期刊名称：Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development
印刷版ISSN：2222-2855
电子版ISSN：2222-2855
出版年度：2017
卷号：8
期号：20
页码：1-11
语种：English
出版社：The International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE)
摘要：Agricultural production practices have been of interest to both scientists and practitioners. According to Tilman, Cassman, Matson, Naylor, & Polasky (2002), agricultural production practices determine the level of food production. They explained that agricultural production practices are methods that meet current and future societal needs for food and fiber by maximizing the net benefit of the practices considered. These production practices fall into two categories, crop or livestock. Padgitt, Newton, Penn, & Sandretto (2000) stated that crop production practices are methods used in growing food in an ecologically and ethically responsible manner, including production practices that do not harm the environment, such as mulching and weeding. Additionally, Johnson et al. (2010) argued that livestock production practices are carried out to ensure the production of healthy, quality, and safe food for consumption. The practices include, but not limited to reproduction and genetics, feeds and feeding systems, housing conditions, and animal health and general hygiene. Generally, best practices are a gauge to determine how well specific practices are being implemented. Pennington, Daniels, & Sharpely (2008) defined best practices as methods that have generally been accepted to produce better results compared to traditional methods of production. They emphasized that best practices for crops, for example, help to reduce the movement of sediments, pesticides and nutrients, and other pollutants from the land surface or groundwater. Thus, protecting water and soil quality from potential adverse effects of land management practices. Also, Kim, Gillespie, & Paudel (2004) stressed that substantial research effort has been devoted to developing environmentally friendly practices so as to reduce pollutants from crop production. In addition, Sharpley et al. (2006) affirmed practices such as conservation tillage and crop rotation to protect the environment. According to them, the basic goal of implementing best practices is to protect water bodies and geographical locations. However, Klitzing et al. (2014) viewed crop production best practices from the perspective of managing constraints that arise from climate changes. These constraints stem from dealing with tillage, pest management, nutrient management, and water management and irrigation. For livestock production, Sheffield et al. (2012, p. 3) explained that best practices include efforts to reduce the amount of soil, nutrients, pesticides, and microbial contaminants entering surface and ground water while at the same time, maintaining or improving the productivity of agricultural land. Also, Eisler et al. (2014) emphasized that best practices for livestock production includes, keeping animals healthy and adopting smart supplements in animal feed. Pennington et al. (2008) argued that best practices comprise conservation of soil, water, and air resources, including nutrient management, proper manure fertilization, legume establishment, riparian buffers, stream fencing, alternative watering, and pasture fencing. On best practices for beef cattle and meat goats, Sheffield et al. (2012) and Solaiman (2017) are instructive. Sheffield et al. (2012) reiterated that sediment run-off reduction is one of the most important best practices a beef producer can pursue taking into consideration economic and environmental implications. They argued that allowing nutrient laden soil to run-off into rivers and streams is an economic loss, because soil lost in this way cannot again be used by producer to produce forage. In other words, retaining as much soil as possible can reduce the amount of fertilizer used to produce forage as it includes nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter. In addition, they argued that environmental consequences of run-off include increased water turbidity, reduced light penetration, impaired photosynthesis, and impaired oxygen relationships (affecting fish populations). The reasons for these phenomena are because of the presence of inorganic nutrients and pesticides. Therefore, beef cattle producers, among others, should handle waste properly and in a cost-efficient way. Also, Sheffield et al. mentioned other specific best practices, such as pasture and forage management, breeding and reproduction management, mortality management, soil testing, manure management, water resources management, buffers and field borders management, farmstead management, pesticide management, and record keeping.
其他摘要：Agricultural production practices have been of interest to both scientists and practitioners. According to Tilman, Cassman, Matson, Naylor, & Polasky (2002), agricultural production practices determine the level of food production. They explained that agricultural production practices are methods that meet current and future societal needs for food and fiber by maximizing the net benefit of the practices considered. These production practices fall into two categories, crop or livestock. Padgitt, Newton, Penn, & Sandretto (2000) stated that crop production practices are methods used in growing food in an ecologically and ethically responsible manner, including production practices that do not harm the environment, such as mulching and weeding. Additionally, Johnson et al. (2010) argued that livestock production practices are carried out to ensure the production of healthy, quality, and safe food for consumption. The practices include, but not limited to reproduction and genetics, feeds and feeding systems, housing conditions, and animal health and general hygiene. Generally, best practices are a gauge to determine how well specific practices are being implemented. Pennington, Daniels, & Sharpely (2008) defined best practices as methods that have generally been accepted to produce better results compared to traditional methods of production. They emphasized that best practices for crops, for example, help to reduce the movement of sediments, pesticides and nutrients, and other pollutants from the land surface or groundwater. Thus, protecting water and soil quality from potential adverse effects of land management practices. Also, Kim, Gillespie, & Paudel (2004) stressed that substantial research effort has been devoted to developing environmentally friendly practices so as to reduce pollutants from crop production. In addition, Sharpley et al. (2006) affirmed practices such as conservation tillage and crop rotation to protect the environment. According to them, the basic goal of implementing best practices is to protect water bodies and geographical locations. However, Klitzing et al. (2014) viewed crop production best practices from the perspective of managing constraints that arise from climate changes. These constraints stem from dealing with tillage, pest management, nutrient management, and water management and irrigation. For livestock production, Sheffield et al. (2012, p. 3) explained that best practices include efforts to reduce the amount of soil, nutrients, pesticides, and microbial contaminants entering surface and ground water while at the same time, maintaining or improving the productivity of agricultural land. Also, Eisler et al. (2014) emphasized that best practices for livestock production includes, keeping animals healthy and adopting smart supplements in animal feed. Pennington et al. (2008) argued that best practices comprise conservation of soil, water, and air resources, including nutrient management, proper manure fertilization, legume establishment, riparian buffers, stream fencing, alternative watering, and pasture fencing. On best practices for beef cattle and meat goats, Sheffield et al. (2012) and Solaiman (2017) are instructive. Sheffield et al. (2012) reiterated that sediment run-off reduction is one of the most important best practices a beef producer can pursue taking into consideration economic and environmental implications. They argued that allowing nutrient laden soil to run-off into rivers and streams is an economic loss, because soil lost in this way cannot again be used by producer to produce forage. In other words, retaining as much soil as possible can reduce the amount of fertilizer used to produce forage as it includes nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter. In addition, they argued that environmental consequences of run-off include increased water turbidity, reduced light penetration, impaired photosynthesis, and impaired oxygen relationships (affecting fish populations). The reasons for these phenomena are because of the presence of inorganic nutrients and pesticides. Therefore, beef cattle producers, among others, should handle waste properly and in a cost-efficient way. Also, Sheffield et al. mentioned other specific best practices, such as pasture and forage management, breeding and reproduction management, mortality management, soil testing, manure management, water resources management, buffers and field borders management, farmstead management, pesticide management, and record keeping.
