The Solar Corridor Crop System: Implementation and Impacts presents a case-study format on the planning and implementation of alternative cropping systems designed to maximize incident sunlight and bio-support of all crops in a rotation system. The book describes the basic component of the system, an increased access point of incident sunlight between each row or pairs of rows that enables a more uniform vertical distribution of incident sunlight to chloroplasts within the entire corn leaf canopy. While the production environment and environment specific genetics determine the performance potential of this principle, by maximizing the principles that light is basic to crop yield, a solar corridor ultimately contributes to increased grain yield.
Written by experts who were integral in the development of solar corridor systems, and providing real-world examples of the methods, challenges and future prospects, this book will be valuable for those seeking to increase yield-per-acre through both primary and cover-crops.
1. Introduction - p. xix 2. Chapter 1. Photosynthesis in the solar corridor system - p. 1 3. Chapter 2. Variety selection for the solar corridor crop system (SCCS) - p. 35 4. Chapter 3. Maize water use and yield in the solar corridor system: a simulation study - p. 57 5. Chapter 4. Soil health benefits of the solar corridor crop system - p. 79 6. Chapter 5. Putting it all together - p. 103 7. Chapter 6. The economic and social conditions of the solar corridor cropping system - p. 121 8. Chapter 7. The solar corridor crop system: a pivotal production system for African smallholder farmers - p. 145 9. Chapter 8. Vision - p. 163 10. Index - p. 183
The Solar Corridor Crop System: Implementation and Impacts presents a case-study format on the planning and implementation of alternative cropping systems designed to maximize incident sunlight and bio-support of all crops in a rotation system. The book describes the basic component of the system, an increased access point of incident sunlight between each row or pairs of rows that enables a more uniform vertical distribution of incident sunlight to chloroplasts within the entire corn leaf canopy. While the production environment and environment specific genetics determine the performance potential of this principle, by maximizing the principles that light is basic to crop yield, a solar corridor ultimately contributes to increased grain yield.
Written by experts who were integral in the development of solar corridor systems, and providing real-world examples of the methods, challenges and future prospects, this book will be valuable for those seeking to increase yield-per-acre through both primary and cover-crops.
1. Introduction - p. xix 2. Chapter 1. Photosynthesis in the solar corridor system - p. 1 3. Chapter 2. Variety selection for the solar corridor crop system (SCCS) - p. 35 4. Chapter 3. Maize water use and yield in the solar corridor system: a simulation study - p. 57 5. Chapter 4. Soil health benefits of the solar corridor crop system - p. 79 6. Chapter 5. Putting it all together - p. 103 7. Chapter 6. The economic and social conditions of the solar corridor cropping system - p. 121 8. Chapter 7. The solar corridor crop system: a pivotal production system for African smallholder farmers - p. 145 9. Chapter 8. Vision - p. 163 10. Index - p. 183
