Weed seedling emergence in contrasting fodder crop systems following 30 years of cultivation in the lowlands of Northern Italy

Five fodder crop systems of different intensity (ranging from a double annual crop of Italian ryegrass + silage maize to a permanent meadow) were adopted for 30 years in the lowlands of Northern Italy under two input levels, differing mainly in their provision of organic fertiliser (manure). Herbicides were used in the maize crops included in all systems, except the meadow. After 30 years, the weed seedbank of all systems and input levels were assessed by the seedling emergence technique on soil samples from each plot. The cropping systems determined the abundance and composition of the weed assembly. Relatively few, frequent species made up the majority of the emerged seedlings in all systems, and there was no relationship between the total number of emerged seedlings and the mean number of species recorded in the different systems. Arabidopsis thaliana and Oxalis corniculata were abundant in the annual double crop and in the 3- and 6-year rotations that also comprised the annual double crop. These weeds, however, were unlikely to represent a major threat to the crops, due to their vigour and growth period. The permanent meadow tended to greater weed biodiversity than the other systems. The application of manure favoured the seedbank of species such as Lolium multiflorum, Digitaria sanguinalis and A. thaliana. Weed communities in the different systems were mainly determined by herbicide application, (through the ability of weeds to avoid its effects, determined by the weed life history and emergence period) and manure application (with its possible dual effect of spreading weed seeds and favouring nitrogen-responsive weeds).     

边界线分析法评价小麦/西瓜/玉米间作体系产量的限制因子

本研究旨在分析小麦/西瓜/玉米间作体系限制作物产量的关键因子,为该体系的优化提供科学依据。采用农户调研的方式,对河北省曲周县的小麦/西瓜/玉米间作模式展开调查,主要调研内容是小麦和玉米的播种量、养分投入量和产量以及西瓜的养分投入量和产量,应用边界线分析方法评价小麦/西瓜/玉米间作高产体系的限制因子。结果表明,限制小麦产量的关键因子为小麦播种量,贡献率达17.8%,而养分投入量的贡献率分别为:P₂O₅ 12.5%、K₂O 11.7%、N 8.0%。限制西瓜产量的关键因子为钾肥投入量,贡献率达15.8%,N、P₂O₅的贡献率分别为14.2%和11.8%。限制玉米产量的关键因子为氮肥投入量,贡献率达20.6%,其他因子的贡献率分别为:K₂O 14.2%,P₂O₅ 11.5%,播种密度9.2%。因此,在小麦/西瓜/玉米间作体系中,应适当调控小麦播量,优化西瓜的钾肥和玉米的氮肥投入量,促进该间作模式的产量优势。     

Soil available potassium affected by rice straw incorporation and potassium fertilizer application under a rice–oilseed rape rotation system

Data from 147 field trials were collected to study the influence of straw incorporation on soil potassium (K) under an intensive rice–oilseed rape rotation system, while pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of rice straw incorporation on soil K availability. A significant correlation was observed between the soil available K and the relative yield (RRY) and the relative K uptake (RKU) of oilseed rape, with R² values ranging from 0.07 to 0.08 and from 0.10 to 0.11, respectively, when data were fitted to a logarithmic equation model. In approximately 30% of trials, RRY reached 90%, while soil test available K values were below the critical limit, indicating that soil K values at the time of sampling (within 1 week of rice harvest) underestimated the actual soil K supply capacity. The pot experiment results showed that soil available K was affected by straw incorporation and soil type in the fallow period. The NH₄OAc‐K and NaBPh₄‐K concentrations of soils increased at first, and then, plateaued after 28 days. Straw incorporation significantly influenced the critical soil K concentration, which is important for making accurate K fertilizer recommendation. These results suggested that straw K should be seriously considered in making K fertilizer recommendations. Extending the sampling time from 1 to 3 weeks after the harvesting of rice to stabilize the effects of straw incorporation may help achieve a more accurate evaluation of soil available K.     

