Academic literature on the topic 'Organic farming. Crop yields. Soil fertility'
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Journal articles on the topic "Organic farming. Crop yields. Soil fertility"
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Durrer, Ademir, Thiago Gumiere, Maurício Rumenos Guidetti Zagatto, Henrique Petry Feiler, Antonio Marcos Miranda Silva, Rodrigo Henriques Longaresi, Sérgio K. Homma, and Elke J. B. N. Cardoso. "Organic farming practices change the soil bacteria community, improving soil quality and maize crop yields." PeerJ 9 (September 23, 2021): e11985. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11985.
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Background The importance of organic farming has increased through the years to promote food security allied with minimal harm to the ecosystem. Besides the environmental benefits, a recurring problem associated with organic management is the unsatisfactory yield. A possible solution may rely on the soil microbiome, which presents a crucial role in the soil system. Here, we aimed to evaluate the soil bacterial community structure and composition under organic and conventional farming, considering the tropical climate and tropical soil. Methodology Our organic management treatments were composed by composted poultry manure and green manure with Bokashi. Both organic treatments were based on low nitrogen inputs. We evaluated the soil bacterial community composition by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, soil fertility, and soil enzyme activity in two organic farming systems, one conventional and the last transitional from conventional to organic. Results We observed that both organic systems evaluated in this study, have higher yield than the conventional treatment, even in a year with drought conditions. These yield results are highly correlated with changes in soil chemical properties and enzymatic activity. The attributes pH, Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase, and β- glucosidase activity are positively correlated with organic systems, while K and Al are correlated with conventional treatment. Also, our results show in the organic systems the changes in the soil bacteria community, being phyla Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Nitrospirae, and Rokubacteria the most abundant. These phyla were correlated with soil biochemical changes in the organic systems, helping to increase crop yields. Conclusion Different organic management systems, (the so-called natural and organic management systems, which use distinct organic sources), shift the soil bacterial community composition, implying changes in their functionalities. Also, our results contributed to the identification of target bacterial groups and changes in soil chemical properties and enzymatic activity in a trophic organic farming system, which may contribute to higher crop yields.
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Timsina, Jagadish. "Can Organic Sources of Nutrients Increase Crop Yields to Meet Global Food Demand?" Agronomy 8, no. 10 (October 3, 2018): 214. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy8100214.
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Meeting global demand of safe and healthy food for the ever-increasing population now and into the future is currently a crucial challenge. Increasing crop production by preserving environment and mitigating climate change should thus be the main goal of today’s agriculture. Conventional farming is characterized by use of high-yielding varieties, irrigation water, chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides to increase yields. However, due to either over- or misuse of chemical fertilizers or pesticides in many agro-ecosystems, such farming is often blamed for land degradation and environmental pollution and for adversely affecting the health of humans, plants, animals and aquatic ecosystems. Of all inputs required for increased agricultural production, nutrients are considered to be the most important ones. Organic farming, with use of organic sources of nutrients, is proposed as a sustainable strategy for producing safe, healthy and cheaper food and for restoring soil fertility and mitigating climate change. However, there are several myths and controversies surrounding the use of organic versus inorganic sources of nutrients. The objectives of this paper are: (i) to clarify some of the myths or misconceptions about organic versus inorganic sources of nutrients and (ii) to propose alternative solutions to increase on-farm biomass production for use as organic inputs for improving soil fertility and increasing crop yields. Common myths identified by this review include that organic materials/fertilizers can: (i) supply all required macro- and micro-nutrients for plants; (ii) improve physical, chemical and microbiological properties of soils; (iii) be applied universally on all soils; (iv) always produce quality products; (v) be cheaper and affordable; and (vi) build-up of large amount of soil organic matter. Other related myths are: “legumes can use entire amount of N2 fixed from atmosphere” and “bio-fertilizers increase nutrient content of soil.” Common myths regarding chemical fertilizers are that they: (i) are not easily available and affordable, (ii) degrade land, (iii) pollute environment and (iv) adversely affect health of humans, animals and agro-ecosystems. The review reveals that, except in some cases where higher yields (and higher profits) can be found from organic farming, their yields are generally 20–50% lower than that from conventional farming. The paper demonstrates that considering the current organic sources of nutrients in the developing countries, organic nutrients alone are not enough to increase crop yields to meet global food demand and that nutrients from inorganic and organic sources should preferably be applied at 75:25 ratio. The review identifies a new and alternative concept of Evergreen Agriculture (an extension of Agroforestry System), which has potential to supply organic nutrients in much higher amounts, improve on-farm soil fertility and meet nutrient demand of high-yielding crops, sequester carbon and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, provide fodder for livestock and fuelwood for farmers and has potential to meet global food demand. Evergreen Agriculture has been widely adapted by tens of millions of farmers in several African countries and the review proposes for evaluation and scaling-up of such technology in Asian and Latin American countries too.
