Article
Agronomy
Jenifer L. Yost, April B. Leytem, Dave L. Bjorneberg, Robert S. Dungan, Linda R. Schott
Summary: Quantifying soil water storage by changes in management practices is important for agriculture. This study investigated the effects of winter forage crops, dairy manure, and tillage on soil physical characteristics and silage corn yield. The results showed that winter forage crop plus solid dairy manure led to lower soil water storage. Infiltration rate, runoff, and saturated hydraulic conductivity did not improve with these practices. Only three years showed treatment differences in silage corn yields, with the highest yields obtained from solid dairy manure only.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Svetlana Vujic, Djordje Krstic, Ksenija Mackic, Ranko Cabilovski, Zoran Radanovic, Ai Zhan, Branko Cupina
Summary: Introducing winter cover crops may contribute to increased yield and quality of annual forage production, but it is important to consider potential negative impacts on soil water content, especially in regions prone to drought.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Kevin De Haan, Myroslava Khomik, Adam Green, Warren Helgason, Merrin L. Macrae, Mazda Kompanizare, Richard M. Petrone
Summary: The study compares WUE estimates for alfalfa and maize, finding that input variables and plant physiology impact WUE calculations, and differences in carbon assimilation and water use variables can lead to varied estimates.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Amirsaleh Baghdadi, Farid Golzardi, Masoud Hashemi
Summary: Strategies such as drip irrigation and alternate furrow irrigation can reduce water consumption and improve dry matter yield and irrigation water-use efficiency. Intercropping sorghum and amaranth at a ratio of 50:50 under drip irrigation resulted in the highest forage yield and irrigation water-use efficiency. Overall, the combination of drip irrigation and intercropping sorghum and amaranth at a ratio of 50:50 is a suitable strategy for improving forage yield and quality, as well as irrigation water-use efficiency.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Linlin Wang, Junhong Xie, Zhuzhu Luo, Yining Niu, Jeffrey A. Coulter, Renzhi Zhang, Li Lingling
Summary: Long-term continuous production of alfalfa exacerbates soil water deficit, reduces soil available phosphorus, and gradually decreases yield and WUE. The optimal age for alfalfa growth in semi-arid conditions should not exceed nine years.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Xiquan Wang, Jiangwen Nie, Peixin Wang, Jie Zhao, Yadong Yang, Shang Wang, Zhaohai Zeng, Huadong Zang
Summary: Manure has traditionally been used as a nutrient source in grain crop production worldwide. Irrigation benefits water use efficiency in winter wheat during dry seasons, while manure application improves WUE in winter wheat but decreases it in summer maize. Fertilization strategies have a minor effect on annual water use efficiency of the wheat-maize system.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Samantha Glaze-Corcoran, Alexandra Smychkovich, Masoud Hashemi
Summary: Winter rye is the most efficient dual-purpose cover crop for harvesting and nutrient recycling purposes. It has the highest yield, nutritional value, and economic potential.
Article
Soil Science
Gang Zhao, Peng Wu, Fu Liu, Shangzhong Li, Jianjun Zhang, Yi Dang, Lei Wang, Shuying Wang, Wanli Cheng, Tie Cai, Tinglu Fan
Summary: The soil quality in the arid areas of Northwest China is poor and planting green manure and straw mulching can improve soil water content and quality. This study conducted a field experiment in the semiarid area of the Loess Plateau and found that the combination of straw mulching and planting soybean as green manure significantly increased soil water content, nutrients, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities. It also improved fertilizer uptake and wheat productivity. Therefore, this method is effective for enhancing soil water storage, nutrient utilization, and wheat productivity in semiarid areas.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Oluwadunsin Oyetunji, Nanthi Bolan, Greg Hancock
Summary: Broadacre crops require relatively higher nutrient input to achieve yield targets, making efficient nutrient use in arable farmlands crucial. Enhancing soil quality through integrated nutrient management approaches, such as the use of organic amendments alongside fertilizers, can improve soil nutrient dynamics and reduce excessive fertilizer use. Studies have shown that the combination of compost and fertilizers can improve soil health, fertility, and crop yield, making it a potentially viable alternative to sole reliance on chemical fertilizers in farmlands.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Joseph A. Burke, Katie L. Lewis, Glen L. Ritchie, Paul B. DeLaune, J. Wayne Keeling, Veronica Acosta-Martinez, Jennifer M. Moore, Terry McLendon
