Agricultural Systems最新文献

{"title":"Introducing sheep for agroecological weed management on banana plantations in Guadeloupe: A co-design process with farmers","authors":"Nadine Andrieu ,&nbsp;Elodie Dorey ,&nbsp;Steewy Lakhia ,&nbsp;Paul Meynard ,&nbsp;Esther Hatil ,&nbsp;Loïc Normand ,&nbsp;Jean-Luc Gourdine ,&nbsp;Jean-Christophe Bambou","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103783","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103783","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><p>In Guadeloupe, the use of a persistent pesticide (chlordecone) contaminated one third of the island's agricultural soils, causing a major environmental crisis. In the aftermath, banana farmers significantly changed their management practices to decrease their pesticide use. With the support of research, farmers have tested and adopted various agroecological practices, such as planting cover crops and using vitroplants and fallow. However, the use of animals to decrease pesticide use on banana plantations has not yet been explored.</p></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><p>This study aimed to co-design agroecological cropping systems that integrate animals as an alternative means to manage weeds.</p></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><p>The study was based on co-design workshops involving farmers, advisors and scientists, a survey of local practices of integrating animals within cropping systems, on-farm experiments with four farmers during which a total of 20 four-month-old male lambs were introduced within their cropping systems, and reflexive monitoring two and six months after the end of the experiments.</p></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><p>The introduction of sheep into cropping systems was the option deemed the most promising after three co-design workshops. Animals already were integrated into some banana-based farming systems in the study area, but this integration mainly consisted of cattle grazing on fallow land. The on-farm experiments highlighted that sheep made it possible to reduce the herbaceous cover on banana plantations by almost 60%. The growth performance of the lambs allowed by the herbaceous cover was within the range observed for this breed when reared on pastures (50–139 g/day). In this experiment, the lambs were not reared for meat, since the animals were, unsurprisingly, contaminated by chlordecone. The farmers appreciated that the practice enabled them to eliminate a labor-intensive activity (removing by hand the vines around the banana pseudo-stem) and radically reduce brush cutting. Piloted by a technical institution providing farmers technical support, initial changes in the broader socio-technical regime were observed.</p></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><p>This study highlights a co-design process of agroecological cropping systems involving agronomists, animal scientists, and farmers that led to an innovative, animal-based method of managing weeds within banana cropping systems with positive preliminary adoption outcomes as new farmers start using the practice. Inspired by similar efforts in vineyards, cereal and oil palm plantations, it is one of the first attempts to introduce sheep into banana cropping systems. The challenge is now to support this adoption at the territorial scale through possible cooperation between breeders and farmers, the training of farmers, and finding a means to ensure the safety of sheep.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 103783"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X23001889/pdfft?md5=aa30e3ad5dc04b8dd7853c101af4820a&pid=1-s2.0-S0308521X23001889-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71417271","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":"Evaluation of nitrogen balances and nitrogen use efficiencies on farm level of the German agricultural sector","authors":"Philipp Löw ,&nbsp;Bernhard Osterburg","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103796","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103796","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><p>Use of Nitrogen (N), an essential macronutrient, must be optimised in order to ensure food security and food sovereignty, mitigate negative externalities of food production and achieve ambitious (inter-)national environmental, climate and sustainability goals. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is an appropriate indicator for assessing N utilisation on farms.</p></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><p>The aim of the study was to evaluate N performance of the German agricultural sector, to generate knowledge gain regarding methodological design and estimating N indicators based on farm accounting data, to estimate the role and extent of externalities, and to increase understanding of interrelations between farm characteristics and N performance in order to support policymakers in finding targeted N mitigation measures.</p></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><p>Using data from the German Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) covering 5923 farms between the years 2016/17 and 2018/19, we calculated mean farm-level NUE and N balance values for six farm types, considering input and output parameters on farm level as well as externalities. We also developed two explanatory models to identify interrelations between N performance indicators investigated, and regional, socio-economic and farm structural characteristics.