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HERENCIA, J. F., J. C. RUIZ, S. MELERO, P. A. GARCIA GALAVÍS, and C. MAQUEDA. "A short-term comparison of organic v. conventional agriculture in a silty loam soil using two organic amendments." Journal of Agricultural Science 146, no. 6 (September 30, 2008): 677–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859608008071.
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SUMMARYThe transition from conventional to organic farming is accompanied by changes in soil chemical properties and processes that could affect soil fertility. The organic system is very complex and the present work carries out a short-term comparison of the effects of organic and conventional agriculture on the chemical properties of a silty loam soil (Xerofluvent) located in the Guadalquivir River Valley, Seville, Spain, through a succession of five crop cycles over a 3-year period. Crop rotation and varieties were compared in a conventional system using inorganic fertilizer and two organic systems using either plant compost or manure. At the end of the study, organic farming management resulted in higher soil organic carbon (OC), N and available P, K, Fe and Zn. The available Mn and especially Cu values did not show significant differences. In general, treatment with manure resulted in more rapid increases in soil nutrient values than did plant compost, which had an effect on several crop cycles later. The present study demonstrated that the use of organic composts results in an increase in OC and the storage of nutrients, which can provide long-term fertility benefits. Nevertheless, at least 2–3 years of organic management are necessary, depending on compost characteristics, to observe significant differences. Average crop yields were 23% lower in organic crops. Nevertheless, only two crops showed statistically significant differences.
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Bliss, Christine, Pete Andersen, Brent Brodbeck, David Wright, Steve Olson, and James Marois. "The Influence of Bahiagrass, Tillage, and cover crops on Organic Vegetable Production and Soil Quality in the Southern Coastal Plain." Sustainable Agriculture Research 5, no. 2 (April 7, 2016): 65. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/sar.v5n2p65.
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<p>Conventional farming utilizing bahiagrass (Papsalum notatum Flugge) in rotation with crops has been shown to increase yield, improve soil quality, and decrease weed and disease pressure. Organic production systems in the Southern Coastal Plain are challenged with limited soil fertility and a wide array of insect, disease, and weed pests. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of sequential years in bahiagrass and tillage (conventional and conservation) on organic vegetable yield and soil indices. After 0-4 years in bahiagrass, a crop rotation of rye and oats (winter cover crop), bush beans (spring vegetable crop), soybean (summer cover crop), and broccoli (fall vegetable crop) was implemented. Vegetable crop yields, plant biomass, plant C and N, and soil C, N, and P were measured for the four crops in the rotation over a three year period. Two years or more of bahiagrass prior to initiating the vegetable crop rotation showed positive effects on vegetable crop yields and soil quality parameters. Tillage treatments did not have a consistent effect on measured parameters. Soil C was not impacted by years in bahiagrass but was influenced by years of crop production. Potential soil N and P mineralization indicated an increase of soil organic fractions with years in bahiagrass. Available N increased after cover crops, and available P decreased with increasing years in bahiagrass.</p>
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McLeod, Malem K., S. Sufardi, and S. Harden. "Soil fertility constraints and management to increase crop yields in the dryland farming systems of Aceh, Indonesia." Soil Research 59, no. 1 (2021): 68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr19324.
