Climate-smart Practices Research Articles

Climate-Smart Horticultural Practices: Building Resilience in a Changing Environment: A Scoping Review

Climate change disrupts weather patterns, intensifies water scarcity and exacerbates pest and disease pressures, posing a significant threat to horticultural production systems. This scoping review explores a range of climate-smart practices to enhance adaptation and resilience within the sector. Core practices like water-efficient irrigation, heat stress mitigation strategies, and adjustments to cropping patterns for altered rainfall are investigated. Integrated pest management is presented as a cornerstone for sustainable pest control. The review further explores the potential of precision agriculture, controlled-environment agriculture, and vertical farming to optimize resource use and mitigate climate risks. Beyond technical solutions, the review emphasizes continuous research and development for breeding climate-resistant varieties, refining existing practices, and exploring novel technologies. It advocates for an integrated approach, tailoring climate smart practices to specific contexts and socioeconomic considerations. Knowledge-sharing initiatives, training programs, economically viable technologies, and supportive government policies are identified as crucial for widespread adoption, particularly among smallholder farmers. The paper concludes with a call for collaboration among researchers, extension services, policymakers, and producers. By fostering knowledge dissemination, technology transfer, and financial incentives, stakeholders can empower farmers to adapt and thrive in a changing climate. Through collective action and unwavering commitment to innovation, the horticultural sector can ensure a secure and sustainable future for food production.

Empowering Resilience: The Impact of Farmer Field Schools on Smallholder Livestock Farmers’ Climate Change Perceptions in Raymond Local Municipality

Experiential learning and discovery through farmer field schools (FFS) have the potential to empower smallholder livestock farmers who face heightened vulnerability to climate change. However, there are various levels of learning and discovery in FFS that can inform smallholder livestock farmer knowledge and perception. Understanding this is vital, as farmers’ perceptions influence their readiness to adopt climate-smart practices, informing effective resilience-building strategies. Therefore, this study sought to investigate and assess the impact of the FFS approach on smallholder livestock farmers’ perceptions of climate change, taking Raymond Local Municipality in South Africa as a case. The design followed by the study was a longitudinal survey, with three pools each signifying various FFS intervention points. The study utilized simple random sampling to collect data from 80 smallholder livestock farmers using structured questionnaires in each of the three cross-sectional pools, while descriptive statistics, Min–Max Normalization, and t-tests were used for analysis. The results show that there was an increase in the awareness of climate change due to the interventions of the FFS. Furthermore, there are cumulative differences between the knowledge and perception towards climate change between the three pooled cross-sections. In conclusion, participating in FFS had a significant impact on farmers’ level of understanding and adaptation to climate change. The study recommends that the government and policymakers extensively promote FFS and support them financially so that they can provide more support to rural farmers as well as enhance knowledge on climate change. This study recommends the provision of workshops and awareness campaigns on climate change for farmers through FFS as this will assist farmers to be more sustainable on their farming systems and production.

Farmers’ Perceptions and Awareness of Cattle Feedlots as a Climate-Smart Approach to Enteric Methane Emissions

The perceptions of farmers regarding communal feedlots and their role in reducing enteric methane emissions have received limited attention in research. This study aims to examine farmers’ perceptions, assess awareness, and identify barriers to adopting feedlots as a climate-smart practice to enteric methane emissions in rural communities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. 161 structured, paper-based questionnaires were distributed among smallholder cattle farmers around three feedlot locations. Most farmers had heard about feedlots (67.7%); however, only a few (19.9%) participated. The lack of knowledge about feedlot operations was the main factor influencing farmers’ participation in feedlots. Most farmers did not perceive feedlots as a climate-smart approach to reducing enteric methane output (53.8%), with few sure (9.6%) and others unsure (36.5%). When asked about the reasons for their perceptions of feedlots as a climate-smart approach to mitigating methane, many farmers were unsure of the reasons (86.5%), with the least believing it could be related to poor feed quality (1.9%). The availability of financial resources and level of education were the key factors influencing farmers’ willingness to adopt feedlots as a climate-smart practice. These findings emphasise the importance of targeted educational workshops and support systems to enhance farmers’ awareness and promote the adoption of cattle feedlots as a climate-smart approach. The findings can also inform policy and practice to address perceived feedlot drawbacks, such as feed provision and technical assistance, and improve their successful implementation. However, further research is needed to explore farmers’ perceptions of cattle feedlots as a climate-smart practice.

