Conservation Agriculture-Based Crop Management Principles, Focus, and Achievements

Ken Sayre Agronomist - Conservation Agriculture-Based Crop Management

THERE HAVE BEEN SINCERE EFFORTS TO DEVELOP MORE SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION STATEGIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS These efforts have been referred to by various names including
Conservation Tillage Sustainable Crop Management Technologies Resource Conserving Technologies

Resource Conserving Technologies (RCTs) is a Very Commonly Used in South Asia in Association with A Sustainable Production Systems

But Many Institutions/Organizations and People Today Use the Terms Conservation Agriculture or Conservation AgricultureBase Crop Management Technologies to Define or Describe Efforts to Improve Sustainability

Conservation Agriculture (CA) or CA-based Crop Management and Resource Conserving Technologies (RCTs)

How are They Related?

Any new technology delivered to farmers that produces the same or more with less input use or less consumption of natural resources is an RCT

Examples of general kinds of RCTs

New, higher yielding varieties with good quality and resistances/tolerances to diseases and insects Laser leveling to improve irrigation water use efficiency A new fertilizer management practice that provides more yield for less fertilizer A more efficient irrigation system that saves irrigation water (drip irrigation for example) but maintains or increases crop yields

Examples of Conservation AgricultureBased RCTs

A new seeder that allows planting into crop residue with minimal or zero tillage Development of crop varieties that are suitable for zero till seeding

Methods to apply nitrogen fertilizer efficiently into crop residues retained on the soil surface

Useful Conservation Agriculturebased Technologies are RCTs but not all RCTs are Compatible with Conservation Agriculture

Contrasting Systems to Seed Wheat after Rice With a Single Pass of an Implement in India
Rotovator Seeder Not CA-based Turbo-Happy Zero Till Seeder Yes it is CA-Based

Conservation Agriculture Is Not a Separate Scientific Discipline Requiring a Separate Department or Institute
Conservation Agriculture-based Crop Management Involves
A Set of Defined Principles that Can be Used by All Agronomists/Crop Managers to Better Insure the Development of Sustainable Crop Management Practices for Diverse Cropping Systems

Main Motivations to Develop Conservation Agriculture-Based Crop Management Technologies

Stabilize/Reverse Widespread Soil Degradation to Enhance Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Agriculture Enhance Water Use Efficiency for both Rainfed and Irrigated Crop Production Systems Increase Crop Productivity through Increasing Time and External Input Use Efficiency

Provide Opportunities to Adapt to and/or Ameliorate the Effects of Climate Change

Reduce Production Costs for Farmers and Improve Family Livelihoods

There are Four Basic Principles that Provide the Foundation for the Development of Suitable Conservation Agriculture-based Crop Management Technologies

CA Principle One
Develop Seeding Systems that Allow Major Reductions in tillage Goal Determine the appropriate, minimal level of tillage for a defined cropping system with zero till seeding systems as a potential goal.

CA Emphasizes Dramatic Tillage Reductions

Conventional Till System CA-based, Permanent Raised Beds

Reduced/Zero Tillage Requires the Development and Delivery of Appropriate CA-based Seeders
India Zero Till Drill Bangladesh Strip Till drill

Comparison of Tillage/Seeding of Cotton in for the Irrigated Cotton/Wheat System in Uzbekistan

Seeding in Raised Beds with Tillage Seeding on Permanent Raised Beds

CA Principle Two
Retention of adequate and rational levels of crop residues on the soil surface Ultimate Goal Retain adequate levels of crop residue on the soil surface to reduce soil erosion, improve soil parameters and enhance crop/water productivity

Effect of Tillage with No Residue Retention on Soil Erosion Caused by Water Runoff
Tillage/No Surface Residues Soil Erosion by Runoff Water

Effect of Tillage with No Residue Retention on Soil Erosion Caused by Wind

Tillage/No Surface Residues Soil Erosion by Wind

Planting Zero Till Rainfed Wheat after Maize with Full Residue Retention Rainfed Area in the Central Highlands of Mexico (900mm/year)
Maize Residue Management Zero Till Wheat Seeding in Maize Residue

Extensive tillage combined with inadequate crop residue retention on the soil surface can lead to extreme water loss by runoff and evaporation
Conventional Tilled Raised Beds with Residues Incorporated Perm. Raised Beds with Residue Retained on the Surface

