Farming System最新文献

The central highlands of Kenya play a vital role in supporting agricultural activities and sustaining the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Despite its crucial role, the region faces substantial environmental challenges like soil erosion and land degradation, necessitating the adoption of sustainable land management practices. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of the adoption of Soil and Water Conservation Practices (SWCPs) among smallholder farmers in central Kenya. Primary data was collected from three administrative wards of Tharaka Nithi County (TNC) using 150 semi-structured household (HH) questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews (KII), and field observations. STATA and Microsoft Office Excel software were used to analyse the HH survey data, using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and the binary logistic regression model. Qualitative data from the KII was analysed through synthesized text summaries. The results show that 65.33 % of the respondents adopted SWCPs on their farms, while 34.67 % did not at the time of our study. The study findings further revealed that farm size (β ​= ​0.641; p ​< ​0.05), and Agro-ecological zone (AEZ) (β ​= ​1.341; p ​< ​0.05) positively influenced the adoption of SWCPs. On the other hand, distance from homestead to farm (β ​= ​−0.003; p ​< ​0.05), and age (β ​= ​−0.039; p ​≤ ​0.05) negatively influenced the adoption of SWCPs by the farmers. Challenges in SWCPs implementation included inadequate capital (76.53 %), high labor costs (62.24 %), lack of technical knowledge (34.69 %), lack of infrastructure (17.35 %), and insecure land tenure (1.02 %). These study findings hold the potential to guide the TNC government in formulating tailored strategies that can foster the adoption and sustainable implementation of SWCPs among smallholder farmers. If properly implemented, the strategies will bolster agricultural productivity, mitigate soil erosion, and enhance the region's overall environmental and economic well-being.

Water scarcity coupled with reduced nutrient-use efficiency (NUE) is challenging the sustainability of wheat production in the North-Western Plains of India. Suitable soil tillage practices, water, and nutrient management are thus essential to harvest high wheat yields on a long-term basis. Thus, a fixed-plot experiment was set and continued for three years to assess the main and interaction effects of tillage, irrigation, and fertilizers on water-use efficiency (WUE) and wheat yield. Zero-till flat bed (ZT_FB) and conventional till-raised bed (CT_RB) condensed the irrigation water requirement by 1163–1218 m³ ha⁻¹ and 698–762 m³ ha⁻¹, respectively, compared to conventional till-flat bed (CT_FB) without affecting wheat yields during 2016–2019. Apart from the saving in irrigation water, CT_RB enhanced grain turn over by 8.12–31.5%, biomass by 3.47–34.1%, WUE by 27.0–30.9% and irrigation water productivity (IWP) by 55.2–57.5% over CT_FB. Likewise, CT_RB recorded a 4.4–10.1% greater photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception over CT_FB and ZT_FB during the study years. ZT_FB had the highest moisture level (11.2%–22.5%) for 0–0.3 m soil layer. Applying irrigation at 25% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM) and 100% recommended rates of nutrients (RRN) resulted in significantly greater grain and biomass yields and WUE over the lower levels of irrigation and nutrients during 2016–2019. Further, the treatment combination of CT_RB or ZT_FB + 25% DASM +100% RRN was more productive, registering significant enhancements in grain and biomass yields, and WUE compared to CT_FB with all other fertilizer and irrigation levels. The study concludes that 25% DASM with 100% RRN application under CT_RB and ZT_FB in wheat are synergic to attain higher crop and water productivity against individual application of these agronomic variables.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different land uses, with contrasting vegetation covers and planting systems, on the formation pathways of aggregates (biogenic and physicogenic) and on their chemical and physical attributes. The study was conducted in the municipality of Guaíra in the western region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. Five treatments were selected for the study: an area with a conventional tillage system (SPC), no-till system with 6 years (SP6) and 18 years (SP18) of implementation, permanent pasture (PP) with 45 years of planting, and reference area with native forest (NF). In each area, four soil blocks (undisturbed samples) were collected from the 0.00–0.05 and 0.05–0.10 ​m layers. Aggregates were classified according to their formation pathways as biogenic or physicogenic, and the chemical attributes, aggregate stability, particle size, density fractionation of soil organic matter (SOM), and natural abundance of carbon (¹³C) were characterized. In the CTS area, lower pH values were observed for both aggregate formation pathways, and biogenic aggregates had the lowest calcium (Ca²⁺) content. In the NTS18 area, there was an increase in SOM content for both formation pathways, and the quantified values were similar to those observed in the NF area, with increase in total organic carbon (TOC) content and in the labile and recalcitrant fractions of SOM when compared with those of CTS. Significant differences were observed between aggregates formed in the forest area and those formed in other systems, indicating that different pathways can be used as indicators of soil quality. The chemical and physical parameters evaluated in the biogenic and physicogenic aggregates allowed the separation of the study areas through principal component analysis, with an emphasis on NTS₁₈, which was separated from the other areas, demonstrating that long-term conservation management increased the mineral organic matter and TOC levels.