The role of agricultural extension workers in transforming agricultural supply chains: enhancing innovation, technology adoption, and ethical practices in Nigeria

Agricultural extension workers play a pivotal role in transforming supply chains by bridging the gap between research, innovation, and on-the-ground farming practices. In Nigeria, where agriculture serves as a backbone for economic development and food security, the adoption of modern technologies and ethical farming practices remains critical. This article explores how agricultural extension workers contribute to enhancing productivity, promoting sustainability, and encouraging the diffusion of innovative technologies within Nigeria's agricultural sector. By serving as catalysts for the adoption of advanced tools such as precision agriculture, mobile-based information systems, and climate-smart practices, extension workers help improve efficiency, reduce post-harvest losses, and ensure farmers’ access to markets. The study highlights the challenges faced by these workers, including resource constraints, technological barriers, and policy limitations. Furthermore, the article delves into the ethical dimensions of farming, emphasizing the need for environmentally sustainable and socially responsible practices. Through case studies and a detailed examination of Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, this paper provides insights into the future direction of agricultural extension services and their role in ensuring food security and rural development. The article concludes with policy recommendations to strengthen extension services and their capacity to drive innovation and sustainability in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

451 Establishing producer research sites for the development of beef and bison climate-smart agriculture

Abstract Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and livestock production are topics that are increasingly intertwined. While livestock production is frequently presented as harmful to the environment, this perception fails to consider the carbon sequestration that takes place in livestock grazing systems and the role that grazing ruminants have in maintaining healthy grassland ecosystems. Grazing lands, which are often unsuited to row crop agriculture, are estimated to account for 25% of the global soil sequestration potential for soil carbon storage. Grazing livestock producers are often overlooked in the GHG reduction conversation, despite over 70% of beef GHG emissions being attributed to the cow-calf sector, which is primarily grazing. Furthermore, there is a relative lack of data surrounding the implementation of climate-smart agriculture practices on grazing operations and a lack of cost-effective methods to measure carbon/GHG sinks and sources on these landscapes. The potential climate benefits are considerable, with nearly 940 million acres of rangelands in the U.S. supporting forage-based livestock production. South Dakota State University recently received funding to support a large-scale climate-smart project focused on grazing beef and bison. For this project, we are utilizing the Cottonwood Field Station that has over 80 yr of historical grazing data, along with six grazing beef and bison ranching operations in the Northern Great Plains. The work on these ranches will focus on measuring and monitoring the impacts of climate-smart NRCS land practices, including cover crops, improved pasture and range seedings, prescribed grazing, and prescribed burning. A significant focus will be extensive, annual soil sampling across these operations to continuously monitor changes in soil organic carbon, bulk density, texture, pH, and soil microbiome community profiles. Each operation will have GreenFeed methane pasture units deployed for 5 yr to monitor changes in beef cattle and bison methane emissions in response to climate-smart practice adoption. We are also assessing biodiversity pre and post climate-smart practice adoption, as biodiversity improvements may be one of the most overlooked and yet most important responses to climate-smart land practice implementation. Over the duration of this project, a large-scale, comprehensive data collection will be achieved and used to refine GHG and carbon sequestration estimates associated with range livestock systems. Data resulting from this project will be used to inform research protocols and prediction models, fill knowledge gaps, and shape science-based discussions and marketing strategies for climate-smart agricultural commodities.

