Maize is the world's second most important agricultural crop. The cereal was unknown to Europeans before the end of the 15th century, but since its arrival in Europe, it has changed agriculture, food and landscapes. Terraces where maize was cultivated in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula contributed to the formation of local cultures and identities. The history of maize and maize landscape are mementos that help to recover traditional practices, fostering identities, and are crucial for the successful implementation of sustainable policies to provide prosperous futures.
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) in the Iberian Peninsula embodies a history of landscape changes where the concepts of \uffe2\uff80\uff98exotic\uffe2\uff80\uff99, \uffe2\uff80\uff98traditional\uffe2\uff80\uff99 and \uffe2\uff80\uff98hybrid\uffe2\uff80\uff99 help to understand the engagements between landscape, farmers, agronomists (since the 19th and 20th centuries) and seeds. Today, landscapes reveal biophysical and ecological changes that reflect a panoply of intentions. A multitude of agents, and their interactions, acted upon those territories over time.
Using historical sources from the leading institutions dedicated to agricultural research in the Iberian Peninsula, this paper aims to (1) contribute to a better understanding of the maize landscape and culture in the Iberian Peninsula and (2) interrogate how landscape changes (and the landscape history of maize) can frame local or regional heritage and identities reflecting customs or ways of life.
The analysis unveils networks of knowledge, agricultural technologies and seed exchange. Politicians, economists, engineers, agronomists, farmers, governmental officials and agricultural industries planned and transformed traditional rural practices into modern and industrialised ones. Experts and politicians, willing to improve agricultural practices and seeds, using hybrid seeds or building new irrigation systems, led to deep social and landscape changes, allowing maize to cover territories far away from its traditional domains. Moreover, despite farmers' resistance, hybrid maize substituted landraces, eroding agrobiodiversity. Nowadays, the south and east regions of the Iberian Peninsula are the main producers of maize (hybrid), whereas in the Northwest maize is an occasional crop, being replaced by vineyards for economic reasons.
\u00a00.05) difference between irrigation frequencies regarding the maximum grain yield; however, at lower deficit irrigation regime, medium irrigation frequency resulted in lower grain yield. There was a decrease in grain yield with the 125\u00a0% FIT as compared to the FIT, which had statistically similar yield as 75\u00a0% FIT. Irrigation rate significantly impacted grain yield in 2005, 2006 and 2007, while irrigation frequency was only significant during the 2005 and 2006 growing seasons (two dry years) and the interacting effect was only significant in the driest year of 2005 (P\u00a0=\u00a00.006). For the pooled data from 2005 to 2008, irrigation rate was significant (P\u00a0=\u00a00.001) and irrigation frequency was also significant (P\u00a0=\u00a00.015), but their interaction was not significant (P\u00a0=\u00a00.207). Overall, there were no significant differences between irrigation frequencies in terms of grain yield. Ky had interannual variation and average seasonal Ky values were 1.65, 0.91, 0.91 and 0.83 in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively, and the pooled data (2005\u20132008) Ky value were 1.14.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "0106 biological sciences", "evapotranspiration", "15. Life on land", "maize", "water use", "7. Clean energy", "01 natural sciences", "irrigation", "6. Clean water"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-016-0502-z"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Irrigation%20Science", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s00271-016-0502-z", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s00271-016-0502-z", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s00271-016-0502-z"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-04-04T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s00271-010-0260-2", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-04-16T16:14:23Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2011-01-13", "title": "Performance Of Bucket Drip Irrigation Powered By Treadle Pump On Tomato And Maize/Bean Production In Malawi", "description": "The performance of a bucket drip irrigation system (BDI) powered by treadle pump was evaluated on tomato and intercropped maize/bean crops, between 2005 and 2007 in Malawi. It was a split plot experiment with three replicates. The BDI system consisted of a 1,300-l tank mounted 1.5\u00a0m above ground and connected with a 32-mm mainline and 15-mm lateral lines spaced at 1\u00a0m by 0.6\u00a0m. A treadle pump was used to uplift water to the tank. Tomato and intercropped maize/bean were irrigated every 4\u00a0days. The system reduced labour and water by >25% and it showed high uniform application depth and wetted diameter. Yields were significantly different between tomato varieties (P\u00a0<\u00a00.05). Maize/bean yields were highly significantly different between monoculture, intercropping system and bean varieties (P\u00a0<\u00a00.001). Consequently, an economic analysis shows that there is a significant difference, in terms of net income, between the various crop enterprises. Tomato was more valuable with BDI, compared to maize and beans. It can be concluded that BDI, powered by a treadle pump, saves labour and time and it provides uniform irrigation for crop production. Therefore, tomato is recommended for use with this system, compared to maize and bean.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "0106 biological sciences", "01 natural sciences", "630", "6. Clean water", "Maize"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Fandika, I R, Kadyampakeni, D, Zingore, S,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-010-0260-2"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Irrigation%20Science", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s00271-010-0260-2", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s00271-010-0260-2", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s00271-010-0260-2"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2011-01-14T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s003740050022", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:14:28Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2002-10-06", "title": "Nitrogen And Phosphorus Uptake By Maize As Affected By Particulate Organic Matter Quality, Soil Characteristics, And Land-Use History For Soils From The West African Moist Savanna Zone", "description": "The impact of land use (unfertilized continuous maize cropping, unfertilized and fertilized alley cropping with maize, Gliricidia sepium tree fallow, natural fallow) on the soil organic matter (SOM) status and general soil fertility characteristics were investigated for a series of soils representative for the West African moist savanna zone. Three soils from the humid forest zone were also included. In an associated pot experiment, relationships between maize N and P uptake and SOM and general soil characteristics were developed. Soils under natural fallow contained the highest amount of organic C (1.72%), total N (0.158%), and had the highest effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) [8.9 mEq 100\u2009g\u20131 dry soil], while the Olsen P content was highest in the fertilized alley cropping plots (13.7\u2009mg kg\u20131) and lowest under natural fallow (6.3\u2009mg kg\u20131). The N concentration of the particulate organic matter (POM) was highest in the unfertilized alley cropping plots (2.4%), while the total POM N content was highest under natural fallow (370\u2009mg N kg\u20131) and lowest in continuously cropped plots (107\u2009mg N kg\u20131). After addition of all nutrients except N, a highly significant linear relationship (R 2=0.91) was observed between the total N uptake in the shoots and roots of 7-week-old maize and the POM N content for the savanna soils. POM in the humid forest soils was presumably protected from decomposition due to its higher silt and clay content. After addition of all nutrients except P, the total maize P uptake was linearly related to the Olsen P content. R 2 increased from 0.56 to 0.67 in a multiple linear regression analysis including the Olsen P content and clay content (which explained 11% of the variation in P uptake). Both the SOM status and N availability were shown to be improved in land-use systems with organic matter additions, while only the addition of P fertilizer could improve P availability.", "keywords": ["alley cropping", "2. Zero hunger", "nutrients", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "maize", "soil"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s003740050022"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Biology%20and%20Fertility%20of%20Soils", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s003740050022", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s003740050022", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s003740050022"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2000-03-03T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s003740050494", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:14:29Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2002-08-25", "title": "Soil Organic Matter Dynamics After The Conversion Of Arable Land To Pasture", "description": "Conversion of arable land (maize) to pasture will affect the soil organic matter (SOM) content. Changes in the SOM content were studied using a size- and density-fractionation method and C-13 analysis. Twenty-six years of maize cropping had resulted in a depletion of carbon stored in the macro-organic fractions (>150 mu m) and an increase in the 250 mu m), light (b.d. 150 mu m) and light (b.d. 150 mu m; b.d. >1.13 g cm(-3)) in the 0- to 20-cm layer was still 40-50% lower than in the continuous pasture plots. Average half-life times calculated from C-13 analyses ranged from 7 years in the light fractions to 56 years in heavy fractions. Fractionation results and C-13 data indicated that mechanical disturbance (plowing) during maize cropping had resulted in vertical displacement of dispersed soil carbon from the 0- to 20-cm layer down to 60-80 cm. Conversion of arable land to pasture, therefore, not only causes a regeneration of the soil carbon content, it also reduces the risk of contaminant transport by dispersed soil carbon.
", "keywords": ["land use change", "DECOMPOSITION", "2. Zero hunger", "C-13 analyses", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "maize", "Maize", "C-13 NATURAL-ABUNDANCE", "CULTIVATION", "pasture", "13C analyses", "VERTISOLS", "SIZE", "SYSTEMS", "Pasture", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Organic matter", "Fractionation", "fractionation", "Land use change", "CARBON TURNOVER", "FRACTIONS", "organic matter", "STORAGE"], "contacts": [{"organization": "R\u00f6mkens, P.F.A.M., van der Plicht, J., Hassink, J.,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s003740050494"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Biology%20and%20Fertility%20of%20Soils", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s003740050494", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s003740050494", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s003740050494"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "1999-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s10457-006-9027-4", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:14:38Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2007-01-17", "title": "Effects Of Organic And Mineral Fertilizer Inputs On Maize Yield And Soil Chemical Properties In A Maize Cropping System In Meru South District, Kenya", "description": "Soil nutrient depletion as a result of continuous cultivation of soils without adequate addition of external inputs is a major challenge in the highlands of Kenya. An experiment was set up in Meru South District, Kenya in 2000 to investigate the effects of different soil-incorporated organic (manure, Tithonia diversifolia, Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena leucocephala) and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield, and soil chemical properties over seven seasons. On average, tithonia treatments (with or without half recommended rate of mineral fertilizer) gave the highest grain yield (5.5 and 5.4\u00a0Mg\u00a0ha\u22121 respectively) while the control treatment gave the lowest yield (1.5\u00a0Mg\u00a0ha\u22121). After 2\u00a0years of trial implementation, total soil carbon and nitrogen contents were improved with the application of organic residues, and manure in particular improved soil calcium content. Results of the economic analysis indicated that on average across the seven seasons, tithonia with half recommended rate of mineral fertilizer treatment recorded the highest net benefit (USD 787\u00a0ha\u22121) while the control recorded the lowest (USD 272\u00a0ha\u22121). However, returns to labor or benefit-cost ratios were in most cases not significantly improved when organic materials were used.