Management practices influence biocontrol potential of generalist predators in maize cropping systems

Intensification of conventional agriculture is a leading cause of negative environmental impact, loss of biodiversity, and reduced delivery of ecosystem services in agroecosystems. Maize, due to its growth habits and cultivation management, provides a poor habitat for beneficial arthropods. Several strategies are available to make maize cropping systems more sustainable and to promote biodiversity at field level. The present study evaluates the effects of various maize cropping systems – precisely, maize continuous monoculture, maize multiple cropping, and three mixed cropping systems (maize-runner bean, maize-sorghum, and maize-flower strips) – on generalist predators and their biological control potential. Overall, we found that the reference system with maize continuous monoculture and conventional crop management had the lowest activity of generalist predators compared in particular to the low-input mixed cropping systems. Higher activity density and biocontrol potential were found in the systems that provided a dense and permanent vegetation cover of the ground (i.e., maize/sorghum, maize/flower strip). Although these effects were not consistent for all the parameters investigated and for every sampling date, we conclude that generalist predators can benefit from more conservative management practices in maize systems, thereby enhancing their biological pest control potential. Furthermore, spatial intercropping may represent a valid alternative to the conventional monocultural crop system to support the delivery of biodiversity-mediated ecosystem services towards a more sustainable system.     

Pest suppression potential varies across 10 bioenergy cropping systems

Top-down suppression of herbivores is a fundamental ecological process and a critical service in agricultural landscapes. Adoption of bioenergy cropping systems is likely to become an increasingly important driver causing loss or gain of this service in coming decades. We measured natural pest suppression potential in ten model bioenergy crops in a long-term experimental array by deploying plasticine sentinel caterpillar mimics, which record imprints from predator attacks. Cropping systems included three intensive annual row crop systems and a range of simple perennial monocultures and more complex polycultures. We compared attack rates across the ten cropping systems and assessed differences over time within a growing season and between the ground level and canopy. We found strong differences in attack rates across cropping systems, usually with more attacks in perennial crops than annuals. However, outcomes varied in space and time, both within and among cropping systems. Birds and small mammals were responsible for most, and sometimes all, attacks in annual crops and were most important early in the season. Chewing arthropod attacks increased over the course of the growing season and were responsible for most attack events in perennial systems. In late summer there were almost no attacks in annual crop canopies, while attack rates in perennial canopies at the same time were quite high and were carried out almost entirely by chewing arthropods. Our results underscore the lack of trophic complexity in annual bioenergy cropping systems relative to perennials. They also illustrate the dramatic changes in predator activity and predation intensity that occur both seasonally and between the ground and plant canopy. Policies and practices that increase the footprint of annual crops for bioenergy are likely to cause a deficit in pest suppression services at local and landscape scales.     

基于作物需水与自然降水适配度的湖南省防旱避灾种植制度优化

季节性干旱对湖南省农业生产造成很大影响,明确防旱避灾种植制度,可为指导当地农业生产提供科学依据。基于湖南省代表站点1981-2007年的气候数据和作物生育期资料,依据干燥度和地形地势特点,划分不同类型区,并在各区域内选取代表站点和代表性种植制度,采用FAO推荐的分段单值平均作物系数法订正了作物系数。比较了主要种植制度的作物需水与自然降水适配度及作物需水与自然降水适配度保证指数,确定了湖南省基于自然降水的防旱避灾种植制度。研究结果表明:各区域基于自然降水资源的防旱避灾种植制度分别为:(1)湘中偏北湿润中低海拔地形复杂区和湘东北半湿润中低海拔山地丘陵区为麦-稻和薯-稻种植模式;(2)湘北半湿润低海拔平原区为油-棉、油-稻和豆-稻种植模式;(3)湘东偏北半干旱低海拔平原与盆地丘陵过渡区为油-苕、油-棉和油-稻种植模式;(4)湘东南较干旱中低海拔丘陵区为油-稻、麦-稻和薯-稻种植模式;(5)中南部较干旱中低海拔盆地区为油-稻和油-棉种植模式;(6)湘西北较湿润中高海拔中山低山区为薯-稻和油-苕种植模式;(7)湘西南较湿润中高海拔丘陵区为油-苕、油-稻、麦-稻和薯-稻种植模式;(8)湘西干旱高海拔山地丘陵区为油-苕和油-棉种植模式。     

