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Reducing nitrate leaching from agricultural land to aquifers has been a high priority concern for more than a half century. This study presents theory and observations of a threshold concentration of nitrate in the root zone (Cmax), which the leachate concentration increases at higher rates with increasing root-zone nitrate concentration. The value of Cmax is derived both by direct results from container experiments with varying nitrogen (N) fertigation and as a calibration parameter in N-transport models beneath commercial agricultural plots. For five different crops, Cmax ranged between 20 and 45 mg L-1 of NO3 -N derived from experiments and models. However, for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), which was irrigated with a large leaching fraction, Cmax could not be defined. In crops irrigated and fertilized in the warm/dry season (corn [Zea mays L.] and citrus), the experiments show a dramatic change in leachate-concentration slope, and simulations reveal a wide range of sensitivity of leachate NO3 -N concentration to Cmax. In annual crops irrigated and fertilized in the cool/wet season (e.g., potato [Solanum tuberosum L.] in a Mediterranean climate), the experiments show a distinct Cmax that is less dramatic than that of the summer-irrigated crops in the container experiment and a smaller impact of Cmax in N-transport models. The simulations show that, for summer-irrigated crops, maintaining fertigation at C

Globally insects are in decline, with the transformation of natural areas for agriculture one of the most important drivers of this decline. Yet, insects play an important role in regulating ecosystem services such as pollination, soil fertility and pest suppression, so their conservation within agricultural areas is critical. We examined comparative impacts of traditional small-scale low input farming versus large-scale conventional farming systems, and mono-cropped versus inter-cropped systems in Kenyan maize fields on predator, ant and herbivore arthropod species richness and composition. We also considered the value of hedgerows and percentage of surrounding maize cover for arthropod conservation. As expected, traditional farming retained higher herbivore species richness, evenness and abundance, as well as higher predator abundance compared to conventional farming. Percentage maize cover was positively correlated to ant species richness, predator and herbivore abundance, as well as determining species assemblage composition for ants and herbivores. Hedgerow volume and the comparison of mono- vs inter-cropping were important predictors for predator evenness. These results suggest that the low input farming systems retain far higher arthropod numbers, although this does not seem to be due to the use of intercropping on the farms. Rather it seems that hedgerows play an important role in maintaining arthropods. While higher maize coverage surrounding the farm increases the species and abundance of arthropods in the fields, this is most likely due to the high biotope fidelity of arthropods that specialize in open cropping systems such as maize fields. The results here are encouraging as the retention of culturally important farming techniques (i.e., the traditional Kenyan farmers) and small improvements, such as the retention of hedgerows, greatly promotes biodiversity in the farmlands.

Veganic agriculture, often described as farming that is free of synthetic and animal-based inputs, represents an alternative to chemical-based industrial agriculture and the prevailing alternative, organic agriculture, respectively. Despite the promise of veganic methods in diverse realms such as food safety, environmental sustainability, and animal liberation, it has a small literature base. This article draws primarily on interviews conducted in 2018 with 25 veganic farmers from 19 farms in the United States to establish some baseline empirical research on this farming community. Its qualitative perspectives illuminate farmer perceptions of and experiences with veganic growing, including definitions, knowledge acquisition, values, and challenges. Results highlight a lack of agreement about the meaning of veganic agriculture in terms of allowable inputs and scope. Participants have drawn on a wide array of veganic and non-veganic resources to ascend their veganic production learning curves, also relying on experimentation and trial-and-error. Their farming is motivated by a diversity of real and perceived benefits, most notably consistency with veganism, food safety advantages, and plant and soil health benefits. Veganic product sourcing and the dearth of veganic agriculture-specific resources present considerable challenges to farmers. The article briefly discusses possibilities for developing veganic agriculture in the United States, such as through a US-based certification system and farmers' associations, based on considerations of the trajectory of the US organic farming movement and veganic developments in Europe. Finally, the article suggests the importance of expanded research into soil health and fertility in plant-based systems to support practicing and potential veganic farmers.

The papers in this special section focus on sustainable and intelligent precision agriculture. Human society has experienced three industrial revolutions from mechanization, and electricity to information automation. Every industrial revolution significantly alters the form of agricultural industry from labor-intensive farming, mechanized production, precision agriculture to large-scale fine grained industrial agriculture. However, the agricultural industry at current stage still faces many challenges, such as global food security, food safety, poverty reduction, and sustainable natural resource management. Now the fourth industrial revolution is ongoing, that is characterized by a fusion of emerging technologies such as Industry 4.0, Internet of Things, Cloud/Edge Computing, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Blockchain.

Sustainable agriculture aims to maintain high productivity while maintaining soil quality. The purpose of this study is to determine the sustainability performance of organic vegetable farming systems with soil quality indicators as a soil quality assessment tool. Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties in Chinese cabbage in Baturiti Subdistrict, Tabanan Regency, Bali, Indonesia, were evaluated as indicators for predicting organic cabbage production and yield. Soil samples were obtained from organic farming systems that have been going on for 1, 3, and 5 years after certification, compared with conventional farming systems. The results showed that the soil quality of the organic farming system after 5 years (OF5) was significantly higher than the conventional farming system. Physically, soil moisture at the field capacity in OF5 was significantly higher than that in the other systems. Chemically, the organic C and cation exchange capacity in organic systems were significantly higher than in conventional systems. The same results were shown by soil respiration, which means that there was high soil microbial activity. Based on the cumulative soil quality rating, it is concluded that the OF5 system met the sustainability criteria, with no high input required.