371 Applying precision rangeland grazing management systems in western South Dakota

Abstract Western rangelands represent approximately 58% of the total arable land in the U.S. and are used primarily for cow-calf production, which has the largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emission footprint of all beef production phases. Further, beef production sustainability concerns involve climate mitigation (reducing GHG output) and adaptation (climate-resilient soil-plant-animals). Precision livestock farming (PLF) may help address sustainability concerns by providing innovative solutions and new opportunities for extensive rangeland production. The use of precision measurement and management tools with precision system models can connect measurement data to inform management capabilities. For example, real-time individual weighing and remote sensing (precision measurement tools) can be used to inform and implement dynamic rotational grazing management using virtual fencing technology (precision management; Menendez et al., 2022, 2023). Recent USDA investment in climate-smart agriculture (CSA) commodities has provided over $3 billion in funding to implement practices to reduce GHG emissions in agriculture production, for which PLF may be one approach to accomplish these goals. The overall purpose is to develop commodities produced using NRCS climate-smart practices (e.g., prescribed grazing, 528) and document reductions to provide market opportunities associated with inset GHG. Currently, South Dakota State University is leading two simultaneous programs, which include precision ranching (virtual fencing, precision weighing, and GHG evaluation) and a beef and bison CSA program (GHG evaluation; 7 producer-owned research ranches, representing more than 1.09 million ha). The scale of the CSA program has revealed that current PLF research has only been a prelude to providing the precision tools necessary to successfully implement CSA practices and document their impact through monitoring, measuring, reporting, and verification (MMRV). This presentation will include rangeland grazing case studies that cover the application of virtual fencing, animal location, behavior tracking, remote sensing, precision weighing, feeding, supplementation, and enteric emissions and soil moisture monitoring on extensive rangelands. Case studies will include an overview of big data processing and precision system model development methods. Increasing awareness of available PLF tools for optimizing grazing management, animal performance, productivity, and associated challenges (maintenance, costs) is essential for meeting livestock and sustainability goals. PLF and data-driven approaches aid in the creation of scalable, cost-effective MMRV protocols and models (soil carbon and enteric GHG) for extensive rangelands (20 to 70,000 ha areas) that allow producers to realize potential CSA market incentives. Further, MMRV will likely help guide management decisions by identifying CSA strategies that build climate-resilient landscapes for sustainable livestock production and other environmental synergies (soil microbiome, bird and insect habit, water retention).

Moringa-based homestead to achieve Sustainable Development Goals: A case study from Jaintiapur of Sylhet, Bangladesh

