• Title/Summary/Keyword: Crop Farming

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Development and Evaluation of a Simulation Model for Dairy Cattle Production Systems Integrated with Forage Crop Production

  • Kikuhara, K.;Kumagai, H.;Hirooka, H.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.57-71
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    • 2009
  • Crop-livestock mixed farming systems depend on the efficiency with which nutrients are conserved and recycled. Home-grown forage is used as animal feed and animal excretions are applied to cultivated crop lands as manure. The objective of this study was to develop a mixed farming system model for dairy cattle in Japan. The model consisted of four sub-models: the nutrient requirement model, based on the Japanese Feeding Standards to determine requirements for energy, crude protein, dry matter intake, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin A; the optimum diet formulation model for determining the optimum diets that satisfy nutrient requirements at lowest cost, using linear programming; the herd dynamic model to calculate the numbers of cows in each reproductive cycle; and the whole farm optimization model to evaluate whole farm management from economic and environmental viewpoints and to optimize strategies for the target farm or system. To examine the model' validity, its predictions were compared against best practices for dairy farm management. Sensitivity analyses indicated that higher yielding cows lead to better economic results but higher emvironmental load in dairy cattle systems integrated with forage crop production.

Technological Experience and Crop Production in Dryland Farming Systems in Africa : The Case of Draught Animal Power in Ghana

  • Panin, Anthony
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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    • 1993.10a
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    • pp.591-600
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    • 1993
  • Considerable controversy exists about the trend of animal traction effects on crop production in dryland farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This problem arises on account of the failure of the few available empirical studies to recognise the important of technological experience of the individual adopting farmers. This study hence addresses this issue by examining the effects of experience in animal traction technology (ATT) on farm size, cropping emphasis, total crop output and farm productivity. It is based on farm management survey data on 42 small holder farm households fro Ghana. Thirty of these households used animal traction technology (ATT) fro crop cultivation and the rest, mainly hand-hoe. The animal traction sub-sample is classified into three groups according to farmers' years of experience with the technology , thus , those with 1-2, 3-10, and more than 10. Evidence from the study shows that the progression of years of experience with ATT leads to inten ification of labour and land use systems, enhancement of degree of motivation to enter into the market economy, increases in total crop output and farm productivity resulting for decreases in cultivated acreages. The implication of the findings is that institutioal and technical support that do accompany the introduction of such technologies should be structured to last for a relatively longer period to accomodate the learning process.

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Principles and Skills of Organic Crop Production with special regards to Germany (유기작물재배의 이론 및 핵심기술 -독일을 중심으로-)

  • 손상목
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.71-93
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    • 2001
  • Within the paper, an overview of organic farming in Europe countries is given and the Principle and skills of organic agriculture is shortly reported with special regard to Germany. The overview information on European organic forming is covered such as \circled1 development of organic farming, \circled2organic farming organizations, \circled3standards and certification, \circled4implementation of EU council regulation, \circled5state support, \circled6implementation of Agenda 2000, \circled7training and education, \circled8advisory service and research situation. In the paper the principle and skills for organic farming which are practiced actually in the German organic farms is also reported. How to maintain and increase the fertility and microbiological activity of the soil by \circled1cultivation of legumes, green manures or deep-rooting crops in multi-annual rotation system, \circled2incorporation in the soil organic material, by-products from livestock farming is one of the major principle to organic crop production. Pest and diseases and weeds are controlled by any one, or a combination of the following measure ; \circled1choice of appropriate species and varieties, \circled2appropriate rotation programs, \circled3mechanical cultivation, \circled4protection of natural enemies of pests through provision of favourable habitat and ecological buffer zone, \circled5diversified ecosystems, \circled6flame weeding, \circled7natural enemies, \circled8bio-dynamic preparations, \circled9mulching and mowing, \circled10grazing of animals, ⑪mechanical controls, ⑫steam sterilization.

