The Experts below are selected from a list of 189 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Florian Schäfer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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farming and marketing system affects carbon and water footprint a case study using hokaido pumpkin
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2012Co-Authors: Florian Schäfer, Michael M BlankeAbstract:Abstract The objective of the study was to determine the carbon footprint for four farming and marketing systems, using primary data obtained on the farms for autumn pumpkin as an example and model crop. Area for the crop cultivation and weight, i.e. kilogram of saleable product, for the marketing phase were employed as the two functional units with system boundaries from seed acquisition to pumpkin disposal; offset was not used. In the farm carbon footprint (FCF), pumpkins from the organic farm with 240 kg CO 2 eq/ha scored best due to the lowest (50 kg N/ha) (organic) nitrogen application compared with twice that value (448 kg CO 2 eq/ha) for the IP farm. This was due to nitrous oxide emissions, as a consequence of N Fertiliser, with 75–99% of FCF in the cultivation phase; it contributed ca. 10% and plant protection (methiocarb in the ‘integrated production’; IP) The large specialised farm showed the best product carbon footprint with 139 g CO 2 eq/kg pumpkin due to use of Potassium Fertiliser and 3-fold larger yields (18 t/ha versus 5.8 t/ha in the organic [716 g CO 2 eq/kg]) and, to a lesser extent, the scale of the farm business. On the other two farms, cultivation is more extensive with the main income not from pumpkin; any increase in farm size or their pumpkin acreage would not improve their efficacy and product carbon footprint. The imported organic Argentinean pumpkin scored second best with 243 g CO 2 eq/kg despite the long-distance transport due the lower energy consumption of bulk sea freight. The private consumer shopping distance in both cases (retail versus farm shop) amounted to as much as ca. 89% of the product carbon footprint. For a cleaner production, carbon reduction potential appears in improving the Potassium fertilisation in all farming systems, except for the large farm, and consumer behaviour regarding the means of transport for shopping. A simple water footprint assessment, based on irrigation and produce washing, resulted in 0.4 (IP), 0.9 L (organic) to 9 L (large scale) blue water/kg pumpkin.
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Farming and marketing system affects carbon and water footprint – a case study using Hokaido pumpkin
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2012Co-Authors: Florian Schäfer, Michael BlankeAbstract:Abstract The objective of the study was to determine the carbon footprint for four farming and marketing systems, using primary data obtained on the farms for autumn pumpkin as an example and model crop. Area for the crop cultivation and weight, i.e. kilogram of saleable product, for the marketing phase were employed as the two functional units with system boundaries from seed acquisition to pumpkin disposal; offset was not used. In the farm carbon footprint (FCF), pumpkins from the organic farm with 240 kg CO 2 eq/ha scored best due to the lowest (50 kg N/ha) (organic) nitrogen application compared with twice that value (448 kg CO 2 eq/ha) for the IP farm. This was due to nitrous oxide emissions, as a consequence of N Fertiliser, with 75–99% of FCF in the cultivation phase; it contributed ca. 10% and plant protection (methiocarb in the ‘integrated production’; IP) The large specialised farm showed the best product carbon footprint with 139 g CO 2 eq/kg pumpkin due to use of Potassium Fertiliser and 3-fold larger yields (18 t/ha versus 5.8 t/ha in the organic [716 g CO 2 eq/kg]) and, to a lesser extent, the scale of the farm business. On the other two farms, cultivation is more extensive with the main income not from pumpkin; any increase in farm size or their pumpkin acreage would not improve their efficacy and product carbon footprint. The imported organic Argentinean pumpkin scored second best with 243 g CO 2 eq/kg despite the long-distance transport due the lower energy consumption of bulk sea freight. The private consumer shopping distance in both cases (retail versus farm shop) amounted to as much as ca. 89% of the product carbon footprint. For a cleaner production, carbon reduction potential appears in improving the Potassium fertilisation in all farming systems, except for the large farm, and consumer behaviour regarding the means of transport for shopping. A simple water footprint assessment, based on irrigation and produce washing, resulted in 0.4 (IP), 0.9 L (organic) to 9 L (large scale) blue water/kg pumpkin.
