Elements of a sustainable intensification of crop production

with Conservation Agriculture

Elements of a sustainable intensification of crop production

with Conservation Agriculture

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The combination of• Continuous zero tillage• Permanent soil cover and• Crop rotationshas become known asConservation Agriculture

The combination of• Continuous zero tillage• Permanent soil cover and• Crop rotationshas become known asConservation Agriculture

development of systemsdevelopment of systems

development of systemsdevelopment of systems

CubaCuba

development of systemsdevelopment of systems

backgroundbackground

• Food production has to double by 2030• Increasing demand for bioenergy and renewable

resources• Growth in crop production below population

growth; new bioenergy needs/opportunties• New land limited (including irrigated land)• >50% of available water resources already used

for irrigation• Major changes needed to attain the MDGs

(higher productivity, less resource degradation)• Climate change: additional threat

• Food production has to double by 2030• Increasing demand for bioenergy and renewable

resources• Growth in crop production below population

growth; new bioenergy needs/opportunties• New land limited (including irrigated land)• >50% of available water resources already used

for irrigation• Major changes needed to attain the MDGs

(higher productivity, less resource degradation)• Climate change: additional threat

Soil health:• Soil impacts on production, and on other

resources like water• Cultivated soils have lost considerable

carbon• SOM-levels below 2% are

common• Effects are worse in

the tropics• Tillage is a major soil

degrading factor

Soil health:• Soil impacts on production, and on other

resources like water• Cultivated soils have lost considerable

carbon• SOM-levels below 2% are

common• Effects are worse in

the tropics• Tillage is a major soil

degrading factor

focusfocus

Degradation of land resources:• In Asia 90% of potential land is already

used• 1.3 Million ha of agricultural land are lost

every year (urbanization)• Available land per person is declining

Degradation of land resources:• In Asia 90% of potential land is already

used• 1.3 Million ha of agricultural land are lost

every year (urbanization)• Available land per person is declining

backgroundbackground

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

Industrial countries

World

Developing countries

Agricultural land per capita (ha) (FAO statistics, 2001)

Soil organic matter/soil structure:• storage for soil water (1 % SOM = 150 m3/ha)• SOM as soil structural element (sand, silt)• SOM effect on nutrient mobility/availability• spatial structure more

important than pore volume

• spatial structure withsoil life (roots, fauna)

• continuous pores forwater infiltration andaeration

Soil organic matter/soil structure:• storage for soil water (1 % SOM = 150 m3/ha)• SOM as soil structural element (sand, silt)• SOM effect on nutrient mobility/availability• spatial structure more

important than pore volume

• spatial structure withsoil life (roots, fauna)

• continuous pores forwater infiltration andaeration

focusfocus

effect of CA on soil:• CA adds up to 1 mm soil per year• organic matter increase at about

0.1-0.2% per year until reaching a saturation

• different rooting systems for more efficient use of soil nutrients

• soil structure more stable• erosion and degradation

stopped/reversed

effect of CA on soil:• CA adds up to 1 mm soil per year• organic matter increase at about

0.1-0.2% per year until reaching a saturation

• different rooting systems for more efficient use of soil nutrients

• soil structure more stable• erosion and degradation

stopped/reversed

effects of no-tillage based systemseffects of no-tillage based systems

CA and climate change:• mitigation through emission reductions

(fuel, NOx, CH4)• mitigation through carbon

sequestration up to 0.2 t.ha-1.y-1 C• adaptation through better drought

tolerance• adaptation through better water

infiltration (less flooding)

CA and climate change:• mitigation through emission reductions

(fuel, NOx, CH4)• mitigation through carbon

sequestration up to 0.2 t.ha-1.y-1 C• adaptation through better drought

tolerance• adaptation through better water

infiltration (less flooding)

effects of no-tillage based systemseffects of no-tillage based systems

USA 25USA 25Canada 12Canada 12

Australia 9Australia 9

Europe 0.5Europe 0.5Asia 3.3Asia 3.3

Africa 0.5Africa 0.5

Brazil 23Brazil 23

(Derpsch, 2005)(Derpsch, 2005)

Total area under Conservation Agriculture worldwide 95 Million ha

Total area under Conservation Agriculture worldwide 95 Million ha

Argentina 18Argentina 18Paraguay 1.7Paraguay 1.7

China 1China 1India 1India 1

development of systemsdevelopment of systems

Maximization of animal performaces in best pastures (well fertilized & managed)

14-15 months old steers right to

slaughter (young animals market)

Renewed pasture after crop phase

Pasture degradation (high stocking rate x no fertilization)

Central Brazil: ICLS to renew pastures in degradation and

produce biomass for no-tilled systems

Biology TransferLatin America to Africa?

Integrated production systems in West Africa (oncho-freed ecosystems) (RAF)

Mucuna surrounded by Living Fence

Production systems:confined livestock

Early cowpea withresidue for feed

Cotton Farmer Field Schoolsin West Africa

Expanding Partnershipsfor CA-based Sustainable

IntensificationShared visionSharing ExperiencesEmpowering Natl. ProgramsSecuring and Sharing Resources

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

More information:http://www.fao.org/ag/caMore information:http://www.fao.org/ag/ca