@article{HalwaniRecklingEgamberdievaetal.2021, author = {Halwani, Mosab and Reckling, Moritz and Egamberdieva, Dilfuza and Omari, Richard Ansong and Bellingrath-Kimura, Sonoko Dorothea and Bachinger, Johann and Bloch, Ralf}, title = {Soybean Nodulation Response to Cropping Interval and Inoculation in European Cropping Systems}, series = {Frontiers in Plant Science}, volume = {12}, journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science}, publisher = {Frontiers Media S.A.}, issn = {1664-462X}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2021.638452}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2576}, pages = {9}, year = {2021}, abstract = {To support the adaption of soybean [Glycine max (L) Merrill] cultivation across Central Europe, the availability of compatible soybean nodulating Bradyrhizobia (SNB) is essential. Little is known about the symbiotic potential of indigenous SNB in Central Europe and the interaction with an SNB inoculum from commercial products. The objective of this study was to quantify the capacity of indigenous and inoculated SNB strains on the symbiotic performance of soybean in a pot experiment, using soils with and without soybean history. Under controlled conditions in a growth chamber, the study focused on two main factors: a soybean cropping interval (time since the last soybean cultivation; SCI) and inoculation with commercial Bradyrhizobia strains. Comparing the two types of soil, without soybean history and with 1-4 years SCI, we found out that plants grown in soil with soybean history and without inoculation had significantly more root nodules and higher nitrogen content in the plant tissue. These parameters, along with the leghemoglobin content, were found to be a variable among soils with 1-4 years SCI and did not show a trend over the years. Inoculation in soil without soybean history showed a significant increase in a nodulation rate, leghemoglobin content, and soybean tissue nitrogen concentration. The study found that response to inoculation varied significantly as per locations in soil with previous soybean cultivation history. An inoculated soybean grown on loamy sandy soils from the location M{\"u}ncheberg had significantly more nodules as well as higher green tissue nitrogen concentration compared with non-inoculated plants. No significant improvement in a nodulation rate and tissue nitrogen concentration was observed for an inoculated soybean grown on loamy sandy soils from the location Fehrow. These results suggest that introduced SNB strains remained viable in the soil and were still symbiotically competent for up to 4 years after soybean cultivation. However, the symbiotic performance of the SNB remaining in the soils was not sufficient in all cases and makes inoculation with commercial products necessary. The SNB strains found in the soil of Central Europe could also be promising candidates for the development of inoculants and already represent a contribution to the successful cultivation of soybeans in Central Europe.}, language = {en} } @article{HalwaniRecklingSchuleretal.2019, author = {Halwani, Mosab and Reckling, Moritz and Schuler, Johannes and Bloch, Ralf and Bachinger, Johann}, title = {Soybean in No-Till Cover-Crop Systems}, series = {Agronomy}, volume = {9}, journal = {Agronomy}, number = {12}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2073-4395}, doi = {10.3390/agronomy9120883}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3314}, pages = {17}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Introducing agro-ecological techniques such as no-tillage systems with cover crops in rotations with soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) could provide more resilience to changing climatic conditions and, at the same time, reduce soil erosion, nitrate leaching, and weed density in the main crop. However, there are challenges in introducing no-tillage techniques in crop systems in Europe as there is little quantitative knowledge about the agro-economic impact. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the agronomic and economic impacts of three soybean cropping systems involving a rye (Secale cereal L.) cover crop prior to soybean, i.e., two no-tillage systems; either herbicide-free with crimping the rye or herbicide-based without rye crimping and one plough-based in which rye was cut as green silage. The impacts of these cropping strategies were compared in a three-year cropping system experiment at a research station in north-eastern Germany with and without irrigation. The following parameters were measured: (1) cover crop biomass; (2) weed biomass; (3) soybean plant density; (4) soybean grain yield; and (5) gross margin of the cropping system. The results showed that all three soybean cropping