Plant and pollinator diversity have declined concurrently in Europe in the last half century. We studied plant–bumblebee food webs to understand the effects of two agri-environmental schemes (AES, organic farming and environmentally-friendly management practice) vs. conventional farming as control group, landscape structure (heterogeneous vs. homogeneous landscapes) and seasonality (June, July, and August) interactions using Estonian AES monitoring data. In the summer of 2014, we observed foraging bumblebees (20 species) on 64 farms that varied in agricultural management and landscape structure, yielding a total of 2303 flower visits on 76 plant species. We found that both management practice and landscape structure influenced the generality (redundancy in the use of flower resources) of food webs. In homogeneous landscapes, environmentally-friendly management practices, including restrictions on the application of glyphosates, enhancement of bumblebee habitats, such as permanent grassland field margins, the allocation of a minimum of 15% of arable land (including rotational grasslands) to legumes, contributed to a higher number of visited plant species (generality) in July, whereas organic farming did so in August. Therefore, both environmentally-friendly and organic management practices are needed to support plant–bumblebee food webs in agricultural landscapes. Food web generality and diversity (Shannon index) are affected by a significant interaction between landscape structure and seasonality: food web diversity varied in homogeneous landscapes between the three different survey months, whereas food webs were more diverse in heterogeneous landscapes. We did not find any significant interaction effect of management, landscape structure and seasonality on linkage density and vulnerability. A full list of the most visited plant species by bumblebees based on species-specific flower visitation was also assembled. In homogeneous landscapes, resource limitation is an issue for bumblebees in certain time periods. For supporting bumblebees in the agricultural landscapes, avoiding resource limitation is important and this can be secured with a combination of AES management practices.

Excess reactive nitrogen (Nr) in the global system has led to a wide variety of environmental and human health problems. To minimize the negative impacts of nitrogen loss from agriculture, we need to develop more sustainable farming systems that can efficiently produce food for humans while balancing ecological functioning and reducing Nr losses. This paper looks at recent research examining Nr losses in organic systems, using conventional Nr losses in the United States (U.S.) as a baseline to identify leverage points for reducing Nr loss. The paper discusses the sources of Nr used in organic versus conventional farming and highlights the importance of increasing the use of recycled Nr to prevent additional Nr loss to the environment. Specifically, we note that organic production is advantageous when it comes to the creation of new Nr because of its reliance on recycled sources of Nr, improved ability to access nutrients in the soil, and higher residue recycling rates. We also highlight areas where additional research, policies, and protocols are needed to improve Nr efficiency, including increasing organic yields, increased recycling of processing waste, matching nutrient flows, reducing and recycling edible food waste, and examining potential benefits and risks of land application of sewage sludge in organic systems.

The three previous industrial revolutions profoundly transformed agriculture industry from indigenous farming to mechanized farming and recent precision agriculture. Industrial farming paradigm greatly improves productivity, but a number of challenges have gradually emerged, which have exacerbated in recent years. Industry 4.0 is expected to reshape the agriculture industry once again and promote the fourth agricultural revolution. In this article, first, we review the current status of industrial agriculture along with lessons learned from industrialized agricultural production patterns, industrialized agricultural production processes, and the industrialized agri-food supply chain. Furthermore, five emerging technologies, namely the Internet of Things, robotics, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and blockchain, toward Agriculture 4.0 are discussed. Specifically, we focus on the key applications of these emerging technologies in the agricultural sector and corresponding research challenges. This article aims to open up new research opportunities for readers, particularly industrial practitioners.

The objective of this study was to characterize the banana production systems and to identify the constraints it faces. A questionnaire survey and field observations were carried out with banana producers. At the end of the surveys, three main banana production systems were found: Monoculture (10%), banana-food crops intercropping (7%) and agroforestry (83%). In addition, four types of banana (cooking banana, plantain, beer banana and dessert banana) are integrated into banana cultivation systems, with a varying planting density depending on the type of cultural association envisaged. On average, a banana farmer owns 140 banana plants or stools on an average area of 0.68 ha, ranging from 0.0625 to 2 ha. On average, banana grower’s harvest 6 bunches per week with an estimated average weight of 12, 8.5 and 5.2 kg for plantain, cooking bananas and dessert banana, respectively. The weight estimate and marketing data for beer banana were not provided as it has not been sold in the market like other cultivars since the advent of BXW. The cultivation of bananas in Beni territory is constrained by diseases, mainly bacterial wilt of bananas (80%) and Banana Bunchy Top Disease (7%); climatic hazards (winds, drought and hail), insecurity, soil infertility, use of low-quality planting materials, inadequate agricultural practices, non-use of agricultural inputs, lack of technical and financial assistance as well as the weak involvement of state authorities in production. These constraints not only exacerbate the misery of banana producers but also contribute to the erosion of certain varieties and to the loss of the region's hegemony in banana production. In order to eradicate these threats, it is therefore essential to practice intensive cultivation with more inputs and especially improved cultivars. Key words: Constraints, cropping system, banana, Beni.

Organic Farming (OF) is a response to challenges caused by conventional or intensive agriculture. Successful organic production depends on farmers choosing to grow organic products. The main goal o...