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In Aceh, Indonesia, low dryland crop yields entrench rural poverty. The lack of soil fertility information hinders the development of soil management programs to assist farmers to increase crop yield. This study identified soil-based constraints to production and management options to increase crop yield. We analysed 254 soil samples from 127 dryland cropping sites across Pidie, Bireuen, Aceh Besar and Aceh Barat districts for pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), base saturation (BS) and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The dominant soils were Entisols, Inceptisols and Ultisols, with some Andisols and Mollisols. Overall, the CEC range was 10–60 cmol(+) kg–1 and available P was 0.5–702 mg kg–1 but most had poor fertility: SOC < 20.0 g kg–1, total N < 2.0 g kg–1, low basic cations and BS < 40%. The Ultisols and some Entisols and Inceptisols were acidic, with aluminium saturation >20% and available P < 6.5 mg kg–1. To sustainably increase crop yield, we concluded that these soils need lime where acidic, fertilisers for nutrients and stable carbon-rich amendments for system stability. This dataset will guide future agricultural research and development programs in Aceh to improve farmer practices and food security.
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Zinati, Gladis M. "Transition from Conventional to Organic Farming Systems: I. Challenges, Recommendations, and Guidelines for Pest Management." HortTechnology 12, no. 4 (January 2002): 606–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.21273/horttech.12.4.606.
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Conventional agricultural systems increase per-area food production, but deplete natural resources and degrade both crop and environmental quality. Many of these concerns are addressed by sustainable agricultural systems, integrated pest management, biocontrol, and other alternative systems. Environmental and social concerns have escalated the need for alternative agricultural systems in the last decade. One alternative, the organic farming system, substitutes cultural and biological inputs for synthetically made fertilizers and chemicals for crop nutrition and pest management. Practices used for crop and pest management are similar during transition from conventional to organic farming systems, but produce is not certified to be organic during the transition period. During the transition from conventional to organic farming, growers may face pest control difficulties and lower yields when conventional practices are abandoned. The objectives of this paper are to 1) give an overview of the reasons for converting to organic farming and the challenges that growers face during the transition period, 2) outline some potential strategies for crop, soil, and pest management, and 3) list guidelines and recommendations for pest management during the transition to organic farming. Implementation of crop and pest management practices depends on geographical location, climate, available onsite resources, and history of the land. During transition, growers rely on cultural mechanisms and on organic and mineral sources to improve soil fertility, to build a population of natural enemies to suppress pest populations. Pest management practices during the transition period that reduce pest populations to economically manageable levels include crop rotation, cultivation, cover crops, mulches, crop diversification, resistant varieties, and insect traps. These practices also enrich the soil biota and increase crop yields before produce is certified organically grown.
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Ghumaiz, Nasser S. AL, Mohamed I. Motawei, and Abdulrahman A. Al Soqeer. "Response of spring wheat genotypes to organic farming systems in low-fertility soil." APRIL 2019 13, (04) 2019 (April 20, 2019): 616–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.21475/ajcs.19.13.04.p1648.
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Low-fertility soil is considered a major challenge for growing wheat (Triticum aestivum) in organic systems. The objective of this study was to identify spring wheat genotype(s) adapted to growing in organic systems with low-fertility soil compared with conventional systems in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Organic and conventional trials were established during the 2010, 2011 and 2012 growing seasons in the arid environment of central region of Saudi Arabia. Both trails were seeded in a sandy loam soil. Eight bread wheat genotypes were evaluated for the following parameters: grain and straw yields, grain-filling rate (GFR), days to heading (DTH), days to maturity (DTM), number of kernels per spike and 1000-kernel weight. The experiment was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The findings showed that there were significant differences in grain and straw yields between the two systems and among genotypes. The Egyptian genotypes 'Sids 12' and Early-line produced the highest grain yields (7.8 tons ha-1) in the conventional system, whereas in the organic system, Yocora Rojo (control genotype) and Early-line produced the highest yields (5.8 and 5.9 tons ha-1, respectively). Grain and straw yields were higher in 2011 and 2012 growing seasons compared to 2010. Early-line and ICARDA genotypes (IC8 and IC17) had the highest grain-filling rate, whereas the Australian genotypes (P5 and P3) and the local genotype 'Sama' had the lowest grain-filling rate. The genotype Early-line had the shortest time to heading and maturity in both systems. Therefore, Early-line and Yocora Rojo are promising bread wheat genotypes for organic production systems in low-fertility soil.
