Agricultural Systems最新文献

{"title":"A participatory impact assessment of digital agriculture: A Bayesian network-based case study in Germany","authors":"Joseph MacPherson , Anna Rosman , Katharina Helming , Benjamin Burkhard","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104222","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104222","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>The transition to digital agriculture is likely to lead to systemic changes that will affect production, consumption, governance, and the wider environment of agricultural systems. Nevertheless, the absence of sufficient evidence and ambiguities in perspectives create an ongoing lack of clarity regarding the potential impacts of digital agriculture. Therefore, to discern potential impacts while addressing system complexities, uncertainties, as well as normative aspects associated with this transition, future-oriented and participatory assessments are needed that actively involve diverse knowledge and values of affected stakeholders.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>This research aims to explore the impacts and processes of agricultural digitalization according to stakeholders. The objectives are to identify key areas of impact that digital agriculture is likely to influence, identify and explore the causal pathways linking digital agriculture to impacts, and quantitatively examine the uncertainties of stakeholder perceptions associated with these impacts and causal pathways.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>Through a participatory modelling procedure, diverse stakeholders from the German region of Brandenburg constructed a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN). The BBN facilitated the identification of the main impacts of digital agriculture and allowed for the modelling of uncertainties associated with these impacts.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Stakeholders perceived several socioeconomic advantages of digitalization, particularly in terms of bolstering economic stability through improved risk management and enhanced resource use efficiency, validating existing claims in the literature. The perception seems to be influenced by highly variable yields and market uncertainties, as well as shortages in labour in the region. On the other hand, there was significant uncertainty among stakeholders concerning landscape diversification and its impact on biodiversity. This uncertainty arises from the potential profitability of cultivating marginal land under heightened digitalization-induced efficiency, posing a risk of diminishing natural habitat and landscape heterogeneity. Local historical trends toward landscape simplification as result of technology-driven efficiency improvements may be a cause for this perception.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>This study contributes to a growing body of future-oriented research assessing the impacts of digital agriculture through engaging stakeholder knowledge and values. While there is theoretical potential for digitalization to enhance biodiversity, realizing such positive impacts is improbable without improved communication and policy incentives, given the historical trend of efficiency-driven pathways. This study introduces a novel approach to assessing the impacts of agricultural digitalization through the application of a participatory Bayesian b","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104222"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing off-season maize production through tailored nitrogen management and advanced cultivar selection techniques","authors":"Bruno Rodrigues de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Rafael Felippe Ratke ,&nbsp;Fábio Steiner ,&nbsp;Abdulaziz A. Al-Askar ,&nbsp;Jorge González Aguilera ,&nbsp;Amr H. Hashem ,&nbsp;Mohamed S. Sheteiwy ,&nbsp;Renato Lustosa Sobrinho ,&nbsp;Mohamed A. El-Tayeb ,&nbsp;Hamada AbdElgawad ,&nbsp;Luis Morales-Aranibar ,&nbsp;Luciano Façanha Marques ,&nbsp;Alan Mario Zuffo","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104239","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104239","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Climate change can trigger excessive rainfall, making mechanized soybean harvesting unfeasible. The off-season maize cultivation can benefit from soybean-maize rotation system, inoculated with <em>Bradyrhizobium</em> spp. strains, as a potential biological source of nitrogen (N). To meet the nutritional demand of maize crops, N fertilization management is essential. Recent research has sought to understand how maize cultivars respond to mineral N application.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>In this work, we used a modern methodology to select maize cultivars with greater response to different application inputs of mineral N fertilizer, including N derived from soybean crop residues.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used the Manhattan distance to verify the similarity between the responses of four maize cultivars (30F53VYHR, AG8700 PRO3, B2433PWU, and SYN7G17 TL) that were either unfertilized or fertilized with 40, 80, 120, and 160 kg N ha⁻¹. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution method was applied to select the most responsive cultivar.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusions</h3><div>Among the four maize cultivars, SYN7G17TL and AG8700PRO3 are more responsive to N fertilizer application in medium and high-fertility agricultural soils, respectively. When soil fertility levels are disregarded, the AG8700PRO3 cultivar has greater potential response to N fertilization, agreeing with previous studies.