CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Conservation Agriculture Adoption
in Kazakhstan
Prof. M.Karabayev (CIMMYT)
Dr.P.Wall (CIMMYT)
Dr.K.Sayre (CIMMYT)
Dr.T.Friedrich (FAO)
Dr.T.Bachmann (FAO)
Dr.A.Baitassov (CIMMYT)
Dr.R.Zhapayev (CIMMYT)
Dr.N.Yushenko (NARS)
Dr.A. Morgounnov (CIMMYT)
2011, Kathmandu, Nepal

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
CIMMYT-Kazakhstan Program on Wheat Improvement
I. Wheat germplasm enhancement:
Spring high latitude wheat and winter wheat breeding
II. Efficient soil and water management:
Conservation Agriculture for wheat production and crop
diversification
III. Strengthening NARS capacity

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Average Wheat Yield, t/ha
< 2 2-2.5 2.5 -3 3-4 4-6 6-8 >8< 1.5

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Wheat production and annual rainfall distribution

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
250-300 mm,
rainfed
250-300 mm,
rainfed
250 mm, rainfed
350-400 mm, rainfed
300-350 mm, irrigated, rainfed
Wheat Growing Regions in Kazakhstan
The territory of Kazakhstan is of 270 mln ha.
Ranks 9 place all over the world in the area extent.
Around 20 mln ha is used for crop production, mainly for wheat – 14 mln ha

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Kazakhstan. Country Statistics
Rainfed Irrigated
Wheat area, ha 14.1 mln 0.8 mln
Yield, t/ha 1.2 2.2
Major diseases Leaf rust, Stem rust,
Septoriosis
Yellow rust, Leaf rust
Major abiotic
stresses
Drought Low temperatures,
Drought
Major varieties Omskaya 18, Pamyati
Aziyeva, Akmola 2
Steklovidnaya 24, Almaly,
Progress

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Wheat area and yield in Kazakhstan
Years Area, mln ha Yield, t/ha
Up to 1990 14.1 1.00
1991-95 13.1 0.80
1996-2000 10.7 0.85
2001 10.7 1.18
2002 11.6 1.08
2003 11.3 1.02
2004 11.8 0.84
2005 12.6 0.87
2006 12.4 1.09
2007 13.7 1.07
2009 14.9 1.20
2010 14.9 1.02
Sources: MoA RK

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Ploughing up of the virgin lands in the mid of 1950s had
led to the dramatic loss of soil fertility in Kazakhstan

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Conservation tillage practice developed in 1960s reduced
soil erosion in Kazakhstan but failed to control it efficiently
Conventional Tillage Practices and
Rotation :
• Multiple tillage trips with blades and sweeps,
at 15-25 cm depth.
• 3 years spring wheat, 1 year spring barley
and 1 year summer fallow.
• Most erosion occurs during the fallow
period.

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Conservation Agriculture for Wheat Production in Kazakhstan
In the beginning of 2000s FAO, CIMMYT, MoA, NARS initiated large
scale Conservation Agriculture activities in North Kazakhstan. Due to
these efforts, the area under CA-based practices has been increasing
from: 0 ha in 2001
to:
500,000 ha in 2007
1,200,000 ha in 2008
1,600,000 ha in 2011
with continued increases in area according to a recent assessment
conducted by CIMMYT. The utilization of CA-based technologies has
become an official state policy in agriculture in Kazakhstan. Since 2008,
the government of Kazakhstan has been subsidizing farmers who are
adopting CA-based technologies.
With this Kazakhstan is now included among the top 10 countries
with the largest areas under No-tillage in the world (Source: R.Derpsch &
T.Friedrich. Global Overview of Conservation Agriculture Adoption, 2008, FAO)

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Key Locations of CA practices
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CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
The local seeder SZS-2,1 with the Brazilian
disk furrow openers and cutting discs
Direct seeders locally developed in Kazakhstan
CA equipment used in Kazakhstan

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
CA equipment used in Kazakhstan

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
CA equipment used in Kazakhstan

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Northern Kazakhstan
CA for wheat production and crop diversification

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
CA in Kazakhstan - the way to improve soil moisture storage in the field due to high stubble.
Snow capturing differences between conventional and no-till technologies
Conventional
No-till
No-till
No-till

