Biological nitrogen fixation and prospects for ecological intensification in cereal-based cropping systems

Ladha, J. K.; Peoples, Mark B.; Reddy, P. M.; Biswas, Jatish Chandra; Bennett, A. B.; Jat, M.L.; Krupnik, Timothy J.

doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2022.108541

Cited by 110 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 337 publications

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“…It is well documented that the inclusion of either legume or brassica break crops in cropping sequences can enhance subsequent wheat yields; especially where soil N availability and/or disease are constraints to productivity (Kirkegaard et al 2008;Angus et al 2015;Ladha et al 2022;Reckling et al 2022;Zhao et al 2022). However, the on-farm studies reported here indicated that broadleaf break crops can also contribute to increased grain yields by facilitating the reduction of ARG weed pressure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

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Diverse systems and strategies to cost-effectively manage herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in no-till wheat (Triticum aestivum)-based cropping sequences in south-eastern Australia

Swan

Goward

Kirkegaard

et al. 2023

Crop & Pasture Science

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Context. Herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum; ARG) is a major weed of commercial significance globally, including no-till wheat-based production systems in south-eastern Australia. Aims. To compare the cost-effectiveness of different crop sequences and intensities of weed management to control ARG in rainfed grain production. Methods. Two on-farm studies in southern New South Wales, Australia, compared the effect of combinations of 3-year cropsequence options (continuous wheat, 1-or 2-years of break crops), conservative or aggressive weed-control measures, hay cuts, legume brown manure (BM), and/or weed-free winter fallow on in-crop ARG infestations and soil seedbanks. Gross margins were calculated for each combination of treatments to compare system economic performance. Key results. Doublebreaks consisting of two consecutive broadleaf crops, or canola-cereal hay, were frequently the most profitable and effective ARG control strategies. Single canola or lupin crops, BM, cereal hay, and fallow all significantly reduced subsequent in-crop ARG and seedbank numbers compared with continuous wheat. Aggressive in-crop control measures in wheat were more expensive than those applied to break crops. Gains in ARG control could be lost by a single year of poor weed control. Conclusions. High levels of control (>95%) over three consecutive seasons are required to reduce ARG seedbanks, and this is most cost-effectively achieved with diverse crop sequences. Implications. Farmers with high populations of ARG can reduce seedbanks by growing three crops sequentially that achieve complete weed seed control. This must be followed with ongoing high levels of control in subsequent years to keep ARG seedbanks low.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…This was due in part to the subsequent improvements in soil mineral N, lowering fertiliser-N input costs for crops following lupin (e.g. by A$74-$118/ha in Experiment 1; Evans et al 2003;Peoples et al 2017;Ladha et al 2022). Unfortunately, lupin's impact on ARG and final seedbank size differed greatly between the two experiments (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Diverse systems and strategies to cost-effectively manage herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in no-till wheat (Triticum aestivum)-based cropping sequences in south-eastern Australia

Swan

Goward

Kirkegaard

et al. 2023

Crop & Pasture Science

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“…Under aerobic rice cultivation, which is an intensive agricultural product system, potential target grain yields can only be attained through external N inputs except for indigenous N supply in the soil ( Bailey-Serres et al, 2019 ). Mineral N fertilizers should essentially be applied with full use of organic manures and crop straw incorporation or biologically fixed N to fill up the soil N consumption ( Ladha et al, 2022 ; Shi et al, 2022 ). Moreover, should consider the use of mineral N fertilizers only when the organic manures and other non-synthetic N fertilizers cannot meet plant N demands ( Geng et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Toward Better N Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent trends in nitrogen cycle and eco-efficient nitrogen management strategies in aerobic rice system

Farooq

Wang

Uzair³

et al. 2022

Front. Plant Sci.