Increasing concerns for human and environmental health have led to calls for a transition from conventional farming systems (CFS) with intensive external inputs to organic farming (OF). While farmers are the most important element in this transition, understanding how and why they intend to make this shift is critically important. This study utilized the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine the roles of rationality, morality, and fear in predicting the willingness of farmers to farm organically. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 320 farmers in southwestern Iran selected through multi-stage, stratified, random sampling. The combined analysis of three dimensions—rationality, morality, and fear—enhanced the predictive power of the TPB from 40% (original TPB) to 65% (extended TPB). The morality consideration was the strongest predictor of willingness to cultivate organic products, followed by fear and perceived behavioral control. Interestingly, other components of rationality (attitudes and subjective norms) failed to predict willingness. The results of the current study can help policymakers and planners design, develop, and implement strategies and policies to encourage farmers to cultivate healthy and environmentally friendly organic products.

Context New Acland coal mine in south-eastern Queensland is seeking to rehabilitate mined land to pastures that are safe, stable and sustainable for beef production. Little is known of the productivity and sustainability of grazing previously mined land in the Darling Downs study region. Additionally, information is required to specify management guidelines for sustainable grazing of regional land types retired from cultivation. Aims Identify pasture growth characteristics, rainfall use efficiencies and long-term carrying capacities of subtropical sown pastures established on lands rehabilitated after open-cut coal mining in comparison to sown pastures established on un-mined but previously cultivated lands. Methods Pasture growth and quality (% nitrogen) were observed using the Swiftsynd methodology in ungrazed exclosures with three sites on rehabilitated lands of the Acland Grazing Trial over a 5-year period (2014–2018), and 13 sites on unmined lands over periods of 2–5 years providing data for modelling pasture growth. Key results Peak pasture yield (TSDM for autumn harvests) averaged for 2017 and 2018 was greater (P < 0.1) on rehabilitated sites than unmined Poplar Box land type sites (5957 and 2233 kg/ha respectively) but similar to Brigalow Uplands and Mountain Coolibah land type sites (3946 and 3413 kg/ha respectively). Pasture rundown was evident, with pasture N uptake decreasing over 5 years at some sites. Soil mineral N supply (potentially mineralisable N and mineral N) in spring was a useful indicator of N uptake over the following growing season. Simulations using the GRASP pasture growth model for the grazing trial period predicted rainfall use efficiencies of 12.0, 7.0, 9.1 and 4.8 kg/ha.mm rainfall for rehabilitated sites and unmined sites on Brigalow Uplands, Mountain Coolibah and Poplar Box land types respectively. Long-term carrying capacities based on estimates of long-term median pasture growth and 30% utilisation were 4.39, 3.58 and 5.92 ha/adult equivalent respectively for the unmined land types, and 2.45 ha/adult equivalent for the rehabilitated lands. Conclusions Rehabilitated land can be as productive as unmined but previously cultivated land. Implications Grazing management plans for sustainable management of mined and unmined lands can be developed using data from the present study. The plans will assist with the transition of rehabilitated lands to commercial agriculture.

Future foods, such as microalgae, mycoprotein and mealworm, have been suggested as nutritious and sustainable dietary options. Here we consider one of the most profound, yet neglected, benefits of future foods farming systems—their potential to provide essential nutrition in the face of systemic disturbances—and discuss major barriers to realizing this prospect. Conventional farming systems are susceptible to various sources of stress, but microalgae, mycoprotein and mealworm can offer healthy and more sustainable diets. This study highlights what makes future foods farming systems resilient and how to unlock their potential.

In order to promote smallholders to adopt the commercial farming of crops, it is important to understand the factors that affect their decisions to commercialize. However, little empirical research...

The aim of the study was to compare the selenium (Se) status of beef cattle from conventional farms with the status of cattle from organic farms located in western Pomerania and to determine the ratios of Se concentration between soil, forage plants and animals at these locations. The mean total Se (Se

Aquaculture provides significant contributions to household food security, as the capture of wild fish from lakes, dams, and oceans do not meet the current demand for animal protein in Tanzania. Sustainable aquaculture requires well-established regulatory systems and extension services for good pond management practices and maintaining fish health by fish farmers. Fish farming is practiced widely in Tanzania, from small-to large-scale ponds and these farming systems are moving from extensive normal operations (low input demand) to intensive farming (high input demand). However, the industry is largely still operating at a subsistence level with low production. Bacterial infections have been occurring in these fish farms and will continue to be an issue of concern into the future. This review highlights the current challenges, successes, and prospects towards a sustainable aquaculture industry in Tanzania, including: limited extension services mirroring the limited knowledge by farmers regarding pond management practices; the inadequacy of funds to carry out fish disease research or implement a surveillance system; little expertise in fish disease diagnosis and treatment; and poor management options. To minimize disease outbreaks and optimize production in the future, we suggest a strengthening of extension services, augmented with on-farm knowledge transfer. Emphasis should be on pond management practices and fish disease management; the creation of a well-functioning fish disease surveillance system; and strengthening collaborative research on aquaculture between the government research institutions and academia. Establishing small cooperative fish farmer groups within the Aquaculture Association of Tanzania (AAT) for easy access to information is also recommended.

