COMPARING ON‐FARM AND LONG‐TERM RESEARCH EXPERIMENTS FOR SOIL CARBON RECOVERY OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ademir de Oliveira Ferreira ◽  
Telmo Jorge Carneiro Amado ◽  
Charles W. Rice ◽  
Daniel Ruiz Potma Gonçalves ◽  
Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Carbon Recovery ◽  
On Farm

Long‐term effect of tillage and straw retention in conservation agriculture systems on soil carbon storage

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Gómez‐Muñoz ◽  
Lars Stoumann Jensen ◽  
Lars Munkholm ◽  
Jørgen Eivind Olesen ◽  
Elly Møller Hansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Carbon Storage ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Soil Carbon Storage ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Straw Retention ◽  
Agriculture Systems

Soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and fractions in a long-term integrated crop–livestock system under no-tillage in southern Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 190 ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joice Mari Assmann ◽  
Ibanor Anghinoni ◽  
Amanda Posselt Martins ◽  
Sérgio Ely Valadão Gigante de Andra Costa ◽  
Diego Cecagno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Soil Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen Stocks ◽  
Livestock System

What drives small-scale farmers to adopt conservation agriculture practices in Tanzania?

2022 ◽  
pp. 284-292
Author(s):  
John E. Sariah ◽  
Frank Mmbando
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Average Area ◽  
Input And Output ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
On Farm

Abstract Conservation Agriculture (CA)-based Sustainable Intensification (CASI) practices in this study comprised minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, intercropping of maize and legumes, and use of improved crop genotypes and fertilizers, and were tested on-farm in different agroecologies in northern and eastern Tanzania. The results for six consecutive years of study indicate increased adoption of CASI practices compared to the baseline year (2010). The major impacts of these practices were reduced production costs, labour savings and overall increased crop and land productivity. The average area allocated to improved maize-legume (ML) intercrop rose during the project period by 5.28 ha per household, of which 15% was under complete CASI practices. Adoption trends show that, on average, 6.5% of adopters across the study and spillover communities started adoption in the 2nd year and about 14% of farmers adopted the practices over the next 3-5 years. Demographic and human capital (family size, education, age and farming experience), on-farm CASI demonstrations, farmer to farmer exchange visits, social capital (farmers' group or a cooperative), access to input and output markets (improved seeds, herbicides, fertilizers, insecticides and equipment) and food security were found to have positive and significant effects on adoption of a range of CASI practices. These results suggest continued and long-term efforts in investments in demonstrations, institutionalizing CASI practices in NARS, and good links to input and output markets, including appropriate machinery, are necessary to achieve sustained adoption.

scholarly journals Assessing the impacts of agricultural managements on soil carbon stocks, nitrogen loss and crop production — a modelling study in Eastern Africa

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianyong Ma ◽  
Sam S. Rabin ◽  
Peter Anthoni ◽  
Anita D. Bayer ◽  
Sylvia S. Nyawira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Soil C

Abstract. Improved agricultural management plays a vital role in protecting soils from degradation in Eastern Africa. Changing practices such as reducing tillage, fertilizer use or cover crops are expected to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, with climate change mitigation co-benefits, while increasing crop production. However, the quantification of cropland managements’ effects on agricultural ecosystems remains inadequate in this region. Here, we explored seven management practices and their potential effects on soil carbon (C) pools, nitrogen (N) losses, and crop yields under different climate scenarios, using the dynamic vegetation model LPJ-GUESS. The model performance is evaluated against observations from two long-term maize field trials in western Kenya and reported estimates from published sources. LPJ-GUESS generally produces soil C stocks and maize productivity comparable with measurements, and mostly captures the SOC decline under some management practices that is observed in the field experiments. We found that for large parts of Kenya and Ethiopia, an integrated conservation agriculture practice (no-tillage, residue and manure application, and cover crops) increases SOC levels in the long term (+11 % on average), accompanied by increased crop yields (+22 %) in comparison to the standard management. Planting nitrogen-fixing cover crops in our simulations is also identified as a promising individual practice in Eastern Africa to increase soil C storage (+4 %) and crop production (+18 %), with low environmental cost of N losses (+24 %). These management impacts are also sustained in simulations of three future climate pathways. This study highlights the possibilities of conservation agriculture when targeting long-term environmental sustainability and food security in crop ecosystems, particularly for those with poor soil conditions in tropical climates.

Soil carbon stratification affected by long-term tillage and cropping systems in southern Brazil

2013 ◽  
Vol 133 ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ademir de Oliveira Ferreira ◽  
Telmo Jorge Carneiro Amado ◽  
Rodrigo da Silveira Nicoloso ◽  
João Carlos de Moraes Sá ◽  
Jackson Ernani Fiorin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Southern Brazil

Assessing the application and practice of conservation agriculture in Malawi.

2022 ◽  
pp. 151-175
Author(s):  
W. Trent Bunderson ◽  
Christian L. Thierfelder ◽  
Zwide D. Jere ◽  
R. G. K. Museka
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Strong Base ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
On Farm ◽  
And Training

Abstract The Conservation Agriculture (CA) system promoted by Total LandCare (TLC) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is based on 14 years of experience grounded on the principles of minimum soil disturbance, good soil cover and crop associations. The platform to promote CA in Malawi was to build a strong base of knowledge about best practices through an innovative non-linear research-extension approach. Long-term on-farm trials were conducted in multiple sites across Malawi to compare yields and labour inputs of CA with conventional ridge tillage on the same footing. Results showed the superiority of CA in terms of maize and legume yields with significant savings in labour and resilience to climate change. The results provided the basis to upscale CA although adoption was lower than expected. Key challenges included: (i) lack of exposure and training; (ii) conflicting extension messages; (iii) misconceptions about inputs and tools for CA; (iv) resistance to change unless CA is clearly seen to be a better practice; (v) fears about controlling weeds, pests and diseases under CA; and (vi) perceptions that increased termites and earthworms are harmful to soils and crops.

ON-FARM FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS FOR NORTHLAND

1986 ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
J.S. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Joint Ventures ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Financial Returns ◽  
Farm Forestry ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Financial Position ◽  
On Farm

Agroforests and woodlots offer Northland hill country farmers investment and diversification opportunities. Agroforests have less effect on the "whole farm" financial position than woodlots, especially where a progressive planting regime is adopted and where no further borrowing is required. Establishment and tending costs for agro-forests are lower, and returns come much sooner. The proven opportunity for continued grazing under trees established in this manner, apart from a short post-planting period, further enhances the agroforesty option. Even where there is reluctance on a farmer's part to plant trees on high fertility land, the expected financial returns from agroforests on low and medium fertility land will increase the overall long-term profitability and flexibility of the whole farming operation. Woodlots may be more appropriate on low fertility areas where weed reversion is likely. Joint ventures may be worth considering where farm finances are a limited factor. Keywords: On-farm forestry development, Northland hill country, agroforestry, woodlots, diversification, joint ventures, progressive planting regimes, grazing availability.

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