technology and agriculture

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WELCOME TO THE PRESENTAION ON TECHNOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE PRESENTED BY SENU FERNANDEZ

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No-Till Expansion Latin America = 34.2 million ha World Total = 72 million ha Argentina = 15.1 million ha Source: Derpsch – AAPRESID (2003)‏

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No-Till area evolution for wheat, corn, and soybean. 1977 – 2002 Source: AAPRESID

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Crops in the Pampas Region Production and Area Evolution - 1991-2000 Production Area

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Crop Production Area Yield Increase 1,000 tn 1,000 ha kg/ha Soybean 1596 557 43 Wheat 751 211 50 Corn 774 100 110 Sunflower 196 87 19 Crops in the Pampas Region Yield Evolution - 1991-2000

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Actual and Potential Yield for Advanced Technology Farmers

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No-Till Adoption Benefits  greater stability and yield increase  increase in cropped area  lower production costs

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WHAT HAPPENED WITH SOYBEAN? The decade of innovations No-Till Maturity Group IV Round-Up Ready

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Source: Prieto Soybean No Soybean

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Physical Degradation

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Exports and Nutrient Consumption in Wheat, Corn, Soybean and Sunflower Pampas Region, Argentina - 2000/01 1392 280 657 In 2000/01, nutrient replenishment was of 24%, 42%, and less than 1% of the N, P, and K extracted by grains, respectively Potential needs of 1 million ton N, 160 thousand ton P, and 650 thousand ton K

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The Soil in No-Till

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In no-till the function of the roots and the macro and meso fauna plays an important role in the macropore regeneration Key Concept 1

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The fauna action in the pore generation

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Do not disturbe the continuity of the pore network (ocasional tillage effect)‏ Alternate root systems to generate macropores in all the soil profile Maintain a stable structure in the first inches of the soil profile (residue cover)‏ Generate favorable conditions for the meso and macrofauna developement (stable environment, C adition)‏ What to do to maintain the macroporosity?

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“In no-till the tillage layer does not exist, in its place there is another layer enriched with organic residues, modifying the soil organic matter dynamics and the nutrient cycles” Moraes Sa, 1993 Key Concept 2

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The soil organic matter is considered the most important simple indicator to define the soil quality Larson & Pierce, 1991 OM is a key component in NT Moraes Sa, 1993

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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 NT CT Depth (cm)‏ mg N 100g -1 dry soil Organic N in a no-till field and conventional tillage after 10 years The highest proportion of the MO increase comes from the labile fractions Source: Moraes Sá

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Source: C. Belloso

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Management to increase soil organic Carbon Paustian, 1997 Reduce or eliminate tillage Rotations with corn, grain sorghum, pastures Include permanent gramineae and legumes Increase time of soil covered with vegetation Increase production and return residue to the soil No Till Crop Rotation Diversity Intensity Fertilization

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Key Concept 3 In no-till we make a more efficient use of the water as we increase infiltration, decrease run-off and evaporation losses, and improve the water retention (water storage)‏

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Cover the soil with crop residues in an homogeneous and durable way Maintain a stable structure , mainly in the first inches on the soil profile What to do to improve the rainfall water use efficiency?

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Key Concept 4 Balanced fertilization (crop nutrition) and adequate crop rotation are two of the most important practices for the no-till system

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Fertilization of the rotation Balanced fertilization Higher yield response in the rotation Nutrient residual effects Balance inmovilization-release Soil biological activity

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NP NPS Santa Fe, Argentina

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Crop Rotation Planned and ordered crop sequence with the objective: Maximize productivity , minimize risks , and preserve the involved resources .

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Diversification of productive risks Inhibitory effect on pathogens Interruption of weed and insect cycles Chemical fertility : nutrient balance Biological activity and diversity Improves soil physical conditions (structure and porosity)‏ Intensification: use the stored water in NT. Crop Rotation: Advantages

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The biomass production for the surface residue cover and roots in the soil profile, associated to the crop rotation, is the key component in the no-till system Adapted from Moraes Sá Conclusion

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Final comment ... It must be remembered that there is no harder job, more difficult to do or more uncertain in success, than being a leader imposing a new paradigm ... ... because every innovator has as enemy the one that was successful under the old concepts ... ... and as a weak defender the one that probably will succeed under the new concepts ... Machiavelli 1469-1527

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Thank you !!

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Contact us at: WEB: www.aapresid.org.ar (Spanish)‏ English version available soon!!! Agustín Bianchini abianchini@arnet.com.ar