Conservation Agriculture Production Systems Research Articles

Weed phyto-sociology and diversity in relation to conservation agriculture and weed management strategies in Northwestern Himalayas of India

To create weed management techniques capable of improving agroecosystem sustainability, it is essential to comprehend the different weed flora composition and diversification dynamics in conservation agriculture production systems. In North Western Himalaya from 2018 to 2020, evaluation of various tillage techniques with and without residue incorporation and weed management techniques on diverse weed flora composition was performed. Fifteen treatment amalgamations of five tillages viz. CT (conventional tillage) in maize-CT in wheat, CT-ZT (ZT, zero tillage), ZT-ZT, ZT-ZTR (ZTR, zero tillage in amalgamation with remainder integration) & ZTR-ZTR and three weed management practices viz. H (suggested herbicide in maize)-H (suggested herbicide in wheat), IWM-IWM (IWM, integrated weed supervision) & HW-HW; (HW, hand weeding) were calculated in strip plot design. Significant differences (p = 0.05) of weed density and total weed count were recorded during summer (maize) and winter (wheat) seasons. Among tillage treatments, lowest weed population and total weed population were recorded in conservation tillage (ZTR-ZTR) in summer and conservative tillage followed by zero tillage in winter season (CT-ZT), respectively. IWM-IWM and H-H had a least weed population and total weed population in summer and winter seasons, respectively. Highest important value index during summer and winter seasons was recorded in Echinochloa colona (55.90%) and Avena ludoviciana (76.99%), respectively. Higher Shannon Wiener index and Evenness were recorded for CT+HW-CT+HW (1.83, 0.91) and ZT+IWM-ZTR+IWM (1.73, 0.86) which indicate higher weed species diversity during summer and winter seasons, respectively. ZTR-ZTR led to less diverse weed diversity compared to intensive conventional tillage (CT-CT) practices. However, higher Simpson’s diversity was recorded for CT+HW-CT+HW, i.e. 0.83 and 0.82 for maize and wheat, respectively, compared to the other conventional tillage treatments. This study helps in understanding the crop-weed relation such that the implementation of sound and economic weeds management strategies. Further, long-term experiments are required in order to interpret the complicated relationships of diverse weed species under different tillage and weed management strategies for sustainable and adoptive conservation agriculture production system for North Western Himalayas.

Simulation and Analysis of Soil Organic Carbon Stock of Cornbased-Cropping Systems Under Conservation Agriculture in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, Philippines

Objectives: Characterizing soil organic carbon stock is important for comparing different management systems for sustainability and environmental quality. This study was conducted to perform simulation and analysis of long term soil organic carbon stock of corn-based cropping systems under conservation agriculture practice and plow-based system. Methods/Analysis: Field experiments were conducted in a typical upland agricultural area in Claveria, Misaims Oriental, and Philippines. Five experimental treatments in the form of cropping patterns that included Conservation Agriculture Production Systems (CAPS) and conventional plow-based system with two levels of fertilizer application as subplots were laid in a split plot design and replicated four times. Soil organic carbon stock monitoring at 0-5; 5-15 and 15-30 cm soil layers of the various plots was performed. The variability of soil organic carbon stock was analyzed using the Roth-C model for each of the CAPS treatments and plow-based system. Findings: The Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stock at the uppermost soil layer increases exponentially under CAPS and declines steadily under plow-based system after 50 years of simulation. The best corn based cropping systems under the conservation agriculture practiced in terms of soil organic carbon stock proved to be those corn-cropping systems with cover crops that provide relatively high biomass such as the Stylosanthes guianensis. Novelty/Improvement: This study demonstrated that conservation agriculture has a positive impact on soil organic carbon stock as a result of minimum soil disturbance, continuous mulch cover and diversified crop rotation. Conversely, conventional plow-based systems negatively impact the soil quality and its long-term practice may lead to serious degradation of this important natural resource. Keywords: Conventional Plow-Based System, Cropping Systems, Minimum Soil Disturbance, Roth-C Model, Soil Quality

Feasibility of conservation agriculture in the Amu Darya River Lowlands, Central Asia

ABSTRACTHuman-driven land degradation threatens economic and environmental sustainability of irrigated agricultural production such as in Central Asia. Many current challenges can be eased by implementing Conservation Agriculture (CA), with however unknown financial consequences under the predominating irrigated conditions. We applied the linear programming to compare costs and benefits of four CA production systems, which are cotton-based rotation systems including (i) cotton-cotton and (ii) cotton-wheat-maize rotations under conventional tillage (CT), as well as (iii) cotton-cover crop-cotton, and (iv) cotton-wheat-maize rotations with mulch cover (crop residue retaining) and both rotations under permanent-bed planting (PB) with minimum tillage. All systems were subjected to six levels of land quality and a series of crop pricing schemes. Data were extracted from empirical research on CA in Uzbekistan, complemented with data on input and output prices from surveys. The findings underpinned the financial advantages of more diversified cropping systems (cotton-wheat-maize) over the crop monoculture (cotton-cotton-based system). Crop cultivation on marginal land was unprofitable under CT. In contrast, crop production under PB could generate profits even on croplands with a lower productivity level considered. It is argued that PB with crop residue retaining and applied in cotton-wheat-maize rotation shows most promise for improving crop yields and income.