Michael M Blanke - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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farming and marketing system affects carbon and water footprint a case study using hokaido pumpkin
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2012Co-Authors: Florian Schäfer, Michael M BlankeAbstract:Abstract The objective of the study was to determine the carbon footprint for four farming and marketing systems, using primary data obtained on the farms for autumn pumpkin as an example and model crop. Area for the crop cultivation and weight, i.e. kilogram of saleable product, for the marketing phase were employed as the two functional units with system boundaries from seed acquisition to pumpkin disposal; offset was not used. In the farm carbon footprint (FCF), pumpkins from the organic farm with 240 kg CO 2 eq/ha scored best due to the lowest (50 kg N/ha) (organic) nitrogen application compared with twice that value (448 kg CO 2 eq/ha) for the IP farm. This was due to nitrous oxide emissions, as a consequence of N Fertiliser, with 75–99% of FCF in the cultivation phase; it contributed ca. 10% and plant protection (methiocarb in the ‘integrated production’; IP) The large specialised farm showed the best product carbon footprint with 139 g CO 2 eq/kg pumpkin due to use of Potassium Fertiliser and 3-fold larger yields (18 t/ha versus 5.8 t/ha in the organic [716 g CO 2 eq/kg]) and, to a lesser extent, the scale of the farm business. On the other two farms, cultivation is more extensive with the main income not from pumpkin; any increase in farm size or their pumpkin acreage would not improve their efficacy and product carbon footprint. The imported organic Argentinean pumpkin scored second best with 243 g CO 2 eq/kg despite the long-distance transport due the lower energy consumption of bulk sea freight. The private consumer shopping distance in both cases (retail versus farm shop) amounted to as much as ca. 89% of the product carbon footprint. For a cleaner production, carbon reduction potential appears in improving the Potassium fertilisation in all farming systems, except for the large farm, and consumer behaviour regarding the means of transport for shopping. A simple water footprint assessment, based on irrigation and produce washing, resulted in 0.4 (IP), 0.9 L (organic) to 9 L (large scale) blue water/kg pumpkin.
Michael Blanke - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Farming and marketing system affects carbon and water footprint – a case study using Hokaido pumpkin
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2012Co-Authors: Florian Schäfer, Michael BlankeAbstract:Abstract The objective of the study was to determine the carbon footprint for four farming and marketing systems, using primary data obtained on the farms for autumn pumpkin as an example and model crop. Area for the crop cultivation and weight, i.e. kilogram of saleable product, for the marketing phase were employed as the two functional units with system boundaries from seed acquisition to pumpkin disposal; offset was not used. In the farm carbon footprint (FCF), pumpkins from the organic farm with 240 kg CO 2 eq/ha scored best due to the lowest (50 kg N/ha) (organic) nitrogen application compared with twice that value (448 kg CO 2 eq/ha) for the IP farm. This was due to nitrous oxide emissions, as a consequence of N Fertiliser, with 75–99% of FCF in the cultivation phase; it contributed ca. 10% and plant protection (methiocarb in the ‘integrated production’; IP) The large specialised farm showed the best product carbon footprint with 139 g CO 2 eq/kg pumpkin due to use of Potassium Fertiliser and 3-fold larger yields (18 t/ha versus 5.8 t/ha in the organic [716 g CO 2 eq/kg]) and, to a lesser extent, the scale of the farm business. On the other two farms, cultivation is more extensive with the main income not from pumpkin; any increase in farm size or their pumpkin acreage would not improve their efficacy and product carbon footprint. The imported organic Argentinean pumpkin scored second best with 243 g CO 2 eq/kg despite the long-distance transport due the lower energy consumption of bulk sea freight. The private consumer shopping distance in both cases (retail versus farm shop) amounted to as much as ca. 89% of the product carbon footprint. For a cleaner production, carbon reduction potential appears in improving the Potassium fertilisation in all farming systems, except for the large farm, and consumer behaviour regarding the means of transport for shopping. A simple water footprint assessment, based on irrigation and produce washing, resulted in 0.4 (IP), 0.9 L (organic) to 9 L (large scale) blue water/kg pumpkin.
