Mobilizing greater crop and land potentials: replacing the faltering engine
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The document discusses the challenges of conventional tillage-based agriculture in Central Asia and advocates for conservation agriculture as a sustainable alternative. It highlights the benefits of conservation practices for soil health, crop productivity, and ecosystem services, while noting the increased costs and diminishing returns associated with conventional methods. The workshop serves as a platform to mobilize greater land and crop potentials through the principles of conservation agriculture, aiming to enhance resilience against climate change and promote sustainable farming practices.
Mobilizing greater crop and land potentials: replacing the faltering engine
- 1. Central Asia Climate Smart Agriculture workshop 12 - 14 July 2016 Mobilizing Greater Crop and Land Potentials: Replacing the Faltering Engine Amir Kassam, Gottleib Basch, Theodor Friedrich, Emilio Gonzalez, Paula Trivino, Saidi Mkomwa
- 2. Outline • How appropriate is conventional tillage-based agriculture in mobilizing crop and land potentials? • How appropriate is Conservation Agriculture in mobilizing crop and land potentials? * This is work in progress 2
- 3. Conventional land preparation regular tillage, clean seedbed, exposed Effects: • Loss of organic matter • Loss of pores, structure soil compaction • Destruction of biological life & processes 3
- 5. Residue retention distinguishes CA from conventional farming systems soil crusts – no mulch low SOM CLODS OF TOPSOIL FROM ADJACENT PLOTS
- 6. (Brisson et al. 2010) Stagnating Yields (yield gap) Rising-plateau regression analysis of wheat yields throughout various European countries 6 But inputs and input costs going up, diminishing returns setting in,
- 7. (THOMAS, 2004) Water infiltration, just after a thunderstorm
- 8. Runoff and soil erosion
- 9. TILLAGE AGRICULTURE -- Erosion 9
- 10. 10Google image, 16 February 2014
- 11. All agricultural soils show signs of degradation World map of severity of land degradation – GLASOD (FAO 2000) Also, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005 – 89% our ecosystems Degraded or severely degraded, only 11% in reasonable shape. 400-500 M ha lost 11 Degradation of soil, water and biodiversity resources
- 12. Consequences of tillage-based agriculture at any level of development FOR THE CROP (AND SOCIETY) • Higher production costs, lower farm productivity and profit, sub-optimal yield ceilings, poor resilience • less use efficiency of mineral fertilizer: “The crops have become ‘addicted’ to fertilizers” • loss of (agro)biodiversity in the ecosystem, below & above soil surface • more pest problems (breakdown of food-webs for micro- organisms and natural pest control) • falling input efficiency & factor productivities, declining or stagnating yields • reduced resilience, reduced sustainability • Poor adaptability to climate change & mitigation 12
- 13. Consequences of tillage-based agriculture at any level of development FOR THE LAND (AND SOCIETY) • Dysfunctional ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, degraded ecosystem services -- water, carbon, nutrient cycles, suboptimal water provisioning & regulatory water services etc. • loss of OM, porosity, aeration, biota (=decline in soil health -> collapse of soil structure -> compaction & surface sealing -> decrease in infiltration) • water loss as runoff & soil loss as sediment • loss of time, energy, seeds, fertilizer, pesticide (erosion, leaching) • less capacity to capture and slow release water & nutrients 13
- 14. What does Conservation Agriculture offer in terms of Crop and land potentials? 14 Switching to sustainable solutions
- 15. Technical objectives of SPI • Agricultural land productivity • Natural capital and flow of ecosystems services Simultaneously • Enhanced input-use efficiency • Build farming system resilience (biotic and abiotic), including being climate-smart • Contribute to multiple-outcome objectives at farm, community & landscape, and national scales e.g. climate change mitigation And • Capable of rehabilitating land productivity and ecosystem services in degraded and abandoned lands But how? 15
