Ebook: Rainfed Farming Systems
- Tags: Agriculture, Life Sciences general, Ecology, Landscape Ecology, Freshwater & Marine Ecology, Plant Sciences
- Year: 2011
- Publisher: Springer Netherlands
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
While agriculturists need a good grasp of the many separate aspects of agriculture, it is essential that they also understand the functioning of farming systems as a whole and how they can be best managed. This book takes such a combined approach. It analyses common rainfed farming systems around the world and discusses both their strengths and ways of improving their operation and management for long term productivity, profitability and sustainability. For such desirable outcomes, the components of a system must operate together efficiently, through an understanding of the effects of external influences and inputs and of relevant interactions and other relationships. Using relevant agricultural principles and the understanding of a wide range of rainfed farming systems, this book defines principles and practices important to the effective operation and management of such systems. This is done in the context of many challenges for agriculture: climatic variability and long term climatic change; degradation of most agricultural soils; spread of diseases, pests and weeds, rapid innovations in technology and the interaction of market and political forces at both local and global levels.
While agriculturists need a good grasp of the many separate aspects of agriculture, it is essential that they also understand the functioning of farming systems as a whole and how they can be best managed. This book takes such a combined approach. It analyses common rainfed farming systems around the world and discusses both their strengths and ways of improving their operation and management for long term productivity, profitability and sustainability. For such desirable outcomes, the components of a system must operate together efficiently, through an understanding of the effects of external influences and inputs and of relevant interactions and other relationships. Using relevant agricultural principles and the understanding of a wide range of rainfed farming systems, this book defines principles and practices important to the effective operation and management of such systems. This is done in the context of many challenges for agriculture: climatic variability and long term climatic change; degradation of most agricultural soils; spread of diseases, pests and weeds, rapid innovations in technology and the interaction of market and political forces at both local and global levels.
While agriculturists need a good grasp of the many separate aspects of agriculture, it is essential that they also understand the functioning of farming systems as a whole and how they can be best managed. This book takes such a combined approach. It analyses common rainfed farming systems around the world and discusses both their strengths and ways of improving their operation and management for long term productivity, profitability and sustainability. For such desirable outcomes, the components of a system must operate together efficiently, through an understanding of the effects of external influences and inputs and of relevant interactions and other relationships. Using relevant agricultural principles and the understanding of a wide range of rainfed farming systems, this book defines principles and practices important to the effective operation and management of such systems. This is done in the context of many challenges for agriculture: climatic variability and long term climatic change; degradation of most agricultural soils; spread of diseases, pests and weeds, rapid innovations in technology and the interaction of market and political forces at both local and global levels.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xviii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Principles of a Systems Approach to Agriculture....Pages 3-43
Types of Rainfed Farming Systems Around the World....Pages 45-74
A Systems Approach to Climate Risk in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 75-100
Water Availability and Use in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 101-132
Plant Nutrient Management in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 133-147
Principles and Management of Soil Biological Factors for Sustainable Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 149-184
Technological Change in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 185-214
Weed Management in Rainfed Agricultural Systems....Pages 215-232
Principles and Methods for Sustainable Disease Management in Rainfed Agricultural Systems....Pages 233-251
Sustainable Pest Management in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 253-270
Interactions Between Crop and Livestock Activities in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 271-298
Economic and Social Influences on the Nature, Functioning and Sustainability of Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 299-319
Farming Systems Design....Pages 321-337
Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 339-361
Front Matter....Pages 363-363
Rainfed Farming Systems in the West Asia–North Africa (WANA) Region....Pages 365-393
Rainfed Farming Systems in South Africa....Pages 395-432
Farming Systems, Emerging Farmers and Land Reform in the Limpopo Province of South Africa....Pages 433-449
Modernisation of Eritrean Rainfed Farming Systems Through a Conservation Farming Systems Approach....Pages 451-466
Rainfed Farming Systems on the Canadian Prairies....Pages 467-510
Rainfed Farming Systems in the USA....Pages 511-560
Front Matter....Pages 363-363
Rainfed Agroecosystems in South America....Pages 561-601
Important Rainfed Farming Systems of South Asia....Pages 603-641
Rainfed Farming Systems in the Loess Plateau of China....Pages 643-669
Farming Systems in the Valleys of Central Tibet....Pages 671-689
Rainfed Farming Systems of North-Eastern Australia....Pages 691-713
Diversity and Evolution of Rainfed Farming Systems in Southern Australia....Pages 715-754
Front Matter....Pages 755-755
Using Monitoring and Evaluation for Continuous Improvement of Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 757-776
More from Less – Improvements in Precipitation Use Efficiency in Western Australian Wheat Production....Pages 777-790
Transforming Farming Systems: Expanding the Production of Soybeans in Ontario....Pages 791-803
The Social Dimensions of Mixed Farming Systems....Pages 805-821
A Study in the Development of a Farm System on the Canadian Prairies....Pages 823-839
Improving Traditional Crop-Pasture Farming Systems with Lucerne South East Australia....Pages 841-859
Use of Conservation Agriculture to Improve Farming Systems in Developing Countries....Pages 861-873
Using Conservation Agriculture and Precision Agriculture to Improve a Farming System....Pages 875-900
