Comparison of crop productivity, economic benefit and environmental footprints among diversified multi-cropping systems in South China

Xian, Yuanran; Cai, Guangyuan; Lin, Jiajun; Chen, Yong; Wang, Xiaolong

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162407

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…All of these factors have the potential to be factors in improving the yield of the subsequent crops. This was because, a large number of studies have shown that increasing the crop replanting index was beneficial to the yield of the subsequent crop ( Li et al., 2018 ; Xian et al., 2023 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite these findings, uncertainty remains regarding how changes in forage yield and soil properties respond to intensifying double-rice cropping systems with different winter forage crops. In southern China, the advantages of different crop rotation systems (cereal crops in the summer and cash crops in the winter) have been revealed ( Xian et al., 2023 ), but studies integrating forage into farming systems and scientifically evaluating the economic and ecological potential were still lacking. This study offers more options for overlooked feed producers, including: 1) selecting high-yield and high-quality forage crops that grow in the winter fallow fields; 2) choosing green manure crops that improve soil fertility.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Yield and nutrient composition of forage crops and their effects on soil characteristics of winter fallow paddy in South China

Xu,

Tang,

et al. 2024

Front. Plant Sci.

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In terms of providing additional feeds and improving the soil fertility, planting forage crops during the fallow seasons is an effective strategy to promote resource utilization. The objective of this research was to compare the effects of planting different forage crops on the yields and nutritive compositions of forage and soil properties of winter fallow paddy in southern China. Five forage crops, including alfalfa (Medicago sativa, AF), common vetch (Vicia sativa, CV), milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus, MV), smooth vetch (Vicia villosa, SV) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum, IR), were planted by monoculture on the winter fallow paddy in 2017-2018 (season 1) and 2018-2019 (season 2), respectively. The dry matter yield of IR was significantly higher than those of AF, CV, SV and MV (P<0.05). The crude protein yield of IR was significantly higher than those of AF, CV and MV (P<0.05). The neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents of CV, SV and IR were significantly lower than those of AF and MV (P<0.05). Forage crops significantly affected the culturable microbial population of soils (P<0.05). The bacteria, actinomyces and fungi numbers on IR were the highest, while azotobacter number was the lowest. The catalase, acid-phosphatase and invertase activities of IR soil were the lowest. The numbers of bacteria, actinomyces and fungi of IR soil were the highest. IR and SV were the best crops to obtain forage and improve the soil. When producers pursue higher forage yield, we recommend planting Italian ryegrass. If the producers want to improve soil characteristics, smooth vetch is the most suitable plant. These results provide useful information to rice growers for cropping management when growing forage crops (based on the yield and nutritional value) or green manure (based on improving the soil fertility) as an alternative to late rice harvest.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%