Agriculture's Role in Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Examines technical, economic, and policy trends. Explores efforts to encourage farmers to adopt new agricultural practices that reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Reviews biofuel options, and related policy implications

SITE-SPECIFIC PEST MANAGEMENT IN NEBRASKA CORN AND SOYBEAN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Site-specific management (SSM) is widely used by farm producers to fertilize their fields. However, whole field management is currently practiced in integrated pest management (IPM). Site-specific management and agricultural technology can improve IPM especially when precision application of inputs can reduce selection pressure on pest populations, benefit the environment, or save costs of inputs. There is potential for site-specific pest management (SSPM) where pests, or environments vary spatially, and recommended management practices can be applied with precision. Three case studies are evaluated for SSPM to be applied in Nebraska corn and soybean production systems including corn rootworm, preemergence herbicides, and soybean cyst nematode. Additional research will be needed for SSPM to reach its potential in future agricultural production systems. Advisor: Gary L. Hei

Sowing time, false seedbed, row distance and mechanical weed control in organic winter wheat.

In organic farming, mechanical weed control in winter wheat is often difficult to carry out in the fall, and may damage the crop, and weed harrowing in the spring is not effective against erect, tap-rooted weeds such as Tripleurospermum inodorum, Papaver rhoeas, Brassica napus and others which have been established in the autumn. Some experiments concerning sowing strategy and intensity of mechanical weed control, which included row distance, were conducted. The results underline the importance of choosing weed control strategy, including preventive measures, according to the weed flora in the field. In the experiment with low weed pressure and without erect weeds, there was very little effect of sowing strategy and row distance. In such a case, the winter wheat might as well be sown early, in order to avoid possible yield loss by later sowing, and at normal row distance to enhance the competitiveness of the crop. In the experiments with high weed pressure and erect weeds, the weed control was better with late sowing and large row distance (high intensity control), even though this was not always reflected in the yield. However, the trade-off for lower input to the soil seed bank in organic systems should be enough to balance off the risk of smaller yield

Combining physical and cultural weed control with biological methods – prospects for integrated non-chemical weed management strategies

The paper deals with the possibilities of combining physical weed control with biological weed control

Recent results in the development of band steaming for intra-row weed control

The recent achievements with developing band-steaming techniques for intra-row weed control in vegetables are presente

A compendium of Technologies, Practices, Services and Policies for Scaling Climate Smart Agriculture in Odisha (India)

Stakeholders engaged in agricultural research for development (AR4D) are increasingly tackling risks associated with climate change in smallholder systems. Accordingly, development and scaling of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) are one of the priorities for all the organizations, departments and ministries associated with the farm sector. Having a ‘one-stop-shop’ compiled in the format of a compendium for CSA technologies, practices and services would therefore serve a guide for all the stakeholders for scaling CSA in smallholder systems. Bringing out a Compendium on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) for Odisha, India was therefore thought of during the workshop on ‘Scaling Climate-Smart Agriculture in Odisha’ organized at Bhubaneswar on 18-19 July 2018 by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in collaboration with Department of Agriculture (DoA) & Farmers’ Empowerment, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Rice Research Institute (ICAR-NRRI), Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) & International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) under the aegis of CGIAR Research program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). The main objectives to bring forth this compendium are: to argue the case for agriculture policies and practices that are climate-smart; to raise awareness of what can be done to make agriculture policies and practices climatesmart; and to provide practical guidance and recommendations that are well referenced and, wherever possible, based on lessons learned from practical action. CSA programmes are unlikely to be effective unless their implementation is supported by sound policies and institutions. It is therefore important to enhance institutional capacities in order to implement and replicate CSA strategies. Institutions are vital to agricultural development as well as the realisation of resilient livelihoods.They are not only a tool for farmers and decision-makers, but are also the main conduit through which CSA practices can be scaled up and sustained. The focus in this compendium is on CSA and it’s relevant aspects, i.e., (i) technologies and practices, (ii) services, (iii) technology targeting, (iv) business models, (v) capacity building, and (vi) policies. The approaches and tools available in the compendium span from face-to-face technicianfarmer dialogues to more structured exchanges of online and offline e-learning. In every scenario it is clear that tailoring to local expectations and needs is key. In particular, the voice of farmers is essential to be captured as they are the key actors to promote sustainable agriculture, and their issues need to be prioritized. CSA practices are expected to sustainably increase productivity and resilience (adaptation), reduce Greenhouse Gases (mitigation), and enhance achievement of national food security along with sustainable development goals. CSA is widely expected to contribute towards achieving these objectives and enhance climate change adaptation. CSA practices have to be included in State’s Climate Policy as a priority intervention as the state steps up efforts to tackle climate change. Furthermore, emphasis shoud be laid on CSA training for a sustainable mode to enhance CSA adoption in the state hence the relevance of developing this document. The adaption of climate related knowledge, technologies and practices to local conditions, promoting joint learning by farmers, researchers, rural advisor and widely disseminating CSA practices, is critical. This compendium brings together a collection of experiences from different stakeholders with background of agricultural extension and rural advisory services in supporting CSA. The contributions are not intended to be state-of-the art academic articles but thought and discussion pieces of work in progress. The compendium itself is a ‘living‘ document which is intended to be revised periodically