</p></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><p>The results indicated an increasing trend in NUE from dairy, to pig and poultry, and arable farms, but large variance within each farm type, indicating efficiency reserves in N use. Livestock farms undercut NUE and exceed N surpluses to such an extent that the sustainability goal for 2030 for the national N balance as defined in German Sustainable Development Strategy could be jeopardised. Different levels of externalisation, namely feed imports and manure exports, may deepen this gap. Multiple regression analysis revealed statistically significant interrelations between N performance and independent variables such as soil fertility, crop selection and diversity, production type, operating profit and consulting services received. Thereby, structural patterns and strategies in order to reduce N waste and increase NUE were identified. However, main source of uncertainty was due to the lack on imported manure amounts from FADN data.</p></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><p>Determination of N performance can improve understanding the complexity of agri-environmental interrelations and support policymakers in designing appropriate policies to improve N management.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 103796"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X23002019/pdfft?md5=9b07411f86ec38811c941b2838669ba7&pid=1-s2.0-S0308521X23002019-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71417239","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":"Guiding oil palm intensification through a spatial extrapolation domain framework","authors":"Fahmuddin Agus ,&nbsp;Fatima A. Tenorio ,&nbsp;Shofia Saleh ,&nbsp;Dwi Kuntjoro G. Purwantomo ,&nbsp;Rahmah D. Yustika ,&nbsp;Setiari Marwanto ,&nbsp;Suratman ,&nbsp;Manjit Singh Sidhu ,&nbsp;James Cock ,&nbsp;Suan Pheng Kam ,&nbsp;Thomas Fairhurst ,&nbsp;Juan I. Rattalino Edreira ,&nbsp;Christopher Donough ,&nbsp;Patricio Grassini","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103778","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103778","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><p>Palm oil production has increased mostly <em>via</em> area expansion rather than yield increase. Increasing yields on existing plantation area, together with the proper regulatory and policy settings, can help meet future oil demand whilst reducing the requirement to convert natural ecosystems to agricultural production.</p></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><p>To develop a spatial framework delineating extrapolation domain (EDs) for oil palm that can be used to evaluate and extrapolate yield-enhancing technologies.</p></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><p>We developed the EDs based on climate, soil, and topographic factors that govern oil palm yields on mineral soils in Indonesia. We validated our framework using field-level yield data collected from 207 commercial blocks. We provided proof of concept by using the framework to identify areas suitable for yield intensification among independent smallholder farmers while possibly reducing encroachment on fragile ecosystems.</p></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><p>Our framework consists of a combination of climate, soil, and topographic factors. Most of the oil palm area was located within a relatively narrow range of biophysical conditions, with three EDs accounting for 74% of oil palm area. Validation of the spatial framework showed that EDs portrayed well spatial variation in yield across production areas. Application of the ED framework allowed identification of 1.1 M ha of oil palm managed by independent smallholders that can be targeted for sustainable intensification.</p></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><p>Our ED framework can facilitate evaluation and extrapolation of yield-improving technologies, increasing return to AR&amp;D programs. In turn, intensification could help increase production on existing plantation area while avoiding conversion of fragile ecosystems. Our framework can be complemented with spatial socio-economic and environmental data to answer a wide range of questions at the intersection of agronomy, economy, and environment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 103778"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49696365","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":"Heterogeneity of inter-organizational collaborations in agrifood chain sustainability-oriented innovations","authors":"Celia Cholez ,&nbsp;Olivier Pauly ,&nbsp;Maral Mahdad ,&nbsp;Sepide Mehrabi ,&nbsp;Cynthia Giagnocavo ,&nbsp;Jos Bijman","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103774","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103774","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;CONTEXT&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sustainability-Oriented Innovation (SOI) is recognized as a way to address agrifood system sustainability challenges. Because of its complexity, SOI requires inter-organizational collaboration between actors within and around value chains. Since farming practices account for a large part of the environmental impact of food products, farmer involvement in SOI processes is key. However, there is a lack of evidence on the degree of farmer engagement in inter-organizational collaboration, as well as the diversity of partners involved. Moreover, our understanding of the heterogeneity of collaboration in relation to the sustainability dimensions of the innovation SOI processes is limited.