It is well known that improper priors in Bayesian statistics may lead to proper posterior distributions and useful inference procedures. This motivates us to give an elementary introduction to a theoretical frame for statistics that includes improper priors. Axioms that allow improper priors are given by a relaxed version of Kolmogorov’s formulation of probability theory. The theory of conditio...

Seasonal changes in the levels of soil microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), N-mineralization rate and available-N concentration were studied in rice±barley supporting tropical dryland (rainfed) agroecosystem under six combinations of tillage (conventional, minimum and zero tillage) and crop residue manipulation (retained or removed) conditions. Highest levels of soil MBC and MBN (368±503 and ...

Exceedance of the US Environmental Protection Agency national ambient air quality standard for PM10 (particulate matter ≤10 μm in aerodynamic diameter) within the Columbia Plateau region of the Pacific Northwest US is largely caused by wind erosion of agricultural lands managed in a winter wheat–summer fallow rotation. Land management practices, therefore, are sought that will reduce erosion an...

This study empirically estimates the multiple benefits of a subsidy policy that would offer payments to farmers in return for the adoption of conservation tillage, and compares the outcomes of alternative targeting designs for such a policy. The least-cost incentive payment policy schemes are simulated for the State of Iowa by using the data for roughly 12,000 National Resource Inventory (NRI) ...

What is a good prior? Actual prior knowledge should be used, but for complex models this often not easily available. The can in the form of symmetry assumptions, and then choice will typically an improper prior. Also more generally, it quite common to choose priors. Motivated by we consider theoretical framework statistics that includes both priors posteriors. Knowledge represented possibly unb...

Tillage erosion is a potential contributor to the total soil erosion occurring within cultivated fields. No study has been carried out on tillage erosion associated with cereal-based production systems, which are the predominant form of crop production in the Canadian Prairies. Previous tillage translocation studies have focused on primary tillage implements (i.e. mouldboard and chisel ploughs)...

Tillage practices affect soil microorganisms, which in turn influence many processes essential to the function and sustainability of soil. In this study, the changes in soil microbial biomass and community composition in response to conventional tillage (CT, moldboard plowing and post-harvest residue removal) and no-tillage (NT) practices were examined during a maize (Zea mays L.) growing seaso...

The existence of a shallow water table (surface to 0.54 m from June to October) is common phenomenon in Tarai (foothills of the Himalaya) of Uttar Pradesh, India. Puddled rice (Oryza sativa L.) crop followed by conventional land preparation for the succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop is normal cultivation practice in the region. This shallow water table can be effectively utilised to a...

CT crop–fallow system in the central Great Plains (Shanahan et al., 1988; Halvorson, 1990; Peterson et al., Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–fallow (WF) using conven1993; Halvorson and Reule, 1994; Farahani et al., 1998). tional stubble mulch tillage (CT) is the predominant production practice in the central Great Plains and has resulted in high erosion potential Winter wheat yields in a WCF...

Only 34% of all German farms apply reduced tillage (RT), while approximately 1% of the arable land is under no-tillage (NT). Statistics for organic farming are not available, but the percentages are probably even lower. The development of German organic RT and NT has been strongly driven by pioneer farmers for 40 years, and supported by field trials since the 1990s. The main motive for conversi...