This article explores large-scale industrial agriculture and related conflicts over labor in Brazil. It does so through an analysis of the industrial transformation of the sugarcane sector in São Paulo state, a representative case of recent agricultural changes and their effects on wage workers, trade unions and their struggles.

En México la propiedad social de la tierra enfrenta fuertes desafíos tanto por la precarización sostenida de las actividades agropecuarias derivada de la globalización neoliberal, como por su incorporación desde 1992 a un mercado de tierras que propicia procesos de privatización, particularmente en contextos de rururbanización. Este artículo examina cómo se enfrentan tales retos desde espacios agrícolas fragilizados y en estrecha vecindad con ciudades medias que no forman parte de corredores industriales, de circuitos turísticos relevantes, ni de áreas emergentes de agricultura comercial. La pregunta principal que nos planteamos es si en estos contextos económicamente desventajosos en términos de acumulación capitalista la propiedad social de la tierra enfrenta mayores riesgos o si, por el contrario, dicha situación provee oportunidades para conservar la tierra, aun cuando ésta no se destine de manera prioritaria a la producción agropecuaria.

Wastewater release in an urban wetland in Mexico City entails discharging complex mixtures of hundreds of chemical substances into the aquatic system. Therefore, in order to identify the most important contaminants, a GC-MS screening method coupled with deconvolution software was used. LC50 values from ECOSAR and Toxic Units were obtained to identify the organic pollutants-of-concern and to pinpoint the most ecotoxic sites. The results showed that, even though the area has intensive farming, agrochemicals are not of concern. Industrial and domestic groups make up from about 30%-66% of the pollutants for all sites. Of the 189 identified substances, 17 were detected 44% of the time and the Toxic Unit showed that terbutol, coprostanol, and hexadecane were capable of generating considerable adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem. Total Toxic Units for each site exhibited a decreasing trend as they distanced from the urban and agricultural area.

Introduction : La biosécurité peut être définie comme " l'ensemble des mesures de nature préventive mises en œuvre pour éviter de contaminer ou d'être contaminé par un agent biologique". Le passage au mode d'élevage intensif pose avec acuité la question de la biosécurité. Les exploitations avicoles modernes sont les plus concernées car la biosécurité, qu'elle soit externe ou interne, impacte la santé en agissant comme facteur préventif de l'introduction ou de la propagation des maladies en élevage. Méthodes : L'administration du questionnaire a été réalisée par méthode téléphonique compte tenue de la distance et de l'insuffisance des ressources. Le travail reposera sur la synthèse des revues bibliographiques, sur l'élaboration du questionnaire et les enquêtes sur le terrain. Le questionnaire a été testé et validé avant son administration sur le terrain. Résultats : Le nombre d'aviculteurs dont la ferme est localisée à Sénou était de 3/10. Il est suivi de celui à Gouana avec 2/10. Les informations reçues sur les données de l'exploitation font ressortir que les aviculteurs pratiquant la production d'œufs étaient plus nombreux que ceux produisant la chair. 90% des aviculteurs interrogés font de la production d'œufs et 10% de la production de poulet de chair. Les maladies rencontrées dans les poulaillers et qui constituent un problème dans ces fermes sont la maladie de Newcastle pour 90% et la bronchite infectieuse pour 10%. Conclusion : L'aviculture était plus pratiquée à Sénou et Gouana. Les maladies aviaires les plus fréquentes étaient la Newcastle et la bronchite infectieuse. Les employés ne trempaient pas leurs bottes en accédant aux bâtiments d'élevage.Mots clés : Evaluation, biosécurité, grippe aviaire, Bamako, Mali

Conventional Citrus crops farming is an Citrus farming system that uses Citrus cultivation techniques with maximum use of chemicals and organics material and there is to support a sustainable agricultural system. Indicators of environmental quality can be known from the composition and ecological role of fauna, one of which is soil macrofauna. This research aims to investigate the diversity and community structure of the soil macrofauna and to identification its role in the Citrus farming at Selorejo, Dau and Punten Villages, Bumiaji, Malang Regency.This study is a descriptive exploratory study in order to study on soil macrofauna capturing at each location for three times. The observation method of soil macrofauna used pitfall traps and handshorter methods. All data was tabulated used Microsoft Excel. Abiotic factor measurements for two locations have no different value in each sampling plot. The composition of soil macrofauna is obtained from the important value index (IVI) and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H'). Soil macrofauna was obtained from two locations as many as 28 families with the highest importance value index (IVI), namely Formicidae. The results showed that Selorejo Citrus farming consists of Predator 46%, Herbivorous 25%, Decomposer 11%, Scavenger 7%, and others 11%, while in Punten Citrus farming consists of 55% Predator, 10% Herbivorous,15% Decomposer,5% Scavenger, and others 15%.