Michael Bolland - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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quantifying pasture dry matter responses to applications of Potassium Fertiliser for an intensively grazed rain fed dairy pasture in south western australia with or without adequate nitrogen Fertiliser
Animal Production Science, 2009Co-Authors: Michael Bolland, Ian GuthridgeAbstract:Rain-fed dairy pastures on sandy soils common in the high rainfall (>800 mm annual average) Mediterranean-type climate of south-western Australia comprise the annual species subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and annual and Italian ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud. and L. multiflorum Lam.). In wet years, clover becomes Potassium (K) deficient and shows large dry matter (DM) responses to applied Fertiliser K due to leaching of K in soil by rainfall. In contrast, ryegrass rarely shows DM responses to applied K. Many dairy pastures in the region are now intensively grazed to maximise pasture use for milk production, and nitrogen (N) Fertiliser is applied after each grazing. It is not known if frequent applications of Fertiliser N to these pastures changes pasture DM responses to applied K. Therefore, a long-term (2002–07) field experiment was undertaken on an intensively grazed dairy pasture in the region to quantify pasture DM responses to applied Fertiliser K with or without applications of adequate Fertiliser N (141–200 kg N/ha per year). Soil samples (top 10 cm of soil) were collected from each plot of the experiment each February to measure soil test K by the standard Colwell sodium bicarbonate procedure used for both K and phosphorus soil testing in the region. When no N was applied, pasture comprised ~70% (dry weight basis) clover and 25% ryegrass, compared with ~70% ryegrass and 25% clover when adequate N was applied. Significant linear responses of pasture DM to applied K occurred in 3 of the 6 years of the experiment only when no N was applied and clover dominated the pasture. The largest response varied from ~1.7 to 2.0 t/ha DM consumed by dairy cows at all grazings in each year, giving a K response efficiency of between 8 and 10 kg DM/ha per kg K/ha applied. Significant pasture DM responses to applied N occurred at all grazings in each year, with ~2–3 t/ha extra DM consumed by dairy cows at all grazings in each year being produced when a total of 141–200 kg N/ha was applied per year, giving an N response efficiency of ~7–19 kg DM/ha per kg N/ha applied. Soil test K values were very variable, attributed to varying proportions of soil samples per plot collected between and within cow urine patches, containing much K, arbitrarily deposited on experimental plots during grazing. Soil test K values were not significantly affected by the rates of K applied per year. A re-evaluation of results from the major soil K test study conducted for pastures in the region confirm that ryegrass rarely showed DM responses to applied K, and that for clover, soil K testing poorly predicted the likelihood of K deficiency in the next growing season.
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soil and tissue tests to predict pasture yield responses to applications of Potassium Fertiliser in high rainfall areas of south western australia
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 2002Co-Authors: Michael Bolland, W.j. Cox, B.j. CodlingAbstract:Dairy and beef pastures in the high (>800 mm annual average) rainfall areas of south-western Australia, based on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), grow on acidic to neutral deep (>40 cm) sands, up to 40 cm sand over loam or clay, or where loam or clay occur at the surface. Potassium deficiency is common, particularly for the sandy soils, requiring regular applications of Fertiliser Potassium for profitable pasture production. A large study was undertaken to assess 6 soil-test procedures, and tissue testing of dried herbage, as predictors of when Fertiliser Potassium was required for these pastures. The 100 field experiments, each conducted for 1 year, measured dried-herbage production separately for clover and ryegrass in response to applied Fertiliser Potassium (Potassium chloride). Significant (P 100 mg/kg soil. There was always a clover-yield increase to applied Potassium for Colwell Potassium at 50 and <30 mg/kg soil. At Potassium concentrations 30-100 mg/kg soil for clover and 30-50 mg/kg soil for ryegrass, the Colwell procedure did not reliably predict yield response, because from nil to large yield responses to applied Potassium occurred. The Colwell procedure appears to extract the most labile Potassium in the soil, including soluble Potassium in soil solution and Potassium balancing negative charge sites on soil constituents. In some soils, Colwell Potassium was low indicating deficiency, yet plant roots may have accessed potassum deeper in the soil profile. Where the Colwell procedure does not reliably predict soil Potassium status, tissue testing may help. The relationship between relative yield and tissue-test Potassium varied markedly for different harvests in each year of the experiments, and for different experiments. For clover, the concentration of Potassium in dried herbage that was related to 90% of the maximum, Potassium non-limiting yield (critical Potassium) was at the concentration of about 15 g/kg dried herbage for plants up to 8 weeks old, and at <10 g/kg dried herbage for plants older than 10-12 weeks. For ryegrass, there were insufficient data to provide reliable estimates of critical Potassium.
