SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (Part - I)

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE For Increased Production

And

Regeneration of Degraded Natural Resources

TOPICS COVERED

• 1. Introduction to the issue

• 2. Problems with conventional agriculture

• 3. Conservation agriculture

• 4. Principles of conservation agriculture

• 5. Input use

• 6. Economic aspects

• 7. Extension support

• 8. Environmental & other benefits

• 9. Way ahead

• 10. Sum up

UNIVERSAL ISSUES RELATED TO

AGRICULTURE

• The population is increasing globally.

• Scientists world over are trying to

double the agriculture production in

next few decades.

• Natural resources are shrinking and

degrading at fast pace.

• Focus is on for increasing efficiency of

the available resources

MORE ISSUES • The emissions from agriculture related and

forest replacement activities are about 30% of total emissions.

• Mindset change of all stake holders including farmers, scientists, government officials and bankers is the first task to introduce a technology.

• Small farm size i.e. less than a hectare (80%) and 40% irrigation efficiency are the challenges for India.

• Approx. 400 kg CO2 is emitted per hectare from farming operations.

Traditional farming

Traditional Removal Farm Residue

Environment Friendly Solutions ??

• Scientists world over are trying to find simple ways to deal with the problem.

• They have taken clues from nature to find out how the rain forests are surviving and producing without human interventions.

• Quality of medicinal herbs produced in forests is much better as compared to that of farms due to balance of micro and macro nutrients in unexploited forest soils.

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE-

Technology of Future

• The technological interventions are being planned to reduce the disturbance of soil structure and natural flora and fauna.

• Organic farming and conservation agriculture are the results of ongoing research and have proved their worth in many parts of world.

INDIA HOSTED WORLD CONGRESS

ON CA IN FEB 2009

PROBLEMS WITH CONVENTIONAL

AGRICULTURE

• Soil tillage is the main operation.

• The plough is accepted as symbol of agriculture world wide.

• Soil tillage can increase soil fertility in short term.

• Long term effect is reduction of organic matter.

• Organic matter provides nutrients and micro nutrients to soil.

Soil degradation is the side effect of

conventional agriculture

Other Problems

• Organic matter also helps in stabilization of soil structure.

• Prolonged conventional agriculture results in soil degradation and leads to erosion.

• Use of mechanical methods - ploughs, disks, rotary cultivators disturb the soil structure.

• Burning of farm residue kills the micro organisms along with the harmful insects.

• Some micro nutrients are also lost due to chemical changes taking place as a result of burning.

DEGRADED LANDS

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE

- An Introduction

• This technology has been developed in past

two decades to deal with the growing

problem of loss of natural resources due to

intensive cultivation.

• The soil is not tilled and farm residue is left

on the soil surface to form a layer of mulch

• This layer protects the soil from external

stresses.

• The mulch turns into manure in long run.

Contd…

• Soil organisms take over the task of tilling.

• The pattern of using fertilizers ,herbicides and pesticides is modified to suit the micro flora of soil.

• Integrated pest management is essential part of the practice.

• This practice is different from organic farming.

PRINCIPLES OF THE CA

• DIRECT SEEDING OR PLANTING

• Crops are grown without bed preparation

• Soil is not disturbed after harvest of earlier crop.

• Seeds are directly placed with the help of specially designed implements with least disturbance to soil.

• No loose soil is visible on the top.

ZERO TILL IN ACTION

EQUIPMENTS FOR ZERO TILLING

DIRECT SEEDING

MINIMUM TILL FARMING

C A IN PRACTISE WITH FARM

EQUIPMENTS

FARM IMPLEMENTS FOR CA

Contd…

• Crop residue in sufficient quantity is left to

maintain the soil cover.

• Different implements are used for different size

of the seeds.

• PERMANENT SOIL COVER:

• Permanent soil cover is essential to protect soil

from exposure to sun ,rain and wind.

• It provides continuous food supply for micro or

macro organisms in the soil.

Contd…

• The main advantages of soil cover are:

• Improved infiltration

• Retention of soil moisture.

• Increased plant nutrients.

• Creation of channels for air and water.

• Increased humus formation.

• Reduced run off erosion.

• Soil regeneration & reduced degradation.

COVER CROPS

PIGEON PEA AS COVER CROP

Contd…

• Better development and seeding growth.

• Proper selection of cover crops results in

fixing nitrogen, restoration of pores in soil

and natural repulsion of pests.

• Reduced use of herbicides.

• CROP ROTATION:

• The practice of monoculture is changed to

crop rotation.

Contd…

• The different crops provide different food to soil micro organisms.

• The roots of different plants grow at different zone and depth of soils.

• The nutrients which are not available to one plant due to depth can be recycled by other plant.

• It results in diversification of flora and fauna of soil.

Contd…

• Prevents crossing over of pests from one

crop to other

• It also results in diversified nutrition for

consumers and livestock.

• Results in increased nitrogen fixation .

• The distribution of water and nutrition

through out the soil profile.

