• Authors:
    • Richardson, J.
    • Hons, F.
    • Ribera, L.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 96
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2004
  • Summary: Tillage systems that reduce the number of cultivation steps can, according to soil scientists, save soil moisture, fuel, labour, and machinery costs, as well as reduce wind and water erosion. However, many producers in south Texas, USA, are reluctant to adopt these practices. The objective of this study was to compare the economics of conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) systems on three commercial crops produced in south Texas: grain sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor), wheat ( Triticum aestivum), and soyabean ( Glycine max). When considering the economics of both tillage systems, three areas affecting profit were addressed: changes in cost per hectare, changes in yield per hectare, and the impact on net income risk. Empirical distributions of net income for different tillage systems under risk were estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation model of net income per hectare. Certainty equivalents were used to rank the tillage systems because they can be used to rank risky alternatives for risk-averse decision makers. The risk premium for risk-averse decision makers who prefer NT over CT ranges between $12.60 and $34.25 per hectare for all five crop rotations. Risk-neutral decision makers would prefer continuous sorghum and sorghum-wheat-soyabean rotation over all other rotations under CT and NT, respectively. However, risk-averse decision makers would prefer continuous sorghum over all other rotations either under CT or NT. The results suggest that under risk-neutral rankings, NT would be preferred over CT in three out of the five crop rotations tested. However, assuming a risk-averse decision maker, NT would be preferred over CT in all five crop rotations.
  • Authors:
    • Carmo, C.
    • Lhamby, J.
    • Ambrosi, I.
    • Santos, H.
  • Source: Ciencia Rural
  • Volume: 34
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2004
  • Summary: Soil tillage and crop rotation and succession systems were assessed in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from 1994/95 to 1997/98. Four soil tillage systems, i.e. no-tillage, minimum tillage, conventional tillage using a disc plough, and conventional tillage using a mouldboard plough, and three crop rotation and succession systems, i.e. system I (wheat/soyabean), system II (wheat/soyabean and common vetch [ Vicia sativa]/sorghum or maize) and system III (wheat/soyabean, common vetch/sorghum or maize, and white oats/soyabean), were compared. An experimental design of randomized blocks with split-plots and three replications was used. The main plot was formed by the soil tillage systems, while the split-plots consisted of the crop rotation and succession systems. Two types of analysis were applied to the net return of soil tillage and crop rotation and succession systems: mean-variance and risk analysis. By the mean-variance analysis, no-tillage and minimum tillage, which presented higher net returns, were the best alternatives to be offered to the farmer. By the stochastic dominance analysis, no-tillage and crop rotation with two winters without wheat showed the highest profit and the lowest risk.
  • Authors:
    • Rice, C. W.
    • Claassen, M. M.
    • Nelson, R. G.
    • Williams, J. R.
  • Source: Environmental Management
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2004
  • Summary: An economic analysis of wheat and grain sorghum production systems that affect carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and sequester soil carbon (C) in metric tons (MT) is conducted. Expected net returns, changes in net C sequestered, and the value of C credits necessary to equate net returns from systems that sequester more C with those that sequester less is determined with and without adjustments for CO2 emissions from production inputs. Experiment station cropping practices, yield data, and soil C data for continuously cropped and rotated wheat and grain sorghum produced with conventional tillage and no-tillage are used. No-till has lower net returns because of somewhat lower yields and higher overall costs. Both crops produced under no-till have higher annual soil C gains than under conventional tillage. However, no-till systems have somewhat higher total atmospheric emissions of C from production inputs. The C credit values estimated in this study will equate net returns of no-tillage to conventional tillage range from $8.62 to $64.65/MT/yr when C emissions from production inputs are subtracted from soil C sequestered, and $8.59 to $60.54/MT/yr when atmospheric emissions are not considered. This indicates accounting for CO2 emissions from production inputs may not be necessary in the process to issue C credits.
  • Authors:
    • Skinner, D. Z.
    • Liang, G. H.