填闲种植及其在黄土高原旱作农业区的可行性分析

在主要粮食作物系统休闲期间种植填闲作物可兼顾环境与经济效益。综述了填闲种植对农田土壤水分、养分和后续粮食作物生产力形成等生态过程的影响及其具有的固碳减排、减少淋溶、控制侵蚀等环境与经济效益,并在此基础上从土壤水分限制、养分提高和产量经济效益等角度探讨了填闲种植在黄土高原旱作农业区的可行性,指出今后应重点加强填闲种植系统的水肥生产力形成机制、关键环境效益的形成机理、填闲作物与管理措施选择、生态经济效益评价以及气候变化背景下的填闲种植系统综合效益评估等方面展开定位观测与模型模拟研究,为填闲种植在黄土高原旱作农业区的推广提供科学依据。     

Effect of cowpea monocultures and polycultures with sorghum and greengram on predatory arthropods

Prior to implementing biological control, knowledge on availability of the possible enemies of pest(s) is important. Therefore, as part of a larger on-farm study whose main objective was to develop a farmer-friendly package for the management of cowpea pests, the diversity and abundance of insect predators within cowpea cropping systems (sole crops and intercrops) were monitored at three diverse locations in eastern Uganda. Coccinellids, syrphid larvae, spiders, Orius sp. and earwigs were observed at all locations. Abundance of Coccinellids and syrphid larvae were not influenced by the cowpea genotype nor cropping systems. Contrastingly, the abundance of predatory Orius sp., spiders and earwigs differed significantly among the cowpea cropping systems, being more common in the cowpea pure stands and cowpea + greengram than in the cowpea + sorghum intercrops.     

Increasing Cropping System Diversity Balances Productivity,Profitability and Environmental Health

Balancing productivity, profitability, and environmental health is a key challenge for agricultural sustainability. Most crop production systems in the United States are characterized by low species and management diversity, high use of fossil energy and agrichemicals, and large negative impacts on the environment. We hypothesized that cropping system diversification would promote ecosystem services that would supplement, and eventually displace, synthetic external inputs used to maintain crop productivity. To test this, we conducted a field study from 2003–2011 in Iowa that included three contrasting systems varying in length of crop sequence and inputs. We compared a conventionally managed 2-yr rotation (maize-soybean) that received fertilizers and herbicides at rates comparable to those used on nearby farms with two more diverse cropping systems: a 3-yr rotation (maize-soybean-small grain + red clover) and a 4-yr rotation (maize-soybean-small grain + alfalfa-alfalfa) managed with lower synthetic N fertilizer and herbicide inputs and periodic applications of cattle manure. Grain yields, mass of harvested products, and profit in the more diverse systems were similar to, or greater than, those in the conventional system, despite reductions of agrichemical inputs. Weeds were suppressed effectively in all systems, but freshwater toxicity of the more diverse systems was two orders of magnitude lower than in the conventional system. Results of our study indicate that more diverse cropping systems can use small amounts of synthetic agrichemical inputs as powerful tools with which to tune, rather than drive, agroecosystem performance, while meeting or exceeding the performance of less diverse systems.     

三峡库区花岗岩坡耕地不同种植方式下水土流失定位研究

对三峡库区花岗岩坡耕地不同种植方式下水土流失规律的定位研究表明,库区雨季主要集中在5～8月,降雨量约占全年总降雨量的60%以上;此期间的土壤侵蚀量也占全年总侵蚀量的60%以上,其中6、7月土壤侵蚀量约占全年的1/2.不同种植方式下地面覆盖率差异较大,三熟制下或与多年生植物(牧草、黄花菜)间作时地面的覆盖率明显大于两熟制,夏季作物为花生时雨季的地面覆盖高于夏作为红薯,其土壤及养分流失量亦相对较低.不同种植方式下土壤及养分流失的大小顺序为油(麦)红薯>油菜(小麦)玉米红薯>油菜(小麦)玉米花生>油菜(小麦)金荞麦花生,油菜(小麦)黄花花生.研究结果还表明,在良好的种植与管理方式下,坡耕地土壤流失量仍可被控制在允许范围内.     

