Climate-smart Practices Research Articles

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.

Improving smallholder agriculture via video-based group extension

Providing agricultural advice at scale poses operational challenges. Technology may help if repeating content reinforces learning for recipients and thus improves adoption, but risks reducing efficacy given limited customization and human interaction. We tested videos shared with female farmers in India as a supplement to standard human-provided extension services promoting a climate-smart practice, System Rice Intensification. The average treatment effects are large but imprecise because of non-normally distributed outcomes, specifically fat right tails. Weighted quantile regressions show that the imprecision in estimating an average treatment effect comes from farmers with output or yields in the upper quantiles. Both quantile regressions of the 25% and 50% quantiles and a Bayesian hierarchical model (robust to several priors) reveal positive treatment effects, and two subtreatments, one that reinforces information on labor costs from adoption and a second that presents role models to motivate adoption, lead to even higher estimated treatment effects on output.

Climate Smart Tea (Camellia sinensis) Cultivation Practices in Rathnapura District


 Tea (Camellia sinensis) cultivation in Sri Lanka, which plays a key role in the nation's economy, is facing unprecedented challenges due to the impacts of climate change. Climatic changes led to adverse outcomes, including deteriorating soil conditions marked by erosion, hindered tea plant growth, reduced quality, yield and market value of the tea. For many small-scale tea farmers, tea cultivation is their primary source of income. Climate-related challenges make their livelihoods more vulnerable, with poverty, especially extreme rain led to high maintenance costs and some cultivators to abandon tea plucking, hindering maintain efforts due to insufficient facilities and high expenses. Therefore, mitigating climate challenges is important. Objectives of this study is to find out the effects of climate change on tea cultivation, identify awareness levels and explore climate smart mitigation practices employed in Ratnapura District. Primary data was collected using in- depth interviews and field observations. Secondary data was collected from Tea Research Institute (TRI) databases. The region faces challenges from climate change, with high rainfall, occasional temperature fluctuations, droughts, and flood events. Terracing techniques are utilized to create level surfaces, effectively controlling soil erosion by slowing the flow of rainwater down slopes, cover cropping with grasses and legumes being planted between tea rows to shield the soil from the erosive force of raindrops, efficient drainage systems, such as trenches and channels, redirect excess rainwater away from the fields, preventing waterlogging, shade management, through strategic tree planting, and the use of mulch, tea pruning practices, aid in protecting tea bushes from heavy rainfall, planting high rainfall resilience varieties and preserving soil structure. Tea cultivators lack awareness regarding climate-smart practices and have limited knowledge about TRI recommendations. The research findings important to empower local tea farmers with innovative adaptation, thereby enhancing the adaptive capacity of the tea industry.
 
 Keywords: Climate smart, Tea cultivation, Climate changes, High rainfall, Innovative adaptation

CLIMATE-SMART RICE PRODUCTION: A REVIEW

‌Rice is one of the world's most important crops and the primary source of nutrition for the world's more than half population. Currently, the world rice production is 495.78 million tons, while it will increase to 525 tons in 2050, which is not sufficient for the world's increasing population. At the same time, various climatic factors affect rice production, such as air temperature, atmospheric CO2, light, water, and soil nutrients. For instance, high temperature was the main climate factor that caused yield variation by affecting the rice maturity periods, spikelet fertility, and spikelet number. Thus, it is an urgent need to improve rice production and reduce the negative effects of climate change on rice production. In order to solve above-mentioned problem, one of the most important options is using climate-smart practices, which are planting improved rice varieties, soil and water conservation techniques, and adjusting planting and harvesting dates. The importance of adapting climate smart practices is an increase in rice yield by 15.87%. Climate-smart rice production and climate-smart practices in rice needs still to be investigated widely. The review objective is to describe climate-smart practices in rice cultivation, in order to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on rice production.