China is the country with the most extensive development of multiple cropping worldwide with a long history. Multiple cropping plays an irreplaceable role in alleviating the contradiction between more people and less land, ensuring national food security, and increasing agricultural efficiency and farmer's income. However, China's traditional multiple cropping needs to adapt to the requirement of mechanization, high efficiency and standardization due to the rapid development of rural economy. This study systematically summarized the development of multiple cropping, clarified the impacts of climate change, scientific and technological progress on the boundary of multiple cropping, and reviewed the principle and ecological mechanism of efficient utilization of light, temperature, water, nitrogen and phosphorus and other nutrient resources in the multiple cropping. To further advance multiple cropping and better facilitate agricultural green transformation in China, there is a need for widespread adoption of advanced agricultural techniques, seamless integration of machinery, and the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies. These measures are essential to efficiently unlock the maximum potential of available resources and enhance crop yields. Additionally, enhancing biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and ecological services should be prioritized by expanding multiple cropping.

Rainfall variability, waterlogging and frequent natural hazards are the major obstacles for cropping system intensification in heavy textured soils of the coastal areas of Bangladesh. While earlier monsoon rice harvesting by introducing short duration varieties created opportunities for cultivating low water demanding non-rice crops in the dry season, such crops failed in many instances because of heavy rainfall and waterlogging. To address such issue, we have analysed dry season (Nov–Apr) rainfall patterns of six meteorological stations of coastal Bangladesh for studying the feasibility of growing irrigated rice and non-rice crops that can be harvested by April. Very heavy rainfall (>20 ​mm) occurred in 18–23% of the studied years and heavy rainfall (>10 ​mm) in 42–43% of cases creating the risk of water stagnation and damage to non-rice crops. The return intervals between occurrences of heavy rainfall and very heavy rainfall in November to December were 1.3–1.4 years and 1.5–2.5 years, respectively. These rainfall events generally delay establishment of non-rice crops. Similarly, in March and April, the return periods for heavy and very heavy rainfall were 1.3–1.5 years and 1.6–2.1 years, respectively. These rainfall events had a detrimental impact on non-rice crops, especially during their ripening stages. Such rainfall events during field experiments at the study locations were found in three years out of four cropping seasons that reduced sunflower and maize yields by 50–64% and sweet gourd and watermelon yields by 55–84% compared to their absence. The probability of high yield of non-rice crops was <25% and the yield variability was very high (40–75%) compared to general rice yield variability (5–6%). Risk factor analysis also revealed that dry season rice is less risky compared to other non-rice crops. To enhance risk management, intensification of cropping systems can be achieved by promoting cultivation of dry season irrigated rice where there is sufficient stored water for irrigation and encouraging farmers to grow pre-monsoon rice.

This study assesses the farming sustainability of the Small Tea Growers (STGs) in the Darjeeling hill region of India renowned for its high-quality tea production in which they had an important role. It is a comprehensive assessment encompassing environmental, economic, and social dimensions of tea farming sustainability using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to illuminate the intricate challenges faced by STGs (n ​= ​927) and also examines the interrelationships between these dimensions through the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) techniques and test of significance $\left(p\right)at0.05$ levels. The findings reveal that while environmental sustainability is moderate (0.48), economic sustainability (0.38) is a major challenge due to factors such as small land holdings (<10 ​ha) and limited farming experience. Social sustainability (0.54) displays village-level disparities, largely shaped by education, healthcare access, and participation in community decision-making. Overall, the Composite STGs Sustainability Index (CSTGSI) indicates that 79.71 ​% of STGs fall within the moderate sustainability (0.4–0.5) category reflecting a much better position compared to other tea-growing regions. The study emphasizes the need for tailored interventions to address specific village-level challenges and promote sustainable tea farming practices in the Darjeeling region.

Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) increase smallholder yields and environmental benefits by enabling positive interactions between livestock and crops. As goat farming is popular in Africa, in this study, we aimed to characterise goat-rearing systems and further understand the role of goat management and the relevant drivers in ecological intensification processes. We conducted an exploratory snowball sampling of 147 goat breeders in the western provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The smallholders used five agroecosystem components: animal husbandry (100%), croplands (100%), rangelands (73%), fishponds (22%) and beekeeping (2%). In 97% of the cases, the agroecosystem of a single farmer was fragmented, with an average of 3 ​± ​1 plots of land. In 31% of the cases, the plots of land were 2.5 ​km apart from the others, 40% were 2.5–5 ​km apart, and 29% were over 5 ​km apart. The short distance (<2.5 ​km) between animal husbandry land and cropland was positively associated (p < 0.05) with the use of manure as fertiliser and crop residues as animal feed, contributing to ecological intensification. Additional factors (training, breeding pigs and goats, vegetable gardening) were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with the aforementioned agroecological practices. Consequently, three categories of goat breeders were distinguished. The first group, not committed to ecological intensification, had free-grazing goats. The second group also had free-grazing goats, whereas the third tethered or kept goats in confined areas, and both were committed to ecological intensification. Traditional goat farming contributes to ecological intensification when smallholder farmers follow best management practices.