Modelling herbivore movement and colonization: pest management potential of intercropping and trap cropping

1 Using a stochastic simulation model, we explored the effects of agroecosystem diversity on herbivore densities. 2 Using parameters that included reproduction, colonization, and local movement rates, we simulated an insect herbivore population colonizing rows of plants in an agricultural setting. 3 Plant rows were comprised of either principal crop, intercrop, or trap crop. Herbivore parameters varied for different plant types. 4 Percent crop cover and movement rates were varied, and ensuing herbivore densities on crop rows were recorded. 5 In trap cropping schemes, both percent crop cover and movement rates were critical in determining herbivore densities. Intercropping schemes were governed primarily by colonization rates. 6 These results suggest that trap cropping schemes merit more attention than intercropping systems in the design and analysis of mixed cropping systems.     

Changes in the Potential Multiple Cropping System in Response to Climate Change in China from 1960–2010

The multiple cropping practice is essential to agriculture because it has been shown to significantly increase the grain yield and promote agricultural economic development. In this study, potential multiple cropping systems in China are calculated based on meteorological observation data by using the Agricultural Ecology Zone (AEZ) model. Following this, the changes in the potential cropping systems in response to climate change between the 1960s and the 2010s were subsequently analyzed. The results indicate that the changes of potential multiple cropping systems show tremendous heterogeneity in respect to the spatial pattern in China. A key finding is that the magnitude of change of the potential cropping systems showed a pattern of increase both from northern China to southern China and from western China to eastern China. Furthermore, the area found to be suitable only for single cropping decreased, while the area suitable for triple cropping increased significantly from the 1960s to the 2000s. During the studied period, the potential multiple cropping index (PMCI) gap between rain-fed and irrigated scenarios increased from 18% to 24%, which indicated noticeable growth of water supply limitations under the rain-fed scenario. The most significant finding of this research was that from the 1960s to the 2000s climate change had led to a significant increase of PMCI by 13% under irrigated scenario and 7% under rain-fed scenario across the whole of China. Furthermore, the growth of the annual mean temperature is identified as the main reason underlying the increase of PMCI. It has also been noticed that across China the changes of potential multiple cropping systems under climate change were different from region to region.     

Effect of legume-based cropping systems on nitrogen mineralization potential of Vertisol

The quantity and patterns of net mineralization of soil nitrogen (N) were studied in Vertisols under different cropping systems in the semi-arid tropical areas. Eight cropping systems were selected; three contained pigeonpea (PP), one contained PP and cowpea (COP), and two contained chickpea (CP) as legume component crops, one included sequence cropping with nonlegumes during the rainy and postrainy seasons, and one system was kept fallow (F) during the rainy season and sown to sorghum (S) during the postrainy season. Cropping systems with PP as a component crop increased mineralizable N(N _o ) content two-fold in the soil compared with fallow + sorghum (F+S)–F+S system. The N mineralization rate constant (k) was not significantly affected by previous cropping history of the soil; however, a numerically higher rate constant was observed in the COP/PP intercrop, followed by sequential S+safflower (SF) system as compared to the other soils. Mineral N accumulation curves for six soils were more accurately described by the exponential model than the linear model. The active N fraction (N _o /N_tot %) varied between 8 and 16% for different systems and a direct relationship was observed between N _o /N_tot and total N for the soils under diverse cropping systems.ICRISAT JA (1638)     

Response of cereals to nitrogen in sole cropping and intercropping with different legumes

The response of sole and intercropped cereal to nitrogen fertilization was compared in three contrasting cropping systems, sorghum/pigeonpea, maize/groundnut, and sorghum/cowpea. The cereal in these systems responded to nitrogen similarly as in sole cropping, although different legumes affected the cereal differently. There was no current season benefit from the legume, whether it matured earlier or later than the cereal, and for high yields the cereal in intercropping needs fertilizer application. Response to nitrogen varied with the amount and distribution of seasonal rainfall. With increased nitrogen fertilizer applied to the intercropped cereal, the legume yields were suppressed. The optimum dose for the intercropped cereal was similar to that for sole cropping but it was 50% less in a dry year particularly, on a shallow Alfisol. The combined yields of both crops made intercropping more profitable than sole cropping. The relative advantage of intercropping was high in the sorghum/pigeonpea system (40 to 70%) because of the greater temporal difference between species, and moderate in the maize/groundnut (13 to 35%), and sorghum/cowpea (18 to 25%) systems. Although the relative advantage of intercropping (expressed as Land Equivalent Ratio (LER)) decreased with N, the economic value, of the advantage was little affected within the optimum N range because absolute yields increased with fertilization.     