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Empowering Agriculture: Exploring User Sentiments and Suggestions for Plantix, a Smart Farming Application

  • Mee Qi Siow;Mu Moung Cho Han;Yu Na Lee;Seon Yeong Yu;Mi Jin Noh;Yang Sok Kim
    • Smart Media Journal
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    • v.12 no.10
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    • pp.38-46
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    • 2023
  • Farming activities are transforming from traditional skill-based agriculture into knowledge-based and technology-driven digital agriculture. The use of intelligent information and communication technology introduces the idea of smart farming that enables farmers to collect weather data, monitor crop growth remotely and detect crop diseases easily. The introduction of Plantix, a pest and disease management tool in the form of a mobile application has allowed farmers to identify pests and diseases of the crop using their mobile devices. Hence, this study collected the reviews of Plantix to explore the response of the users on the Google Play Store towards the application through Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling. Results indicate four latent topics in the reviews: two positive evaluations (compliments, appreciation) and two suggestions (plant options, recommendations). We found the users suggested the application to additional plant options and additional features that might help the farmers with their difficulties. In addition, the application is expected to benefit the farmer more by having an early alert of diseases to farmers and providing various substitutes and a list of components for the remedial measures.

Chemical and Biological Indicators of Soil Quality in Conventional and Organic Farming Apple Orchards

  • Lee, Yoon-Jung;Chung, Jong-Bae
    • Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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    • v.50 no.2
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    • pp.88-96
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    • 2007
  • Organic farming systems based on ecological concepts have the potential to produce sustainable crop yields with no decline in soil and environmental qualities. Recent expansion of sustainable agricultural systems, including organic farming, has brought about need for development of sustainable farming systems based on value judgments for key properties of importance for farming. Chemical and microbiological properties were chosen as indicators of soil quality and measured at soil depth intervals of 5-20 and 20-35 cm in conventional and organic-based apple orchards located in Yeongchun, Gyeongbuk. The orchards were two adjacent fields to ensure the same pedological conditions except management system. Soil pH in organic farming was around 7.5, whereas below 6.0 in conventional farming. Organic farming resulted in significant increases in organic matter and Kjeldahl-N contents compared to those found with conventional management. Microbial populations, biomass C, and enzyme activities (except acid phosphatase) in apple orchard soil of organic farming were higher than those found in conventional farming. Higher microbial quotient ($C_{mic}/C_{org}$ ratio) and lower microbial metabolic quotient for $CO_2(qCO_2)$ in organic farming confirmed that organic farming better conserves soil organic carbon. Biological soil quality indicators showed significant positive correlations with soil organic matter content. These results indicate organic-based farming positively affected soil organic matter content, thus improving soil chemical and biological qualities.

A Case Study on Management Situations of Environment-friendly Farming and Its Implications (친환경농업의 경영실태에 대한 사례분석과 그 시사점)

  • Kim, Ho
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.321-334
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    • 2013
  • This case study surveyed management situations of environmentally friendly farming (EFF) and their awareness situations. Farmers are aging as an average age of 62-year old. The EFF did not increase farmer's income, however, farm income of EFF was more than that of conventional farming. Farm household liabilities showed large deviation among farmers. Livestock and greenhouse farm households have more liabilities because of facilities and feed cost. Farmers of EFF have been also cultivating conventional farming, but they don't plan much conversion intention of conventional farming into EFF owing to lack of differentiated and stable market for their environment-friendly agriculture products. And they are guessing that EFF income will usually not increase more. For increasing of EFF income, they think that it is necessary to enlarge production area, change to high-income crop, develop processing foods, change to organic farming and so on.