Climate Smart Agriculture and its Implication on Climate Change Adaptation Measures within Smallholder Farming Systems in Gatundu South, Kenya

The impacts of climate change and the need for implementing adaptation and mitigation measures continues to dominate global environmental dialogue, with the Africa Climate Summit 2023 and Conference of Parties 28 being the most recent in this series. A hitherto marginalised aspect is the level of adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices in smallholder production systems. This study explored this dimension using Gatundu South as a case study. Rainfall data was obtained from the Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Station data. Socio-economic data targeting 384 respondents was collected using questionnaires. Standard procedures were used to analyse these data. Results showed that farmers are generally aware of climatic variability especially as evidenced by changes in rainfall patterns. Farmers adapt and attempt to mitigate effects of climate change and variability by using practices that deliver direct economic benefits and not necessarily the climate-smartness of the practices. Farmers did not associate their adaptation measures with the need to reduce emission of greenhouse gasses. To smallholder farmers, direct economic benefits are the primary incentives for the adoption of climate-smart practices. Further, the link between climate change and the invisible greenhouse gases is a knowledge gap among smallholder farmers. Therefore, adoption of climate smart agriculture practices can be enhanced if the narrative shifts to emphasise the negative contribution of greenhouse gases to farmers’ health and the concomitant medical costs, through their role in exacerbating air pollution

A Systematic Review of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Agriculture for Evidence-Based Decision Making and Sustainability

The aim of this study was to consolidate current information on the utilization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) in the agricultural sector, with a focus on their role in promoting evidence-based policies and practices to enhance agricultural sustainability. Additionally, this review sought to identify the challenges hindering the widespread adoption of GIS and RS applications, particularly in low- and middle-income nations. This study employed the methodology of systematic literature review. The findings indicate that the utilization of GIS technology in the agricultural sector has experienced a notable increase over the past few years. The primary areas of use for GIS that have been identified encompass crop yield estimation, assessment of soil fertility, monitoring of cropping patterns, evaluation of drought conditions, detection and management of pests and crop diseases, implementation of precision agriculture techniques, and management of fertilizer and weed control. GIS technology possesses the capacity to augment the sustainability of agriculture by incorporating the spatial aspect of agricultural practices into agricultural policies. Furthermore, the potential of GIS in facilitating evidence-based decision making is expanding. Given the escalating peril of climate change on agriculture and food security, there exists a heightened imperative to include GIS into policy formulation and decision-making processes to enhance the sustainability of agricultural practices. The findings of this study might be beneficial in informing the development of policies that effectively integrate sustainable and climate-smart practices in agriculture.

The Tree-Crop Remote Sensing of Evapotranspiration Experiment (T-REX): A Science-Based Path for Sustainable Water Management and Climate Resilience

Abstract Water scarcity threatens agriculture in California. During the last two decades, historically severe droughts have led to severe water shortages. Under projected changes in climate, droughts of greater severity and duration will exacerbate this situation. California produces 80% of the world’s almonds, which require consistent water supplies for irrigation. Almonds are the most commonly grown crop in California, covering nearly 1.4 million acres over about 8,000 farms. In response to these challenges, almond growers are considering a myriad of management strategies to save water and mitigate climate change. The Tree-Crop Remote Sensing of Evapotranspiration Experiment (T-REX) aims to identify water and orchard management opportunities to maximize water use efficiency and carbon sequestration in almonds and other woody perennial tree crops. The project combines satellite, uncrewed aerial vehicles, and proximal sensing technologies to retrieve key variables used to model surface fluxes and biophysical properties. We aim to advance our understanding of water management and cultural practices on water–carbon relationships in tree-perennial agroecosystems. Through new methods, such as evapotranspiration-based irrigation scheduling, even a modest 10% decrease in almond orchard irrigation across the state equates to about a third of the water in Lake Oroville, California’s second-largest reservoir, at average levels. From a carbon perspective, almond orchards could sequester 8% of the state’s current greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning toward climate-smart practices. As such, the almond industry is uniquely positioned to curb water use and contribute to climate change mitigation while maintaining economic viability of almond production. An overview of initial results related to evapotranspiration observational and modeling uncertainty and carbon sequestration potential are presented in this article.

Adoption of Climate-Smart Rice Production Practices and Technologies: A Tool Towards Rice Production Efficiency and Agricultural Sustainability

Climate change and high rice imports pose significant threats to local rice production, food security, and the livelihoods of rice farmers. This study examines the potential of climate-smart rice practices and technologies to enhance domestic production and adapt to environmental changes in major rice-producing municipalities within South Cotabato, Region 12, focusing on the clusters of Norala, Santo Niño, and Banga. Using surveys from 189 farmers and interviews with technical personnel, the study identified synchronous planting, alternate wetting and drying (AWD), and direct seeding as the most commonly adopted practices. Conversely, rainwater catchment facilities and Rice Crop Manager (RCM) technology had lower adoption rates. Cost and return analyses demonstrated increased yields and net income for farmers employing the most adopted practices. The findings suggest that higher adoption rates for climate-smart practices can be achieved through training programs, financial assistance, and community demonstrations. The study recommends collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders to enhance farmer awareness, develop agricultural education programs, and provide vocational training on sustainable practices to attract young farmers. Financial and technical support for farmers is also essential. Replicating the study in other regions and with different farmer groups will strengthen its findings. By empowering farmers to achieve higher yields, secure income, and environmental protection, climate-smart rice production offers a sustainable path toward national rice security.

