Corn (Zea mays L.) intercropped with Brachiaria spp. plays an important role in tropical agriculture management, providing residues or forage to areas intensively cropped. Although previous studies provide useful information about effects of intercropping on soil management and crop yield, a better understanding of how corn-Brachiaria intercropping systems impacts exogenous and endogenous nutrient dynamic is needed. Two experiments were performed in the both conventional and late planting season. In the first, corn and palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) monoculture were compared with two intercropping patterns, directed for production of residues or forage, with simulated animal grazing. Biomass, crop nitrogen (N) content, N derived from fertilizer and N budget were measured. Among farming systems, variable responses remained almost unchanged during period of simultaneous growth. After corn harvest, intercropping patterns achieved greater biomass (0.6-11 Mg ha-1) and N content (12-318 kg ha-1) relative to fallow preceded by corn monoculture, but it results in overall gains (pre and post-harvest) only to conventional planting season. N fertilizer recovery was not affected by intercropping patterns. When corn and Brachiaria were intercropped to establish pasture, simulated grazing after grain harvest had a tightly influence on N budget, approximately -221 kg ha-1. The second experiment investigated the influence of Brachiaria species on corn nutrients partitioning and their cycling after corn harvest. Biomass, N, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content were evaluated using corn intercropped with three species of Brachiaria (B. Brizantha cv Marandu, B. ruziziensis, and B. hybrid cultivar Mulato II, Convert HD 36) and corn monoculture. Biomass and nutrient content was not affect when corn was intercropped with Brachiaria species. After corn harvest, Brachiaria nutrient content and biomass yield were ranking from greater to lower following the order: B. brizantha > B. ruziziensis > B. convert. Relative with the corn monoculture, intercropping treatments enhanced the total biomass (corn + Brachiaria) and the nutrient accumulation only when planted at conventional season. Over 6 site-yr, benefits of intercropping appear after corn harvest, particularly at conventional planting season. Corn intercropped with Brachiaria species either had no effect N fertilizer recovery or affect N-fertilizer distribution within components of soil-plant system. Nonetheless, intercropping provide greater biomass accumulation after harvest compared with corn monoculture, resulting in larger nutrient content stored in plant component. Our results suggest a larger N requirements when crop-livestock activities was integrated. Corn intercropped with B. brizantha during conventional season was the best approach to enhanced crop yield and nutrient cycle for corn production systems. / O consórcio entre milho (Zea mays L) e espécies de Brachiaria spp. (syn. Urochloa spp.) desempenha importante função no manejo da agricultura tropical, produzir resíduos ou forragem em áreas intensivamente cultivadas. Apesar de estudos anteriores fornecerem valiosas informações sobre efeitos do consórcio sobre o manejo do solo e produção de biomassa, um melhor entendimento de como este sistema de cultivo afeta a dinâmica de nutrientes (exógenos ou endógeno) é necessário. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos durante a safra e segunda safra. No primeiro, os monocultivos de milho e braquiária (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) foram comparados com dois padrões de consórcio, direcionado a produção de resíduos ou forragem, com simulação do pastejo animal. Biomassa, acúmulo de nitrogênio (N), N- fertilizante e balanço de N foram avaliados. As variáveis respostas praticamente não foram afetadas pelos sistemas de cultivos durante o período de coexistência. Após a colheita do milho, os sistemas consórciados acumularam mais biomassa (0,6 -11 Mg ha-1) e N (12-318 kg ha-1) comparado ao pousio precedido pelo monocultivo de