No-Till in Argentina Agustín Bianchini [email protected] [email protected].

No-Till in ArgentinaNo-Till in ArgentinaNo-Till in ArgentinaNo-Till in Argentina

Agustín BianchiniAgustín [email protected]@okandu.com.ar


No-Till Expansion

Latin America = 47 million ha

Latin America = 47 million ha

World Total = 95 million haWorld Total = 95 million ha

Argentina = 20 million ha Argentina = 20 million ha

Source: Derpsch – AAPRESID (2006)

Source: Derpsch – AAPRESID (2006)

No-Till evolution in Argentina (1977-2005)No-Till evolution in Argentina (1977-2005)

Source: AAPRESID (2005)Source: AAPRESID (2005)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

1977/78 1986/87 1988/89 1990/91 1992/93 1994/95 1996/97 1998/99 2000/01 2002/03 2004/05

AAPRESID

GMO

He

cta

res

(M

illio

n)

No-till area evolution: 1977 to 2009 Source: Aapresid

0

5000000

10000000

15000000

20000000

25000000

30000000

Soybean Corn

Wheat Sorghum

Sunflower Total

Area

(hec

tare

s)

East to West Soils Silt-clay loam to sandyRainfall 1000 to 500 mmOM 5% to less 1.5%Growing season 270 days (N) to 180 (S)No snow

•Winter•Soil in Spring•Profitable crops

•Farming size•Capital Available

•Farmer Target

•Winter•Soil in Spring•Profitable crops

•Farming size•Capital Available

•Farmer Target

•Dry Wet & Snowy •Cool-Warm Cold•Summer Summer

•Big Small •Low High

•Reduce Maximize costs & production risks

•Dry Wet & Snowy •Cool-Warm Cold•Summer Summer

•Big Small •Low High

•Reduce Maximize costs & production risks

SH NHSH NH

No-Till Adoption Benefits

greater stability and yield increase

increase in cropped area

lower production costs

WHAT HAPPENED WITH SOYBEAN?WHAT HAPPENED WITH SOYBEAN?

The decade of innovationsThe decade of innovations

No-TillNo-Till

Maturity Group IVMaturity Group IV

Round-Up ReadyRound-Up Ready

• Energy requirement

• Capital investment

• Labor

• Training (knowledge)

• Energy requirement

• Capital investment

• Labor

• Training (knowledge)

• Less More

• Less More

• Less More

• MORE Less

• Less More

• Less More

• Less More

• MORE Less

NT CTNT CT

PhysicalPhysicalDegradationDegradation

Area I : Low (< 10 ppm)Area I : Low (< 10 ppm)Area II : Medium (10-20 ppm)Area II : Medium (10-20 ppm)Area III : Adequate (> 20 ppm)Area III : Adequate (> 20 ppm)

P Availability in the Pampas RegionP Availability in the Pampas RegionP Availability in the Pampas RegionP Availability in the Pampas RegionDarwich, 1980, 1993 and 1999

The Soil in No-TillThe Soil in No-TillThe Soil in No-TillThe Soil in No-Till

In no-till the function of the In no-till the function of the roots and the macro and meso roots and the macro and meso fauna plays an important role fauna plays an important role in the macropore regenerationin the macropore regeneration

Key Concept 1Key Concept 1

The fauna action in the The fauna action in the pore generationpore generation

Do not disturbe the continuity of the Do not disturbe the continuity of the pore network (ocasional tillage effect)pore network (ocasional tillage effect)

Alternate root systems to generate Alternate root systems to generate macropores in all the soil profilemacropores in all the soil profile

Maintain a stable structure in the first Maintain a stable structure in the first inches of the soil profile (residue cover)inches of the soil profile (residue cover)

Generate favorable conditions for the Generate favorable conditions for the meso and macrofauna developement meso and macrofauna developement (stable environment, C adition)(stable environment, C adition)

What to do to maintain the What to do to maintain the macroporosity?macroporosity?

““In no-till the tillage layer does In no-till the tillage layer does not exist, in its place there is not exist, in its place there is another layer enriched with another layer enriched with

organic residues, modifying the organic residues, modifying the soil organic matter dynamics soil organic matter dynamics

and the nutrient cycles”and the nutrient cycles”

Moraes Sa, 1993Moraes Sa, 1993


The soil organic matter is considered The soil organic matter is considered the most important simple indicator to the most important simple indicator to

define the soil quality define the soil quality Larson & Pierce,Larson & Pierce, 19911991

The soil organic matter is considered The soil organic matter is considered the most important simple indicator to the most important simple indicator to

define the soil quality define the soil quality Larson & Pierce,Larson & Pierce, 19911991

OM is a key component in NT OM is a key component in NT Moraes SMoraes Sa, 1993a, 1993