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Vateva, Violeta. "OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESTORATION OF SOIL FERTILITY THROUGH METHODS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN THE YAMBOL AGROREGION." International Conference on Technics, Technologies and Education, no. 1 (2018): 25–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.15547/10.15547/ictte.2018.01.004.
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The quality and quantity of agricultural production depend on the fertility of the soil type on which it is grown. Soil fertility is the result of the interaction of multiple mutually merged factors. Loss of soil fertility leads to soil degradation. Subsequently, it gradually becomes unfit for farming activity. Controlling the maintenance and enhancement of soil fertility is the guarantor of sustainable yields and population satisfaction with food resources, protecting land from degradation, and preserving biodiversity of ecosystems. The report examines the opportunities for restoration of the soil fertility of the agricultural lands of the Yambol Agro region. The aim is to analyze and propose for practice the most suitable methods of organic farming, with the application of which to preserve and improve the fertility of soils from the agricultural fund of the region. The proposed options are in line with the requirements of the European Union and the elements of the Common Agricultural Policy for Conservation of Soil Fertility. As a result of analysis and studies found that the preservation and maintenance of soil fertility in agricultural land in Yambol agroregion is recognized and priority policy of the departments of Agriculture and farmers. From soil fertility conservation methods, organic farmers in Yambol Agro region apply a comprehensive approach, focusing primarily on bio-fertilization, crop rotation and sequential soil treatment systems.
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Vateva, Violeta. "OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESTORATION OF SOIL FERTILITY THROUGH METHODS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN THE YAMBOL AGROREGION." Applied Researches in Technics, Technologies and Education 6, no. 4 (2018): 287–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.15547/artte.2018.04.001.
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The quality and quantity of agricultural production depend on the fertility of the soil type on which it is grown. Soil fertility is the result of the interaction of multiple mutually merged factors. Loss of soil fertility leads to soil degradation. Subsequently, it gradually becomes unfit for farming activity. Controlling the maintenance and enhancement of soil fertility is the guarantor of sustainable yields and population satisfaction with food resources, protecting land from degradation, and preserving biodiversity of ecosystems. The report examines the opportunities for restoration of the soil fertility of the agricultural lands of the Yambol Agro region. The aim is to analyze and propose for practice the most suitable methods of organic farming, with the application of which to preserve and improve the fertility of soils from the agricultural fund of the region. The proposed options are in line with the requirements of the European Union and the elements of the Common Agricultural Policy for Conservation of Soil Fertility. As a result of analysis and studies found that the preservation and maintenance of soil fertility in agricultural land in Yambol agro region is recognized and priority policy of the departments of Agriculture and farmers. From soil fertility conservation methods, organic farmers in Yambol Agro region apply a comprehensive approach, focusing primarily on bio-fertilization, crop rotation and sequential soil treatment systems.
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Warkentin, B. P. "Tillage for soil fertility before fertilizers." Canadian Journal of Soil Science 80, no. 3 (August 1, 2000): 391–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/s99-108.
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The present concern for decreased tillage in crop production systems makes it interesting to look back 300 years to when Jethro Tull introduced his system of intensive tillage for cereals and fodder crops. His experiments in England, at a time when landowners started paying more attention to farming, established that frequent tillage with plows could substitute for manure or fallow in continuous cropping of wheat. The general understanding was that exposed soil absorbed plant nutrients from the atmosphere; therefore, it was important to turn over lower layers and to leave the soil in a loose condition where more surfaces were exposed. In addition to controlling weeds, a probably equally important factor was speeding up mineralization of organic matter through increased aeration. This would account for the increased yields even where weeds were not present, and the ability to substitute tillage for fallow. Tull's system of cultivating wheat grown in rows, sometimes on ridges, was vehemently debated in the 18th century and was not widely accepted. The benefits would have diminished as organic matter content of soils decreased, and was probably not effective on all soils. Key words: Horse-hoeing husbandry, mineralization, ploughing, Jethro Tull
Dissertations / Theses on the topic "Organic farming. Crop yields. Soil fertility"
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Childers, Todd Bradley. "The effect of low and high fertility treatments on soil quality, yields, pest incidence and labor requirements of a post-transitional organic market garden system." Morgantown, W. Va. : [West Virginia University Libraries], 2005. https://eidr.wvu.edu/etd/documentdata.eTD?documentid=4172.
