Conservation agriculture and cover crop practices to regulate water, carbon and nitrogen cycles in the low-lying Venetian plain

Camarotto, Carlo; Ferro, Nicola Dal; Piccoli, Ilaria; Polese, Riccardo; Furlan, Lorenzo; Chiarini, Francesca; Morari, Francesco

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2018.05.006

Cited by 62 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Employing cover crop (CC) agronomic practices, as used for improving soil water dynamics (such as improved soil water storage through reducing subsurface drainage), is one approach to potentially mitigate the adverse effects of rainfall variability on crop yield in cropping systems (Camarotto et al., 2018; Gabriel, Muñoz‐Carpena, & Quemada, 2012; Martinez‐Feria, Dietzel, Liebman, Helmers, & Archontoulis, 2016; Schipanski et al., 2014; Ward, Flower, Cordingley, Weeks, & Micin, 2012). The favorable role of CC in reducing subsurface drainage and in increasing soil water storage has been widely reported (Drury et al., 2014; Hanrahan et al., 2018; Krueger, Ochsner, Porter, & Baker, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of cover crop on corn–soybean productivity and soil water dynamics under different seasonal rainfall patterns

et al. 2020

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The effect of cover crop (CC) on soil water balance and agricultural production is closely related to rainfall amount and distribution in rainfed cropping systems. This study used the root zone water quality model, RZWQM2, calibrated and validated with 4-yr field measurements to predict the effect of planting a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) CC in a no-till rainfed corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation on soil water balance, crop yield, and grain water-use efficiency (WUE) in northeast Mississippi. Seasonal rainfall for 80 consecutive years was classified as 'wet,' 'normal,' and 'dry' years using frequency analysis, and the data sets matched chronologically to wheat, corn, and soybean growth periods were used as an input parameter in RZWQM2 simulations. During autumn and spring (early October to early April), the CC reduced deep drainage by 69 (11%), 53 (15%), and 51 mm (21%) in wet, normal, and dry years, respectively. Averaged across 40 yr, the CC decreased surface evaporation by 64 (32%) and 38 mm (24%) for corn and soybean growth periods, respectively. Wheat CC also improved soil water storage in early crop growth period during April-June in any of the three rainfall patterns. Regardless of rainfall patterns, the increase in WUE can be attributed to a decrease in evapotranspiration during cash crop period without sacrificing cash crop yield in the CC system. Introducing CC into cropping systems is beneficial to reduce annual deep drainage and evaporation while maintaining higher crop yields under different rainfall patterns.Abbreviations: CC, cover crop; ET, evapotranspiration; NCC, no cover crop; RZWQM2, root zone water quality model; WUE, water-use efficiency.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of cover crop on corn–soybean productivity and soil water dynamics under different seasonal rainfall patterns

et al. 2020

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“…An increase in soil fertility was only mentioned by stakeholders as a long-term outcome. In fact, trialed measures in real-world conditions led to the same results, i.e., the cover crops did not affect the main soil fertility indicators (N and SOM content) in the short term; they only did so in long-term simulations [34]. This aspect highlighted that linking action (i.e., experiments) to knowledge during the participatory process is pivotal to enhance the credibility of produced data and, in turn, improve the stakeholders understanding of trialed measures [57].…”

Section: Evidence Of How Measures Worked Out and Perception Of Stakehmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…A change of soil management affects the ecosystem services that people derive from land. In this context, the aim of the last workshop with stakeholders was to evaluate benefits and drawbacks as provided by the trialed measures, i.e., continuous soil cover with cover crops and conservation agriculture [34]. Stakeholders agreed that the main short-term benefit of using cover crops was the improvement of water quality (both surface water and groundwater; 33.3% of votes), as supported by the experimental results of the trialed measure (Table 5).…”

Section: Evidence Of How Measures Worked Out and Perception Of Stakehmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Field experiments that provided data to stakeholders were conducted for 2 years on three farms of the Veneto region [34]. Stakeholders were engaged during the 2-year experiment with a field visit and discussion on the first results from the experiment ( Figure 1E).…”