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "soil fertility", "yields", "forestry", "cropping systems", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "fertilidad del suelo", "15. Life on land", "maize", "6. Clean water", "ma\u00edz", "sistemas de cultivo", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "inorganic fertilizers", "organic fertilizers", "abonos org\u00e1nicos", "abonos inorg\u00e1nicos", "rendimiento"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-006-9027-4"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Agroforestry%20Systems", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s10457-006-9027-4", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s10457-006-9027-4", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s10457-006-9027-4"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2007-01-18T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.still.2016.12.007", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:16:57Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-01-08", "title": "Tillage, Mulch And Fertiliser Impacts On Soil Nitrogen Availability And Maize Production In Semi-Arid Zimbabwe", "description": "Conservation agriculture has been promoted widely in sub-Saharan African to cushion smallholder farmers against the adverse effects of soil fertility decline, stabilize crop yields and increase resilience to climate change and variability. Our study aimed to determine if aspects of CA, namely tillage and mulching with manure and fertiliser application, improved soil mineral N release, plant N uptake and maize yields in cropping systems on poor soils in semi-arid Matobo, Zimbabwe. The experiment, run for three seasons (2012/13\u20132014/15), was a split-split plot design with three replicates. Tillage (animal-drawn ploughing and ripping) was the main plot treatment and residue application was the sub plot treatment with two levels (100% residues removed or retained after harvest). Five fertility amendments (mineral fertiliser at 0, 20 and 40 kg N ha-1, 5 t ha-1 manure only and 5 t ha-1 manure + 20 kg N ha-1) were sub-sub plot treatments. Plough tillage stimulated N mineralisation by 4\u201319 kg N ha-1 and maize N uptake 13\u201323% more than the ripper tillage. When mulch was added to the plough tillage, mineralisation was slowed resulting in less crop N uptake (by 5\u201319%) compared with no mulch application. N uptake was highest in the manure treatments. N recovery and agronomic N efficiency by maize were highly variable over the three seasons, reflecting the uncertainty complicating farmers\u2019 decision making. Nitrogen recovery in the manure treatments was generally poor in the first season resulting in low grain yields in the range 100\u2013260 kg ha-1 regardless of tillage, though higher in subsequent seasons. In the second season manure application gave the largest grain yields under the ripper tillage, both with and without mulch averaging 1850 and 2228 kg ha-1 respectively. Under the plough tillage, the 40 kg N ha-1 treatment gave the highest grain yields of 1985 kg ha-1. In the third season yields were generally poor under all treatments due to low and poorly-distributed rainfall. The CA principles of minimum soil disturbance and maintenance of a permanent mulch cover resulted in reduced soil mineral N availability for crop uptake and poor maize yields. Nutrient inputs through mineral fertilisers and manure are key to ensuring production in such infertile, sandy soils which predominate in semi-arid regions of southern Africa.", "keywords": ["Zimbabwe", "2. Zero hunger", "Soil Science", "Crop residue retention", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "630", "6. Clean water", "Maize", "Apparent N recovery", "African Agriculture", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Fertilizer Applications", "Agronomic efficiency"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2016.12.007"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20and%20Tillage%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.still.2016.12.007", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.still.2016.12.007", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.still.2016.12.007"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-05-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s10705-007-9121-7", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:14:45Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2007-07-04", "title": "Effects Of Cropping History And Phosphorus Source On Yield And Nitrogen Fixation In Sole And Intercropped Cowpea\u2013Maize Systems", "description": "Symbiotic N2-fixation, N uptake efficiency, biomass- and crop production of cowpea and maize as affected by P source, sole- and intercropped, and introduction of break crops were studied on a farmer\u2019s fields in semi-arid Tanzania. Cowpea fixed around 60% of its N from the atmosphere amounting to 70\u00a0kg N\u00a0ha\u22121 under sole and 36\u00a0kg N\u00a0ha\u22121 under intercropping as estimated by the 15N isotope dilution method around peak biomass production. The amount of N2-fixed was 30\u201340% higher when P was applied as either TSP or MRP whereas cowpea yield were unaffected. Intercropped maize with 19,000 plant ha\u22121 accumulated the same amount of N as 38,000 sole cropped maize plants although intercropping reduced the dry matter accumulation by 25%. The N uptake efficiency of the applied 15N labelled fertiliser was 26%, which equal a total pool of early available plant N of 158\u00a0kg N\u00a0ha\u22121. Under the N deficient conditions, P application did not increase the grain yield of maize. The LER indicate that sole cropping required 18% more area than intercropping in order to produce the same grain yield, and 35% more land when LER was based on N uptakes. Introduction of break crops in the maize systems, more than doubled accumulation of dry matter and N in the grain compared to continuous maize cropping. During maturation sole crop cowpea shedded leaves containing 41\u00a0kg N ha\u22121. The current findings underline the importance of crop diversity in Sub Saharan Africa agriculture and emphasise the need for including all residues, including shedded leaves, in nutrient balance studies.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Intercropping", "Nitrogen fixation", "/dk/atira/pure/core/keywords/Life", "LER", "Semi-arid", "Cowpea", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Former LIFE faculty", "Maize"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-007-9121-7"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Nutrient%20Cycling%20in%20Agroecosystems", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s10705-007-9121-7", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s10705-007-9121-7", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s10705-007-9121-7"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2007-07-05T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s10705-012-9513-1", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:14:47Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2012-08-06", "title": "Fate Of The Nitrogen From Fertilizers In Field-Grown Maize", "description": "Fil: Rimski korsakov, Helena. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomia; Argentina", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Nitrates", "Organic Fractions", "https://purl.org/becyt/ford/4.1", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "https://purl.org/becyt/ford/4", "Nitrate Leaching", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Volatilization", "15. Life on land", "Tagged Nitrogen", "6. Clean water", "Maize"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-012-9513-1"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Nutrient%20Cycling%20in%20Agroecosystems", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s10705-012-9513-1", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s10705-012-9513-1", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s10705-012-9513-1"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2012-07-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s10705-025-10429-1", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:14:48Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2025-08-20", "title": "Regenerating productivity after soil fertility depletion in a 20-year cotton\u2013maize rotation in Benin", "description": "AbstractSoil degradation is a major challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, where integrated soil fertility management has been promoted to restore productivity. A long-term experiment (1972\uffe2\uff80\uff931992) run in Benin consisted of two phases: a depletion phase (1972\uffe2\uff80\uff931980) with varying levels of mineral and organic fertilisation, and a regeneration phase (1981\uffe2\uff80\uff931992) where all plots received full fertilisation and organic matter additions. Soils were sampled at 0\uffe2\uff80\uff9320\uffc2\uffa0cm depth in 1973, 1974, 1982, and 1989 to assess fertility changes. Mineral fertilisation (N, P, K) and plant biomass management (crop residue retention and biomass additions) significantly influenced seed cotton and maize grain yields during the depletion phase. Soil organic carbon declined consistently in all treatments during depletion but remained stable during regeneration. The long-term effect was evident only in seed cotton yield during depletion. In contrast, due to high variability, maize grain yield showed no consistent trend. The combined use of organic resources and mineral fertilisers helped maintain crop productivity but led to declining soil chemical properties in this Ferralsol. The analysis of this outdated yet unpublished dataset shed light on how long-term soil depletion effects persist over time, even when soil fertility management is restored, indicating a sort of \uffe2\uff80\uff98soil memory\uffe2\uff80\uff99. The persistence of these effect suggests that regenerative interventions must begin before critical thresholds of degradation are crossed. Future research should focus on alternative measures to restore/maintain soil fertility not evaluated in this experiment, such as conservation tillage or legume integration, to provide long-term benefits for smallholder farmers facing soil fertility challenges.2.5% N while classes III (intermediate quality) and IV (low quality) had <2.5% N and classes I and III had <4% polyphenol and <15% lignin. On the average, yield responses over the control were 60%, 84% and 114% following the addition of ORs, N fertilizers and ORs + N fertilizers, respectively. There was a general increase in yield responses with increasing OR quality and OR-N quantity, both when ORs were added alone or with N fertilizers. Surprisingly, greater OR residual effects were observed with high quality ORs and declined with decreasing OR quality. The greater yield responses with ORs + N fertilizers than either resource alone were mostly due to extra N added and not improved N utilization efficiency because negative interactive effects were, most often, observed when combining ORs with N fertilizers. Additionally, their agronomic N use efficiency was not different from sole added ORs but lower than N fertilizers added alone. Nevertheless, positive interactive effects were observed in sandy soils with low quality ORs whereas agronomic use efficiency was greater when smaller quantities of N were added in all soils. Compared to sole added ORs, yield responses for the combined treatment increased with decreasing OR quality and greater yield increases were observed in sandy (68%) than clayey soils (25%). While ORs and ORs + N fertilizer additions increased SOC by at least 12% compared to the control, N fertilizer additions were not different from control suggesting that ORs are needed to increase SOC. Thus, the addition of ORs will likely improve nutrient storage while crop yields are increased and more so for high quality ORs. Furthermore, interactive effects are seldom occurring, but agronomic N use efficiency of ORs + N fertilizers were greater with low quantities of N added, offering potential for increasing crop productivity.", "keywords": ["Soil nutrients", "0106 biological sciences", "Soil management", "Soil Science", "Plant Science", "fertilidad del suelo", "maize", "Soil fertility", "Soil degradation", "Agronomic n use efficiency", "01 natural sciences", "Soil quality", "ma\u00edz", "Soil", "abonos npk", "npk fertilizers", "Field Scale", "2. Zero hunger", "Soil organic matter", "Sub-Saharan Africa", "soil fertility", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Interactive effects", "15. Life on land", "Organic resource quality", "Yield response", "Integrated soil fertility management", "Meta-analysis", "Zea maize", "Soil conservation", "Fertilization", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0626-5"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Plant%20and%20Soil", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s11104-010-0626-5", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s11104-010-0626-5", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s11104-010-0626-5"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2010-11-12T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s11104-011-0728-8", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:14:53Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2011-02-22", "title": "Soil Water Content, Maize Yield And Its Stability As Affected By Tillage And Crop Residue Management In Rainfed Semi-Arid Highlands", "description": "Rainfed crop management systems need to be optimized to provide more resilient options to cope with projected climatic scenarios forecasting a decrease in mean precipitation and more frequent extreme drought periods in Mexico. Soil water content (0\u201360\u00a0cm) was measured during three crop cycles in maize plots with different agronomic management practices in a long-term rainfed experiment (established in 1991) in the highlands of Mexico. Maize yields of 1997\u20132009 were reported. Crop management practices varied in (1) tillage (conventional [CT] vs. zero tillage [ZT]) and (2) residue management (full or partial retention and removal). ZT with residue retention had higher soil water content than management practices involving CT and ZT with residue removal which provided a buffer for drought periods during the growing seasons. In 2009, a cycle with a prolonged drought during vegetative growth, this resulted in yield differences of up to 4.7\u00a0Mg ha\u22121 between ZT with (partial) residue retention and the other practices. Averaged over 1997\u20132009, these practices had a yield advantage of approximately 1.5\u00a0Mg ha\u22121 over practices involving CT and ZT with residue removal. ZT with (partial) residue retention used rainfall more efficiently and resulted in a more resilient agronomic system than practices involving either CT or ZT with residue removal.