Growth,yield and water productivity of dry direct seeded rice and transplanted aromatic rice under different irrigation management regimes

Sustainability of traditionally cultivated rice in the rice-wheat cropping zone (RWCZ) of Pakistan is dwindling due to the high cost of production, declining water resources and escalating labour availability. Thus, farmers and researchers are compelled to find promising alternatives to traditional transplanted rice (TPR). A field study was conducted in Punjab, Pakistan, in 2017 and 2018 to explore the trade-offs between water saving and paddy yield, water productivity and economics of two aromatic rice varieties under dry direct seeded rice (DDSR) and TPR. The experiment was comprised of three irrigation regimes on the basis of soil moisture tension (SMT) viz., continuous flooded (>−10 kPa SMT), alternate wetting and drying (AWD) (−20 kPa SMT) and aerobic rice (−40 kPa SMT), maintained under TPR and DDSR systems. Two aromatic rice verities: Basmati-515 and Chenab Basmati-2016 were used during both years of study. In both years, DDSR produced higher yields (13–18%) and reduced the total water inputs (8–12%) in comparison to TPR. In comparison to traditional continuous flooded (CF), AWD under DDSR reduced total water input by 27–29% and improved the leaf area index (LAI), tillering, yield (7–9%), and water productivity (44–50%). The performance of AWD with regard to water savings and increased productivity was much higher in DDSR system as compared to AWD in TPR system. Cultivation of DDSR with aerobic irrigation improved water savings (49–55%) and water productivity (22–30%) at the expense of paddy yield reduction (36–39%) and spikelet sterility. With regard to variety, the highest paddy yield (6.6 and 6.7 t ha⁻¹) was recorded in DDSR using Chenab Basmati-2016 under AWD irrigation threshold that attributed to high tiller density and LAI. The economic analysis showed DDSR as more beneficial rice establishment method than TPR with a high benefit-cost ratio (BCR) when the crop was irrigated with AWD irrigation threshold. Our results highlighted that with the use of short duration varieties, DDSR cultivation in conjunction with AWD irrigation can be more beneficial for higher productivity and crop yield.     

Fishmeal availability in the scenarios of climate change: Inevitability of fishmeal replacement in aquafeeds and approaches for the utilization of plant protein sources

Fishmeal is being trusted as the most reliable protein source due to its nutritional quality in terms of attractability, palatability, digestibility, excellent nutrient profiles to fulfil the dietary requirement of aquatic species. The aquaculture sector consumes >70% of global fishmeal, though aqua feeds constitute only 4% in total industrial feed production (900–1,000 Mt in 2018). The global fishmeal production has shown a downward trend of 26.50% during 2000 to 2018 due to the occurrences of El Niño–Southern Oscillationsand other climatic events, which in turn increased the fishmeal price from 452 USD/t (2000) to 1596.54 USD/t (2018). The increasing trend of aquaculture production along with reduced fish‐in/fish‐out ratios (0.63 in 2000 to 0.33, 0.22 in 2010 and 2015 respectively) indicates the resilience of the aquafeed sector for fishmeal replacement. The wide availability, reasonable price and reliable nutrient content made an interest in plant protein sources, but their utilization was limited due to poor digestibility, imbalanced profiles of essential nutrients and the presence of anti‐nutrients. Numerous methodologies are invented in recent times to enrich the nutritional qualities for maximizing the utilization of plant proteins in aquafeed formulations. The present review concludes that the aquafeed sector should use climate economics and technological innovations for substituting fishmeal to formulate the cost‐effective feeds.     

汾渭平原农户冬小麦氮磷养分投入调查与分析

为明确汾渭平原农户冬小麦施肥现状，并指导农户合理施肥，在汾渭平原冬小麦种植区选取22个区/县，连续2年进行农户冬小麦产量及氮、磷养分投入调查。结果表明，汾河平原和渭河平原农户冬小麦平均产量分别为6 949和6 442 kg·hm^-2，其中中等产量水平（5 500 kg·hm^-2）以上的农户超过80%。汾河平原农户冬小麦N和P₂O₅的平均投入量分别为272.6和139.1 kg·hm^-2，施氮不足、适中和过量的农户分别占11.84%、23.68%和64.47%，施磷不足、适中和过量的农户分别占14.03%、7.89%和78.07%。渭河平原农户N和P₂O₅的平均投入量分别为196.3和147.2 kg·hm^-2，施氮不足、适中和过量的农户分别占 28.63%、31.97%和39.40%，施磷不足、适中和过量的农户分别占5.95%、14.50%和79.56%。汾河平原农户冬小麦氮肥基肥和追肥比例分别为60.3%和39.7%，而渭河平原农户冬小麦氮肥基肥和追肥比例分别为 97.3%和2.7%。此外，汾河平原农户冬小麦N、P₂O₅的平均偏生产力分别为30.4和59.6 kg·kg^-1，渭河平原农户冬小麦N、P₂O₅的平均偏生产力分别为38.4和56.1 kg·kg^-1。总之，在汾渭平原农户冬小麦种植过程中，氮、磷肥过量施用依然严重，导致肥料利用率低，因此，未来需进一步加强对农民的宣传培训，使其科学合理施肥，促进农业绿色发展。     