  • Year: 2004
  • Summary: This book contains chapters on: genetic transformation; mechanisms of transgene locus formation; gene stacking through site-specific integration; transgenics of plant hormones and their potential application in horticultural crops; avidin in transgenic maize; genetic engineering protocols and use to enhance stress tolerance in wheat; development and utilization of transformation in Medicago spp.; sorghum transformation for resistance to fungal pathogens and drought; current progress and future prospects in rice transformation; successes and challenges in cotton transformation; progress in transforming the recalcitrant soyabean; progress in vegetable crop transformation and future prospects and challenges; genetic transformation of turfgrass; and risks associated with genetically engineered crops.
  • Authors:
    • Kumar, K. A. B.
    • Karthikeyan, K.
    • Jyothi, S. H.
    • Rana, B. S.
    • Rao, B. D.
    • Seetharama, N.
  • Source: Common Fund for Commodities, CFC Technical Paper No. 34 Alternative Uses of Sorghum and Pearl Millet in Asia
  • Year: 2004
  • Summary: The relative importance of sorghum and pearl millet as food grains in Asia is decreasing in terms of cultivated area and production. The same trend is in India except that the productivity of pearl millet is increasing. Generally the above changes can be explained in terms of increasing incomes, change in consumers' preferences and tastes, subsidized supply of wheat and rice through the Public Distribution System (PDS), etc. Despite the decline in their consumption, food use still accounts for a major share, especially of pearl millet. Sorghum is passing a transition stage from mere food and fodder crop to a valued industrial raw material such as feed (in India), sweet sorghum alcohol (in China and Thailand) and forage (in Pakistan). Cotton, groundnut, pulses and castor are the major crops replacing sorghum in many areas. Soyabean is the competing crop, especially in central and western India replacing sorghum. Cotton, sunflower, maize, groundnut, pulses and soyabean are replacing pearl millet. Some factors responsible for replacement of sorghum and pearl millet by these competing crops are low productivity and profitability of sorghum and pearl millet vis-a-vis competing crops, increased irrigation availability and price support to other cash crops. The net returns from irrigated sorghum are up to five times that of dryland sorghum in India, making a pathway for its future commercialization. The investment in R&D and outcome of research from private sector is growing at a faster rate than the public sector. Industrial uses such as animal feed, alcohol production (grain and sweet sorghum), jaggery and syrup (sweet sorghum), processed foods, malt/brewing and red sorghum exports will be the driving forces for commercialization of sorghum and pearl millet. Productivity enhancement (maximization of yields) is the alternative in the absence of prospects of any increase in real prices of output. This will result in lowering per unit cost of production. Thus, yield improvements and value-addition through industrial utilization may enhance the profitability and alleviate rural poverty. Marketing, contract farming and farmer-industry linkages are the niches for commercialization of these crops.
  • Authors:
    • Taylor, J. R. N.
    • Somani, R. B.
  • Source: Alternative uses of sorghum and pearl millet in Asia. Proceedings of an expert meeting, ICRISAT, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India, 1-4 July, 2003; CFC Technical Paper No.34
  • Year: 2004
  • Summary: Adaptation to poor habitats, poor resource base and production and consumption by poorer sections of the society have made sorghum crop an indispensable component of dryland agriculture. It is a drought hardy crop, can withstand waterlogging and thus excels over maize; it is also ecologically sound and environment friendly, demanding little pesticide use for crop management. Notwithstanding the moderate contribution of sorghum to the national food basket, this crop offers enormous advantages such as early maturity, wide adaptation, ease of cultivation and good nutritive value of both grain and fodder. With the green revolution and availability of fine cereals in remote places, proper disposition by value addition and establishing food, feed, beverages, sugars and alcohol industries will not only generate employment potential but also improve the regional economy. Sorghum is a valuable food grain for many of the world's most food insecure people. Much of Africa and India is characterized by semi-arid tropical climatic conditions. Sorghum is undoubtedly and uniquely adapted in the Afro-Asian regions. Sorghum in Africa and Asia is processed into a very wide variety of nutritive food products. Documentation, standardization, popularization and commercial exploitation of traditional products need attention. A large number of accessions are available. Proper selection for the requirements of the end users is necessary. Use of new biotechnological tools such as anti-sense gene technology to incorporate desired traits is now possible. Continuing focused fundamental and applied research is essential to unleash sorghum's capacity to be the cornerstone in food, feed, fuel and fibre sectors in Afro-Asian countries. Sorghum types of both continents are different; in Africa it is 'milo' based whereas in the Indian subcontinent it is 'caudatum' type. More attention on dehulling and debranning of red sorghum and mold resistance in white sorghum is anticipated. The future for sweet sorghum or high energy sorghum is also bright. Combined efforts of research institutions, private seed sector, industry and the government are necessary for its commercial exploitation. So far, there is a concept of developing an agro-based industry. However, we now have to think of industry-based agriculture.