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Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2005.Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 66 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-66).
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Delve, Robert James. "Implications of livestock feeding management for soil fertility in smallholder mixed farming systems." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.312167.
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Maleka, Koena Gideon. "Determination of yield and yield components of selected tomato varities in soil with different levels of cattle manure application." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/834.
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Thesis (M.Sc. (Crop Science)) --University of Limpopo, 2012Organic tomatoes are increasingly popular with larger market acceptance since organic farming uses limited or no artificial chemicals. Application of organic fertilisers such as cattle manure has potential to boost organic tomato productivity particularly under low input farming systems. However, information is required on the optimum level of manure application on different tomato cultivars to help emerging tomato farmers in South Africa. The objective of this study was to determine the relative response of yield and yield components among selected determinate and indeterminate tomato cultivars using different levels of cattle manure. Two separate field experiments were conducted at the University of Limpopo during 2007 and 2008 using a split plot design with three replications. Two sets of tomato cultivars were included in which one set consisted indeterminate types (Money Maker, Ox Heart and Sweetie) and the other determinates (Roma and Floradade). Cultivars were assigned as the main plot treatments with six rates of manure (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 in gram per plant) applied as the subplot treatments to each set. Results indicated significant interactions (P ≤ 0.01) between indeterminate tomato cultivars and levels of manure applied for fruit yield and fruit size in both experiments. Plant height showed variation from 78 to168 cm in Experiment I and 87 to 176 cm in Experiment II. During Experiment I fruit number varied from 23 to 91 per plant and 23 to 97 in Experiment II. Significant differences were detected among determinate cultivars on fruit yield varying from 7928 to 3 4705 kg per hectare during Experiment I and 3 169 to 2 9840 kg per hectare during Experiment II. Overall, the best level of manure for maximum fruit yield and greater fruit size was achieved at 40 g per plant in the indeterminate cultivar Sweetie. Conversely, the best level of manure for maximum fruit yield was achieved at 30 g per plant in determinate cultivar Roma. Thus, to achieve maximum yield, tomato growers could apply 600 and 800 kg per hectare manure on the determinate and indeterminate tomato cultivars, respectively.
the National Research Foundation (NRF)
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Teklay, Tesfay. "Organic inputs from agroforestry trees on farms for improving soil quality and crop productivity in Ethiopia /." Umeå : Dept. of Forest Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2005. http://epsilon.slu.se/2005122.pdf.
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Manyevere, Alen. "Evaluation and mapping of the spatial variability of soil fertility at Zanyokwe Irrigation Scheme in the Eastern Cape, South Africa." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001019.
Full textBooks on the topic "Organic farming. Crop yields. Soil fertility"
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Pieri, Christian J. M. G. Fertility of soils: A future for farming in the west African savannah. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1992.
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Taji, Acram, and John Reganold. Organic Agriculture. Edited by Paul Kristiansen. CSIRO Publishing, 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/9780643094604.
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With global revenue surpassing twenty-five billion dollars annually, organic agriculture is a highly visible and rapidly growing component of agricultural production. In Organic Agriculture: A Global Perspective, Paul Kristiansen, Acram Taji, and John Reganold, and their international group of contributors scientifically review key aspects of organic agriculture. At the intersection of research, education, and practice, the contributors look at the organic agricultural movement’s successes and limitations.
The first half of this book critically evaluates the agricultural production of both plants and livestock in organic farming systems. All major aspects of organic agriculture are explored, including historical background and underlying principles, soil-fertility management, crop and animal production, breeding strategies, and crop protection. This global and comprehensive overview also addresses the economic, social, and political aspects of organic farming. These include economics and marketing; standards and certification; environmental impacts and social responsibility; and research, education, and extension.
The book is a unique and timely science-based international work documenting current practices in organic agriculture and evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. For more than two decades, research into organic methods by mainstream scientists has generated a large body of information that can now be integrated and used for assessing the actual impacts of organic farming in a wide range of disciplines. The knowledge of selected international experts has been combined in one volume, providing a comprehensive review of organic farming globally.