Efficiency of Conservation Agriculture Production Systems for Smallholders in Rain-Fed Uplands of India: A Transformative Approach to Food Security

With challenges from global climate change, it is imperative to enhance food production using climate-smart technologies and maximize farm efficiency. Fifty-six households in Rudhiapada and Badamahulidiha, Odisha, India were selected to evaluate farmers’ efficiency using conservation agriculture (CA) cropping system practices. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) and regression analysis were used to estimate farmer efficiency and the determinants of yield. Conventional tillage with the local maize cultivar was compared to reduced tillage with improved maize cultivar and maize intercropped with cowpea. Badamahulidiha outperformed Rudhiapada in yields for all cropping systems. This could be attributed to lower input use and exposure to NGO training. The current efficiency level of farmers’ productivity was between 0.4 and 0.7. Inputs such as labor, seed, and fertilizers were found to be significant in increasing yield except for female labor and phosphate. This finding suggests conservation agriculture cropping system is female friendly. The conservation agriculture cropping systems improved maize yields by 60% to 70% when compared to conventional farming system. Combining conservation agriculture practices with improving efficiency of farmers in optimal use of the inputs can contribute substantially to productivity, thus enhancing food security and nutrition in the face of climate change in India and other tropical areas.

Conservation Agriculture Practices in Rainfed Uplands of India Improve Maize-Based System Productivity and Profitability.

Traditional agriculture in rainfed uplands of India has been experiencing low agricultural productivity as the lands suffer from poor soil fertility, susceptibility to water erosion and other external pressures of development and climate change. A shift toward more sustainable cropping systems such as conservation agriculture production systems (CAPSs) may help in maintaining soil quality as well as improving crop production and farmer’s net economic benefit. This research assessed the effects over 3 years (2011–2014) of reduced tillage, intercropping, and cover cropping practices customized for maize-based production systems in upland areas of Odisha, India. The study focused on crop yield, system productivity and profitability through maize equivalent yield and dominance analysis. Results showed that maize grain yield did not differ significantly over time or among CAPS treatments while cowpea yield was considered as an additional yield in intercropping systems. Mustard and horsegram grown in plots after maize cowpea intercropping recorded higher grain yields of 25 and 37%, respectively, as compared to those without intercropping. Overall, the full CAPS implementation, i.e., minimum tillage, maize–cowpea intercropping and mustard residue retention had significantly higher system productivity and net benefits than traditional farmer practices, i.e., conventional tillage, sole maize cropping, and no mustard residue retention. The dominance analysis demonstrated increasing benefits of combining conservation practices that exceeded thresholds for farmer adoption. Given the use of familiar crops and technologies and the magnitude of yield and income improvements, these types of CAPS should be acceptable and attractive for smallholder farmers in the area. This in turn should support a move toward sustainable intensification of crop production to meet future household income and nutritional needs.

Bioeconomic optimization of conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) for smallholder tribal farmers in the hill region of Nepal

This research was conducted to determine the potential for the use of Conservation Agriculture Production Systems (CAPS) in the hill region of Nepal, an area highly prone to food insecurity and soil losses. Conservation agriculture (CA) includes the practices of tillage reduction, soil cover maintenance, and optimal crop rotation. Farming in Nepal consists of two main cropping seasons: rainy and postrainy. Therefore, the annual production system includes different CA practices suitable for each cropping season. Due to conflicting criteria for maximizing farm profits while minimizing soil losses from CA, this study used a dynamic multiobjective linear programming model with a 20-year horizon to predict the optimal solution. Seven systems combining varying tillage practices (full versus strip tillage), cropping patterns (sole versus intercropping), and four crops were used for analysis. The results showed the optimal CAPS as strip tillage of maize (Zea mays L.) followed by intercropping millet (Eleusine coracana) and legumes; however, there are some variations in net present value (NPV) of profits due to the length of the planning horizon and discount rates. For long planning horizons of 20 years, farmers9 objectives would be optimized when all land is allocated to strip tillage systems by year 2. The results show that the economic gains from practicing strip tillage–based CA varies among villages, ranging from 29% to 110% using discount rates of 10% and 48% to 274% under lower/social discount rate of 3%. In addition to profit, adoption of a CA system reduces the amount of soil loss by 83% to 88% over 20 years. Despite long-term benefits from CA, the short-term differences in the economic returns from CAPS are not enough for farmers to abandon their traditional practices. Therefore, from a societal welfare standpoint, it is recommended that the government provide short-term financial support to pay for the environmental services provided by the CAPS, and that CAPS education and training be made available to farmers. Additionally, long-term research to develop locally adapted CA practices may be necessary to fully realize the benefits for smallholder farmers.