milho, apesar destes incrementos afetarem apenas o acúmulos totais (pré+pós-colheita) do cultivo de safra. A recuperação do N-fertilizante foi semelhante entre os sitemas de cultivo. Quando o consórcio objetivou a implantação de pasto, o pastejo simulado após a colheita do milho influênciou o balanço de N, com deficit de aproximadamente -221 kg ha-1.O segundo experimento foi conduzido para investigar a influência das espécies de Brachiaria sobre o particionamento de nutrientes no milho e a ciclagem pós-colheita de grãos. Produção de biomassa, quantidades de N, fósforo (P) e postássio (K) acumuladas foram avaliadas no monocultivo de milho e em três espécies de Brachiaria spp. (B. Brizantha cv Marandu, B. ruziziensis, and B. hibrido cultivar Mulato II, Convert HD 36) em consórcio com milho. Biomassa e acúmulo de nutrientes não foram afetados no consórcio do milho com as espécies de Brachiaria. Após a colheita do milho, o acúmulo de biomassa e nutrientes das espéceis de braquiária classificadas em ordem decrescente foram: B. brizantha > B. ruziziensis > B. convert. Comparado ao monocultivo de milho, o consórcio aumentou a biomassa total (milho+braquiária) e o acúmulo de nutrientes apenas quando cultivado na safra. Entre os 6 locais/anos, os benefícios do consórcio ocorreu após acolheita do milho, especialmente para o cultivo de safra. O milho consorciado com espécies de Brachiaria não afetou a recuperação do N-fertilizante nem sua distribuição nos componentes do sistema solo-planta. Entretanto, o consórcio proporcionou maior acúmulo de biomassa após a colheita do milho se comparado ao pousio precedido pelo monocultivo de milho, aumentando a porção de nutrientes alocados no compartimento planta do sistema. Nossos resultados sugerem que a integração entre atividades de lavoura e pastejo aumenta a demanda por N do sistema de produção. O consórcio entre milho e Brachiaria brizantha cv Marandu no cultivo de safra foi a melhor estratégia para aumentar a produção de biomassa e a ciclagem de nutrientes no sistema de produção do milho.

Corn (Zea mays L.) intercropped with Brachiaria spp. plays an important role in tropical agriculture management, providing residues or forage to areas intensively cropped. Although previous studies provide useful information about effects of intercropping on soil management and crop yield, a better understanding of how corn-Brachiaria intercropping systems impacts exogenous and endogenous nutrient dynamic is needed. Two experiments were performed in the both conventional and late planting season. In the first, corn and palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) monoculture were compared with two intercropping patterns, directed for production of residues or forage, with simulated animal grazing. Biomass, crop nitrogen (N) content, N derived from fertilizer and N budget were measured. Among farming systems, variable responses remained almost unchanged during period of simultaneous growth. After corn harvest, intercropping patterns achieved greater biomass (0.6-11 Mg ha-1) and N content (12-318 kg ha-1) relative to fallow preceded by corn monoculture, but it results in overall gains (pre and post-harvest) only to conventional planting season. N fertilizer recovery was not affected by intercropping patterns. When corn and Brachiaria were intercropped to establish pasture, simulated grazing after grain harvest had a tightly influence on N budget, approximately -221 kg ha-1. The second experiment investigated the influence of Brachiaria species on corn nutrients partitioning and their cycling after corn harvest. Biomass, N, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content were evaluated using corn intercropped with three species of Brachiaria (B. Brizantha cv Marandu, B. ruziziensis, and B. hybrid cultivar Mulato II, Convert HD 36) and corn monoculture. Biomass and nutrient content was not affect when corn was intercropped with Brachiaria species. After corn harvest, Brachiaria nutrient content and biomass yield were ranking from greater to lower following the order: B. brizantha > B. ruziziensis > B. convert. Relative with the corn monoculture, intercropping treatments enhanced the total biomass (corn + Brachiaria) and the nutrient accumulation only when planted at conventional season. Over 6 site-yr, benefits of intercropping appear after corn harvest, particularly at conventional planting season. Corn intercropped with Brachiaria species either had no effect N fertilizer recovery or affect N-fertilizer distribution within components of soil-plant system. Nonetheless, intercropping provide greater biomass accumulation after harvest compared with corn monoculture, resulting in larger nutrient content stored in plant component. Our results suggest a larger N requirements when crop-livestock activities was integrated. Corn intercropped with B. brizantha during conventional season was the best approach to enhanced crop yield and nutrient cycle for corn production systems. / O consórcio entre milho (Zea mays L) e espécies de Brachiaria spp. (syn. Urochloa spp.) desempenha importante função no manejo da agricultura tropical, produzir resíduos ou forragem em áreas intensivamente cultivadas. Apesar de estudos anteriores fornecerem valiosas informações sobre efeitos do consórcio sobre o manejo do solo e produção de biomassa, um melhor entendimento de como este sistema de cultivo afeta a dinâmica de nutrientes (exógenos ou endógeno) é necessário. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos durante a safra e segunda safra. No primeiro, os monocultivos de milho e braquiária (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) foram comparados com dois padrões de consórcio, direcionado a produção de resíduos ou forragem, com simulação do pastejo animal. Biomassa, acúmulo de nitrogênio (N), N- fertilizante e balanço de N foram avaliados. As variáveis respostas praticamente não foram afetadas pelos sistemas de cultivos durante o período de coexistência. Após a colheita do milho, os sistemas consórciados acumularam mais biomassa (0,6 -11 Mg ha-1) e N (12-318 kg ha-1) comparado ao pousio precedido pelo monocultivo de milho, apesar destes incrementos afetarem apenas o acúmulos totais (pré+pós-colheita) do cultivo de safra. A recuperação do N-fertilizante foi semelhante entre os sitemas de cultivo. Quando o consórcio objetivou a implantação de pasto, o pastejo simulado após a colheita do milho influênciou o balanço de N, com deficit de aproximadamente -221 kg ha-1.O segundo experimento foi conduzido para investigar a influência das espécies de Brachiaria sobre o particionamento de nutrientes no milho e a ciclagem pós-colheita de grãos. Produção de biomassa, quantidades de N, fósforo (P) e postássio (K) acumuladas foram avaliadas no monocultivo de milho e em três espécies de Brachiaria spp. (B. Brizantha cv Marandu, B. ruziziensis, and B. hibrido cultivar Mulato II, Convert HD 36) em consórcio com milho. Biomassa e acúmulo de nutrientes não foram afetados no consórcio do milho com as espécies de Brachiaria. Após a colheita do milho, o acúmulo de biomassa e nutrientes das espéceis de braquiária classificadas em ordem decrescente foram: B. brizantha > B. ruziziensis > B. convert. Comparado ao monocultivo de milho, o consórcio aumentou a biomassa total (milho+braquiária) e o acúmulo de nutrientes apenas quando cultivado na safra. Entre os 6 locais/anos, os benefícios do consórcio ocorreu após acolheita do milho, especialmente para o cultivo de safra. O milho consorciado com espécies de Brachiaria não afetou a recuperação do N-fertilizante nem sua distribuição nos componentes do sistema solo-planta. Entretanto, o consórcio proporcionou maior acúmulo de biomassa após a colheita do milho se comparado ao pousio precedido pelo monocultivo de milho, aumentando a porção de nutrientes alocados no compartimento planta do sistema. Nossos resultados sugerem que a integração entre atividades de lavoura e pastejo aumenta a demanda por N do sistema de produção. O consórcio entre milho e Brachiaria brizantha cv Marandu no cultivo de safra foi a melhor estratégia para aumentar a produção de biomassa e a ciclagem de nutrientes no sistema de produção do milho.

