“MANAGING LIVING SOILS” GSP WORKSHOP

FAO Headquarters – Rome, Italy December 2012

Status and priorities of soil management in Argentina

La sustentabilidad como programa

Aapresid foundation - 1989

Evolution of NT surface in Argentina 1977-2011

Source: Aapresid (2012)

Aapresid GMOs

Source: Aapresid 2012

Evolution of NT surface in Argentina compared to the total cropland. 1977-2011

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Campaigns (Year)

Percentage of total cropland area under No Till in Argentina, 1977/78 to 2010/11 campaigns. Source: Aapresid (2012)

78,5%

Sustainability as a program

Aapresid's MISSION To promote the No Till system in order

to achieve an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable agricultural activity based on

technological, organizational and institutional innovation, undertaking the commitment to

interact with public and private organizations to achieve an integral development of our Nation.

CURRENT SOIL

Loss of fertility

Loss of porosity

Loss of structure

SOM: 2-3%

ATMOSPHERE

CO2

Virgin soil Structure Porosity Fertility

SOM: 5-6%

ROUTE FOLLOWED UNTIL THE PRESENT

TILLAGE = DETERIORATION,

UNSUSTAINABLE SYSTEM

PRODUCTIVITY QUALITY WITH BIG AMOUNTS OF

EXTERNAL INPUTS

CONVENTIONAL TILLAGE

HU

MA

N F

ACT

OR

R. Fogante / 98

CURRENT SOIL

Loss of fertility

Loss of porosity

Loss of structure

SOM: 2-3%

ATMOSPHERE

CO2

Virgin soil Structure Porosity Fertility

SOM: 5-6%

ROUTE TO FOLLOW

HIGH YIELDS

NO TILL

NO TILL SYSTEM

R. Fogante / 98

HU

MA

N F

ACT

OR

PROPORTIONALLY LESS EXTERNAL INPUTS

Roots

Source: C. Crovetto, Chile

NT reduces soil erosion by 90%

About 20% of global cropland is eroded to the extent that part of it has been abandoned

Salty water 97.3%

Ice 2.04% Underground water 0.61% Soil humidity 0.005% Vapor 0.001% Lakes 0.009% Rivers 0.0001%

Fresh water 2.7%

NT reduces water evaporation by 70%

Food production accounts for 70% of total freshwater use

Continuous Soybean Typical Argiudol after 50 years of agriculture (last 10 in No till)

Crop rotation in the past 10 years: 9 SoyFS-1 maize

Source: INTA Oliveros

Field under crop rotation Typical Argiudol after 47 years of agriculture (last 10 in No till)

Crop rotation in the past 10 years: 5 Wheat/SoyDC- 5 maize

Source: INTA Oliveros

Water Conductivity Measurement (water movement through the soil)

In the field under soybean-grass rotation, water circulation was 80% higher than that under soybean monocrop

Source: S. Bacigaluppo, 2005. INTA Oliveros

Production average (last 5 years): 4.80 tn./ha/año

Crop area (% total area) – Marcos Juárez County –

Wheat SoyDC

SoyFS Maize

Area %

19.80

19.80

70.70

9.50

2 year Crop rotation (Maize-Wheat/SoyDC) H. Ghio Farm, Marcos Juarez County

Yearly production average (3 crops)

Campaign 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11

Tn/ha/year 8.86 8.61 8.82 9.35 9.34 8.91 10.04 11.30 10.37 10.85 10.20 9.10 8.90 11.00

Production average (last 5 years): 10.02 tn./ha/año

212% yield increased with the same inputs (land, water, radiation…)

SOIL CARBON BALANCE (SOM)

The soil undergoes both SOM losses naturally through mineralization and SOM gains through the amount and quality of crop residues left over its surface.

The amount of crop residues the soil should receive to maintain its organic matter level (balance value) can be determined using simulation models.

4,300 kg/ha/year of Carbon (about 11,000 kg of crop residues) will be needed to maintain an average value of 2.5% of SOM under continuous No Till system.

Thesis done by Thomas and Andriulo, 2001 for Hansen and Baldissera soils (typical Argiudol soils)

The world is trying to reduce CO2 emissions No Till increases soil Carbon content NT helps to save 40% of fossil fuel because of the absence of tillage

WATER CONSUMPTION AND EFFICIENCY UNDER DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FERTILIZATION - LATE SOYBEAN 2006/07

Yield (kg/ha) 2684 4253 2596 4266 4499

Water Use Efficiency (kg of grain/mm)

4 7 5 8 9

Agr. Eng. Guillermo Beltramo – AAPRESID Internship

Control S Treatment NP Treatment NPS Treatment NPS Reposition

Phenological Stages S Fl MF S Fl MF S Fl MF S Fl MF S Fl MF

Total available Water (2.5m) 134 185 330 107 186 276 82 211 318 41 220 277 10 186 293

Rainfall P to PM 793mm

AW Planting (mm) 134 107 82 41 10

Consumption by Crop (mm) 597 624 557 557 510

WATER CONSUMPTION AND EFFICIENCY UNDER DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FERTILIZATION MAIZE 2007/08

Control S Treatment NP Treatment NPS Treatment NPS Reposition

Phenological Stages S Fl MF S Fl MF S Fl MF S Fl MF S Fl MF

Total available Water (2.5m) 278 58 34 276 52 31 270 54 81 259 40 30 271 43 60

Rainfall P to PM 274mm

Rainfall 15 days before flowering 16mm

Agr. Eng. Guillermo Beltramo – AAPRESID Internship

Yield (kg/ha) 4,640 6,222 5,656 7,947 8,497

Water Use Efficiency (kg of grain/mm) 9

12 12 16

18

AW Planting (mm) 278 276 270 259 271

Consumption by Crop (mm) 518 519 463 503 485

NSAP GAP NE

CONCLUSION GAP is more similar to NE than NSAP and it is in between those situations

BIOlogía del Suelo y Producción Agraria Sustentable (Soil Biology and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

Ministry of Science and Technology (MINCyT) +1 NGO(AAPRESID)+2 Companies+ 12 Research Units

Organism Pounds of liveweight/acre Bacteria 1000

Actinomycetes 1000 Molds 2000 Algae 100

Protozoa 200 Nematodes 50

Insects 100 Worms 1000

Plant roots 2000

Source: Dr. Dwayne Beck, SDSU

ALTA PRODUCTIV

IDADAD

Water

Air Nutrients

C

INTENSITY Source: Moraes Sa, 2003

INITIAL0-5 years

Low OMLow residue

Soil structure regenarationMicrobial activity increases

More needs of N Source: Adapted from J.C. Moraes Sa, 2003

CONSOLIDATION 11-20 years

C accumulation Increase residues

> available water in the soil

N mineralization > immobilization Increase CEC

> nutrient cycling TRANSITION

6-10 years

OM acumulation More residues

> soil aggregates > soil microbial activity

N immobilization > mineralization P accumulation

MAINTENANCE + 20 years

Continuous flow of N and C High residues

> available water in the soil

High nutrient cycling > N and P availability

TIME

BPA 1: Siembra Directa

Good Agricultural Practices

BIOTECHNOLOGY

We need government policies based on clear rules that promote a sustainable production guaranteeing food safety and minimizing the consequences of climate change. Government policies with a fair tax system that promotes wealth generation with a correct tax collection to promote activities for social inclusion of those with less resources.

Agr. Eng. María Beatriz (PILU) Giraudo giraudo@aapresid.org.ar

www.aapresid.org.ar

Aapresid is ready but it’s better If we can do this together!! THANK YOU

“The only limit in No Till is in your mind”

Dr. Shirley Phillips