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "rainfed farming", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "soil water content", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "maize", "climate", "6. Clean water", "agriculture"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0728-8"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Plant%20and%20Soil", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s11104-011-0728-8", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s11104-011-0728-8", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s11104-011-0728-8"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2011-02-23T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s11104-011-0753-7", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:14:53Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2011-03-11", "title": "Effects Of Organic And Mineral Fertilizer Nitrogen On Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Plant-Captured Carbon Under Maize Cropping In Zimbabwe", "description": "Optimizing a three-way pact comprising crop yields, fertility inputs and greenhouse gases may minimize the contribution of croplands to global warming. Fluxes of N2O, CO2 and CH4 from soil were measured under maize (Zea mays L.) grown using 0, 60 and 120\u00a0kg\u00a0N hm-2 as NH4NO3-N and composted manure-N in three seasons on clay (Chromic luvisol) and sandy loam (Haplic lixisol) soils in Zimbabwe. The fluxes were measured using the static chamber methodology involving gas chromatography for ample air analysis. Over an average of 122\u00a0days we estimated emissions of 0.1 to 0.5\u00a0kg N2O-N hm\u22122, 711 to 1574\u00a0kg CO2-C hm\u22122 and\u22122.6 to 5.8\u00a0kg CH4-C hm\u22122 from six treatments during season II with the highest fluxes. The posed hypothesis that composted manure-N may be better placed as a mitigation option against soil emissions of GHG than mineral fertilizer-N was largely supported by N2O fluxes during the wet period of the year, but with high level of uncertainty. Nitrogen addition might have stimulated both emissions and consumption of CH4 but the sink or source strength depended highly on soil water content. We concluded that the application of mineral-N and manure input may play an important role with reference to global warming provided the season can support substantial crop productivity that may reduce the amount of N2O loss per unit yield. Confidence in fluxes response to agricultural management is still low due to sporadic measurements and limited observations from the southern African region.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "550", "manures (fertilizers)", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "630", "nitrogen", "Maize", "zea mays", "13. Climate action", "greenhouse gases", "11. Sustainability", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "climate", "agriculture", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0753-7"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Plant%20and%20Soil", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s11104-011-0753-7", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s11104-011-0753-7", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s11104-011-0753-7"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2011-03-12T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s11104-019-03939-9", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:14:57Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-02-01", "title": "Surface tension, rheology and hydrophobicity of rhizodeposits and seed mucilage influence soil water retention and hysteresis", "description": "Rhizodeposits collected from hydroponic solutions with roots of maize and barley, and seed mucilage washed from chia, were added to soil to measure their impact on water retention and hysteresis in a sandy loam soil at a range of concentrations. We test the hypothesis that the effect of plant exudates and mucilages on hydraulic properties of soils depends on their physicochemical characteristics and origin.Surface tension and viscosity of the exudate solutions were measured using the Du No\u00fcy ring method and a cone-plate rheometer, respectively. The contact angle of water on exudate treated soil was measured with the sessile drop method. Water retention and hysteresis were measured by equilibrating soil samples, treated with exudates and mucilages at 0.46 and 4.6\u00a0mg\u00a0g-1 concentration, on dialysis tubing filled with polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution of known osmotic potential.Surface tension decreased and viscosity increased with increasing concentration of the exudates and mucilage in solutions. Change in surface tension and viscosity was greatest for chia seed exudate and least for barley root exudate. Contact angle increased with increasing maize root and chia seed exudate concentration in soil, but not barley root. Chia seed mucilage and maize root rhizodeposits enhanced soil water retention and increased hysteresis index, whereas barley root rhizodeposits decreased soil water retention and the hysteresis effect. The impact of exudates and mucilages on soil water retention almost ceased when approaching wilting point at -1500\u00a0kPa matric potential.Barley rhizodeposits behaved as surfactants, drying the rhizosphere at smaller suctions. Chia seed mucilage and maize root rhizodeposits behaved as hydrogels that hold more water in the rhizosphere, but with slower rewetting and greater hysteresis.", "keywords": ["DYNAMICS", "/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1111", "seed exudate", "FLOW", "QH301 Biology", "/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1110", "root exudate", "630", "QH301", "soil water retention", "ROOT", "surface tension", "DIMR 646809", "Contact angle", "contact angle", "PHOSPHOLIPID SURFACTANTS", "2. Zero hunger", "STABILITY", "BB/J000868/1", "Surface tension", "Civil_env_eng", "Viscosity", "Hysteresis", "name=Soil Science", "Root exudate", "RHIZOSPHERE HYDRAULIC-PROPERTIES", "EXUDATION", "Regular Article", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "540", "Soil water retention", "6. Clean water", "Seed exudate", "BB/J011460/1", "hysteresis", "BB/L026058/1", "viscosity", "Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "name=Plant Science", "MAIZE", "BB/P004180/1", "European Research Council"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/5787/1/Naveed2019_Article_SurfaceTensionRheologyAndHydro.pdf"}, {"href": "https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/428238/1/Naveed2019_Article_SurfaceTensionRheologyAndHydro.pdf"}, {"href": "http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11104-019-03939-9.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-03939-9"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Plant%20and%20Soil", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s11104-019-03939-9", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s11104-019-03939-9", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s11104-019-03939-9"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-02-02T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s12155-012-9198-y", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:06Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2012-05-03", "title": "Soil Carbon Sequestration By Switchgrass And No-Till Maize Grown For Bioenergy", "description": "Net benefits of bioenergy crops, including maize and perennial grasses such as switchgrass, are a function of several factors including the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestered by these crops. Life cycle assessments (LCA) for bioenergy crops have been conducted using models in which SOC information is usually from the top 30 to 40 cm. Information on the effects of crop management practices on SOC has been limited so LCA models have largely not included any management practice effects. In the first 9 years of a long-term C sequestration study in eastern Nebraska, USA, switchgrass and maize with best management practi- ces had average annual increases in SOC per hectare that exceed 2 Mg Cyear \ufffd1 (7.3 Mg CO2year \ufffd1 ) for the 0 to 150 soil depth. For both switchgrass and maize, over 50 % of the increase in SOC was below the 30 cm depth. SOC seques- tration by switchgrass was twofold to fourfold greater than that used in models to date which also assumed no SOC sequestration by maize. The results indicate that N fertilizer rates and harvest management regimes can affect the mag- nitude of SOC sequestration. The use of uniform soil C effects for bioenergy crops from sampling depths of 30 to 40 cm across agro-ecoregions for large scale LCA is questionable.", "keywords": ["Carbon sequestration", "Switchgrass . Maize", "2. Zero hunger", "Switchgrass", "Renewable Energy", " Sustainability and the Environment", "soil carbon . Soil organic carbon . Bioenergy . Sustainability . Carbon sequestration", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "7. Clean energy", "Carbon", "630", "Maize", "Sustainability", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Bioenergy", "soil carbon", "Agricultural Science", "Agronomy and Crop Science", "Soil organic", "Energy (miscellaneous)", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Follett, Ronald F., Vogel, Kenneth P., Varvel, Gary E., Mitchell, Robert B., Kimble, John,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-012-9198-y"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/BioEnergy%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s12155-012-9198-y", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s12155-012-9198-y", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s12155-012-9198-y"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2012-05-04T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s12571-009-0030-2", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:06Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2009-07-24", "title": "Assessing The Effect Of Faidherbia Albida Based Land Use Systems On Barley Yield At Field And Regional Scale In The Highlands Of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia", "description": "Implications of changes in traditional Faidherbia albida based land use systems on productivity were investigated in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. The relation between F. albida based-land use systems and crop productivity was explored in 77 fields and 81 farms at field and regional scales, respectively. Barley yield and soil fertility increased when field locations were closer to a F. albida trunk in the F. albida alone (AA) and F. albida + livestock (AL) land use systems. However, the F. albida + Eucalyptus camaldulensis (AE) land use system showed a decreasing trend in barley yield and soil fertility as distance from a F. albida trunk decreased. At regional scales, higher F. albida tree density per farm and sparsely cultivated land use types were associated with increased potential ecosystem services (barley yield). This study suggests that local biodiversity components (e.g. F. albida trees) can increase crop yield and soil fertility significantly when grown within and around farm lands. This study contributes to the knowledge on agricultural productivity enhancement by developing an approach to scaling up from farm to regional level.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "2. Zero hunger", "growth", "conservation", "tree-crop interactions", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "agroforestry practices", "maize", "01 natural sciences", "acacia-albida", "eucalyptus-tereticornis", "opportunities", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "nitrogen mineralization", "biodiversity"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Hadgu, K.M., Kooistra, L., Rossing, W.A.H., van Bruggen, A.H.C.,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-009-0030-2"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Food%20Security", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s12571-009-0030-2", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s12571-009-0030-2", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s12571-009-0030-2"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2009-07-25T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.agee.2008.06.004", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2008-07-14", "title": "Runoff And Sediment Losses From 27 Upland Catchments In Southeast Asia: Impact Of Rapid Land Use Changes And Conservation Practices", "description": "Rapid changes in upland farming systems in Southeast Asia generated predominantly by increased population pressure and 'market forces' have resulted in widespread land degradation that has been well documented at the plot scale. Yet, the links between agricultural activities in the uplands and downstream off-site effects remain largely unknown because of the difficulties in transferring results from plots to a larger scale. Many authors have thus pointed out the need for long-term catchment studies. The objective of this paper is to summarize the results obtained by the Management of Soil Erosion Consortium (MSEC) over the last 5 years from 27 catchments in five countries (Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam). The purpose of the study was to assess the impacts of cultivation practices on annual runoff and erosion rates. Initial surveys in each catchment included topography, soils and land use. Monitoring included climatic, hydrologic and erosion (total sediment yield including bed load and suspended sediment load) data, land use and crop yields, and farmers' income. In addition, new land management options were introduced through consultations with farmers and evaluated in terms of runoff and erosion. These included tree plantations, fruit trees, improved fallow with legumes, maize intercropped with legumes, planted fodder, native grass strips and agro-ecological practices (direct sowing and mulch-based conservation agriculture). Regressions analyses showed that runoff during the rainy season, and normalized runoff flow coefficient based on erosive rainfall during the rainy season (rainfall with intensity exceeding 25 mm h(-1)) increase with the percentage of the catchment covered by maize. Both variables decrease with increasing soil depth, standard deviation of catchment slope (that reflects terrain roughness), and the percentages of the catchment covered by fallow (regular and improved), tree plantations and planted fodder. The best predictors of sediment yield were the surface percentages of maize, Job's tears, cassava and footpaths. The main conclusions generated from this study were: (i) soil erosion is predominantly influenced by land use rather than environmental characteristics not only at the plot scale but also at the catchment scale; (ii) slash-and-burn shifting cultivation with sufficiently long rotations (I year of cultivation, 8 years of fallow) is too often unjustly blamed for degradation; (iii) in its place, continuous cropping of maize and cassava promotes high rates of soil erosion at the catchment scale; (iv) conservation technologies are