Trade-offs for biomass uses at farm level, livestock vs soil cover. Krishna Naudin

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This document summarizes a study that used linear programming to model trade-offs between biomass use for livestock and maintaining soil cover in cropping systems in Madagascar. The model, called GANESH, optimized total farm income based on 21 variables and 32 equations related to crops, livestock, farm structure, and external factors like markets. Simulation results showed that increasing herd size reduced the area under conservation agriculture practices and increased financial losses if milk market demand was limited. Maintaining high soil cover reduced flexibility in biomass removal for livestock. The study demonstrated how linear programming can account for interactions between conservation agriculture and livestock husbandry at farm level.

Education Technology Business

Trade-offs for
biomass uses at
farm level -
Livestock vs soil
cover
Naudin K, Bruelle
G, Salgado P, Penot
E, Scopel E, Lubbers M,
de Ridder N, Giller K E

The issue

To much biomass Not enough biomass
for cattle
Feed the cows
or feed the soil ?

Not enough biomass
to cover the soil

CONSERVATION
AGRICULTURE
IN THE LAC
ALAOTRA
REGION OF
MADAGASCAR

Alaotra Region
102 000 ha of paddy
Fields
7 hours from
Antananarivo by car
750 m et 1 100 m ASL
Annual rainfall : 850
mm, lot of variations, 7
to 10 months whithout
rain

Alaotra Region-Landscape

Poor water
control paddy
fields

Irrigated
paddy
fields

Hills Alluvials
soils

CA in the Alaotra region
2500
First experimentation in 1998 2000
Surface Number of adopting

2010-2011 : 1500

• 2000 farmers 1000

• 1200 ha 500

Strong support from 0
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

developpement project, Source: Penot et al, this congress
public funds, NGO

EXAMPLE OF
PICTURE

Annual rotation: rice/Vicia villosa Bi-annual rotation: maize+dolichos//rice
Source : Séguy et al

Optimization throught Linear
programming - Theory
Goal : maximize x1+x2
With following constraints
• x1≥0
• x2 ≥0
• x2-x1≤1
• x1+6x2 ≤15
• 4x1-x2 ≤10

X1+x2=5

X1+x2=4

X1+x2=2
Matousek & Gartner, 2007

GANESH Goals oriented Approach to use No till
for a better Economic and environmental sustainability for Smallholders

GANESH:
• 21 variables
• 32 equations

GANESH - Crops
4 kinds of
fields
1. Poor water
control paddy
fields
2. Hillsides
3. Alluvial soils
4. Irrigated
paddy fields
Each crop is
characterized
by its needs
and outputs

GANESH- Livestock
LIVESTOCK
• 4 kinds of
animals
1. Zebu male
2. Zebu female
3. Dairy cows
improved
breed
4. Dairy cows
local breeds
• Each animal is
characterized by
its needs and
outputs

GANESH- Farm
Farm structure
• Work force
• Self
consumption
needs
External factors
• Milk market

GANESH- Optimisation
Total farm
income
Constraints :
• Work
availability
• Fields
• Forage
needs
• Soil cover %

GANESH- Biomass export and
soil cover

Adapted from: Naudin et
al. Trade-offs between
biomass use and soil
cover. The case of rice-
based cropping systems in
the Lake Alaotra region of
Madagascar., Exp.Agric. In
press

Why soil cover ?
• Has impact on: weeds pressure, erosion control, water
balance.
• Not yet possible to link % of soil cover and crop yield impact

Simulation
Alluvial Soil Poor water
1 000 m2 Irrigated control
Alluvial Soil Paddy field paddy field
1 000 m2 4 000 m2 2 000 m2
Poor water
+ 3 children control
Hill 1 000 m2
paddy field
Hill 1 000 m2 2 000 m2
Hill 1 000 m2
Hill 1 000 m2

EXEMPLE
D’IMAGE
0
12

Simulation
What is the impact of an increase in the herd size
• in term of % of the area cultivated in CA
• in term of economic balance of livestok activities

With a limiting milk market

12,000

10,000
Milk -forage bought (kAr)

8,000 12
10 Nb of cows
6,000 8
6
4,000
4
2,000
2
0
0
-2,000 No 32
limit 16 Milk marketable l/ day
-4,000

Constraint: soil cover > 90%

Conclusion
Linear programming can be a useful tool to take
into account both negative and positive interactions
between CA and husbandry at farm level
What are the limits in terms of complementarily, or
competition for:
• Biomass that can be removed from field
• Size of the herd
• Cropping systems performances (biomass and grain
production)
• Market demand for animal products
To go further: need of more data about relation
between soil cover and crop yields
• Short term impact of soil cover on: weeds, water balance
• Mid term impact of soil cover on : nutrient cycling, soil
organic matter

Thank you for your attention

Merci de votre attention !

