Abstract
We review the recent development of Conservation Agriculture (CA) for rice-based smallholder farms in the Eastern Gangetic Plain (EGP) and the underpinning research on agronomy, weed control, soil properties and greenhouse gas emissions being tested to accelerate its adoption in Bangladesh. The studies are based mostly on minimum soil disturbance planting in strip planting (SP) mode, using the Versatile Multi-crop Planter (VMP), powered by a two-wheel tractor (2WT). One-pass SP with the VMP decreased fuel costs for crop establishment by up to 85% and labour requirements by up to 50%. We developed strip-based non-puddled rice (Oryza sativa) transplanting (NPT) in minimally-disturbed soil and found that rice grain yield increased (by up to 12%) in longer-term practice of CA. On farms, 75% of NPT crops increased gross margin. For non-rice crops, relative yield increases ranged from 28% for lentil (Lens culinaris) to 6% for wheat (Triticum aestivum) on farms that adopted CA planting. Equivalent profit increases were from 47% for lentil to 560% for mustard (Brassica juncea). Moreover, VMP and CA adopting farms saved 34% of labour costs and lowered total cost by up to 10% for production of lentil, mustard, maize (Zea mays) and wheat. Effective weed control was obtained from the use of a range of pre-emergent and post-emergence herbicides and retention of increased crop residue. In summary, a substantial body of research has demonstrated the benefits of CA and mechanized planting for cost savings, yield increases in many cases, increased profit in most cases and substantial labour saving. Improvement in soil quality has been demonstrated in long-term experiments together with reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Highlights
Agriculture in Bangladesh is facing the ongoing challenge of increasing food security for its growing population and improving overall land use sustainability, while decreasing costs of crop production to increase farm profitability
Experiments were conducted mostly on farms involving farmers’ groups and machinery contractors (called local service providers (LSP)), where monsoon (Kharif-2 season) rainfed rice, cool-dry season high yield irrigated rice and other non-rice crops in the dry (Rabi) season, e.g., oilseed, pulse or wheat (Triticum aestivum), and pre-monsoon season (Kharif 1) crops, such as aus rice, mung bean (Vigna radiata) or jute (Corchorus capsularis L.), were established, depending on their local suitability. These experiments were supplemented by research and development focused on improvements in minimum soil disturbance machinery, starting with the Versatile Multi-crop Planter (VMP) design, field experiments designed for the diagnosis of agronomic constraints in Conservation Agriculture (CA) related to weeds and nutrition and studies on improvements in soil fertility associated with minimum soil disturbance, increased retention of crop residues and more diverse crop rotations including pulses and oilseeds
These LSPs had the financial means to buy a VMP; they were well known in their community for selling tillage services; they were business-minded, risk takers who were open to try new technologies compared to traditional farmers; they had mechanical skill and required minimal training on VMP operation and maintenance; they already were a trusted source of advice to farmers in their locality; and they had established linkages with other key stakeholders, namely, extension agencies, Conservation Agriculture Service Providers Association (CASPA) and local administration of their community
Summary
Agriculture in Bangladesh is facing the ongoing challenge of increasing food security for its growing population (currently 164 million people [1] and expected to reach 205 million by 2050 [2]) and improving overall land use sustainability, while decreasing costs of crop production to increase farm profitability. The nation-wide spread of mechanized tillage with two-wheel tractors (2WT), and development over the past decade of a range of minimum soil disturbance planters for 2WT, provide a platform for implementing CA principles that will decrease costs of crop production (less fuel consumption and decreased labour requirements) and improve the fertility of soils in Bangladesh. Evaluation of the Versatile Multi-crop Planter (VMP) [4,5,6] showed promising results for the establishment and yield of a range of crops in rainfed cropping systems. This novel, lightweight, low-cost planter is being manufactured in Bangladesh. Effective strategies were developed and evaluated for the engagement of service providers, extension, machinery manufacturers and farmers in the implementation of a form of CA suited to the cropping areas of Bangladesh
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