efficient in reducing runoff and total sediment yield at the catchment scale; (v) the adoption of improved soil management technologies by upland farmers is not a function of the degree of intensification of their farming system and/or of their incomes. The results suggest that if expansion of maize and cassava into already degraded upland systems were to occur due to increased demand for biofuels, there is a risk of higher runoff and sediment generation. A failure to adopt appropriate land use management strategies will result in further rapid resource degradation with negative impacts to downstream communities.", "keywords": ["550", "runoff", "sloping land", "[SDV.SA.SDS]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Soil study", "910", "maize", "01 natural sciences", "cassava", "630", "upland rice", "catchment areas", "farming systems", "[SDV.SA.SDS] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Soil study", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences", "2. Zero hunger", "Cassava", "land use", "Upland rice", "soil conservation", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "erosion", "shifting cultivation", "6. Clean water", "Maize", "Steep slopes", "13. Climate action", "Soil erosion", "Shifting cultivation", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "sedimentation"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2008.06.004"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Agriculture%2C%20Ecosystems%20%26amp%3B%20Environment", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.agee.2008.06.004", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.agee.2008.06.004", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.agee.2008.06.004"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2008-12-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.agee.2015.02.001", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:18Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2015-02-14", "title": "Surface Organic Carbon Enrichment To Explain Greater Co2 Emissions From Short-Term No-Tilled Soils", "description": "The impact of agricultural practices on CO2 emissions from soils needs to be understood and quantified to enhance ecosystem functions, especially the ability of soils to sequester atmospheric carbon (C), while enhancing food and biomass production. The objective of this study was to assess CO2 emissions in the soil surface following tillage abandonment and to investigate some of the underlying soil physical, chemical and biological controls. Maize (Zea mays) was planted under conventional tillage (T) and no-tillage (NT), both without crop residues under smallholder farming conditions in Potshini, South Africa. Intact top-soil (0\u20130.05 m) core samples (N = 54) from three 5 \u00d7 15 m2 plots per treatment were collected two years after conversion of T to NT to evaluate the short-term CO2 emissions. Depending on the treatment, cores were left intact, compacted by 5 and 10 or had surface crusts removed. They were incubated for 20 days with measurements of CO2 fluxes twice a day during the first three days and once a day thereafter. Soil organic C (SOC) content, soil bulk density (\u03c1b), aggregate stability, soil organic matter quality, and microbial biomass and its activity were evaluated at the onset of the incubation. CO2 emissions were 22% lower under NT compared with T with CO2 emissions of 0.9 \u00b1 0.10 vs 1.1 \u00b1 0.10 mg C\u2013CO2 gC\u22121 day\u22121 under NT and T, respectively, suggesting greater SOC protection under NT. However, there were greater total CO2 emissions per unit of surface by 9% under NT compared to T (1.15 \u00b1 0.03 vs 1.05 \u00b1 0.04 g C\u2013CO2 m\u22122 day\u22121). SOC protection significantly increased with the increase in soil bulk density (r = 0.89) and aggregate stability (from 1.7 \u00b1 0.25 mm to 2.3 \u00b1 0.31, r = 0.50), and to the decrease in microbial biomass and its activity (r = \u22120.59 and \u22120.57, respectively). In contrast, the greater NT CO2 emissions per m2 were explained by top-soil enrichment in SOC by 48% (from 12.4 \u00b1 0.2 to 19.1 \u00b1 0.4 g kg\u22121, r = 0.59). These results on the soil controls of tillage impact on CO2 emissions are expected to inform on the required shifts in agricultural practices for enhancing C sequestration in soils. In the context of the study, any mechanism favoring aggregate stability and promoting SOC allocation deep in the soil profile rather than in the top-soil would greatly diminish soil CO2 outputs and thus stimulate C sequestration.", "keywords": ["550", "non travail du sol", "ma\u00efs", "No-tillage", "no-tillage", "[SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences", "Soil Science", "maize", "7. Clean energy", "630", "Sciences de la Terre", "dioxyde de carbone", "non labour", "Climate change", "propri\u00e9t\u00e9 du sol", "2. Zero hunger", "changement climatique", "carbon dioxide", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "No-tillage;Carbon dioxide;Climate change;Maize;Small holders;Africa", "6. Clean water", "Maize", "climate change", "Small holders", "Carbon dioxide", "13. Climate action", "\u00e9mission d'azote", "Africa", "8. Economic growth", "[SDU.STU] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences", "Earth Sciences", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "afrique du sud", "small holders", "azote du sol"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2015.02.001"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Agriculture%2C%20Ecosystems%20%26amp%3B%20Environment", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.agee.2015.02.001", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.agee.2015.02.001", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.agee.2015.02.001"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2015-05-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.agee.2016.06.022", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:19Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-06-29", "title": "Sustaining Crop Productivity While Reducing Environmental Nitrogen Losses In The Subtropical Wheat-Maize Cropping Systems: A Comprehensive Case Study Of Nitrogen Cycling And Balance", "description": "Abstract Balancing the nitrogen (N) budgets of agricultural systems is essential for sustaining yields at lower environmental costs. However, it is still rare to find reports on the total N budgets of agricultural systems including all N fluxes in the literature. Here, we conducted a comprehensive study on the effects of different N fertilizers (control, synthetic fertilizer, 60% synthetic fertilizer N plus 40% pig manure N, pig manure N applied at the same rate of 280\u00a0kg\u00a0N\u00a0ha\u22121 yr\u22121) on N pools, cycling processes, fluxes and total N balances in a subtropical wheat-maize rotation system in China by monitoring in situ N fluxes combined with field 15N-tracer and 15N isotope-dilution techniques. The warm and wet maize season was associated with significantly larger N losses via gaseous and hydrological pathways than the cooler and drier wheat season. Nitrate leaching and NH3 volatilization were the main N loss pathways, accounting for 78% and 93% of the annual hydrological and gaseous N losses, respectively. The field 15N tracing experiment showed that the wheat system had a high N retention capacity (\u223c50% of 15N application), although the N residence time was short. In the subsequent maize season, 90% of the residual 15N-labeled fertilizer in the soil that had been applied to the wheat system was utilized by plants or lost to the environment. The combined application of synthetic and organic fertilizers (pig manure) or application of pig manure resulted in significantly higher soil N retention and lower NO3\u2212 leaching, while yields remained unaffected. However, the application of manure resulted in larger NH3 volatilization losses compared with the application of synthetic fertilizer alone. Thus, our study suggests that a combination of synthetic and organic N fertilizers is suitable for sustaining agricultural productivity while reducing environmental N losses by fostering interactions between the soil C and N cycles.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Earth sciences", "info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/550", "550", "ddc:550", "wheats", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "crops", "maize", "12. Responsible consumption"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.06.022"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Agriculture%2C%20Ecosystems%20%26amp%3B%20Environment", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.agee.2016.06.022", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.agee.2016.06.022", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.agee.2016.06.022"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-09-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.agee.2017.08.028", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:20Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-09-21", "title": "N 2 -Fixation And N Contribution By Grain Legumes Under Different Soil Fertility Status And Cropping Systems In The Guinea Savanna Of Northern Ghana", "description": "Continuous cereal-based cropping has led to a rapid decline in soil fertility in the Guinea savanna agro-ecological zone of northern Ghana with corresponding low crop yields. We evaluated the effects of cropping system and soil fertility status on grain yields and N2-fixation by grain legumes and net N contribution to soil fertility improvement in contrasting sites in this agro-ecological zone. Maize was intercropped with cowpea, soybean and groundnut within a row, with a maize stand alternated with two equally spaced cowpea or groundnut stands and in the maize-soybean system, four equally spaced soybean stands. These intercrops were compared with sole crops of maize, cowpea, soybean and groundnut in fertile and poorly fertile fields at sites in the southern (SGS) and the northern (NGS) Guinea savanna. The proportion of N derived from N2-fixation (%Ndfa) was comparable between intercrops and sole crops. However, the amount of N2-fixed was significantly larger in sole crops due to a greater biomass accumulation. Legumes in poorly fertile fields had significantly smaller shoot \u03b415N enrichment (-2.8 to +0.7\u2030) and a larger %Ndfa (55-94%) than those in fertile fields (-0.8 to +2.2\u2030; 23-85%). The N2-fixed however was larger in fertile fields (16-145\u00a0kg\u00a0N\u00a0ha-1) than in poorly fertile fields (15-123\u00a0kg\u00a0N\u00a0ha-1) due to greater shoot dry matter and N yields. The legumes grown in the NGS obtained more of their N requirements from atmospheric N2-fixation (73-88%) than legumes grown in the SGS (41-69%). The partial soil N balance (in\u00a0kg\u00a0ha-1) was comparable between intercrops (-14 to 21) and sole legumes (-8 to 23) but smaller than that of sole maize receiving N fertiliser (+7 to +34). With other N inputs (aerial deposition) and outputs (leaching and gaseous losses) unaccounted for, there is uncertainty surrounding the actual amount of soil N balances of the cropping systems, indicating that partial N balances are not reliable indicators of the sustainability of cropping systems. Nevertheless, the systems with legumes seem more attractive due to several non-N benefits. Our results suggest that soybean could be targeted in the SGS and cowpea in the NGS for greater productivity while groundnut is suited to both environments. Grain legumes grown in poorly fertile fields contributed more net N to the soil but growing legumes in fertile fields seems more lucrative due to greater grain and stover yields and non-N benefits.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "2. Zero hunger", "Groundnut", "Cowpea", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Soybean", "01 natural sciences", "Article", "Maize", "Partial N balance"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.08.028"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Agriculture%2C%20Ecosystems%20%26amp%3B%20Environment", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.agee.2017.08.028", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.agee.2017.08.028", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.agee.2017.08.028"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-07-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.agrformet.2016.06.016", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:22Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-07-05", "title": "Multi-Site Assessment Of The Effects Of Plastic-Film Mulch On The Soil Organic Carbon Balance In Semiarid Areas Of China", "description": "AbstractPlastic-film mulch is widely used to increase soil temperature and reduce water evaporation in vegetable production. In China, it is also extensively used for growing grain crops, especially in temperature and rainfall limited areas. However, it remains unclear whether the technology is sustainable in terms of maintenance of soil organic carbon (SOC) balance. We assessed the effects of plastic-film mulch on the SOC balance in maize (Zea mays L.) production in a range of cold semiarid environments. We imposed four treatments: (i) no plastic-film mulch or straw incorporation, (ii) plastic-film mulch, (iii) straw incorporation in soil without mulch, and (v) straw incorporation plus mulch, in ridge\u2013furrow prepared fields at five sites along a hydrothermal gradient for up to six years. Maize root biomass across sites increased by 23\u201338% in mulched plots associated with the increase in aboveground biomass, indicating an increased SOC input, compared to that in non-mulched plots. The plastic-film mulch increased SOC mineralization, indicated by the stimulated decomposition of buried maize straw, and a 4\u20135% reduction in the concentration of light-fraction SOC (<1.8gcm\u22123), but the total SOC concentration and stock in the 0\u20130.15m soil layer did not change relative to no mulch after six years of continuous cropping. Plastic-film mulch did not affect the total non-cellulosic sugar content; however, it significantly increased the contribution of microbial-synthesized sugars to the total non-cellulosic sugars, indicating an intensified microbial action on the SOC pool compared to no mulch. Straw incorporation increased the root biomass, light and total SOC concentrations and non-cellulosic sugars, and changed the non-cellulosic sugar composition. We conclude that the increase in soil temperature and moisture by use of plastic-film mulch enhances productivity, but importantly maintains the SOC level in temperature- and rainfall-limited semiarid regions by balancing the increased SOC mineralization with increased root-derived C input.