A study was conducted in Sylhet at Jaintiapur Upazila to determine the prospects of Moringa-based homestead concerning Sustainable Development Goals. A household survey was conducted following a simple random sampling of 135 farmers and following a semi-structured questionnaire and interview schedule with 100 farmers (40 identified Moringa-based adopters and 60 non-adopters). The final questionnaire was prepared after pilot testing, which contained data on common species diversity, and the perception of farmers regarding SDGs indicators of “no poverty, zero hunger, good health, and well-being, gender equality, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth”. The extent of agreement was recorded following the points Likert scale high (3) to no change (0), and the SDG index (SDGI) value was calculated. The 10 key informant interviews were conducted with non-adopters to get insights into their perception regarding Moringa-based homesteads. The findings revealed that the status of plant species diversity such as betel nut (100 %), mango (100 %), bean (99 %), and arjun (90 %) was higher in comparison to non-adopters where the status of the respective species was 92 %, 99 %, 89 %, and 73 % respectively. The perception assessment revealed that 100 % of adopters and 90 % of non-adopters believed that Moringa-based homesteads had the potential to increase access to food, nutrition, and medicinal resources. While the majority of 70 % of adopters, and 90.5 % non-adopters disagreed that it had the potential to ensure government access and non-government credit resources. Among the Moringa-based homestead adopters, the gross income derived from Moringa sales was 2828.57 ± 1481.45, where 55 % of homesteads were identified to have Moringa plants between 3 and 5, and homesteads solely supplied fuel materials for 40 % of households. Gender participation was quite evident for homestead farming activities, where female participation was higher in planting, weeding, irrigation, and fencing. Homesteads provided both on-farming and off-farming income opportunities where major responses were found for poultry farming (96 %), vegetable farming (95 %), and day labor (97 %). Farmers were found to practice climate-smart practices of homestead agroforestry (100 %), rainwater harvesting (99 %), weeding (98 %), and management of debris (95 %) in their respective homesteads. The results disclosed that Moringa-based homestead in Sylhet can be a potential option for attaining SDGs indicators of escalation of household income (SDGI = 90), access to food, nutrition, and medicinal resources (SDGI = 103.6), facilitation of natural treatment of diseases (SDGI = 104.6), de-escalation of gender discrepancy in terms of production activities (SDGI = 103.64), own source of fuel (SDGI = 58.44), both off-farm and on-farm income opportunity (SDGI = 100.52), ecosystem health maintenance by resilient practices (SDGI = 104.6). Farmers ranked food security capacity as a major motivational factor, while the low economic return was a major demotivational factor. The escalation of Moringa-based homesteads needs to be prioritized while facilitating credit, and institutional support to extend encouragement to non-adopters for wider integration of Moringa-based homesteads, and appropriate utilization of the existing resources for greater profitability.

Climate change adaptation: Challenges for agricultural sustainability.

Climate change poses a substantial threat to agricultural sustainability globally. Agriculture is a vital component of the gross domestic production of developing countries. The multifaceted impacts of climate change on agriculture, highlighting how extreme weather events such as water stress, heatwaves, erratic rainfall, storms, floods, and emerging pest infestations are disrupting agricultural productivity. The socioeconomic status of farmers is particularly vulnerable to climatic extremes with future projections indicating significant increment in ambient air temperatures and unpredictable, intense rainfall patterns. Agriculture has historically relied on the extensive use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides, combined with advancements in irrigation and biotechnological approaches to boost productivity. It encompasses a range of practices designed to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems, improve productivity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By adopting climate-smart practices, farmers can better adapt to changing climatic conditions, thereby ensuring more sustainable and secure food production. Furthermore, it identifies key areas for future research, focusing on the development of innovative adaptation and mitigation strategies. These strategies are essential for minimizing the detrimental impacts of climate change on agriculture and for promoting the long-term sustainability of food systems. This article underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and the integration of advanced technologies to address the challenges posed by climate change. By fostering a deeper understanding of these issues to inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners about effective strategies to safeguard agricultural productivity and food security in the face of changing climate.

A Review of Milled Rice Demand and Supply of Some ASEAN Countries and Lesson Learnt for Cambodia

Rice is a vital crop for ASEAN countries, serving as a primary source of food security and playing a significant role in the regional economy. To draw lessons for rice supply and demand in Cambodia, this article will examine and briefly describe the rice markets in different ASEAN nations, including import and export, rice milling technology, government policy, obstacles, and opportunists. In Cambodia, a program utilizing the sustainable rice cluster (SRC) approach has been developed and put into action by the government in order to maintain the rise of rice production. Compared to traditional approaches, SRC has enhanced rice cultivation by about 40%. The key lessons Cambodia can learn are boosting domestic production, diversifying rice varieties, improving storage and distribution, practicing climate-smart practices, strengthening regional cooperation, improving market access, and farmer empowerment. By analyzing rice demand and supply dynamics in ASEAN and applying the lessons learned, Cambodia can strive to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production and reduce reliance on imports, increase the profitability and competitiveness of the rice sector, enhance food security for its population, and contribute to regional food security within ASEAN.

