Farming System最新文献

Forage production is a major challenge in the Salado River basin, Argentina (also denominated “Flooding Pampas”), the largest livestock raising area. The successful naturalization of the European legume Lotus tenuis (native from Mediterranean area) has been of productive and environmental relevance to the region. The main objective of this work was to quantify the efficiency of L. tenuis through its ability to fix nitrogen biologically and thus strengthening their strategic role in the region. The ¹⁵N natural abundance method was used to evaluate the Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) of L. tenuis in soil plots. Non-leguminous weed species in the same plots were utilized as reference plants. Simultaneously, evaluations were carried out in the greenhouse and the relative reproducibility of the field experiments. The results showed that L. tenuis promotion was accompanied by an increase in forage quality improving the Crude Protein (CP) content and the Digestibility of Dry Matter (DDM). Moreover, its contribution to N inputs to the system through BNF in symbiosis with native rhizobia was about 80%, a highly relevant percentage for these constrained agroecosystems where the presence of native legumes is very scarce. In conclusion, this study supports the hypothesis that L. tenuis promotion plays a strategic role in ecosystem sustainability in the Salado River basin, especially in soil constrained areas. Together with previously published data, including information on ruminant management, the results obtained contribute to supporting the idea that the naturalized legume plays a strategic role in the sustainability of marginal agricultural soils.

The agricultural sector is vulnerable to climate change (CC). Various climate-related extremes, such as droughts, heat waves, unpredictable rainfall patterns, storms, floods, and an increase in insect pests, have adversely affected farmers' livelihoods. Climate forecasts indicate a significant increase in temperatures and more inconsistent, extreme rainfall, obfuscating the prediction of extreme weather events. The IPCC projects that by the end of the 21st century, temperatures in Thailand will rise by 0.95 ​°C–3.23 ​°C. This study aims to review the current understanding of CC's impact on the agricultural sector and evaluate the adaptation measures being employed in Thailand. Farmers have begun adopting adaptive measures such as alternative farming techniques, crop diversification, and water management strategies to mitigate climate risks and maintain productivity. However, limited resources, knowledge gaps, and insufficient government support hinder widespread adoption. Targeted interventions and policy support are essential for enhancing adaptive capacity and resilience. The impacts on crop water requirements and livelihoods reveal vulnerabilities due to extreme weather events. Rain-fed agriculture faces significant yield declines and reduced crop water productivity, exacerbating economic impacts on rural households and leading to food insecurity and financial instability. Effective adaptation requires enhanced water management, sustainable practices, and improved institutional support. Community engagement and participatory approaches are vital for building resilience against CC impacts. Comprehensive, region-specific, and long-term studies are crucial for developing robust adaptive strategies.

A challenge facing agriculture is the need to increase food production while at the same time reducing negative sustainability-related consequences. The use of synthetic chemical pesticides in conventional agriculture, which dominates worldwide, is particularly critical in terms of sustainability. Pesticide-free agriculture, which dispenses with synthetic chemical pesticides and uses mineral fertilizers, is an option that ensures sufficient yields and is associated with beneficial sustainability-related consequences. For the establishment of pesticide-free agriculture, knowledge about the evaluation of food from this agricultural system is central. The aim of the study was to analyze how consumers perceive food from pesticide-free agriculture in relation to established products from conventional and organic agriculture. By means of an online questionnaire, 559 German consumers were surveyed. Three products (fruit, vegetables, and cereals) were evaluated by the participants depending on the agricultural system in which they were produced (conventional, organic, and pesticide-free agriculture). Four criteria (health value, naturalness, environmental effects of production, and trustworthiness) were used for evaluation. The analyses show that fruit, vegetables, and cereals from pesticide-free agriculture were perceived as significantly healthier, more natural, more environmentally friendly produced, and more trustworthy than conventional alternatives. Although food from organic farming fulfills various requirements that go beyond the absence of pesticides, there were no significant differences between organically produced and pesticide-free fruit, vegetables, and cereals regarding the evaluation criteria. The organic and pesticide-free product variants were rated as above-average healthy, natural, environmentally friendly, and trustworthy. Overall, it is evident that consumers perceive pesticide-free foods as more advantageous compared to conventional products; there is a clear differentiation. In contrast, consumers do not differentiate between organic and pesticide-free foods. Clear communication of the characteristics of pesticide-free and organic food would be important to enable consumers to make a clearer distinction between the product categories and make an informed purchasing decision.