Constraints Faced by Paddy Farmers in Adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices: A Comparative Study

The study was conducted in 2023 to identify the major constraints faced by paddy farmers in the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices in the eastern climactic zone of Haryana. The data was collected with a structured interview schedule from two groups of villages namely climate-smart and non-climate-smart villages randomly selected 120 respondents from four blocks of Karnal and Kaithal districts. The constraints were divided into three categories i.e., economic constraints, socio-personal constraints, and technological constraints. The analysis revealed that technical constraints such as lack of awareness about climate-smart agricultural practices, lack of training, and complexity of climate-smart practices were the major barriers to the adoption of climate smart agricultural practices among the farmers of non-climate smart villages whereas, economic constraints such as increased cost of paddy production, higher initial investments in inputs and lower paddy yields were the most serious constraints faced by farmers in climate smart villages. Furthermore, it was observed that, while there was not much difference in socio-personal and economic constraints faced by both groups of respondents, however, respondents from non-climate smart villages faced a significantly higher degree of technical constraints as compared to the respondents from climate smart villages.

Tailoring interventions through a combination of statistical typology and frontier analysis: a study of mixed crop-livestock farms in semi-arid Zimbabwe

Summary An innovative methodological approach combining statistical typologies and stochastic frontier analysis was applied to data collected from 1840 mixed crop-livestock farms in six districts of Zimbabwe, representative of semi-arid areas of the country. The average annual cereal production was 362 kg farm–1, and the average annual livestock offtake was 0.64 ± 1.32 Tropical Livestock Units (TLU) farm–1. Our results demonstrate there is scope to increase cereal and livestock production by 90.7% and 111.9% relative to current production levels, respectively, with more efficient use of existing resources and technologies. Rainfall was found to have a strong effect on cereal production, highlighting the need for climate-smart practices. Livestock mortality (0.59 ± 1.62 TLU farm–1) was found to be in the same order of magnitude as livestock offtake (0.64 ± 1.32 TLU farm–1). Cereal production was supported by livestock, demonstrating the importance of crop-livestock interactions in these mixed farming systems. Three farm types were identified in our analysis. Crop-oriented mixed farms (31%) are likely to be the ones most responsive to crop-specific interventions e.g., crop rotation and integrated pest management. Livestock-oriented mixed farms (34%) are likely to benefit the most from livestock-specific interventions, e.g., home feed. Mixed farms dependent on off-farm activities (36% of the sample) may require nutrition-sensitive and labour-saving sustainable intensification technologies to benefit from their limited resources. Reducing cattle mortality is a priority for all three farm types. The method proposed here could be adapted to other contexts characterized by heterogeneous farming populations to target interventions.

Impact of Climate Change on Farmer’s Vulnerability in Different Altitude Regions of Anantnag District of Kashmir, Indian Himalayas

Agriculture is vital to India's economy. Climate hazards and amplifying factors make farmers vulnerable. Climatic volatility threatens agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. Climate instability and climate change disrupt food supply, accessibility, and quality. This research assessed the farmers’ vulnerability in Anantnag district of Jammu & Kashmir, using a multi-stage sampling technique with 120 farmers across three altitudinal strata. The socio-economic analysis indicated that majority of the respondents in the study area belonged to middle age group, 94 per cent of them received some education, majority (48.4%) were having annual income of rupees (0.8-2.1 lakh), and majority (64.7%) had marginal land ownership of less than (0.29 ha). The evaluation uses 11, 14, and 6 indicators to measure exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Pahalgam and Larnoo, which are in higher altitudinal zones, had higher vulnerability, while Vessu and Anantnag, in lower altitudinal zones, had lower vulnerability. The Climate Vulnerability Index ranged from 0.86 in high-altitude areas to 0.29 in low-altitude areas. Exposure (0.72) plays an important role in ranking high altitude regions at the first position, followed by sensitivity (0.47) and adaptive capacity (0.33). The findings highlighted the need for government strategies to lessen farmers' climate change vulnerability. Policies and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable farming and climate-smart practices can enhance farmers' climate change awareness and boost agricultural growth.