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Soil and tissue tests to predict pasture yield responses to applications of Potassium Fertiliser in high-rainfall areas of south-western Australia
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 2002Co-Authors: Michael Bolland, W.j. Cox, B.j. CodlingAbstract:Dairy and beef pastures in the high (>800 mm annual average) rainfall areas of south-western Australia, based on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), grow on acidic to neutral deep (>40 cm) sands, up to 40 cm sand over loam or clay, or where loam or clay occur at the surface. Potassium deficiency is common, particularly for the sandy soils, requiring regular applications of Fertiliser Potassium for profitable pasture production. A large study was undertaken to assess 6 soil-test procedures, and tissue testing of dried herbage, as predictors of when Fertiliser Potassium was required for these pastures. The 100 field experiments, each conducted for 1 year, measured dried-herbage production separately for clover and ryegrass in response to applied Fertiliser Potassium (Potassium chloride). Significant (P 100 mg/kg soil. There was always a clover-yield increase to applied Potassium for Colwell Potassium at 50 and
R F Brennan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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simulating wheat growth response to Potassium availability under field conditions in sandy soils ii effect of subsurface Potassium on grain yield response to Potassium Fertiliser
Field Crops Research, 2015Co-Authors: Craig Scanlan, R W Bell, R F BrennanAbstract:Abstract Subsurface Potassium (K) supply can make a significant contribution to total K uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) although its influence on grain yield response to K Fertiliser is unresolved. Previous work has shown that the inclusion of subsurface (>10 cm depth) soil extractable K (SEK) did not improve the prediction of relative yield (RY) compared to a prediction based on SEK in the 0–10 cm soil layer only. Our understanding of the influence of subsurface SEK is constrained by the incomplete nature of the interactions between season × surface SEK × subsurface SEK directly measured in field experiments. To understand these interactions, we simulated wheat growth for two locations in a rain fed environment in south-west Western Australia (SWWA) and two soil types using the crop growth simulation model APSIM, which has been calibrated for the sandy-surfaced soils of SWWA. Sensitivity analysis of the effect of subsurface SEK on grain yield showed that the effectiveness of subsurface SEK relative to surface SEK declined exponentially as the depth of the K-enriched subsurface layer increased. We implemented a Monte Carlo simulation for a deep sand and a sand over clay soil profile for a range of surface SEK levels, subsurface SEK depths, subsurface SEK levels, locations, years, subsurface root constraint and rates of K Fertiliser applied. Global sensitivity analysis showed that SEK in the 0–10 cm depth was the most important factor for RY in the deep sand and sand over clay profiles followed by SEK 10–20 cm and location. We used the results from the Monte Carlo simulation to develop a K Fertiliser recommendation model based on SEK 0–10 cm only and a recommendation model based on SEK 0–10 cm together with subsurface SEK, root constraint and stored soil water at sowing. A net economic benefit (change in income exceeds extra costs) only occurred in a limited number of scenarios where SEK 0–10 cm was between 40 and 60 mg kg−1 for the deep sand and where SEK 0–10 cm was less than 40 mg kg−1 for the sand over clay. The greatest potential for improvement in profit from K Fertiliser recommendation systems for soils in SWWA is for sand over clay soils where SEK 0 to 10 cm is less 40 mg kg−1.