The objective of the study was to associate soil moisture, aerial biometric characteristics, and root distribution patterns in the yield of sugarcane genotypes in the fourth ratoon and the relationships between these characteristics. We used five sugarcane genotypes (CTC9002, RB044311, RB044313, RB044336, and RB867515) and five soil depths (0–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80 and 80–100 cm deep). The evaluations were carried out in December 2019. We evaluated the root systems, the soil water content at the five depths, the aerial biometric characteristics, and the productive yield. In the roots, the genotypes RB044311, RB044313, RB044336, and RB867515 showed a higher yield. On average, genotypes showed 50% of dry weight and total root length at a depth of 0–20 cm, 73% between 0 and 40 cm, and 86% between 0 and 60 cm. The RB044336 genotype showed maximum height and number of buds. The RB867515 genotype had the largest average stem diameter and CTC9002, the largest number of tillers. The genotypes CTC9002 and RB867515 presented the highest soluble solids' content, apparent sucrose in the juice, and total reducing sugars. These genotypes showed a 26% and 57% higher root density in soil layers at depths of 60–80 cm, respectively, 79% and 86% in the 80–100 cm layer, about the layer with the highest concentration of 0–20 cm roots. These layers remained with the highest soil moisture levels during the period of establishment and intensive cultivation growth. Thus, there was a relationship between root distribution dynamics and soil moisture in different areas.

The aim of this analysis is to examine the efficacy of sustainable farming in Africa and industrial farming. Sustainable agriculture as an approach to food production that combines agriculture's economic, social and environmental dimensions. The agricultural societies in Asia and Africa have effectively followed these values. The growing evidence and accessible scientific review of the creation of programs suggests that sustainable interventions can be highly successful to enhance productivity, promote protection of soil and water incomes and to ensure food safety; improve agricultural, wildlife and plant health; increase natural disasters and climate change resistance, minimize greenhouse gas emissions and promote societies. This demonstrates that the efficiency of organic farming has a positive influence in different countries on the future of agriculture.

There is an existing debate on the epistemic hegemony of the knowledge system of industrial agriculture. The two sides posit a critique and offer alternatives from already existing practices of agriculture. Most often, the critique is on hard material grounds, while the alternatives are offered in terms of the recovery of a cultural set of practices. This article posits a fresh critique to complement the existing one and expands the scope of the alternative to make critical appraisals of existing knowledge systems. For the first, it critically analyses each of the presumptions that underlie the argument of the dominant vision and for the second, this article identifies, analyses and aims to foreground those perspectives that contested major policy decisions and the reasons for their subsequent marginalization. The issue of seed sovereignty—that of women farmers specially, retaining the authority to breed and propagate seeds for farming—is the focal point of this study.

The plantation as a fusion of rural industry and commercial agriculture has become a shorthand for the the intensification of land-use, circulation of commodities, and the organization of labor concomitant with the modern world. While not the only place where plantations existed, the Atlantic is the context in which most archaeological research has taken place leaving untested certain assumptions about the development of the plantation. and the regions which informed its varied materializations in the modern world. By extending the the methods and approaches employed by archaeologists studying plantations to South India, we decenter plantation narratives and show how Indian Ocean commercial agriculture and rural industry also enabled the modern world. This article reports on results from the first phase of the Colonial Tharangambadi Archaeological Survey (CTAS). The goal of CTAS was to document changing settlement patterns, settlement organization, and material assemblage through a systematic landscape survey in the former Danish colonial enclave, Tranquebar (Tharangambadi). Specifically, we documented one South Indian settlement formation devoted to commercial agriculture called “gardens,” which has origins in the sixth century CE, or earlier, and how they were used outside the town’s walls in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. We argue that from historically distinctive agrarian facilities geared to commercial production, these plantation-like rural industries developed quite broadly using vulnerable labor to produce plant commodities in high volume for international markets. The particularities of plantation studies are enriched by considerations of parallel developments under similar conditions, as illustrated by India’s lesser-known Danish colony.

Sustainable cotton production is under threat due to poor soil health, exhaustive nature of cotton crop in terms of depleting soil fertility and conventional farming practices. Hence, we investigat...

Organic farming is increasing in Finland, and organic farms have become larger than conventional farms, on average. As the structural change has been rapid, farmers need a broad range of new competencies to manage their farms, ranging from agronomic skills to advanced technology, labor management, and marketing skills. In this study, the characteristics of organic and conventional farms and farmers were assessed, with special focus on management practices and future development plans on organic farms. The study was based on telephone interviews of a sample of active farmers who applied for agricultural subsidies in 2014. The data consisted of 3045 farmers; 312 of them practiced organic farming and 2733 conventional farming. The data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Having beef production as the main production line, having plans to develop farm production in the next 5 years, considering farm management as very important, and frequently experiencing mental strain because of farm management were significant predictors for being an organic farmer. Dairy production was less frequently organic compared to crop production. Nearly half (42%) of organic farmers planned to make changes in their farming, most commonly expanding their production. Thus, competence for managing the farm operation becomes more crucial, which increases the need for training and management consulting services. Organic farming may increase with both farm successions and new entrants joining the farming sector. Special attention should be paid to supporting these new entrants without farm-family background.

Industrial agriculture has been promoted widely as essential for ending hunger, the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Despite increases in global productivity and yields of many commodity crops, SDG2 has not yet been achieved and the negative environmental and social consequences of this system have become impossible to ignore. Narratives associated with regenerative agricultural systems such as agroecology and food sovereignty deserve more attention, given their significant potential social and environmental benefits. To combat the dangerous counter-narrative at all scales that productivism is ‘the solution’, it is important to frame industrial agriculture as unsustainable by design and distinguish more clearly between extractive and regenerative farming systems, in particular those capable of simultaneously sequestering more carbon, enhancing public health and promoting community well-being. Promoting this new narrative will require overcoming the lock-ins that have kept industrial agriculture alive in international policy forums focused on food security.