Summary: The study demonstrates that cover crops can reduce soil water content before termination but can be replenished by spring precipitation and deficit irrigation. No-tillage systems with cover crops can increase soil water content and decrease water loss during cotton growth period.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Li Rui, Chai Shou-xi, Chai Yu-wei, Li Ya-wei, Lei Chang, Cheng Hong-bo
Summary: The study shows that the improved straw mulching model can enhance soil water and fertilizer environment, leading to increased wheat yield and economic benefits. Straw mulching improves soil water storage and utilization efficiency, reduces evapotranspiration, and increases soil nutrient contents, thereby reducing the need for fertilization.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Pengzhao Liu, Fang Ning, Haoyu Li, Yuanhong Zhang, Qi Zhang, Rui Wang, Xiaoli Wang, Xiaoli Chen, Jun Li
Summary: Maize productivity in semi-arid regions is threatened by sparse and uneven precipitation as well as excessive or insufficient fertilization. This study suggests that reducing basal nitrogen fertilizers can increase maize yield and maintain moderate water and nitrogen productivity.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Review
Agronomy
Pingguo Yang, Jinjing Bai, Miao Yang, Erdeng Ma, Min Yan, Huaiyu Long, Jian Liu, Lei Li
Summary: Negative pressure irrigation (NPI) has several advantages over other irrigation methods, including reducing water evaporation loss, decreasing runoff, and maintaining stable soil moisture. However, there is a lack of comprehensive information on the effects of NPI on crop yield and water use efficiency, which limits its widespread adoption in China. This study introduces the principles and device of NPI, analyzes the research hotspots, and reviews its effects on yield and WUE of typical greenhouse crops.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Lei Ji, Gabriel B. Senay, MacKenzie Friedrichs, Matthew Schauer, Olena Boiko
Summary: Kansas is among the most productive agricultural states in the U.S., however, sustainable management of irrigation water resources is crucial due to low precipitation and declining groundwater levels. This study analyzed water use and water balance in Kansas croplands, finding that irrigation water constitutes a significant portion of the state's water supply. The spatial patterns of crop water use and water balance identified in this study could inform management of irrigation agriculture and water resources in Kansas.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Hend H. M. Hassan, El-Sayed E. A. El-sobky, Elsayed Mansour, Ahmed S. M. El-KHOLY, Mohamed F. Awad, Hayat Ullah, Avishek Datta
Summary: Previous winter crops and tillage systems have a significant impact on forage yield and quality. Growing forage crops after legumes and adopting conventional tillage practices resulted in the highest yields and quality attributes. Pearl millet followed by Sudan grass showed the highest net return in commercial production.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Abdelaziz Nilahyane, M. Anowarul Islam, Abdel O. Mesbah, Stephen K. Herbert, Axel Garcia y Garcia
Article
Soil Science
Pramod Acharya, Rajan Ghimire, Youngkoo Cho, Vesh R. Thapa, Upendra M. Sainju
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of cover crops on soil organic carbon and nitrogen contents as well as crop yield. The results showed that cover cropping largely did not affect soil profile C and N contents under a limited-irrigation semiarid cropping system.
NUTRIENT CYCLING IN AGROECOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Erick Amombo, Dennis Ashilenje, Abdelaziz Hirich, Lamfeddal Kouisni, Abdallah Oukarroum, Cherki Ghoulam, Mohamed El Gharous, Abdelaziz Nilahyane
Summary: Sorghum, a drought-tolerant cereal widely grown in Africa's arid regions, shows moderate salt tolerance but limited productivity in saline soils. The positive correlations between salt tolerance and yield traits can be utilized for future genetic improvement and breeding programs, incorporating classic selection methods with modern -omics techniques.
Review
Plant Sciences
Dennis S. Ashilenje, Erick Amombo, Abdelaziz Hirich, Lamfeddal Kouisni, Krishna P. Devkota, Ayoub El Mouttaqi, Abdelaziz Nilahyane
Summary: A multivariate analysis of published data was conducted to determine the mechanisms of salinity tolerance and synergies relevant for designing adapted forage cropping systems in arid regions. The study found that halophyte and non-halophyte grasses clustered along increasing soil salinity, while halophytic grasses congregated with non-halophytic legumes along a gradient of increasing photosynthesis. Halophytic grasses showed strong yield-salinity correlations, and forage crude protein was strongly correlated with increasing salinity in both halophytic grasses and non-halophytic legumes.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Wooiklee S. Paye, Pramod Acharya, Rajan Ghimire
Summary: Forage sorghum is a suitable alternative to corn silage in water-limited environments, with similar yield potential but less water input. Cover cropping can further improve forage sorghum yield and water productivity, making it the best alternative forage crop for arid and semi-arid regions.
