Soil carbon sequestration rates and associated economic costs for farming systems of south-eastern Australia

Soil organic carbon (C) sequestration rates based on the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) methodology were combined with local economic data to simulate the economic potential for C sequestration in response to conservation tillage in the six agro-ecological zones within the Southern Region of the Australian grains industry. The net C sequestration rate over 20 years for the Southern Region (which includes discounting for associated greenhouse gases) is estimated to be 3.6 or 6.3 Mg C/ha after converting to either minimum or no-tillage practices, respectively, with no-till practices estimated to return 75% more carbon on average than minimum tillage. The highest net gains in C per ha are realised when converting from conventional to no-tillage practices in the high-activity clay soils of the High Rainfall and Wimmera agro-ecological zones. On the basis of total area available for change, the Slopes agro-ecological zone offers the highest net returns, potentially sequestering an additional 7.1 Mt C under no-tillage scenario over 20 years. The economic analysis was summarised as C supply curves for each of the 6 zones expressing the total additional C accumulated over 20 years for a price per t C sequestered ranging from zero to AU$200. For a price of $50/Mg C, a total of 427 000 Mg C would be sequestered over 20 years across the Southern Region, <5% of the simulated C sequestration potential of 9.1 Mt for the region. The Wimmera and Mid-North offer the largest gains in C under minimum tillage over 20 years of all zones for all C prices. For the no-tillage scenario, for a price of $50/Mg C, 1.74 Mt C would be sequestered over 20 years across the Southern Region, <10% of the simulated C sequestration potential of 18.6 Mt for the region over 20 years. The Slopes agro-ecological zone offers the best return in C over 20 years under no-tillage for all C prices. The Mallee offers the least return for both minimum and no-tillage scenarios. At a price of $200/Mg C, the transition from conventional tillage to minimum or no-tillage practices will only realise 19% and 33%, respectively, of the total biogeochemical sequestration potential of crop and pasture systems of the Southern Region over a 20-year period.

Download Full-text

Comparison of Application Methods and Tillage Practices on Volatilization of Clomazone

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/s0890037x00030670 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 323-326 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Kurt D. Thelen ◽

James J. Kells ◽

Donald Penner

Keyword(s):

Field Trials ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

No Tillage ◽

Minimum Tillage ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Surface Application ◽

Application Methods

Field trials were conducted in 1985 and 1986 to determine the effect of incorporation on volatilization of clomazone from soil. Volatilization was detected up to 2 weeks after surface-applied or soil-incorporated treatments of clomazone at 1.1 kg ai/ha. The amount of volatilization detected was greatest following rainfall and varied between years. More clomazone volatilized after surface application than after incorporation, regardless of the climatic conditions present. Clomazone volatilization detected was in the order of no-tillage > minimum tillage > conventional tillage.

Download Full-text

Effect of tillage practices on the fate of hard seeds of subterranean clover in a ley farming system

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9850568 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 568 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

GB Taylor

Keyword(s):

Subterranean Clover ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Trifolium Subterraneum ◽

Farming System ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

No Tillage ◽

Minimum Tillage ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Tillage Treatment ◽

Clover Seed

In a rotation of 1 year pasture/l year crop, a subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum cv. Daliak) pasture was either left untilled or subjected to minimum or conventional tillage. One set of tillage treatments was imposed in each ofthree crop years while another set of treatments was imposed in only the first crop year. Regenerating clover plants were prevented from setting seed. In the first crop, 44% of the clover seeds were buried below 2 cm of soil by minimum tillage; this proportion was 65% in the conventional tillage treatment. In the first pasture regeneration year, seedling densities were highest in the no-tillage treatment. Conversely, there were more residual seeds in the tilled treatments and, in the second and third pasture regeneration years, this led to higher seedling densities than in the no-tillage treatment. The effects of tillage were more marked in the conventional than in the minimum-tillage treatment. Clover establishment was improved by repeat tillage operations which returned some of the buried seeds closer to the soil surface. Although more seedlings overall were obtained from the no-tillage treatment, the disadvantage of fewer seedlings in the tilled treatments was offset by the spread of seedling establishment over a number of pasture years. This spread, which would be more marked with harder-seeded cultivars, could be desirable in environments in which clover seed production is unreliable.

