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The health of soils is key not only to agricultural productivity, but to all the ecosystem services provided in terms of maintaining the quality of water, air, and food. Nutrient inputs to agricultural soils produce large benefits...
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The health of soils is key not only to agricultural productivity, but to all the ecosystem services provided in terms of maintaining the quality of water, air, and food. Nutrient inputs to agricultural soils produce large benefits to human health, including the provisioning of calories and protein supporting at least half the human population, enhancing micronutrient bioavailability in food, improving crop quality, and strengthening tolerance to plant disease. With appropriate nutrient stewardship, such inputs contribute to soil health and prevent soil degradation. When mismanaged and applied inappropriately, either mineral or organic sources of nutrients can become pollutants both in soils and in water and air. The solution being embraced by industry and governments around the world is the implementation of principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship, ensuring that the right source of nutrient is applied at the right time, in the right place and at the right rate. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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A fundamental way to schedule irrigation is through the monitoring and management of soil water tension (SWT). Soil water tension is the force necessary for plant roots to extract water from the soil. With the invention of tensiom...
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A fundamental way to schedule irrigation is through the monitoring and management of soil water tension (SWT). Soil water tension is the force necessary for plant roots to extract water from the soil. With the invention of tensiometers, SWT measurements have been used to schedule irrigation. There are different types of field instruments used to measure SWT, either directly or indirectly. Precise irrigation scheduling by SWT criteria is a powerful method to optimize plant performance. Specific SWT criteria for irrigation scheduling have been developed to optimize the production and quality of vegetable crops, field crops, trees, shrubs, and nursery crops. This review discusses known SWT criteria for irrigation scheduling that vary from 2 to 800 kPa depending on the crop species, plant product to be optimized, environmental conditions, and irrigation system. By using the ideal SWT and adjusting irrigation duration and amount, it is possible to simultaneously achieve high productivity and meet environmental stewardship goals for water use and reduced leaching.
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摘要 :
A fundamental way to schedule irrigation is through the monitoring and management of soil water tension (SWT). Soil water tension is the force necessary for plant roots to extract water from the soil. With the invention of tensiom...
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A fundamental way to schedule irrigation is through the monitoring and management of soil water tension (SWT). Soil water tension is the force necessary for plant roots to extract water from the soil. With the invention of tensiometers, SWT measurements have been used to schedule irrigation. There are different types of field instruments used to measure SWT, either directly or indirectly. Precise irrigation scheduling by SWT criteria is a powerful method to optimize plant performance. Specific SWT criteria for irrigation scheduling have been developed to optimize the production and quality of vegetable crops, field crops, trees, shrubs, and nursery crops. This review discusses known SWT criteria for irrigation scheduling that vary from 2 to 800 kPa depending on the crop species, plant product to be optimized, environmental conditions, and irrigation system. By using the ideal SWT and adjusting irrigation duration and amount, it is possible to simultaneously achieve high productivity and meet environmental stewardship goals for water use and reduced leaching.
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Street trees provide numerous environmental, community, and health benefits, but municipal urban forestry programs often lack the public resources to adequately maintain trees, particularly in the time immediately following planti...
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Street trees provide numerous environmental, community, and health benefits, but municipal urban forestry programs often lack the public resources to adequately maintain trees, particularly in the time immediately following planting. Watering trees inthe first three years after planting is critical for tree survival. A quasi-experimental design was used to test whether an outreach intervention impacted residents' street tree watering behavior, and whether their watering behavior enhanced soil moisture, an important outcome for tree growth. Residents at mailing addresses for trees in the treatment group received educational materials about watering, while the control group received no educational materials. Soil moisture data was collected weekly atevery tree throughout the growing season (May-September 2012) and used as a proxy for residents' watering behavior. Results indicate that the postcards had a positive impact on residents' watering behavior, but that the impact diminished over time. While the impact of the postcards on soil moisture was not statistically significant, the evaluation of the outreach intervention has practical significance for future educational efforts to engage residents in street tree watering.