Researchers, teachers, extensionists, students, primary producers and others around the world who are interested in sustainable agriculture will find this book to be a valuable and reliable resource.
Book chapters on the topic "Organic farming. Crop yields. Soil fertility"
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Krause, Ariane. "Valuing Waste – A Multi-method Analysis of the Use of Household Refuse from Cooking and Sanitation for Soil Fertility Management in Tanzanian Smallholdings." In Organic Waste Composting through Nexus Thinking, 91–122. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36283-6_5.
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AbstractThe starting point of this work is the intention of two farmers’ initiatives to disseminate locally developed and adapted cooking and sanitation technologies to smallholder households in Karagwe District, in northwest Tanzania. These technologies include improved cooking stoves (ICSs), such as microgasifiers, and a system combining biogas digesters and burners for cooking, as well as urine-diverting dry toilets, and thermal sterilisation/pasteurisation for ecological sanitation (EcoSan). Switching to the new alternatives could lead to a higher availability of domestic residues for soil fertility management. These residues include biogas slurry from anaerobic digestion, powdery biochar from microgasifiers and sanitised human excreta from EcoSan facilities. Such recycling-driven approaches address an existing problem for many smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa, namely, the lack of soil amenders to sufficiently replenish soil nutrients and soil organic matter (SOM) in soils used for agricultural activity. This example from Tanzania systematically examines the nexus of ‘energy-sanitation-agriculture’ in smallholder farming systems. The short-term experiments demonstrated that all soil amenders that were analysed could significantly enhance crop productivity. CaSa-compost – the product of co-composting biochar with sanitised human excreta – quadrupled grain yields. The observed stimulation of crop yield and also plant nutrition is attributed to improved nutrient availability caused by a direct increase of soil pH and of plant-available phosphorus (P) in the soil. The assessment of the lasting soil implications revealed that CaSa-compost and biogas slurry both show the long-term potential to roughly double yields of maize. Corresponding nutrient requirements can be adequately compensated through residue capturing and subsistence production of soil amenders. The potential of CaSa-compost for sustainable soil fertility management is superior to that of standard compost, especially with respect to liming, replenishing soil P and restoring SOM. Biogas slurry, however, yields inferior results in all aspects when compared to compost amendments.
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Swanepoel, M., R. Auerbach, and N. J. Mashele. "Soil fertility changes and crop yields from the first 4 years of the Mandela trials." In Organic food systems: meeting the needs of Southern Africa, 303–24. Wallingford: CABI, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9781786399601.0303.
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Reetsch, Anika, Didas Kimaro, Karl-Heinz Feger, and Kai Schwärzel. "Traditional and Adapted Composting Practices Applied in Smallholder Banana-Coffee-Based Farming Systems: Case Studies from Kagera and Morogoro Regions, Tanzania." In Organic Waste Composting through Nexus Thinking, 165–84. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36283-6_8.
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AbstractIn Tanzania, about 90% of the banana-coffee-based farming systems lie in the hands of smallholder farmer families. In these systems, smallholder farmers traditionally add farm waste to crop fields, making soils rich in organic matter (humus) and plant-available nutrients. Correspondingly, soils remained fertile during cultivation for over a century. Since the 1960s, the increasing demand for food and biofuels of a growing population has resulted in an overuse of these farming systems, which has occurred in tandem with deforestation, omitted fallows, declined farm size, and soil erosion. Hence, humus and nutrient contents in soils have decreased and soils gradually degraded. Inadequate use of farm waste has led to a further reduction in soil fertility, as less organic material is added to the soils for nutrient supply than is removed during harvesting. Acknowledging that the traditional use of farm waste successfully built up soil fertility over a century and has been reduced in only a few decades, we argue that traditional composting practices can play a key role in rebuilding soil fertility, if such practices are adapted to face the modern challenges. In this chapter, we discuss two cases in Tanzania: one on the traditional use of compost in the Kagera region (Great African Rift Valley) and another about adapted practices to produce compost manure in the Morogoro region (Uluguru Mountains). Both cases refer to rainfed, smallholder banana-coffee-based farming systems. To conclude, optimised composting practices enable the replenishment of soil nutrients, increase the capacity of soils to store plant-available nutrients and water and thus, enhance soil fertility and food production in degraded banana-coffee-based farming systems. We further conclude that future research is needed on a) nutrient cycling in farms implementing different composting practices and on b) socio-economic analyses of farm households that do not successfully restore soil fertility through composting.