Forest Stewards Guild position on climate-smart forestry

Climate-smart forestry is an increasingly important topic in forest policy and for practices. However, what does and does not constitute climate-smart forestry is subject of debate. At stake are billions of dollars of investment aimed at encouraging climate-smart forestry practices in the United States. As a leading voice for ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry, The Forest Stewards Guild (FSG) has produced a position statement based on the organization's vision, mission, and principles to guide conversations around climate-smart forestry for all interested stakeholders. This forest perspective presents and expands on the findings of the FSG position on climate-smart forestry. There are three common aspects in the multiple co-existing definitions of climate-smart forestry: 1) adapting forests to expected future climate conditions, 2) mitigating climate change by leveraging carbon sequestration and storage functions of forests, and 3) improving social outcomes. There are potential trade-offs with other benefits forests provide if climate-smart forestry is pursued without holistic consideration of forest ecosystems. We suggest that such trade-offs can be minimized if the goals of climate-smart forestry projects are communicated transparently, system boundaries are made as comprehensive as possible, potential trade-offs are assessed along with climate benefits, climate-smart practices are tailored to the social-ecological contexts, and uncertainty is recognized.

Integrating meta-analysis and experts’ knowledge for prioritizing climate-smart agricultural practices in Ethiopian

Various climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices are being advocated in different agroecological zones of Ethiopia to enhance the sustainability, resilience, and productivity of the agricultural sector in response to climate change. Prioritizing and packaging these CSA practices are essential to amplify the impact of climate change mitigation efforts. By strategically selecting and prioritizing these practices and technologies, resources can be allocated effectively to activities with the highest potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, bolstering resilience, and fostering sustainable development. However, identifying and prioritizing climate-smart practices that cater to the needs of vulnerable farmers and are tailored to specific local contexts remains challenging, often hindered by subjective assessments and limited awareness. The objective of this paper was to enhance the precision and objectivity of prioritizing CSA practices by leveraging a combination of research findings and expert knowledge. The steps included the following: i) a CSA prioritization assessment framework was used to identify and prioritize CSA practices across various agro-ecologies based on the CSA pillars (productivity, adaptation, and mitigation); ii), a meta-analysis approach was employed to determine the effect size of various CSA practices on the three pillars of CSA practices; iii), the effect size values were rescaled and ranked based on effect size categories; and iv), correlation was performed to assess the relationship between the two approaches, and finally, average values were taken to integrate and determine the final rank of CSA practices. Overall, we found out that there were weak correlations between the ranks of the two approaches, resulted in a mismatch between the ranks of CSA practices by experts and meta-analysis results. Using the meta-analysis approach, only 35% of the CSA practices were equally ranked by both approaches, 40% of the CSA practices were more likely ranked by experts, while 25% of the CSA practices were more likely ranked by the meta-analysis approach. This implies that experts overestimated the effect of various CSA practices on various indicators of productivity, soil loss, and run-off and soil organic matter. Integrating the ranks of the two approaches helped to target CSA practices across various agro-ecological zones. According to the combined ranking, several CSA practices were targeted to six major agro-ecological zones in the country. These various CSA practices increase productivity, enhance adaptation, and sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Based on the availability of these CSA practices, it is possible to package various combinations of these practices.

Water Management and Hydrological Characteristics of Paddy-Rice Fields under Alternate Wetting and Drying Irrigation Practice as Climate Smart Practice: A Review

