scholarly journals Organic and conservation agriculture promote ecosystem multifunctionality

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (34) ◽  
pp. eabg6995
Author(s):  
Raphaël A. Wittwer ◽  
S. Franz Bender ◽  
Kyle Hartman ◽  
Sofia Hydbom ◽  
Ruy A. A. Lima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
Ecosystem Multifunctionality

Ecosystems provide multiple services to humans. However, agricultural systems are usually evaluated on their productivity and economic performance, and a systematic and quantitative assessment of the multifunctionality of agroecosystems including environmental services is missing. Using a long-term farming system experiment, we evaluated and compared the agronomic, economic, and ecological performance of the most widespread arable cropping systems in Europe: organic, conservation, and conventional agriculture. We analyzed 43 agroecosystem properties and determined overall agroecosystem multifunctionality. We show that organic and conservation agriculture promoted ecosystem multifunctionality, especially by enhancing regulating and supporting services, including biodiversity preservation, soil and water quality, and climate mitigation. In contrast, conventional cropping showed reduced multifunctionality but delivered highest yield. Organic production resulted in higher economic performance, thanks to higher product prices and additional support payments. Our results demonstrate that different cropping systems provide opposing services, enforcing the productivity–environmental protection dilemma for agroecosystem functioning.

scholarly journals Conservation agriculture and drought-tolerant germplasm: Reaping the benefits of climate-smart agriculture technologies in central Mozambique

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 414-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Thierfelder ◽  
Leonard Rusinamhodzi ◽  
Peter Setimela ◽  
Forbes Walker ◽  
Neal S. Eash
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Tillage Treatment ◽  
Smart Agriculture

AbstractConservation agriculture (CA) based on minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention and crop rotations is considered as a soil and crop management system that could potentially increase soil quality and mitigate the negative effects of climate variability. When CA is combined with drought-tolerant (DT) maize varieties, farmers can reap the benefits of both—genetic improvement and sustainable land management. New initiatives were started in 2007 in Mozambique to test the two climate-smart agriculture technologies on farmers' fields. Long-term trends showed that direct seeded manual CA treatments outyielded conventional tillage treatments in up to 89% of cases on maize and in 90% of cases on legume in direct yield comparisons. Improved DT maize varieties outyielded the traditional control variety by 26–46% (695–1422 kg ha−1) on different tillage treatment, across sites and season. However a direct interaction between tillage treatment and variety performance could not be established. Maize and legume grain yields on CA plots in this long-term dataset did not increase with increased years of practice due to on-site variability between farmer replicates. It was evident from the farmers' choice that, beside taste and good milling quality, farmers in drought-prone environments considered the potential of a variety to mature faster more important than larger potential yields of long season varieties. Population growth, labor shortage to clear new land areas and limited land resources in future will force farmers to change toward more permanent and sustainable cropping systems and CA is a viable option to improve their food security and livelihoods.

scholarly journals Soil Carbon Fractions at Different Soil Depths as Influenced by Land use Practices under Cropping Systems in a Vertisol

2021 ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Arpit Suryawanshi ◽  
H. K. Rai ◽  
Aditi Chourasia ◽  
G. D. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Rabi Season ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Carbon Fractions ◽  
Land Use Practices ◽  
Soil Carbon Fractions

The experimental field study was conducted at Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) Research Farm, Lakhanwada, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India to evaluate the soil carbon fractions (very labile, labile, less labile and non-labile or recalcitrant carbon) in different land use practices with soil depths under cropping systems in Vertisols after harvest of Kharif and Rabi season crops of year 2015-16 and 2016-17. The experiment was conducted under Split plot design considering land use practices as main plot treatments [L1: Uncultivated, L2: rice-wheat system with conventional agriculture (CT), L3: rice-wheat system with conservation agriculture (CA), L4: soybean-wheat system with CT, L5: soybean-wheat system with CA, L6: maize-wheat system with CT and L7: maize-wheat system with CA] and depth (0-5 cm, 5-15 cm and 15-30 cm) as sub-plot treatments replicated thrice. Very labile carbon fraction was obtained highest in L3 (rice-wheat system with CA) and lowest under L6 (maize -wheat system with CT) treatment after harvest of Kharif and Rabi season crops during 2015-16 and 2016-17and it was significantly higher at 0-5 cm soil depth  than those in 5-15 cm and 15-30 cm soil depths. Similar trends were also obtained in case of labile, less labile and non-labile fraction of carbon i.e. the applied land use practices had significant effect on all the carbon fractions under study and found to be maximum under L3 (R-W system with CA) and minimum in L6: (M-W system with CT) treatment after harvest of both the season crops during both years of experiment. Whereas, the interaction effect of land use practices and soil depths on the carbon fractions was found statistically non-significant during both the seasons and years.