The excessive use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer in intensive agriculture has increased nitrate leaching into groundwater, but its impacts on N transformation processes and the associated microbial communities in the deep vadose zone remain unclear. Soil samples from 0–1050 cm depth were collected from a 20-year field experiment with two N fertilization treatments: 0 (N0) and 600 kg N ha−1 year−1 (N600). Amplicon sequencing and quantitative PCR analyses were performed to profile the vertical distribution of soil microbial communities and denitrification genes. The soil microbial community structure and diversity were strongly influenced by soil depth and N fertilization. The 250 cm depth was identified as a threshold depth, as dramatically different microbial communities were found below and above this depth. Quantitative PCR results showed that the absolute abundance of denitrification genes decreased with increasing soil depth. This study elucidated the profound effects of long-term N input on the composition and diversity of the microbial communities and the abundance of denitrifiers in the deep vadose zone. Our results provide basic information for use in mitigating nitrate leaching by enhancing microbial denitrification in deep vadose zones in intensive agricultural areas.

Organic tea farms promote biodiversity and perform important ecological functions that benefit the environment and supply safe and secure products to consumers. The study of organic farming requires field study to identify and collect species on site. I proposed the use of aerial photography obtained by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to identify tea farms that provided a habitat for spiders. In this study, two locations were selected in tea farms near the town of Wazuka, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Aerial photographs were taken after confirming conditions on the ground were right for maximum contrast because the spider webs appearing white when the right atmospheric conditions highlight fine water droplets adhering to the strands in the webs. This occurs when the temperature and humidity combine in such a way as to cause moisture to condense from the atmosphere, also known as the dew point. When this occurs, the webs appear white in daylight and are easily identified by visual orthomosaic images obtained from the UAV. The spatial distribution of spider webs varied as a function of farming method used in different sections of the farms. The results of the visual analysis showed that the density of spider webs correlates with the type of farming method. Sections in which organic farming methods were practiced showed the highest density of webs, followed by sections of conventional farming (extensive cultivation), and lastly, sections using conventional farming methods had the lowest density of webs. The density was easily estimated from orthomosaic images constructed from aerial photographs and demonstrated that organic tea farms can be distinguished from farms employing conventional farming methods based on this criterion.

Land use pattern is increasingly regarded as an important determinant of environmental quality and regional ecosystems. Understanding the correlation between land use metrics and water quality is essential to improve water pollution prediction and provide guidance for land use planning. Here, we examined the land use metrics and water quality parameters (i.e., dissolved oxygen, DO; pH; ammonia nitrogen NH4+-N; permanganate index, CODMn), as well as their relationships in the Yangtze River basin. The DO and pH exhibited the notable spatio-temporal variability, suggesting that anthropogenic land uses (farmland and urban land) greatly impacted riverine water quality. The catchment and riparian scales respectively showed a high potential in explaining water quality in the dry and wet seasons. The land use metrics were tightly linked to water quality in the dry season, indicating that intensive farming activities led to high loadings of agriculture-related chemicals and thus water quality deterioration. Our results provided useful information regarding riverine water quality response to land use metrics at multi-spatial scales.

Restoration and improvement of soil quality is the prerequisite for ensuring agricultural productivity and food security in India. Although intensification enhanced food production, it led to a decline in factor productivity, health of environment, and an impairment in soil quality. The declined soil quality is manifested through impaired ecosystem services and also loss in yield and profitability. Soil organic C (SOC) is considered as the panacea for maintaining the soil quality through improved microbial activities, water availability and nutrient use efficiency. The present review emphasizes the need for maintenance of SOC content in Indian soils challenged with high oxidative loss out of high temperature, good moisture and cultivation led soil perturbations. Importance of balanced fertilization through soil test, integrated nutrient management, and adoption of innovative farming practices such as conservation agriculture for enhancement of SOC storage and consequent improvement in soil quality even under intensive cultivation in various agro-climatic regions of the country is emphasized.

This study sought to determine the extent of adoption of various organic and conventional crop and soil management practices in the farms. Ten farms were sampled at an equidistance of one kilometre along a transect laid across each of the eight randomly selected sub-locations in the sub county. A sample size of 80 farms was randomly selected from the Sub-County. The eighty farms were regrouped into two; Organic and conventional farms. A survey of the crop management practises was carried out and the observed methods recorded down. The data collected was analyzed using the Statistical paired t test and descriptive statistics. Use of pesticides recorded the highest percentages (60%) in conventional methods while mulching recorded relatively high percentage (42%) in organic methods. Use of plastic cover recorded the lowest percentage of 4% in conventional methods while vermin-compositing was not embraced in conventional methods. Conventional methods were 3.33 points higher than organic (95% CI [-9.37596, 16.04263]). Conventional and Organic farming methods were strongly and negatively correlated (r = -0.069, p > 0.05). However, there was no statistical significant difference between conventional and organic methods (t5 = 0.674, p > 0.05), [Appendix 1(iii)]. The knowledge obtained will be useful to the farmers and other participants globally to improve crop productivity. The information collected will also enable farmers seek for unconventional ways to alleviate the problem of heavy usage of agrochemicals in order to embrace organic farming for the long run sustainability of the agricultural sector.