Machine learning-based estimation and mitigation of nitric oxide emissions from Chinese vegetable fields

High fertilizer input and nitric oxide (NO) emissions characterize the intensive vegetable production system. However, the amount, geographic distribution, and effective mitigation strategies of NO emissions over Chinese vegetable fields remain largely uncertain. In this study, we developed a data-driven estimate of NO emissions and their spatial pattern in Chinese vegetable fields based on the Random Forest (RF) model. Additionally, we conducted a field experiment in a subtropical vegetable field to investigate the effect of climate-smart practices on NO emissions. The RF model results showed that soil NO emissions from Chinese vegetable fields were sensitive to nitrogen application amount, soil clay content, and pH. The total NO emission from Chinese vegetable fields in 2018 was estimated to be 75.9 Gg NO–N. The urgency to reduce NO emissions in vegetable fields was higher in northern than in southern China. Our meta-analysis and field experiment results suggested that biochar amendment and replacing chemical fertilizers with bio-organic fertilizers were win-win climate-smart management practices for mitigating NO emissions while improving vegetable production. Overall, our study provided new insights into NO emissions in vegetable soil ecosystems and can facilitate the development of regional NO emission inventories and effective mitigation strategies. These findings highlight the importance of adopting sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices to reduce NO emissions and mitigate their adverse environmental impacts.

Comparative analysis of effects of climate-smart agriculture practices and conventional agriculture on selected soil physicochemical properties in Nyimba district, Zambia

Background. Many smallholder farmers in the developing world live in adverse poverty and rely on agriculture as their primary source of income and household food. In Zambia, agriculture production is the main activity for people in rural areas of the country. The study evaluated the effects of climate-smart practices: Gliricidia sepium alley cropping, conservation agriculture basin, ripping, and conventional agriculture cropland on selected physicochemical properties of soil among smallholder farmers’ croplands in Nyimba district, Zambia. Materials and Methods. Cropland under conservation agriculture basin, ripping, agroforestry gliricidia alleyed cropping, and conventional agriculture cropland hosting the practices for more than five years were considered for soil sample collection. Thirty (30) composite soil samples were collected: gliricidia alley cropping (n = 6), conservation agriculture ripping (n = 6), basin (n = 6), conventional agriculture one (n = 6), and conventional agriculture two (n = 6) following a zigzag pattern on soil surface depth of 0–30 cm. The collected composite soil samples were analyzed at the University of Zambia Soil Science Laboratory. Soil laboratory results were analyzed with Minitab Statistical Software version 17 for mean squares, standard deviations, and Tukey’s LSD. Results and Discussion. The study revealed significant effects (p <0.05) of gliricidia alley cropping, conservation agriculture ripping, and basin on soil bulk density, porosity, power of hydrogen (pH), cation exchange capacity, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, exchangeable bases sodium, calcium, and potassium. Exchangeable base magnesium was recorded as insignificant across the considered practices off-course with minimal mean variations with conventional agriculture cropland. Conclusion. The study shows that implementing climate-smart agriculture practices has the potential to improve crop productivity per hectare through reclaiming and amending depleted soil physicochemical properties in a mid and long run. This also indicates the importance of climate-smart agricultural practices implementation among smallholder farmers’ cropping fields.

Quantifying the impact of climate smart agricultural practices on soil carbon storage relative to conventional management

