Crop Science 40/41 Principles of Crop Production PDF

Crop Science 40/41 Principles of Crop Production Agripina Rana-Aradila Professor VI Department of Agronomy & Plant Breeding College of Agriculture Central Mindanao University University Town, Musuan, Bukidnon, Philippines  UNIT V...

Crop Science 40/41 Principles of Crop Production Agripina Rana-Aradila Professor VI Department of Agronomy & Plant Breeding College of Agriculture Central Mindanao University University Town, Musuan, Bukidnon, Philippines  UNIT V Sustainable Crop Production Agriculture  very intricate production activity  involves the manipulation of a lot of interplaying factors of the physical and biological environments within the context of the socio-economic environment The process should aim at –  increasing production but not at the expense of the environment  should strike a balance between technology and people, between production and resources and between short-term and long-term benefits. Agriculture  Agriculture practitioners need relevant production systems that give reliable yields on a sustained basis.  Farm production activities must be carried out in a manner which ensures adequate protection to the resource-base upon which we depend for food, shelter, and other basic needs.  Sustainable Crop Production A. Man and Crops is an Ecosystem Ecosystem is a natural system that is formed by dynamic interactions between biotic and non-biotic elements in a defined area (e.g. corn field) Biotic elements - plants, insects pests, natural enemies, decomposers, microbes and other living organisms Non-biotic elements – elements of weather (temperature, relative humidity, wind, sunshine, rain) and soil which influence the distribution and population of living organisms.  Sustainable Crop Production Crop agroecosystem is characterized by a much simpler composition with regard to the number of species residing in the system and with simpler energy Agroecosystem is a cultivated ecosystem, a farm that is valued by humans in terms of agricultural goods and services. Agroecosystem is any ecosystem managed primarily for the production of food, fuel or fiber.  Sustainable Crop Production Agroecology - study of agricultural ecosystems and the natural resources required to sustain them; promotes the conservation of soil and organic matter, energy and water. Ecological farming - uses technology to address ecosystem constraints, and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace; crops produced are chemical-free. Agroecological management - enhances the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems with emphasis on ecological relationships and systems processes.  Sustainable Crop Production Agroecosystems reflect diversity in the landscape, through crop/livestock integration and in marketing; strengthen farmers and their communities by developing local agricultural knowledge and building ties among farmers and their consumers. -needs energy input to maintain its balance but Injudicious use of pesticides, however, disturbs this balance due to the killing of natural enemies and other organisms  Sustainable Crop Production Components in an ecosystem: Plants (producers) of food which will be used to feed herbivores. Herbivores (including pests) eat the plants and serve as food Carnivores Carnivores (including the natural enemies), which may be eaten by other carnivores. Omnivores eat plants, herbivores and carnivores. Decomposers return back to the soil the nutrients in dead organisms, manures, et.  Sustainable Crop Production Biodiversity (biological diversity) – is the variety of all living things and their interactions. Biodiversity changes over time as extinction occurs and new species evolve. Scientists often speak of three levels of diversity: species, genetic, and ecosystem diversity. Healthy ecosystem - high degree of diversity, which means that various kinds of plants and animals co-exist in the system.  Sustainable Crop Production Biological community refers to the different species occupying a particular place make up of plants, animals and microorganisms Biosphere - portion of the earth where living (biotic) organisms exist and interact with one another and with their non-living (abiotic) environment One-way flow of high-energy from the sun: 1) through materials and living things in their feeding interactions, 2) into the environment as low-quality energy (most heat) into air or water molecules 3) eventually back into space as infrared radiation Sustainable Crop Production  Reception of energy  Production of organic materials by producers  Consumption of these materials by consumers  Transformation to forms suitable for the nutrition of the producers  SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION Concepts of productivity of an ecosystem: 1. standing crop – abundance of organism in an area expressed as number of individuals, as biomass or energy content 2. material removal – includes yield to man, organism removed from the ecosystem by migration and material withdrawn as organic deposits 3. production rate – the speed at which growth processes is progressing Habitat of an organisms - its place of residence, the location where it may be found Niche of an organism - its profession or the total role of the organism in the community - the manner in which the organism acquires energy and chemicals  SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION Two important aspects of niche of organisms: 1. Energy Flow – chain of energy transfer from the sun to the producers and consumers Food chain – feeding relationships in which each trophic level is represented by one organism Rice rice bird hawk man decomposer Food web - overlapping food chains 2) Chemical/Nutrient Cycling. SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION The major cycles in the environment are: 1. Nitrogen cycle, 2. Phosphorus cycle and 3. Potassium cycle. These elements change state from organic to inorganic, existing for varying periods of time in various nutrient