Effect of tillage and residue retention on the soil surface for rainfed maize in the Central Highlands of Mexico (450 to 550mm rainfall)
Conv. Tillage, All Residues Removed Zero Till, All Residues Retained

Zero till All Residues Removed

Zero Till Rainfed Wheat Removed versus Retained Residues

Zero Till Residues Removed Zero Till Residues Retained

Some Issues Related to Residue Retention Rainfed Maize in the Hills of Ningxia
CA- Zero Till with Full Residue Retention CA- Combining Zero Till and Plastic Mulch

CA Principle Three
Use of suitable and profitable crop rotations
Ultimate Goal Economically viable, diversified crop rotations that can offer farmers new options to reduce risk

CA Emphasizes Diversified and Economical Crop Rotation Options for Rainfed Conditions
Rainfed Zero Till Wheat

Rainfed Alfalfa on Perm. Beds

Rainfed Zero Till Maize

Rainfed Beans on Perm. Beds

CA Emphasizes Diversified and Economical Crop Rotation Options for Irrigated Conditions
Irrigated Soybean on Perm. Beds Irrigated Canola on Perm. Beds

Irrigated Chickpea on Perm. Beds

Irrigated Cotton on Perm Beds

Effect of Rotation on Wheat Yields (averaged over three years) for Wheat Produced with Furrow Irrigated Permanent Raised Beds the Yaqui Valley, Sonora in Northwest Mexico 8100
Grain Yield (kg/ha)

8000 7900 7800 7700 7600 7500

LSD (0.05) = 194 kg/ha)

Wheat-Fallow; Perm Beds; All Residues Retained

Wheat-Maize: Wheat-FallowWheat-MaizePerm Beds; All Maize-Sorghum; Chickpea-Maize; Residue Perm Beds; All Perm Beds; All Retained Residue Residue Retained Retained

These First Three CA Principles when Properly Used Enhance Sustainable Soil Management
Chemical Soil Quality

Physical Soil Quality

Soil Organic Matter

Biological Soil Quality

Comparison of Soils Conventional Tilled Versus CA-Based Zero Tilled after 7 Years
Conv. Till - Residues Removed = Sad, Degraded Soil CA-based Zero Till -Residues Retained = Happy, Healthy Soil

CA Principle Four
Farmers must perceive the potential for imminent, improved economic benefits from the Adoption of CAbased crop management technologies

Comparisons of Rainfed Wheat Yields and Economic Benefits of CA-based Crop Management versus the Common, Conventional Farmer Practice in the Central Highlands of Mexico (550mm Rainfall)
Comparison of average rainfed wheat yields for the most common farmer practice versus the best CA-based practice (1996 to 2005)
6500 6000
Grain Yield (kg/ha)

Comparison average economic returns for rainfed wheat for the most common farmer practice versus the best CA-based practice
Returns Above Variable Costs

5500 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000

Farmer PracticeContinuous Wheat, Convention al Till, Residues Improved Practice; MaizeWheat; Zero Till; Residues Retained

from 1996 to 2005 (Mexican Pesos) 3,500 Farmer Practice3,000 Continuous Wheat, 2,500 Conventional 2,000 Till, Residues Removed 1,500 1,000 500 (500) Improved Practice; Maize-Wheat; Zero Till; Residues Retained

Based on our knowledge about widespread soil degradation, it is difficult to understand why all agronomists do not base their crop management efforts on the Principles of Conservation Agriculture

Continuing to focus mainly on finetuning existing conventional, tillagebased crop production systems will likely only lead to small increments in crop productivity with continuing attrition of the natural resource base

The Basic principles of Conservation Agriculture Provide the Foundation to Manage Different Production Systems in a Sustainable Way But these underlying CA principles are not site specific and can be applied to essentially all crop production systems with the development of specific crop management practices for each specific system

Development of Appropriate Crop Management Technologies Based on the Foundation of the Four Basic Principles of Conservation Agriculture
Appropriate Crop Residue Management Assessment of Relevant SocioEconomic Factors Appropriate Pest and Disease Management Appropriate Seeders/other Implements Appropriate Weed Control Practices

