Bridging research approaches on Conservation Agriculture in Malawi

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Picture copyright Hermans et al.

Conservation Agriculture is a promoted form of agriculture, sustaining climate change resilience for smallholder farmers across Africa. However, adoption rates remain low, particularly in Malawi. Scientists Hermans et al. recently revealed a clear distinction between the agro-ecological and socio-economic approaches to conservation agriculture research. They suggested that on-farm trials may help to bridge the two approaches together, leading to better understand what forms of conservation agriculture work, where, for whom and, crucially, why.

Decisions based on inadequate information compromise the sustainability of livestock producers

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Picture copyright Díaz et al.

Animal stocking rate on natural grasslands is a key factor determining livestock system productivity. In Uruguay, scientists Díaz et al. analyzed how beef cattle producers decide on stocking rates, in particular, those exceeding carrying capacity. They showed that management is affected by system configurations, mainly rigidity, poverty and by economic opportunity. They propose a framework to identify barriers and traps as a first step towards increasing the Uruguayan livestock system sustainability.

Combining climate information and geographic risk spreading strategies increases grazing profitability

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Picture copyright David Cobon

Climate variability strongly influences the profitability of grazing. Scientists Nguyen-Huy et al. demonstrate that graziers can strategically move their production to other areas based on changing seasonal climate conditions. They also show that using climate information and geographic risk spreading strategies together can help graziers minimize climate risk, while not sacrificing profitability. The approach is applicable to other parts of the world and could be used to optimize risk and profitability for other agricultural sectors exposed to variable climatic conditions.

Intensifying pasture grazing reduces the diversity of spiders in crop-livestock systems

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Picture copyright James Lindsey at Ecology of Commanster

Spiders provide important ecosystem services and reflect the impacts of land-use intensification. In the Brazilian subtropics, scientists Freiberg et al. found that low grazing intensities increased pasture ground spiders’ abundance and richness in a soybean-livestock farming system. Hence, by adjusting grazing intensity in pastures, farmers can promote and diversify the spider communities.

DNA in the poop : challenges in a sea of plenty

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Copyright Nboyine et al.

The ground wētā is an insect pest causing damages in New Zealand vineyards. Scientists Nboyine et al. analyzed plant DNA present in the feces of this insect and revealed that many plants may constitute their staple diet. They reckoned, therefore, that deploying non-commercial trap crops around vineyards, as a decoy to feed on, is particularly appropriate to control wētā, as this insect seems to be highly generalist in its feeding behavior.

Economic advantages of legume-based rotations in dry areas

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Picture copyright Yigezu et al.

The expansion of cereal monocropping has been a growing challenge in dry areas. This trend is mostly a consequence of policies and incentives for the intensification of cereals as well as lower yields, diseases and pest susceptibility, and perceived economic disadvantages of legumes. Considering a two-year period, scientists Yigezu et al. provided evidence that rotation, especially with improved varieties of legumes, leads to a total two-year gross margin higher than cereal monocropping.

Using a roller crimper for weed management in organic vegetable production

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Picture copyright Navarro-Miró et al.

Based on seven trials from five countries across Europe over two years, scientists Navarro-Miró et al. showed the effectiveness of roller crimper for controlling weeds at the early stages of crop growth in different vegetable systems, soils and climatic conditions. Most importantly, they found that the use of roller crimper can reduce the reliance on tillage for weed management in organic vegetable systems.

Can natural compounds replace pesticides for controlling Drosophila suzukii?

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Picture copyright Dam et al.

The fruit fly Drosophila suzukii threatens worldwide fruit production. Its control relies mainly on the application of synthetic insecticides during the soft fruit ripening period. Scientists Dam et al. reviewed the natural compounds reported effective against D. suzukii. Even though several natural compounds show promising in vitro activity against this pest, knowledge of their effects on non-target organisms and their field-efficiency are often missing, limiting their wide-spread use.

Increasing soil carbon storage in agroecosystems under low nutrient inputs

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Picture copyright Frak Elzbieta, Inra

Agriculture has to reduce synthetic inputs. Consequently, ecological processes and alternative agricultural practices will become the main regulators of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in cropped soils. Scientists Bertrand et al. recently observed that soil C storage is constrained by N and P supplies in various agricultural situations. Several agroecological practices that improve nutrient recycling can resolve this constraint.

Optimizing the yield of cultivated desert truffles

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Picture copyright Andrino et al.

Producing desert truffles constitutes a valuable agricultural activity in semiarid areas of the Iberian Peninsula due to their much appreciated edible value and their low water requirement. Scientists Andrino et al. found that the crop of desert truffle can be stabilized and optimized, around 300 kg/ha, by controlling the aridity index and soil water potential in the field by irrigation during autumn and spring. They propose four methods to manage the plantations depending on available resources and facilities at the cultivation sites.