Integrating conservation agriculture with intensive crop diversification in the maize-based organic system: Impact on sustaining food and nutritional security

Abstract

IntroductionDeveloping an intensive sustainable model and feeding a rising population are worldwide challenges. The task is much more daunting in the North Eastern Himalayas, where, low productive maize (Zea mays)maize (Zea mays) fallow is the main production system in the upland. To increase farm productivity, nutritional security, and energy dietary returns while maintaining environmental sustainability and economic viability, short-duration crops must be included in the maize–fallow system.MethodsA field study was conducted in sandy clay loam soil with a randomized complete block design with three replications for three continuous years (2018–2021) under organic management with two crop management practices, viz., (i) conservation agriculture and (ii) conventional agriculture, and six crop diversification options, viz., (i) maize–sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata)–vegetable pea (Pisum sativa) (M-SC-VP), (ii) maize–sweet corn-mustard (Brassica juncea) (M-SC-M), (iii) maize–sweet corn–lentil (Lens culinaris) (M-SC-L), (iv) maize–sweet corn–vegetable broad bean (Vicia faba) (M-SC-VB), (v) maize (local)–vegetable pea (M-VP), and (vi) maize (local)–fallow (M-F).ResultsThe results showed that, the average system productivity was 5.3% lower for conventional agriculture than conservation agriculture. System carbohydrate, protein, fat, dietary fiber, and dietary energy were ~6.9, 6.8, 7.8, 6.7, and 7%, higher in conservation agriculture than in conventional agriculture, respectively. Similarly, system macronutrients (Ca, Mg, P, and K) and system micronutrients yield (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) were, 5.2–8% and 6.9–7.4% higher in conservation agriculture than in conventional agriculture, respectively. On average, over the years, crop diversification with M-SC-VP/M-SC-VB intensive crop rotation had higher system productivity (158%), production efficiency (157%), net returns (benefit–cost ratio) (44%), and dietary net energy returns (16.6%) than the local maize–vegetable pea system. Similarly, the M-SC-VP/M-SC-VB system improved the nutritional security by improving Ca, Mg, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu yield by 35.5–135.7% than the local M-VP system.DiscussionConservation agriculture with M-SC-VP/M-SC-VB rotation showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher productivity, carbohydrate yield, protein yield, fat yield, and dietary fiber production. It is concluded that conservation agriculture improved soil health and performed better than conventional agriculture in maize-based intensive cropping systems. Overall results indicate that crop diversification with M-SC-VP/M-SC-VB can potentially increase calorie and protein consumption and farm profitability.

An integrated organic farming system: innovations for farm diversification, sustainability, and livelihood improvement of hill farmers

“…The IOFS integrates the management of all the production systems to achieve a sustainable result economically and environmentally (Manhoudt et al, 2002). An increase in system productivity and net returns due to the scientific integration of farming system enterprises, such as livestock, cereals, pulses, and vegetables, with the in situ production of compost or vermicompost by efficient recycling of farm resources was recorded by many workers (Ansari et al, 2017(Ansari et al, , 2023Das et al, 2019;Layek et al, 2020). The sustainable rice-based integrated farming system (IFS) in an irrigated agro-ecosystem reported that the cropping system of rice-pea-okra achieved a higher rice equivalent yield (REY) (17.88 t/ha), greater system productivity, and higher employment than the conventional rice-wheat cropping system (Ansari et al, 2013;Layek et al, 2017).…”

Design of Inhibitors Targeting Chitin-Degrading Enzymes by Bioisostere Substitutions and Scaffold Hopping for Selective Control of Ostrinia furnacalis

“…Maize, the world's third-largest crop, is of immense agricultural and industrial value. 1,2 The Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis) is one of the most destructive lepidopteran pests of maize in East Asia and Oceania and poses a significant challenge to control. 3 The larvae of O. furnacalis tunnel into maize plants and feed on stems, branches, flower buds, flowers, and green bolls.…”

Evaluation of millets for physio-chemical and root morphological traits suitable for resilient farming and nutritional security in Eastern Himalayas

“…These global issues must be addressed by shifting toward lower energy and more resilient intensive cultivation practices ( 3 , 4 ). For maintaining proper human health and physical wellbeing, the nutritional quality of food is the most important factor ( 5 ). Millets have many nutritional and health benefits ( 6 ) and are considered a superfood ( 7 , 8 ).…”

“…Low-input, resource-efficient crops, such as suitable millets (nutri-cereals), are gaining popularity as prospective solutions for assuring food and nutritional security. Most of the farmers in the region do not use any synthetic fertilizer or pesticides, and hence, they are organic by default ( 5 , 32 , 33 ). The NEHR generates 2.55 million tons of agricultural biomass and has 2.98 million bovines, encouraging organic crop production through recycling for valuable nutrient management inputs ( 5 ).…”

“…Most of the farmers in the region do not use any synthetic fertilizer or pesticides, and hence, they are organic by default ( 5 , 32 , 33 ). The NEHR generates 2.55 million tons of agricultural biomass and has 2.98 million bovines, encouraging organic crop production through recycling for valuable nutrient management inputs ( 5 ). In the past few decades, there has been a rising emphasis on using organic production systems to increase soil quality, crop productivity, and nutritional security vis-a-vis maintaining environmental quality.…”