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Economical Aspects of Conservation Agriculture (Zero Tillage-Direct Seeding) System in Turkey

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  • Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Agricultural Faculty
  • Bahri Dagdas International Agricultural Research Institute

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... In Turkey, in the last two decades, agricultural land degradation due to intensive farming has increased greatly and therefore it has become necessary to apply conservation practices that protect both land and production, by establishing urgent measures and a national strategy to promote conservation agriculture throughout the country (Altikat et al., 2018), while also pursuing the various economic aspects of the conservation agriculture system (no tillage -direct seeding) that may influence farmers' decisions (Kan et al., 2018). ...
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In the context of severe climate change over the past 20 years, which has led to reduced rainfall and reduced crop yields, identifying solutions to meet these challenges has become a priority for agricultural researchers. Thus, conservation and ecological, organic farming practices have emerged, which can mitigate and even improve crop productivity, even in these harsh conditions for agriculture. This paper is a synthesis of 433 papers published worldwide (Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia) and analyzes how conservation and organic farming practices have influenced the increase in soil quality and health through: no-tillage, covering land with agricultural residues, crop rotation etc.
... The weighting to classify these parameters using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which is recognized to work together with GIS procedures to determine the best location [23]. Combining these approaches is expected to facilitate the modeling of bioenergy agroindustry site selection [24,25]. ...
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This study aims to design a decision support system (DSS) development model in sustainable bioenergy supply chains. Our approach involves 1) identifying the bioenergy supply chain model through determining the spatial potential model of agroindustry area using geographic information system (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP); 2) determining the optimization model for aggregate production process planning using fuzzy goal programming for bioenergy production to design the biomass inventory level determination model using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) approach; 3) designing the concept of DSS model in bioenergy supply chain. The results showed the identification of the supply chain model from the spatial model of potential agroindustry locations with three regional categories: 19.34% potential, 16.93% not potential, and 63.70% developing. Aggregate planning is appropriate based on three objective functions to be achieved in production planning for determining inventory levels using ANFIS using three input variables and comparing performance with RMSE, MAPE, and R2 inventory levels so that the model can predict inventory levels adaptively. The concept of the DSS Model on the bioenergy supply chain from agricultural centers to users by adding Internet of Things (IoT) technology can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the bioenergy supply chain. The managerial implications of this research can provide relevant insights for the design and improvement of renewable energy management programs. Utilization of local biomass resources becomes more optimal.
... This will help create a good seed bed according to soil structure, the residual plant before cultivation, the plant that will be cultivated, and the presence of existing mechanization . However, with growing environmental awareness and economic production needs, as well as the importance of energy conservation, many countries have begun to make radical changes in tillage operations (Kan et al., 2018). In order to keep agricultural output sustainable, the tillage system is crucial. ...
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The study was carried out at the agriculture college research station, University of Basrah, in the 2021 season. This research aimed to investigate the effect of five combinations of combined tillage machines on maize yield, fuel consumption, total cost, total return, and return and benefit-cost return. The economic indicators of combined tillage machines were compared with five conventional tillage systems. The combined tillage machines are The T1 combined tillage machine consists of a subsoiler operating at a depth of 60 cm, a chisel plow, a disk harrow, and a roller. T2 is similar to T1, except the subsoiler operates at a depth of 40 cm. A T3 combined tillage machine consists of a subsoiler operating at a depth of 60 cm and a chisel plow. T4 is similar to T3, except the subsoiler operates at a depth of 40 cm. A T5 combined tillage machine consists of a chisel plow and a disk harrow. The conventional tillage systems include M1, which consists of four passes (subsoiler at a depth of 60 cm + chisel plow + disk harrow + roller), M2 consists of four passes (subsoiler at a depth of 40 cm + chisel plow + disk harrow + roller), M3 consists of two passes (subsoiler at a depth of 60 cm + chisel plow), M4 consists of two passes (subsoiler at a depth of 40 cm + chisel plow ), M5 consists of two passes (chisel plow + disk harrow ). Each treatment was replicated three times, and the data were analyzed using a randomized complete block design in this experiment. The mean of the treatments for the combined tillage machines and conventional tillage systems were compared using the t-test at the probability level (0.01). The results of the combined tillage machines T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 comparison with conventional tillage systems M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 revealed that the maize yield increased by 56.10 and 59.42, 56.48, 35.29, and 35.31% and saved fuel by 54.86 and 60.42, 36.77, 39.77, and 42.20% and decreased the total cost by 24.62, 24.70, 28.70, 27.61, and 16.50%. However, BCR was raised by 96.62, 101.28, 92.44, 68.35.20, and 57.2% respectively. Soil tillage with combined tillage machines improved maize crop yield and fuel consumption.
... This will help create a good seed bed according to soil structure, the residual plant before cultivation, the plant that will be cultivated, and the presence of existing mechanization . However, with growing environmental awareness and economic production needs, as well as the importance of energy conservation, many countries have begun to make radical changes in tillage operations (Kan et al., 2018). In order to keep agricultural output sustainable, the tillage system is crucial. ...