Various climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices are being advocated in different agroecological zones of Ethiopia to enhance the sustainability, resilience, and productivity of the agricultural sector in response to climate change. Prioritizing and packaging these CSA practices are essential to amplify the impact of climate change mitigation efforts. By strategically selecting and prioritizing these practices and technologies, resources can be allocated effectively to activities with the highest potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, bolstering resilience, and fostering sustainable development. However, identifying and prioritizing climate-smart practices that cater to the needs of vulnerable farmers and are tailored to specific local contexts remains challenging, often hindered by subjective assessments and limited awareness. The objective of this paper was to enhance the precision and objectivity of prioritizing CSA practices by leveraging a combination of research findings and expert knowledge. The steps included the following: i) a CSA prioritization assessment framework was used to identify and prioritize CSA practices across various agro-ecologies based on the CSA pillars (productivity, adaptation, and mitigation); ii), a meta-analysis approach was employed to determine the effect size of various CSA practices on the three pillars of CSA practices; iii), the effect size values were rescaled and ranked based on effect size categories; and iv), correlation was performed to assess the relationship between the two approaches, and finally, average values were taken to integrate and determine the final rank of CSA practices. Overall, we found out that there were weak correlations between the ranks of the two approaches, resulted in a mismatch between the ranks of CSA practices by experts and meta-analysis results. Using the meta-analysis approach, only 35% of the CSA practices were equally ranked by both approaches, 40% of the CSA practices were more likely ranked by experts, while 25% of the CSA practices were more likely ranked by the meta-analysis approach. This implies that experts overestimated the effect of various CSA practices on various indicators of productivity, soil loss, and run-off and soil organic matter. Integrating the ranks of the two approaches helped to target CSA practices across various agro-ecological zones. According to the combined ranking, several CSA practices were targeted to six major agro-ecological zones in the country. These various CSA practices increase productivity, enhance adaptation, and sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Based on the availability of these CSA practices, it is possible to package various combinations of these practices.

Chemical-synthetic pesticides (CSPs) are associated with several negative environmental effects. The European Commission aims to reduce their use by 50% by 2030. This paper looks at the German Eco-Scheme, an agri-environmental payment scheme, for the foregoing of chemical-synthetic pesticides (CSPs) in arable crops for a one-year period. Using Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany as a case study, we investigated the suitability of the Eco-Scheme as a policy tool for CSP reduction. We used a field-based, georeferenced integrated land use model based on linear programming. Different payment levels for the Eco-Scheme were simulated. In addition, we analyzed the effect of labor availability, crop yield requirements, and market prices on Eco-Scheme implementation (uptake).

The implementation potentials at €130/ha, the payment level in 2023, were limited and strongly dependent on market prices as well as potential food supply targets. The percentage decline in overall CSP use (measured in active substance mass) was even lower than the implementation in the percentage of acreage attributed to the Eco-Scheme. The implementation potentials were mainly observed on marginal sites. Higher simulated payment levels led to lower cost efficiency and dead weight losses. This trade-off between cost efficiency and effective reduction questions the suitability of the Eco-Scheme, at least for more substantial CSP reductions. To increase economic efficiency, we recommend differentiating payments based on abatement costs, for example on a crop-basis.

In sub-Saharan Africa, productivity risks stem from weather variability, while environmental risks include soil nutrient depletion due to unsustainable farming practices that include monoculture, inadequate or lack of soil and water conservation measures, and low-nutrient application. As a result, shifts from the prevailing fallow system to permanent cultivation lead to soil degradation. The present study aimed to quantify the fluxes of biomass, nutrients, and nutrient balances from different fertilizer sources to de-risk the challenges related to agriculture and the environment in Mali. A farm household survey was conducted over two years (July 2018 to June 2020) with 45 households. The survey enabled us to categorize farm households into three typologies: high resource endowment (HRE), medium resource endowment (MRE), and low resource endowment (LRE). Data on sustainability indicators from cropland, livestock, farm input use, and redistribution units enabled the analysis of biomass and nutrient flow dynamics from households to farmlands and vice versa. The nutrient monitoring (NUTMON) tool generated nutrient flows and balances. Results showed that the total annual biomass collected per hectare by HRE (22.3t) is significantly higher than that collected by MRE (13.4t) and LRE (5.35t) farms (P ​< ​0.001). Compared to LRE (10.3 ​t ​ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), HRE and MRE farmers produced six times (60 ​t ​ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and three times (34 ​t ​ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) more manure, respectively. Farm households with better endowment status observed a higher rate of nutrient utilization. For the major crops, nutrient application rates of HRE farms in kg ha⁻¹ (cotton: 12.6 ​N, 4.2 ​P, 18.2 ​K) and (maize: 9.18 ​N, 2.34 ​P, 10.7 ​K) were significantly higher than that of MRE and LRE farms (P ​< ​0.01). The study confirms that household endowment status determines farmlands' nutrient flows and fertility levels. Quantifying biomass transport and understanding nutrient flow dynamics enable the derivation of context-specific solutions to reduce risks associated with productivity and the environment.