Precision agriculture: soybean culture in South Brazil

The objective of describing the scientific production on precision agriculture for soybean cultivation in southern Brazil. Integrative review developed in five stages: 1) to identify research problems: what is the scientific production on precision agriculture for the soybean economy in Brazil, 2) data collection, 3) data evaluation, 4) analysis and interpretation of data and 5) presentation of results. 19 articles appeared, published in the period from 2011 to 2019. All involve the study of soy, created in Latosol, Cambisolo and Argisolo; study areas ranging from 1.74 to 225 hectares; predominance of no-tillage carried out over ten years; crop rotation in summer and winter. As topics addressed: Physiological quality of soybean seeds; Sowing of soybeans; Chemical and physical attributes of the soil; Spectral indices during soybean growth; Weeds and pest control. There was greater emphasis on technologies: digital maps, machinery, tests, computer systems / programs, software, georeferencing, soil analysis, electronic meters, digital images, equipment and optical sensors. The tools used in precision agriculture are important for professional qualification, increased reduction, environmental impacts, sustainability, optimization of time and products and services, cost reduction

Site-specific seeding using multi-sensor and data fusion techniques : a review

Site-specific seeding (SSS) is a precision agricultural (PA) practice aiming at optimizing seeding rate and depth, depending on the within field variability in soil fertility and yield potential. Unlike other site-specific applications, SSS was not adopted sufficiently by farmers due to some technological and practical challenges that need to be overcome. Success of site-specific application strongly depends on the accuracy of measurement of key parameters in the system, modeling and delineation of management zone maps, accurate recommendations and finally the right choice of variable rate (VR) technologies and their integrations. The current study reviews available principles and technologies for both map-based and senor-based SSS. It covers the background of crop and soil quality indicators (SQI), various soil and crop sensor technologies and recommendation approaches of map-based and sensor-based SSS applications. It also discusses the potential of socio-economic benefits of SSS against uniform seeding. The current review proposes prospective future technology synthesis for implementation of SSS in practice. A multi-sensor data fusion system, integrating proper sensor combinations, is suggested as an essential approach for putting SSS into practice

Agroforestry Opportunities for Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change in Rainfed Areas,

Not AvailableAgroforestry provides a unique opportunity to achieve the objectives of enhancing the productivity and improving the soil quality. Tree systems can also play an important role towards adapting to the climate variability and important carbon sinks which helps to decrease the pressure on natural forests. Realizing the importance of the agroforestry in meeting the twin objectives of mitigation and adaptation to climate change as well as making rainfed agriculture more climate resilient, the ICAR-CRIDA has taken up the challenge in pursuance of National Agroforestry Policy 2014, in preparing a book on Agroforestry Opportunities for Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change in Rainfed Areas at ICAR-CRIDA to sharpen the skills of all stakeholders at national, state and district level in rainfed areas to increase agricultural productivity in response to climate changeNot Availabl