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "2. Zero hunger", "Atmospheric Science", "Global and Planetary Change", "Root biomass", "Forestry", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Soil organic carbon level", "Zea mays", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "Maize", "Non-cellulosic carbohydrates", "Soil carbon mineralization", "Soil warming", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Agronomy and Crop Science"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2016.06.016"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Agricultural%20and%20Forest%20Meteorology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.agrformet.2016.06.016", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.agrformet.2016.06.016", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.agrformet.2016.06.016"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-11-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.agsy.2009.06.004", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:23Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2009-07-08", "title": "Crop Rotations In Argentina: Analysis Of Water Balance And Yield Using Crop Models", "description": "Abstract Cropping schemes have developed in east-central Argentina for rainfed soybean ( Glycine max Merr . ) production that invariably employ no-tillage management. Often these schemes include growing soybean in a sequence of crops including wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and maize ( Zea mays L.). The full impact of various rotation schemes on soil water balance through a sequence of seasons has not been explored, although the value of these rotations has been studied experimentally. The objective of this work was to investigate through simulations, potential differences in temporal soil water status among rotations over five years. In this study, mechanistic models of soybean (Soy), maize (Maz), and wheat (Wht) were linked over a five-years period at Marcos Juarez, Argentina to simulate soil water status, crop growth, and yield of four no-till rotations (Soy/Soy, Soy/Wht, Soy/Maz, and Soy/Maz/Wht). Published data on sowing dates and initial soil water contents in the first year from a no-till rotation experiment were used as inputs to the model. After the first year, soil water status output from the model was used to initiate the next crop simulation in the sequence. The results of these simulations indicated a positive impact on soil water balance resulting from crop residue on the soil surface under no-till management. Continuous soybean and the two-year soybean/maize rotation did not efficiently use the available water from rainfall. Residue from maize was simulated to be especially effective in suppressing soil evaporation. Thus, the Soy/Maz simulation results indicated that this rotation resulted in enhanced soil water retention, increased deep water percolation, and increased soybean yields compared with continuous soybean crops. The simulated results matched well with experimental observations. The three-crop rotation of Soy/Maz/Wht did not increase simulated soybean yields, but the additional water retained as a result of decreased soil evaporation resulting from the maize residue allowed the addition of a wheat crop in this two-year rotation. Simulated soybean yields were poorly correlated with both the amount of soil water at sowing and the rainfall during the cropping period. These results highlight the importance of temporal distribution of rainfall on final yield. These models proved a valuable tool for assessing the consequences of various rotation schemes now being employed in Argentina on temporal soil water status, and ultimately crop yield.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "2. Zero hunger", "No-tillage", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Crop simulations", "15. Life on land", "Crop rotations", "01 natural sciences", "Maize", "Soil water", "Wheat", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Soybean", "Soil evaporation"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Facultad de Agronom\u00eda y Zootecnia, Universidad Nac. de Tucum\u00e1n, Argentina ( host institution ), Salado-Navarro, Luis R. ( author ), Sinclair, Thomas R. ( author ),", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2009.06.004"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Agricultural%20Systems", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.agsy.2009.06.004", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.agsy.2009.06.004", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.agsy.2009.06.004"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2009-10-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.agwat.2006.01.009", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:24Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2006-03-10", "title": "Yield Response Of Corn To Deficit Irrigation In A Semiarid Climate", "description": "Abstract Irrigation water supplies are decreasing in many areas of the US Great Plains, which is requiring many farmers to consider deficit-irrigating corn (Zea mays L.) or growing crops like winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that require less water, but that are less profitable. The objectives of this study were to: (1) quantify the yield response of corn to deficit irrigation, and (2) determine which of several seasonal water variables correlated best to corn yield in a semiarid climate. Eight (T1\u2013T8) and nine (T1\u2013T9) deficit-irrigated treatments (including dryland), were compared in 2003 and 2004 in North Platte, Nebraska. The actual seasonal crop evapotranspiration (ETd) (calculated with procedures in FAO-56) for the different treatments was 37\u201379% in 2003 and 63\u201391% in 2004 compared with the seasonal crop evapotranspiration when water is not limited (ETw). Quantitative relationships between grain yield and several seasonal water variables were developed. Water variables included, irrigation (I), total water (Wall), rain\u00a0+\u00a0irrigation (WR+I), evaporation (E), crop evapotranspiration (ETd), crop transpiration (Td), and the ratios of ETd and Td to evapotranspiration and transpiration when water is not limited (ETw and Tw). Both years, yield increased linearly with seasonal irrigation, but the relationship varied from year to year. Combining data from both years, ETd had the best correlation to grain yield (yield\u00a0=\u00a00.028ETd\u20135.04, R2\u00a0=\u00a00.95), and the water variables could be ranked from higher to lower R2 when related to grain yield as: E T d ( R 2 = 0.95 ) > T d ( R 2 = 0.93 ) > E T d / E T w ( R 2 = 0.90 ) = T d / T w ( R 2 = 0.90 ) > W all ( R 2 = 0.89 ) > E ( R 2 = 0.75 ) > W R + I ( R 2 = 0.65 ) > I ( R 2 = 0.06 ) . Crop water productivity (CWP) (yield per unit ETd) linearly increased with ETd/ETw (R2\u00a0=\u00a00.75), which suggests that trying to increase CWP by deficit-irrigating corn is not a good strategy under the conditions of this study.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "2. Zero hunger", "571", "330", "Evapotranspiration", "Corn", "Corn / maize", "Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "630", "6. Clean water", "Maize", "Biological Engineering", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Deficit irrigation"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Payero, Jos\u00c3\u00a9 O., Melvin, Steven R., Irmak, Suat, Tarkalson, David D.,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2006.01.009"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Agricultural%20Water%20Management", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.agwat.2006.01.009", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.agwat.2006.01.009", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.agwat.2006.01.009"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2006-07-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.cj.2015.01.004", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:40Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2015-02-24", "title": "Organic Amendments Increase Corn Yield By Enhancing Soil Resilience To Climate Change", "description": "AbstractA 22-year field experiment was conducted in Gongzhuling, Jilin province, China to investigate corn yield response to fertilization practice. Compared to an unfertilized control (CK), all fertilization treatments, including inorganic nitrogen fertilizer only (N), balanced inorganic fertilizers (NPK), NPK plus corn straw (SNPK), and NPK plus farmyard manure (MNPK), resulted in significant increases in corn yield. However, only organic matter amendments sustained increasing yield trends, with annual rates of 0.137 and 0.194tha\u22121 for the SPNK and MNPK treatments, respectively (P<0.05). During the 22years, the daily mean, maximum and minimum temperatures increased by 0.50, 0.53, and 0.46\u00b0C per decade, whereas precipitation displayed no significant change but showed large seasonal variation. According to a regression analysis, increased air temperature exerted positive effects on corn yields under the SNPK and the MNPK treatments. Under both treatments, soil organic carbon contents and soil nutrient availabilities increased significantly compared to their initial levels in 1990, whereas soil bulk density and total porosity changed slightly under the two treatments, which showed higher soil water storage than other treatments. In contrast, significant increases in soil bulk density and decreases in soil total porosity and soil nutrient availability were observed under the CK, N and NPK treatments. The contributions of soil fertility to corn yield were 28.4%, 37.9%, 38.4%, 39.0%, and 42.9% under CK, N, NPK, SNPK, and MNPK treatments, respectively, whereas climate changes accounted for 27.0%, 14.6%, 12.4%, 11.8%, and 10.8%. These results indicate that, in Northeast China, organic matter amendments can mitigate negative and exploit positive effects of climate change on crop production by enhancing soil quality.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Northeast China", "S", "Agriculture (General)", "Global warming", "Agriculture", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Soil quality", "6. Clean water", "S1-972", "13. Climate action", "Long-term fertilization", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Maize cropping"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2015.01.004"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/The%20Crop%20Journal", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.cj.2015.01.004", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.cj.2015.01.004", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.cj.2015.01.004"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2015-04-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.cropro.2009.05.014", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:42Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2009-06-29", "title": "Integration Of Edible Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Into The Push\u2013Pull Technology Developed For Stemborer And Striga Control In Maize-Based Cropping Systems", "description": "Smallholder farming systems in eastern Africa are characterized by cereal/edible legume intercrops in fields severely constrained by parasitic weed, Striga hermonthica, cereal stemborers and declining soil fertility. The push\u2013pull technology concurrently addresses these constraints. It involves intercropping maize with stemborer repellent fodder legume, Desmodium spp. (push), with an attractant crop, Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum (pull), planted around this intercrop, thus making it difficult to interplant edible legumes. We assessed farmers\u2019 practice and perceptions on intercropping and willingness to integrate beans in their push\u2013pull plots from a sample of 300 farmers in six districts in western Kenya. All the respondents traditionally intercropped maize with beans, planted either between the rows of maize, in the same holes with maize or in between maize plants within a row. The majority (92%) were willing to integrate beans in their push\u2013pull plots. We, therefore, evaluated effects of integrating beans in the maize\u2013desmodium intercrops. Treatments comprised a maize monocrop, maize\u2013bean intercrop and three maize\u2013desmodium intercrops, two of which were integrated with beans, either in the same holes with maize or in between maize plants in a row (bean integration plots). On-farm trials were similarly established among 56 farmers in four districts in western Kenya to assess the two integration methods. S. hermonthica counts and stemborer damage to maize were significantly lower and maize yields significantly higher in the maize\u2013desmodium and bean integration plots than in the other systems. Overall, integration of beans in the maize\u2013desmodium intercrops and the planting arrangement did not compromise the S. hermonthica and stemborer control efficacy of desmodium. Integration of beans significantly increased labour and total variable costs, with these being significantly higher in plots with both crops in different holes than in the same hole. Total revenue, gross benefits and benefit cost ratios did not significantly differ between the bean integration and maize\u2013desmodium intercrops. Furthermore, these parameters were for most part not affected by the planting arrangements, both on-station and on-farm. These results show that integration of beans in the maize\u2013desmodium and indeed push\u2013 pull technology while guaranteeing an additional crop, a protein source, to the farmers does not compromise the observed benefits of the technology but yields same economic benefits. Where labour is easily available, farmers are, however, advised to plant maize and beans in separate holes to avoid the risk of competition for moisture and nutrients where these might be limiting.", "keywords": ["580", "2. Zero hunger", "0106 biological sciences", "Push\u2013pull", "Stemborers", "Economics", "Bean", "Striga", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "01 natural sciences", "Maize", "Farmers' perceptions", "Intercropping", "8. Economic