- 16. Worldwide adoption of Conservation Agriculture FAO Definition: www.fao.org/ag/ca Conservation Agriculture (CA) is an approach to managing agro-ecosystems for improved and sustained productivity, increased profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment. CA is characterized by three linked principles, namely: 1. Continuous no or minimum mechanical soil disturbance. 2. Permanent soil mulch cover - crop residues, cover crops. 3. Diversification of crop species grown in sequences or associations or rotations. Along with other GAPs SPI & CSA Conservation Agriculture 16
- 17. CA does not solve ALL problems (NO panacea) but complemented with other good practices CA base allows for high production intensity and sustainable agriculture in all land-based production systems (rainfed & irrigated, annual, perennial, plantation, orchards, agroforestry, crop-livestock, rice systems CA principles operate as ecological foundation to CA Systems No/Minimum soil disturbance Soil Cover Crop Diversity Integrated Pest Management Integrated Plant Nutrient Management Integrated Weed Management Integrated Water management Sustainable mechanization Compaction management, CTF Permanent Bed and Furrow Systems System of Rice Intensification Good seed Genetic potential Genetic resources mgmt Pollinator/ Biodiversity management Sustainable agriculture 17
- 18. Minimum soil disturbance Soil Cover Crop Diversity Integrated Pest Management Integrated Plant Nutrient Management Integrated Weed Management Integrated Water management Sustainable mechanization Compaction management, CTF Permanent Bed and Furrow Systems System of Rice Intensification Good seed Genetic potential Genetic resources mgmt. Pollinator/ Biodiversity management Sustainable agriculture 18 Ecological Foundation of CA Systems
- 19. Soil productive capacity (vs. fertility) is derived from several components which interact dynamically in space and time: • Physical: architecture - pore structure, space & aeration • Hydrological: moisture storage - infiltration • Chemical: nutrients, CEC, dynamics • Biological: soil life & non living fractions • Thermal: rates of biochemical processes • Gravity: retention & flows of liquids • Cropping system: rotation/association/sequence A productive soil is a living system and its health & productivity depends on managing it as a ‘complex’ biological system, not as a geological entity. Pays attention to soil health -- soil as a ‘complex’ biological system, not just as a geological entity 19
- 20. Pays attention to biodiversity oil food ebs… o-evolved ant- icrobiome lations bove ground od webs & abitates for atural nemies of ests est-predator ynamics round-nesting rds, animals nd insects 20
- 21. her ● Fotos grandes. Solo arrastra una nueva imagen y pásala para átras Path to waterfall on private property brings income to locals in the form of ecotourismMonteverde Cloudforest Reserve provides important source of water in landscape and downstream Windbreaks provide habitat and corridors for wildlife, control erosion and protect livestock from wind Shaded coffee extends wildlife habitat from reserve and reduces erosion All fences are live rows of trees Coffee, corn, sugar cane and other products are sold at a local cooperative Pays attention to eco-agriculture landscapes: harmonizing multiple objectives at farm, community, landscape scales 21
- 22. Pays attention to harnessing ecosystem services from Land Water cycling Carbon cycling Atmospheric circulation 22 Source: The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005)
- 23. Sustainable Land Preparation - smallholders Planting holes, ripping or mulching, direct drill 23
- 24. No-tillage in Europe (W. Sturny) 24