Organic mulches and cover crops mulched in situ were assessed for their effects on B. cinerea primary inoculum and disease levels in inflorescences at flowering and/or bunches at harvest. Organic mulches were used to enhance biological degradation of vine debris to reduce levels of B. cinerea primary inoculum the following season. Four mulch types (anaerobically and aerobically fermented marc (grape pressings), inter-row grass clippings and shredded office paper) were applied under ten-year-old Riesling vines in a ten-replicate randomized block design in New Zealand over two consecutive years. Plastic mesh bags, each containing naturally infected vine debris, were placed under vines on bare ground (control) and at the soil-mulch interface, in winter (July) 2003 and 2004. In each year, half the bags were recovered at flowering (December) and the remainder at leaf plucking (February), for assessment of B. cinerea sporulation from the vine debris and debris degradation rate. Bait lamina probes, which measure soil biological activity, were placed in the soil-mulch interface three weeks before each of the two bag-recovery dates in both years and were then removed and assessed at the same times as were the bags. All mulches led to a reduction in B. cinerea sporulation. This reduction was significantly correlated with elevated rates of vine debris decomposition and increased soil biological activity. Over both years, compared with the controls, all treatments gave a 3-20-fold reduction in B. cinerea sporulation, a 1.6-2.6-fold increase in vine debris degradation and in the two marc and the paper treatments, a 1.8-4-fold increase in activity of soil organisms. The mulches also altered vine characteristics and elevated their resistance to B. cinerea through changes to the soil environment. Functional soil biological activity, as measured by Biolog Ecoplates and bait lamina probes, was increased 2-4 times in the two marc and paper treatments, compared with the control, an effect relating to the elevated soil moisture and reduced temperature fluctuations under these mulches. Soil nutrient levels and the C:N ratios were also affected in these treatments. The mulched paper lowered vine canopy density by up to 1.4 times that of the other treatments, an effect which probably led to elevated light penetration into the canopy and consequent increased canopy temperature, photosynthesis and lowered canopy humidity. These changes to soil and vine characteristics increased grape skin strength by up to 10% in the paper treatment and sugar concentrations by 1.2-1.4 °Brix in the two marc and paper treatments. The severity of B. cinerea infections in the anaerobic marc, aerobic marc and paper treatments were reduced to 12%, 3% and 2.2% of the control, respectively, in field assessments averaged over two consecutive harvests. Cover crops mulched in situ had similar effects to those of the organic mulches, increasing soil biological activity and reducing B. cinerea primary inoculum and the severity of B. cinerea infection in grapes at harvest (2006). Inter-row phacelia and ryegrass were mulched in winter 2005 and compared with a bare ground control, under 10-year-old Chardonnay vines in a ten-replicate randomized block design. Functional soil biological activity increased by 1.5-4.5 times in the two cover crop treatments compared with the control, an effect possibly related to elevated soil moisture in these treatments. This increase in soil moisture and soil biological activity increased vine debris degradation, reduced B. cinerea primary inoculum on the debris and decreased B. cinerea severity at flowering (December 2005) and harvest (April 2006). These results show the potential of organic mulches and cover crops mulched in situ to enhance soil ecosystem services and improve the sustainability of viticultural practices.

Vineyard management strategies, including vineyard floor management and crop level management, can be used to influence vine vigor and fruit composition. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of these practices on Pinot Noir in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Managing crop levels is common in cool climate vineyard production though it is a costly practice. With economic pressures, the premium winegrape industry is questioning whether they can reduce production costs and increase yields without compromising quality. A crop thinning trial was conducted in 2010 and 2011 to address these concerns and to better understand the role of vine balance on fruit composition. Crop levels were moderately (35% crop removed) or severely (65% crop removed) thinned at pre-bloom, fruit set, lag phase, or véraison and compared to full crop treatments. In both years, crop thinning reduced yields but had no effect on berry weight or cluster size. In 2010, poor fruit set reduced overall yields, and thinning treatments resulted in very few differences in vine growth, cluster architecture or fruit