Paddy-rice cultivation using the traditional continuous flooding method requires much water, up to 2500 L, to produce 1 kg of rice. Decreasing water availability is being exacerbated by climate dynamics, i.e., droughts and rainfall variability negatively affecting food security in developing regions, particularly Africa. Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) practice is a climate-smart water management strategy that, together with puddling (a critical field preparation process), significantly affects soil hydrological and physicochemical regimes, such as soil water dynamics and oxidation states in paddy fields. However, there are limited reviews on the effects and interaction of the AWD duration on hydrological conditions in the paddy-rice rhizosphere continuum under AWD practice at different rice growth stages. Our review synthesizes key scientific literature to examine water management and hydrological properties of paddy soils under AWD practice with climate change and sheds light on why farmers are skeptical in adopting the practice. To develop this paper, we reviewed scientific information from published journal articles, reliable reports, and our knowledge on paddy-rice cultivation and water management with climate change in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Several studies confirm that AWD practice increases water–rice–crop productivity, yields, and reduces methane emissions. Limitations and challenges of AWD irrigation, including changes in soil structure that influence irrigation water application, variations in hydraulic conductivity caused by the duration and frequency of irrigation cycles, and frequent manual water level (WL) monitoring, are discussed. Opportunities to improve the integration of AWD strategies within government policies, irrigation schemes, and farmer acceptance due to skepticism, limited knowledge, and fear of unreliable water hindering adoption are highlighted. Future research suggestions include the following: (i) long-term measurement of water stress indices using infrared thermometers; (ii) seasonal suitability mapping using NDVI, GIS, and remote sensing; and (iii) application of smart sensors based on the Internet of Things (IoT) to address AWD challenges for precision water management in paddy fields with climate change.

Egyptian Ecosystem's Impacts on Climate Change: A Case Study of Some Agricultural Indicators

Objective: the current study aims to empirically examine the dynamic impacts of ecosystem, with a particular focus on some agricultural indicators such as agricultural value added, crop production index, and livestock production index on CO2 emissions using annual time series data from 1990 to 2021. In order to enhance agricultural practices and develop successful sustainable agriculture policies in Egypt's agriculture sector. Method: A literature review involving numerous studies has revealed that agriculture is a significant contributor to the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere, hence exacerbating the phenomenon of global warming. These studies utilized many methodologies, including ARDL, DOLS, FMOLS, CCR, and Johansen, to accomplish their objectives. These methodologies were applied to annual data from multiple countries. Therefore, this study used Johansen's cointegration test to fulfill their objectives. Results and Discussion: The findings indicate that a 1% rise in agriculture value added and crop production index is found to be associated with a long-run decrease in carbon dioxide emissions of around 0.48% and 0.78%, respectively. A bidirectional causal relationship existed between carbon dioxide emissions and livestock production. Additionally, livestock production has a causal effect on crop production and conversely, crop production influences livestock production. Research Implications: Enhancing agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability can be achieved by adopting climate-smart practices in the agriculture sector, at both local and global levels. Originality/Value: This research study makes a valuable contribution to the existing body of literature by examining the significant and causal connections between environmental degradation and agriculture in the long term. This research demonstrates its significance and worth through its potential to aid policymakers in Egypt and other developing countries in formulating and executing efficient policies designed to address environmental degradation.

Litterfall-Associated Carbon Deposition and Vertical Profiles of Soil Organic Carbon in Different Land-Use Systems

Litterfall is one of the major inputs for soil nutrients. Understanding the connection of litterfall and soil organic carbon (SOC) as the part of ecological processes is a key step towards carbon sequestration as a climate change mitigation strategy. Yet, it remains inadequate to support by empirical pieces of evidence particularly in tropical ecosystems. In this study, litter traps were used to monitor the monthly organic carbon deposition over a year through litterfall, and soil samples were collected vertically up to 30 cm depth to define the SOC depth distribution in three different land use types located at Wondo Genet district, southern Ethiopia. The results were interpreted by deploying both the carbon stratification ratio (CSR) and carbon flow balance ratio (CFBR) as ecological indicators. The results revealed that both the annual litterfall amount and associated organic carbon input in plantation forest (958.4 ± 112 g·m−2·yr−1; 391.4 ± 112 g·C·m−2·yr−1) were higher than those in the homegarden (183.5.4 ± 26 g·m−2·yr−1; 67.4 ± 10 g·C·m−2·yr−1), conceivably due to few litter contributors (trees) present in the homegarden. The CSR of the homegarden (1.3 ± 0.01) was found between the ratio obtained for crop (1.2 ± 0.01) and plantation forest (1.4 ± 0.01), indicating that it is definitely a combination of pure plantation forest and crop system. The CFBR was higher in plantation forest (3.4 yr−1) than in soil of homegarden (0.77 yr−1), implying the net accumulation of soil carbon over time in the latter system. Hence, homegardens could be considered as a system of climate-smart practice with multiple-biogeochemistry pathways, which simultaneously address the social-absolute needs. Given the current tendency of transforming homegarden agroforestry to monoculture types owing to economical drivers, such indicators can dictate of making rational decisions related to land use planning and soil fertility management.