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>The proposed approach is easy to use and adapt and provides an appropriate mechanism for selecting maize cultivars sown in areas with soybean residues, thus contributing to more sustainable planting as it adequately assesses nitrogen management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104239"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of common bean production regions in Brazil using machine learning techniques","authors":"Ludmilla Ferreira Justino ,&nbsp;Alexandre Bryan Heinemann ,&nbsp;David Henriques da Matta ,&nbsp;Luís Fernando Stone ,&nbsp;Paulo Augusto de Oliveira Gonçalves ,&nbsp;Silvando Carlos da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104237","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104237","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;PROBLEM&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Understanding the interactions between genotype, environment, and management is crucial for guiding the development of new cultivars and defining strategies to maximize yield under specific environmental conditions.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aimed to classify and characterize homogeneous production regions for common beans in Brazil by leveraging simulated yield data and machine learning techniques. The goal was to identify the environmental factors that define these homogeneous regions and to develop a spatiotemporal sowing calendar for rainfed (wet and dry seasons) and irrigated (winter season) production.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The CSM-CROPGRO-Dry Bean model was used to simulate the yield of common beans in Brazilian municipalities during the wet (rainfed) season (sowing between August and December - 275 municipalities), dry (rainfed) season (sowing between January and April - 251 municipalities) and winter (irrigated) season (sowing between April and July - 59 municipalities), utilizing soil data, daily climate data (1980 to 2016), management information (sowing date and irrigation/rainfed), and genetic coefficients to reflect the performance of the BRS Estilo cultivar related to phenology, growth and yield components. To create homogeneous environmental groups and associate them with specific environmental features, we applied machine learning techniques, including K-means clustering and decision tree analysis.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;According to the results, we identified three distinct homogeneous regions — high, medium, and low yields — for each cultivation season (wet, dry, and winter). During the wet season, regions with yields between 2326 and 3500 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; were classified as high-yield, those between 1404 and 2325 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; as medium-yield, and those between 500 and 1403 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; as low-yield. In the dry season, high-yield regions had yields ranging from 2492 to 3500 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;, medium-yield regions from 1484 to 2491 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;, and low-yield regions from 500 to 1483 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;. For the winter season, high-yield regions achieved yields between 2972 and 3500 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;, medium-yield regions between 2252 and 2971 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;, and low-yield regions between 634 and 2251 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;. For rainfed seasons (wet and dry), the water stress (WSPD) had a greater impact on yield than air temperature and global solar radiation. While in the winter season, air temperature was the most relevant factor. Overall, in the wet season, delayed sowing contributed to increased yield, especially in the state of Paraná. In the dry season, delayed sowing caused a reduction in yield, particularly in the Midwest and Southeast regions. In the winter season, yield varied less significantly between sowing dates, except in the state of Mato Grosso, where harmful increases in air temperature were observed in the later","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104237"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing simulations of biomass and nitrous oxide emissions in vineyard, orchard, and vegetable cropping systems","authors":"Mu Hong ,&nbsp;Yao Zhang ,&nbsp;Lidong Li ,&nbsp;Keith Paustian","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104243","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104243","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;CONTEXT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Nitrous oxide (N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O) is a potent greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential. Specialty crop (SC) systems, including vineyards, orchards, and vegetable farms, are among the highest value crops grown and emit N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O. Knowledge regarding N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions from SCs remains limited, necessitating simulations using process-based models. However, model calibration and validation for SC biomass dynamics and N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions are lacking.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aimed to: 1) conduct calibrations and validations of DayCent®, a process-based model, for SC biomass dynamics in eight SC systems with diverse pedological and climatic conditions; 2) evaluate N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emission simulations based only on calibrating crop-specific parameters; and 3) simulate N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions of each SC production region in California as a case study.