composition, including total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity (TA), yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN), anthocyanins, phenolics and tannins. In 2011, yields were much higher due to high fruit set and larger cluster size. No differences were found in vine growth (leaf areas or pruning weights) or fruit YAN, but thinned vines had higher TSS and pH and lower TA than full crop vines at harvest. Fruit thinned at lag phase and véraison had higher TSS and lower TA than fruit thinned pre-bloom. Intensity of thinning had a stronger influence on anthocyanin and tannin concentration than timing, while phenolics were not impacted by either factor. Ravaz index values (fruit yield/pruning weight) below 2.25 and leaf area to yield ratios of 2.25 to 3.25 m²/kg improved fruit composition in 2011 as did later season thinning, though data from the remaining years of this study will provide more insight into appropriate crop load metrics for cool climate Pinot Noir. A second study was implemented in 2011 to determine the impact of crop thinning in vines with different levels of vegetative vigor caused by three vineyard floor management techniques: permanent grass (Festuca rubra spp. rubra) cover (grass), alternating grass cover and tillage (grass & tilled), and tillage of every alleyway (tilled). Crop was thinned at the BB stage of berry development (EL stage 73) to one cluster per shoot (half crop) or not thinned (full crop); all cluster wings were removed at the time of thinning. Tillage treatments had been in place four years prior to the start of the study and competition for nitrogen in grass caused reduced early season vine growth, leaf chlorophyll and canopy size at both bloom and véraison while crop thinning increased canopy size at véraison. Yields were altered by tillage and crop thinning treatments, as grass had fewer clusters per shoot and berries per cluster, and crop thinning reduced yields to 64.7% of full crop across all tillage treatments. At harvest, grass had the lowest TA while TSS and pH were not affected by tillage. Crop thinning increased TSS but did not impact pH or TA. Anthocyanins were affected by both tillage and thinning and were found to be related to vine yield, YAN, leaf N, and leaf area index. Tannins were highest in grass but were not affected by crop thinning, and phenolics were not changed by either factor. Few interactions between tillage and crop thinning were found, but as variables such as yield per vine were impacted by both treatment factors, monitoring long term effects of crop / Graduation date: 2012

Les cultures intermédiaires délivrent des services écosystémiques de réduction de la lixiviation de nitrate et de production de l’effet engrais vert pour la culture principale suivante. L’objectif de ce travail était de caractériser un grand nombre d’espèces et d’analyser les performances de mélanges bispécifiques de type légumineuse/non-légumineuse pour produire simultanément ces services écosystémiques de gestion de l’azote. Les traits fonctionnels foliaires mesurés sur 36 espèces sont robustes mais sont peu précis pour différencier les stratégies des espèces. Les températures cardinales de germination mesurées au laboratoire indiquent que la majorité des espèces est adaptée à des conditions de semis d’été. Une modèle conceptuel implémenté en GLM permet de prédire le comportement des deux espèces en mélange. Les mesures réalisées en expérimentations au champ couplées avec des simulations avec le modèle STICS ont permis d’évaluer les performances de certains mélanges bispécifiques pour produire simultanément les services écosystémiques. L’efficacité dépend du choix des espèces associées, qui doit être adapté en fonction des conditions pédoclimatiques et de la date de destruction des couverts. / Cover crops produce ecosystem services for nitrogen management during fallow period such as decreasing nitrate leaching and producing green N manure effect for the next cash crop. The aim of this work was to characterize a large number of species using a functional analysis and to analyze the performances of bispecific legume/non-legume mixtures to simultaneously produce both ecosystem services. Leaf functional traits measured on 36 cover crops were found robust but lacked of precision in differentiating species strategies. The cardinal temperatures for germination measured in laboratory have shown that the majority of species is adapted to summer sowing conditions. A conceptual model was designed and implemented in GLM to predict the behavior of species in mixtures. The measurements carried out in field experiments coupled with STICS model simulations confirmed the potential efficiency of some bispecific mixtures to simultaneously produce ecosystem services of nitrogen management. This efficiency depends on the choice of the two species to associate which must be adapted according to the pedoclimatic conditions as well as the date of cover crop destruction.