OM is a key component in NT OM is a key component in NT Moraes SMoraes Sa, 1993a, 1993

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

NTCT

Dep

th (

in.)

mg N 100g-1 dry soil

Organic N in a no-till field and Organic N in a no-till field and conventional tillage after 10 conventional tillage after 10

yearsyears

The highest proportion of the OM increase comes from the labile fractions

Source: Moraes SáSource: Moraes Sá

Source: C. BellosoSource: C. Belloso

Management to increase soil Management to increase soil organic Carbonorganic Carbon

Paustian, 1997Paustian, 1997

• Reduce or eliminate Reduce or eliminate tillagetillage

• Rotations with corn, Rotations with corn, grain sorghum, grain sorghum, pasturespastures

• Include permanent Include permanent gramineae and gramineae and legumeslegumes

• Increase time of soil Increase time of soil covered with covered with vegetationvegetation

• Increase production Increase production and return residue to and return residue to the soilthe soil

No TillNo Till

Crop RotationCrop Rotation DiversityDiversity

IntensityIntensity

FertilizationFertilization


In no-till we make a more In no-till we make a more efficient use of the water as we efficient use of the water as we increase infiltration, decrease increase infiltration, decrease

run-off and evaporation losses, run-off and evaporation losses, and improve the water and improve the water

retention (water storage)retention (water storage)

NO-TILLAGE is a synonym of crop residue

Cover the soil with crop residues Cover the soil with crop residues in an homogeneous and durable wayin an homogeneous and durable way

Maintain a stable structure , Maintain a stable structure , mainly in the first inches on the soil mainly in the first inches on the soil profileprofile

What to do to improve the What to do to improve the rainfall water use efficiency? rainfall water use efficiency?


Balanced fertilization (crop Balanced fertilization (crop nutrition) and adequate crop nutrition) and adequate crop rotation are two of the most rotation are two of the most

important practices for the no-important practices for the no-till systemtill system

Fertilization of the rotationFertilization of the rotation

• Balanced fertilization

• Higher yield response in the rotation

• Nutrient residual effects

• Balance inmovilization-release

• Soil biological activity

NPNPNPNP

NPSNPS

Santa Fe, ArgentinaSanta Fe, ArgentinaSanta Fe, ArgentinaSanta Fe, Argentina

Crop RotationCrop Rotation

Planned and ordered crop sequence Planned and ordered crop sequence with the objective:with the objective:

• Maximize Maximize productivityproductivity, ,

• minimize minimize risksrisks, ,

• and preserve the involved and preserve the involved resourcesresources. .

• Diversification of Diversification of productive risksproductive risks• Inhibitory effect on Inhibitory effect on pathogenspathogens• Interruption of Interruption of weedweed and and insectinsect cycles cycles• Chemical fertilityChemical fertility: nutrient balance: nutrient balance• Biological activity and diversityBiological activity and diversity

• Improves Improves soil physical conditionssoil physical conditions (structure (structure and porosity)and porosity)

• Intensification: use the Intensification: use the stored waterstored water in NT. in NT.

Crop Rotation:Crop Rotation:

AdvantagesAdvantages

The dilemma

“The humanity faces today a dilemma with no apparent solution, between the ghost of the lack of food for an increasing demand in quantity and quality, or a destruction of the natural resources needed to produce them”.

The no-till system Consequences

- 96% less soil erosion.- 66% less fuel use.- Maintenance or improvement of the organic matter.- Higher water use efficiency.- Increase in soil fertility.- Lower production costs.- Higher production stability and higher yield potential.

TANGIBLE BENEFITS FOR THE FARMER

CertifiedAgriculture

The evolution of NT

The no-till system Benefits, beyond the farmer

- Better soils, higher capability to produce food and energy.- Less competition for drinkable water (strategic resource).- Higher water quality (lower erosion and contamination risk).- GHG emissions reduction, positive impact on climate change.- Less pressure on HCV and fragile areas (by production increase).- Possibility of producing in degraded and/or fragile lands without the known risks of conventional tillage.

BENEFITS TANGIBLE FOR THE SOCIETY (EXTERNALITY)

CertifiedAgriculture

The evolution of NT

39

www.saiplatform.orgwww.saiplatform.org

Food companies working on sustainabilityFood companies working on sustainability

Field to Market

www.fieldtomarket.org

Input companies, farm associations, NGOs, working on sustainability

To develop an alternative that combines the interests – many times confronted – of reaching a production:-Economically viable for farmers.-Environmentally sustainable.-Socially accepted.-Energetically efficient.

The Challenge

No-Till in ArgentinaNo-Till in ArgentinaNo-Till in ArgentinaNo-Till in Argentina



No-Till in Argentina Agustín Bianchini [email protected] [email protected].

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