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
GEF Small Grants Program (GEF/SGP)
Spring wheat yield and yield components under no-till and traditional
technologies, Akmola province, North Kazakhstan, 2007
CA for wheat production and crop diversification
Technology Yield,
t/ha
Total
tillering
Produc-
tive
tillering
Plant
height,
cm
Top
inter-
node
length,
cm
Length
from flag
leaf to
spike,
cm
Spike
length,
cm
N of
spiklets
per
spike
N of
grains
in
spike
N of
grains
in
spiklet
No-till 1.83 2.2 1.8 84.1 43.4 30.4 6.9 12.4 22.5 1.8
Traditional 1.26 2.0 1.7 80.2 33.9 23.6 6.5 10.2 20.1 1.9
CIMMYT on-farm Trials and Demonstrations on
Conservation Agriculture

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
World Bank “Drylands Management Project”
in Central Kazakhstan
The Project Component “Validation and Demonstration of New
Technologies for Restoration of Degraded Lands and Forage Crop”
Objective:
Demonstration of different methods of sowing perennial and annual
crops with low costs resulting in sustainable and profitable crop yields

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
World Bank “Drylands Management Project”
To convert abandoned land…
…into perennial grassland
Chemical field treatment combined
with direct sowing of crops is the
most efficient way of land
rehabilitation

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
World Bank “Drylands Management Project”
The effect of abandoned land restoration methods on agropyron-sainfoin
hay mix yields. Shetsky region, Central Kazakhstan, 2006-2007
Type of fallow (2005) Yield, t/ha
2006 2007 Total for 2
years
Average
for 2 years
Moldboard plow fallow,
traditional seeding
0.88 1.23 2.11 1.06
Sweep tillage fallow,
traditional seeding
0.78 1.32 2.10 1.05
Chemical fallow,
direct seeding
0.97 1.47 2.44 1.22

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Winter Wheat in North Kazakhstan
The cold and severe climate of Northern Kazakhstan is not favorable for growing winter
wheat. However, breeding wheat varieties adapted for these conditions, in combination
with zero tillage technologies (including leaving the straw and crop residue on the field,
direct sowing) can be a good alternative for wheat production and diversification in the
northern parts of the country. In the recent years, the global climate change leads to
softer winters, and the option to grow winter wheat in the Northern Kazakhstan is being
more realistic and reachable objective.
Direct Seeded Winter Wheat. North Kazakhstan province. May, 2004

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Crop Rotation Alternatives.
Diversification
 Canola
 Sunflowers
 Field Peas
 Lentils
 Chickpeas
 Buckwheat
 Winter Wheat
 Flax

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Conservation Agriculture for Irrigated Area of Kazakhstan and Central Asia
PERMANENT
BEDS
PLANTING
SYSTEMS FOR
CROP
PRODUCTION
IN CENTRAL
ASIA
FAO-TIIM Project on CA, Tashkent
province, Uzbekistan, 2005-2006

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Direct seeding of winter wheat into cotton.
Autumn
CA practices for
irrigated agricultural systems
Direct seeded winter wheat into cotton. Spring
# Technology Number of rows Yield,
t/ha
1 Conventional Continuous/dense 3.1
2 No-till direct
seeding
8 rows on the
beds
4.0
3 No-till direct
seeding
4 rows on the
beds
4.5
Average yields of conventionally
and directly seeded winter
wheat into cotton.
Tashkent province, Uzbekistan,
2005-2006
FAO-TIIM Project on CA,
Tashkent province, Uzbekistan, 2005-2006

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
CA practices for irrigated agricultural
systems. South Kazakhstan, 2005 -2007
Locally developed direct seeder for bed-planting
Direct seeded winter wheat on permanent beds
Direct seeded wheat on permanent beds
Direct seeded soybean on permanent beds
CA technologies enable to grow two
crops in one year in South Kazakhstan!