Download Full-text

Distribution of organic carbon in the stable soil humic fractions as affected by tillage management

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s06-059 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 88 (1) ◽

pp. 99-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Evah W Murage ◽

Paul Voroney

Keyword(s):

C Sequestration ◽

No Tillage ◽

Sampling Depth ◽

Soil C ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Conventional Ct ◽

Humin Fraction ◽

Humic Fractions ◽

Soil C Sequestration

Soil humus comprises a large and stable pool of soil organic matter (SOM); hence a better understanding of the fate of C in soil humic fractions can provide valuable information for the development of alternative tillage practices that will lead to long-term soil C sequestration. We used δ13C techniques to investigate the effects of tillage on the dynamics of native (C3–C) and corn derived C (C4–C) in fulvic acid (FA), humic acid (HA) and humin fractions. Humic substances were extracted from soils cropped to corn for 11 yr and managed under either conventional (CT) or no-tillage (NT), and from a conventionally tilled soil under > 55 yr of tobacco/rye rotation. No-tillage resulted in higher proportions of C4–C in the upper 5 cm and generally lower C4–C proportions below 5 cm than CT. Up to 31, 27 and 34% of C4–C were assimilated into FA, HA and humin fractions, respectively, indicating that even the humin fraction, often described as passive, old or resistant, acted as a sink of recently added C, and that it is heterogeneous with some of its components being young. Recovery of large proportions of C3–C in the humic fractions demonstrated their importance in the long-term stabilization of SOM. Within each sampling depth, there were no unique differences in the distribution of C3–C among the three humic fractions, suggesting similar turnover of C3–C in all the fractions. Therefore, there was no unique active fraction corresponding with the concept of C pools with defined turnover characteristics used in models of SOM turnover. Key words: Soil humic fractions, corn derived C, native C, δ13C techniques, tillage practices

Download Full-text

Study on Arsenic Contamination in Soil and Water in Five-selected Agro Ecological Zone (AEZ) of Bangladesh

The Agriculturists ◽

10.3329/agric.v7i1.5592 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 137-142

Author(s):

Md Nurul Huda-Al Mamun

Keyword(s):

Water Samples ◽

Test Tube ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Well Water ◽

Ecological Zone ◽

Toxic Level ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Tube Wells ◽

Soil And Water ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

A research was carried out at the five different Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ) of Bangladesh, viz. Tista Meander Floodplain (FP), High Ganges FP, Low Ganges FP, Active Ganges FP and Gopalganj-Khulna Bills during January 2001 to January 2002. The objectives were to assess the arsenic (As) concentration in the soil and water as well as to test tube well water samples and examines whether these exceed the acceptable limit of As. Water of shallow tube wells (STW) and soil samples were collected from ten sites under five AEZs of Bangladesh. Considerable number of water samples showed high contents of arsenic, which ranged from 0.032 to 203.9 ?g/l. Out of 428 water samples, 155 were found unsafe (>10-<50 ?g/l) and 78 were toxic (>50 ?g/l) for drinking purpose. However, out of 2648 soil samples collected from different Upazilas, only 4 samples collected from Chargat showed toxic level (>20 ?g/kg).

Download Full-text

Caractéristiques de l’élevage du canard de Barbarie dans les zones agro-écologiques du Sud-Bénin

Journal of Applied Biosciences ◽

10.35759/jabs.145.3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 145 ◽

pp. 14862-14879

Author(s):

Finagnon Josée Bernice HOUESSIONON ◽

Gabriel Assouan BONOU ◽

Gbénagnon Serge AHOUNOU ◽

Mahamadou DAHOUDA ◽

Tossou Jacques DOUGNON ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breeding Systems ◽

Family Type ◽

Muscovy Duck ◽

Ecological Zone ◽

Mots Clés ◽

Self Medication ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Muscovy Ducks ◽

