http://manuscript.elsevier.com/S0306261922000885/pdf/S0306261922000885.pdf

Multi-service battery energy storage system optimization and control

Introduction Conservation agriculture is a sustainable system of farming that safeguard and conserves natural resources besides enhancing crop production. The biological properties of soil are the most sensitive indicator to assess the short term impact of management practices such as tillage and residue incorporation. Methods Nine treatments of tillage and residue management practices [Reduced till direct seeded rice-zero till barley (RTDSR–ZTB); RTDSR–ZTB–green gram residue (Gg); Zero till direct seeded rice–zero till barley–zero till green gram (ZTDSR–ZTB–ZTGg); RTDSR–ZTB + rice residue at 4 t ha 1 (RTDSR–ZTBRR4); RTDSR–ZTBRR6; un-puddled transplanted rice (UPTR)–ZTB–Gg; UPTR–ZTBRR4; UPTR–ZTBRR6, and puddled transplanted rice (PTR)–RTB] executed under fixed plot for five years on crop productivity and soil biological properties under rice-barley production system. Results The shifting in either RTDSR or ZTDSR resulted in yield penalty in rice compared to PTR. The PTR recorded highest pooled grain yield of 3.61 ha−1. The rice grain yield reduced about 10.6% under DSR as compared to PTR. The ZTB along with residue treatments exhibited significantly higher grain yield over ZTB, and the RTDSR-ZTBRR6 registered highest pooled grain yield of barley. The system productivity (12.45 t ha−1) and sustainable yield index (0.87) were highest under UPTR-ZTBRR6. Biological parameters including microbial biomass carbon, soil respiration, microbial enzymes (Alkaline phosphatase, nitrate reductase and peroxidase), fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, ergosterol, glomalin related soil proteins, microbial population (bacteria, fungi and actinobacteria) were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) effected by different nutrient management practices. Based on the PCA analysis, Fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, microbial biomass carbon, soil respiration, nitrate reductase and fungi population were the important soil biological parameters indicating soil quality and productivity in present experiment. The results concluded that UPTR-ZTBRR6 was a more suitable practice for maintaining system productivity and soil biological health. Discussion The understanding of the impact of different tillage and residue management practices on productivity, soil biological properties and soil quality index under rice-barley cropping system will help in determining the combination of best conservation agriculture practices for improved soil quality and sustainable production.

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Influence of tillage and residue management practices on productivity, sustainability, and soil biological properties of rice-barley cropping systems in indo-gangetic plain of India

Abstract Rice productivity in the tropics largely depends on fertilizers as soils are commonly low in nitrogen and phosphorus. Some farmers in this region cultivate rice using the hand-broadcast method, which has resulted in a low yield. Therefore, this on-farm experiment was conducted to compare the performance and yield of broadcasted and transplanted rice production systems under different fertilizer combinations. The experimental was set up in a split plot design with six combination treatments and seven replications. The main plots were planting methods comprised of transplanting and broadcasting. The subplots were a combination of NPK fertilizer, urea, and biofertilizer (BF) with and without compost, while the control treatment was NPK fertilizer and urea. The BF contained nitrogen fixer bacteria and phosphate solubilizer microbes. The results showed that fertilizer combination increased shoot height, root length, shoot and root dry weight (RDW), root-to-shoot ratio (R/S), tiller number, 1,000-grain weight, and yield but did not affect clump number. In addition, the planting method affected the parameters except for R/S and 1,000-grain weight. The yield of transplanted rice grown with NPK fertilizer and urea was 17.5% higher than that of the broadcasting method. Incorporation of chemical fertilizer combined with compost and BF resulted in a comparable yield; transplanted rice yield was only 2.18% more than broadcasted. This showed that diverse fertilizer application is needed to minimize the yield gap between broadcasted and transplanted rice.