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The document evaluates the effects of minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems on maize yield and soil fertility in western Ethiopia over 5 years. MT with residue retention (MTRR) increased average maize yields by 6.6% compared to MT with residue removal (MTRV) and 12.2% compared to CT. MTRR also increased yields more during drought years. MTRR improved soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels compared to MTRV and CT. The recommended nitrogen fertilizer rate of 92 kg/ha was appropriate for all tillage systems.

Controlled traffic/permanent bed farming reduces GHG emissions. Jeff Tullberg

Joanna Hicks

Controlled traffic/permanent bed farming reduces greenhouse gas emissions by using permanent traffic lanes that minimize soil compaction compared to conventional tillage. A pilot study found nitrous oxide emissions were 5-7 times higher in permanent traffic lanes compared to non-wheeled permanent beds. As controlled traffic farming only wheels 10-20% of the area while conventional farming wheels 50% or more, controlled traffic farming is expected to reduce soil emissions by over 50%. Improved soil health and water use efficiency with controlled traffic farming may also increase carbon input into soils. Further research is still needed across different environments.

Controlled traffic farming, productivity, sustainability and resilience: outc...

Joanna Hicks

This document discusses the principles and benefits of controlled traffic farming (CTF). It summarizes CTF as involving permanent wheel tracks, matched machinery, and zonal management to improve soil health and farming efficiencies. The document outlines six key aspects of CTF systems: 1) controlled traffic, 2) designed field layouts, 3) no-till and controlled traffic, 4) new spatial technologies, 5) automated measurement and management tools, and 6) triple bottom line outcomes of increased profits, lower costs, and improved environmental sustainability.

Production systems for the future: balancing trade-offs between food producti...

Joanna Hicks

The document discusses balancing trade-offs between food production, environment, livelihoods, and efficiency in future production systems. It notes the need to feed a growing population while maintaining or reducing environmental impacts. Mixed crop-livestock systems currently produce much of the world's food but face increasing pressures from population growth, urbanization, and rising demand for food and livestock products. Sustainable intensification of these systems will be important to close yield gaps while improving efficiency. Trade-offs between different outcomes need to be considered at farm and broader scales.

Sustainable intensification of maize-bean production among smallholder farmer...

Joanna Hicks

This document summarizes a study on sustainable intensification of maize-bean production among smallholder farmers in western Kenya using conservation agriculture (CA) principles. The study found that combining minimal tillage and residue retention increased water use efficiency, soil organic matter, and maize yields by over 100% compared to conventional practices. It also found that rhizobial inoculation increased bean yields. Modeling with APSIM showed a high degree of accuracy in predicting maize and bean yields under CA. While CA practices showed promising results, challenges remain around competition for crop residues and lack of appropriate small-scale farm implements.

Nitrogen is essential to capture the benefit of summer rainfall for wheat in ...

Joanna Hicks

1) The document discusses how summer rainfall can benefit wheat production in Mediterranean environments of South Australia that typically receive most rainfall in winter. 2) Adding simulated summer rainfall of 50-100mm increased wheat shoot dry matter, PAR interception, and soil water content compared to control plots with only background rainfall. 3) Nitrogen is important for capturing the benefits of summer rainfall to maximize wheat yields.

Biomass shifts and suppresses weed populations under CA. Michael Mulvaney

Joanna Hicks

The document summarizes a study on the effects of conservation agriculture practices including cover crops and organic mulches on weed suppression, soil carbon, and collard yields over three years in central-eastern Alabama. Key findings include: 1) Forage soybean was not effective at weed suppression while mulches improved control of broadleaf weeds and sedges after the first year; 2) Weed populations shifted from broadleaves and sedges to more grasses in the second year; and 3) Transitioning to conservation agriculture practices increased soil organic carbon levels but yields were unaffected by mulching or cover crops.

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