<p>Cereal rye (<i>Secale cereale</i>, L., CR) is the most commonly utilized cover crop species within the United States. Yet, the total land area planted to CR on an annual basis remains relatively low despite its numerous proven environmental benefits. The relatively low rates of CR adoption could be due to a dearth of knowledge surrounding certain agronomic and economic components of CR adoption. Currently, there exists knowledge gaps within the scientific literature regarding CR performance, N cycling, and associated economic risk. <a>Thus, to address the above-mentioned knowledge gaps, three individual studies were developed to: i) investigate the fate of scavenged CR nitrogen (N) amongst soil N pools, ii) assess the suitability of visible-spectrum vegetation indices (VIs) to predict CR biomass and nutrient accumulation (BiNA), and iii) characterize the economic risk of CR adoption at a regional scale over time.</a></p> <p>In the first study, ¹⁵N, a stable isotope of N, was used in an aerobic incubation to track the fate of CR root and shoot N among the soil microbial biomass, inorganic, and organic N pools, as well as explore CR N bioavailability over a simulated corn growing season. In this study, the C:N ratio of the shoot residues was 16:1 and the roots was 31:1 and differences in residue quality affected the dynamics of CR N release from each residue type. On average, 14% of whole plant CR N was recovered in the soil inorganic N pool at the final sample date. Correspondingly, at the final sampling date 53%, 33%, and less than 1% of whole plant CR N was recovered as soil organic N, undecomposed residue, and as microbial biomass N, respectively. Most CR N remained unavailable to plants during the first cash crop growing season subsequent to termination. This knowledge could support the advancement of N fertilizer management strategies for cropping systems containing cereal rye.</p> <p>In the second study, a commercially available unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) outfitted with a standard RGB sensor was used to collect aerial imagery of growing CR from which visible-spectrum VIs were computed. Computed VIs were then coupled with weather and geographic data using linear multiple regression to produce prediction models for CR biomass, carbon (C), N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S). Five visible-spectrum VIs (Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index (VARI), Green Leaf Index (GLI), Modified Green Red Vegetation Index (MGRVI), Red Green Blue Vegetation Index (RGBVI), and Excess of Green (ExG)) were evaluated and the results determined that MGRVI was the best predictor for CR biomass, C, K, and S and that RGBVI was the best predictor for CR N and P. Furthermore, the final prediction models for the VIs selected as the best predictors developed in this study performed satisfactorily in the prediction of CR biomass, C, N, P, K, and S producing adjusted R² values of 0.79, 0.79, 0.75, 0.81, 0.81, and 0.78, respectively. The results of this study have the potential to aid producers in making informed decisions regarding CR and fertility management. </p> <p>In the final study, agronomic data for corn and soybean cropping systems with and without CR was collected from six states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin) and used within a Monte-Carlo stochastic simulation to characterize the economic risk of adopting CR at a regional scale over time. The results of this study indicate that average net returns to CR are always negative regardless of CR tenure primarily due to added costs and increased variability in cash crop grain yields associated with CR adoption. Further, the results demonstrate that the additional risk assumed by adopting CR is not adequately compensated for with current CR adoption incentive programs and that the risk premium necessary can be 1.7 to 15 times greater than existing incentive payments. Knowledge gained from this study could be used to reimagine current incentive programs to further promote adoption of CR.</p>

Vineyards in the Mid-Atlantic often have large, vigorous vines that can be costly to manage and produce inadequate fruit for wine production. Dense canopies increase the incidence of fungal disease, require greater allocation of resources to manage, and inhibit fruit development. The primary objective of these studies was to determine effective vine-size modification treatments that would optimize fruit quality, while reducing labor and chemical control. Research factors included root manipulation, under-trellis ground cover, and rootstock. Treatment levels were root bag (RBG) or no root manipulation (NRM); under-trellis cover crop (CC) or herbicide strip (HERB); and one of three rootstocks: 101-14, Riparia Gloire, or 420-A. Effects of these treatments were measured in two experiments: Experiment I compared combinations of all three treatments, while Experiment II explored the individual effects of root restriction using root bags of varying volumes. Root restriction consistently demonstrated the ability to reduce vegetative growth and vine water status. In the first experiment fruit-zone photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was increased by 234% in RBG vines. Timed canopy management tasks indicated that RBG canopies required about half the labor time of NRM canopies. Anthocyanin concentration and total phenolic content were increased by 20% and 19% respectively in RBG fruit. CC increased fruit-zone PPFD by 62%, and increased soluble solids and color compounds. The 420-A rootstock reduced potassium uptake, resulting in lower must potassium concentration. Results demonstrated that these treatments significantly reduce vegetative growth in a humid climate, decrease management labor, and produce higher quality fruit. / Master of Science