systems can effectively suppress weeds. System (C), the no-tillage herbicide-based system, produced the lowest rye biomass and highest soybean yield; system (B), the no-tillage herbicide-free/crimped rye system, produced the highest rye biomass and lowest soybean yield compared to system (A), the standard cutting/plough-based system. The differences in rye biomass and soybean yield observed between the three systems could be mainly attributed to the timing of the cover crop termination and the soybean sowing date. The gross margin was highest in system (C), due to the high soybean grain yield. The low soybean grain yield in system (B) resulted in lower revenues and gross margins compared to systems (A) and (C), although system (B) could be economically attractive in organic farming with higher prices for organic soybean. In the particularly dry year 2016, gross margins were higher when soybean was irrigated compared to the rainfed cultivation, due to significantly higher grain yields. Before recommending the application of the no-tillage with cover crop technique for the conditions tested in north-eastern Germany, more investigations on the benefits and risks of this technique are needed. Further research needs to focus on maintaining a high rye biomass as well as on ensuring an early soybean planting date. Optimizing the crimping and drilling equipment is still required in order to develop good management practices for no-tillage herbicide-free systems in European conditions.}, language = {en} } @article{HofbauerBlochBachingeretal.2022, author = {Hofbauer, Michael and Bloch, Ralf and Bachinger, Johann and Gerke, Horst H.}, title = {Effects of shallow non-inversion tillage on sandy loam soil properties and winter rye yield in organic farming}, series = {Soil \& Tillage Research}, journal = {Soil \& Tillage Research}, number = {222}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {0167-1987}, doi = {10.1016/j.still.2022.105435}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-4354}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Due to an expected improvement of soil quality and soil water storage, the substitution of mouldboard ploughing by reduced tillage was identified as a potential climate change adaptation measure for organic farming in a relatively dry region with a humid continental climate. In a field trial on a sandy loam soil in eastern Germany, reduced tillage was carried out to 6 cm soil depth by means of a ring cutter and compared to mouldboard ploughing with 25 cm tillage depth. In the present study, the influence of ring cutter tillage on soil properties was investigated for the first time. The effects of shallow ring cutter tillage on soil physical parameters, soil organic matter distribution, soil mineral nitrogen content, total nitrogen uptake by the crop, root content, and grain yield of organically grown winter rye (Secale cereale L.) were analysed in the uppermost 20 cm of a sandy loam soil and compared to those of mouldboard ploughing. Under ring cutter tillage, soil bulk density was in 8-20 cm soil depth by up to 15\% higher than under mouldboard ploughing. In 9-15 cm soil depth, ring cutter tillage resulted in smaller contents of coarse macropores and mesopores, more micropores, and an 11\% smaller available water capacity compared to mouldboard ploughing. The total nitrogen uptake by winter rye was in the ring cutter treatment by up to 44\% smaller than in the mouldboard plough treatment. Root content was up to 209\% higher in 1-6 cm soil depth and up to 71\% smaller in 8-20 cm soil depth after ring cutter tillage than after mouldboard ploughing. Winter rye yield declined by 22-43\% in the ring cutter treatment relative to the mouldboard plough treatment. Shallow ring cutter tillage resulted in a root growth-restricting soil compaction in the non-tilled soil layers below 6 cm depth and led to a limitation of nitrogen mineralisation until spring. Both effects likely caused the considerable reduction of crop yield. The results suggest that shallow ring cutter tillage in organic farming seems to be not suitable for sandy loam soils as long as the risk of a soil compaction-induced limitation of root growth and nitrogen supply cannot be minimised.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ViewegerDoeringBlochetal.2021, author = {Vieweger, Anja and D{\"o}ring, Thomas Felix and Bloch, Ralf and Bachinger, Johann}, title = {Inspiring change in agricultural practices}, series = {Landscape 2021 Diversity for sustainable and resilient agriculture, Online conference, 20.-22.09.2021}, booktitle = {Landscape 2021 Diversity for sustainable and resilient agriculture, Online conference, 20.