Comparison of Soil Physical Properties in Conventional and Organic Farming Apple Orchards

  • Chung, Jong-Bae
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.279-285
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    • 2007
  • Soil physical properties in organic farming apple orchard were evaluated in relation to conventional farming to better understand the effects of organic farming system on soil quality. Two adjacent apple orchards, matched by soil type, were chosen to ensure the same pedological conditions except management system. Soil samples were collected from middle of two adjacent trees along the tree line at two depths of 5-20 and 20-35 cm in September 2006. Contents of organic matter in organic farming soil were twice as much as those found in soil of conventional farming. The higher level of organic matter in organic farming soil was reflected through a consequent trend in improved soil physical properties. Organic farming produced greater aggregation in >2 mm size and increased aggregate stability. Bulk density was lower by 13% and hence porosity was higher in soils of organic farming as compared with conventional farming. Water holding capacity was significantly greater with organic farming by >17% over conventional farming. The capacity of organic farming to improve soil physical properties can be contributed to the regular application of relatively large amount of organic materials and the sustainable ground-cover managements, mulching with compost and cover crop cultivation.

The Realities and Problems of the Dissemination of Efficient Weed Control Methods (잡초방제 기술보급실태와 문제점)

  • Hee-Young Kang;Tea-Ha Jeon
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.12-15
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    • 1978
  • The agriculture in Korea has been gradually changed from a labor-intensive type to a labor-saving one which aims to maximize productivity of labor. Herbicides have been utilized in rice farming since 1955. The consumption of herbicides rapidly increased during the last decade. However, the technology of weed control with herbicides has not been developed yet. For the dissemination of efficient weed control methods in farming, both research and extension activities on herbicide utilization should be strengthened. Appropriate research and guidance units on weed control should be established as early as possible, in order to provide the necessary technical information.

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Utilization of Soil Resources for Maximum Production of Food Grains (식량 최대생산을 위한 토양자원 이용)

  • Sin Je Seong;Kim Lee Yeol
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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    • 1999.11a
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    • pp.145-167
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    • 1999
  • Our self-sufficiency of food has become less than $30{\%}$ and our nation is highly dependant on world's grain market for food. which is unstable in long term due to the world population growth faster than food production. Therefore, it is a great possibility that food might become a political weapon by way of its global shortage. its purchasing difficulty in international free trade market. and the resultant price rising. Our maximal capability of food production has become the most outstanding problem in the dimension of future food security. It would be the utmost scheme for maximal production of food to realize the maximal utilization of arable land through the enlargement of sufficient farming land and the conversion of rotation system for the more grain production. Extensional enlargement of arable land can be positively executed through the development of farming land in domestic and abroad countries. The readjustment of arable land and the installation or irrigation and drainage system can enforce the farming basement for maximal utilization of arable land through the improved rotation between paddy and upland. The prevention policy against farming land encroachment should be strictly executed through grain production encouragement on resting or marginal lands and regulation of utilization conversion for the other than food production on high grade farming lands. It is also required urgently to develope high yielding and high quality varieties through advanced genetic technology for the improvement of unit area yield, especially of wheat, corn. and soybean we import in large quantity The maximal utilization of arable land for the highest production of food can be realized through rational rotation system, the most adaptable crop cultivation on the suitable land, and the most optimal fertilization through the GIS analysis of agricultural environment information on the basis of the computerized soil resource data on super detailed soil maps(1:5000) surveyed plot by plot of whole nation.

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Trend and Perspective of Weed Control Techniques in Organic Farming (유기농 재배에서 잡초방제기술의 동향 및 전망)

  • Ock, Hwan-Suck;Pyon, Jong-Yeong
    • Korean Journal of Weed Science
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.8-23
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    • 2011
  • Weeds are one of the major constraints to crop production in organic farming systems. This paper reviews major results and techniques achieved with physical, cultural, and biological weed control and their perspectives in organic agriculture. Physical methods includes mechanical, thermal, lighting, electrocution, pneumatic, autonomous robot weeding control techniques. Cultural weed control methods includes mulching, tillage, crop rotation, cover crops and crop competition. Physical and cultural weed control techniques are especially important in organic farming crops where other weed control options are limited or not available without use of herbicides. Biological weed control includes mycoherbicides, innundative biological control, broad-spectrum biological control and allelopathy. Successful weed management in organic farming requires well managed integrated systems of mechanical control using newly developed machines, cultural control and biological control methods. Weed management decision-aid models may also needed to develop to provide greater assurance of achieving profitability and appropriate long-term weed management in organic farming in the future.