Climate smart agricultural practices have received considerable attention recently for their potential for climate change mitigation through sequestering atmospheric carbon. Despite the enthusiasm for climate smart practices, there is limited evidence they are more effective at removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil than current practices. We hypothesized that a field with aspirational (ASP) practices (i.e., no-till corn-soybean-wheat-hay rotation with cover crops) would accumulate more soil organic carbon (SOC) versus a business-as-usual (BAU) field (i.e., conventional-tillage, corn-soybean-soybean rotation). We used deep soil cores (1 m) to assess changes in soil organic carbon (ΔSOC) between 2016 and 2022 for the two fields and compare with estimates based on eddy covariance calculation of ΔSOC. We found that the ASP field had ΔSOC that was positive, and larger than the BAU field. Both the soil sample method (ΔSOCSS) and the eddy covariance method (ΔSOCEC) agreed on this point, but the magnitude of ΔSOC was much larger when estimated with soil samples (ΔSOCSS was 1.9 ± 1.7 % yr−1 and -0.7 ± 1.3 % yr−1 at ASP and BAU, respectively) than with eddy covariance (ΔSOCEC was 0.80 ± 0.09 % yr−1 and 0.12 ± 0.06 % yr−1 at ASP and BAU, respectively). Finally, we used the continuous measurements of carbon fluxes from the eddy covariance towers to examine how conservation practices (cover crops, no-till, or expanded crop rotation) led to increased carbon storage. We found that unharvested cover crops add carbon to the soil that offsets net carbon losses that otherwise reduce soil carbon storage when the field is fallow. No-till and expanded crop rotations also affect the carbon budget of the agro-ecosystems. Results from this study illustrate the value of conservation practices in a changing climate and the value of eddy covariance measurements for assessing climate smart practices.

Climate-smart agriculture strategies for South Asia to address the challenges of climate change: Identification of climate-resilient agriculture practices for India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan

In South Asia, agriculture is pivotal for food and nutritional security and the livelihood of more than 50% of the population. Food production and nutritional security pressures intensify as urbanisation decreases the agricultural land area amid population growth. Climate change complicates this scenario by introducing elevated temperatures, extreme climatic events, surging sea levels, and increased soil salinity. Identifying climate-resilient innovative technologies for farmer adoption becomes imperative to counter these adversities. An integrated approach to climate-smart agriculture, encompassing capacity building through practical training on innovative mitigation strategies, is needed. This study unites experts from Australia, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan in an Asia-Pacific Network project, fostering mutual learning and farmer training in climate-smart practices. Insights from workshops conducted at Amity University in February 2020 and June 2022, combined with country-specific technological advances in the past 15 years gleaned from the literature, revealed key technologies to combat climate change (e.g., zero tillage, raised bed planting, direct-seeded rice, crop residue management, crop diversification, site-specific nutrient management, laser levelling, micro-irrigation, seed/fodder banks, and ICT-based weather advisories). Widespread implementation of these technologies and practices will empower farmers to navigate climate change challenges, fostering resilience and sustainability.

12 Tools for Climate-Smart Decision Making for the Stocker/Feedlot Sector

Abstract There is an increased interest in the use of climate-smart practices and technologies to be more effective in climate change mitigation. These practices include grazing management, pasture management, animal and herd management, animal disease and health, animal breeding, and supplemental feeding during the stocker phase. In the feedlot sector, climate-smart practices range from supply chain challenges including climate smart adaptation by crop producers, cattle type, manure management, health management, and use of growth promoting technologies. There are certainly other technologies not mentioned and are not meant to be marginalized. During the stocker phase, grazing management is highly variable and dependent on climatic conditions and variability, plant species and plant health, water management, soil health, and cattle type. A correct balance among the different land managers, government agencies, and recommendations from university researchers and Extension personnel should optimize these practices. For instance, there is a focus on rotational grazing to increase the efficiency of grazing management. However, in the southwestern U.S. this practice may not be practical given the vast area and landscape used in production. In certain geographical areas, pasture management is becoming increasingly important as decreasing water sources (particularly aquafer levels) are apparent. Some data suggests that now is the time to change from cereal crop production to perennial forages while water is still available to establish the forages. This, in turn, may improve soil health and carbon sequestration. However, as with all mitigation strategies, this may decrease supply of cereal grains available to small feedlot producers, albeit a significant amount of cereals are transported to the cattle feeding sector. Animal breeding programs to improved production, heat tolerance, disease resistance, and improved reproduction is important. As with any production practice, supplementation programs may become necessary under certain situations. It is well known that cattle treated for respiratory disease have poorer performance and carcass characteristics than cattle not treated. Use of growth promoting technologies improve animal performance and decreases total methane produced. No doubt manure production from feeding operations produce methane. Dairy and swine operations can harvest the methane and with use of biogas collectors flare off the methane or produce energy for electric generators, however, this is not practical under feedlot situations; however, application of manure to land may improve soil organic matter. Building resilience in evaluating climate-smart practices will satisfy multiple objectives including impacting food security without many constraints to adoption.