- 25. Worldwide adoption of Conservation Agriculture Connference on Conservation Agriculture for Smallholders in Asia and Africa. 7-11 December, Mymensigh University, Bangldesh 100 Dustbowl 1930 20001950 USSoilConservationService conservationtillage dustbowl Siberia/USSR Faulkner(US)–Fukuoka(Japan) commercialno-till/US firstno-tilldemonstrationinBrazil Oldrieve/Zimbabwe adoptionBrazil plantiodiretonapalha experimentsinChina,IndogangeticPlains Newboost:Canada, Australia,Kazakhstan, Russia,China,Finland...; Africa Argentina,Paraguay; 1980 1990 Firstno-tillintheUS IITAno-tillresearch 50 Mill.ha History and Adoption of CA (2013). Since 2008/09 increasing at 10 M ha annually 1970 2010 157mill ha firstno-tillfarmersinUSA FirstWCCAinMadrid 25
- 26. Worldwide adoption of Conservation Agriculture ** Area of cropland under CA by continent - 2013 (source: FAO AquaStat: www.fao/ag/ca/6c.html) slide 2/x Continent Area (Mill. ha) Per cent of global total Per cent of arable land of reporting countries South America 66.0 (49.6)* 41.3 (34)# 60.0 North America 54.0 (40.0) 34.8 (40) 24.0 Australia & NZ 17.9 (12.2) 11.5 (47) 35.9+ Asia Russia & Ukraine Europe Africa 10.3 (2.6) 5.2 (0.1) 2.1 (1.6) 1.2 (0.5) 6.6 (291) 3.4(5000) 1.4 (31) 0.8 (140) 3.0 3.3 2.8 0.9 Global total 157 (106)* ( )* 2008/9 100 (48)# ( )# % change since 2008/09 10.9 (7.4)* %global cropland + includes non- cropland 26~50% in developing regions, ~50 % in industrialized regions
- 27. Conservation Agriculture CROP • Increase & stable yields, productivity, profit (depending on level and degradation) • Less fertilizer use (-50%) no fertilizer less pesticides (-20->50%) no pesticides • Less machinery, energy & labour cost (50-70%) • water needs (-30-40%) LAND • Lower impact of climate (drought, floods, heat, cold) & climate change adaptation & mitigation • Lower environmental cost (water, infrastructure) • Rehabilitation of degraded lands & ecosystem services Wheat yield and nitrogen amount for different duration of no-tillage in Canada 2002 (Lafond 2003) 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 0 30 60 90 120 nitrogen (kg/haGrainyield(t/ha) 20-year no-tillage 2-year no-tillage Impact pattern with CA – small or big farms
- 28. Source: Dijkstra, 1998 Empirical evidence: The Frank Dijkstra farm in Ponta Grossa, Brazil – Sub-humid tropics 28
- 29. Wheat yield response to nitrogen fertilization (--- according to the model) – Dry sub-tropics WR Carvalho et al., 2012 29
- 30. Longer term maize grain yields on farmers fields in Malawi – Lemu – Semi-arid tropics Harvest year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Maizebiomassyield(kgha -1 ) 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000 Conventional control, maize (CPM) CA, maize (CAM) CA, maize/legume intercropping (CAML) a a a a b b aa b b a a b a a b a a
- 31. Longer term maize grain yields on farmers fields in Malawi - Zidyana 31 Zidyana Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 YielddifferencebetweenCAandCP(kgha -1 ) -4000 -2000 0 2000 4000 6000 CAML CAM C CIMMYT– Thierfelder et al.
- 32. Economic viability-Malawi Lemu Zidyana CP CA CAL CP CA CAL Gross Receipts 528.6 881.5 979.7 1047.2 1309.5 1293.7 Variable costs Inputs 238.5 341.0 353.6 221.7 323.7 346.1 Labour days (6 hr days) 61.7 39.9 49.4 61.7 39.9 49.4 Labour costs 159.5 103.2 127.9 155.6 100.7 124.7 Sprayer costs 1.7 1.2 1.7 1.2 Total variable costs 398.1 445.9 482.8 377.3 426.1 472.1 Net returns (US$/ha) 130.5 435.5 497.1 669.9 883.3 821.9 Returns to labour (US$/day) 1.8 5.2 4.9 5.4 9.8 7.6 Source: Ngwira et al., 2012
- 33. Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible CSIC , Cordoba, Setiembre 2005 Farm power – 4 tractors with 384 HP under tillage & 2 tractors with 143 HP under no-till Farm near Evora, South Portugal 33
- 34. Example 1-- Canada: Carbon offset scheme in Alberta Sequestering soil Carbon with CA and trading offsets with regulated companies to offset their emissions by purchasing verified tonnes (from ag and non-ag sectors) Source: Tom Goddard et al. 34