CROP ROTATION IN FARMS

Contd…

• PRECISION LAND LEVELLING:

• The field leveling is presently carried out by

using various mechanical methods such as

leveling boards.

• The present methods are not so perfect.

• The leveling is not a new technology but the

improved methods provide perfection to it.

• Laser technology is considered best for the

purpose.

Contd…

• The near perfect leveling results in high

irrigation efficiency.

• It also reduces load on farm equipments

thus saves energy.

• Seedling emergence is much better .

• Crop maturity is uniform

• Effective increase in cultivable area.

• It also increases nutrient efficiency.

LASER GUIDED LAND

LEVELLING

TECHNOLOGY FOR PRECISION

LAND LEVELING

Contd…

• FURROW IRRIGATED RAISED BED

PLANTING SYSTEM:

• The crops are sown on the ridges or beds.

• The different height and width are in

practice for different crops.

• Very popular in Indo- Gangetic basin.

• It results in better soil structure due to

reduced compaction.

Contd…

• Reduces chances of water logging.

• Easy machine operations.

• Better surface drainage.

• Improved fertilizer placement and better

weed control.

• Saves irrigation water.

• Reduced seed consumption and high input

efficiency.

RAISED BED FARMING

PERMANENT BEDS FOR SHORT

TERM CROPS

INPUT EFFICIENCY

• No different seed requirement but more density

results in higher efficiency

• Locally adapted cover crops are used to reduce

costs.

• Fertilizer use is reduced over a period of time.

• Use of herbicides and pesticides is reduced over

a period of time.

• IPM techniques minimize the incidence of pests.

• Farm labour is reduced from 50-70%.

INPUT EFFICIENCY IN CA

ECONOMIC ASPECTS

• People tend to adopt short term solutions

with immediate returns.

• The CA benefits accrue in medium/long

term

• No visible difference is found in initial

years.

• Demonstrations are to be arranged by

concerned agencies to reach the farmers

BENEFITS IN SHORT AND LONG

TERM

THE PHASED BENEFITS:

• I PHASE: No increase in out put, decrease in labour, time, reduced production cost in form of saved labour and farm equipment time, increase in cost of weed management, marginal reduction in production.

• II phase: improved soil fertility, decrease in labour ,machine and fuel cost, increase in yield.

• III Phase : diversification of agriculture, stable yield, increase in net income.

MORE BENEFITS

• IV PHASE: stability in production and

productivity, full benefits and economic

advantages accrue.

• Reduction in labour results in either

extended cultivation areas or non farm

employment, diversification to allied

activities.

TIME SAVING IN CA PRACTISE

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

• It is truly sustainable production system.

• It conserves and regenerates the natural

resources.

• Results in maintaining the yields.

• The zero till fields act as CO2 sinks.

• Potential of earning carbon credits.

• Tilling is highest energy consuming activity

in agriculture.

MORE BENEFITS

• Reduced erosion and degradation of soil.

• Reduction in silt content of river water.

• Finally increase in life of reservoirs

• Reduced CO2 emissions.

RESTORATION OF DEGRADED

SOIL THROUGH CA

IPM KEEPS BIO DIVERSITY & QUALITY

OF GROUND WATER INTACT

LIMITATIONS

• Initial lack of knowledge among farmers.

• Different models are to developed for

different agro climatic zones.

• Proper coordination between scientists

and farmers .

• Limited documentation of traditional know

how about adapted cover crops and

pest/weed resistant intercropping.

EXTENSION SUPPORT

• Demonstrations to be arranged to show

the benefits.

• Cost attached to adoption of technology

should be within the affordable range.

• Extension support must continue for

prolonged periods.

EXTENSION MODEL IN

TAMILNADU

DEMONSTRATION FOR

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

INDIAN EXPERIENCE

• The technology is being adopted in Indo-Gangetic plains in wheat rice combination.

• 6-10% increase in yield of crops and 5-10% saving in terms of cost in form of tilling expenditure.

• Small scale machine manufacturers have timely supplied the required equipments.

• IRR of investment is more than 50% .

• The positive impact on environment is additional benefit.

INDIAN FARMERS ARE PARTICIPATING

IN CA EXPERIMENTS

WAY AHEAD

• Policy formation at government level for systematic shifting to CA..

• Providing incentive to farmers for adopting the CA.

• Proper extension mechanism to be put in place.

• Sustainable agriculture & protection of resource must be part of academic curriculum to create awareness.

Contd…

• Easy availability of tools & equipments to

required for CA

• It should be seen as energy efficient

mechanism which save fossil fuels.

• The activity should be eligible for earning

carbon credits.

• The financing institutions may finance the

CA projects under priority sector lending.

SUMMARY

• The CA should be made popular by the

government and other extension services.

• The timely action will reduce the further

damage to the environment .

• Large scale adoption will reduce the cost

of equipments and tools.

• CONSERVATION OF NATURAL

RESOURCES IS NEED OF THE HOUR

• LET ALL OF US PARTICIPATE IN IT

• AT LEAST PLANT A TREE..