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A comprehensive dataset of 408 biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) and 185 N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emission observations from global field studies in eight SC systems was compiled. The DayCent model was calibrated and validated for SC biomass dynamics and N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions across various management treatments, soils, and climates. Current yield-scaled N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions were simulated for each SC among major production regions in California.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Calibration on crop-specific parameters of DayCent based on the biomass collection can generally improve model performance for simulating biomass C (MRE = 0.148, RRMSE = 0.368, R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.913, IA = 0.976), N (MRE = 0.549, RRMSE = 0.711, R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.298, IA = 0.730), and N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions (MRE = 1.226, RRMSE = 0.971, R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.407, IA = 0.772), compared with using original crop-specific parameterization for biomass C (MRE = 0.309, RRMSE = 0.847, R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.589, IA = 0.865), N (MRE = 1.327, RRMSE = 0.996, R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.001, IA = 0.366), and N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions (MRE = 1.454, RRMSE = 1.102, R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.326, IA = 0.728), which also outperformed the 2019 refined IPCC Tier 1 method (MRE = 4.085, RRMSE = 1.835, R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.031, IA = 0.448). Yield-scaled annual N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions averaged over the major production areas in California were 0.45, 0.18, 0.28, 0.46 kg N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O_N MgC&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; yr&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; for vineyards, almond, peach, and walnut orchards, and 1.02, 1.41, 1.18, and 1.37 kg N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O_N MgC&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; yr&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; for lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and tomato cropping systems, respectively. The case study identified high-emission regions and highlighted the spatial and temporal N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emission variations at the county level.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;SIGNIFICANCE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This is one of the very few comprehensive studies that compiled the largest dataset of biomass and N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions from SC systems, as wel","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104243"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of silvopasture, paddock trees and linear agroforestry systems on agricultural productivity: A global quantitative analysis","authors":"Thomas P. Baker ,&nbsp;Jacqueline R. England ,&nbsp;Shaun T. Brooks ,&nbsp;Stephen B. Stewart ,&nbsp;Daniel Mendham","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104240","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104240","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;CONTEXT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Agroforestry provides numerous benefits to agricultural landscapes, including timber production, carbon sequestration and enhanced biodiversity. Critically, agroforestry also influences the productivity of pasture, crops, and livestock. The magnitude and direction of the effect, however, is highly variable due to factors including the type of agroforestry (e.g., windbreak, alley, silvopasture), the condition of the trees (e.g., height, age, species), planting location and climatic conditions. However, currently there is limited information that quantifies how variation in these drivers affects the influence of agroforestry on agricultural yields.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVES&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In this quantitative review we aimed to determine the magnitude of the effect that silvopasture, paddock trees and linear agroforestry systems have on agricultural productivity relative to a treeless comparison. In addition, we attempted to understand how the effect of agroforestry varied with factors such as tree condition, climate, and weather.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A global literature review was conducted examining two key agroforestry types (non-intercropped linear systems such as windbreaks and hedges, and dispersed pasture systems such as paddock trees and silvopasture). Agricultural productivity responses of these systems compared to a treeless control were extracted and the size of the effect was compared to a range of conditions of the agroforestry systems e.g. tree density, age, distance to tree, as well as a range of climate and weather conditions.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;For the agroforestry types examined we found a strong evidence base for the effects on crop/pasture growth for linear agroforestry types (windbreaks, alleys) and on pasture growth in paddock tree/silvopasture systems (crop growth was not examined in these systems). There was limited information on the effects of linear agroforestry systems on livestock production. Linear agroforestry features were generally beneficial for crop and pasture growth. By comparison, silvopasture systems resulted in a reduction in both pasture and livestock productivity, although such systems are likely to provide other benefits for mitigating risk. Tree condition was a major factor driving effect size, the most prominent drivers being paddock size in linear configurations, and tree density in silvopasture systems. Climate variables also influenced the effect of agroforestry on productivity, indicating that both local and seasonal climate variation needs be considered when predicting effect sizes.