Effect of Conservation Agriculture on Maize-based Farming System in the Mid-hills of Nepal

Paudel, Bikash; Radovich, Theodore; Chan‐Halbrendt, Catherine; Crow, Susan E.; Tamang, Bir Bahadur; Halbrendt, Jacqueline; Thapa, K.

doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2014.07.074

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Research is needed to elucidate the potential constraints and opportunities for CA adoption in the region. Indeed, Paudyal et al (2001) previously recommended that zeroand minimum-tillage cropping systems research should be investigated in the maize-based systems of the midhills, but only a few such studies exist (Atreya et al, 2006;Paudel et al, 2014). In this study, we hypothesize that (i) soil physical properties between CA vs. CP will not differ within the first 2 yr after CA adoption, (ii) CA managed monsoon maize will not be more productive than CP within the first 2 yr after CA adoption, (iii) CA managed dry-season wheat and rapeseed will be more productive than CP within the first 2 yr after CA adoption, and (iv) earlier planting dates will improve productivity of wheat.…”

Section: Core Ideasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short‐Term Impacts of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Physical Properties and Productivity in the Midhills of Nepal

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Conservation agriculture (CA) is a management system characterized by zero or minimum tillage, permanent soil cover with crop residue or plant growth, and crop rotation. This study investigated the impact of conservation tillage, crop type, and planting date on crop productivity and the soil physical properties for 2 yr following conversion to CA. After 2 yr, average mean weight diameter of dry aggregates for the 0-to 5-cm and 5-to 10-cm soil depths were 45 and 24% greater in the CA treatment than the conventional practice (CP) treatment, respectively. However, soil sorptivity was about three times slower in CA than in CP for rapeseed (Brassica napus L. toria) rotation treatments, but only 62% slower in CA than CP for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation treatments. Soil bulk density to a depth of 15 cm was greater in CA (1.30 g cm-3) than CP (1.24 g cm-3), but only for late-planted treatments. Maize (Zea mays L.) yields for CA were not different from CP in the first year, but were 1.4 Mg ha-1 for CA and 5.0 Mg ha-1 for CP in the second year due to poor stand establishment under CA. There were no effects of CA on dry-season rapeseed and wheat. Results suggest that during the transition of CP to CA, soil physical properties can be improved but yields may remain constant or decline. Achieving equivalent yield outcomes between CA and CP will largely depend on equivalent stand establishment.

show abstract

Section: Core Ideasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short‐Term Impacts of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Physical Properties and Productivity in the Midhills of Nepal

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Various previous studies have reported that diverse organic farming practices applied in cereal crops have resulted in improved soil condition and enhanced crop yield particularly in hilly terrains (Roy et al 2010;Kumar Choudhary and Suri 2014;Paudel et al 2014;Pampuro et al 2017). Even different organic forms of compost impart distinct soil quality characteristics based on either particle size or composting methods adopted, such as reported by authors in compost prepared from pig slurry incorporated with saw dust, wood chips, and wheat straw (Romano et al 2014;Pampuro et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil nutrients, microbial biomass, and crop response to organic amendments in rice cropping system in the Shiwaliks of Indian Himalayas

Rajput

Pokhriya

Panwar

et al. 2018

Int J Recycl Org Waste Agricult

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose Intensive agriculture activities in small holder farming systems are declining over all soil nutrient status. The present study is conducted to compare the soil health and plant growth attributes under rice cultivation among different organic amendments. Recycled waste of rice-wheat agrosystem is utilized to determine optimal sustainable solution for hilly areas. Methods Randomly blocked design experiment was conducted with rice plants, each amended with organic inputs including rice straw residue (T1), rice biochar (T2), rice compost (T3), wheat straw residue (T4), wheat biochar (T5), wheat compost (T6), mix of wheat + rice compost (T7), green manure (T8) and control (no amendment). Soil samples were studied at each growth phase while plant growth attributes were measured at the harvesting stage of the crop. Results T6 and T7 have shown significantly higher magnitude of soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, microbial quotient, available nitrogen, and enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and urease) than biochar (T2 and T5) and crop residue amendments (T1, T4 and T8). An increase of up to 47% was obtained in cumulative growth attributes (plant height, total biomass, and a number of tillers, spikes, and spike length) of rice plant in T6 amendment. The principal component analysis revealed two components responsible for 54.17% of the variance in the organically treated soil. Conclusion The experimental results imply that composting of crop residues could be the most reliable practice to improve soil nutritional quality as well as crop growth for sustainable rice-wheat cropping system in the hilly area.

show abstract

“…By 2050, agricultural food production is projected to increase by seventy percent globally to sustain food security for the growing population [1]. Limited scope in further expansion of global farmland area necessitates the adoption of effective conservation practices for sustainable intensification of food production [2,3]. Conservation tillage is well-recognized as a potential strategy to increase the agricultural sustainability by preserving soil and water resources and improving the production economy, among other agroecosystem services [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Physical Properties and Soybean Yield as Influenced by Long-Term Tillage Systems and Cover Cropping in the Midsouth USA

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A better understanding of the effect of long-term tillage management on soil properties and yield is essential for sustainable food production. This research aimed to evaluate the 37-year impact of different tillage systems and cover cropping on soil hydro-physical properties at 0-15 and 15-30 cm, as well as on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] yield. The long-term experiment was located in Jackson, TN, and the different treatments involved in this study were no-tillage (NT), disk (DP), chisel (CP), moldboard plow (MP), and no-tillage with winter wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.)] cover crop (NTW). Forty-five days after the tillage operation, MP showed a comparable bulk density (BD) with NT, NTW, and CP at 0-15 cm depth. At surface depth, No-tillage systems increased cone penetration resistance (PR) by 12% compared with the reduced tillage systems, and 47% relative to MP. Wet aggregate stability (WAS) at surface depth was 27% and 36% greater for NT systems than for reduced and conventional tillage systems, respectively. Similarly, the geometric mean diameter (GMD) of aggregates was significantly higher under NT and NTW. However, water infiltration and field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (K fs ) did not differ significantly among tillage systems. The greatest soybean yield was obtained from CP and DP, producing 10% higher yield than NTW. Overall, 37 years of no-tillage, with or without simplified cover cropping did not result in a consistent improvement in soybean yield and soil physical properties with the exception of having improved soil aggregation.

show abstract

Effect of Conservation Agriculture on Maize-based Farming System in the Mid-hills of Nepal

Cited by 16 publications

References 22 publications

Short‐Term Impacts of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Physical Properties and Productivity in the Midhills of Nepal

Short‐Term Impacts of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Physical Properties and Productivity in the Midhills of Nepal

Soil nutrients, microbial biomass, and crop response to organic amendments in rice cropping system in the Shiwaliks of Indian Himalayas

Soil Physical Properties and Soybean Yield as Influenced by Long-Term Tillage Systems and Cover Cropping in the Midsouth USA

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About