Winter oilseed production for biofuel in the US Corn Belt: opportunities and limitations

Interest from the US commercial aviation industry and commitments established by the US Navy and Air Force to use renewable fuels has spurred interest in identifying and developing crops for renewable aviation fuel. Concern regarding greenhouse gas emissions associated with land‐use change and shifting land grown for food to feedstock production for fuel has encouraged the concept of intensifying current prominent cropping systems through various double cropping strategies. Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) and field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) are two winter oilseed crops that could potentially be integrated into the corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [(Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cropping system, which is the prominent cropping system in the US Corn Belt. In addition to providing a feedstock for renewable aviation fuel production, integrating these crops into corn–soybean cropping systems could also potentially provide a range of ecosystem services. Some of these include soil protection from wind and water erosion, soil organic C (SOC) sequestration, water quality improvement through nitrate reduction, and a food source for pollinators. However, integration of these crops into corn–soybean cropping systems also carries possible limitations, such as potential yield reductions of the subsequent soybean crop. This review identifies and discusses some of the key benefits and constraints of integrating camelina or field pennycress into corn–soybean cropping systems and identifies generalized areas for potential adoption in the US Corn Belt.     

Occurrence ofAzospirillum spp. in coconut-based farming systems

Occurrence of Azospirillum was investigated in coconut-based farming systems, such as high-density multispecies cropping (15 crops), multi-storeyed cropping (3 crops), mixed cropping with tea and coffee (2 crops), intercropping with tropical tubers (5 crops), mixed farming with grasses (3 crops) and in 3 crops, arecanut,Mimosa invisa and sugarcane from other plots. A total of 26 plantation crops and intercrops were included in the study. Incidence of Azospirillum was determined by 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride reduction and by culturing root fragments in N-free semisolid malate medium. Root samples from guava, mango and mimosa did not show any tetrazolium reduction or sub-surface pellicular growth. The extent of occurrence of Azospirillum seemed to depend upon the crop combinations. In a mixed farming system where guinea grass was one of the component crops, more root fragments of coconut and pepper demonstrated tetrazolium reduction activity than when guinea grass was absent.Azospirillum lipoferum andA. brasilense constituted 42% and 45% of the isolates, respectively, in the coconut-based cropping systems. Isolates from guinea grass, sugarcane and jackfruit exhibited higher nitrogenase (C₂H₂ reduction) than those isolated from plantation crops, tuber crops and spices. The large variation in the extent of association and nitrogenase activity of isolates from different crops indicated the need for inoculation with efficient cultures in a number of crops in coconut-based cropping systems.Contribution No. 613 of Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod.     

红壤旱地不同复种方式的生态功能评价

为了充分发挥红壤旱地的生态功能,筛选出适于红壤旱地的优化复种方式,依据3年的田间定位试验资料,从农田生态系统的生产功能、物质循环特征、能量流动特征、价值流动特征以及养地效果等方面对红壤旱地4种复种方式[处理A(CK): 小麦/大豆-芝麻;处理B: 混播绿肥(油菜×紫云英×肥田萝卜)-大豆‖玉米-绿豆‖芝麻;处理C: 黑麦草-花生‖玉米-粟‖荞麦;处理D: 油菜-绿豆‖甘薯,“/”表示套作,“‖”表示间作,“-”表示接茬,“×”表示混作]的功能和效益进行了分析,并采用灰色关联度法从经济效益、生态效益和社会效益3个层次的13个指标对各复种方式进行了综合评价.结果表明: 混播绿肥(油菜×紫云英×肥田萝卜)-大豆‖玉米-绿豆‖芝麻复种模式的经济效益、生态效益和社会效益的关联度值均居第一位,经灰色关联度分析,得出其综合效益关联度值也最高,为0.847,是比较适宜在红壤旱地推广应用的高效复种方式,对今后红壤旱作区种植业结构布局和优化具有积极意义.     