La banane plantain (Musa paradisiaca) est l’aliment de base de millions de personnes dans le monde et sa culture génère des revenus permanents pour un grand nombre d’agriculteurs, dans des plantations de taille petite ou moyenne. Comme dans d’autres régions tropicales, la culture du plantain en Guadeloupe et en Haïti est soumise à de fortes contraintes parasitaires aussi bien telluriques (i.e. du sol : nématodes phytoparasites et charançon du bananier) qu’aériennes (Cercosporiose noire notamment). Les moyens de lutte conventionnels reposent sur l’usage de produits de synthèse dont les effets néfastes sur l’environnement (sols, eaux, animaux) comme sur la santé humaine ne sont plus supportables. Il est donc urgent de réfléchir à des solutions agro-écologiques permettant de rétablir les équilibres biologiques, de maintenir une bonne qualité des sols et une production optimale dans les systèmes de culture plantains. C’est le but de ce travail de thèse qui couple la réalisation d’un diagnostic agro-écologique dans des parcelles paysannes, et le test d’alternatives agro-écologiques en milieu semi-contrôlé. Pour ce faire, une typologie des systèmes de culture plantains a été réalisée à l’issue d’une enquête agro-environnementale dans les deux zones d’étude. Elle a permis de sélectionner 23 parcelles en Guadeloupe et 12 en Haïti dans lesquelles un diagnostic agro-écologique a été conduit. Sur la base de ce diagnostic et de la recherche d’alternatives agro-écologiques à l’usage des produits chimiques, une expérimentation au champ a été mise en place en Guadeloupe en station de recherche, permettant le test de trois pratiques culturales innovantes pour le plantain (seules et combinées), à savoir : i) l’introduction d’une plante de service Paspalum notatum pour la gestion des adventices et la réduction de l’utilisation d’herbicides ; ii) l’apport de vermicompost pour le contrôle des nématodes phytoparasites inféodés au bananier plantain et la fertilisation de celui-ci ; iii) l’utilisation de plants sains PIF (Plants Issus de Fragments de tiges) indemnes de nématodes et de larves de charançon du bananier. La typologie des systèmes de culture plantains révèle que : i) en Guadeloupe les précédents : jachère, ananas et banane plantain sont prédominants avec un niveau d’intensification faible (apports d’intrants chimiques faibles et peu fréquents) ou élevé (apports d’intrants chimiques élevés et plus fréquents) ; ii) en Haïti, les précédents : jachère, banane plantain et manioc prédominent avec un niveau d’intensification faible ou nul (apport d’intrants inexistant). Les résultats du diagnostic agro-écologique montrent que, i) lorsque le niveau d’intensification est faible, les bananeraies plantains pérennes et le précédent-ananas permettent de maintenir une bonne qualité du sol et une bonne régulation des parasites telluriques ; ii) lorsque le niveau d’intensification est fort, les populations d’ingénieurs du sol diminuent drastiquement, alors que le cortège parasitaire tellurique augmente sans que cela n’affecte l’obtention de bons niveaux de rendement instantannés (parcelles précédées d’ananas ou d’une jachère principalement) ; iii) en absence totale de fertilisation, il résulte une diminution de l’activité biologique du sol mais aussi du rendement du plantain, exacerbé par le choix des précédents-culturaux (manioc ou banane plantain) en lien avec les contraintes pédoclimatiques et la maladie des raies noires (Cercosporiose noire) causée par Mycosphaerella fijiensis, notamment au sein des parcelles Haïtiennes ; iv) la succession plantain/plantain est la plus pénalisante vis-à-vis de la culture du plantain, car quelque soit le niveau d’intensification, le rendement reste relativement faible, en lien avec une dégradation de l’état sanitaire, comparativement aux autres précédents. / Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) is the staple food of millions of people worldwide and its cropping generates ongoing revenues for many farmers who are planting small or medium size areas. As in other tropical regions, plantain cultivation in Guadeloupe and Haiti is under heavy parasitic constraints terrestrial (plant-parasitic nematodes and banana weevil) as well as aerial (black Sigatoka in particular). Conventional means of control based on the use of synthetic products which adverse effects on the environment (soil, water, animals ...) as on human health are not bearable any more. It is thus urgent to think about agroecological solutions allowing to restore the biological balances, to maintain good soil quality and optimal plantain cropping systems.This is the ultimate goal of this thesis which couples the realization of an agroecological diagnosis in peasants’ plots, and the test of agroecological alternatives in semi-controlled conditions. To do