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;SIGNIFICANCE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study provides important baseline information for valuing the effects linear and dispersed agroforestry types have on farm productivity and predicting under what conditions these effects will be optimised. Such information will aid in designing and implementing effective agroforestry systems.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/d","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104240"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimentation and model-based re-design for sustainable intensification of mixed crop-livestock smallholder farms in the Mixteca-Oaxaqueña region, Mexico","authors":"Cristian Alejandro Reyna-Ramírez ,&nbsp;Mariela Fuentes-Ponce ,&nbsp;Walter A.H. Rossing ,&nbsp;Jeroen C.J. Groot ,&nbsp;Santiago López-Ridaura","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104220","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;CONTEXT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Redesign of farm systems could enable smallholder farms to move towards sustainability. In farm redesign, the joint participation of researchers and farmers is fundamental, together with new techniques and tools for evaluation.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To apply and analyze the redesign mixed crop-livestock smallholder farms in the Mixteca-Oxaqueña region, Mexico, based on models and participatory experimentation, to propose more sustainable farm management alternatives.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Three mixed crop-livestock smallholder farms in the Mixteca-Oxaqueña region were redesigned, using models and participatory experimentation to test and assess more sustainable management alternatives. We used the FarmDESIGN model, which was parameterized, and allowed for the evaluation of the farms before and after on-farm experimentation with innovative cropping systems. The experimentation was co-designed based on an exploratory phase of pilot-experiments and in-depth discussions with farmers about the results, providing elements for the re-design of farms towards sustainability. The experiment results were inputs for the model to generate new alternatives. The cropping system experiments were conducted in collaboration with farmers over a two-year period. They consisted of i) polyculture with maize (&lt;em&gt;Zea mays&lt;/em&gt;) and beans (&lt;em&gt;Phaseolus vulgaris&lt;/em&gt;), ii) fodder mixture of oats (&lt;em&gt;Avena sativa&lt;/em&gt;) and common vetch (&lt;em&gt;Vicia sativa&lt;/em&gt;), and iii) improved fertilizer use for maize.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In the initial evaluation, the three analyzed farms showed precarious profitability with an annual income (profits) of USD$200 to USD$1000. The three farms had food autonomy and excess, and per hectare, covered the annual food requirements of 2 to 4 people. Proposals for the final design of the systems were based on explorations using data from the experiments. The proposed redesign responded to the need to increase income and improve the balance of organic material and nitrogen and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The proposals focused on increasing the sale of animals, reducing herd size, promoting grazing on farms, producing forage with irrigation in the dry season, and rational fertilization for the tomato, bean, and maize crops, considering their sales. Nevertheless, in addition to reconfiguring the farm systems, public policies are necessary that create distribution mechanisms for the food produced and new value chains are necessary, as well as the provision of technical support for animal management, and fertilization schemes for high commercial value crops for human and animal consumption.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;SIGNIFICANCE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study successfully included the interaction with farmers and the combination of an experimental and model-based analysis. We were able to adapt to the current conditions of the study area by working individually with ea","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104220"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Money doesn't grow on trees – Or does it? How agroforestry system design makes agroforestry more attractive to smallholders in Senegal","authors":"Luisa Müting ,&nbsp;Oliver Mußhoff","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104224","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;CONTEXT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In the Sahel region, agroforestry, if upscaled, is a promising land restoration measure to combat the effects of climate change. Beyond its environmental benefits, agroforestry potentially increases crop yields or provides tree products. While the presence and quantity of trees ensures environmental outcomes to a certain degree, the potential economic benefits can only be realized from more sophisticated agroforestry system (AFS) designs. Yet smallholders' preferences for different AFS design concepts and related potential outcomes remain neglected in research focusing on smallholders' adoption behaviour.