*Global CA-CoP* *CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE* *for sustainable agriculture, land use and ecosystem management* Dear Subscribers, Please see herebelow, the March 2021 Cornell CA Newsletter. Thank you Professor Hobbs for sharing. *Amir Kassam * *Moderator* *Global CA-CoP* e-mail: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.fao.org/conservation-agriculture ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Peter Hobbs <[log in to unmask]> Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2021 at 00:28 Subject: March 2021 Cornell CA Scoopit newsletter To: Amir Kassam <[log in to unmask]> Dear Amir: Here is our March 2021 Conservation Agriculture Scoopit Research Update. You can also view online at https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?curate=true&null Can you send this out to people who get your listserv material? The hard copy is below. An easier link to see all the research papers on CA is as follows: https://www.zotero.org/groups/348525/cornell_conservation_agriculture/collections/KGBFX8BX Also, visit our main website at http://soilhealth.org for news and other CA information. Please use this link since we had to move our web site to a new server and this links takes you to the CA web site. [image: Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - March 2021] <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag> Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - March 2021 <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag> by Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org) <https://www.scoop.it/u/conservation-ag> Powered by [image: Scoop.it] <https://www.scoop.it> High probability of yield gain through conservation agriculture in dry regions for major staple crops. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399283/2021/02/24/high-probability-of-yield-gain-through-conservation-agriculture-in-dry-regions-for-major-staple-crops> From doi.org <https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82375-1> - Today, 7:29 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399283/2021/02/24/high-probability-of-yield-gain-through-conservation-agriculture-in-dry-regions-for-major-staple-crops> Su, Y., Gabrielle, B., Beillouin, D. & Makowski, D. 2021. Nature Scientific Reports. 11. 3344. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399283/2021/02/24/high-probability-of-yield-gain-through-conservation-agriculture-in-dry-regions-for-major-staple-crops> https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82375-1 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: Conservation agriculture (CA) has been promoted to mitigate climate change, reduce soil erosion, and provide a variety of ecosystem services. Yet, its impacts on crop yields remains controversial.This paper looks at the probability of yield gain when switching from CT to CA worldwide. Relative yield changes were estimated with machine learning algorithms trained by 4403 paired yield observations on 8 crop species extracted from 413 publications. CA has better productive performance than a no-till system (NT), and it stands a more than 50% chance to outperform CT in dryer regions of the world, especially with proper agricultural management practices. Residue retention has the largest positive impact on CA productivity comparing to other management practices. The paper concludes CA appears as a sustainable agricultural practice if targeted at specific climatic regions and crop species. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399283/2021/02/24/high-probability-of-yield-gain-through-conservation-agriculture-in-dry-regions-for-major-staple-crops> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123399283?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123399283?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123399283?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123399283> Intercomparison of crop establishment methods for improving yield and profitability in the rice-wheat system of Eastern India. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123398269/2021/02/24/intercomparison-of-crop-establishment-methods-for-improving-yield-and-profitability-in-the-rice-wheat-system-of-eastern-india> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378429019316776?via%3Dihub&key=2a3022b56b0aa928a7289627d3c18e770eb16595> - Today, 7:10 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123398269/2021/02/24/intercomparison-of-crop-establishment-methods-for-improving-yield-and-profitability-in-the-rice-wheat-system-of-eastern-india> Singh, M., Kumar, P., Kumar, V., Solanki, I.S., McDonald, A.J., Kumar, A., Poonia, S.P., Kumar, V., Anurag, A., Anurag, K., Singh, D.K., Balwinder-Singh, Singh, S. & Malik, R.K. 2020. Field Crops Research. 250. Article number 107776. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123398269/2021/02/24/intercomparison-of-crop-establishment-methods-for-improving-yield-and-profitability-in-the-rice-wheat-system-of-eastern-india> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2020.107776 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: Conventionally managed rice-wheat systems of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (E-IGP) that rely on soil puddling for rice and intensive tillage for wheat are low-yielding and resource-inefficient, leading to low profitability.This study looks at an array of Tillage and Crop Establishment (TCE) options to address these problems and identify TCE methods for rice-wheat systems that are high yielding, less resource-intensive, and more profitable. In all systems, the inclusion of a medium-duration rice hybrid resulted in higher rice and system yields. These results suggest that significant gains in profitability are possible with emerging TCE practices in rice-wheat systems, but alternatives such as the SRI and SWI will likely erode farmer incomes. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123398269/2021/02/24/intercomparison-of-crop-establishment-methods-for-improving-yield-and-profitability-in-the-rice-wheat-system-of-eastern-india> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123398269?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123398269?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123398269?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123398269> Effect of no-tillage on soil bacterial and fungal community diversity: A meta- analysis <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123400023/2021/02/24/e-ect-of-no-tillage-on-soil-bacterial-and-fungal-community-diversity-a-meta-analysis> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198720305031?via%3Dihub&key=433c35286dcfa13eb48287487d375a1787b06b50> - Today, 6:53 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123400023/2021/02/24/e-ect-of-no-tillage-on-soil-bacterial-and-fungal-community-diversity-a-meta-analysis> Li, Y., Song, D., Liang, S., Dang, P., Qin, X., Liao, Y. & Siddique, K.H.M. 2020. Soil and Tillage Research. 204. Article number 104721. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123400023/2021/02/24/e-ect-of-no-tillage-on-soil-bacterial-and-fungal-community-diversity-a-meta-analysis> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2020.104721 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This study looks at the effect on no-tillage on soil microbial diversity. The study used 43 peer reviewed articles with 141 observations from around the World. No-tillage had different effects on bacterial and fungal community diversity — increasing soil bacterial diversity, with no significant change to fungal diversity — and soil type and stubble had a significant impact on soil bacterial diversity. No-tillage significantly increased the relative abundance of Acidobacteria, decreased Actinobacteria, and had little effect on Proteobacteria, Chloroflex, Firmicute, and Bacteroides. A structural equation model showed that retaining stubble under no-tillage had the most significant effect on soil microbial diversity by changing soil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123400023/2021/02/24/e-ect-of-no-tillage-on-soil-bacterial-and-fungal-community-diversity-a-meta-analysis> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123400023?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123400023?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123400023?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123400023> Weed Seed Decay in No-Till Field and Planted Riparian Buffer Zone. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123397947/2021/02/24/weed-seed-decay-in-no-till-field-and-planted-riparian-buffer-zone> From www.mdpi.com <https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/3/293> - Today, 5:48 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123397947/2021/02/24/weed-seed-decay-in-no-till-field-and-planted-riparian-buffer-zone> Nikolic, N., Squartini, A., Concheri, G., Stevanato, P., Zanin, G. & Masin, R. 2020. Plants-Basel. 9 (3). <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123397947/2021/02/24/weed-seed-decay-in-no-till-field-and-planted-riparian-buffer-zone> https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9030293 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: The paper looked at the issue of seed degradation in an undisturbed and a no-till soil, trying not only to uncover where seeds are more degraded, but also to investigate the microbial activities that could be involved in this process in Northern Italy. Seed decay was tested in two different sites, a no-till field and the adjacent buffer zone. Soil microbial activity was also measured. Degradation of the buried seeds was higher in the no-till field soil than in the buffer strip for all the studied species as was the microbial cellulolytic activity. The paper concluded that no-till management can improve weed seed suppression in the soil. Moreover, cellulolytic microorganisms play an important role in seedbank longevity, so cellulolytic activity surveys could be used as an early monitoring bioindicator for weed seed suppression in soil. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123397947/2021/02/24/weed-seed-decay-in-no-till-field-and-planted-riparian-buffer-zone> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123397947?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123397947?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123397947?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123397947> Socioeconomic Impacts of Conservation Agriculture based Sustainable Intensification (CASI) with Particular Reference to South Asia. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123395316/2021/02/24/socioeconomic-impacts-of-conservation-agriculture-based-sustainable-intensification-casi-with-particular-reference-to-south-asia> From link.springer.com <https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-46409-7_22> - Today, 11:17 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123395316/2021/02/24/socioeconomic-impacts-of-conservation-agriculture-based-sustainable-intensification-casi-with-particular-reference-to-south-asia> Dixon, J., Rola-Rubzen, M.F., Timsina, J., Cummins, J., Tiwari, T.P., Dang, T.P., Dang, Y.P., Dalal, R.C. & Menzies, N.W. 2020. Chapter 22. 