Abstract: The effect of variation in seasonal temperature and precipitation on soil water nitrate (NO3-N) concentration and leaching from winter and spring cereals cropping systems was investigated over three consecutive four-year crop rotation cycles from 1997 to 2008 in an organic farming crop rotation experiment in Denmark. Three experimental sites, varying in climate and soil type from coarse sand to sandy loam, were investigated. The experiment included experimental treatments with different rotations, manure rate and cover crop, and soil nitrate concentrations was monitored using suction cups. The effects of climate, soil and management were examined in a linear mixed model, and only parameters with significant effect (P < 0.05) were included in the final model. The model explained 61% and 47% of the variation in the square root transform of flow-weighted annual NO3-N concentration for winter and spring cereals, respectively, and 68% and 77% of the variation in the square root transform of annual NO3-N leaching for winter and spring cereals, respectively. Nitrate concentration and leaching were shown to be site specific and driven by climatic factors and crop management. There were significant effects on annual N concentration and NO3-N leaching of location, rotation, previous crop and crop cover during autumn and winter. The relative effects of temperature and precipitation differed between seasons and cropping systems. A sensitivity analysis revealed that the predicted N concentration and leaching increased with increases in temperature and precipitation. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: In this study, the WOFOST crop simulation model was used together with comprehensive empirical databases on barley Hordeum vulgare L. to study the contributions of different yield-determining and -limiting factors to observed trends of barley yield in Finland from 1988 to 2008. Simulations were performed at 3 study sites representing different agro-ecological zones, and compared with the data from experimental sites and that reported by local farmers. Yield gaps between simulated potential yields and farmers’ yields and their trends were assessed. Positive observed yield trends of Finnish barley mostly resulted from the development and usage of new, high-yielding cultivars. Simulated trends in climatic potential and water-limited potential yields of individual cultivars showed a slight declining trend. Yield gaps showed an increasing trend in 2 out of 3 study areas. Since the mid-1990s, a major reason for this has been the lack of market and policy incentives favouring crop management decisions, i.e. annual fertilisation, soil maintenance, drainage and crop rotation decisions, aiming for higher yields. The study indicates potential options for increasing or maintaining barley yields in the future. The breeding of new climate-resilient cultivars is the primary option. However, this needs to work alongside overall adjustments to farm management and must be supported by financial incentives for farmers to increase yields.

Abstract: The Northeast Farming Region (NFR) is the most important and the largest rain-fed maize production region in China, accounting for 30% of China’s maize. We investigated the effects of climatic factors, drought risk and irrigation requirement on maize yield in different maize growth phases during 1961 to 2010 using a statistical analysis of observed yield from 44 stations in NFR. We divided the maize growing season into four growth phases, comprising seeding, vegetative, flowering and maturity. The dual crop coefficient was used to calculate crop evapotranspiration and soil water balance during the maize growing season. The effects of mean temperature, radiation, effective rainfall, water deficit, drought stress days, actual crop evapotranspiration (ETa) and irrigation requirement in different growth phases were included in the statistical model to predict maize yield. During the period 1961 to 2010, mean temperature increased significantly in all growth phases in NFR, while radiation decreased significantly in southern NFR in the seeding, vegetative and flowering phases. Effective rainfall increased in the seeding and vegetative phases leading to less water deficit, whereas decreased effective rainfall in the flowering and maturity phases enhanced water deficit. More days with drought stress were concentrated in western NFR where larger volumes of irrigation were needed. Our results indicate that the increase of mean temperature in the seeding and maturity phases was beneficial for maize yield, higher ETa in each growth phase would lead to yield increase, but too high rainfall would damage maize yield. The results also show that water deficit and drought stress days had significant negative effects on maize yield, and the absence of irrigation would manifest such effects on maize production in NFR. Therefore, the development of irrigation and drainage systems is highly needed for ensuring the stability of maize production in NFR. In addition, other adaptation measures like introducing new cultivars and optimizing soil and crop management to better conserve soil water would be beneficial for future maize production. No Label