- 35. Itaipu reservoir dam today (source: Itaipu Binacional) Water resources are threatened by conventional tillage agricultural practices. Conservation Agriculture is an alternative to reduce impacts on river’s quality and to maintain a higher level of productivity and sustainability. Cultivating Good Water Programme 35 Example 2 -- Watershed services in Parana Basin, Brazil
- 36. Broad conclusions • CA can sustainably mobilize greater crop and land potentials with increased efficiency and resilience. • CA offers greater output and profit to smallholders and large farmers with less resources and minimum land degradation. • CA is increasingly seen as a real alternative for SPI and ES, and it is spreading at an annual rate of 10 M ha. 36
- 37. And, the messages, once understood, even make people dance! More information: amirkassam786@googlemail.com http://www.fao.org/ag/ca Join CA-CoP 37
- 38. The Supply Side – what does it look like? Latest FAO projections for 2050 – 50-70% increase globally = 0.9% increase annually Year Population Cereal output Net Production Area Yield (billion) (mil. t) (mil. Ha) (t/ha) 2014 7.2 2,532 (352 kg pc) 715 3.54 2050 9.2 3,280 (356 kg pc) 763 4.30 (3.44)# Plateau 10.0~ 5,000* (500 kg pc) 763^ 6.55 (5.24)# (2100+) or 1000^ 5.00 (4.00)# * at 500 kg/capita which is the current Western European level of cereal use (including wastage) # with 50% cut in food waste ^ Cereal: non-cereal ratio is ~50:50; so total arable land requirement would be 2,000 Ml ha assuming some expansion in cropland or could be 1,470 M ha assuming no expansion beyond 2050. In addition, we need land for permanent crops which could mean another 500 M ha. So the total land required to meet future demand would be somewhere between 2000 and 2,500 M ha. Potential suitable land is 4,495 M ha, currently used is 1,559 M ha. Marginal land is 2,738 M ha, which includes some 400-500 M ha of abandoned land due to degradation (Gibbs and Salmon, 2015). If we decide to eat less meat in the future, then the required area and yields can be lower. There is also the biofuel question which will push the area up. 38
- 39. Worldwide adoption of Conservation Agriculture 6th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, Winnipeg, 22-25 June 2014 slide 2/x subtropical, semi-arid USA 36 Canada 18 Australia 17.9 Europe 2 Kazakhstan 2 Africa 1.2 Brazil 32 Argentina 27 Paraguay 3 China 6.7 tropical savannah continental, dry sub-tropics, temperate, moist temperate, moist continental, dry irrigated smallholder smallholder smallholder temperate & subtropical moist & semi-arid subtropical, semi-arid large scale & smallholder large scale large scale large scale large scale large & small scale tropical savannah other LA 2.4 >50% W (40%) 20% 99% 100% West (36%) Russia, Ukraine 5.2 India 1.5 smallholder other Asia 0.1 39 Conservation Agriculture globally 157 Million ha (2013) (~11% of annual cropland)
- 40. Conservation Agriculture Small scale -- Paraguay, Tanzania, India, China, Lesotho, Zimbabwe …… Large scale – Canada, USA, Brazil, Australia, Argentina, Kazakhstan ..... Cross Slot Conference and Tour 2012 – Germany/France publications Documented benefits of CA for food security, environment, sustainability, rehabilitation 40
- 41. • Erosion: North America, Brazil, China • Drought: China, Australia, Kazakhstan, Zambia • Cost of production: global • Soil degradation: global • Ecosystem services: global • Climate change A&M: global • Sustainable intensification: global • Pro-poor: developing regions Spread is farmer-led but needs policy & institutional support, specially for smallholders Conservation Agriculture 41 Drivers for adoption of CA
- 42. Challenges/issues/considerations of transformation and transition • Weeds/herbicides • Labour • Larger farms • Livestock • Community engagement • Temperate areas • Farmers working together • Equipment and machinery • Knowledge and technical capacity • Risk involved in transforming to no-till systems • Approaches to adoption and scaling • Policy and institutional support – private, public, civil society 42