Soil degradation is a pressing issue in Nepal. The interrelation between soil degradation and nitrogen deficiency often creates feedback loops that exacerbate both problems. Further, there are debates as to whether sharecropping poses challenges to sustainable soil management. This study examines the comparative likelihood of sharecroppers and non-sharecroppers to adopt minimum or no-till, use of crop residues, incorporate fertiliser in the soil or deep placement of fertiliser, use compost and organic fertiliser, and adopt good water management practices. This study also investigates whether there are differences between adoption drivers/barriers of sharecropper and non-sharecroppers Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) models are estimated. The results show that being a sharecropper is associated with a decrease in the likelihood of adopting no-tillage/minimum tillage and incorporating fertiliser rather than broadcasting. However, being a sharecropper is associated with a greater likelihood of adopting organic fertiliser, compost and crop residues. The main differences between the determinants of adoption among sharecroppers and non-sharecroppers are that older farmers were more likely to adopt certain practices for sharecroppers but not for non-sharecroppers. There are also differences in the adoption of no-tillage/minimum tillage and incorporation of fertiliser for non-sharecroppers between male and female farmers. However, for sharecroppers, male-headed farms were less likely to adopt most practices. Labour size, subsidy for synthetic fertiliser, and awareness of the soil/environment linkages also influenced adoption differently across sharecroppers and non-sharecroppers. Contrary to assertions that sharecropping acts as a barrier universally, the findings suggest that Nepalese sharecroppers' adoption of soil management practices is more context-dependent than uniformly hindered.

This study fills important gaps in research by analyzing the evolution over time of productive, environmental, and socio-economic aspects of agricultural production in the Argentine Pampas, utilizing farm-level data. A longitudinal study was conducted to examine the changes that occurred in farming systems during the period 2007–2018. The study evaluated the changes in 30 farms, examining modifications in the structure and management of each farm, as well as in productive, economic, and environmental performance. Canonical correlation analysis was used to relate the changes that occurred in performance to farms' characteristics at the beginning of the study period. The results indicated that, among the farms that stayed in business, there were no significant changes in land tenure and the amount of labor employed. There was a significant increase in the average age of farmers by 7 years, along with a decrease in the percentage of farmers expecting growth, dropping from 70% to 42% over the period. Canonical correlation analysis revealed that smaller farms, with a higher number of workers at the beginning of the period, were more likely to expand their farming area during the analysis period. The findings also indicate a substantial turnover of producers, with leaving farms being succeeded by larger-scale operations. The yields of the main crops and the direct production costs increased by 16% and 48% respectively, during the period. The environmental indicators for the main crops present a mixed picture: soil organic carbon input increased by 12%, while environmental impact quotient decreased on average, by 6% for cereals but increased by 40% for soybeans, and nutrient imbalances rose. The significance of this study resides in its application of a comprehensive approach to analyze the transformation of farming systems over time.

Indian agriculture system is facing severe crisis due to multiple stressors, including climate change, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, poor socio-economic condition of farmers and water scarcity. Adoption of sustainable form of agriculture is one of the remedies to deal with these stressors. Despite this, adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Practices (SAPs) is quite limited among farmers, which necessitates understanding the factors driving farmers’ adoption of SAPs. So far, studies have majorly prioritized socio-economic and demographic variables and lack comprehensive understanding of institutional and behavioural factors towards adoption of SAPs by farming community. Current research aims to address the underlying gaps, by focusing on understanding the contribution of institutional, attitudinal and perceptual factors manifesting in attitude and perception. Thereby, to understand the factors driving adoption of SAPs, we conducted a field survey of 400 farmers across Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra, India. We further used structural equation modeling to model the relationship between SAPs and its driving factors i.e., intrinsic motivation and institutional factors. Findings show that perceived usefulness, easiness and compatibility are strong motivation in implementing sustainable agriculture practices by farmers. These factors need to be inculcated among farmers for improving their adoption of SAPs. The subsidy provided on seeds, fertilizers, and water leads to overutilization of these resources, which itself is an unsustainable practice. Only incentives and extension services showed a statistically significant and positive relationship with the adoption of SAPs. Findings can help policymakers in designing targeted interventions for farmers and agriculture sector in India.