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/opag-2022-0148/pdf

Rice yield grown in different fertilizer combination and planting methods: Case study in Buru Island, Indonesia

. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the physicochemical properties and lodging index of different stem internodes and the yield of direct-seeded rice. Two treatments of wheat straw returning (returning and non-returning) and five potassium application rates of 0, 62.5, 125, 187.5, and 250 kg ha -1 were applied. Wheat straw returning combined with a potassium application rate of 125 kg ha -1 significantly promoted potassium accumulation, increased total soluble sugar and lignin contents, improved breaking moment, reduced the flattening rate and lodging resistance index of different internode stems, and increased the yield. Correlation analysis revealed that compared with those of the 4th and 5th internodes, potassium content and accumulation and total soluble sugar and lignin contents of the 3rd internode were significantly positively correlated with yield (r = 0.85**-0.93**) and negatively correlated with the stem flat rate and lodging index (r = -0.67*– -0.79**), which improved lodging resistance in collaboration with the 4th and 5th internodes (r = 0.82**-0.95**). Increasing potassium accumulation, total soluble sugar and lignin content, and reducing stem flatness of the 3rd stem internodes are important factors for improving lodging resistance of direct-seeded rice and may provide a basis for improving the 4th and 5th stem internodes.

Effects of wheat straw returning and potassium application rates on the physicochemical properties and lodging resistance of different stem internodes in direct-seeded rice

Regenerative Agriculture as Climate Smart Solution to Improve Soil Health and Crop Productivity Thereby Catalysing Farmers’ Livelihood and Sustainability

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food of more than 50% of the world's population. Manual puddled transplanted rice (PTR) system is still the predominant method of rice establishment. However, due to declining water tables, increasing water scarcity, water, labor- and energy-intensive nature of PTR, high labor wages, adverse effects of puddling on soil health and succeeding crops, and high methane emissions, this production system is becoming less profitable. These factors trigger the need for an alternative crop establishment method. The direct-seeded rice (DSR) technique is gaining popularity because of its low input demand compared to PTR. It is done by sowing pre-germinated seeds in puddled soil (wet-DSR), standing water (water seeding), or dry seeding on a prepared seedbed (dry-DSR). DSR requires less water and labor (12-35%), reduces methane emissions (10-90%), improves soil physical properties, involves less drudgery and production cost (US$9-125 per hectare), and gives comparable yields. Upgraded short-duration and high-yielding varieties and efficient nutrient, weed, and resource management techniques encouraged the farmers to switch to DSR culture. However, several constraints are associated with this shift: more weeds, the emergence of weedy rice, herbicide resistance, nitrous oxide emissions, nutrient disorders, primarily N and micro-nutrients, and an increase in soil-borne pathogens lodging etc. These issues can be overcome if proper weed, water, and fertilizer management strategies are adopted. Techniques like stale bed technique, mulching, crop rotation, Sesbania co-culture, seed priming, pre-emergence and post-emergence spray, and a systematic weed monitoring program will help reduce weeds. Chemical to biotechnological methods like herbicide-resistant rice varieties and more competitive allelopathic varieties will be required for sustainable rice production. In addition, strategies like nitrification inhibitors and deep urea placement can be used to reduce N2O emissions. Developing site and soil-specific integrated packages will help in the broader adoption of DSR and reduce the environmental footprint of PTR. The present paper aims to identify the gaps and develop the best-bet agronomic practices and develop an integrated package of technologies for DSR, keeping in mind the advantages and constraints associated with DSR, and suggest some prospects. Eco-friendly, cost-effective DSR package offers sustainable rice production systems with fewer resources and low emissions. 

/pdf/agronomic-and-environmental-determinants-of-direct-seeded-17ae0p8y.pdf

Venkatesh Venkatramanan

Papers

Agronomic and Environmental Determinants of Direct Seeded Rice in South Asia

Development and Analysis of Control Strategies for a 1 MW/3.2 MWh Energy Storage System at Avista Utilities