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Juo, Anthony S. R., and Kathrin Franzluebbers. "Properties and Management of Kaolinitic Soils." In Tropical Soils. Oxford University Press, 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195115987.003.0014.
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Kaolinitic soils are the most widely occurring soils in the tropics, especially in tropical Africa. They comprise about 70% of the soils in the low-altitude tropics. Typically, these soils have a sandy, loamy sand, or sandy loam surface soil and sandy clay to clayey subsoil containing approximately 20-60% clay in the lower B horizons. Silt content is usually low throughout the profile (< 20%) with the exception of soils derived from loess materials. Soil erosion, compaction, and low nutrient- and water-holding capacities are the major constraints under intensive cropping. Ideally, kaolinitic soils in the humid and subhumid regions should be used for natural forest reserves and tree farms. In drier regions, sustainable land use includes natural grasslands and managed pastures with low stocking rates. When kaolinitic soils are used for annual crop production, crop rotation and managed fallow must be included in the farming system after a short cropping cycle to restore soil physical, chemical, and biological fertility and to sustain crop yield in the long term. Kaolinitic soils may be further distinguished into two subgroups based on inherent chemical fertility, namely, high-base-status and low-base-status kaolinitic soils. High-base-status kaolinitic soils usually have pH values of 5.3 or higher (measured in soil-water suspension), and a base saturation (BS) of 70% or higher throughout the soil profile calculated on the basis of effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC). Low-base-status kaolinitic soils generally have a pH value of 5.2 or lower, and a base saturation below 70%. The properties of high-base-status and low-base-status kaolinitic soils are given in tables 10-1 and 10-2, respectively. The common properties of these two soils are the dominance of kaolinite in the clay fraction, a low CEC, and a high bulk density in the subsoil horizon. The differences are the degree of base saturation, soil pH, degree of exchangeable Al saturation, and the quality of soil organic matter. In other words, the cation exchange sites of soil organic matter in the low-base-status soil are dominated by Al3+, whereas Ca++ and Mg++ are the dominating ions in the high base-status soil.
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Kovalov, Mykola. "SUBSTANTIATION OF APPLICATION OF EM-PRODUCTS IN CLOSED RESOURCE-SAVING AGROECO COMPLEXES." In Integration of traditional and innovative scientific researches: global trends and regional aspect. Publishing House “Baltija Publishing”, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.30525/978-9934-26-001-8-3-10.
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The article presents technological methods of creating closed resource-saving agroeco complexes in organic agricultural production based on the use of EM products at all stages of closed interconnected biological cycles, which will operate through trophic and energy chains and provide consumers with environmentally friendly vegetable products. Considering quick aggravation of environmental problems, including agricultural sector (soil fertility, wind and water erosion, reduced quantitative and qualitative yields of vegetable and livestock products), there is an urgent need to develop and implement the latest environmentally balanced and safe systems management. As foreign experience shows, such technologies lead to the improvement of the agri-environmental situation in general. Therefore, in our research, we offer a number of technological techniques that will operate on the basis of three components, namely the utilization of crop residues in the cultivation of basidiomycetes in an intensive way, production of EM composts and their further use as fertilizers in organic vegetables. The main objective of our research is to develop the technology that would create a modern balanced agroeco complex. As a result, a consumer will be provided with environmentally friendly vegetable products, as all technological processes that will occur at any stage will be biological or organic. To achieve this goal it was necessary to solve the following tasks: 1) To develop the technology of using crop residues with their fermentation by EM products as a substrate in the cultivation of basidiomycetes; 2) To develop the technology of utilization of the used mushroom beds with the help of EM products and to make composts; 3) To develop the technology of using composts together with EM products for growing vegetable products in open and protected soil. These three technological components ensure full viability of the agro-eco-complex in compliance with all ecological principles enshrined in the concept of organic farming, namely the proposed techniques can restore lost ecological functions of soils and maintain health of ecosystems and consumers. The proposed technological methods of the organization of agroeco complex will ensure ecological safety of agricultural products, creating closed cycles of production, resource conservation, monitoring of all stages of production and product control, energy independence of the agro-complex at all stages of agricultural production.
