Gemini Delle Vedove

Gemini Delle Vedove
University of Udine
Email:Gemini@Uniud.it
Summer School – Baikal 18-22 Jun 2007
1
Presentation of the method
Objectives parameters and methods
Link objectives & methods
Design a prototype
Exercises on MCR
Discussion
Supplement:
http://library.wur.nl/way/catalogue/documents/i_eafs.pdf
2
3
The Nature teach or show the way
There is not an unique method of OA
Basics common concepts applied locally.
What does characterize organic production?
4
The Nature teach or show the way
.
Diversity Ecobalance, Nutrient
Cycling, sol Fertility
5
Ecosystem and agro-ecosystem
Natural System
AGROECOSySTEM
Yield
Producers
Producers
Consumers
Consumers
Fertilizers
Abiotic sink
Abiotic sink
Decomposers
decomposers
Pollution
Atmospheric Pollution
source
6
Organic Production
There is not an unique method of OA
There are basics concepts applied locally.
7
8
9
What does characterize organic
production?
ORGANIC VERSUS CONVENTIONAL FARMING
Wynen (1996) proposed that organic and conventional
agriculture belonged to two different paradigms.
Beus and Dunlap (1990) characterized the
fundamental difference between the two competing
agricultural paradigms as follows:
10
Ecological sustainability
Some important aspects are:
recycling the nutrients instead of applying external
inputs
no chemical pollution of soil and water
promote biological diversity
improve soil fertility and build up humus
prevent soil erosion and compaction
animal friendly husbandry
using renewable energies
11
Social Sustainability
Some important aspects are:
sufficient production for subsistence and income
a safe nutrition of the family with healthy food
good working conditions for both men and women
building on local knowledge and traditions
12
Economic Sustainability
Some important aspects are:
satisfactory and reliable yields
low costs on external inputs and investments
crop diversification to improve income safely
value addition through quality improvement and onfarm processing
high efficiency to improve competitiveness
13
A methodical way in designing and testing prototypes
in IEAFS
A concerted action started in middle of
90ties focused on the need to prepare a
manual describing a methodic way for
design test improve and disseminate
prototypes of Integrated and Ecological
Arable Farming Systems (I/EAFS).
from EU concerted action IEAFS.pdf
14
A methodical way in designing and testing prototypes
in IEAFS
from EU concerted action IEAFS.pdf
15
A methodical way in designing prototypes in EAFS
3 steps to design prototypes of Ecological (Arable) Farming
Systems (EAFS).
(1) Hierarchy of objectives: drawing a hierarchy in
6 general objectives, subdivided into specific
objectives as a base for a prototype in which the
strategic shortcomings of current farming systems
are replenished
(2) Parameters and methods: transform the major
specific objectives (10) into multi-objective
parameters, establishing the multi-objective farming
methods needed to achieve the quantified objectives
(3) Design of theoretical prototype and methods by
linking parameters to farming methods designing
methods in this context until they are ready for initial
testing (Multifunctional Crop Rotation as major
method ).
from EU concerted action IEAFS.pdf
16
A methodical way in designing and testing prototypes
in EAFS
(1) Hierarchy of objectives:
drawing up a hierarchy in 6 general objectives, subdivided into 20
specific objectives as a base for a prototype in which the strategic
shortcomings of current farming systems are replenished (Part 1 of
the identity card of a prototype).
Main objectives are chosen as a list of multifunctions of Agriculture
The list is useful to build up an agreement between parties
(research/designin team and farmers or other subject i.e. consumers,
enviromental groups policy makers etc., Select in descending order the
6 main obj ranking them from 6 to 1
Select in descending order (from 3 to 1) sub obj inside each main obj
In this way you will get a hierarchy of 20 objectives in a range
value=18
the hierarchy of objectives is a simple and effective instrument to
achieve consensus between researchers and farmers on the agenda
for innovative research.
