Short term agronomic gains from CA in NW China. Allen McHugh
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Transcript of Short term agronomic gains from CA in NW China. Allen McHugh
Dr A.D. (Jack) McHugh
Li Hongwen, Ma Zhongming, Cao Xinhui and Zhang Liqin
Short term agronomic gains from Conservation Agriculture in NW China
Wuwei
Zhangye Shandan
Jiuquan
Gansu Province & Hexi Corridor
Dust storms increase with mechanisation and tillage
Desertification near Wuwei city
58
13 14
20
0
5
10
15
20
25
50s 60s 70s 80s 90s
a decade
dust
sto
rm t
imes
dust storm
Data: Zhang Liqin – Gansu Academy of Agricultural Science
Comparative study between:CA No Till permanent raised beds (PRB) (20% land dedicated to furrows)Traditional farming (CT)Fresh raised beds (FRB) (20% land dedicated to furrows)Zero tillage (Flat system) (ZT) (20% land dedicated to permanent wheel tracks)
38
40
42
44
46
48
2006 2007 2009 Ave.years
weig
ht/t
hous
ands
gra
ins
PRB ZT FRB CT
25
28
31
34
37
40
2006 2007 2009 Ave.
years
kern
els/
ear
PRB ZT FRB CT
300000
350000
400000
450000
500000
2006 2007 2009 Ave.years
full
ear
s/66
6m2
PRB ZT FRB CT
ZT
PRB FRB
CT
6355. 926462. 80
5833. 46
5992. 34
5400
5700
6000
6300
6600
CT PRB FRB ZT
yiel
d(kg
/hm2 )
Yield – average of 3yrs
6520. 36680. 3
6200. 3
5542. 4
4000
5000
6000
7000
CT PRB ZT FRB
yield (kg/hm
2 )6088. 57
5575. 87
5420. 325306. 17
4800
5300
5800
6300
CT PRB ZT FRB
yield (kg/ha)
6458. 85
7132. 20
6356. 40
6651. 75
6000
6400
6800
7200
CT PRB ZT FRB
yield(kg/ha)
2006
2007
2009
Traditional Farming
Water Savings
Water Savings
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
2006 2007 2009years
irrigation water(mm)
FRB
PRB
CT
ZT
eff ect i verai nf ul l
21.21% 42.54% 34.64%
RainfallEffective
20
25
30
35
40
CT FRB ZT PRBTreatments
N.U.E(kg/kg)
PRB ~30% increase
Nitrogen use efficiency
Soil depth (cm) Treatment Macro-aggregates Micro-aggregates
>2mm 2-1mm 1-0.25mm <0.25mm 0-10 PRB 12.3 10.3 62.2 15.2
ZT 11.1 9.3 63.1 16.5 CT 9.6 8.4 63.9 18.1
10-20 PRB 14.2 12.6 58.4 14.8 ZT 13.1 13.8 58.1 15.0 CT 12.0 12.2 58.1 17.7
20-30 PRB 18.2 22.0 43.7 16.1 ZT 17.4 21.8 44.3 16.5 CT 15.2 19.8 47.1 17.9
Traditional farming
New beds each year (FRB)
ZT CTF
PRB
Darker colour, earthy, rough, soft, SOM
Grey colour, blocky, hard,
smooth
1 yr of maize and 3yr of wheat
After 4 years of no-till
Change in soil structure
Traditional
PRB
ZT CTF (flat)
Traditional
Crops Location
Cost difference in average ( yuan ∕mu)
Cost difference in percentage ( %)
A- B A- C B- C
Barley
Shandan 2006 & 2008
9.132.3%
-47.5-12.2%
-56.6-14.9%
Wheat
Wuwei(Liangzhou)2008 & 2009
-2.0-0.6%
-21.0-6.2%
-18.9-5.3%
Shandan 2007 & 2009
-10-2.8%
-68.7-19.2%
-58.7-15.9%
Jiuquan(Suzhou)
2007
16.64.3%
-2.4-0.6%
-19.0 -5.2%
Corn
Jiuquan(Suzhou)
2008 & 2009
-22.6-5.1%
-83.6-18.6%
-61.0
-12.9%
PRB(A), ZT basin (B) and Traditional (C)
Difference in input costs (Fuel, Fertiliser, Labour,
Economic Savings
Converting to CA needs higher management skills
The first years might be are difficult for the farmers, they require training and support: – from other farmers (assoc.) and extension services.financial support:- (incentives, subsidies) to invest in new machinery, no-till planters.
Necessary technologies are often unavailable (no till planters, herbicides and chemical spray equipment)
Most farmers cannot take the risk to invest in CA (yield)
Machinery dealers might not wish to promote CA (smaller tractors, high machinery standards and low farmer demand)
Barriers to adoption
Thank you