pools. Natural nutrient cycling plays a significant role in the sustainability of the ecosystem. The three categories of nutrient cycling processes are: 1) addition, 2) fixation, and 3) loss. SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION Nutrient cycling in nature is characterized by changes, additions and losses in nutrients  SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION Pollutions – environmental or agricultural  Production Systems & Crop Management Agriculture - very intricate production activity; involves the manipulation of a lot of interplaying factors of the physical and biological environments within the context of the socio-economic environment Aims at – increasing production but not at the expense of the environment should strike a balance between technology and people, between production and resources and between short-term and long- term benefits. Agriculture practitioners need relevant production systems that give reliable yields on a sustained basis. Farm production activities must be carried out in a manner which ensures adequate protection to the resource-based upon which we depend for food, shelter, and other basic needs.  Production Systems & Crop Management 1. Lowland Production System (Rice Based) – These includes production of irrigated lowland rice, rainfed rice and aerobic rice. Irrigated lowland rice production system - rice is typically grown under flooded conditions and receives up to two to three times more water than other crops Rainfed lowland production system – rice is grown in bunded paddies that do not have any access to irrigation water Aerobic rice production - rice varieties with “aerobic adaptation” are grown in well-drained, nonpuddled, and nonsaturated soils without ponded water, with a management system aiming at yield levels of 4-6 t ha/ha 2. Upland Production System (Upland Annual and Perennials) - primarily oriented towards subsistence production and shifting cultivation, permanent cultivation, home gardens, grazing and combination of these.  SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION A. Integrated Nutrient Management Relative concentration of nutrients in plant biomass, the soil surface, upper soil water, lower soil water and soil itself, determine the productivity of the system. Techniques in managing soil and nutrients: manure handling and improvement composting vermicomposting green manuring use of mineral fertilizer MOET  Forms of Green Manuring improved fallow such as replanting natural fallow vegetation and green manure crops alleycropping integrating trees into croplands relay fallowing by sowing bush legumes among food crops live mulching shaded green manures azolla and blue-green algae Integrated nutrient cycling alternatives in lowland rice-based farm use of biofertilizers planting of G. sepium (kakawate) around the homelot and along the bunds rice straw mulching/incorporation raising of farm animals bio-intensive gardening Integrated nutrient cycling alternatives in lowland rice-based farm fodder production weed control using hand-pushed rotary weeder rice-fish culture rice-duck culture pig-duck-rice culture B. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)  a systems approach to reduce pest damage to tolerable levels through a variety of techniques (predators and parasites, genetically resistant hosts, natural environmental modifications and chemical pesticides)  strategy that utilizes various tactics or management method (cultural practices, plant resistance, bio-control and chemical control) in a harmonious way IPM…  natural way of maintaining balance in the environment  the best mix of pest control tactics for a local pest problem as measured by the parameters of yield, profits, safety and stability Criterion for IPM: 1. technically feasible 2. practically feasible 3. economically desirable 4. environmentally acceptable C. Features of Sustainable Crop Production SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE CONCEPT - includes a system of agricultural production that is resource conserving, environmentally safe, and economically viable. It must recognize human values, provide high- quality food and support the family farm and rural communities as part of a healthy larger system SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - comes from two Greek words “sustinere” – meaning from below and “tenere” – to hold – to keep in existence or maintain, implies long term support or permanence. It describes farming systems that are capable of maintaining productivity and usefulness to society indefinitely and such system Sustainable Agriculture…  any practice, method, technique, technology, philosophy or system of production that makes agriculture economically feasible, ecologically sound, socially just and humane (equitable),culturally appropriate and grounded on holistic science  the ability of a farm to produce food indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to ecosystem health. The two key issues are biophysical (long term effects of various practices on soil properties and processes essential for crop productivity) and socio-economic (the long term ability of farmers to obtain inputs and manage resources such as labor). SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - an integrated system of plant and animal production having site specific applications that will, over the long term:  satisfy human food and fiber needs  enhance environmental quality and natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends.  make the most efficient use of non-renewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls,  sustain the economic viability of farm operations, and  enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole Sustainability  ability of a system to maintain productivity in spite of a major disturbance such as is caused by intense or large perturbation  capacity of a system to maintain output at a level approximately equal to or greater than its historical average, with the approximation determined by its historical variability  CONCEPTS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Ecological soundness – from Greek word for house “eco” that implies the wisdom and authority to manage in the best interests of the household.  