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The ancient civilization of India is based on belief in the fundamental laws governing the stewardship and sustainable management of soil and other natural resources. The ancient philosophical and religious concepts are complement...
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The ancient civilization of India is based on belief in the fundamental laws governing the stewardship and sustainable management of soil and other natural resources. The ancient philosophical and religious concepts are complemented by modem scientific principles of soil and water conservation, nutrient cycling, restoration of soil quality and improvement in soil biodiversity. The strategic consideration of combining modern science with spiritual concepts is more important now than ever before because of the need for widespread adoption of recommended management practices (RMPs) to replace the extractive farming techniques characterized by low productivity and negative nutrient budget, and depleted/degraded soil and water resources. Such a transformation is also highlighted by an unprecedented growth in population, increase in affluence, and change in climate characterized by uncertainty and high frequency of extreme events (drought and flood). Whereas the historic success in agronomic and per capita production is commendable, there is no scope for complacency because even greater challenges lie ahead. The problem of food insecurity and environmental degradation are exacerbated by rapidly expanding megacities, urban encroachment, decreasing per capita arable land area, increasingly affluent lifestyle, and growing preference towards animal-based diet. With major challenges of enhancing production while improving the environment, there is a strong need for a paradigm shift, and for considering alloptions of promoting the adoption of RMPs. Certainly, combining science with religion is an important option worthy of serious consideration.
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Present study compares the impact of nutrient management along with different agronomic management practices such as conventional and zero tillage on wheat production. Nutrient Expert (R) (NE) decision support tool, based on the c...
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Present study compares the impact of nutrient management along with different agronomic management practices such as conventional and zero tillage on wheat production. Nutrient Expert (R) (NE) decision support tool, based on the concept of 4R Nutrient Stewardship, provides nutrient recommendation to the farmers by guiding them choose the right source of fertilizer and advice the right rate, time and place or method of application. Taking due cognizance of above facts, field studies in wheat were conducted at the Instructional Farm under Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Cooch Behar, West Bengal (India) for two consecutive winter seasons of 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. The study highlights that nutrient management with balanced nutrient application, as guided by NE tool, produces significantly higher yield (3.92 and 4.01 t/ha) over other treatments under both conventional (CT) and zero tillage (ZT). Within NE, the yield was significantly higher in CT (4.01 and 3.92 t/ha) over ZT (3.71 and 3.66 t/ha). While the benefit: cost ratio suggests that ZT with NE is the best management practice with holistic consideration towards productivity enhancement and reduced cost of production, significantly higher economic nitrogen use efficiency (ENUE) values in NE was due to balanced application and optimum utilization of N leading to higher grain yield. The value was lowest in N-rich plots where maximum rate of N was applied without significant yield improvement. The CT resulted in higher values of ENUE compared to ZT in the NE treatment due to higher wheat yield at similar N rates. Therefore, the nutrient dose of NE with application of N, P2O5 and K2O at 140, 32.9 and 65 kg/ha, respectively in collaboration with ZT management practice produced a yield with high productivity, good economics and better ENUE.
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Soil degradation continues to be of the major threats for sustainable development and human well-being. Despite the advances in research, there is still a gap between research and effective conservation. To fill this gap, a change...
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Soil degradation continues to be of the major threats for sustainable development and human well-being. Despite the advances in research, there is still a gap between research and effective conservation. To fill this gap, a change is needed in the paradigm of soil conservation research. Therefore, this paper aims to: (i) introduce the concept of Eco-Holistic-Soil Conservation (EHSC) to support the Sustainable Development Goals, (ii) present a framework for the implementation of EHSC, and (iii) show practical examples and recommendations of EHSC. The theory behind the concept of EHSC builds on a critical review of the main causes for success or failure of previous conservation projects and evaluation of latest holistic concepts and visions on conservation of soils and socio-ecosystems. The key principles underlying EHSC are: (1) perception of soils as living-systems, (2) holistic ecosystem approach, (3) central role of soil conservation for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and (4) ethical behavior in soil use. Implementation of EHSC requires a transdisciplinary approach involving a range of actions in three iterative phases: (1) diagnosis of the causes and processes of land degradation and the socioeconomic context, (2) integrated assessment of the interactions and synergies between the factors and actors involved and the selection of EHSC actions, and (3) participatory evaluation and monitoring of impacts. Successful conservation requires more research on the resilience and adaptation of soils to climate change, integrated economic valuations of soil conservation, and protection of native peoples right to land in international legislation.