scholarly journals A review on use of agrochemical in agriculture and need of organic farming in Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-372
Author(s):  
Susan Makaju ◽  
Kabita Kurunju
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Agriculture Policy ◽  
Organic Farming System ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Chemical Pesticides

The growing use of chemical pesticides haphazardly and their harmful influence on ecosystem and human health highlight the necessity for safe and sustainable organic production in our time. The article reviews a general overview of organic farming; the impact of organic farming on soil health and climate mitigation in comparison with conventional farming practice in Nepal. The article identifies the problems and possibilities of organic farming to resuscitate the pesticide-dominated conventional practice in Nepal. Organic farming now has been embedded in the natural agriculture policy in Nepal. Organic farming benefits in terms of environmental protection along with better living health. Various governmental and non-governmental bodies, farmers, and individuals are working to promote organic farming in Nepal. With the increase in awareness of health and environmental concerns, the adoption of organic agriculture and the demand for organic agricultural products is increasing. It holds a great prospect in countries like ours where an integrated crop-livestock system is still prevalent in many parts of the country. As a result, an organic farming system in Nepal must be thoroughly investigated and supported through proper regulations and tactics. It is urged to supplant pesticide-based conventional farming with organic farming that leads towards agricultural sustainability for the upcoming generation.

scholarly journals Longitudinal analysis of a long-term conservation agriculture experiment in Malawi and lessons for future experimental design

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 506-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Lark ◽  
I. S. Ligowe ◽  
C. Thierfelder ◽  
N. Magwero ◽  
W. Namaona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Analysis ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Cropping Season

AbstractResilient cropping systems are required to achieve food security in the presence of climate change, and so several long-term conservation agriculture (CA) trials have been established in southern Africa – one of them at the Chitedze Agriculture Research Station in Malawi in 2007. The present study focused on a longitudinal analysis of 10 years of data from the trial to better understand the joint effects of variations between the seasons and particular contrasts among treatments on yield of maize. Of further interest was the variability of treatment responses in time and space and the implications for design of future trials with adequate statistical power. The analysis shows treatment differences of the mean effect which vary according to cropping season. There was a strong treatment effect between rotational treatments and other treatments and a weak effect between intercropping and monocropping. There was no evidence for an overall advantage of systems where residues are retained (in combination with direct seeding or planting basins) over conventional management with respect to maize yield. A season effect was evident although the strong benefit of rotation in El Niño season was also reduced, highlighting the strong interaction between treatment and climatic conditions. The power analysis shows that treatment effects of practically significant magnitude may be unlikely to be detected with just four replicates, as at Chitedze, under either a simple randomised control trial or a factorial experiment. Given logistical and financial constraints, it is important to design trials with fewer treatments but more replicates to gain enough statistical power and to pay attention to the selection of treatments to given an informative outcome.

scholarly journals Technology Package for Sustainable Productivity and Resiliency to Climate Variability: The Proof from SIMLESA Studies in Tanzania

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 168
Author(s):  
John Sariah ◽  
Daniel Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Cropping Season ◽  
Normal Duration

The agricultural sector in Tanzania is mainly dryland and dominated by smallholder farmers. Unreliable rainfall, short than normal duration of cropping season and fluctuations of onset and end of cropping season are main challenges facing farmers. The increased frequency and intensity of droughts, unpredictability of weather, shorter than normal duration of cropping seasons have significant impact on farmers’ productivity, profitability and resilience. This paper report study on Conservation agriculture for Sustainable Intensification (CASI) technology package tested on farm for productive, resilient and sustainable smallholder maize-legume cropping systems across five districts in Tanzania. Three practices namely Conservation practice (CA), Current applied recommended practice (CONV. or sometimes referred to as IMPROV) and primitive farmers practice (FP) were compared in experimental plots on farmers’ fields. Improved (DT maize and Pigeonpeas) was intercropped in all practices. Only CA and CONV practices were statistically compared, whereas FP was for farmer’s visual observations and comparisons. Data recorded were, soil carbon, moisture, yields and economic analysis. Results showed that, the average maize yields for four seasons in CA and CONV doubled and for tripled. An average of 30.5% hours of labour were saved in CASI relative to non CASI practice. The benefit cost ratio of maize-pigeonpea intercrops under CASI was 2.1 as compared to 1.4 in conventional agriculture investments. The institutionalization of CASI at local and national policy decision levels will be required for the scaling of CASI technologies across Tanzania.