An ecologically sound agriculture must focus on the maintenance and enhancement of the natural resource base.  It should be resource efficient to conserve precious resources and avoid systems toxicity. Economic viability  It is essential to have a positive net return or at least a balance in terms of resource expended and returned.  At the very minimum, the system should provide the food and other basic needs of the farming household. Social justice and equity  A socially just agricultural system must address inequities.  The system must assure that resources and power are distributed equally so that basic needs are met and human rights are assured.  Equitable access to information, market or other farm related resources especially land, should be provided to all irrespective of sex, social standing, religion or ethnicity. Culturally appropriate  Culturally appropriate agricultural systems must give due consideration to cultural values, including religious beliefs and traditions in developing agricultural systems, plans and programs.  Cultural roots are as important to agriculture as plant roots.  It is equally important that the highest values apply to human interactions, since without strong communities and vibrant cultures, agriculture will not flourish. Grounded on holistic science  Agriculture based on holistic science, as against reductionist conventional western science), gives importance to the interrelatedness of the social, economic, environmental, cultural and political aspects as much as to the biophysical aspects of agriculture.  It also considers the dynamic interactions among on-farm, off-farm, non-farm and farm related activities, recognizing that these activities complement each other.  GOALS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE long-term preservation or improvement of soil fertility while maintaining the stability of the system by shaping an almost natural ecosystem securing and improving nutrition in a largely autonomous system and achieving production surplus to meet other needs  improve quality of life thru: 1) economic development 2) food security 3) human development/people empowerment CHARACTERISTICS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 1. SA is flexible No defined set of practices, methods, techniques/technologies or policies recognizes local specificity 2. SA is experiential does not impose a simple model or package farmers and local communities must be able to adapt and allowed to change  CHARACTERISTICS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 3. SA is participatory farmers are active participants incorporates recent innovations originating from scientists, farmers or both relies on continuous innovation by farmers and local communities 4. SA is proactive forward-looking concern of short and long-term sustainability dynamic and innovative  DIMENSIONS OF SA 1. Continuously evolving non-permanent dynamic 2. Gender sensitive – role of women & children 3. Ecologically sound and friendly environmentally/ecologically friendly farming practices dynamic relationship between man and environment improved standard of living for farmers without negative effects on the environment DIMENSIONS OF SA … 4. Culturally appropriate culturally sensitive documentation, validation, promotion and use of indigenous knowledge system 5. Economically viable economically viable system and practice 6. Location specific appropriate/practical technology DIMENSIONS OF SA … 7. Resource-based community-based management of resources control of resources enhanced/protect what is available or remaining use of indigenous technical knowledge 8. Social equity socially just and humane enhance community participation and harmony socially acceptable equitable DIMENSIONS OF SA… 9. Holistic Approach holistic/integrated diversified farming location specific system with no leak 10. Enhances human values  RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND REGENERATION Some methods that can be employed are: Multiple cropping systems (multi-storey, intercropping, relay cropping, etc) cover cropping organic residue management tillage practices – conservation tillage in situ conservation as farmer-oriented approach to seed supply – collecting, evaluating, safeguarding, improving, multiplying and distributing indigenous genetic resources in their place of origin Productivity and Stability of Productions Systems Increasing efficiency of farm resources: nutrient and fertilizer management efficient farm power crop diversity and management Sources of stability of production systems: biological stability management stability production stability economic stability  Agroecosystem Analysis (AESA)  new procedure in farm management to help farmers decide as to what type of control is the most appropriate for the farm; way of assembling all factors studies and placing them into a process for useful decision making  weekly monitoring of insect pests, natural enemies, disease incidence, weed status, water/soil/weather, fertilization and the general conditions of the crop  identifying changes and interactions in crops to integrate different components and processes in the ecosystem Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA)  a low resource agriculture (OTA, 1988)  resource-poor agriculture (WCED, 1987)  undervalued-resource agriculture (Chambers, 1989)  properties of the physical environment and/or commercial infrastructure do not allow widespread purchased of inputs.  Features of LEISA  Optimize use of locally available resources  Combining different components of the FS such as plants, animals, soil, water, climate and people  Complementary and synergistic effects  If external inputs are used, maximum recycling and minimum detrimental impact on the environment is given emphasis