Appropriate Fertilizer Management

Selection of Appropriate Cultivars

Appropriate Irrigation Management

Appropriate Harvesting Methods

Other Relevant Components of Crop Management

Marked Reductions In Tillage

Retention of Adequate, Rational Levels of Residues on the Soil

Economically Viable Diversification of Crop Rotations

Farmer Perception of Imminent, Improved Economic Benefits

The Foundation for the Development of Appropriate Crop Production Systems Based on the Principles of Conservation Agriculture

The principles that support CAbased crop management are not site specific and can be applied to essentially all crop production systems by identifying the requisite component technologies of crop management needed for each cropping system

The principles of CA have an extremely wide application

Rainfed and irrigated conditions Sea level to at least 3000 masl Soils with 84% clay (Brazil) to 94% sand (Zimbabwe) Equator to 60oN (Finland) Wide range of crops: Wheat, Maize, Rice, Cotton, Soybeans, Sunflower, Tobacco etc. etc. even Potatoes and Cassava.

Current Status of CA-based Crop Management Activities

CA-based crop management technologies were introduced to farmer fields for commercial production over 50 years ago Today there are over 100 million hectares under CAbased zero till seeding systems. The area under CA-based reduced or minimum till seeding systems is still much larger Over 90% of area under CA is located in five countries

Estimated Area under CA-based zero-till seeding systems in different countries in 2005
Country USA Brazil Argentina Canada Australia Rest of the South America Indo-GangeticPlains Europe Africa ha 25.304.000 23.600.000 18.269.000 12.522.000 9.000.000 3.035.000 2.800.000 (mainly India) 450.000 400.000

China
Other Countries (rough estimate) Total

500.000
1.000.000 96.880.000

Characteristics of Most Farmers Who Have Adopted CA-based Crop Management Technologies
CA has been adopted mainly in large commercial farms using heavy tractors and large-scale machinery/seeders More than 96% of the area involves non-irrigated, rainfed farming with minimal CA adoption for irrigated crop production systems
Minimal adoption of CA in developing countries particularly by small and medium-scale farmers

Common Scale for Conservation Agriculture in the Australia, USA, Canada and South America

Simultaneous Harvesting of Triticale, Baling Part of the Straw, and Removing Bales of Straw in Hidalgo, Mexico

Immediate Seeding of Maize after Triticale Harvest in Hidalgo, Mexico

Typical Countryside Scene in Bangladesh that is Similar in Many Developing Countries

Three Main Constraints to the Adoption of Conservation Agriculturebased Crop Management by Farmers in Developing Countries: First Constraint - Lack of appropriate seeders, especially for small and medium-scale farmers

Solution CA-based Seeders in India

Original Widely Used Zero Till drill Multi-Crop Zero Till Drill

Zero Till Seeder for High Residues Levels

Planter for Permanent Raised Beds

Solution CA-based Planters in China

Solution CA-based Seeders for Use by Small Scale Farmers in Bangladesh

Raised Bed Seeder PTOs Seeder as Strip Till Seeder

Zero Till Seeder

Strip Till Seeder

Testing the New Chinese Strip Till Drill for 2-Wheel Tractors in Mexico

Small-Scale CA-based Seeders

Chinese Hand Planter Indian Rolling Punch Seeder

Second Constraint Ability to Retain Adequate Crop Residues on the Soil Surf Surface Due to Competing Residue Uses
The widespread use of crop residues by many farmers for fodder/pasture associated with integrated crop/livestock systems. The use of crop residues for fuel, paper (potentially biofuels) The burning of crop residues

The widespread integration of crop/livestock by many farmers in developing countries creates multiple demands for crop residues
Use of residues for pasture Use of residues for fodder

Use of Residues for Cooking Fuel

Many Farmers Burn Crop Residue

Burning Rice Straw in North India
Burning Maize Straw in North China

The Crop Residue Management Quandary

In many rainfed crop production systems, low yields result in TOO LITTLE RESIDUE to satisfy all demands Many irrigated crop production systems, however, generate TOO MUCH RESIDUE to readily manage when is all retained on the surface of the field

Solution For low crop residue situations, balance the retention of some residue for the soil with the the rest used for livestock feed/fuel etc
Partial Retention versus Full Retention

Solution For High Residue Production Situations Find Alternative, Economic Uses for Residues and/or Develop CA-based Seeders for High Levels of Crop Residues But Crop Residue Burning Must not be an Option