By Products ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

Objectif : L’élevage du canard de Barbarie est moins développé au Bénin comparativement aux poulets et à la pintade. L’objectif de l’étude est de caractériser cet élevage dans le Sud du Bénin. Méthodologie et résultats : Ainsi, une enquête a été réalisée de Juin 2015 à Août 2016 dans 213 élevages de canard de Barbarie répartis dans trois zones agro-écologiques: dépression, pêcheries et terres de barre. L’élevage de canard de Barbarie est pratiqué par plusieurs catégories socio-professionnelles dont l’âge varie de 39 à 42ans. Il est plus pratiqué par les hommes dans les zones des pêcheries (67,86 %) et des terres de barre (78,50 %) et plus par les femmes (59,55 %) dans la zone de dépression (p<0,05). Les éleveurs de canard sont majoritairement non scolarisés et la plupart des élevages ont été créés entre 2000 et 2016. La proportion des aviculteurs qui élèvent les canards de Barbarie en divagation dans la zone de dépression (90,91 %) est significativement plus élevée (p<0,05) que celles des zones des pêcheries (52,38 %) et des terres de barre (63,55 %). Les éleveurs qui distribuent des céréales, des sous-produits agricoles et des restes de cuisine aux canards dans la zone de dépression (100 %) et dans la zone des pêcheries (95,24 %) sont plus fréquents (p<0,05) que ceux de la zone des terres de barre (69,16 %). La fréquence des éleveurs de la zone de dépression (31,82 %) qui font l’élevage des canards de Barbarie pour la vente et l’auto consommation est inférieure (p<0,05) à celles des zones des pêcheries (57,14 %) et des terres de barre (67,29 %). Dans la zone des terres de barre, la proportion des éleveurs (63,21 %) qui soigne les canards est supérieure (p<0,05) à celle des zones des pêcheries (46,43 %) et de dépression (36,36 %). A l’exception de l’alimentation, les canards ne sont pas exigeants pour l’habitat ; ils croissent mieux et résistent plus aux pathologies comparativement aux poulets dans les trois zones de l’étude. Conclusion et application : L’élevage des canards de Barbarie dans le Sud du Bénin est de type familial avec une diversité observée dans le mode d’élevage, l’alimentation et le suivi sanitaire dans les différentes zones agro écologiques. Les résultats contribueront à la mise en place d’un programme d’amélioration des systèmes d’élevage. Mots clés : Elevage ; Canard de Barbarie ; Zone agro-écologique ; Bénin ABSTRACT Background and objective: Muscovy duck breeding is less developed in Benin compared to chickens and guinea fowl. The study aimed to characterize this breeding in South-Benin. Methodology and results: A survey was carried out from June 2015 to August 2016 in 213 Muscovy duck farms in three agro-ecological zones: depression, fisheries and bar lands. The Muscovy duck breeding is practiced by several socio-economic professional categories whose age varies from 39 to 42 years. It is more practiced by men in fisheries (67.86%) and bar lands (78.50%) zones and more by women (59.55%) in depression zone (p<0.05). Duck farmers are largely out-of-school persons and most of the farms were created between 2000 and 2016. The proportion of poultry producers who breeds Muscovy ducks in free range in depression zone (90.91%) is significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in fisheries (52.38%) and bar lands (63.55%) zones. Breeders giving cereals, by-products and kitchen leftovers in depression zone (100%) and in fishery zone (95.24%) are more frequent (p<0.05) than those in bar lands area (69.16%). The frequency of breeders in depression zone (31.82%) who rear Muscovy ducks for sale and self-consumption is lower (p<0.05) than those in fisheries (57.14%) and in bar lands (67.29%) zones. In bar lands zone, the proportion of breeders (63.21%) who gives ducks medical care is higher (p<0.05) than that of fisheries (46.43%) and depression (36.36%) zones. Frequencies of breeders treating ducks by self-medication in bar lands (50.47%) and fisheries (40.24%) zones are higher (p<0.05) than that of depression (4.55%). A part from feeding, ducks are not exigent for habitat; they grow better and are more resistant to pathologies compared to chickens in the three study areas. Conclusion and application: The Muscovy duck breeding in the three agro-ecological zones is of family type with a diversity observed in the farming method, feeding and health monitoring in the different agro-ecological zones. The results will contribute to set a program improving the breeding systems. Keywords: Breeding; Muscovy duck; Agro-ecological zone; Benin.