Decarbonization of Agriculture: The Greenhouse Gas Impacts and Economics of Existing and Emerging Climate-Smart Practices.

The worldwide emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has increased focus on the potential to mitigate emissions through climate-smart agricultural practices, including regenerative, digital, and controlled environment farming systems. The effectiveness of these solutions largely depends on their ability to address environmental concerns, generate economic returns, and meet supply chain needs. In this Review, we summarize the state of knowledge on the GHG impacts and profitability of these three existing and emerging farming systems. Although we find potential for CO2 mitigation in all three approaches (depending on site-specific and climatic factors), we point to the greater level of research covering the efficacy of regenerative and digital agriculture in tackling non-CO2 emissions (i.e., N2O and CH4), which account for the majority of agriculture's GHG footprint. Despite this greater research coverage, we still find significant methodological and data limitations in accounting for the major GHG fluxes of these practices, especially the lifetime CH4 footprint of more nascent climate-smart regenerative agriculture practices. Across the approaches explored, uncertainties remain about the overall efficacy and persistence of mitigation-particularly with respect to the offsetting of soil carbon sequestration gains by N2O emissions and the lifecycle emissions of controlled environment agriculture systems compared to traditional systems. We find that the economic feasibility of these practices is also system-specific, although regenerative agriculture is generally the most accessible climate-smart approach. Robust incentives (including carbon credit considerations), investments, and policy changes would make these practices more financially accessible to farmers.

Effects of Biochar and Compost Application on Soil Properties and on the Growth and Yield of Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Improper depositions of organic waste threaten the environment. On the other hand, intensive soil cultivation, inappropriate utilization of inorganic fertilizers, and inadequate soil management practices in the study area resulted in soil fertility reduction and poor crop growth. The addition of organic fertilizers from organic waste (biochar and compost) to soil can be considered an environmental-friendly and climate-smart practice able to improve soil properties and the yield of crops. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the potential of organic amendment with coffee pulp compost (CPC), coffee pulp biochar (CPB), and their combination (CPC_CPB) on selected soil properties and hot pepper yield. The field experiment was conducted in the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons by adopting a randomized complete block design with a factorial experiment using CPC, CPB, and CPC_CPB treatments in different application rates. Results indicated that, in both years, the maximum dose (4 t/ha) of biochar significantly improved the yield of hot pepper and some soil chemical properties such as pH, OC, TN, P, K, Ca2+, Mg2+ contents, and CEC. When 2021 is compared with the 2020 growing season in terms of hot pepper yield, the treatments 4 CPB, 10 CPC, and 7 CPC_CPB increased the yield by 4.61, 1.62, and 1.55%, respectively. Thus, an application rate of CPB at the rate of 4 t/ha is considered suitable to improve hot pepper yield and soil properties. Therefore, the highest dose of CPB, followed by CPC_CPB and CPC can be considered as suitable to improve both soil fertility and hot pepper yield.

Evaluating the incentive for soil organic carbon sequestration from carinata production in the Southeast United States

Soil organic carbon (SOC) can be increased by cultivating bioenergy crops to produce low-carbon fuels, improving soil quality and agricultural productivity. This study evaluates the incentives for farmers to sequester SOC by adopting a bioenergy crop, carinata. Two agricultural management scenarios – business as usual (BaU) and a climate-smart (no-till) practice – were simulated using an agent-based modeling approach to account for farmers’ carinata adoption rates within their context of traditional crop rotations, the associated profitability, influences of neighboring farmers, as well as their individual attitudes. Using the state of Georgia, US, as a case study, the results show that farmers allocated 1056 × 103 acres (23.8%; 2.47 acres is equivalent to 1 ha) of farmlands by 2050 at a contract price of $6.5 per bushel of carinata seeds and with an incentive of $50 Mg−1CO2e SOC sequestered under the BaU scenario. In contrast, at the same contract price and SOC incentive rate, farmers allocated 1152 × 103 acres (25.9%) of land under the no-till scenario, while the SOC sequestration was 483.83 × 103 Mg CO2e, which is nearly four times the amount under the BaU scenario. Thus, this study demonstrated combinations of seed prices and SOC incentives that encourage farmers to adopt carinata with climate-smart practices to attain higher SOC sequestration benefits.