苏北地区粳稻生产中化学品投入普遍过量的原因及减投方案

通过调查发现,苏北地区粳稻生产中普遍存在化学品过量施用的现象,分析了其原因并提出了针对性减肥减药技术方案。方案主要包括：⑴选用适宜品种;⑵培育长秧龄壮秧、普施“出嫁药肥”;⑶麦秸全量还田;⑷浅耕地且防基肥渗漏;⑸抢早扩行移栽;⑹通气式灌溉、高质量搁田;⑺分蘖肥减量增效、施足穗肥;⑻综合防控。采用此减投技术,在化学品投入下降28%~42%的情况下,还能保障苏北地区粳稻成穗量充足、群体质量优良、病虫草害得到有效防控,进而实现“化投大降、产量不减、防效不降、安全高质”。     

Ⅰ-72杨人工林的投入产出及经济成熟龄

本文讨论了山东省沂南县沂河林场不同密度Ⅰ-72杨人工林的投入产出及经济成熟龄。投入分为一次性投入和每年投入。一次性的总投入量为2 33 1.00元/ha,其中整地占84％;平均年投入为253.21元/ha·a,其中追肥占74％。文中还计算了长期占用资金的复利。对各密度的年投入量、年生长量、年产值、年均净产值及其年动态进行了研究,同时做了林木的年均生长量和年均净产值数学模拟。杨树人工林在造林后第三年才能获得利润。数量成熟龄为6～10年,年均最高生长量可达25.252 1 m~3/ha·a。经济成熟龄为6～7年,年均最高净产值可达6 110.52元/ha·a。杨树人工林的数量成熟龄与经济成熟龄主要受密度及投入成本的影响。     

Traditional homegardens of Kerala: a sustainable human ecosystem

An analogue approach to analysing the traditional homegardens of Keralavis-à-vis natural climax ecosystems is adopted. The traditional homegarden is apparently a climax ecosystem, where ecological succession is consciously manipulated by human beings. High intensity of vertical and horizontal space use, the highly dynamic chronological structure and the capacity to perform essential ecological processes make this ecosystem relatively sustainable. Homegardens in Kerala effectively serve as human ecosystems with their low input demand, staggered supply of outputs, and enhancement of habitat quality. However, recent trends in agrarian structure and the high market orientation exert pressures on the homegarden, and its sustainability as a human ecosystem is in question.This joint paper is based on part of the research conducted by Darley Jose for the degree of M.Sc. (Natural Resource Management) at the Agricultural University of Norway under the guidance of N. Shanmugaratnam.     

The role of agroforestry in the farming systems in Rwanda with special reference to the Bugesera-Gisaka-Migongo (BGM) region

The Rwandan farmers, faced with a perpetual land shortage, have evolved certain intensive systems of organic agriculture. These systems, particularly the homestead (compound) farming, involve the combination of food, fodder and tree crops. to a certain extent these systems can satisfy the multiple needs of the subsistence farmers living under several risks and constraints. However, they cannot cope with the expanding food demand of the rapidly increasing population. Some multipurpose, low-input technologies and agroforestry approaches have been designed to improve the productivity of these traditional systems; these include inter/mixed cropping systems and rotations, alley cropping with leguminous trees and shrubs, use of planted fallow, planting tree legumes on anti-erosive lines, mixed farming,community forestry and woodlots, and tree planting on farm/field boundaries. The essential aspects of these technologies are briefly discussed.ISAR-IITA FSR PROJECT, B.P. 629, Kigali RwandaISAR-Swiss Intercooperation, c/o Forestry Department, B.P. 617, Butare, Rwanda