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;We want to understand smallholders' preferences for potential agroforestry benefits within their adoption intentions. We aim to compare established adoption determinants for smallholders' willingness to adopt, and willingness to pay (WTP) or willingness to accept compensation (WTA) for three individually suited AFSs design concepts targeting different benefits: environmental benefits; environmental benefits and increased crop yields; environmental benefits, increased crop yields and individually preferred tree products.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;We interviewed 606 smallholder farmers in the Senegalese Groundnut Basin. Employing an open-ended contingent valuation method, we elicited smallholders' WTP or WTA for the three AFSs. We then employed a Heckman regression for each AFS to analyse smallholders' willingness to adopt and their WTP or WTA for respective system.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Several smallholders who initially are unwilling to adopt agroforestry, even for financial compensation, change their stance for an AFS that provides economic benefits. Others switch from an initial compensation demand to being willing to pay. Smallholders who remain reluctant to adopt, state reasons such as a lack of space. The baseline probability of smallholders to be willing to adopt changes from negative for the first AFS to statistically significant and large positive for the third AFS. This suggests, that an economic benefit provision might offset agroforestry adoption constraints detected in past adoption studies. Smallholders WTP increased and WTA decreases with each additional economic benefit of the AFS. Our results suggest a substitutive effect between alternative local income sources and agroforestry adoption. Further smallholders generally perceive agroforestry as a means to mitigate and adapt to climate change effects.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;SIGNIFICANCE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Ongoing initiatives should reconsider their policies to design AFSs that align with smallholders' preferences for economic benefits. Agroforestry policies in the Sahel should be designed to aim for increased suitability and profitability of AFSs for smallholders. Further, Non-Governmental Organizations that specialize in agroforestry extension should target the communication of agroforest","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104224"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of water and nitrogen measures for maize-soybean intercropping under climate change conditions based on the APSIM model in the Guanzhong plain, China","authors":"Zhengxin Zhao ,&nbsp;Zongyang Li ,&nbsp;Yao Li ,&nbsp;Lianyu Yu ,&nbsp;Xiaobo Gu ,&nbsp;Huanjie Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104236","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104236","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Climate change will significantly impact grain production in the Guanzhong Plain. Maize-soybean intercropping is a stable and efficient cropping system, and optimizing water and nitrogen (N) management strategies for this system under future climate is crucial for sustainable agriculture.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>We calibrated the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model for maize-soybean intercropping under the Guanzhong Plain climate conditions and used the calibrated APSIM model to optimize the water and N strategy of maize-soybean intercropping for high productivity and efficiency under climate change.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>The APSIM model was calibrated by the data from two growing seasons field experiments. Historical meteorological data from 11 sites was used to evaluate the simulations of 25 Global Climate Models (GCMs) from the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6). The calibrated model was then used to select optimal water and N strategies from 416 setting strategies under future climate scenarios.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>No irrigation was needed in wet years. In normal years, supplemental irrigation of 50 mm during the maize three-leaf stage (soybean seedling stage) under the Shared Socio-economic Pathways2–4.5 (SSP245) scenario and 30 mm under the Shared Socio-economic Pathways5–8.5 (SSP585) scenario could ensure high yield and water use efficiency (WUE) in the intercropping system. In dry years, under the SSP245 scenario, supplementary irrigation of 70 mm during the maize three-leaf (soybean seedling stage) and tasseling stages (soybean podding stage), and for the SSP585 scenario, supplementary irrigation of 50 mm during the same stages could ensure high productivity and WUE. The optimal N application strategy in dry and normal years under the SSP245 scenario was a basal application of 100 kgN ha⁻¹ for maize and soybean and a topdressing of 80 kgN ha⁻¹ for maize, while in wet years, a basal application of 120 kgN ha⁻¹ and a topdressing of 80 kgN ha⁻¹ was optimal. Under the SSP585 scenario, the optimal N application strategy in dry and normal years was a base application of 100 kgN ha⁻¹ for maize and soybean and a topdressing of 140 kgN ha⁻¹ for maize, and in wet years, a basal application of 120 kgN ha⁻¹ and topdressing of 140 kgN ha⁻¹ was optimal.