growth", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Western Kenya"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2009.05.014"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Crop%20Protection", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.cropro.2009.05.014", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.cropro.2009.05.014", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.cropro.2009.05.014"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2009-11-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.cropro.2006.01.008", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:41Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2006-03-10", "title": "Combined Control Of Striga Hermonthica And Stemborers By Maize\u2013Desmodium Spp. Intercrops", "description": "The African witchweed (Striga spp.) and lepidopteran stemborers are two major biotic constraints to the efficient production of maize in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous studies had shown the value of intercropping maize with Desmodium uncinatum in the control of both pests. The current study was conducted to assess the potential role of other Desmodium spp., adapted to different agro-ecologies, in combined control of both pests in Kenya. Treatments consisted of intercropped plots of a Striga hermonthica- and stemborer-susceptible maize variety and one Desmodium sp. or cowpea, with a maize monocrop plot included as a control. S. hermonthica counts and stemborer damage to maize plants were significantly reduced in maize\u2013desmodium intercrops (by up to 99.2% and 74.7%, respectively) than in a maize monocrop and a maize\u2013cowpea intercrop. Similarly, maize plant height and grain yields were significantly higher (by up to 103.2% and 511.1%, respectively) in maize\u2013desmodium intercrops than in maize monocrops or maize\u2013cowpea intercrops. These results confirmed earlier findings that intercropping maize with D. uncinatum effectively suppressed S. hermonthica and stemborer infestations in maize resulting in higher crop yields. They also demonstrate that the other Desmodium spp. assessed in the current study have similar effects as D. uncinatum, indicating comparable phytochemical and other relevant attributes in these species. Overall results indicate the suitability of the Desmodium spp. for the control of both S. hermonthica and stemborers in maize. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.", "keywords": ["580", "2. Zero hunger", "0106 biological sciences", "Desmodium", "Striga", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "Maize", "Intercropping", "Cowpea", "Control", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Stemborer"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Hassanali, Ahmed, Midega, C. A.O., Wadhams, Lester J., Pickett, John A., Khan, Zeyaur R.,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2006.01.008"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Crop%20Protection", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.cropro.2006.01.008", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.cropro.2006.01.008", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.cropro.2006.01.008"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2006-09-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.cropro.2009.09.006", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:42Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2009-11-04", "title": "Efficacies Of Habitat Management Techniques In Managing Maize Stem Borers In Ethiopia", "description": "Habitat management techniques to control maize stem borers were tested in eastern (Melkassa and Mieso) and western (Sibu-Sire) Ethiopia. These techniques consisted of using mixed cropping of maize with haricot beans at different maize:bean ratios and a \u2018\u2018push\u2013pull\u2019\u2019 (PP) strategy utilizing Napier grass as a trap plant around maize plots as the \u2018\u2018pull\u2019\u2019 and Desmodium in between maize rows as a deterrent or \u2018\u2018push\u2019\u2019. In Melkassa, pest infestations were too low for the cropping system to significantly affect pests, plant damage and yields while in Mieso, where the pest densities were high, intercropping of maize with beans at ratios of 1:1 to 2:1 significantly decreased borer densities compared to pure maize stands. Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) were the major stem borer and parasitoid species, respectively, recorded both at Melkassa and Mieso. Borer parasitism was higher at Mieso than at Melkassa and it tended to increase with the increase of haricot bean ratio in the intercropping system. Land equivalent ratios of >1 indicated higher land use efficiency in mixed compared to sole cropping, even if pest densities were low. Establishment of Desmodium and Napier grass in PP trials varied from site to site, and poor establishment was observed in plots with low soil pH. Where yields varied significantly, they were lower in the PP than the sole maize plots. Borer densities were low and mostly not affected by the cropping system. However, in the second season when borer density was relatively high, higher levels of infestation and leaf feeding scores were recorded in the control than push\u2013pull plots. Published by Elsevier Ltd.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "0106 biological sciences", "Desmodium", "Push\u00e2\u20ac\u201cpull", "Life Sciences", "Agriculture", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "630", "Maize", "03 medical and health sciences", "Intercropping", "0302 clinical medicine", "Stem borers", "Entomology", "Napier grass"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Difabachew K. Belay, Difabachew K. Belay, John E. Foster,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2009.09.006"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Crop%20Protection", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.cropro.2009.09.006", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.cropro.2009.09.006", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.cropro.2009.09.006"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2010-05-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.cropro.2015.02.013", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:42Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2015-03-11", "title": "Effect Of Lablab Purpureus L. Cover Crop And Imidazolinone Resistant (Ir) Maize On Weeds In Drought Prone Areas, Kenya", "description": "Abstract Weeds compete for nutrients and soil moisture resulting to low maize yields in dry lands. A three year field study was initiated in 2009\u00a0at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kiboko to evaluate the effect of dolichos bean ( Lablab purpureus L.) and open pollinated imazapyr herbicide coated imidazolinone-resistant (IR) 1 maize on weed species composition, density, and maize yield. Initially, weed species were identified, and then controlled using glyphosate at 1.6\u00a0kg\u00a0ai\u00a0ha \u22121 . Twenty four plots were marked, each measuring 4\u00a0\u00d7\u00a05\u00a0m. Six treatments 1) IR-maize coated, 2) IR-maize coated\u00a0+\u00a0brown dolichos, 3) IR-maize coated\u00a0+\u00a0black dolichos 4) IR-maize uncoated, 5) IR-maize uncoated\u00a0+\u00a0brown dolichos, 6) IR-maize uncoated\u00a0+\u00a0black dolichos were laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated four times. IR-maize was planted at a spacing of 90\u00a0\u00d7\u00a045\u00a0cm and 2 seeds per hole. Weeds were sampled from a one meter squared quadrat 21 and 42 days after planting (DAP). The data was subjected to analysis of variance using Genstat version 12.0. Eighteen (18) weed species were prevalent before the experiment. Interaction of dolichos and herbicide coated IR-maize had no significant ( P \u00a0>\u00a00.05) effect on weed species composition and density. Dolichos significantly ( P Portulaca quadrifida L. and Paraknoxia parviflora L., and increased Eleusine indica L. Weed species composition decreased by 14% (21 DAP) and 33% (42 DAP) in plots with dolichos compared to no cover. Maize yields were significantly ( P", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "0106 biological sciences", "4. Education", "weeds", "cover crops", "15. Life on land", "maize", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2015.02.013"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Crop%20Protection", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.cropro.2015.02.013", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.cropro.2015.02.013", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.cropro.2015.02.013"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2015-06-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.eja.2016.01.019", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:47Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-02-23", "title": "Effect Of Irrigation And Nitrogen Fertilization On The Production Of Biogas From Maize And Sorghum In A Water Limited Environment", "description": "Abstract The expansion of biogas production from anaerobic digestion in the Po Valley (Northern Italy) has stimulated the cultivation of dedicated biomass crops, and maize in particular. A mid-term experiment was carried out from 2006 to 2010 on a silt loamy soil in Northern Italy to compare water use and energy efficiency of maize and sorghum cultivation under rain fed and well-watered treatments and at two rates of nitrogen fertilization. The present work hypothesis were: (i) biomass sorghum, for its efficient use of water and nitrogen, could be a valuable alternative to maize for biogas production; (ii) reduction of irrigation level and (iii) application of low nitrogen fertilizer rate increase the efficiency of bioenergy production. Water treatments, a rain fed control (I0) and two irrigation levels (I1 and I2; only one in 2006 and 2009), were compared in a split\u2013split plot design with four replicates. Two fertilizer rates were also tested: low (N1, 60\u00a0kg\u00a0ha\u22121 of nitrogen; 0\u00a0kg\u00a0ha\u22121 of nitrogen in 2010) and high (N2, 120\u00a0kg\u00a0ha\u22121 of nitrogen; 100\u00a0kg\u00a0ha\u22121 of nitrogen in 2010). Across treatments, sorghum produced more aboveground biomass than maize, respectively 21.6 Mg\u00a0ha\u22121 and 16.8 Mg\u00a0ha\u22121 (p", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Nitrogen fertilization", "Bioenergy; Biomass; Irrigation; Maize; Nitrogen fertilization; Sorghum; Agronomy and Crop Science; Plant Science; Soil Science", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Bioenergy", "Biomass", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Irrigation", "7. Clean energy", "Sorghum", "6. Clean water", "Maize"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2016.01.019"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/European%20Journal%20of%20Agronomy", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.eja.2016.01.019", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.eja.2016.01.019", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.eja.2016.01.019"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-05-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.fcr.2012.07.014", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:55Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2012-08-09", "title": "Maize\u2013Grain Legume Intercropping Is An Attractive Option For Ecological Intensification That Reduces Climatic Risk For Smallholder Farmers In Central Mozambique", "description": "Abstract Many farmers in central Mozambique intercrop maize with grain legumes as a means to improve food security and income. The objective of this study was to understand the farming system, and to evaluate the suitability of maize\u2013legume intercropping to alleviate the biophysical and socio-economic constraints faced by smallholder farmers in Ruaca and Vunduzi villages, central Mozambique. To achieve this we characterised the farming systems and measured grain yields, rainfall infiltration, economic returns and acceptability of maize\u2013legume intercrops under different N and P application rates. Two intercropping strategies were tested: (a) an additive design of within-row intercropping in which legume was intercropped with alternating hills of maize within the same row; maize plant population was the same as sole crop maize, and (b) a substitutive design with distinct alternating rows of maize and legume (local practice). Fertiliser treatments imposed on all treatments were: (i) no fertiliser, (ii) 20\u00a0kg\u00a0P\u00a0ha \u22121 , (iii) 20\u00a0kg\u00a0P\u00a0ha \u22121 \u00a0+\u00a030\u00a0kg\u00a0N\u00a0ha \u22121 , and (iv) 20\u00a0kg\u00a0P\u00a0ha \u22121 \u00a0+\u00a060\u00a0kg\u00a0N\u00a0ha \u22121 . Intercrops were relatively more productive than the corresponding sole crops; land equivalent ratios (LER) for within-row intercropping ranged between 1.1 and 2.4, and between 1.0 and 1.9 for distinct-row intercropping. Average maize yield penalty for intercropping maize and pigeonpea in the within-row was small (8%) compared with 50% in the distinct-row design; average (season\u00a0\u00d7\u00a0fertiliser) sole maize yield was 3.2\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 . Intercropping maize and cowpea in within-row led to maize yield loss of only 6%, whereas distinct-row intercropping reduced maize yield by 25% from 2.1\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 of sole maize (season\u00a0\u00d7\u00a0fertiliser). Cowpea yield was less affected by intercropping: sole cowpea had an average yield of 0.9\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 , distinct-row intercropping (0.8\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 ) and the within-row intercropping yielded 0.9\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 . Legumes were comparatively less affected by the long dry spells which were prevalent during the study period. Response to N and P fertiliser was weak due to poor rainfall distribution. In the third season, maize in rotation with pigeonpea and without N fertiliser application yielded 5.6\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 , eight times more than continuous maize which was severely infested by striga ( Striga asiatica ) and yielded only 0.7\u00a0t\u00a0ha \u22121 . Rainfall infiltration increased from 6\u00a0mm\u00a0h \u22121 to 22\u00a0mm\u00a0h \u22121 with long-term maize\u2013legume intercropping due to a combination of good quality biomass production which provided mulch combined with no tillage. Intercropping maize and pigeonpea was profitable with a rate of return of at least 343% over sole maize cropping. Farmers preferred the within-row maize\u2013legume intercropping with an acceptability score of 84% because of good yields for both maize and legume. Intercropping increased the labour required for weeding by 36% compared with the sole crops. Farmers in Ruaca faced labour constraints due to extensification thus maize\u2013pigeonpea intercropping may improve productivity and help reduce the area cultivated. In Vunduzi, land limitation was a major problem and intensification through legumes is amongst the few feasible options to increase both production and productivity. The late maturity of pigeonpea means that free-grazing of cattle has to be delayed, which allows farmers to retain crop residues in the fields as mulch if they choose to; this allows the use of no-tillage practises. We conclude that maize\u2013legume intercropping has potential to: (a) reduce the risk of crop failure, (b) improve productivity and income, and (c) increase food security in vulnerable production systems, and is a feasible entry point to ecological intensification.