Acidification of a kaolinitic Alfisol under continuous cropping with nitrogen fertilization in West Africa

Increased use of N fertilizer and more intensive cropping due to the rising food demand in the tropics requires design and evaluation of sustainable cropping systems with minimum soil acidification. The objectives of this study were to quantify acidification of an Oxic Kandiustalf with different types of N fertilizer in two cropping systems under no-tillage and its effect on crop performance. Chemical soil properties in continuous maize (Zea mays L.) and maize-cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) rotation were determined with three N sources (urea (UA), ammonium sulfate (AS) and calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN)) in Nigeria, West Africa, during five years. Chemical soil properties were related to grain yield and diagnostic plant nutrient concentrations. For the three N sources, the rate of decline in soil pH in maize-cowpea rotation was 57±7.5% of that in continuous maize, where double the amount of N fertilizer was applied. The rate of soil acidification during the five years was greater for AS than for UA or CAN in continuous maize, and not different for UA and CAN in both cropping systems. With AS, soil pH decreased from 5.8 to 4.5 during five years of continuous maize cropping. Exchangeable acidity increased with N fertilization, but did not reach levels limiting maize or cowpea growth. Return of residues to the soil surface may have reduced soluble and exchangeable Al levels by providing a source of organic ligands. Soil solution Mn concentrations increased with N fertilization to levels likely detrimental for crop growth. Symptoms of Mn toxicity were observed on cowpea leaves where AS was applied to the preceding maize crop, but not on maize plants. Soil acidification caused significant reductions in exchangeable Ca and effective CEC. Main season maize yield with N fertilization was lower with AS than with UA or CAN, but not different between UA and CAN during the six years of cropping. The lower maize grain yield with AS than with the other N sources was attributed to lower pH and a greater extractable Mn concentration with AS. When kaolinitic Alfisols are used for continuous maize cropping, even under no-tillage with crop residues returned as mulch, the soil may become acidifed to pH values of 5.0 and below after a few years. The no-till cereal-legume rotation with judicial use of urea or CAN as N sources for the cereal crop is a more suitable system for these poorly buffered, kaolinitic soils than continuous maize cropping. The use of AS as N source should be avoided. H Marschner Section editor     

How efficiently do corn‐ and soybean‐based cropping systems use water? A systems modeling analysis

Agricultural systems are being challenged to decrease water use and increase production while climate becomes more variable and the world's population grows. Low water use efficiency is traditionally characterized by high water use relative to low grain production and usually occurs under dry conditions. However, when a cropping system fails to take advantage of available water during wet conditions, this is also an inefficiency and is often detrimental to the environment. Here, we provide a systems‐level definition of water use efficiency (sWUE) that addresses both production and environmental quality goals through incorporating all major system water losses (evapotranspiration, drainage, and runoff). We extensively calibrated and tested the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) using 6 years of continuous crop and soil measurements in corn‐ and soybean‐based cropping systems in central Iowa, USA. We then used the model to determine water use, loss, and grain production in each system and calculated sWUE in years that experienced drought, flood, or historically average precipitation. Systems water use efficiency was found to be greatest during years with average precipitation. Simulation analysis using 28 years of historical precipitation data, plus the same dataset with ± 15% variation in daily precipitation, showed that in this region, 430 mm of seasonal (planting to harvesting) rainfall resulted in the optimum sWUE for corn, and 317 mm for soybean. Above these precipitation levels, the corn and soybean yields did not increase further, but the water loss from the system via runoff and drainage increased substantially, leading to a high likelihood of soil, nutrient, and pesticide movement from the field to waterways. As the Midwestern United States is predicted to experience more frequent drought and flood, inefficiency of cropping systems water use will also increase. This work provides a framework to concurrently evaluate production and environmental performance of cropping systems.     