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;OBJECTIVE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The objectives of our research are twofold. First, to propose a novel conceptualization of SOI, converging the sustainability specificities of the innovation process and the characteristics of the collaboration supporting the innovation process. Second, to unpack heterogeneous forms of collaboration in SOI with attention to farmer engagement in these forms.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;METHODS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;We developed the SOI framework and analyzed SOI processes in the fruit and vegetable sector across Europe. A multiple correspondence statistical analysis was carried out based on data from more than one hundred value chains that have implemented a SOI process. A hierarchical clustering analysis was performed to reveal patterns of collaboration in SOI.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;The results show different patterns of collaborative SOI in European fruit and vegetable chains. The SOI differ as regards to three specific dimensions: the diversity, the direction, and the distribution; and they rely on various collaboration forms. Seven clusters are analyzed and discussed, with specific attention to the farmer engagement in the collaboration forms. We differentiated between 1) Intermediary-led farm &amp; food innovation with farmer collaboration; 2) Intermediary-led short food supply chain innovation with farmer collaboration; 3) Processor-led green food product innovation without farmer collaboration; 4) Farmer-led sustainable agricultural practices innovation with a collaborative network; 5) Farmer-led coupled innovation with downstream integration; 6) value chain actor-led coupled innovation with farmer collaboration; 7) Retailer-led distribution innovation without farmer collaboration. The relationship between diverse collaboration forms and SOI dimensions is discussed.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;SIGNIFICANCE&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Revealing the heterogeneity of collaboration forms in SOI processes is important for developing sound policies. Given the significant role of farmers in sustainable agrifood system transitions, this paper reveals various levels of farmer engagement in collaborative SOI processes in value chains. Results have implications for mission-oriented policies since they allow a more precise and targeted approach","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 103774"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49697762","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":"Oil palm growers' prospects for sustainable oil palm production. A case study from Campeche, Mexico","authors":"Jaime Andrés Cifuentes-Espinosa ,&nbsp;Laurène Feintrenie ,&nbsp;Claudia Monzón-Alvarado ,&nbsp;Birgit Schmook ,&nbsp;M. Azahara Mesa-Jurado","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103780","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103780","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><p>A Social-Ecological System (SES) approach to the analysis of agricultural systems enables consideration of the complexity and interdependencies of social, economic, and ecological components of a region. We used such an approach to understand the barriers and levers to the sustainable development of a palm oil production system from the growers' perspective. The study was conducted in Southeast Mexico, where Federal and State governments from 1998 to 2018, promoted oil palm cultivation to reduce imports and meet domestic demand for palm oil. However, after 2018, public funding for oil palm ceased, at a time when the oldest plantations are approaching the end of their productive lives. At this crossroads, the questions that emerge are: will plantations be renewed by oil palm growers? What are the conditions for sustainable palm oil production in the future?</p></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><p>We sought to identify oil palm growers' constraints and concerns regarding continued production and explore potential pathways to a sustainable future.</p></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><p>We used a non-probabilistic sampling technique to conduct a survey of 41 respondents and 43 semi-structured interviews with oil palm growers between May and July 2021. The sample included seven rural communities. In September 2021, we organized focus groups with 29 producers and inhabitants in three of the seven communities using a participatory modeling approach to develop current and desired collective conceptual models of the SES. These models were integrated and validated in the field with 11 farmers in July 2022.</p></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><p>The conceptual models revealed the local history of oil palm development and the difficulties that raised from it, they also underlined limitations of the oil palm growers to maintain their activity including renewing the plantation, such as the lack of technical support, producer organizations with management problems, and widespread perception of Government abandonment. Despite these challenges, farmers are willing to continue oil palm production by reorganizing their production system and fostering new linkages, especially with the industry.</p></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><p>Participatory modeling of SES with oil palm growers' enabled incorporation of diverse knowledge and different understandings of the problem while outlining the emergence of a possible future for sustainable oil palm production systems. The models presented can be used to identify points of convergence, increase coordination and dialogue among stakeholders to address common challenges and move towards sustainability from a SES perspective.