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "F08 - Syst\u00e8mes et modes de culture", "rendement des cultures", "agro\u00e9cologie", "petite exploitation agricole", "extensification", "nitrogen-fixation", "01 natural sciences", "7. Clean energy", "630", "analyse \u00e9conomique", "l\u00e9gume sec", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6214", "striga", "syst\u00e8me de culture", "intensification", "2. Zero hunger", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10967", "soil fertility", "1. No poverty", "facteur climatique", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Sorghum bicolor", "resource capture", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_92381", "rentabilit\u00e9", "conservation agriculture", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8504", "s\u00e9curit\u00e9 alimentaire", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_13199", "E16 - \u00c9conomie de la production", "Vigna unguiculata", "crop-rotation", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_29554", "Cenchrus americanus", "Zea mays", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7247", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10176", "Life Science", "decomposition", "15. Life on land", "yield", "Maize", "cowpea", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3351", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33484", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33485", "systems", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3910", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2469", "culture intercalaire", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1971", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4964", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8247", "http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7113"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2012.07.014"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Field%20Crops%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.fcr.2012.07.014", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.fcr.2012.07.014", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.fcr.2012.07.014"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2012-09-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.fcr.2013.04.024", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:55Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2013-06-22", "title": "Double No-Till And Permanent Raised Beds In Maize-Wheat Rotation Of North-Western Indo-Gangetic Plains Of India: Effects On Crop Yields, Water Productivity, Profitability And Soil Physical Properties", "description": "Abstract Excessive pumping of groundwater over the years to meet the high water requirement of flooded rice crop and intensive tillage have threatened the sustainability of irrigated rice\u2013wheat system (RWS) in the Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of South Asia. Replacement of rice with less water requiring crops such as maize in the RWS and identification of effective strategies for alternate tillage systems will promote sustainable cropping systems in the IGP. To this effect a 3-year field experiment was established with annual maize\u2013wheat rotation in the north-western IGP of India to evaluate the effect of 3 tillage systems (conventional flat, CTF; no-till flat, NTF; permanent raised beds, NTB) on crop production, water use efficiency, economic profitability and soil physical quality. Grain yield of maize was highest (8.2\u201373.4%) under NTB followed by NTF and CTF across the years. Wheat yield was significantly higher under NTF during the 1st year while tillage practices had non-significant effect in the succeeding two years. On average, maize planted on NTB recorded about 11% lower water use and 16% higher water use efficiency compared to CT. The NTB and NTF required 24.7% and 10.8% less irrigation water than CTF system, respectively with 11.5% higher system productivity and demonstrated higher water productivity. The NTB and NTF systems provided similar net returns (averaged over 3 years) in maize\u2013wheat system (MWS), which were US$ 281\u00a0ha\u22121 higher compared to CTF system. The CTF system had higher bulk density and penetration resistance in 10\u201315 and 15\u201320\u00a0cm soil layers due to compaction caused by the repeated tillage. The steady-state infiltration rate and soil aggregation (>0.25\u00a0mm) were higher under NTB and NTF and lower in the CTF system. Similarly, mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates was higher under NTF and NTB compared to CTF. The study reveals that NTB and NTF systems could be more viable options for MWS in order to save input costs and enhance profitability; however, the long-term effects of these alternative technologies need to be studied under varying agro-ecologies.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "crop rotation", "13. Climate action", "wheats", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "crop yield", "15. Life on land", "maize", "climate", "6. Clean water", "agriculture"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2013.04.024"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Field%20Crops%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.fcr.2013.04.024", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.fcr.2013.04.024", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.fcr.2013.04.024"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2013-08-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.fcr.2013.06.010", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:55Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2013-07-17", "title": "Increasing Se Concentration In Maize Grain With Soil- Or Foliar-Applied Selenite On The Loess Plateau In China", "description": "AbstractSelenium (Se) is an essential mineral nutrient for animal and human growth. Deficiency in this element is a worldwide nutrition problem. Thus, this study determined the potential of increasing Se content in maize grain by using various Se fertiliser application techniques to improve the nutritional status of local residents. Field experiments were conducted on the Loess Plateau for two growing seasons to investigate the effects of different Se fertiliser application methods and application rates on the Se content in maize grain as well as the Se recovery, yield and status of other nutrients in maize grain under rain-fed conditions. Results show that soil and foliar Se applications exhibited no significant effects on maize biomass and grain yield as well as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn contents in maize grain. However, both foliar and soil Se applications significantly improved the Se content in maize grain. Selenium content in maize grain is found to be linearly correlated with Se application rates, increasing from 0.12\u03bcgkg\u22121 to 0.33\u03bcgkg\u22121 by soil application at 1g of Se ha\u22121 and from 8.23\u03bcgkg\u22121 to 8.67\u03bcgkg\u22121 by foliar application at the same rate. Foliar application of Se showed higher Se recoveries in the grain compared with soil Se application: the former exhibited a maximum grain Se recovery rate of 52\u2030 and 106\u2030 in maize during the first and second growing seasons, respectively, whereas the latter was only 1.69\u2030 and 0.95\u2030, respectively. On the Loess Plateau in China, both soil and foliar Se applications effectively improved the Se content in maize grain. Compared with soil Se application, foliar Se application can improve the grain Se content in maize at reduced costs.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Soil application", "Recovery", "Soil Science", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Foliar application", "Grain", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Agronomy and Crop Science", "Se", "Maize"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Jianwei Wang, Jianwei Wang, Hui Mao, Zhaohui Wang, Zhaohui Wang, Hubing Zhao, Donglin Huang,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2013.06.010"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Field%20Crops%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.fcr.2013.06.010", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.fcr.2013.06.010", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.fcr.2013.06.010"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2013-08-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.fcr.2014.08.004", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:56Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2014-09-16", "title": "Benefits Of Legume\u2013Maize Rotations: Assessing The Impact Of Diversity On The Productivity Of Smallholders In Western Kenya", "description": "Abstract Agricultural intensification of farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa is a prerequisite to alleviate rural poverty and improve livelihoods. Legumes have shown great potential to enhance system productivity. On-farm experiments were conducted in different agro-ecological zones (AEZ) in Western Kenya to assess the agronomic and economic benefits of promising legumes. In each zone, trials were established in fields of high, medium and low fertility to assess the effect of soil fertility heterogeneity on legume productivity and subsequent maize yield. Common bean, soybean, groundnut, lima bean, lablab, velvet bean, crotalaria, and jackbean were grown in the short rains season, followed by maize in the long rains season. Alongside, continuous maize treatments fertilised at different rates were established. AEZs and soil fertility gradients within these zones greatly affected crop productivity, returns to land and labour of rotations, as well as the relative performance of rotations. Poorer soil fertility and AEZs with lower rainfall gave smaller legume and maize yields and consequently, smaller returns to land and labour. The cultivation of legumes increased maize yields in the subsequent long rains season compared with continuous maize receiving fertiliser at a similar rate, while the increase of maize after green manure legumes was stronger than that after grain legumes. Maize yield responded strongly to increasing amounts of N applied as legume residues with diminishing returns to legume-N application rates above 100\u00a0kg\u00a0N\u00a0ha\u22121. In the low potential zones, factors other than improved N availability likely also stimulated maize yield. Rotations with grain legumes generally provided better returns than those with green manures. Intercropping bean with maize in the long rains season provided an additional bean yield that did not come at the expense of maize yield and improved returns to land and labour, but more so in the high potential zones. The results demonstrate the strong impact of biophysical diversity on the productivity of the legumes and suggest the need for careful targeting of legume technologies to the different biophysical conditions.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "semiarid kenya", "soil fertility", "legumes", "sustainable intensification", "cattle manure", "1. No poverty", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "maize", "exploring diversity", "nitrogen", "economic analysis", "soybean glycine-max", "soil fertility management", "biophysics", "on-farm productivity", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "farming systems", "crop-livestock systems", "degraded soils"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2014.08.004"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Field%20Crops%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.fcr.2014.08.004", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.fcr.2014.08.004", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.fcr.2014.08.004"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2014-11-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.fcr.2017.04.016", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:15:56Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-05-05", "title": "Is Maize-Cowpea Intercropping A Viable Option For Smallholder Farms In The Risky Environments Of Semi-Arid Southern Africa?", "description": "Intercropping cereals with legumes can potentially enhance productivity and soil fertility. There is limited experimental evidence on the mechanisms underlying benefits or risks in intercropping systems and below-ground interactions in intercrops remain largely unstudied. Such understanding can inform strategies towards maximising returns to investments, particularly in poor fertility soils on smallholder farms in semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Additive intercropping experiments were established covering several seasons (2010/11\u20132014/15) and different conditions (on-station and on-farm) to determine effects on soil chemical variables, root dynamics and yield of intercrops. Maize was planted with the first effective rains and received either no fertiliser or 40 kg N ha\u22121. Cowpea was planted on the same date as maize or three weeks after planting maize in intercrops or sole stands and received no fertiliser. End-of-season available N was highest (P 1. Intercropping, however, resulted