Agricultural Systems最新文献

{"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 , Mariela Fuentes-Ponce , Walter A.H. Rossing , Jeroen C.J. Groot , Santiago López-Ridaura","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104220","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>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.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>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.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>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 (<em>Zea mays</em>) and beans (<em>Phaseolus vulgaris</em>), ii) fodder mixture of oats (<em>Avena sativa</em>) and common vetch (<em>Vicia sativa</em>), and iii) improved fertilizer use for maize.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>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.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>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 , Oliver Mußhoff","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>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.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>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.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>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.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>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.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>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}

{"title":"Legumes and livestock in no-till crop rotations: Effects on nitrous oxide emissions, carbon sequestration, yield, and wheat protein content","authors":"Lisa Matthews ,&nbsp;Johann A. Strauss ,&nbsp;Thorsten Reinsch ,&nbsp;Hendrik P.J. Smit ,&nbsp;Friedhelm Taube ,&nbsp;Christof Kluss ,&nbsp;Pieter A. Swanepoel","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Crop rotation is seen as a ‘Climate-Smart Agriculture’ practice, but there are knowledge gaps around their climate impacts. This is the first direct measurement of nitrous oxide emissions (N₂O) from cropland soils in South Africa.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Assess the production performance, soil greenhouse gas emissions, and soil carbon sequestration of different crop rotations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Continuous measurement over one year of direct soil N₂O and methane fluxes and analysis of 20 years of historical data on soil carbon sequestration, yields, fertiliser applications, and wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em>) protein content.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusions</h3><div>Rotations that contained legumes and livestock produced higher wheat (3.5–3.6 vs 3.1 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and canola yields (1.5–1.8 vs 1.3 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) with superior wheat protein contents, while the cash crop only system's protein content decreased by 0.085 absolute % points annually (compared to 0.01–0.05 %). The results suggest a strong crop rotation legacy effect on the accumulation and availability of nitrogen in the soil profile, for both crop growth and N₂O production, where systems which integrated legumes and livestock vs. cash crops only had 0.31–0.42 vs. 0.14 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. All systems showed a significant increase of soil organic carbon of 0.24–0.30 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ over the 20-year period.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Legumes and livestock incorporation in crop rotations interact with nitrogen management. Most N₂O emissions occurred after precipitation in the otherwise dry summer, making reduction difficult as minimal management activities occur over this fallow period. A significant challenge in designing N₂O mitigation strategies is the lack of existing N₂O flux datasets needed to develop specific, regional emission factors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104218"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182027","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":"Transition from chemical fertilizers to sustainable swards: What determines farmers' adoption decisions for clover and multi-species swards?","authors":"Felipe Aguiar-Noury ,&nbsp;Cathal Buckley ,&nbsp;Stephen Hynes","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104202","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104202","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Farmers' transition from using chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer to adopting sustainable alternatives like clover and multi-species swards can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, increase carbon sequestration, improve water quality, reduce dependence on volatile fertilizer prices and imports, and offer numerous other benefits. However, despite efforts to promote the uptake of clover and multi-species swards, adoption by farmers remains low.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study addresses an important literature gap by exploring the socio-psychological factors influencing farmers' adoption decisions around clover and multi-species swards. Specifically, it investigates the determinants of both intentions to adopt and self-reported adoption levels. Unlike the majority of previous studies, adoption is analysed as a multi-stage process rather than a conventional binary decision, providing more nuanced insights into the complex process of adopting clover and multi-species swards.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A survey was conducted with 373 farmers who are part of the EU Farm Accountancy Data Network for Ireland. Focus group discussions helped with the design of the survey. A principal component analysis, based on polychoric correlations, was employed on Likert-scale statements capturing socio-psychological factors. Final components were then used as explanatory variables in separate ordered logistic regressions of intentions to adopt clover and multi-species swards, and in a multinomial logistic regression of self-reported adoption levels.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusions</h3><div>Findings highlight the significant role of farmers' perceptions in their decision-making processes. Results show that the perceived usefulness of clover and multi-species swards is a significant driver of intentions to adopt and self-reported adoption levels. Conversely, the perceived complexity of adoption is a significant barrier to farmers' intentions to adopt clover. In addition, farmers with more familiarity with clover are more likely to adopt it, and farmers who have already tested clover are more likely to adopt multi-species swards.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>In response to the urgent need to reduce chemical N fertilizer usage in Europe and beyond, this study presents unique insights into the factors that drive and constrain the adoption of clover and multi-species swards. These findings provide valuable guidance for policy decisions, highlighting key factors that must be addressed to facilitate a widespread transition from chemical N fertilizers to clover and multi-species swards.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104202"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182028","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":"Exploring optimised crop-livestock changes that promote higher efficiency and reduced N imports in three French farming systems","authors":"Corentin Pinsard","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104227","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104227","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>European farming systems depend on synthetic fertilisers and feed imports. In a context of global peak oil and geopolitical crises, it is important to seek increasing independence from input imports and to reduce their environmental impact. This requires better crop-livestock integration, notably at the territorial level. However, this implies contending with the trade-offs related to agricultural production.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>The study aim was to explore, at the territorial level, how crop-livestock change can maintain or maximise agricultural production and affect N use efficiency while reducing N imports. This was investigated in three French farming systems characterised by different crop-livestock compositions: field crops (Plateau Picard), intensive dairy cattle and monogastrics (Bretagne Centrale) and extensive ruminants (Bocage Bourbonnais).