This study presents a global scale analysis of cropping intensity, crop duration and fallow land extent computed by using the global dataset on monthly irrigated and rainfed crop areas MIRCA2000. MIRCA2000 was mainly derived from census data and crop calendars from literature. Global cropland extent was 16 million km around the year 2000 of which 4.4 million km (28%) was fallow, resulting in an...

Abstract Agricultural production is increasingly viewed as more than a source of food, feed, fiber and fuel, but also system interdependent biotic abiotic components that interact to produce ecosystem services disservices. Weeds insects are commonly non-desirable agroecosystems should be managed. However, weeds can provide benefits cropping systems, such providing resources habitat pollinators ...

The patterns of different cropping systems are highly variable—as diverse as are the crops themselves and the climates, habitats, levels of mechanization, and human customs under which crop production is undertaken. Depending on the part of the world, certain considerations will weigh more heavily than others. In one place primitive methods are appropriate, in another the system is highly mecha...

With increased cropping intensity, one would expect that more crop residue and C would be added to the Soil C sequestration can improve soil quality and reduce agriculsoil than with a crop-fallow system (Campbell et al., ture’s contribution to CO2 emissions. The long-term (12 yr) effects of tillage system and N fertilization on crop residue production and 1995, 2000b; Janzen et al., 1998a; Pete...

Balancing productivity, profitability, and environmental health is a key challenge for agricultural sustainability. Most crop production systems in the United States are characterized by low species and management diversity, high use of fossil energy and agrichemicals, and large negative impacts on the environment. We hypothesized that cropping system diversification would promote ecosystem ser...

Moving agricultural production systems toward a greater level of soil health is needed for sustainability. Conservation utilizing no or minimum tillage are an important step forward, but enhancing carbon (C) inputs with diverse cover crops and facilitating biologically active nitrogen (N) cycling also needed. Summer cash-crop systems, particularly in the warm-humid region southeastern United St...

ecological footprint analysis in agriculture is a new and evolving subject. the main purpose of the study was to assess environmental sustainability of conventional and conservation tillage systems using ecological footprint analysis in hamedan province. global hectares (gha) were used to measure the ecological footprint unit. data was collected through questionnaires and use of cross-sectional...