The Effects of Legume Green Manures, Perennial Forages, and Cover Crops on Non-renewable Energy Use in Western Canadian Cropping Systems

The Effects of Legume Green Manures, Perennial Forages, and Cover Crops on Non-renewable Energy Use in Western Canadian Cropping Systems PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description
Inputs such as machinery, fuel, pesticides and fertilizers contribute to energy expended in cropping systems. Reducing non-renewable energy use (EU) and increasing energy use efficiency (EUE) can make cropping systems more sustainable. Nitrogen benefits of legumes to succeeding non-leguminous crops are well documented. This study examined the effect of green manure and perennial forage legumes on energy efficiency of crop production for four western Canadian crop rotation studies: Lethbridge, AB; Swift Current, SK; Indian Head, SK; Glenlea, MB. Relative to continuous grain rotations, rotations containing 50% perennial forage legumes decreased EU by up to 85% and increased EUE by up to 438%. Relative to cereal, pulse and oilseed rotations, they reduced EU by up to 28% and increased EUE by up to 294%. Rotations containing green manure legumes decreased EU by up to 65%, and increased EUE by up to 196%. The primary contribution of legumes to lower energy use was nitrogen addition to the soil. Depending on site and rotation, economic performance of legume rotations varied compared to annual grain rotations. The rotational benefits of relay intercropped and double cropped legumes in cont nuous grain systems in Manitoba were also investigated. When examining relay intercropped alfalfa and red clover and double cropped chickling fetch and lentil, it was found that considerable nitrogen benefits were provided to a succeeding oat crop by all legumes at Winnipeg, and by some legumes at Carmen. Reduced legume growth at Carmen, due to drought conditions, resulted in few yield benefits from the relay intercropped and double cropped legumes. Including relay intercropped and double cropped legumes in continuous grain rotations reduced energy use by up to 39%, and increased energy use efficiency by up to 28%. Increasing the frequency of legumes in cropping systems shows promise to enhance agricultural sustainability.

The Effects of Legume Green Manures, Perennial Forages, and Cover Crops on Non-renewable Energy Use in Western Canadian Cropping Systems

The Effects of Legume Green Manures, Perennial Forages, and Cover Crops on Non-renewable Energy Use in Western Canadian Cropping Systems PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description
Inputs such as machinery, fuel, pesticides and fertilizers contribute to energy expended in cropping systems. Reducing non-renewable energy use (EU) and increasing energy use efficiency (EUE) can make cropping systems more sustainable. Nitrogen benefits of legumes to succeeding non-leguminous crops are well documented. This study examined the effect of green manure and perennial forage legumes on energy efficiency of crop production for four western Canadian crop rotation studies: Lethbridge, AB; Swift Current, SK; Indian Head, SK; Glenlea, MB. Relative to continuous grain rotations, rotations containing 50% perennial forage legumes decreased EU by up to 85% and increased EUE by up to 438%. Relative to cereal, pulse and oilseed rotations, they reduced EU by up to 28% and increased EUE by up to 294%. Rotations containing green manure legumes decreased EU by up to 65%, and increased EUE by up to 196%. The primary contribution of legumes to lower energy use was nitrogen addition to the soil. Depending on site and rotation, economic performance of legume rotations varied compared to annual grain rotations. The rotational benefits of relay intercropped and double cropped legumes in cont nuous grain systems in Manitoba were also investigated. When examining relay intercropped alfalfa and red clover and double cropped chickling fetch and lentil, it was found that considerable nitrogen benefits were provided to a succeeding oat crop by all legumes at Winnipeg, and by some legumes at Carmen. Reduced legume growth at Carmen, due to drought conditions, resulted in few yield benefits from the relay intercropped and double cropped legumes. Including relay intercropped and double cropped legumes in continuous grain rotations reduced energy use by up to 39%, and increased energy use efficiency by up to 28%. Increasing the frequency of legumes in cropping systems shows promise to enhance agricultural sustainability.