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increasing applications of Potassium Fertiliser to barley crops grown on deficient sandy soils increased grain yields while decreasing some foliar diseases
Crop & Pasture Science, 2007Co-Authors: R F Brennan, K W JayasenaAbstract:Most sandy soils used for cropping in south-western Australia (SWA) have now become Potassium (K) deficient due to removal of K in hay and grain, so it is now profitable to apply K Fertiliser to most barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) crops in the region. Leaf diseases of barley crops in the region have increased in recent years particularly in the in medium to high (350–600 mm annual average rainfall) areas of SWA. Seventeen field experiments were undertaken to determine the effect of applications of K Fertiliser, either the chloride (KCl) or sulfate source (K2SO4), on grain yield increases and on the percentage leaf area diseased (%LAD) when diseases were controlled or not controlled by fungicide sprays. Maximum grain yield of barley was achieved where adequate K Fertiliser (~8–22 kg K/ha) was applied and leaf diseases were controlled by fungicide. Applying increasing amounts of applied K Fertiliser (0–120 kg K/ha) to barley decreased the %LAD by powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei Syn.) and spot-type net blotch (Pyrenophora teres f. maculata (Sacc.) Shoem.) and increased grain yield. By contrast, when leaf rust (Puccinia hordei G. Otth) was present the %LAD was unaffected by K application. When powdery mildew was the major disease, larger increases in grain yields and larger reductions in %LAD were obtained when KCl was used instead of K2SO4. About twice as much K Fertiliser as K2SO4 was required for 90% maximum grain yield compared with KCl where powdery mildew was present. Applying larger amounts (>40 kg K/ha) of K Fertiliser than required to achieve maximum grain yields did not further reduce %LAD by powdery mildew. There were no significant differences between the 2 sources of K Fertiliser on the %LAD by spot-type net blotch. Generally, the percentage protein content and hectolitre weight of grain were unaffected by K Fertiliser. Potassium Fertiliser decreased the percentage grain < 2.5 mm (known locally as screenings) and control of the foliar leaf diseases by applications of fungicide resulted in a decrease in protein content and screenings and increased hectolitre weight of barley grain. The concentration of K in dried shoots that was related to 90% of the maximum shoot yield (critical diagnostic K) decreased as the plant matured, and was ~41 g/kg at Z22, ~30 g/kg at Z32, ~20 g/kg at Z40, and ~15 g/kg at Z59. The concentration of K in dried shoots which was related to 90% of the grain yield (critical prognostic K) decreased as plant matured, and was similar to critical diagnostic K values. Leaf disease had little effect on critical concentrations of K at early growth stages (Z22 and Z32).
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yield responses of mulla mulla ptilotus exaltatus nees seedlings to additions of nitrogen Potassium and phosphorus Fertiliser
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 2000Co-Authors: R F Brennan, M G Webb, A M CrowhurstAbstract:Native plants are increasingly being grown in Western Australia to produce flowers for export and the nutritional requirement of some of these species is not known. The nitrogen, phosphorus and Potassium requirements for optimum growth of seedlings of one such species, Ptilotus exaltatus Nees., were measured in the glasshouse experiment reported here. There was a significant (P<0.05) growth response to nitrogen Fertilisers over the range 20-80 mg N/kg soil. At all amounts of phosphorus and Potassium, except for the nil-phosphorus treatments, the largest amount of applied nitrogen (80 mg N/kg soil) gave the maximum dry weight of shoots. The dry weight of shoots increased with the addition of phosphorus Fertiliser up to 40 mg P/kg soil, particularly with 60 mg Potassium and 80 mg N/kg soil. The addition of 160 mg P/kg soil and 120 mg K/kg soil depressed shoot growth at 80 mg N/kg soil. Potassium Fertiliser increased plant growth at amounts up to about 60 mg K/kg soil. At the seedling stage of growth, critical concentration in shoots for deficiency was about 1.5% for Potassium, and 0.9% for phosphorus. Adequate concentrations in shoots were about 1.7-2.7% for Potassium, and 1.0-1.6% for phosphorus.