Impact of climate-smart agricultural practices on smallholder farmers' resilience in Ethiopia

Climate change poses challenges to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. To address this, adopting Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAPs) is crucial for building resilient communities. However, limited evidence exists on the impact of CSAPs on farmers' resilience. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAPs) on the resilience of smallholder farmers and identify the factors determining their resilience. The study collected both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was obtained from 646 survey households using household surveys, while qualitative data was gathered through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Findings reveal that there is an agroecological difference in resilience status and factors like the education level of the household head, livestock size, and agricultural extension worker visits positively influence the resilience of CSAP-adopting smallholder farmers. Conversely crop share leases negatively impacts the adoption of climate-smart practices. Crop CSAPs adopters show significantly higher resilience gains (37.74% ATT) compared to non-adopters. Non-adopters could have experienced a substantial improvement (23.83% ATU) if they had adopted CSAPs. Positive and significant effects on resilience were also observed for livestock and soil management CSAPs adopters, with an improvement of 28.36% and 40.58%, in resilience capacity, respectively. Non-adopters of these CSAPs could have enhanced their resilience by 24.74% and 10.80%, respectively, if they had adopted these practices. This underscores the need to adopt more CSAPs and the importance of considering these factors in designing policies and promoting CSAPs to enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia and similar contexts.

Assessing the Feasibility and Socioecological Benefits of Climate-Smart Practices at the Watershed Scale

Resource allocation in climate-smart productive practices depends on the explicit recognition and accountability of the expected costs and benefits in socioeconomic and ecological terms. This study assessed the private and social costs and benefits of 10 practices compatible with the transition to sustainable agricultural practices under an integrated landscape management (ILM) approach. First, the financial and economic viability of the alternatives was evaluated with a cost-benefit analysis. Then, the potential contribution of these practices in terms of carbon sequestration and landscape connectivity was determined in an ILM scenario where at least three practices (live fences, isolated trees in pastures, and riparian vegetation recovery) could be implemented and assessed at the watershed scale. These practices were evaluated in three Mexican pilot watersheds with contrasting biophysical and sociocultural contexts but with high importance in biodiversity conservation and cattle production. The results showed that most climate-smart practices are viable in the medium and long term from a private standpoint. However, more significant benefits are achievable over a shorter period when social co-benefits are included. The results could contribute to decision-making in terms of public policy, providing evidence of the financial and economic feasibility of the analyzed climate-smart practices that also have ecological benefits. In this sense, decision-makers who promote such practices have more arguments to seek funding for implementation.

Role of agricultural extension in learning for uptake and intensification of less-practiced dairy climate-smart practices in Kenya

Role of agricultural extension in learning for uptake and intensification of less-practiced dairy climate-smart practices in Kenya

The Effects of Implementing Three Climate-Smart Practices with an Integrated Landscape Approach on Functional Connectivity and Carbon Storage