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Soil compaction is a major threat to agricultural soils. Heavy machinery is responsible for damaging soil chemical, physical and biological properties. Among these, organic matter decomposition, which is predominantly mediated by ...
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Soil compaction is a major threat to agricultural soils. Heavy machinery is responsible for damaging soil chemical, physical and biological properties. Among these, organic matter decomposition, which is predominantly mediated by the soil biota, is a necessary process since it underpins nutrient cycling and the provision of plant nutrients. Understanding factors which impact the functionality of the biota is therefore necessary to improve agricultural practices. To better understand the effects of compaction on the soil system, we determined the effects of soil bulk density and soil penetration resistance on the decomposition rates of litter in three distinct field zones: a grass margin, sown at the edge of the field adjacent to the crop, tramlines in the crop:margin interface, and crop. Three litters of different quality (ryegrass, straw residues and mixed litter) were buried for 1, 2, 4 and 6 months in litter bags comprising two different mesh sizes (0.02 and 2 mm). Bulk density and soil penetration resistance were greater in the compacted tramline than in the margin or the crop. The greatest amount of litter remaining in the bags after 6 months was found in the tramline, and the least in the grass margin. Differences between treatments increased with burial time. No significant differences in mass loss between the two mesh sizes was detected before the fourth month, implying that microbial activities were the main processes involved in the early stages of decomposition. Decomposition in the tramline was clearly affected by the degradation of soil structure due to heavy compaction. This study shows that soil conditions at the edges of arable fields affect major soil processes such as decomposition. It also reveals the potential to mitigate soil degradation by managing the headland, the crop residues and the machinery traffic in the field.
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The leasing market for cropland in the United States is significant. More than 40% of U.S. Farmland is leased. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship lease arrangements have upon land use management and conservation...
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The leasing market for cropland in the United States is significant. More than 40% of U.S. Farmland is leased. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship lease arrangements have upon land use management and conservation practices. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used to predict soil loss on share and cash leased tracts in Nebraska and South Dakota. Several longstanding hypotheses concerning the soil loss from leased land were tested. Evidence suggests physical location and features of the tract are primary determinants for soil loss on a particular tract. Factors such as lease type, length of lease, size of operation, business structure, and tenants' perception of retaining a leased tract did not seem to affect stewardship adversely. These results suggest that agricultural producers steward the land they operate in an environmentally conscientious manner regardless of ownership status. Tenants surveyed perceived community norms and social pressure to farm leased land as they would their own. Reputations and perceptions of individual tenants do matter. This finding coupled with their own beliefs and values concerning production agriculture and long term resource management, is reflected in their production practices, which tend to conform closely to conservation interests of owners as well as those of society in general.
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"Sustain" is a simple enough word. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means "to provide support or maintenance; to cause to continue; to endure; and, to last indefinitely." The term "sustainability" becomes more compl...
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"Sustain" is a simple enough word. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means "to provide support or maintenance; to cause to continue; to endure; and, to last indefinitely." The term "sustainability" becomes more complex to define and understand when we apply it to our agricultural systems as well as other aspects of human culture. Sustainability implies a balance between human resource demands and the ability of the biosphere to provide for them on a long-term basis. Past civilizations,such as the Mayan Empire and Mesopotamia, lost this balance and faded out due to resource depletion and the ensuing social disintegration. Some of the earliest sustainability discussions relative to agriculture in the 20th century revolved around soil erosion and conservation. The Dust Bowl of the 1930s put soil sustainability on the national agenda, with farming practices as a major factor. More recently, pesticide use has been a prominent sustainability issue for fruit production. Genetic engineeringand energy are likely to be key sustainability issues in the future.
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