Integrating multipurpose perennial grains crops in Western European farming systems

Duchêne, Olivier; Celette, Florian; Ryan, Matthew R.; DeHaan, Lee R.; Crews, Timothy E.; David, Christophe

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2019.106591

Cited by 37 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 78 publications

(101 reference statements)

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“…Whereas almost a near equal proportion of conventional (44%) and organic (43%) farmers had previous knowledge of perennial grains, a lesser proportion of farmers in France (36%) than in the US (68%) had heard of perennial grains before the survey (Table 2). This could be due to a greater amount of research on perennial grains in the US over the last few decades [4,5,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36], compared to Europe where research is limited, except for some research initiatives in Italy, Sweden, France, and Germany [6,22,[37][38][39].…”

Section: Farmer Interest In Perennial Grainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…US and conventional vs. organic farmers. We chose to focus on France and the US because both countries are among the top five global producers of wheat [2], and because we are actively working with perennial grains in both countries [7,22]. France and the US are both leaders in agroecology and thus are home to farmers who might be particularly interested in perennial grains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perspectives on Perennial Grain Crop Production among Organic and Conventional Farmers in France and the United States

et al. 2019

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Perennial grain crops are currently being developed, yet little is known about farmer interest in these new crops. We conducted an online survey in France and the United States to evaluate interest in perennial grains. Results show that 57% of the farmers who responded reported they were “interested” or “very interested” in growing perennial grains, whereas 41% reported they needed more information. Respondents consistently ranked “to increase or maintain farm profitability” and “to improve soil health” among the top reasons why they were interested in growing perennial grains. Reasons why farmers were interested, as well as their concerns about growing perennial grains, differed by country and farm type (i.e., conventional vs. organic). More farmers in France than in the United States ranked “to reduce labor requirements”, and more conventional farmers than organic farmers ranked “to reduce inputs” among their top reasons for their interest. Farmers were also asked about integration strategies and management. More farmers in the United States than in France and more conventional farmers than organic farmers reported that they were interested in dual-purpose perennial crops that can be harvested for both grain and forage. Results from this survey can guide future perennial grain research and development.

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Section: Farmer Interest In Perennial Grainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives on Perennial Grain Crop Production among Organic and Conventional Farmers in France and the United States

et al. 2019

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“…The recent development of perennial grain breeding programs has highlighted the value of the wheat wild-relative 'intermediate wheatgrass' [1] (Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey) to support the transition to multifunctional agroecological systems [2,3]. In addition to its ability to produce an interesting forage-grain dual income [4,5], its regrowth capacity for several years would achieve substantial production at minimal soil and environmental costs [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Introducing Perennial Grain in Grain Crops Rotation: The Role of Rooting Pattern in Soil Quality Management

et al. 2020

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The use of the perennial grain intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey) may have the potential to sustain soil health and fertility through the development of an extensive root system. However, references are scarce to demonstrate its potential influence in a context of a limited perennial grain growth phase, integrated into annual grain crops succession. This study aims at determining how early a perennial crop rooting system differs from that of an annual crop through root development and root traits and microbial indicators. Our results indicate that the two-year-old intermediate wheatgrass promotes a denser and deeper rooting system with proportionally more root biomass and length deeper in the soil profile. From the first growing season, the perennial grain demonstrated a suite of root traits typical of a more resource-conservative strategy, and more belowground-oriented resource allocation. Soil fungal biomass indicators were enhanced. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) indicators were notably found to be improved at 1 m depth during the second growing season. This study provides evidence that grain-based agriculture can benefit from the potential of deeper and long-lived root systems of intermediate wheatgrass to manage soils. The periodic use of a short-term perennial phase in the crop rotation has the potential to improve soil functioning in the long term.

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“…Due to the greater inputs of agrochemicals and synthetic chemical fertilizers required by an increasing population 1 – 3 , the progression of intensive agriculture has resulted in severe soil erosion 4 , acidification 5 and loss of fertility and biodiversity 6 , 7 . Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) inputs to terrestrial ecosystems have increased three to fivefold 8 over the past century.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulating soil bacterial diversity, community structure and enzyme activity using residues from golden apple snails

Wang

Zhang

et al. 2020

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It has been shown that the golden apple snail (GAS, Pomacea canaliculata), which is a serious agricultural pest in Southeast Asia, can provide a soil amendment for the reversal of soil acidification and degradation. However, the impact of GAS residue (i.e., crushed, whole GAS) on soil bacterial diversity and community structure remains largely unknown. Here, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to measure bacterial abundance and community structure in soils amended with GAS residue and lime. The results suggest that adding GAS residue resulted in a significant variation in soil pH and nutrients (all P < 0.05), and resulted in a slightly alkaline (pH = 7.28–7.75) and nutrient-enriched soil, with amendment of 2.5–100 g kg−1 GAS residue. Soil nutrients (i.e., NO3-N and TN) and TOC contents were increased (by 132–912%), and some soil exocellular enzyme activities were enhanced (by 2–98%) in GAS residue amended soil, with amendment of 1.0–100 g kg−1 GAS residue. Bacterial OTU richness was 19% greater at the 2.5 g kg−1 GAS residue treatment than the control, while it was 40% and 53% lower at 100 g kg−1 of GAS residue and 50 g kg−1 of lime amended soils, respectively. Firmicutes (15–35%) was the most abundant phylum while Bacterioidetes (1–6%) was the lowest abundant one in GAS residue amended soils. RDA results suggest that the contents of soil nutrients (i.e., NO3-N and TN) and soil TOC explained much more of the variations of bacterial community than pH in GAS residue amended soil. Overuse of GAS residue would induce an anaerobic soil environment and reduce bacterial OTU richness. Soil nutrients and TOC rather than pH might be the main factors that are responsible for the changes of bacterial OTU richness and bacterial community structure in GAS residue amended soil.

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Integrating multipurpose perennial grains crops in Western European farming systems

Cited by 37 publications

References 78 publications

Perspectives on Perennial Grain Crop Production among Organic and Conventional Farmers in France and the United States

Perspectives on Perennial Grain Crop Production among Organic and Conventional Farmers in France and the United States

Introducing Perennial Grain in Grain Crops Rotation: The Role of Rooting Pattern in Soil Quality Management

Regulating soil bacterial diversity, community structure and enzyme activity using residues from golden apple snails

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