in compromised cowpea yields especially under the relay intercrop compared with the sole cowpea stands whilst maize yield was either not affected or improved. We attributed this to the lack of below-ground niche differentiation in root distribution between maize and cowpea. Maize\u2013cowpea intercropping with low doses of N fertiliser resulted in over-yielding compared with monocropping. Intercropping proved to be a robust option across seasons and soil types, confirming that it is a promising option for resource-poor smallholders.", "keywords": ["Zimbabwe", "Interspecific facilitation", "Root length density", "2. Zero hunger", "570", "Cereals", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "630", "Land-use efficiency", "Maize", "Soil", "Niche differentiation", "Intercropping", "Drylands Agriculture", "African Agriculture", "Legume Crops", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Crop Yield", "Root distribution", "Southern Africa", "Below-ground complementarity"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2017.04.016"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Field%20Crops%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.fcr.2017.04.016", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.fcr.2017.04.016", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.fcr.2017.04.016"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-08-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.04.009", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:16:10Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2014-05-10", "title": "Biochar Impact On Midwestern Mollisols And Maize Nutrient Availability", "description": "Abstract Biochar applications have been shown to increase crop yields on acidic and low activity soils in the tropics but fewer positive yield responses have been reported for temperate soils. We hypothesized that even without a yield response, applying biochar to a Midwestern Mollisol could improve soil quality and plant nutrient availability because of the carbon it supplies and its conditioning effect. Eighteen small field plots (23.7\u00a0m 2 ) on a glacial-till derived soil were established by incorporating 0 to 96\u00a0Mg\u00a0ha \u2212\u00a01 of hardwood biochar to a depth of 30\u00a0cm. Several soil quality indicators, plant nutrient availability, uptake, and yield of two consecutive maize ( Zea mays L.) crops were monitored. Biochar application significantly increased soil pH, readily available water (RAW) content (defined as volumetric water available between \u2212\u00a010\u00a0kPa and \u2212\u00a0100\u00a0kPa) and soil organic C (SOC). It decreased bulk density (BD), but had no consistent effect on soil infiltration rates, CEC, or nutrient uptake. Biochar application did increase grain yield during the first year by 11 to 55% following very high stover application rates (3.5\u00a0\u00d7 the typical amount), presumably because biochar mitigated adverse effects of allelochemicals released from the decomposing maize residue. There was no detectable biochar effect on maize yield during the second year when the crop was limited by severe drought.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Biochar", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Maize yield", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "Soil quality", "630", "6. Clean water", "Allelopathy", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.04.009"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Geoderma", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.04.009", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.04.009", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.04.009"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2014-10-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.05.029", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:16:29Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2012-06-10", "title": "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under Conservation Agriculture Compared To Traditional Cultivation Of Maize In The Central Highlands Of Mexico", "description": "In 1991, the 'International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center' (CIMMYT) started a field experiment in the rain fed Mexican highlands to investigate conservation agriculture (CA) as a sustainable alternative for conventional maize production practices (CT). CT techniques, characterized by deep tillage, monoculture and crop residue removal, have deteriorated soil fertility and reduced yields. CA, which combines minimum tillage, crop rotations and residue retention, restores soil fertility and increases yields. Soil organic matter increases in CA compared to CT, but increases in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in CA might offset the gains obtained to mitigate global warming. Therefore, CO(2), CH(4) and N(2)O emissions, soil temperature, C and water content were monitored in CA and CT treatments in 2010-2011. The cumulative GHG emitted were similar for CA and CT in both years, but the C content in the 0-60 cm layer was higher in CA (117.7 Mg C ha(-1)) than in CT (69.7 Mg C ha(-1)). The net global warming potential (GWP) of CA (considering soil C sequestration, GHG emissions, fuel use, and fertilizer and seeds production) was -7729 kg CO(2) ha(-1) y(-1) in 2008-2009 and -7892 kg CO(2) ha(-1) y(-1) in 2010-2011, whereas that of CT was 1327 and 1156 kg CO(2) ha(-1) y(-1). It was found that the contribution of CA to GWP was small compared to that of CT.", "keywords": ["Greenhouse Effect", "2. Zero hunger", "Nitrogen", "Nitrous Oxide", "Temperature", "Agriculture", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Carbon Dioxide", "15. Life on land", "maize", "Zea mays", "01 natural sciences", "Carbon", "6. Clean water", "12. Responsible consumption", "Soil", "13. Climate action", "greenhouse gases", "11. Sustainability", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "climate", "Methane", "Mexico", "agriculture", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.05.029"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Science%20of%20The%20Total%20Environment", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.05.029", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.05.029", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.05.029"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2012-08-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.04.039", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:16:37Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2006-05-23", "title": "Carbohydrate Dynamics In Particle-Size Fractions Of Sandy Spodosols Following Forest Conversion To Maize Cropping", "description": "Abstract In southwest France, much of the forested land on sandy spodosols has been converted to continuous maize cropping in the last few decades. To evaluate the impacts of this change on soil organic matter properties, we compared total organic C and neutral and amino sugars content in whole soil and particle size separates of two forested, and five related sites that had been either clear-cut for 12 and 18 mo, or cultivated to maize for 4\u201322\u00a0yr. Soil carbohydrates accounted for 4\u20137% of the total organic C across all sites. Soil organic C contents of clear-cut and cultivated sites were only 57\u201379% of the average value measured in forested sites. Accordingly, carbohydrate content of clear-cut and cultivated sites were only 35\u201366% of the value in forested sites. Ordering the sites in a chronosequence indicated that both total organic C and carbohydrate contents decreased with an increase in time elapsed since clear-cutting and maize cultivation. The only exception was a partial recovery of carbohydrate content in the site that had been under continuous maize for 22\u00a0yr. The clay+silt fraction (0\u201350\u00a0\u03bcm) was enriched in carbohydrates, mainly of microbial origin, whereas the sand size fractions (50\u2013200 and 200\u20132000\u00a0\u03bcm) contained fewer carbohydrates which were mainly of plant origin. Monosaccharide analysis of particle size separates revealed significant differences in carbohydrate composition between sites. Relative to forested sites, the coarse and fine sand fractions in clear-cut and cultivated sites were depleted in carbohydrates and were relatively enriched in plant-derived carbohydrates. Carbohydrate content of the clay+silt fraction drastically decreased upon clear-cutting. Amino sugar content was consistently lower in clear-cut and cultivated sites than in forested sites, indicating that microbial populations were negatively affected by clear-cutting and cultivation. The fungal population appeared more sensitive than bacteria to these land-use changes as indicated by a greater decline in glucosamine than in muramic acid contents.", "keywords": ["PINE FOREST", "2. Zero hunger", "PODZOSOL", "550", "BIOCHIMIE", "CARBOHYDRATES", "PIN MARITIME", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "[SDV.SA.SDS]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Soil study", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "PARTICLE SIZE SEPARATE", "SUCRES", "MAIZE CROPPING", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "[SDV.SA.SDS] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Soil study", "FRACTIONNEMENT GRANULOMETRIQUE", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.04.039"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20Biology%20and%20Biochemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.04.039", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.04.039", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.04.039"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2006-09-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.still.2006.10.005", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-16T16:16:50Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2006-12-01", "title": "The Adoption Of Annual Subsoiling As Conservation Tillage In Dryland Maize And Wheat Cultivation In Northern China", "description": "Soil compaction caused by random traffic or repetitive tillage has been shown to reduce water use efficiency, and thus crop yield due to reduced porosity, decreased water infiltration and availability of nutrients. Conservation tillage coupled with subsoiling in northern China is widely believed to reduce soil compaction, which was created after many years of no-till. However, limited research has been conducted on the most effective time interval for subsoiling, under conservation tillage. Data from conservation tillage demonstration sites operating for 10 years in northern China were used to conduct a comparative study of subsoiling interval under conservation tillage. Three modes of traditional tillage, subsoiling with soil cover and no-till with soil cover were compared using 10 years of soil bulk density, water content, yield and water use efficiency data. Cost benefit analysis was conducted on subsoiling time interval under conservation tillage. Yield and power consumption were assessed by based on the use of a single pass combine subsoiler and planter. Annual subsoiling was effective in reducing bulk density by only 4.9% compared with no-till treatments on the silty loam soils of the Loess plateau, but provided no extra benefit in terms of soil water loss, yield increase or water utilization. With the exception of bulk density, no-till and subsoiling with cover were vastly superior in increasing water use (+10.5%) efficiency and yield (+12.9%) compared to traditional tillage methods. Four years of no-till followed by one subsoiling reduced mechanical inputs by 62%, providing an economic benefit of 49% for maize and 209% for wheat production compared to traditional tillage. Annual subsoiling reduced inputs by 25% with an increased economic benefit of 23% for maize and 135% for wheat production. Yield and power consumption was improved by 5% and 20%, respectively, by combining subsoiling with the planting operation in one pass compared with multipass operations of subsoiling and planting. A key conclusion from this is that annual subsoiling in dryland areas of northern China is uneconomical and unwarranted. Four years of no-till operations followed by 1 year subsoiling provided some relief from accumulated soil compaction. However, minimum soil disturbance and maximum soil cover are key elements of no-till for saving water and improving yields. Improved yields and reduced farm power consumption could provide a significant base on which to promote combined planter and subsoiling operations throughout northern China. Further research is required to develop a better understanding of the linkages between conservation tillage, soil quality and yield, aimed at designing most appropriate conservation tillage schemes.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "no-till", "Yield", "Compaction", "Soil Science", "subsoiling", "Soil Properties", "economics", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Crop", "15. Life on land", "maize", "loess", "7. Clean energy", "333", "630", "6. Clean water", "C1", "wheat", "conservation tillage", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2006.10.005"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20and%20Tillage%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.still.2006.10.005", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.still.2006.10.005", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.still.2006.10.005"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2007-06-01T00:00:00Z"}}], "links": [{"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "This document as GeoJSON", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Maize&f=json", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "alternate", "type": "text/html", "title": "This document as HTML", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Maize&f=html", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection URL", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"type": "application/geo+json", "rel": "first", "title": "items (first)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Maize&", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "next", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "items (next)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Maize&offset=50", "hreflang": "en-US"}], "numberMatched": 173, "numberReturned": 50, "distributedFeatures": [], "timeStamp": "2026-04-17T07:16:44.321618Z"}