Effect of Rotation, Tillage and Residue Management of Average Rainfed Maize Yields from 1997 to 2009 at El Batan in the Central Highlands of Mexico (Mean Annual Rainfall = 550 mm)

7000
LSD (0.05) = 239 kg/ha

6000
Grain Yield (kg/ha)

5000 4000 3000 2000 1000

Mz-Mz - Conv Till Mz-Mz - Zero Till Mz-Mz - Zero Till Mz-Wh - Zero Till Mz-Wh - Zero Till Mz-Wh - Zero Till - All Residues - All Residues - All Residues - All Residues - 50% of - All Residues Removed Removed Retained Retained Residues Removed (Farmer Retained Practice)

Rotation - Tillage - Residue Management

Effect of Rotation, Tillage and Residue Management on Average Rainfed Wheat Grain Yields from 1997 to 2009 at El Batan in the Central Highlands of Mexico (Mean Annual Rainfall = 550mm)
6500
Grain Yield (kg/ha)

6000 5500 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000

LSD (0.05) = 235 kg/ha

Wh-Wh - Conv Wh-Wh - Zero Wh-Wh - Zero Wh-Mz - Zero Wh-Mz - Zero Wh-Mz - Zero Till - All Till - All Till - All Till - All Till - 50% of Till - All Residues Residues Residues Residues Residues Residues Removed Removed Retained Retained Retained Removed (Farmer Practice)

Rotation - Tillage - Residue Management

Effect of tillage/crop residue management on grain yield of irrigated wheat over fourteen years (from 1993 to 2006) at CIANO, Cd. Obregon
7200 7000
Grain Yield (kg/ha)

6800 6600 6400 6200 6000 5800 5600

Conventional till Permanent bed bed Wh Res - Burn All Wh Res - Incorp All Mz Res - Burn All Mz Res - Incorp All; Farmer Practice Permanent bed Wh Res - Remove 70% Mz Res - Remove 70% Permanent bed Wh Res - Retain All Mz Res - Retain All

Third Constraint Need to Change Mind Set of Farmers, Scientists and Policy Makers
Most of crop management experiences and education are based on conventional tillage based production systems
Changing minds to accept crop management practices based on the principles of Conservation Agriculture is perhaps the biggest constraint Many times, farmers are more ready to change their mind set than scientists

Conservation Agriculture: Examples of CA and CA Implements from Different Developing Countries

Irrigated Bed Planted Wheat in Southeast Turkey

Bed Planter - Turkey

Zero-till Technologies For Irrigated Wheat in India

Zero Till Wheat Zero Till Wheat with Controlled Traffic

Zero till, Direct Seeded Rice in India

Bihar Haryana

Comparison on Conventional Puddled, Transplanted Rice vesus Direct Seeded, Unpuddled Rice in Bihar

INDIA
Maize on Permanent Beds after Rice

INDIA WHEAT ON RAISED BEDS

INDIA Comparison of Barley Planting in

Haryana
PLANTED FLAT FLOOD IRRIGATION PLANT ON RAISED BEDS FURROW IRRIGATION

BANGLADESH-WHEAT ON BEDS

BANGLADESH - BED MAKER FOR 2-WHEEL TRACTOR

BANGLADESH PLANTING MAIZE WITH 2 WHEEL TRACTOR

Bangladesh - Planting Rice on Raised Beds

Direct seeded bed planted rice Transplanted rice on permanent beds

Making and Seeding on Permanent Raised Beds in Bangladesh

WHEAT BED PLANTING IN CHINA

Chinese Bed Planter

China Bed Planter for 3 Beds

Wheat on Permanent Raised Beds in Sichuan, China

China Nonghaha Strip Till Seeder

Winter Wheat Planted with the Nonghaha Strip Till Seeder

Strip-till Seeding of Wheat after Rice in Sichuan, China

With 2-Wheel Tractor With 4-Wheel Tractor

PAKISTAN BED PLANTER

WHEAT BED PLANTING IN PAKISTAN

IRANIAN BED PLANTER

IRAN IRRIGATED WHEAT ON BEDS

KAZAKHSTAN- WHEAT ON RAISED BEDS

Wheat on Permanent Raised Beds after Soybean in Kazakhstan

WHEAT ON PERMANENT RAISED BEDS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Thanks