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pramod Acharya, Rajan Ghimire, Wooiklee S. Paye, Amy C. Ganguli, Stephen J. DelGrosso
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of different winter cover crop mixtures on CO2 and N2O emissions and soil properties, and found that cover crop treatments could increase cash crop yield and decrease N2O emissions, but had no significant effect on net greenhouse gas balance, yield-scaled emissions, and greenhouse gas intensity. Integrating cover crops into agricultural ecosystems may be a climate smart strategy for forage production.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Pramod Acharya, Rajan Ghimire, Erik A. Lehnhoff, Mark A. Marsalis
Summary: Achieving high forage production and quality can be challenging in water-limited areas. Intensifying cropping systems with cover crops can provide agronomic and ecosystem service benefits. This study evaluated the effects of various cover crops on sorghum silage yield and nutritive value.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Abdelaziz Nilahyane, Rajan Ghimire, Bharat Sharma Acharya, Meagan E. Schipanski, Charles P. West, Augustine K. Obour
Summary: A rapid decline in water availability for crop production has driven substantial changes in cropping systems. Management decisions play a critical role in the sustainability of agricultural systems facing transitions. Adopting practices that increase crop water use efficiency, improve soil health, and conserve water in the soil profile could improve agricultural sustainability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ayoub El Mouttaqi, Talal Sabraoui, Mohamed Belcaid, Mohamed Ibourki, Ihssane Mnaouer, Karima Lazaar, Faissal Sehbaoui, Reda Ait Elhaj, Manal Khaldi, Sifeddine Rafik, Jamaa Zim, Abdelaziz Nilahyane, Cherki Ghoulam, Krishna Prasad Devkota, Lamfeddal Kouisni, Abdelaziz Hirich
Summary: Due to the adverse conditions in the Sahara Desert, farmers have limited options for crop cultivation. However, a study in Morocco found that organic amendments can improve the growth and productivity of quinoa under saline irrigation. The use of these amendments also alleviated the negative effects of salinity on the crop. Additionally, the amendments led to a reduction in saponin content, improving the quality of the quinoa grains.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ayoub El Mouttaqi, Ihssane Mnaouer, Abdelaziz Nilahyane, Dennis S. Ashilenje, Erick Amombo, Mohamed Belcaid, Mohamed Ibourki, Karima Lazaar, Aziz Soulaimani, Krishna Prasad Devkota, Lamfeddal Kouisni, Abdelaziz Hirich
Summary: Salinity has become a major issue worldwide, impacting agricultural activities and crop potential. The adoption of salt-tolerant crops, such as blue panicgrass, can help address this problem. A study conducted in southern Morocco found that cutting blue panicgrass every 40 days maximized forage yield and quality. The study also revealed the salt tolerance mechanism of blue panicgrass in maintaining a high K+/Na+ ratio.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Erick Amombo, Dennis S. Ashilenje, Abdelaziz Hirich, Lamfeddal Kouisni, Abdallah Oukarroum, Cherki Ghoulam, Khalid Meksem, Mohamed El Gharous, Abdelaziz Nilahyane
Summary: Rising soil and water salinity pose a threat to plant growth and crop productivity. Developing smart crops capable of withstanding dynamic and heterogeneously distributed salinity is crucial. Recent breakthroughs in bioinformatics and high throughput genomics can accelerate the introduction of superior salt-tolerant crop varieties. The SWEET gene family plays an important role in forage production in maize.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dennis S. Ashilenje, Erick Amombo, Abdelaziz Hirich, Krishna P. Devkota, Lamfeddal Kouisni, Abdelaziz Nilahyane
Summary: Soil salinity negatively affects crop and soil health, but it can be improved by using cropping systems that exclude salts and promote microbial nutrient cycling. A field experiment was conducted in Laayoune-Morocco to evaluate the effects of irrigated grass pea and barley monocrops and their mixtures on soil salinity and CO2-C flux in sites with different salinity levels. The results showed that both soil salinity and CO2-C flux were significantly influenced by the interaction between site and treatment. Barley monocrop had the lowest salinity, and the 70-30% grass pea, barley mixture maintained the highest CO2-C flux in soils with low salinity. The findings suggest that planting barley in mixture with grass pea can alleviate soil salinity and enhance microbial carbon sequestration in shallow desertic soils, if irrigation is carefully managed.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Rajan Ghimire, Megha N. Parajulee, Pramod Acharya, Dol P. Dhakal, Abdul Hakeem, Katie L. Lewis
Summary: Nitrogen fertilization has significant effects on soil nitrogen and carbon pools as well as soil pH, with excessive nitrogen application leading to soil acidification. Optimal nitrogen application rates can help reduce the risk of acidification.
AGRICULTURAL & ENVIRONMENTAL LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Jiaxin Sun, Yanli Yang, Peng Qi, Guangxin Zhang, Yao Wu
Summary: The optimal allocation of agricultural water and land resources is crucial for farmers' economic benefits, carbon sequestration, and water resource conservation. This study developed a novel water-carbon-economy coupling model and applied it to a real farm, demonstrating its effectiveness in achieving the optimal allocation of water and land resources. The model balances economic, environmental, and social benefits.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2024)