this, a typology of plantain cropping systems was carried out from an agrienvironmental survey in the two study areas. It allowed to select 23 plots in Guadeloupe and 12 in Haiti in which an agroecological diagnosis was implemented. Based on this diagnosis and the research of agroecological alternatives to the use of chemicals, a field experiment was set up in Guadeloupe, in an experimental station allowing the test of three innovative practices for plantain cultivation (alone and combined), namely : i) the introduction of a cover-crop Paspalum notatum for weed control while reducing the use of herbicides ; ii) the input of worms’ compost to control plant-parasitic nematodes specific to plantain and to fertilize it ; iii) the use of healthy “PIF” plants (plants issued from stem fragments) free from telluric pests (nematodes and weevil’s larvaes).The typology of plantains cropping systems shows: i) in Guadeloupe the previous crops are: fallow pineapple and plantain predominate with a low level of intensification (low and infrequent chemical inputs) or high (high and frequent chemical inputs); ii) in Haiti, the previous crops are: fallow, plantain and cassava predominate with a low level or no intensification at all (no inputs). The results of the agroecological analysis show that : i) when the level of intensification is low, perennial plantain and pineapple as previous crops help maintaining a good soil quality and a good regulation of the telluric pests ; ii) when the level of intensification is strong, the soil engineers drastically reduce, while the density of telluric parasites increases without affecting good levels of instantaneous yields (plots where the previous crop is pineapple or mostly fallow) ; iii) when the fertilization is totally missing, it decreases the biological activity of the soil furthermore the plantain yields, exacerbated by the choice of the previous crop (cassava or plantain), in connection with soils and climate constraints and the black Sigatoka caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis, especially in the Haitian plots ; iv) the crop succession plantain/plantain is the most critical regarding the plantain’s cropping, because whatever the level of intensification, the yields remain relatively low in connection with a degradation of the health state, compared to other previous crops.The driving of an experiment in a research station shows that on the scale of one year, the three tested innovative practices allow maintaining a good soils quality. Healthy plants "PIF" have a better health state (absence of plant parasitic nematodes in the roots) which helps a significant increase of the yields. Cover-crop P. notatum helps the weeds and the soil pests control and favors the improvement of soil biological activity and plantain yields. Worms’ compost contributes to the maintenance of a better soils quality while allowing the regulation of the populations of plant-parasitic nematodes of the plantains.

Cereal rye (CR), the most common and effective nitrogen (N) scavenging cover crop option in the Midwest, is often utilized in cropping systems to reduce nitrate loss for environmental benefits. To increase environmental efficiency in Midwest corn cropping systems, we must increase the overall adoption of CR. However, due to the yield reduction potential (6%) for corn planted after CR termination, CR is primarily recommended before soybean. To increase CR adoption, we must develop adaptive fertilizer management practices that achieve competitive grain yields relative to cropping systems where CR is not adopted. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to determine (1) the effect of CR and starter nitrogen rate on corn growth and nitrogen content. (2) the optimum starter nitrogen rate to achieve agronomic optimum corn yield following CR. (3) the impact of phosphorus (P) at starter on plant growth, nitrogen content, and yield with the inclusion of CR. For our study, five starter N rates were applied in a 5x5 cm band to both CR and non-CR plots, concentrations ranged from 0-84 kg N ha^-1in 28 kg N ha^-1 intervals. Total N applied was the same for each treatment, relative to its location, and was split between starter N at planting and sidedress applied at growth stage V6 relatively. Although CR termination took place at least two weeks before planting, CR decreased corn grain yield at one of three locations by an average of 8%, nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE) by 27%, and R6 total N content by 23%, relative to the conventional control (non-CR 0N), when no starter N was applied. At one of three locations, starter N rates of 56 kg N ha^-1, 56 kg N ha^-1plus 17 kg P ha^-1, and 84 kg N ha^-1 increased corn grain yield, in CR plots, and 56 kg N ha^-1 plus 17 kg P ha^-1 increased corn grain yield in non-CR plots. Phosphorus increased corn grain N content at growth stage R6 in one of three locations and did not impact corn grain yield at all locations. We conclude that the inclusion of starter N at planting has the potential to increase agronomic productivity in CR corn cropping systems in soil environments with a high capacity to mineralize soil N. However, further research is required to refine our starter N results to find an optimum starter N rate to apply before planting corn following CR.