scholarly journals The profitability of organic soybean production

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 276-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.D. McBride ◽  
Catherine Greene
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Crop Acreage ◽  
Soybean Production ◽  
Fuel Prices ◽  
Price Premiums ◽  
The Impact

AbstractResults from long-term experimental trials suggest that similar yields and lower costs are possible with organic compared to conventional soybeans, but there is little information about the relative costs and returns of these systems on commercial farms. This study examines the profitability of commercial soybean production using a nationwide survey of soybean producers for 2006 that includes a targeted sample of organic growers. Treatment-effect models are specified to characterize adopters of the organic approach and to isolate the impact of organic choice on operating, operating and capital, and total economic costs of soybean production. Organic soybean producers tend to be younger, have less crop acreage, and are less likely to work off-farm than conventional producers. Organic soybean production costs range from about $1 to $6 per bushel higher than those for conventional soybeans due to both lower yields and higher per-acre costs, while the average organic price premium in 2006 was more than $9 per bushel. Long-term cropping systems data suggest significant returns to organic systems result from similar yields and lower costs than conventional systems, but the high returns to commercial organic production found in this study can only be attributed to the significant price premiums paid for organic soybeans. Average organic soybean price premiums have remained high since 2006 despite much higher conventional soybean prices as users of organic soybeans attempt to retain and attract more acreage. However, increases in conventional soybean prices and fuel prices reduce the incentive for planting organic soybeans by improving returns to conventional production and increasing the relative costs of organic production.

scholarly journals Cost-Benefit Analysis of Conservation Agriculture Implementation in Syrdarya Province of Uzbekistan

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azizbek Daujanov ◽  
Rolf Groeneveld ◽  
Alim Pulatov ◽  
Wim J.M. Heijman
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Conventional Agriculture

Abstract Most irrigated lands of Central Asia suffer from land degradation, and unsustainable agricultural practices are one of the factors contributing to land degradation. Conservation agriculture (CA) is seen as a way to mitigate land degradation and rationalize resource use. The aim of this article is to investigate the efficiency of CA implementation in the Syrdarya province of Uzbekistan, Central Asia by carrying out a cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The CBA was conducted for a hypothetical situation where the farm decides to switch from conventional agriculture to CA. Unlike the previous studies, this study investigates complete crop rotation cycle in the long-term period. The study outcomes suggest that investment in CA implementation results in positive incremental benefit if the advantages of CA are monetized.

Economic Performance of Long-Term Organic and Conventional Cropping Systems in Minnesota

2011 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 1372-1382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy A. Delbridge ◽  
Jeffrey A. Coulter ◽  
Robert P. King ◽  
Craig C. Sheaffer ◽  
Donald L. Wyse
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Cropping Systems

scholarly journals Conservation Agriculture Mitigates the Effects of Climate Change

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 122-132
Author(s):  
Tika Bahadur Karki ◽  
Pankaj Gyawaly
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Agricultural Research Council ◽  
Public And Private Sector

Intensive tillage based conventional agriculture have high global warming potential. Alternative to this, conservation agriculture (CA) systems utilize soils for the production of crops by reducing excessive tillage, maintaining crop residue on the soil surface, and adoption of crop rotations. The paper attempts to review the findings of CA based experiments under different cropping systems within and outside of the country. It has been found that CA increases and sustains the crop productivities, mitigates green house gas emissions from agriculture by enhancing soil carbon sequestration, improving soil nutrient status and water use efficiencies, and reducing fuel consumption. Mainstreaming of CA systems in Nepal is hindered by its knowledge gap, inadequate farm machineries and tools, small holdings, poor infrastructures, and lack of CA friendly policy support. Therefore, there is an urgent need to test, verify and scale-out the CA based technologies by Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) across the different agro-ecologies through farmer-centered partnership among the international institutions, public and private sector of Nepal.  

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