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>This study validates APSIM model for the Guanzhong Plain and provides precise water and N management guidelines for maize-soybean intercropping, ensuring food security and efficient resource utilization in future climate conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104236"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The bittersweet economics of different cacao production systems in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru","authors":"Andrés Charry ,&nbsp;Carolay Perea ,&nbsp;Karen Ramírez ,&nbsp;Guillermo Zambrano ,&nbsp;Fredy Yovera ,&nbsp;Adriana Santos ,&nbsp;Tito Jiménez ,&nbsp;Miguel Romero ,&nbsp;Mark Lundy ,&nbsp;Marcela Quintero ,&nbsp;Mirjam Pulleman","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104235","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104235","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Cacao production takes place in diverse environments and agricultural systems, with its performance and income generation potential depending on multiple contextual factors. The crop has been promoted among smallholders in South America as a driver for sustainable rural development, but a systematic comparison of the economic performance of diverse cacao production systems in this region was missing, which led to a lack of consistency and clarity on the conditions that enable the crops' success in terms of profitability and income generation for farmers.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>We aimed to understand the economic performance of different cacao production systems from Colombia, Ecuador and Perú, and the factors that affect their profitability and income generation potential with regards to poverty and living income benchmarks under varying contexts.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>We employed the ‘typical farm approach’ to perform a comparative analysis of fifteen different cacao production systems from six distinct agroecological regions from Colombia, Ecuador and Perú.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Eight out of the fifteen systems analyzed were found to be economically viable, while the remaining systems generate considerable losses. Positive outcomes depend on a combination of factors including sufficient prices, yields and land availability, adequate labor allocation, timely diversification, subsidies and low costs of productive factors. Considering those factors, we identified minimum conditions for achieving profitability and living incomes.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>Our findings provide essential information to decision makers on the limitations of cacao productive systems for achieving a living income, as well as the type of diversification, minimum prices, area and yields that could enhance their economic sustainability. Based on our findings, we discuss the relevance of subsidies for improving the system's performance. Finally, we suggest the use of different indicators and standardized assumptions to allow more reliable comparisons between cacao production systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104235"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142804865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nitrogen uptake and leaching from urine and fertilizer applications during simulated grazing rotations of a perennial grass pasture","authors":"Cameron J.P. Gourley ,&nbsp;Sharon R. Aarons ,&nbsp;Michael W. Heaven","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104226","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104226","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>The productivity of grazing-based dairy systems is driven in large part by availability of nitrogen (N) as it cycles though the soil, plant and animal. However, N use efficiency (NUE) is generally less than 40 % with significant N losses attributed to animal excreted N, especially urinary N, due to high N concentrations deposited.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This experiment aimed to quantify N uptake, N transformations, and N leaching losses in a grazing-based dairy pasture and recommend strategies to enhance farm-system NUE.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A detailed experimental field site was established on a perennial ryegrass dominated pasture to measure the fate of N under contrasting fertilizer forms (urea or calcium nitrate) and artificial urine applications (400 or 800 kg N/ha), which aimed to reflect differing cow crude protein intakes. N uptake, use efficiency and leaching losses were determined over an 18-month period during typical grazing rotations and contrasting seasonal conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusions</h3><div>Pasture yield response and N concentration reflected N rates applied. NUE from urine and fertilizer applications was highly variable and strongly influenced by soil moisture and temperature conditions. N applied increased pasture yields up to 8 months after application. Soil water N concentrations peaked and then decayed to background levels over a 3 to 4-month period, corresponding to N loads applied and soil moisture conditions. Regular urea and Ca nitrate fertilizer applications resulted in nitrate-N leaching losses of 92 and 97 kg N/ha, respectively. N leaching losses from urine treatments ranged from 168 to 735 kg N/ha, representing 21 to 46 % of total urinary N applied. The timing of urine applications was crucial, with over 40 % of urinary N leached when applied during the first half of the year (summer to autumn), compared to less than 21 % when applied in the second half of the year (late winter to spring).</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Grazing-based dairy production systems result in high N loads from urine and fertilizer with highly variable pasture NUE in different seasons, and substantial N leaching. Improving the amount and timing of urinary and fertilizer N inputs is critical to increasing N use efficiency. Optimizing dairy cow N intakes through better balanced diets and restricting grazing and fertilizer applications during periods of low pasture growth are proposed management approaches to increase whole-farm NUE and reduce N losses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104226"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142804514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}