The hierarchy is useful to point out the concern about sustainability at
farm local or wider scale
from EU concerted action IEAFS.pdf
17
18
Step 1 hierarchy of main and sub objectives
Mean Objective’s scores for EU
countries (bars) and for a
single team (squares)
19
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Buriatia Objectives (students of Summer School Baikal 2007)
7
6
5
4
3
2
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20
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Sorting specific objectives scores
Top 10 Objectives of Students enquiry
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
21
A methodical way in designing and testing prototypes
in IEAFS
(1) Hierarchy of objectives:
drawing up a hierarchy in 6 general objectives,
subdivided into 20 specific objectives as a base for a
prototype in which the strategic shortcomings of current
farming systems are replenished (Part 1 of the identity
card of a prototype).
(2) Parameters and methods:
to quantify the major specific objectives (10)
transform them into multi-objective parameters,
and define the multi-objective farming methods
needed to achieve the quantified objectives (Part 2
of the identity card).
from EU concerted action IEAFS.pdf
22
An example of link betw.
Obj, Param. & Methods
23
A methodical way in designing and testing prototypes
in IEAFS
STEP 2) Linking Objectives to Parameters and methods: some
suggestions
Do not use a large set of parameters
Time , money and many param.->> could hide conflict of objective and
no integration of conflicting objectives (e.g. Profit vs Nature).
First select useful multi-objective Par.s after fill voids with spec
Parameters.,
Consider methods
Current methods and techniques mostly serve one or two of the set of
objectives and harm the others. Chemical crop protection is a clear
example.
Therefore, it should first be looked for integrating methods and
techniques which bridge the gaps between conflicting objectives and
are not harmful to the others. Additionally, specific methods may be
established aimed at major specific objectives that are insufficiently
covered by the set of integrating methods
24
Linking main Object. with Param. and Methods
Buriatja
Obj
AE-water
Param (see
value
next slide for
explanation)
PNL
100cm
SCI
Method
<30kg/ha before
leaching period
=100% during
leaching/erosion
period
MCR
Abiot.Environ.-soil SOMBal
SCI
SOMBal>0
…see above
MCR
ENM
SoilMngt
EMployment-farm
level
Labour HHW
>=1 person/ha
MCR,
Basic Income
Profit-farm level
NS
QPI
>=conv
=1
MCR FSO
25
Parameter’s definitions
Potential N Leaching (PNL) = kg ha-1 Nmin in the soil layer 0 - 100 cm at the start of
the period of precipitation surplus, e.g., N leaching.
SOMbal : Soil Organic Matter balance (t SOM ·ha-1 ·year-1 =OMInput-SOMOutput
Soil Cover Index (SCI): SCI expresses the extent to which the soil of a field or a farm
is covered by crops or crop residues, during a crucial period or throughout the year. It
is assessed at monthly intervals:
Range of SCI:
SCI = 1 at maximum, if soil is fully covered by a crop or crop residues.
SCI = 0 at minimum, if soil is entirely fallow throughout the crucial period of the year.
Hours Hand Weeding (HHW) = mean number of hours ha-1 in hand weeding.
Net Surplus (NS) = total returns minus all costs, including an equal payment of
all labour hours.
Quality Production Index (QPI) crop product-1 = Quality Index (QI) * Production
Index (PI)= (achieved price kg-1/top quality price kg-1) * (on market kg ha-1/on
field kg ha-1) crop product-1. (0 QPI 1)
26
Method’s definitions
Multifunctional Crop Rotation (MCR) = a farming method with such alternation of
crops (in time and space) that their vitality and quality production can be put
safe with a minimum of remaining measures or inputs.
Ecological Nutrient Management (ENM) = a farming method with such tuning of
input to output of nutrients, that soil reserves fit in ranges, which are
agronomically desired and ecologically acceptable.
Soil Management (SoilMngt) is a method additional to MCR and ENM to
sustain QPI by preparing seedbeds, controlling weeds, incorporating crop
residues and restoring physical soil fertility reduced by compaction from
machines, notably at harvest. However, Soil Cultivation should be Minimal in
order to achieve the objectives quantified in HHW, in SCI and SOMbal too, the
latter two being crucial for sustainability of food supply on erosion-susceptible
soils.