Section: The Field-trialed Measures and Stakeholder Engagement Duringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, an online platform (https://www.recare-hub.eu/monitoraggio-di-campo-in-real-time) was freely available that reported real-time weather data and soil water dynamics from the experimental fields. Details were provided by Camarotto et al [34]. This web-based system was adopted with the dual aim of: (i) closing the gap between research experiments and farming activity and (ii) keeping stakeholders engaged during research activity.…”

Section: The Field-trialed Measures and Stakeholder Engagement Duringmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stakeholder Perspectives to Prevent Soil Organic Matter Decline in Northeastern Italy

et al. 2020

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A transition from conventional to more sustainable soil management measures (SMMs) is required to reverse the current soil organic matter (SOM) losses in the agroecosystems. Despite the innovations and technologies that are available to prevent SOM decline, top–down knowledge transfer schemes that incentivize a certain measure are often ineffective. Here, we discuss relevant outcomes from a participatory approach where researchers, farmers, practitioners and government officials have discussed opportunities and barriers around SMM application to prevent SOM decline. Within a series of workshops, stakeholders identified, scored, and selected SMMs to field-tests and evaluated the benefits and drawbacks from their application. Results showed that the stakeholders recognized the need for innovations, although they valued the most promising SMM as already available continuous soil cover and conservation agriculture. In contrast, more innovative SMMs, such as biochar use and the variable rate application of organic amendments through precision farming, were the least valued, suggesting that people’s resistance to new technologies is often governed by the socio-cultural perception of them that goes beyond the economic and technological aspects. The valuation of benefits and drawbacks by stakeholders on trialed measures emphasized that stakeholders’ perspective about soil management is a combination of economic, environmental, and socio-cultural aspects, thus corroborating the need for transdisciplinary bottom–up approaches to prevent SOM depletion and increase soil rehabilitation and SOM content.

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Assessing the long‐term effects of conservation agriculture on cotton production in Northeast Louisiana using the denitrification–decomposition model

Ferdush,

Jeong,

Jeon

et al. 2024

Agrosystems Geosci & Env

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Conservation agriculture (CA) aims to sustain agricultural production, soil, and environmental health in agroecosystems and has been promoted throughout the United States. The adoption of CA in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) systems provides both agronomic and environmental benefits. Yet, there is limited information on the long‐term effects of CA practices on crop yield and adaptation strategies. An integrated CA system, that is, cover crops with no‐tillage (NT) instead of conventional agriculture, was implemented in the long‐term field experiments and assessed with an integrated biogeochemical model. Using the denitrification–decomposition model, this study estimated the effects of four different cover crops, for example, native grass (NG), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), on cotton yield under four different nitrogen (N) levels (e.g., 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N/ha) and estimated responses on carbon (C) sequestration, and ecosystem functionality over a 10‐year study. The NT‐NG 50 N was used as a calibration dataset to accurately estimate the cotton lint yield with a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 21% and model efficiency of 0.3. The calibration data validated the effects of hairy vetch, winter wheat, and crimson clover under the NT‐50 N with NRMSE of 24%, 21%, and 25%, respectively. According to the scenario analysis, the 50 kg N/ha application with a single‐irrigation event (10‐cm depth) was most beneficial for maximizing the cotton yield with cover crop incorporation at the NT system over the long term. The effects of increasing cover crop biomass (i.e., double seed rate) on C content, regardless of N application rates, varied based on the relationship between the main and cover crop species. Besides, the furrow plow tillage system provided efficient C sequestration. The proposed approach stands to provide agricultural and environmental sustainability with the implementation of cover crop or crop residue incorporation instead of increased N application, seed rates, and irrigation events under NT practices.

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Conservation agriculture and cover crop practices to regulate water, carbon and nitrogen cycles in the low-lying Venetian plain

Cited by 62 publications

References 47 publications

Impact of cover crop on corn–soybean productivity and soil water dynamics under different seasonal rainfall patterns

Impact of cover crop on corn–soybean productivity and soil water dynamics under different seasonal rainfall patterns

Stakeholder Perspectives to Prevent Soil Organic Matter Decline in Northeastern Italy

Assessing the long‐term effects of conservation agriculture on cotton production in Northeast Louisiana using the denitrification–decomposition model

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