapted more to certain rotations than other varieties such as Aydanhanm for Safflower/cereal rotation. There was a general tendency that Tarm and Gun varieties performed well in winter cold and dry seasons in all rotations. Dagdas yielded pretty well following winter legumes and winter legume/cereal mixture except dry season. Six rowed barleys, Altntas and Ylmaz, were better in mild winter season in all rotations. Traits correlations indicated that spike number per square meter was always positively correlated with grain yields for all experimental seasons. While all yield components had positive contribution to the grain yields in wet season, kernel weight and kernel per spike had negative contribution to grain yields in the dry season. General evaluation showed that cereals succeeding chickpea and spring lentil crops were leading in terms of height, biomass, harvest index and grain yields, except cereals following fallow which were exceptionally superior in dry season. They also had higher kernel weight in dry and normal seasons.