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Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is considered as a staple food for more than half of the global population, and sustaining productivity under a scarcity of resources is challenging to meet the future food demands of the inflating global population. The aerobic rice system can be considered as a transformational replacement for traditional rice, but the widespread adaptation of this innovative approach has been challenged due to higher losses of nitrogen (N) and reduced N-use efficiency (NUE). For normal growth and developmental processes in crop plants, N is required in higher amounts. N is a mineral nutrient and an important constituent of amino acids, nucleic acids, and many photosynthetic metabolites, and hence is essential for normal plant growth and metabolism. Excessive application of N fertilizers improves aerobic rice growth and yield, but compromises economic and environmental sustainability. Irregular and uncontrolled use of N fertilizers have elevated several environmental issues linked to higher N losses in the form of nitrous oxide (N2O), ammonia (NH3), and nitrate (NO3–), thereby threatening environmental sustainability due to higher warming potential, ozone depletion capacities, and abilities to eutrophicate the water resources. Hence, enhancing NUE in aerobic rice has become an urgent need for the development of a sustainable production system. This article was designed to investigate the major challenge of low NUE and evaluate recent advances in pathways of the N cycle under the aerobic rice system, and thereby suggest the agronomic management approaches to improve NUE. The major objective of this review is about optimizing the application of N inputs while sustaining rice productivity and ensuring environmental safety. This review elaborates that different soil conditions significantly shift the N dynamics via changes in major pathways of the N cycle and comprehensively reviews the facts why N losses are high under the aerobic rice system, which factors hinder in attaining high NUE, and how it can become an eco-efficient production system through agronomic managements. Moreover, it explores the interactive mechanisms of how proper management of N cycle pathways can be accomplished via optimized N fertilizer amendments. Meanwhile, this study suggests several agricultural and agronomic approaches, such as site-specific N management, integrated nutrient management (INM), and incorporation of N fertilizers with enhanced use efficiency that may interactively improve the NUE and thereby plant N uptake in the aerobic rice system. Additionally, resource conservation practices, such as plant residue management, green manuring, improved genetic breeding, and precision farming, are essential to enhance NUE. Deep insights into the recent advances in the pathways of the N cycle under the aerobic rice system necessarily suggest the incorporation of the suggested agronomic adjustments to reduce N losses and enhance NUE while sustaining rice productivity and environmental safety. Future research on N dynamics is encouraged under the aerobic rice system focusing on the interactive evaluation of shifts among activities and diversity in microbial communities, NUE, and plant demands while applying N management measures, which is necessary for its widespread adaptation in face of the projected climate change and scarcity of resources.

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“…Rice ( Oryza sativa ) and wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) are two major crops of the world and play an essential role in the food and nutritional security of the ever-growing population of Asia, especially the south and southeast ( Ladha et al., 2022 ). The rice-wheat cropping system is one of the biggest agricultural systems, practiced in an area nearing 13.5 million hectares (mha) in South Asia ( Bhatt et al., 2016 ; Paudel et al., 2023 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integration of organics in nutrient management for rice-wheat system improves nitrogen use efficiency via favorable soil biological and electrochemical responses

et al. 2023

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IntroductionThe contrasting soil management in flooded-transplanted rice (Oryza sativa) and dry-tilled wheat (Triticum aestivum) poses a challenge for improving low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of the rice-wheat system. Integration of organics in nutrient management can bring in changes favoring efficient N uptake via changes in growing conditions and soil responses.Materials and methodsThis study reported the results of a 15-year-long experiment on integrated nutrient management (INM) systems for rice-wheat cropping. The INM included substituting ~50% of chemical fertilizers via (i) including a legume crop (Vigna radiata) in the sequence and its biomass incorporation (LE), (ii) green manuring with Sesbania aculeata (GM), (iii) farmyard manure application (FYM), (iv) 1/3 wheat stubble in situ retention (WS), and (v) 1/3 rice stubble in situ retention.Results and DiscussionThe INM strategies resulted in improved NUE compared to 100% chemical fertilizers (F). The INM had significantly higher net N mineralization and improved biological activity aligning with the NUE trends. The reductions in redox potential (Eh) and pH during rice season improved NUE under integrated management. Highly reduced conditions favored N mineralization and plant availability in form of NH4+−N resulting in enhanced uptake efficiency, in rice crop. The soil organic carbon (C) significantly increased in INM, and an effect of the active C fractions was evident on the NUE of the wheat crop.ConclusionThe results showed that these INM strategies can immensely benefit the rice-wheat system via improvement in biological health along with electrochemical changes for flooded rice, and labile-C-assisted improvement in soil conditions for wheat.

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Biological nitrogen fixation and prospects for ecological intensification in cereal-based cropping systems

Cited by 110 publications

References 337 publications

Diverse systems and strategies to cost-effectively manage herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in no-till wheat (Triticum aestivum)-based cropping sequences in south-eastern Australia

Diverse systems and strategies to cost-effectively manage herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in no-till wheat (Triticum aestivum)-based cropping sequences in south-eastern Australia

Recent trends in nitrogen cycle and eco-efficient nitrogen management strategies in aerobic rice system

Integration of organics in nutrient management for rice-wheat system improves nitrogen use efficiency via favorable soil biological and electrochemical responses

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