Climate-smart practices are actions that can be implemented without affecting agricultural activities and that can promote these activities, generating direct and indirect benefits in ecosystem services provision and increasing agricultural productivity and private income. The present study evaluated the effect of three climate-smart actions (establishment of isolated trees, recovery of riparian vegetation, and implementation of live fences) on increased functional landscape connectivity and carbon storage. Three scenarios with rates of participation ranging from 5 to 100% were tested in two watersheds with different degrees of conservation and a high priority for national food production in Mexico. The main results suggest climate-smart practices positively impact landscape connectivity and carbon sequestration. However, the improvement in landscape connectivity mainly benefits species of short displacement (50–100 m), and the increase in carbon storage is directly linear to the area implemented in these practices. Also, the effectiveness of the modeled actions depends on the landscape structure, which was implemented with the highest benefits in watersheds with intense agricultural activity. The findings can support decision-makers in selecting the best strategies to increase landscape connectivity and carbon sequestration in productive landscapes.

Agriculture and Climate Change: A Socio-Economic Dynamics of Climate-Smart Practices in Oubritenga Province, Burkina Faso

The issue of farmers' resilience to climate and natural resource degradation remains a major concern in Sahelian countries, including Burkina Faso. The aim of this study is to analyze the dynamics of farming practices in the province of Oubritenga in Burkina Faso, highlighting similarities and differences in climate-smart practices. To do this, a mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) was used, combining surveys, individual interviews and focus groups. The results indicate that these practices were disseminated and adopted in Oubritenga province well before the 1980s, and that they have evolved in terms of adoption rates and improvements in recent years through research. The practices mentioned include sustainable land management (SLM), water and soil conservation practices/soil defense and restoration (WSC/SDR). Rural households are responding by adopting and reinforcing climate-smart farming practices that are considered more sustainable in the face of climate shock, soil degradation and greenhouse gas mitigation. It should be noted that other agricultural practices and techniques have been disseminated and adopted over time, in connection with mechanization and the promotion of technical production itineraries. This is a body of endogenous knowledge that coexists with technical production itineraries aimed at respecting the balance between nature and the well-being of living beings by integrating a sustainable land and environmental management system.

Mulch application as the overarching factor explaining increase in soil organic carbon stocks under conservation agriculture in two 8-year-old experiments in Zimbabwe

Abstract. Conservation agriculture (CA), combining reduced or no tillage, permanent soil cover, and improved rotations, is often promoted as a climate-smart practice. However, our understanding of the impact of CA and its respective three principles on top- and subsoil organic carbon stocks in the low-input cropping systems of sub-Saharan Africa is rather limited. This study was conducted at two long-term experimental sites established in Zimbabwe in 2013. The soil types were abruptic Lixisols at Domboshava Training Centre (DTC) and xanthic Ferralsol at the University of Zimbabwe farm (UZF). The following six treatments, which were replicated four times, were investigated: conventional tillage (CT), conventional tillage with rotation (CTR), no tillage (NT), no tillage with mulch (NTM), no tillage with rotation (NTR), and no tillage with mulch and rotation (NTMR). Maize (Zea mays L.) was the main crop, and treatments with rotation included cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.). The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and soil bulk density were determined for samples taken from depths of 0–5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, 20–30, 30–40, 40–50, 50–75 and 75–100 cm. Cumulative organic inputs to the soil were also estimated for all treatments. SOC stocks at equivalent soil mass were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the NTM, NTR and NTMR treatments compared with the NT and CT treatments in the top 5 cm and top 10 cm layers at UZF, while SOC stocks were only significantly higher in the NTM and NTMR treatments compared with the NT and CT treatments in the top 5 cm at DTC. NT alone had a slightly negative impact on the top SOC stocks. Cumulative SOC stocks were not significantly different between treatments when considering the whole 100 cm soil profile. Our results show the overarching role of crop residue mulching in CA cropping systems with respect to enhancing SOC stocks but also that this effect is limited to the topsoil. The highest cumulative organic carbon inputs to the soil were observed in NTM treatments at the two sites, and this could probably explain the positive effect on SOC stocks. Moreover, our results show that the combination of at least two CA principles including mulch is required to increase SOC stocks in these low-nitrogen-input cropping systems.