Conservation agriculture increases soil organic carbon and residual water content in upland crop production systems

Conservation agriculture involves minimum soil disturbance, continuous ground cover, and diversified crop rotations or mixtures. Conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) have the potential to improve soil quality if appropriate cropping systems are developed. In this study, five CAPS including different cropping patterns and cover crops under two fertility levels, and a plow-based system as control, were studied in a typical upland agricultural area in northern Mindanao in the Philippines. Results showed that soil organic carbon (SOC) at 0- 5-cm depth for all CAPS treatments generally increased with time while SOC under the plow-based system tended to decline over time for both the high (120, 60 and 60 kg N P K ha -1 ) and moderate (60-30-30 kg N P K ha -1 ) fertility levels. The cropping system with maize + Stylosanthes guianensis in the first year followed by Stylosanthes guianensis and fallow in the second year, and the cassava + Stylosanthes guianensis exhibited the highest rate of SOC increase for high and moderate fertility levels, respectively. After one, two, and three cropping seasons, plots under CAPS had significantly higher soil residual water content (RWC) than under plow-based systems. Results of this study suggest that conservation agriculture has a positive impact on soil quality, while till systems negatively impact soil characteristics.

Multiple Knowledges for Agricultural Production: Implications for the Development of Conservation Agriculture in Kenya and Uganda

PurposeThis article investigates the extent of multiple knowledges among smallholders and connected non-farm agents around Mount Elgon in Kenya and Uganda in order to build the communicative competence needed to scale up conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS).Design/methodology/approachOur methodological approach examines local conditions through the analysis of farmers and non-farm agents’ perceptions of agricultural norms and practices or technological frames across four sites. Responses to a list of 20 questionnaire items characterizing three ideal types of technological frames (conservation agriculture, conventional modern agriculture, and risk averse agriculture) were analyzed through inter-group comparisons and multiple regression.FindingsThe findings indicate that there is a fundamental gap between the perspectives framing the knowledge of farmers and those of the service sector/community agents with respect to agricultural production norms and practices. Specifically, agricultural service providers and other community agents are significantly more supportive of conventional modern farming than farmers, and significantly less supportive of mixed crop and livestock farming; however, farmer perspectives also vary across sites.Practical implicationsRecognition of multiple knowledges, their relationship to agro-ecologies and the technological frame gap between farmers and non-farm agents is important for effectively negotiating dialog among farm and non-farm knowledge networks.Originality/valueOur exploration of variation in local knowledges provides insights into how individual proclivities, adaptation to the agro-ecology, and a supporting set of network partners contribute to the mindset changes needed for establishing CAPS.

Analysis of conservation agriculture preferences for researchers, extension agents, and tribal farmers in Nepal using Analytic Hierarchy Process

Many smallholders in Nepal rely on marginal lands that are subject to declining fertility due in part to traditional farming practices. The adoption of conservation agriculture practices has the potential to improve livelihoods and food security but depends on knowledge sharing among farmers, extension agents, and researchers. This study uses Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine farmer, extension professional, and researcher preferences for selected conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) and a widely-practiced traditional production system. This data is then used to determine which CAPS have the highest likelihood of adoption and identify misunderstandings or knowledge gaps among farmers, extension personnel and scientists. AHP was conducted in three tribal villages and at two NGOs that provide research and extension services to smallholders in the central Middle Hills region of Nepal. Overall, soil quality was identified as the most important factor affecting long-term household income, the primary motivator of adoption in study villages. Farmers generally preferred full tillage followed by cowpea solo crop in the second growing season while extension agents and researchers preferred strip tillage followed by cowpea and millet intercrop in the second season. Results indicate that (1) stakeholders prefer CAPS over traditional systems, (2) farmers prefer full tillage over minimum tillage and (3) the farmers in the village of Khola Gaun may be more prepared to adopt minimum tillage and intercropping than the other villages. Communication among all stakeholders should be improved and the results of on-farm plots should be used to reinforce understanding of CAPS benefits. It should be kept in mind that labor savings is not a main motivator of adoption among village farmers and further research should be conducted in Khola Gaun to learn why farmer preferences there differ significantly from farmer preferences in other villages.

Gender and conservation agriculture: constraints and opportunities in the Philippines

This research identifies gender-based constraints and opportunities for the adoption of conservation agriculture production systems based on a case-study with smallholder farmers in two villages in Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Philippines. Using a livelihoods framework, we explore gendered dimensions of access to assets or resources, agricultural practices, and knowledge and perceptions in the context of food security and soil conservation. Our mixed methods approach includes focus group discussions, household interviews, participatory mapping, and GPS mapping. We found that men and women have different access to assets, gender roles, and soil perceptions that could have implications for whether farmers adopt conservation agriculture (CA) in the Philippines. This paper also discusses how development activities like CA could affect gender relations in a site-specific context and provides recommendations for increasing gender equity and the likelihood of adoption.