-22.09.2021}, editor = {Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF),}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7700}, pages = {50}, year = {2021}, abstract = {An international group of 15 organic and biodynamic farmers have collaborated since early 2015 to develop their own strategies and learning concepts to increase health on their farms. After jointly formulating ten core statements as their own practical principles for managing healthy farming systems, they went on to develop a training strategy to transfer this knowledge about promoting health on organic farms, describing a co-learning concept to collaborate with their peers in a long-term process. Most suitable, appropriate methods and optimal conditions were discussed for successfully spreading such complex tacit knowledge among other farmers, and crucially, for invoking change in behavior. One core concept emerged as being most critical for success - inspiration. It was the group members' or peers' ability to inspire, which, in their experience, was key to stimulate their own change of practices, motivate trials with new methods, or adopt a new perspective or philosophy for managing their farm. They described that it was not only the reading about different techniques, or seeing new machinery in action during a farmer field day - the actual spark that triggered their own action was in most cases personal interaction. The personal exchange and inspiration among peers, who have established a sound level of trust, who share their experiences, as well as passions and failures seemed to be most likely the key element of farmer learning. This was particularly true for learning and enhancing soft skills, such as intuition, gut-feeling or self-reflection - all essential skills for running healthy organic farms according to the farmer group. The farmers of this project series have attributed great value to learning with and from each other during a co-learning process, in particular when the group is regularly stimulated by and collaborating with interdisciplinary researchers who are embedded in this co-learning process. We could therefore conclude that not only participatory-/action research or multi-actor approaches, but agricultural research in general benefits from a deep connection and understanding between researchers and farmers, to successfully inspire change in practices, and the adoption of new philosophies and perspectives that trigger long lasting transformation.}, language = {en} } @article{ArrekhiNiknahadGharmakherBachingeretal.2022, author = {Arrekhi, Armin and Niknahad Gharmakher, Hamid and Bachinger, Johann and Bloch, Ralf}, title = {Investigation of Feasibility and Effect of Alternative Farming System on the Grain Yield of Barley and Forage Production in Western Semi-arid Region of Golestan Province, Iran}, series = {Journal of Rangeland Science}, volume = {13}, journal = {Journal of Rangeland Science}, number = {2}, publisher = {IA University, Borujerd Branch}, issn = {2008-9996}, doi = {10.30495/rs.2023.688855}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-8022}, pages = {155 -- 167}, year = {2022}, abstract = {One of the major challenges in semi-arid regions of Iran is to supply the adequate forage for livestock and meanwhile prevent the destruction of rangelands due to overgrazing. Therefore, this study aimed to compare three cropping systems of barley using Salsola turcomanica (ST), and Chrysopogon zizanioides (CZ) in three treatments of barley+ST, barley+ST+CZ and mono-culture of barley. Two-year field trials data were collected from November 2018 to October 2020 in two experimental sites using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The results of analysis of variance over two years indicated that the effects of year, location, and year by location interaction were significant (p<0.01) for all of barley's yield components. Mixed cropping of barley with other species had no negative effect on barley traits such as grain yield, straw yield and harvest index. In addition, the mixed cropping of barley+ST and barley+ST+CZ in the first year produced 2.5 t/ha more forage yield than that mono-culture of barley. This was due to high production of Salsola (ST), in mixed cropping. In both years, yield of Salsola production was about 25\% of whole produced biomass. Drastic reduction in rainfall in the second year reduced the obtained yield; so, there was no significant difference among three cropping systems in the second year. However, cropping systems of barley+ST and barley+ST+CZ produced about 1 t/ha more forage than that for the mono-culture of barley. Mixed cropping of barley +ST+CZ did not affect yield components of barley. Mixed cropping of barley with Salsola turcomanica could guarantee soil cover throughout the year and is recommended for forage production in rangeland in Iran.}, language = {en} }