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 103780"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49698004","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":"What can we learn from the past? Tracking sustainability indicators for the Swedish dairy sector over 30 years","authors":"Johan O. Karlsson ,&nbsp;Helena Robling ,&nbsp;Christel Cederberg ,&nbsp;Rolf Spörndly ,&nbsp;Mikaela Lindberg ,&nbsp;Carin Martiin ,&nbsp;Elsa Ardfors ,&nbsp;Pernilla Tidåker","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103779","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103779","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><p>The dairy sector has undergone profound transformation over recent decades, resulting in considerably fewer but larger and more specialised farms, with unclear implications across sustainability dimensions.</p></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><p>The objective was to develop and employ a framework for assessing sustainability in the Swedish dairy sector to shed light on how recent historical developments (1990–2020) have influenced sustainability outcomes.</p></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><p>Using a data-driven, multidisciplinary approach, main areas of concern for sustainability in the primary production stages of the dairy sector were identified. These were then populated with indicators to track developments over time and highlight synergies and trade-offs.</p></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><p>Four areas of concern were identified and populated with eight indicators (listed in brackets): ‘supporting ecosystems’ (semi-natural grassland area, ley area, mean field size), ‘climate impact’ (methane from enteric fermentation), ‘animal welfare’ (veterinary treatments, percentage of culled cows due to diseases) and ‘farm viability’ (competitive wages, farmer age structure). The results showed that area of semi-natural grassland per dairy cow decreased by 27% from 2003 to 2020. Area of ley per cow decreased slightly but the proportion of arable land on dairy farms devoted to ley cultivation increased, due to improved roughage quality enabling an increase in proportion of roughage in feed rations. In terms of climate impact, enteric methane emissions per kg milk decreased by 21%. Regarding animal welfare, veterinary treatments of diseases decreased from 45% to 21% over the 30 years, with declining trends for most recorded diseases except hoof disease. The indicators for farm viability showed that the average dairy farm was unable to pay a wage comparable to the national average throughout most of the period 2004–2020, but a slightly positive trend was observed, although with large year-on-year variability. A rapid change in age structure was seen between 2003 and 2020, with the proportion of land managed by older farmers (+60 years) increasing from 12% to 22%, indicating challenges with demographic viability.</p></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><p>Tracking changes over time across sustainability dimensions gives important insights into improvements made and challenges that remain to be solved. Overall, developments in the Swedish dairy sector have diminished its capacity to support ecosystems, particularly related to semi-natural grasslands, while reducing its climate impacts and improving animal welfare. An increased specialisation has also resulted in spillover effects where services and impacts have shifted from dairy herds to specialised beef herds. These findings are important in navigating policy processes targeting developments in the dairy sector.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 103779"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49698185","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":"Meanings, materials and competences of area-wide weed management in cropping systems","authors":"Rebecca Campbell,&nbsp;Kaitlyn Height,&nbsp;Gina Hawkes,&nbsp;Sonia Graham,&nbsp;Silja Schrader,&nbsp;Louise Blessington,&nbsp;Scott McKinnon","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103776","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103776","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><p>Area-wide collaboration across private and public property boundaries can enhance the management of weeds and minimise the spread of herbicide resistance. Yet we know little about the practices individual land managers engage in to achieve area-wide weed management (AWWM).</p></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><p>This paper uses Social Practice Theory (SPT) as a framework to understand how cropping land managers engage with the practices of AWWM, and what the drivers and barriers are to their participation.</p></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><p>30 qualitative interviews were undertaken with land managers in Australian cropping regions of the Darling Downs (Queensland), Gwydir (New South Wales), Riverina (New South Wales) and Sunraysia (Victoria). Thematic analysis of the interviews explored the three dimensions of SPT—meanings, materials, and competences—of AWWM and the interactions between these elements.