Analysing China's cropland changes highlights the intertwined dynamics of urbanization, industrialization, and ecological policies, offering insights into cropland efficiency and advancing agricultural modernization. This study analysed China's county-level cropland area and landscape fragmentation from 1990 to 2021 using land use data. The results revealed an uneven cropland distribution in China, which was mainly concentrated in regions such as Northeast China, the North China Plain, the Sichuan Basin, and the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plains, with most cropland occurring north of the Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River boundary. In the past three decades, China's cropland area has decreased by 8.68 million ha. Approximately 72.14% of the counties experienced a decline, and 24 provinces reported a net loss. Notably, there was large-scale land use type replacement in China, which was primarily manifested as the spatial displacement of cropland with forest, grassland, and impervious surfaces. As a result, the net reduction in cropland accounted for only 22.24% of the total cropland decrease. From 1990 to 2021, 52.04% of China's county-level cropland exhibited no significant changes in total area (TA) or patch density (PD), maintaining a stable cropland landscape. A total of 20.70% of the counties had significant TA reductions without PD changes, primarily in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. Counties without TA changes but significant PD declines represented 11.72%, mainly distributed in transitional zones of the second and third steps of China's terrain, the Loess Plateau, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and some areas of the Southeast Hills. Counties with significant TA reductions and PD increases accounted for 7.79%, primarily found in the border areas between Henan and Anhui, as well as Jiangsu. Thus, whether cropland loss in China over the past 30 years has led to increased fragmentation has shown clear spatial heterogeneity. This study provides scientific support for guiding cropland utilization to enhance sustainability and resilience in China.

In the Northern Great Plains, organic production is often limited by creeping perennial weeds. Producers have typically relied on alfalfa to control these weeds but this is not always practical. Therefore, we investigated Canada thistle, field bindweed, and perennial sowthistle suppression from three diversified crop sequences: (i) ALF, three years of alfalfa followed by a fourth year of hard red spring wheat (HRSW); (ii) LENCL, lentil the first year, HRSW interseeded with yellow sweetclover the second year, yellow sweetclover green manure the third year, and HRSW the fourth year; and (iii) CCPLY, nine species cool-season cover crop (CC) polyculture the first year, HRSW the second year, nine-species cool and warm season CC the third year, and HRSW the fourth year. From 2019 to 2021, at peak weed emergence, Canada thistle density declined in ALF, but remained unchanged in LENCL and CCPLY. During peak weed vegetative growth, Canada thistle density in ALF was greatest during 2020 (7 shoots per m⁻²), then declined during 2021 and 2022 (1 and 0.6 shoots m⁻², respectively). Within LENCL, Canada thistle density did not change from 2019 to 2020 (15 and 14 shoots m⁻², respectively), but then declined to 0.3 shoots m-2 in 2021 before rebounding again to 5 shoots m⁻² in 2022. Within CCPLY, Canada thistle density did not change over time (mean ​= ​9 shoots m⁻²). Canada thistle biomass at peak weed vegetative growth followed similar patterns. Likewise, ALF was shown to suppress perennial sowthistle and field bindweed more effectively than LENCL or CCPLY. Hence, alfalfa remains a good choice for creeping perennial weed management. However, none of these weed species increased substantially in LENCL and CCPLY, and the final year HRSW yield did not differ among cropping sequences. Therefore, these two sequences may provide crop diversification options along with creeping perennial weed management.

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an essential, high-quality forage used for grazing stocker cattle from fall to spring in the US Southern Great Plains (SGP). However, the lack of nutritious forages during summers limits grazing by stocker cattle. To fill this quality gap, a short season species capable of producing significant yield and quality of forage is necessary. A two-year experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of three legumes: tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray), mothbean [Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal], and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] as a control, at different harvest dates, in response to different row spacing (38 ​cm and 76 ​cm) and moisture levels (rainfed and irrigated). Results showed forage yield by all legumes planted at 38 ​cm spacing (4.5 and 3.9 ​Mg ​ha⁻¹) was higher than at 76 ​cm spacing (3.4 and 2.4 ​Mg ​ha⁻¹) in 2018 and 2019. Soybean was the most productive while mothbean had the highest relative feed value (RFV) in both 2018 and 2019 (160 and 118, respectively). Although soybean produced more forage, mothbean and tepary bean provided high quality forage in terms of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in-vitro true digestibility (IVTD). The results indicate that no single legume species stands out as the unequivocal leader in delivering both high-quality and abundant forage. Consequently, the choice of which species to utilize should be tailored to the specific forage requirements and management goals. Future research should explore mothbean genotypes to identify cultivars with greater yield potential and develop agronomic practices that effectively utilize those cultivars.