  • Authors:
    • Sweeney, D. W.
    • Moyer, J. L.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 96
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2004
  • Summary: With renewed interest in legumes as green manures, it is important to understand their effect on in-season N uptake of following non-legume row crops. This study assessed the effect of legumes as green manures on in-season N uptake by subsequent grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grown in conservation tillage systems in the eastern Great Plains. Treatments were (i) red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) before grain sorghum vs. continuous grain sorghum, (ii) reduced or no-tillage, and (iii) fertilizer N rates. The experiment was conducted on two adjacent sites (Parson silt loam: fine, mixed thermic Mollic Albaqualf) similar in organic matter but Site 1 higher in pH, P, and K than Site 2. In-season N uptake was often statistically greater in reduced-tillage than no-tillage systems. At both sites, red clover as a previous crop resulted in about 25% greater N uptake by sorghum vs. sorghum grown continuously with no previous legume crop. Nitrogen uptake by sorghum at the boot and soft dough growth stages responded linearly to increasing N rate, but the slope was 135 kg ha(-1) during the first year for both legumes at each site, but values for red clover remained greater than those for hairy vetch in subsequent years, especially at the higher fertility site. Grain yield tended to be maximized when N uptake at the soft dough stage exceeded 100 kg ha(-1) at Site 2 but continued to increase as N uptake increased at the higher-fertility Site 1. Utilizing legumes as green manures can increase in-season N uptake by following grain sorghum crops compared with continuous sorghum in these prairie soils.
  • Authors:
    • Bunce, J. A.
  • Source: Oecologia
  • Volume: 140
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2004
  • Summary: Reductions in leaf stomatal conductance with rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO 2]) could reduce water use by vegetation and potentially alter climate. Crop plants have among the largest reductions in stomatal conductance at elevated [CO 2]. The relative reduction in stomatal conductance caused by a given increase in [CO 2] is often not constant within a day nor between days, but may vary considerably with light, temperature and humidity. Species also differ in response, with a doubling of [CO 2] reducing mean midday conductances by 50% in others. Elevated [CO 2] increases leaf area index throughout the growing season in some species. Simulations, and measurements in free air carbon dioxide enrichment systems both indicate that the relatively large reductions in stomatal conductance in crops would translate into reductions of
  • Authors:
    • Schimmelpfennig, D. E.
    • McCarl, B. A.
    • Chen, C. C.
  • Source: Climatic Change
  • Volume: 66
  • Issue: 1/2
  • Year: 2004
  • Summary: One of the issues with respect to climate change involves its influence on the distribution of future crop yields. Many studies have been done regarding the effect on the mean of such distributions but few have addressed the effect on variance. Furthermore, those that have been done generally report the variance from crop simulators, not from observations. This paper examines the potential effects of climate change on crop yield variance in the context of current observed yields and then extrapolates to the effects under projected climate change. In particular, maximum likelihood panel data estimates of the impacts of climate on year-to-year yield variability are constructed for the major U.S. agricultural crops. The panel data technique used embodies a variance estimate developed along the lines of the stochastic production function approach suggested by Just and Pope. The estimation results indicate that changes in climate modify crop yield levels and variances in a crop-specific fashion. For sorghum, rainfall and temperature increases are found to increase yield level and variability. On the other hand, precipitation and temperature are individually found to have opposite effects on corn yield levels and variability.
  • Authors:
    • Australia, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
  • Source: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
  • Issue: 132
  • Year: 2004
  • Summary: An overview of crop production in Australia in 2004 is presented. The crop conditions in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia are described. Cropping areas and yields of winter crops (wheat, barley, oats, rape, lupins, field peas, chickpea, faba beans, lentils, triticale, safflower and vetch) and summer crops (cottonseed, sorghum, rice, maize, sunflowers, soyabeans, groundnuts, mung beans and navy beans) are compared with previous years. Various crop production, precipitation and pricing data are also tabulated.