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Toulmin, Camilla. "The farming landscape." In Land, Investment, and Migration, 50–82. Oxford University Press, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198852766.003.0003.
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This chapter describes the patterns of land use and the soils, vegetation, and landscape of Dlonguébougou. Climate change has brought greater concentration and intensity of rainfall, and farmers must cope with high variability. Millet is at the heart of the farming system, and sesame has become an important cash crop. While many young people go away on migration each year, the majority come back for 3 months to help their families at the height of the cultivation season. Increased pressure on land attributable to the spread of cultivation, scarcer quantities of manure for maintaining soil fertility, and the shift of labour from collective household activities to private farming of sesame have all led to a large fall in millet yields since 1980–1982.
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K., Felix, Chris A., Jayne Mugwe, Monicah Mucheru-Muna, and Daniel Mugendi. "The Potential of Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Sources in Sub-Saharan African Crop Farming Systems." In Soil Fertility Improvement and Integrated Nutrient Management - A Global Perspective. InTech, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/28728.
Full textConference papers on the topic "Organic farming. Crop yields. Soil fertility"
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Prikhodko, A. V., and N. V. Karaeva. "Overview of various crops used for green manure." In CURRENT STATE, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRARIAN SCIENCE. Federal State Budget Scientific Institution “Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea”, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.33952/2542-0720-2020-5-9-10-41.
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The aim of our research was to determine the influence of different green manure crops on the process of organic matter entry into the soil, changes in physical and chemical properties of soil, etc. The yields of green mass of sweet clover and sainfoin were the highest – 29.1 and 27.1 t/ha, respectively. Triticale and rye surpassed these crops in the dry matter yield by 0.10-0.30 t/ha and in the organic matter entry into the soil by 0.16-0.36 t/ha. Incorporation of green manures into a farming system contributed to the increase in the amount of nitrogen that is available to the succeeding crop from 0.17 to 1.73 mg/100 g, or 10.4 times. The most considerable increase in the amount of nitrogen was after sainfoin (13.5 times more) and vetch (12.3 times higher). The higher Р2О5 and К2О content in the soil was observed after phacelia used for green manure (3.27 and 32.7, respectively).
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Muth, David, Joshua Koch, Douglas McCorkle, and Kenneth Bryden. "A Computational Strategy for Design and Implementation of Equipment That Addresses Sustainable Agricultural Residue Removal at the Subfield Scale." In ASME 2012 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/detc2012-71430.
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Agricultural residues are the largest potential near term source of biomass for bioenergy production. Sustainable use of agricultural residues for bioenergy production requires consideration of the important role that residues play in maintaining soil health and productivity. Innovation equipment designs for residue harvesting systems can help economically collect agricultural residues while mitigating sustainability concerns. A key challenge in developing these equipment designs is establishing sustainable reside removal rates at the sub-field scale. Several previous analysis studies have developed methodologies and tools to estimate sustainable agricultural residue removal by considering environmental constraints including soil loss from wind and water erosion and soil organic carbon at field scale or larger but have not considered variation at the sub-field scale. This paper introduces a computational strategy to integrate data and models from multiple spatial scales to investigate how variability of soil, grade, and yield within an individual cornfield can impact sustainable residue removal for bioenergy production. This strategy includes the current modeling tools (i.e., RUSLE2, WEPS, and SCI), the existing data sources (i.e., SSURGO soils, CLIGEN, WINDGEN, and NRCS managements), and the available high fidelity spatial information (i.e., LiDAR slope and crop yield monitor output). Rather than using average or representative values for crop yields, soil characteristics, and slope for a field, county, or larger area, the modeling inputs are based on the same spatial scale as the precision farming data available. There are three challenges for developing an integrated model for sub-field variability of sustainable agricultural residue removal—the computational challenge of iteratively computing with 400 or more spatial points per hectare, the inclusion of geoprocessing tools, and the integration of data from different spatial scales. Using a representative field in Iowa, this paper demonstrates the computational algorithms used and establishes key design parameters for an innovative residue removal equipment design concept.