Download Full-text

Adaptation of Crop Diversification to Climatic Risks and Agro-ecological Zone: Case of Under-resourced Farmers in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Journal of Human Ecology ◽

10.31901/24566608.2018/74.1-3.3318 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 64 (1-2) ◽

Author(s):

Hlekani M. Kabiti

Keyword(s):

Abiotic Factors ◽

Crop Diversification ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Ecological Zone ◽

Gross Margin ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Climate Risks ◽

Margin Analysis ◽

Farm Inputs ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

ABSTRACT Crop diversification can reduce the extent of losses from climate change and climate risks. This paper explains the state of crop diversification in the study area and identify significant exploitable benefits from the practise. The study employed survey data from farmers in major agro-ecological zones of the Eastern Cape Province, namely Grassland, Savannah and Karoo. Data on crop enterprises, input and output variables were processed in monetary terms and subjected to gross margin analysis. A correlation analysis was applied to examine the sensitivity of farm inputs, outputs and profitability/loss to different crop mixes and agro-climatic variation. Study findings revealed that crop-based enterprise combinations of farmers vary across agro-ecological zones. Farmers choose crops that reduces the risk of emerging climate related losses, input costs and increase output and/or revenue. The study recommends experimental research that details yield benefits and losses in responses to both biotic, abiotic factors and specific crop combinations.

Download Full-text

Urbanization, Agro-Ecological Zones and Food Production Sustainability

Outlook on Agriculture ◽

10.1177/003072709302200405 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 233-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

James R. Simpson

Keyword(s):

Food Production ◽

Human Population ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Urban Setting ◽

Ecological Zone ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Ecological Resources ◽

The World ◽

Demographic Shifts ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

Human population in the world is projected to grow from about 5.2 billion in 1990 to around 8.0–8.5 billion 35 years hence in 2025. About 44% of the world's population lived in an urban setting in 1990 compared with 34% in 1960. By 2025 the proportion will have grown to 60%. These demographic shifts have had, and will continue to have, major implications for the way in which food is produced and in the sustainability of cropping systems and protection of ecological resources. Particular attention is required to the type of agro-ecological zone and the influence of urbanization.

Download Full-text

Differential Adaptation Strategies By Agro-Ecological Zones In African Livestock Management

10.1596/1813-9450-4601 ◽

2008 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

S. Niggol Seo ◽

Robert Mendelsohn ◽

Ariel Dinar ◽

Pradeep Kurukulasuriya

Keyword(s):

Adaptation Strategies ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Livestock Management ◽

Differential Adaptation ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

Download Full-text

Towards Understanding Variability in Droughts in Response to Extreme Climate Conditions over the Different Agro-Ecological Zones of Pakistan

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13126910 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 6910

Author(s):

Adil Dilawar ◽

Baozhang Chen ◽

Arfan Arshad ◽

Lifeng Guo ◽

Muhammad Irfan Ehsan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pearson Correlation ◽

Principal Component ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Precipitation Extremes ◽

Climate Mitigation ◽

Mean Annual Temperature ◽

Climate Extreme ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

The Mean ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

Here, we provided a comprehensive analysis of long-term drought and climate extreme patterns in the agro ecological zones (AEZs) of Pakistan during 1980–2019. Drought trends were investigated using the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) at various timescales (SPEI-1, SPEI-3, SPEI-6, and SPEI-12). The results showed that droughts (seasonal and annual) were more persistent and severe in the southern, southwestern, southeastern, and central parts of the region. Drought exacerbated with slopes of −0.02, −0.07, −0.08, −0.01, and −0.02 per year. Drought prevailed in all AEZs in the spring season. The majority of AEZs in Pakistan’s southern, middle, and southwestern regions had experienced substantial warming. The mean annual temperature minimum (Tmin) increased faster than the mean annual temperature maximum (Tmax) in all zones. Precipitation decreased in the southern, northern, central, and southwestern parts of the region. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a robust increase in temperature extremes with a variance of 76% and a decrease in precipitation extremes with a variance of 91% in the region. Temperature and precipitation extremes indices had a strong Pearson correlation with drought events. Higher temperatures resulted in extreme drought (dry conditions), while higher precipitation levels resulted in wetting conditions (no drought) in different AEZs. In most AEZs, drought occurrences were more responsive to precipitation. The current findings are helpful for climate mitigation strategies and specific zonal efforts are needed to alleviate the environmental and societal impacts of drought.

Download Full-text