Risk Management Strategies and Decision Support Systems in Agriculture....Pages 901-921
Front Matter....Pages 923-923
The Emergence of ‘Farming Systems’ Approaches to Grains Research, Development and Extension....Pages 925-941
Farmer Decision-Making in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 943-968
When Culture and Science Meet, the Tension Can Mount....Pages 969-989
Advances in No-Till Farming Technologies and Soil Compaction Management in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 991-1014
No-Tillage Agriculture in West Asia and North Africa....Pages 1015-1042
Front Matter....Pages 1043-1043
A Comparison of Three Farms in South Australia....Pages 1045-1071
Ruradene, South Australia....Pages 1073-1083
Lindene South Australia....Pages 1085-1091
Developments in a Mixed Farming System in Southern New South Wales, Australia....Pages 1093-1102
The Development and Operation of No-till Farming in Northern New South Wales (NSW), Australia....Pages 1103-1121
Farming System Development in North Central Victoria Australia....Pages 1123-1134
The Jochinke Farm Victoria, Australia....Pages 1135-1140
The Halford Farm Saskatchewan, Canada....Pages 1141-1155
Four Farms in the USA....Pages 1157-1184
Summing Up....Pages 1185-1235
Glossary....Pages 1237-1280
Back Matter....Pages 1281-1337
While agriculturists need a good grasp of the many separate aspects of agriculture, it is essential that they also understand the functioning of farming systems as a whole and how they can be best managed. This book takes such a combined approach. It analyses common rainfed farming systems around the world and discusses both their strengths and ways of improving their operation and management for long term productivity, profitability and sustainability. For such desirable outcomes, the components of a system must operate together efficiently, through an understanding of the effects of external influences and inputs and of relevant interactions and other relationships. Using relevant agricultural principles and the understanding of a wide range of rainfed farming systems, this book defines principles and practices important to the effective operation and management of such systems. This is done in the context of many challenges for agriculture: climatic variability and long term climatic change; degradation of most agricultural soils; spread of diseases, pests and weeds, rapid innovations in technology and the interaction of market and political forces at both local and global levels.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xviii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Principles of a Systems Approach to Agriculture....Pages 3-43
Types of Rainfed Farming Systems Around the World....Pages 45-74
A Systems Approach to Climate Risk in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 75-100
Water Availability and Use in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 101-132
Plant Nutrient Management in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 133-147
Principles and Management of Soil Biological Factors for Sustainable Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 149-184
Technological Change in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 185-214
Weed Management in Rainfed Agricultural Systems....Pages 215-232
Principles and Methods for Sustainable Disease Management in Rainfed Agricultural Systems....Pages 233-251
Sustainable Pest Management in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 253-270
Interactions Between Crop and Livestock Activities in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 271-298
Economic and Social Influences on the Nature, Functioning and Sustainability of Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 299-319
Farming Systems Design....Pages 321-337
Soil Organic Carbon – Role in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 339-361
Front Matter....Pages 363-363
Rainfed Farming Systems in the West Asia–North Africa (WANA) Region....Pages 365-393
Rainfed Farming Systems in South Africa....Pages 395-432
Farming Systems, Emerging Farmers and Land Reform in the Limpopo Province of South Africa....Pages 433-449
Modernisation of Eritrean Rainfed Farming Systems Through a Conservation Farming Systems Approach....Pages 451-466
Rainfed Farming Systems on the Canadian Prairies....Pages 467-510
Rainfed Farming Systems in the USA....Pages 511-560
Front Matter....Pages 363-363
Rainfed Agroecosystems in South America....Pages 561-601
Important Rainfed Farming Systems of South Asia....Pages 603-641
Rainfed Farming Systems in the Loess Plateau of China....Pages 643-669
Farming Systems in the Valleys of Central Tibet....Pages 671-689
Rainfed Farming Systems of North-Eastern Australia....Pages 691-713
Diversity and Evolution of Rainfed Farming Systems in Southern Australia....Pages 715-754
Front Matter....Pages 755-755
Using Monitoring and Evaluation for Continuous Improvement of Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 757-776
More from Less – Improvements in Precipitation Use Efficiency in Western Australian Wheat Production....Pages 777-790
Transforming Farming Systems: Expanding the Production of Soybeans in Ontario....Pages 791-803
The Social Dimensions of Mixed Farming Systems....Pages 805-821
A Study in the Development of a Farm System on the Canadian Prairies....Pages 823-839
Improving Traditional Crop-Pasture Farming Systems with Lucerne South East Australia....Pages 841-859
Use of Conservation Agriculture to Improve Farming Systems in Developing Countries....Pages 861-873
Using Conservation Agriculture and Precision Agriculture to Improve a Farming System....Pages 875-900
Risk Management Strategies and Decision Support Systems in Agriculture....Pages 901-921
Front Matter....Pages 923-923
The Emergence of ‘Farming Systems’ Approaches to Grains Research, Development and Extension....Pages 925-941
Farmer Decision-Making in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 943-968
When Culture and Science Meet, the Tension Can Mount....Pages 969-989
Advances in No-Till Farming Technologies and Soil Compaction Management in Rainfed Farming Systems....Pages 991-1014
No-Tillage Agriculture in West Asia and North Africa....Pages 1015-1042
Front Matter....Pages 1043-1043
A Comparison of Three Farms in South Australia....Pages 1045-1071
Ruradene, South Australia....Pages 1073-1083
Lindene South Australia....Pages 1085-1091
Developments in a Mixed Farming System in Southern New South Wales, Australia....Pages 1093-1102
The Development and Operation of No-till Farming in Northern New South Wales (NSW), Australia....Pages 1103-1121
Farming System Development in North Central Victoria Australia....Pages 1123-1134
The Jochinke Farm Victoria, Australia....Pages 1135-1140
The Halford Farm Saskatchewan, Canada....Pages 1141-1155
Four Farms in the USA....Pages 1157-1184
Summing Up....Pages 1185-1235
Glossary....Pages 1237-1280
Back Matter....Pages 1281-1337
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