Farming System Optimization (FSO) is a mostly indispensable final method to
render an agronomically and ecologically optimised prototype, economically
optimal too, by determining the minimum amounts of land, labour and capital
goods needed to achieve the required Net Surplus (NS) and QPI
27
A methodical way in designing prototypes in EAFS
STEP 3 :Design of theoretical prototype linking
parameters and methods
How can I get targeted objectives? Using
agricultural production activity (METHODS) in
such a way they are ready for use feasible,
effective .
Most of the methods have to be locally
designed or redesigned.
However, they cannot be designed independently
from each other, because they should be multi-
28
Theorethical Prototype
an example
29
Theorethical Prototype an example
30
Theoretical prototype
of Buriatja
AE
SOMB
PNL
SCI
MCR
ENM
NS
QPI
HHW
EMP
BIP
FSO
31
MCR Multifunctional Crop Rotation
The MCR is the main method of Arable Organic
Farms.
It plays a central role on the multi-objective
approach:
Enviroment protection
Nature protection
Soil fertility
Last but not least Farm/regional Income
MCR is the coach of a team of crops that have to be
balanced for these objectives (often contrasting)
32
MCR Multifunctional Crop Rotation
Consider:
Crop Sequence in Space and Time
Crop Production Activities from harvest to
harvest
Soil-climate-crop interactions
Activities (soil cultivation, Nutrient
management, competition and pest control)
Activities accepted only if Good Agricultural
Practices
33
MCR Multifunctional Crop Rotation STEP A)
Make a list of crops possible in your situation
consider social economic aspects (tradition food,
market
Mechanization and labour
This in Interaction with weather (rain, Temperature,
Growing season length etc..)
Qualify crops for:
Botanical group
Economics (net surplus)
Fertility of soil : physical, chemical and biological
Sort them by net surplus
34
MCR Multifunctional Crop Rotation STEP A)
relation between MCR and Obj/Param
crop Descriptors
descriptors NET SURPLUS
ECONOMICAL
SOIL COVER
PHYSICAL COMPACTATION
ROOT
N OFFTAKE YLD
CHEMICAL N TRANSFER
OM BALANCE
WEED CONTROL
BIOLOGICAL
PEST CONTROL
MAIN OBJ PARAM
METHODS
BIP
AE NAT
AE BIP
AE
AE BIP
AE BIP
AE
BIP HWB
BIP HWB
FSO
SoilMgt, NMgt, CropProt
SoilMgt, NMgt
SoilMgt, NMgt
NMgt
NMgt
NMgt
CropProt SoilMgt
CropProt SoilMgt
NS
OMbal, SCI, Nbal
OMbal, SCI, Nbal
NPKbal
Nbal OMbal NS
Nbal OMbal NS
Nbal OMbal NS
NS Labour
NS ActIngred
35
MCR Multifunctional Crop
Rotation
See part A in ieafs
36
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
carrot
Umbell
3
onion
liliacee
2.5
beet
chenopodiacee
2
potato solanaceae1.8
cabbage brassica 1.5
S wheat cereals
1
oats
cereals
1
sweetclover
legum.
1
grasslandgrass
0.8
-4
-4
-4
-2
-2
-2
-4
4
0
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
3
3
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
3
2
Pest
Weed
N transf
N Offtake
OMBal
struct
root
comp.
soil cover
NetSurpl
us (000
Rublos)
Group
Species
n°.
MCR Multifunctional Crop Rotation STEP A) Crop list in
Buriatia
-2
-2
-2
-1
-1
0
1
2
2
-1
-1
-1
-2
-1
0
0
0
0
37
MCR Multifunctional Crop Rotation STEP B
Make a sequence of crops full filling this rules.