In the pursuit of higher food production and economic growth and increasing population, we have often jeopardized natural resources such as soil, water, vegetation, and biodiversity at an alarming rate. In this process, wider adoption of intensive farming practices, namely changes in land use, imbalanced fertilizer application, minimum addition of organic residue/manure, and non-adoption of site-specific conservation measures, has led to declining in soil health and land degradation in an irreversible manner. In addition, increasing use of pesticides, coupled with soil and water pollution, has led the researchers to search for an environmental-friendly and cost-effective alternatives to controlling soil-borne diseases that are difficult to control, and which significantly limit agricultural productivity. Since the 1960s, disease-suppressive soils (DSS) have been identified and studied around the world. Soil disease suppression is the reduction in the incidence of soil-borne diseases even in the presence of a host plant and inoculum in the soil. The disease-suppressive capacity is mainly attributed to diverse microbial communities present in the soil that could act against soil-borne pathogens in multifaceted ways. The beneficial microorganisms employ some specific functions such as antibiosis, parasitism, competition for resources, and predation. However, there has been increasing evidence on the role of soil abiotic factors that largely influence the disease suppression. The intricate interactions of the soil, plant, and environmental components in a disease triangle make this process complex yet crucial to study to reduce disease incidence. Increasing resistance of the pathogen to presently available chemicals has led to the shift from culturable microbes to unexplored and unculturable microbes. Agricultural management practices such as tillage, fertilization, manures, irrigation, and amendment applications significantly alter the soil physicochemical environment and influence the growth and behaviour of antagonistic microbes. Plant factors such as age, type of crop, and root behaviour of the plant could stimulate or limit the diversity and structure of soil microorganisms in the rhizosphere. Further, identification and in-depth of disease-suppressive soils could lead to the discovery of more beneficial microorganisms with novel anti-microbial and plant promoting traits. To date, several microbial species have been isolated and proposed as key contributors in disease suppression, but the complexities as well as the mechanisms of the microbial and abiotic interactions remain elusive for most of the disease-suppressive soils. Thus, this review critically explores disease-suppressive attributes in soils, mechanisms involved, and biotic and abiotic factors affecting DSS and also briefly reviewing soil microbiome for anti-microbial drugs, in fact, a consequence of DSS phenomenon.

While total factor productivity (TFP) difference between the subsistence and commercial farm types is negligible, a large number of subsistence‐based farms remain outside the market economy, and national policies have emphasized the need to bring them into the fold of commercial agriculture. Improving market access may help induce greater farm commercialization and thus greater investment in agriculture. However, there is little empirical evidence on farm‐level factors that stimulate agricultural commercialization in SSA. Using a nationally representative panel data from the Living Standards Measurement Study‐Integrated Surveys on Agriculture, this article estimates the likelihood of being a commercial versus a subsistence farmer and the likelihood of transitioning from one farm type to another based on observable characteristics in Nigeria and Tanzania. The analysis demonstrates that although a substantial proportion of farms have no market participation in a given year, there are rich transition dynamics over time. The results from the probit regression show that resource endowments (land, labor, chemical use) and farm characteristics (multicropping system; irrigation; crop types such as fruits, vegetables, and cash crops; and animal traction use) do matter for market participation and the transitioning of subsistence farms into a market economy. These variables are positively correlated with farm commercialization and increase the likelihood of market participation. Overall, policies aimed at improving farmers' access to resources and promoting sustainable smallholder agriculture could be instrumental in raising productivity in agriculture and enhancing marketable agricultural output.

Industrial agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and is degrading agricultural land. To reduce the impact of agriculture on the environment, a transition to sustainable agriculture is necessary. The article assesses the prospects for sustainable agriculture in Russia. It examines three models for their applicability to Russia: food sovereignty, community supported agriculture, and business as usual.

Restricting antibiotic use in livestock production is associated with a lower prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in livestock, and thus a lower risk of these antibiotic resistant bacteria infecting humans (Tang et al., 2017). However, it is still unclear whether antibiotic use in livestock production directly drives antibiotic resistance, as other conflated factors (e.g. reduced disease pressure, production type) may also be driving these patterns. Evidence synthesis is needed to clarify the direct and indirect links between antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in livestock production. Given the recent expansion of intensive beef production systems associated with high levels of antibiotic use - particularly in Latin America (Ahola, 2014; Arelovich et al., 2011; Livestock Marketing Information Center, 2018) - it is timely to synthesise this evidence in beef cattle production systems. Reviewing this relationship is most amenable to a systematic review and meta-analysis of repeated measures study designs that compare antibiotic-treated groups to untreated groups, accounting for how this effect varies over time (before, during and after the cessation of antibiotic administration). To date, two studies have attempted to review these types of beef cattle studies (Hoelzer et al., 2017; Sanz, 2017). However, these meta-analyses did not select their studies using standard and extensive systematic review methods, and did not utilise multiple time points from within the same studies. Here, we outline a protocol for an extensive systematic review and time-series meta-analysis, to rigorously assess the antibiotic use-resistance relationship in beef cattle production.

