Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
many different organisms to flourish, is highly productive, and gives good insurance
against the risks of erosion, weather, pests, and disease, but it demands skills and
knowledge, which are hard to find. A system that concentrates on producing soil of
high quality leading to high productivity is biointensive farming, also known as mini
farming. This is based on biodynamic organic farming and intensive raised beds. It
builds on the wisdom of our ancestors, having been in use for 4000 years in Asia. It
is labor intensive and uses little machinery or fossil fuel inputs. Soil is double dug
to twice the normal spade depth, and organic matter is added as compost. Crops are
planted close to each other, often in combinations of different types that grow well
together. A relatively small area can support someone on a vegan diet and provides a
small income. It is particularly relevant to small farmers, often women, in countries
where land and resources are scarce, and it could help transform the lives of the
rural poor. Good training is required so that all aspects of the system are followed;
otherwise, the system can fail and cause soil degradation. It has to be adopted with
a spirit of full commitment.
11.6.3 e
CologiCal
i
intenSifiCation
The use of conservation agriculture and organic or low-input systems will not satisfy
the current increasing demand for food because they often produce lower yields than
intensive agriculture. We still need safe conventional agricultural methods and safe
biotechnological methods to feed the hungry bellies (Azadi et al. 2011). We need to
increase per-area productivity substantially to avoid taking over yet more land for
agriculture. The loss of ecosystem services from this land would be greater than
any benefits in reductions of emission of nutrients and pesticides (Glendining et al.
2009). We also need to reduce the number of inputs per product to minimize adverse
environmental impacts. Eco-efficient farming systems will need to be highly pro-
ductive, relying on clean energy sources and using environmentally favorable indus-
trial processes and sustainable agricultural practices. Lal (2009b) showed that these
practices should conserve soil quality, increase carbon storage in the root zone, and
improve natural water quality. Mineral nitrogen use will need to be reduced by more
efficient use, recycling, and exploitation of natural sources.
However, technologies of nitrogen fertilizers, irrigation water, and pesticides con-
tinue to be abused by excessive use; all of these can decrease soil quality. This is
not confined to developing countries. For example, in New Zealand, the export of
dairy products is vital to the economy. The dairy systems are intensive and expand-
ing. I recently spent some time measuring soil quality and nitrous oxide emission
in pastures under dairy production in New Zealand. As I worked in the field, my
wife waited in the car and watched the cows coming out from milking. So many
walked past that she eventually thought that they were going round in circles! Dairy
productivity depends on irrigation of the pastures in the spring and summer in cer-
tain parts of New Zealand. Dairy production is becoming increasingly unpopular
with the local population because the increased use of irrigation water is drying
out the rivers, and the removal of tree shelterbelts to accommodate the very wide
boom irrigators is increasing the risk of soil erosion. Also, the increased discharge
of effluent high in nitrogen is threatening water quality, and there are concerns over
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