1°crop the higher NS in the 1°block
filling subsequent blocks while preserving
biological soil fertility by limiting the share per
crop species 0.167 and the share per crop
group to 0.33 ;
preserve physical soil fertility by consistently
scheduling a crop with a high rating of soil
cover (erosion-susceptible soils) or effect on
soil structure (compaction-susceptible soils)
after a crop with a low rating, overall the MCR
resulting in a soil cover as high as possible (= 0)
and a soil structure 0 ;
38
MCR Multifunctional Crop Rotation STEP B
Make a sequence of crops full filling this rules.
conserve chemical soil fertility by scheduling
a crop with a high rating of N transfer before
a crop with a high rating of N need and a crop
with a low N transfer before a crop with a low
N need, overall the MCR resulting in an N need
2;
- fill single blocks by 2 or 3 crops with
corresponding characteristics, if needed for
reasons of limited labour capacity or limited
market demand;
- ensure crop successions are feasible in terms
of harvest time, crop residues and pest and
weeds from preceding crops.
39
MCR for Organic: Buriatja
Overall performance
using Multicriteria
approach = 0.8
Pest
Weed
N Fert
N transf
N Off
OMBal
struct
-4
4
-2
4
-2
-4
-1
root
carrot
Umbell
3
sweetclover
legum.
1
S wheat cereals
1
sweetclover
legum.
1
potato
solanaceae
1.8
oats
cereals
1
Mean annual value 1.5
comp.
soilcover
6 Crops n=
6
NS
1
8
6
8
4
7
group
n°Crop
1
2
3
4
5
6
species
year/bl
CR length (year)
-1
1
0 -1
1
0
0 -2 -1
-1
4
3
2
0
3
0
2
0
-1
3
2
1
2
1 -1
0
0
-1
4
3
2
0
3 -1
2
0
-1
1
0 -1
2
0 -1 -1 -2
-1
3
2
1
2
1
2
1
0
-1 2.7 1.7 0.7 1.2 1.3 -0.3 0.3 -0.5
40
Pest
0
2
0
2
0
2
1
Weed
struct
1
3
1
3
1
3
2
N Fert
root
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
N transf
comp.
-4
-2
-4
-2
-2
-4
-3
N Off
soilcover
carrot
Umbell
3
S wheat cereals
1
onion
liliacee 2.5
S wheat cereals
1
potato
solanaceae
1.8
oats
cereals
1
Mean annual value 1.7
OMBal
NS
1
6
2
6
4
7
group
n°Crop
1
2
3
4
5
6
species
year/bl
MCR for more profit (Conventional)
-1
1
0
0 -2 -1
1
2
1
2
0
0
-1
1
0
0 -2 -1
1
2
1
2
0
0
-1
2
0
1 -1 -2
1
2
1
2
1
0
0 1.7 0.5 1.0 -0.7 -0.7
Overall performance
using Multicriteria
approach = 0.4
41
Layout of a farm to enhance benefits of
crop rotation
The basic task of I/EAFS designers, to replace physico-chemical
methods by biological methods and techniques, requires an
appropriate concept:
OrgAFS is an agro-ecological whole consisting of a '
team'of slowly
interacting and rotating crops, plus their accompanying (beneficial or
harmful) flora and fauna.
The designer'
s task can thus be specified: design a rotation with a
maximum of positive interactions and a minimum of negative
interactions between the crops. These interactions strongly influence
physical, chemical and biological fertility of the soil and
consequently vitality and quality production of the crops.
However, a Multifunctional Crop Rotation (MCR) cannot cope
with semi-soilborne and airborne harmful species. Therefore,
an agro-ecologically optimum layout of OrgAFS should meet
additional criteria
42
Layout of a farm to enhance benefits of
crop rotation: Criteria
III Wheat
N
I Carrot
onion
Wind
IV Sw.Clover
VI Oats
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
II Sw.Clover
Field adjacency =1
Field size >1
V Potato
Field Length/Width <=4
Crops in rotation>6:The shorter the crop
rotation, the greater the biotic stress on the
crops and the need for external inputs to
control that stress.
Adjacency of blocks=0: semi soil-born air
Cereals<30%
Infrastructure for Nature & recreation >5%
43