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Тechnological operations
Conventional technology:
1 Dehulling of stubbles
2. Application of fertilizers
3. Moldboard ploughing
4. Grinding
5. Cutting of irrigating
furrows
6. Irrigation
7. Pre-seeding soil treatment
8. Sowing
9. Rolling
10. Early-spring dressing by
nitrogen fertilizer
11. Harrowing
12. Herbicides application
13. Cutting of irrigation
networks
14. Irrigation
15. Closing of irrigation
networks
16. Harvesting
Bed-planting:
1. Ploughing
2. Levelling
3. Crop seeding with
cutting of furrows
4. Irrigation
5. Early-spring fertilizing
6. Herbicides application
7. Irrigation
8. Harvesting
Permanent bed-planting:
1. Direct seeding with fertilizer
application
2. Irrigation
3. Early-spring extra dressing
by fertilizer
4. Herbicides application
5. Irrigation
6. Harvesting

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Economic efficiency of crops production under conventional and direct
seeding technologies. Irrigated system, South Kazakhstan, 2004-2007
Crop Technology Yield,
t/ha
Grain
costs,
$ USD/ha
Expenses,
$USD/ha
Net profit,
$USD/ha
Prime
cost,
$USD/t
Winter
wheat
Conven-
tional
4.6 1160 356.7 803.3 77.5
Direct
seeding
4.6 1148 164.2 983.3 35.0
Maize Conven-
tional
10.0 1672 634.2 1037.5 63.3
Direct
seeding
13.7 2283 237.5 2045.8 16.7
Soy-
bean
Conven-
tional
2.7 1138 603.3 534.2 216.7
Direct
seeding
3.1 1296 228.3 1067.5 73.3

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Crops lands areas under different technologies in Kazakhstan
(World Bank & Kazakhstan “Agricultural Competitiveness Project”,
CIMMYT-Kaz subproject “CA areas assessment in North Kazakhstan”, 2011-2012)
Techno-
logy
Area, mln ha Operations
2007 2008 2011
Conven-
tional
13.7 11.6 8.5 Multiple tillage trips
with blades and
sweeps, (mostly
monocropping system)
Minimal-
tillage
4.6 6.2 8.9 Direct seeding with V-
shaped openers or with
narrow chisels regularly
combined with shallow
harrowing/cultivation,
(few diversification)
No-tillage 0.6 1.2 1.6 Direct seeding with
narrow chisels or
double discs openers
(diversification)

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
International traveling seminars on Conservation Agriculture.
2008-2011, Central, North, North-West, South, South-West Kazakhstan

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Field Day at “Svetlana” Farm. 20 May, 2010
Meeting with Dr. Pannkuk, WSU. 28 May, 2010
Field Day at Bereke Farm. 29 June, 2010
Meeting with farmers. 27 July, 2010
Field Days, Seminars, Meetings…

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Conservation Agriculture for wheat
production and crop diversification
Main issues to be addressed:
Weed control. This is one of the major issues that needs
further research. Options for weed control with different weed
spectra and these different conditions must be available.
Crop rotations. The development and adoption of
functional and economic crop rotations and the general
diversification of the production system remain as a big
challenge to the successful development of CA in Kazakhstan.
Fertilization strategies. New recommendations based
on extensive and thorough research of fertilization aspects,
balance and dynamics of mineral nutrients in soil under CA
need to be developed.
Training and awareness. There is still a need for much
effort in farmer and researcher awareness and training

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Country
Страна
Area under No-tillage (ha) 2007/2008
Площади под нулевыми технологиями (га) 2007-08
1 USA 26.593.000
2 BRAZIL 25.502.000
3 ARGENTINA 19.719.000
4 CANADA 13.481.000
5 AUSTRALIA 12.000.000
6 PARAGUAY 2.400.000
7 CHINA 1.330.000
8 KAZAKHSTAN 1.200.000
9 BOLIVIA 706.000
10 URUGUAY 672.000
11 SPAIN 650.000
12 SOUTH AFRICA 368.000
13 VENEZUELA 300.000
14 FRANCE 200.000
15 FINLAND 200.000
16 CHILE 180.000
17 NEW ZEALAND 162.000
18 COLOMBIA 100.000
19 UKRAINE 100.000
20 RUSSIA ?
Others (Estimate) Остальные 1.000.000
Total Всего 105.863.000
Source: Derpsch, R. and Friedrich, T., 2008
General overview of Conservation Agriculture/No-tillage adoption
Распространение нулевой технологии в мире

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
DUST STORM.
North Kazakhstan, 2007, 2009.

CIMMYTMR
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
THANK YOU!
Almaty
Astana