</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>Two multi-objective optimisation scenarios using an evolutionary genetic algorithm were applied to a farming system N balance model. These scenarios reflected two fertilisation strategies: (i) maintaining target crop yields with synthetic fertiliser or (ii) adapting crop yields to available natural and organic fertiliser. The decision variables were types of crop acreage and livestock density, which were systematically varied within a set of agronomic constraints. The optimised objectives were maximisation of crop and livestock production and minimisation of synthetic fertiliser use and imported feed.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>In Bocage Bourbonnais, no matter which strategy was used, both livestock production and crop production with no N imports increased (up to a total of +24 kgN/ha utilised agricultural acreage (UAA)/yr), in particular by increasing the proportion of monogastrics in the herd (median, +25 % with the first strategy). For these production maximums, N waste fell by up to 12.5 kgN/haUAA/yr. In the other farming systems, it was only possible to increase agricultural production (to the detriment of either crop or livestock production) without N imports (a total of +2 kgN/haUAA/yr for Plateau Picard and + 5 kgN/haUAA/yr for Bretagne Centrale). However, N waste decreased only in Bretagne Centrale (−70 kgN/haUAA/yr), with a sharp drop in livestock production (∼100 %). These production increases for the three regions showed up to 150 kgN/ha arable land/yr of symbiotic fixation by legumes.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>For three different farming systems at the territorial level, the results quantified the extent to which crop-livestock changes can lead to greater independence from imported inputs and reduce N waste while maintaining or increasing agricultural production. These results imply that a substantial reduction in N imports will require reconsidering the livestock place in agricultural production and reducing target crop yields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104227"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182518","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":"Assessing farm-level agricultural sustainability in India: A comparative study using a mixed-method approach","authors":"Niloofar Abed ,&nbsp;Masoud Barati Kakolaki ,&nbsp;Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh ,&nbsp;Sabarinath Sankarannair ,&nbsp;Ramu Murugan ,&nbsp;Bankaru Swamy Soundharajan ,&nbsp;Raji Pushpalatha","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104223","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104223","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>Agricultural sustainability in rural India is vital for ensuring food security and livelihoods, particularly for small-scale farmers. Many rural communities exhibit a blend of sustainable and unsustainable farming practices, affecting both their agricultural productivity and resilience in the face of environmental and socio-economic challenges.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>This study aims to evaluate the sustainability of agricultural practices within rural farming communities. The goal is to identify weaknesses in resource management and productivity while proposing targeted interventions that promote sustainable practices in line with Sustainable Development Goal Indicator 2.4.1.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>A mixed-method approach was adopted, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data through surveys, interviews, and sub-indicators of sustainability. The research modified the FAO methodology for assessing agricultural sustainability and tailored it to local conditions. The Saiful participatory framework was further adapted to ensure stakeholder participation and the inclusion of culturally relevant practices. A visualized indicator framework was also developed to track sustainability progress effectively.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Key findings reveal that while these communities exhibit potential for improved sustainability, critical weaknesses in resource management and land use hinder productivity. The study also highlighted positive elements, such as community-driven initiatives that enhance sustainable practices. The sub-indicator analysis identified priority areas for intervention, and the visualized framework provides a practical tool for monitoring farm-level sustainability. Results suggest the need for region-specific policies to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>This study contributes to the assessment of agricultural sustainability by developing a locally adapted framework that can be applied across various rural settings. The findings provide insights for policymakers, agronomists, and rural development practitioners, emphasizing the importance of engaging local stakeholders and fostering sustainable practices that align with national and global sustainability goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104223"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182026","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":"Assessing the adaptability of agronomic landscape to climate change at watershed scale","authors":"Renjian Qiu ,&nbsp;Haifeng Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>CONTEXT</h3><div>A region's agricultural practices, particularly farmers' choices regarding plowing and planting, influence the adaptability of croplands to climate change. However, the role of these agronomic landscapes in mediating cropland responses to diverse climate conditions remains unclear.</div></div><div><h3>OBJECTIVE</h3><div>This study evaluates a typical watershed in Northeast China. We continuously tracked shifts in crop distribution patterns and associated field yield to determine how agronomic landscapes impacted cropland productivity during both dry and wet years.</div></div><div><h3>METHODS</h3><div>Object-oriented methods were employed to extract field boundaries in a representative sub-watershed. We mapped agronomic landscape patterns based on the following elements: crop type, landscape position, and ridge direction. We then compared field productivity, as measured by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), across various agronomic landscapes and climatic years from 2016 to 2023.</div></div><div><h3>RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS</h3><div>Our findings indicate that cropland productivity is associated with agronomic landscapes. Maize productivity demonstrated an increasing trend from low to high landscape positions; whereas, soybean productivity peaked at medium positions and was lowest in uphill and downhill locations. Specifically, agronomic landscapes reflected by cross ridges at the toeslope exhibited the lowest productivity for both maize and soybeans. In addition, landscapes incorporating soybeans demonstrated greater adaptability to varying weather conditions compared to those dominated by maize. During wet years, landscapes with maize situated in the footslope with strike ridges exhibited higher productivity. In contrast, landscapes incorporating soybeans displayed robust productivity across most landscape positions, particularly in the toeslope with strike ridges. During dry years, landscapes featuring maize in both the footslope with strike ridges and the toeslope with cross ridges demonstrated greater productivity. Similarly, landscapes with soybeans distributed throughout the watershed, especially in the footslope with cross ridges and toeslope with strike ridges, exhibited higher yields.</div></div><div><h3>SIGNIFICANCE</h3><div>Our findings highlight the crucial role of optimizing agronomic landscapes to enhance the climate resilience of croplands and ensure stable yields. It is thus suggested that the implementation of crop sequences and their spatial arrangement in watersheds should be prioritized to lessen the adverse effects of climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7730,"journal":{"name":"Agricultural Systems","volume":"224 ","pages":"Article 104225"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143182024","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}