</p></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><p>There is a value-action gap between growers' desire to participate in AWWM practices and their capacity to do so. The analysis reveals that narrowing this gap requires interventions at the points where the SPT elements intersect. It recommends beginning by leveraging existing commonalities between growers who already have a desire to participate in AWWM then scaling out by encouraging trusted agronomist networks to link diverse growers to facilitate collaborative weed management practices. There is also a role for government in supporting the development of leadership capabilities among growers, providing an enabling environment for agronomists to act as systemic facilitators and leading by example on public land.</p></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><p>Most of the research on collective management of weeds has focused on formal groups in grazing systems. This study provides new insights into how and why weeds are largely managed independently in cropping systems and proposes ways growers may be supported to adopt more collaborative practices to address this landscape-scale problem.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 103776"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50156205","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":"Multicriteria assessment of alternative cropping systems at farm level. A case with maize on family farms of South East Asia","authors":"Juliette Lairez ,&nbsp;Damien Jourdain ,&nbsp;Santiago Lopez-Ridaura ,&nbsp;Chanthaly Syfongxay ,&nbsp;François Affholder","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103777","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103777","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><p>Integration of farms into markets with adoption of maize as a cash crop can significantly increase income of farms of the developing world. However, in some cases, the income generated may still be very low and maize production may also have strong negative environmental and social impacts.</p></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><p>Maize production in northern Laos is taken as a case to study how far can farms' performance be improved with improved crop management of maize with the following changes at field level: good timing and optimal soil preparation and sowing, allowing optimal crop establishment and low weed infestation.</p></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><p>We compared different farm types' performance on locally relevant criteria and indicators embodying the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic and social). An integrated assessment approach was combined with direct measurement of indicators in farmers' fields to assess eleven criteria of local farm sustainability. A bio-economic farm model was used for scenario assessment in which changes in crop management and the economic environment of farms were compared to present situation. The farm model was based on mathematical programming maximizing income under constraints related to i) household composition, initial cash and rice stocks and land type, and ii) seasonal balances of cash, labour and food. The crop management scenarios were built based on a diagnosis of the causes of variations in the agronomic and environmental performances of cropping systems, carried out in farmers' fields.</p></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><p>Our study showed that moderate changes in crop management on maize would improve substantially farm performance on 4 to 6 criteria out of the 11 assessed, depending on farm types. The improved crop management of maize had a high economic attractiveness for every farm type simulated (low, medium and high resource endowed farms) even at simulated production costs more than doubling current costs of farmers' practices. However, while an improvement of the systems performance was attained in terms of agricultural productivity, income generation, work and ease of work, herbicide leaching, improved soil quality and nitrogen balance, trade-offs were identified with other indicators such as erosion control and cash outflow needed at the beginning of the cropping season.</p></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><p>Using farm modelling for multicriteria assessment of current and improved maize cropping systems for contrasted farm types helped capture main opportunities and constraints on local farm sustainability, and assess the trade-offs that new options at field level may generate at farm level.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 103777"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50164450","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":"Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in pasture-based dairy-beef production systems","authors":"M. Kearney ,&nbsp;E.G. O'Riordan ,&nbsp;N. Byrne ,&nbsp;J. Breen ,&nbsp;P. Crosson","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103748","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103748","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><p><span>Agriculture<span> and food systems contribute significantly to climate change. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity from beef production are high when compared to other livestock production systems and, therefore, mitigation of these emissions is urgently required. In many countries dairy-beef is making a large and growing contribution to total beef output thereby reducing net emissions given the lower emissions intensity of beef originating from the </span></span>dairy herd when compared to specialized beef-cow systems. GHG emissions from dairy-beef systems can be further reduced by adopting best practice and mitigation technologies.