Article
Full-text available
The study was carried out at the agriculture college research station, University of Basrah, in the 2021 season. This research aimed to investigate the effect of five combinations of combined tillage machines on maize yield, fuel consumption, total cost, total return, and return and benefit-cost return. The economic indicators of combined tillage machines were compared with five conventional tillage systems. The combined tillage machines are The T1 combined tillage machine consists of a subsoiler operating at a depth of 60 cm, a chisel plow, a disk harrow, and a roller. T2 is similar to T1, except the subsoiler operates at a depth of 40 cm. A T3 combined tillage machine consists of a subsoiler operating at a depth of 60 cm and a chisel plow. T4 is similar to T3, except the subsoiler operates at a depth of 40 cm. A T5 combined tillage machine consists of a chisel plow and a disk harrow. The conventional tillage systems include M1, which consists of four passes (subsoiler at a depth of 60 cm + chisel plow + disk harrow + roller), M2 consists of four passes (subsoiler at a depth of 40 cm + chisel plow + disk harrow + roller), M3 consists of two passes (subsoiler at a depth of 60 cm + chisel plow), M4 consists of two passes (subsoiler at a depth of 40 cm + chisel plow ), M5 consists of two passes (chisel plow + disk harrow ). Each treatment was replicated three times, and the data were analyzed using a randomized complete block design in this experiment. The mean of the treatments for the combined tillage machines and conventional tillage systems were compared using the t-test at the probability level (0.01). The results of the combined tillage machines T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 comparison with conventional tillage systems M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 revealed that the maize yield increased by 56.10 and 59.42, 56.48, 35.29, and 35.31% and saved fuel by 54.86 and 60.42, 36.77, 39.77, and 42.20% and decreased the total cost by 24.62, 24.70, 28.70, 27.61, and 16.50%. However, BCR was raised by 96.62, 101.28, 92.44, 68.35.20, and 57.2% respectively. Soil tillage with combined tillage machines improved maize crop yield and fuel consumption.
... In a similar study conducted on this subject, it was concluded that it would be more economical for farmers to switch from the CT method to the DS method in OAB conditions (Gültekin et al., 2011). According to Kan et al. (2018) It has been reported that the profit of nine plants in the CT method is more than 1.55 times the profit obtained from the same plants in the DS method. This difference may be due to the fact that we studied with a single product in our study. ...
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The adoption and applicability of the technologies developed in agriculture by farmers are very important for agronomic studies. There are a limited number of economic studies comparing different tillage methods with each other. This study was conducted in the land of Polatlı Agricultural Enterprise between 2011 and 2017 to determine the amounts of physical production inputs and unit production costs of three different tillage operations in the fallow-wheat rotation system. The data consist of the production inputs in the Conventional Tillage, Minimum Tillage, and Direct Seeding practices. For the economic analysis, Single Product Budget Analysis was used. All the farmers’ production costs in the fallow-wheat rotation system were considered in the analysis. Among the practices, Gross Production Value (GPV) was obtained the most from the (509.63ha1)practice.ThispracticewasfollowedbyDirectSeeding(486.13 ha-1) practice. This practice was followed by Direct Seeding (486.13 ha-1) and Minimum Tillage (421.92ha1)practices,respectively.Theprofitthresholdwasexceededinallpractices,andproductionactivitiesvariableandtotalcostswerefulfilled.ThehighestrelativeprofitratewasobtainedinDirectSeeding(1.77)practice,anditwasfollowedbyConventionalTillage(1.30)andMinimumTillage(1.08)practices,respectively.Inordertoobtainanincomeof ha-1) practices, respectively. The profit threshold was exceeded in all practices, and production activities’ variable and total costs were fulfilled. The highest relative profit rate was obtained in Direct Seeding (1.77) practice, and it was followed by Conventional Tillage (1.30) and Minimum Tillage (1.08) practices, respectively. In order to obtain an income of 1 in wheat production, the lowest production cost was obtained in the Direct Seeding practice. With the Direct Seeding application, it can be ensured that economic wheat production, preservation of soil structure, reduction of input costs, and less economic damage to the farmer in changing climate conditions can be achieved.
... Soil cultivation methods to be used vary according to soil structure, plant harvested before cultivation, plant to be cultivated and presence of existing mechanization. However, growing environmental awareness, economic production demands and in the end because of the necessity to go to savings in energy use, Pakistan and has begun to make radical changes in tillage (Kan et al., 2018). ...
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This research study was carried out at greenhouse research station, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin in 2018 and 2019 crop years with three replications according to complete randomized design (CRD). The main objective of this research was to investigate the effect of four soil tillage systems on main crop peanut and wheat + second crop peanut in order to evaluate crop yield, fuel consumption and to perform economic analysis. Two years study results showed that the main crop peanut yields changed between 4331.0 kg ha-1 and 5486.6 kg ha-1, while second crop peanut yields changed between 2670.6 kg ha-1 and 3388.8 kg ha-1. The highest yield for main crop and crop peanut under different tillage methods was 2097.8 kg ha-1, while the lowest yield was observed as 1649.9 kg ha-1 respectively. The fuel consumption of main crop was measured between 33.33 l ha-1 and 63.48 l ha-1, while second crop fuel consumption was ranged as 34.92 l ha-1 to 62.48 l ha-1. The highest and lowest fuel consumptions levels of different soil tillage for main and second crop peanuts were 62.61 and 34.08 l ha-1 and 33.09 and 61.82 l ha-1, respectively. The positive effects of different soil tillage were found on yield and fuel consumption of main and second crops. The economic comparison conducted for crop inputs cost for different tillage systems showed that the most positive effect in term of yield, fuel consumption, input cost and income was determined in conventional tillage system T1 and reduced tillage system T2.
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