The application of chicken waste to farmland could be detrimental to public health. It may contribute to the dissemination of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) from feces and their subsequent entry into the food chain. The present study analyzes the metagenome and resistome of chicken manure and litter obtained from a commercial chicken farm in Poland. ARB were isolated, identified, and screened for antibiogram fingerprints using standard microbiological and molecular methods. The physicochemical properties of the chicken waste were also determined. ARGs, integrons, and mobile genetic elements (MGE) in chicken waste were analyzed using high-throughput SmartChip qPCR. The results confirm the presence of many ARGs, probably located in MGE, which can be transferred to other bacteria. Potentially pathogenic or opportunistic microorganisms and phytopathogens were isolated. More than 50% of the isolated strains were classified as being multi-drug resistant, and the remainder were resistant to at least one antibiotic class; these pose a real risk of entering the groundwater and contaminating the surrounding environment. Our results indicate that while chicken manure can be sufficient sources of the nutrients essential for plant growth, its microbiological aspects make this material highly dangerous to the environment.

ContextHoney bees provide multiple ecosystem services. Comparisons of coupled social-ecological systems (SES) can improve the understanding of the factors affecting honey bees and beekeeping.ObjectivesStressing the need for SES analyses, we explore beekeepers’ perceived factors affecting bees and beekeeping, test the hypothesis that honey bee colony losses are associated to agricultural land use intensity, and discuss the role of beekeeping for rural development.MethodsWe used as a case study the steep gradient in SES in Ukraine’s Chernivtsi region with three strata: (i) traditional villages, (ii) intermediate and (iii) intensive agriculture. In each stratum, we analysed the social system using five open-ended focus groups. Regarding the ecological system, we analysed data about winter loss rate of honey bee colonies, number of colonies per beekeeper, the average amount of supplemental feeding, and proportion of beekeepers treating againstVarroamite.ResultsThirty-three themes were extracted, of which 73% concerned the social system at multiple levels of governance. The number of themes increased from the traditional stratum with higher winter colony losses to the intensive agriculture stratum with lower losses. This does not support the hypothesis that the intensive agriculture per se affect honey bees negatively.ConclusionsSocial system factors dominate over ecological factors, and interact across scales. This requires systems analyses of honey bees and beekeeping. We see beekeeping as a social innovation enhancing stakeholders’ navigation in social systems, thus supporting rural development in countries in transition like Ukraine.

Purpose: Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices have been advanced as an alternative to conventional farming practices due to their importance in climate mitigation and soil quality improvement, while also enhancing food production. However, few studies have quantitatively investigated the effects of a range of CSA practices on crop yield, soil carbon, and nitrogen pools. This study adds to this limited body of work by synthesizing such studies and evaluates the effect of individual and combinations of widely implemented CSA practices in Africa—green manure (GM), conservation tillage (no-tillage, reduced tillage), and crop residue retention (CR)—on food crop yield, soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration, and soil total nitrogen (TN). Materials and methods: This study conducted a meta-analysis of results reported in 60 peer-reviewed articles to examine the effects of CSA management (GM, CR, and conservation tillage) on crop yield, SOC concentration, and soil TN in Africa. Results and discussion: The implementation of CSA practices significantly increased crop yield and SOC concentrations (mean effect 9.2% and 14.7%, respectively), although no significant change was evident in soil TN. In terms of yield increase, GM was the most effective practice, increasing yield by 63.5%, followed by CR (5.8%). Conservation tillage and CR increased SOC by 16.4% and 13%, respectively, but no significant difference was observed with GM. Further analysis suggested that integrating CSA practices (conservation tillage and GM; conservation tillage and CR) had a more pronounced effect on both SOC concentration and yield under lower nitrogen fertilizer levels. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis showed that CSA management resulted in higher yields and SOC concentrations, thus suggesting the importance of CSA practices in enhancing food production and climate mitigation in Africa. It also highlights the potential of the integration of CSA practices to improve SOC and TN pools and consequently crop productivity.

We analyzed the effect of different tillage systems on soils under different land-use histories, on biological properties of soil during one year. The experiment was carried out at a Petrocalcic Argiudoll of Tres Arroyos (Buenos Aires, Argentina). The specific aim was to describe and compare the soil organic carbon (SOC), the soil basal respiration (BR) and the activities of the enzyme dehydrogenase, urease and acid-phosphomonoesterase under zero and conventional tillage on soils under pasture and intensive agriculture. The SOC concentration was highest in summer (postharvest) independently of tillage system or land-use history. However, in autumn the plots under conventional tillage showed higher values of SOC than those with zero tillage, independently of land-use history. The BR had a significant benefit in favour of summer pasture soils. The effect of land-use history or the tillage system on the enzymes activity was dependent of sampling season. Therefore, the soil enzymes were more sensible than SOC and BR. In temporal studies the effect of sampling season is strongest that others factors as tillage systems or land-use history. EEA Barrow Fil: Moreno, María Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnolológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología. Laboratorio de Biología Funcional y Biotecnología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Area Microbiología; Argentina Fil: Biganzoli, Fernando. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departmento de Métodos Cuantitativos y Sistemas de Información; Argentina Fil: Casas, C. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Recursos Naturales. Cátedra de Edafología; Argentina Fil: Manso, Marina Lucrecia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Barrow; Argentina Fil: Moreira, E. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnolológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología. Laboratorio de Biología Funcional y Biotecnología; Argentina. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentina Fil: Silvestro, Luciana Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnolológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología. Laboratorio de Biologia Funcional y Biotecnología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Area Química; Argentina