377-394 In. Dang Y., Dalal R., Menzies N. (eds). No-till Farming Systems for Sustainable Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123395316/2021/02/24/socioeconomic-impacts-of-conservation-agriculture-based-sustainable-intensification-casi-with-particular-reference-to-south-asia> https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46409-7_22 Book available at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-46409-7 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This is a chapter in a 2020 book published by Springer Cham that looks at Conservation Agriculture based Sustainable Intensification (CASI) using participatory on-farm data from Bangladesh, Nepal and Eastern India. CASI strengthened the Food-Energy-Water nexus through increased food crop productivity, and energy and water use efficiencies. Furthermore, CASI reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved natural resources. Significant socioeconomic impacts of CASI were improved household food security and income, reduced production costs, better returns to labor, benefits to women, expanded social capital and strengthened system resilience. These socioeconomic benefits are important drivers of smallholder adoption of CASI and underpin the prospects for widespread scaling. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123395316/2021/02/24/socioeconomic-impacts-of-conservation-agriculture-based-sustainable-intensification-casi-with-particular-reference-to-south-asia> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123395316?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123395316?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123395316?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123395316> Is tillage beneficial or detrimental for insect and slug management? A meta-analysis. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123396103/2021/02/24/is-tillage-beneficial-or-detrimental-for-insect-and-slug-management-a-meta-analysis> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880920300347?via%3Dihub&key=daf69d4cdb763010842105711a931499ad1808be> - Today, 10:37 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123396103/2021/02/24/is-tillage-beneficial-or-detrimental-for-insect-and-slug-management-a-meta-analysis> Rowen, E.K., Regan, K.H., Barbercheck, M.E. & Tooker, J.F. 2020. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 294. Article number 106849. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123396103/2021/02/24/is-tillage-beneficial-or-detrimental-for-insect-and-slug-management-a-meta-analysis> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.106849 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This meta-analysis paper looks at the impact of tillage practices on insect pests and slugs with the hypothesis that using reduced/zero-tillage increases predator populations that help biological control. The paper evaluates the effects of reduced-tillage practices (e.g., no-till, harrowing, shallow disking) on the abundance of invertebrate pests and natural enemies relative to high-disturbance tillage practices (e.g., moldboard plowing), using studies published between 1983 and 2017. Results show that insect and slug pests were not more abundant in reduced-tillage systems than in high-disturbance tillage systems. Pest herbivores that spend part of their life-cycle in the soil followed this pattern, but foliar pests were more abundant in systems with more intense tillage practices. The abundance of arthropod predators that spend part of their life-cycle in the soil were significantly lower in high-disturbance tillage systems compared with no-disturbance tillage systems, regardless of the intensity of the disturbance. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123396103/2021/02/24/is-tillage-beneficial-or-detrimental-for-insect-and-slug-management-a-meta-analysis> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123396103?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123396103?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123396103?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123396103> Soil fertility and nutrient budget after 23-years of different soil tillage systems and winter cover crops in a subtropical Oxisol <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349986/2021/02/22/soil-fertility-and-nutrient-budget-after-23-years-of-different-soil-tillage-systems-and-winter-cover-crops-in-a-subtropical-oxisol> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706117305530?via%3Dihub&key=b4d0cc83538fd8ecb33e9687c4bb402e7bf8c359> - February 22, 2:18 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349986/2021/02/22/soil-fertility-and-nutrient-budget-after-23-years-of-different-soil-tillage-systems-and-winter-cover-crops-in-a-subtropical-oxisol> Tiecher, T., Calegari, A., Caner, L. & Rheinheimer, D.S. 2017. Geoderma. 308. 78-85. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349986/2021/02/22/soil-fertility-and-nutrient-budget-after-23-years-of-different-soil-tillage-systems-and-winter-cover-crops-in-a-subtropical-oxisol> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.08.028 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term (23-yrs) effect of soil tillage systems and winter cover crops on (i) soil acidity, (ii) nutrient availability, and (iii) P and K budget in a subtropical Oxisol from Southern Brazil.They used 6 cover crops and CT vs NT. Continuous NT system for 23-years resulted in higher soil fertility in the topsoil (0–10cm) compared to CT, but with some limitations of nutrient availability and soil acidity below 10cm depth compared to CT. Surface application of lime in NT reduced soil acidity up to 20cm compared to CT. The budget of P was negative for all treatments, highlighting the P-sink behavior of this strongly weathered subtropical Oxisol. Among the cover crops tested, black oat stood out by its greater production of biomass, resulting in higher P and K availability in the soil surface. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349986/2021/02/22/soil-fertility-and-nutrient-budget-after-23-years-of-different-soil-tillage-systems-and-winter-cover-crops-in-a-subtropical-oxisol> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123349986?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123349986?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123349986?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123349986> Structural diversity and efficacy of culturable cellulose decomposing bacteria isolated from rice–pulse resource conservation practices. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349877/2021/02/22/structural-diversity-and-efficacy-of-culturable-cellulose-decomposing-bacteria-isolated-from-rice-pulse-resource-conservation-practices> From onlinelibrary.wiley.com <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jobm.201900275> - February 22, 1:32 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349877/2021/02/22/structural-diversity-and-efficacy-of-culturable-cellulose-decomposing-bacteria-isolated-from-rice-pulse-resource-conservation-practices> Dash, P.K., Bhattacharyya, P., Shahid, M., Roy, P.S., Padhy, S.R., Swain, C.K., Kumar, U., Gautam, P., Lal, B., Panneerselvam, P. & Nayak, A.K. 2019. Journal of Basic Microbiology. 59 (10) 963-978. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349877/2021/02/22/structural-diversity-and-efficacy-of-culturable-cellulose-decomposing-bacteria-isolated-from-rice-pulse-resource-conservation-practices> https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.201900275 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This paper from Eastern India looks at various ways of establishment of crops in a rice-pulse system and their effect on cellulolytic bacteria. . It has 7 different establishment systems that include the traditional puddling and transplanting for rice but also direct seeding with inter-cropped Sesbania, wet direct sowing, ZT direct sowing and use of drum seeder plus biochar. Their findings show that long-term ZT in the rice-pulse system could be a unique source for efficient cellulose decomposing bacteria and further the efficient bacterial strains isolated from this system can be used as efficient bioinoculants for in situ as well as ex-situ decomposition of rice straw particularly in conservation agriculture <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349877/2021/02/22/structural-diversity-and-efficacy-of-culturable-cellulose-decomposing-bacteria-isolated-from-rice-pulse-resource-conservation-practices> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123349877?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123349877?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123349877?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123349877> Methodology for estimating the impact of no tillage on the 4perMille initiative: The case of annual crops in Spain. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399272/2021/02/24/methodology-for-estimating-the-impact-of-no-tillage-on-the-4permille-initiative-the-case-of-annual-crops-in-spain> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706119328587?via%3Dihub&key=dc32b09bbc4ca6bd19fd8e2d8e1bb791acc08cbb> - Today, 7:21 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399272/2021/02/24/methodology-for-estimating-the-impact-of-no-tillage-on-the-4permille-initiative-the-case-of-annual-crops-in-spain> Moreno-Garcia, M., Repullo-Ruiberriz, M.A., Gonzalez-Sanchez, E.J., Ordenez-Fernandez, R., Veroz-Gonzalez, O. & Maria Carbonell-Bojollo, R. 2020. Geoderma. 371. Article number 114381. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399272/2021/02/24/methodology-for-estimating-the-impact-of-no-tillage-on-the-4permille-initiative-the-case-of-annual-crops-in-spain> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114381 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This 4perMile initiative objective was to increase the annual amount of C in soils of the world by 0.4%. No Tillage (NT) potential applied in annual crops is presented in this paper as one way to achieve this. The comparison between the annual carbon sequestration (CS) through NT and the contents in SOC in annual crops, allowed the calculation of the potential importance of NT, within the regional framework, of the 4perMille Initiative. This methodology for calculating the NT potential over the 4perMille Initiative can be easily replicated in regions and countries around the world. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399272/2021/02/24/methodology-for-estimating-the-impact-of-no-tillage-on-the-4permille-initiative-the-case-of-annual-crops-in-spain> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123399272?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123399272?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123399272?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123399272> Evaluating machine learning algorithms for predicting maize yield under conservation agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123400031/2021/02/24/evaluating-machine-learning-algorithms-for-predicting-maize-yield-under-conservation-agriculture-in-eastern-and-southern-africa> From link.springer.com <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42452-020-2711-6> - Today, 7:00 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123400031/2021/02/24/evaluating-machine-learning-algorithms-for-predicting-maize-yield-under-conservation-agriculture-in-eastern-and-southern-africa> Mupangwa, W., Chipindu, L., Nyagumbo, I., Mkuhlani, S. & Sisito, G. 2020. Springer Nature (SN) Applied Sciences. 2 (5) article number 952. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123400031/2021/02/24/evaluating-machine-learning-algorithms-for-predicting-maize-yield-under-conservation-agriculture-in-eastern-and-southern-africa> https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-2711-6 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This paper uses machine learning (ML) approaches as a promising artificial intelligence alternative and complimentary tools to the commonly used crop production models.The study was designed to answer the following questions: (a) Can machine learning techniques predict maize grain yields under conservation agriculture (CA)? (b) How close can ML algorithms predict maize grain yields under CA-based cropping systems in the highlands and lowlands of Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)? Linear algorithms (LDA and LR) predicted maize yield more closely to the observed yields compared with nonlinear tools (NB, KNN, CART and SVM) under the conditions of the reported study. Overall, the LDA algorithm was the best tool, and SVM was the worst algorithm in maize yield prediction. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123400031/2021/02/24/evaluating-machine-learning-algorithms-for-predicting-maize-yield-under-conservation-agriculture-in-eastern-and-southern-africa> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123400031?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123400031?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123400031?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123400031> Prospects and constraints in smallholder farmers' adoption of multiple soil carbon enhancing practices in Western Kenya <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123398240/2021/02/24/prospects-and-constraints-in-smallholder-farmers-adoption-of-multiple-soil-carbon-enhancing-practices-in-western-kenya> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectPrefsTemp?Redirect=https://cell.com/heliyon/retrieve/pii/S2405844020300712?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2405844020300712%3Fshowall%3Dtrue&key=0e1223776809a4c532cb86b9f47bbd99ea1a9953> - Today, 6:40 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123398240/2021/02/24/prospects-and-constraints-in-smallholder-farmers-adoption-of-multiple-soil-carbon-enhancing-practices-in-western-kenya> Kanyenji, G.M., Oluoch-Kosura, W., Onyango, C.M. & Ng'ang'a, S.K. 2020. Heliyon. 6 (3). Article number e03226. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123398240/2021/02/24/prospects-and-constraints-in-smallholder-farmers-adoption-of-multiple-soil-carbon-enhancing-practices-in-western-kenya> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03226 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This study analyses the factors that influence the probability and extent of adoption of soil carbon enhancing practices in Western Kenya utilizing plot-level information, socioeconomic characteristics and external supporting factors.The results indicate that the probability and extent of adoption of soil carbon enhancing practices are influenced by plot-level characteristics, literacy level, access to agricultural credit, agricultural group membership, participation in the market, and gender of the household. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123398240/2021/02/24/prospects-and-constraints-in-smallholder-farmers-adoption-of-multiple-soil-carbon-enhancing-practices-in-western-kenya> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123398240?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123398240?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123398240?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123398240> Cover crops as a tool to reduce reliance on intensive tillage and nitrogen fertilization in conventional arable cropping systems. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399103/2021/02/24/cover-crops-as-a-tool-to-reduce-reliance-on-intensive-tillage-and-nitrogen-fertilization-in-conventional-arable-cropping-systems> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378429019315412?via%3Dihub&key=4f93a5a46d2ff76e6af9c704c285cafcff190bfe> - Today, 5:22 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399103/2021/02/24/cover-crops-as-a-tool-to-reduce-reliance-on-intensive-tillage-and-nitrogen-fertilization-in-conventional-arable-cropping-systems> Wittwer, R.A. & van der Heijden, M.G.A. 2020. Field Crops Research. 249. Article number 107736. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399103/2021/02/24/cover-crops-as-a-tool-to-reduce-reliance-on-intensive-tillage-and-nitrogen-fertilization-in-conventional-arable-cropping-systems> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2020.107736 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This paper tested whether cover crops are a suitable management tool to reduce fertilizer input, tillage intensity and herbicide use in Swiss arable cropping systems. They compared the effects of four different cover crop treatments (fallow, radish, subterranean clover and hairy vetch) on maize at two fertilization levels combined with three levels of tillage intensity. They used spectral NVDI imagery to assess vegetation. Cover crops on average increased yields by 12 % (+7 % to +20 %) and cover crop effects depended on tillage intensity, fertilization level and cover crop treatment for most of the assessed maize parameters. Hairy vetch was the best cover crop. Spectral imagery analysis showed that legume cover crops compensated for delayed N availability in reduced and no tillage systems and cover crops contributed to enhanced N uptake and crop growth later in the season. They provide evidence that cover crop based cropping systems can be used to reduce synthetic inputs and tillage without compromising yield. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123399103/2021/02/24/cover-crops-as-a-tool-to-reduce-reliance-on-intensive-tillage-and-nitrogen-fertilization-in-conventional-arable-cropping-systems> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123399103?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123399103?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123399103?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123399103> Longitudinal analysis of a long-term conservation agriculture experiment in Malawi and lessons for future experimental design. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123396140/2021/02/24/longitudinal-analysis-of-a-long-term-conservation-agriculture-experiment-in-malawi-and-lessons-for-future-experimental-design> From www.cambridge.org <https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/experimental-agriculture/article/longitudinal-analysis-of-a-longterm-conservation-agriculture-experiment-in-malawi-and-lessons-for-future-experimental-design/1497F7297CCDDCC33180F03DA6EBFE16> - Today, 10:49 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123396140/2021/02/24/longitudinal-analysis-of-a-long-term-conservation-agriculture-experiment-in-malawi-and-lessons-for-future-experimental-design> Lark, R.M, Ligowe, I.S., Thierfelder, C., Magwero, N., Namaona, W., Njira, K., Sandram, I., Chimungu, J.G & Naliivata, P.C. 2020. Experimental Agriculture. 56 (4) 506-527. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123396140/2021/02/24/longitudinal-analysis-of-a-long-term-conservation-agriculture-experiment-in-malawi-and-lessons-for-future-experimental-design> https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479720000125 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This long-term study used analysis of 10 years of data to look at the effects of variation in seasons between treatments on yield of maize. There was a strong treatment effect between rotational treatments and other treatments and a weak effect between intercropping and monocropping. There was no evidence for an overall advantage of systems where residues are retained (in combination with direct seeding or planting basins) over conventional management with respect to maize yield. Also showed that significant treatment effects are unlikely with just 4 replicates and suggest designing trials that have less treatments and more replicates. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123396140/2021/02/24/longitudinal-analysis-of-a-long-term-conservation-agriculture-experiment-in-malawi-and-lessons-for-future-experimental-design> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123396140?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123396140?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123396140?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123396140> Microbiomes and Pathogen Survival in Crop Residues, an Ecotone Between Plant and Soil. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123351091/2021/02/22/microbiomes-and-pathogen-survival-in-crop-residues-an-ecotone-between-plant-and-soil> From doi.org <https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-02-19-0010-RVW> - February 22, 2:33 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123351091/2021/02/22/microbiomes-and-pathogen-survival-in-crop-residues-an-ecotone-between-plant-and-soil> Kerdraon, L., Laval, V. & Suffert, F. 2019. Phytobiomes Journal. 3 (4) 246-255. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123351091/2021/02/22/microbiomes-and-pathogen-survival-in-crop-residues-an-ecotone-between-plant-and-soil> https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-02-19-0010-RVW *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This is an interesting paper that looks at the role of residues incorporated or left on the soil surface on the the microbial communities including those related to plant diseases. This review focuses on microbiomes associated with residues within the context of other microbial habitats in cereal-producing agroecosystems such as phyllosphere or rhizosphere. They connect the residue microbiome with the survival of residue-borne fungal plant pathogens, thus combining knowledge in microbial ecology and epidemiology, two disciplines still not sufficiently connected. They discuss how the interactions between the microbial communities and the pathogens present on residues could be used. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123351091/2021/02/22/microbiomes-and-pathogen-survival-in-crop-residues-an-ecotone-between-plant-and-soil> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123351091?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123351091?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123351091?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123351091> Global Uptake of Conservation Agriculture and the Impact on Water-Related Ecosystem Services. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349915/2021/02/22/global-uptake-of-conservation-agriculture-and-the-impact-on-water-related-ecosystem-services> From www.oxfordhandbooks.com <https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190669799.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780190669799-e-59> - February 22, 1:45 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349915/2021/02/22/global-uptake-of-conservation-agriculture-and-the-impact-on-water-related-ecosystem-services> Kassam, A. & Coates, D. 2019. The Global uptake of Conservation Agriculture and the Impact on Water-related Ecosystem Services. The Oxford Handbook of Food, Water and Society. 23 pages. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349915/2021/02/22/global-uptake-of-conservation-agriculture-and-the-impact-on-water-related-ecosystem-services> https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190669799.013.59 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This paper looks at the use of CA to overcome soil erosion and land degradation leading to loss of Eco-system services required to maintain food security. It includes an estimate of the global adoption of CA of 180 Mha (12.5% of annual cropland) and increasing annually at 10 Mha. The paper looks at water-related services and food security, shows that CA to meet, or exceed, most of the current shortfall in projected global agricultural water demand by 2050. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4123349915/2021/02/22/global-uptake-of-conservation-agriculture-and-the-impact-on-water-related-ecosystem-services> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4123349915?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4123349915?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4123349915?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4123349915> ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the CA-Cop-L list, click the following link: &*TICKET_URL(CA-Cop-L,SIGNOFF);