The Effects of Legume Green Manures, Perennial Forages, and Cover Crops on Non-renewable Energy Use in Western Canadian Cropping Systems

The Effects of Legume Green Manures, Perennial Forages, and Cover Crops on Non-renewable Energy Use in Western Canadian Cropping Systems PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description


Managing Cover Crops Profitably (3rd Ed. )

Managing Cover Crops Profitably (3rd Ed. ) PDF Author: Andy Clark
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1437903797
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 248

Get Book Here

Book Description
Cover crops slow erosion, improve soil, smother weeds, enhance nutrient and moisture availability, help control many pests and bring a host of other benefits to your farm. At the same time, they can reduce costs, increase profits and even create new sources of income. You¿ll reap dividends on your cover crop investments for years, since their benefits accumulate over the long term. This book will help you find which ones are right for you. Captures farmer and other research results from the past ten years. The authors verified the info. from the 2nd ed., added new results and updated farmer profiles and research data, and added 2 chap. Includes maps and charts, detailed narratives about individual cover crop species, and chap. about aspects of cover cropping.

Grassland: a global resource

Grassland: a global resource PDF Author: D.A. McGilloway
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9086865518
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 429

Get Book Here

Book Description
"The concept of grasslands as a global resource is not new. Indeed many recognised authorities have been canvassing for a global approach to understanding, managing and exploiting this resource for many years. This is the first book that gathers together leading experts from around the world to outline our current understanding of this complex ecosystem, the ways in which it can be enhanced and utilised and where the research challenges are for the future. The following themes unite the book: - Efficient production from grassland; - Grassland and the environment; - Delivering the benefits from grassland. The reader is given an in depth understanding of the biology of the system and how grasslands are crucial for soil stabilisation and water quality. Secondly, much attention is given to how grasslands offer the possibility of increasing food supply and income generation, which is a hugely important but often ignored facet in today’s climate of extensification and biodiversity. Current advances in the grassland sciences have a proven potential to promote the economic development and environmental stability of regions, nations and peoples, particularly in some of the most resource-limited areas of the world. Approaches for achieving the most effective development and adoption of new technology are reviewed."

Annual Progress Review

Annual Progress Review PDF Author: University of Manitoba. Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Agricultural education
Languages : en
Pages : 232

Get Book Here

Book Description


Cover Crops in West Africa

Cover Crops in West Africa PDF Author: International Development Research Centre (Canada)
Publisher: IDRC
ISBN: 088936852X
Category : Cover crops
Languages : en
Pages : 319

Get Book Here

Book Description
Cover Crops in West Africa Contributing to Sustainable Agriculture

Cover Crops for Clean Water

Cover Crops for Clean Water PDF Author: William Leonard Hargrove
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 220

Get Book Here

Book Description
The proceedings of this conference deal with the role of cover crops in water quality management, including reducing water runoff, soil erosion, agrichemical lost in runoff, and nitrate leaching to groundwater

Building Soils for Better Crops

Building Soils for Better Crops PDF Author: Fred Magdoff
Publisher: Sare
ISBN: 9781888626131
Category : Humus
Languages : en
Pages : 294

Get Book Here

Book Description
"'Published by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, with funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture."

Illustrated Lecture on Leguminous Forage Crops for the North

Illustrated Lecture on Leguminous Forage Crops for the North PDF Author: Charles Vancouver Piper
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Forage plants
Languages : en
Pages : 24

Get Book Here

Book Description


Organic Farming

Organic Farming PDF Author: Charles A. Francis
Publisher: ASA-CSSA-SSSA
ISBN: 9780891181736
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 382

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book represents a current look at what we know about organic farming practices and systems, primarily from the U.S. and Canadian perspectives. the discussion begins with history and certification, ecological knowledge as the foundation for sustaining food systems, and biodiversity. The next chapters address crop-animal systems; forages, grain, oil seed, and specialty crops; organic cropping and soil nutrient needs; and vegetation and pest management. Readers will next learn about marketing organics, organic foods and food security, and education and research. The book concludes with a survey of the future of organic farming and a perspective on the agricultural industry and the future of the rural sector.--COVER.