</p></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVES</h3><p>The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate a range of management practices to reduce GHG emissions for pasture-based beef cattle production systems, (2) model the individual and combined impacts of these management practices on GHG emissions from dairy-beef systems, and (3) identify any trade-offs between GHG emissions mitigation, farm profitability, food security and land use.</p></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><p><span>A farm level bioeconomic systems model was modified to evaluate spring-born, steer production systems finishing cattle at differing slaughter ages and from contrasting forage-based finishing diets (grazed grass or grass silage<span>, each supplemented with concentrates). Mitigation measures included earlier slaughter age, optimal slurry management, </span></span>urease<span> inhibitors for nitrogen (N) fertilizers, replacing cereals with ‘by-products’ in concentrate feed rations and incorporating clover in grassland pastures.</span></p></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><p>Combining mitigation strategies reduced dairy-beef systems GHG emissions intensity by an average of 21%. Incorporating clover in grassland pastures was found to be the most profitable stand-alone mitigation strategy increasing net margin by an average of 18%. Substituting by-products for barley in a concentrate ration converted all systems into net producers of human edible protein; otherwise, steer systems finishing at pasture during the third grazing season were the only net producers of human-edible protein. However, finishing at pasture during the third grazing season increased GHG emissions per animal and per kilogram of beef carcass.</p></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><p>Within a grass-based dairy-beef system, such as that modelled in this study, a number of complementary GHG emissions mitigation strategies can be implemented, without making substantive changes to the production system, while simultaneously improving farm profitability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 103748"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46985113","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":"Application of a Bayesian network modelling approach to predict the cascading effects of COVID-19 restrictions on the planting activities of smallholder farmers in Uganda","authors":"Henry Musoke Semakula ,&nbsp;Song Liang ,&nbsp;Paul Isolo Mukwaya ,&nbsp;Frank Mugagga","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103733","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103733","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><p>There are rising concerns over the cascading effects induced by COVID-19 restrictions on the planting activities of smallholder farmers in low and middle-income countries, which may become a non-negligible threat to the long-term food security. Studies that utilize probability based models to examine the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on planting activities of smallholder farmers are scare, with no available evidence on Uganda<strong>.</strong> Yet these effects do not act in isolation, and are known to be complex, stochastic, nonlinear, and multidimensional.</p></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><p>To develop a Bayesian network (BN) model based on expert knowledge, existing literature, and Uganda's High Frequency Phone Survey (HFPS) datasets on COVID-19 to bridge this gap.</p></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><p>A comprehensive survey of relevant literature on the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on the planting activities of smallholder farmers was conducted based on well established guidelines. Resultantly, 23 relevant publications were obtained, and reviewed. A total of 12 variables deemed relevant to smallholder famers in Uganda were extracted, and organized into an influence diagram. The influence diagram was used to develop the BN model. A total 6313 households aggregated from Round 1, 4 and 7 of the HFPS datasets on COVID-19 was used in this study. A training portion (75%, <em>n</em> = 4734) was used to populate the model, and test dataset (25%, <em>n</em> = 1578), was used evaluate model accuracy.</p></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><p>The error rate was 17.9%% implying that the model had the majority of its predictions correct (82.1%). The model's classification power, was evaluated basing on the scoring rules. The model's scoring rule results indicated that the model has a strongest predictive power with both the logarithmic loss (0.45,) and quadratic loss (0.29) scores close to zero, while a spherical payoff (0.84) approaching 1. Results reveal the maize, beans, and ground nuts, were the most grown crops during the pandemic as compared to the period before the pandemic. The sensitivity results indicate that the probability of COVID-19 restrictions to affect the planting activities of the smallholder farmers in Uganda was 30%. The variables of ‘unable to acquire seeds, and fertilizers’ affected the planting activities by 2.6 percentage points (PP), and 1.3 PP respectively. The variables ‘travel restrictions’ and reduced labour, affected the planting activities by 11 PP and 1PP respectively.</p></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><p>These findings emphasize the importance of intervening on the highly ranked effects to enhance the resilience of local food systems, and smallholders' capacity to cope with recurring and unforeseen shocks.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 103733"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41691361","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}