连作障碍因素对大豆养分吸收和固氮作用的影响

采用分室装置,利用不同孔径的膜研究大豆连作条件下,化感物质、土壤有害生物和大豆胞囊线虫等因素不断累加对植株生长、生物固氮作用和矿质养分吸收和分配的影响。结果表明,随着各因素不断累加,植株的地上部、根系和根瘤干重逐渐降低;除Ca元素外,植株组织的P、K等矿质元素单位含量下降,吸收总量下降,地上部分配的养分比例下降。在化感物质和土壤有害生物因素的基础上接种线虫,对生物固氮和矿质养 分的吸收和分配影响明显。     

Carbon and nitrogen stocks in physical fractions of a subtropical Acrisol as influenced by long-term no-till cropping systems and N fertilisation

The long-term soil management effects on C and N stocks of soil physical fractions are still poorly understood for South American subtropical soils. This study aimed (i) to evaluate the influence of cereal- and legume-based cropping systems and N fertilisation on C and N stocks of the sand-, silt- and clay-size fractions of a no-tilled subtropical Acrisol in southern Brazil, (ii) to compute the Carbon Management Index (CMI) for those cropping systems using physical fractionation data, and (iii) to investigate the possible existence of finite capacity of those soil physical fractions to store C and N. Soil samples of a long-term experiment were collected from the 0–2.5 and 2.5–7.5 cm layers of three no-till cropping systems [fallow bare soil, oat/maize (O/M) and pigeon pea+maize (P+M)] under two N fertilisation levels (0 and 180 kg N ha^–1). However, for fallow bare soil, only the non-fertilised sub-plot was sampled. An adjacent native grassland soil was sampled as a reference. The C and N stocks of the three soil physical fractions were higher in the legume-based cropping system (P+M) than in O/M and bare soil, because of the higher residue input in the former. The P+M cropping system restored the C and N stocks in sand- and silt-size fractions to the same levels found in grassland soil. Higher C and N stocks in all physical fractions were also obtained with N fertilisation. The C and N stocks and the C:N ratio were most affected by cropping systems in the sand- and least in the clay-size fraction. Particulate organic matter was found in the silt-size fraction, showing this fraction is not only constituted by mineral-associated organic mater, as commonly believed. Taking grassland soil as reference (CMI = 100), the CMI ranged from 46, in O/M no N, to 517, in P+M with N, pointing to a better soil management in the latter. The clay-size fraction tended to show a finite capacity to store C and N (48.8 g C kg^–1 and 4.9 g N kg^–1 of clay), which was not verified in sand- and silt-size fractions. The adoption of no-tillage and legume-based cropping systems with high residue input are adequate soil management strategies to improve soil quality and make the agricultural production systems more sustainable in subtropical regions.     

A Four Dimensional Spatio-Temporal Analysis of an Agricultural Dataset

While a variety of statistical models now exist for the spatio-temporal analysis of two-dimensional (surface) data collected over time, there are few published examples of analogous models for the spatial analysis of data taken over four dimensions: latitude, longitude, height or depth, and time. When taking account of the autocorrelation of data within and between dimensions, the notion of closeness often differs for each of the dimensions. Here, we consider a number of approaches to the analysis of such a dataset, which arises from an agricultural experiment exploring the impact of different cropping systems on soil moisture. The proposed models vary in their representation of the spatial correlation in the data, the assumed temporal pattern and choice of conditional autoregressive (CAR) and other priors. In terms of the substantive question, we find that response cropping is generally more effective than long fallow cropping in reducing soil moisture at the depths considered (100 cm to 220 cm). Thus, if we wish to reduce the possibility of deep drainage and increased groundwater salinity, the recommended cropping system is response cropping.     

Changes in soil organic matter with cropping as measured by organic carbon fractions and 13C natural isotope abundance

The decline in soil organic matter with cropping is a major factor affecting the sustainability of cropping systems. Changes in total C levels are relativelyinsensitive as a sustainability measure. Oxidation with different strength KMnO₄ has been shown to be a more sensitive indicator of change. The relative size of soil C fractions oxidised by 333 mM KMnO₄ declined with cropping, whilst the relative size of the unoxidised fraction increased. Changes in ¹³C ratio have been used to measure C turnover in systems which include C3 and C4 species.