Impacts of the continuous maize cultivation on soil properties in Sainyabuli province, Laos

Abstract

In tropical mountainous areas, soil degradation and yield decrease have been anticipated due to conversion from shifting to continuous cultivation and the introduction of cash crops. In our previous report, we quantified the decrease in maize yield under continuous cultivation in farmers’ fields in Laos. In this report, we focused on soil nutritional conditions under continuous cultivation in the farmers’ fields. For the purpose, twelve soil properties were investigated over two years from three sample sites in each of the 40 farmers’ fields with the duration of continuous cultivation varying from 1 to 30 years. Total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, and exchangeable calcium in the soil decreased with increasing duration of continuous cultivation in the sloped fields. These soil nutrients decreased to around half of the initial content in these 30 years. However, the decreasing rates of TC and TN were negligible in the flat fields. Other soil properties such as clay and exchangeable magnesium were not related to the duration of continuous cultivation in both sloped and flat fields. The reduction in maize yield was mainly explained by TC, but the determination coefficient was only 0.24. Although further analysis is required to quantify the effect of soil nutrients on maize production, the development of integrated soil management would be necessary in the sloped fields for sustainable crop production in the study site.

Metagenomic Analyses of Plant Growth-Promoting and Carbon-Cycling Genes in Maize Rhizosphere Soils with Distinct Land-Use and Management Histories

“…Based on our study, we suggest that the lower levels of OM, TC, OC, and N-NO 3 observed in the F2 soils were due to intensive cultivation practices in the field, as continuous cultivation degrades the physicochemical properties of soils. These results coincide with those of Fujisao et al [62], who indicated that continuous cultivation under conventional tilling reduces the contents of TC, TN, and exchangeable K in maize soils. The lower OC in F2 soils may also explain the reason for the lower OM in the soils.…”

Suitable site selection by using full consistency method (FUCOM): a case study for maize cultivation in northwest Turkey

“…Changere and Lal ( 1997 ) reported that sloping lands have disadvantages while flatlands are more suitable for maize growth. On the other hand, Fujisao et al ( 2020 ), reported that plant nutrients decreased in sloping lands where maize cultivation was carried out, and as a result, this limited the yield. The weighted value of the CaCO 3 parameter was determined as (0.065).…”

Gejala Produktivitas Rendah dan Pertanian Degeneratif

“…Pada lahan yang miring penanaman jagung secara terusmenerus menurunkan C organik, N total, P tersedia, K dan Ca dapat ditukar. Penurunan productivitas terjadi seiring dengan penurunan C organik tanah (Fujisao et al 2020).…”