Fundamentals

of Crop Science
Crop Science I
Lecture 15
 Sustainable
Agriculture
integrated system of plant and animal production
practices having site-specific application that over
the long-term:

1. Satisfy human and fiber needs

2. Enhance environmental quality and natural

resource base

3. Efficient use of non-renewable resources

4. Enhance quality of life of farmers

Goals of SA
1. Environmental health
2. Economic profitability
3. Social and economic equity
Requirements to Understand Sustainability
1. System approach (interconnections bet
farming and the E)
2. Interdisciplinary
3. Involvement of all stakeholders
To realize goals of SA:
Areas of Concern
1. Farming and natural resources, (water sustained
supply, energy-dep on non-renewable energy, air-agric
activities affect air quality, soil- erosion)

2. Plant and animal production practices

3. Economic, social and political issues

Sustainable Production Practices
Considerations
1. Topography
2. Edaphic factors
3. Climate
4. Pests
5. Availability of and access to inputs
6. Farmer’s objectives
 Plant Production Practices:

General Principles

1. Selection of species/varieties
2. Diversification of crops
3. Soil management to enhance and protect soil
quality
4. Efficient and humane use of inputs
5. Cosider farmer's preferences and goals
Animal Production practices:

CONSIDERATIONS:
1. Management planning
2. Animal selection
3. Animal nutrition
4. Reproduction
5. Herd health
6. Grazing management
Solar Economic, Social
and Political Issues

1. Food and agricultural policy

2. Land use
3. Labor
4. Rural and community development
5. Consumers and food system
Man and Crops in an Ecosystem

ecological community, tog
Ecosystem – the complex of an
with the non-living components of the environment, that
function together as a stable system and in which exchange
of materials follows a circular path

Agroecosystem – a model for the functioning of an

agricultural system with all its inputs and outputs

Agroecology – the application of ecological concepts and

principles to study, design and management of agricultural
systems
Man and Crops in an Ecosystem

Agroforestry – a land use system in which woody perennials

are deliberately used on the same land management unit as
annual agricultural crops or animal, either sequentially or
simultaneously, with the aim of obtaining greater outputs on
a sustainable basis
Man interacts with the environment for
1. Energy supply
2. Supply of materials
3. Removal of waste products
Ecology – science which investigates organisms in
relation to their environment
 Ecosystem concept

the basic functional unit of nature which includes both

organism and non-living environment, each interacting
with the other and influencing each other’s properties,
and both necessary for maintenance and deelopment of
the system
Steps in the Operation of the
Ecosystem
1) reception of energy,

2) production of organic materials by producers,

3) consumption of these materials by consumers
and its further elaboration,
4) decomposition of organic compounds,
5) transformation to forms suitable for the nutrition
of the producers
Fundamental concepts of productivity of
an ecosystem
Standing crop – abundance of organism in the area
expressed as number of individuals, as biomass or
energy content
Material removal – includes yields to man, organism
removed from the ecosystem by migration and
material withdrawn as organic deposits
Production rate – is the speed at which growth
processes is progressing
Ecosystem
Habitat – place of residence, location where it may
be found

Niche – role of the organism in the community

Each organism in an ecosystem has a habitat and a

niche
niche includes its interactions with the
physical environment and with the other
organisms in the community
important aspect of niche is the manner in
which the organism acquires energy and
chemicals.
 Important aspects
of ecosystem
energy flow
chemical/nutrient cycling

begin when photosynthesizing organisms use the

energy of the sun to make their own food
the chemicals and energy are used, some of it are
lost as heat while the solar energy are passed from
one population to another as the populations form
food chains and food webs
Elements or Dimensions of Sustainable
Agriculture

Ecologically Sound
Economically Viable
Socially Just, Humane and Equitable
Culturally Appropriate and Sensitive
Attributes of Sustainable
Agriculture

Proactive
experiential
participatory
flexible
 Sustainable Agriculture
Practices

issue of sustainable
mainly emphasize on the
conservation of the environment on a long term
basis
natural resources needed to be taken care of:
water
preservation of the wild lives
non renewable energy resources
prevention or scaling down of the pollution of
air and degradation of the quality of soil
 How do we achieve
sustainability?

Build Soil Structure and Fertility

Reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers by
increasing on-farm nutrient cycling.
Make fertilization decisions based on soil tests.
Minimize or eliminate tillage.
Think of the soil not only as a physical and
chemical substrate but as a living entity; manage
the soil organisms to preserve their healthy
diversity.
Maintain ground cover year-round by using cover
crops and mulches and by leaving crop residues in
the field.
Protect Water Quality on and Beyond the Farm
Use soil conservation practices that reduce the potential
for water runoff and erosion.
Plant perennial crops such as forages, trees, and shrubs.
Plant catch crops or cover crops to take up nutrients that
may otherwise leach into the subsoil.
Provide buffer areas between fields and water bodies to
protect against nutrient streams.
Manage irrigation to enhance nutrient uptake and
decrease nutrient leaching.
Produce livestock in pasture-based systems.
Manage Pests Ecologically; Use Minimal Pesticides
Prevent pest problems by building healthy, biologically active soil; by creating
habitat for beneficial organisms; and by choosing appropriate plant cultivars.
View the farm as a component of an ecosystem, and take actions to restore and
enhance pest–predator balances. Understand that the mere presence of a pest
does not necessarily constitute a problem; base any intervention on monitoring
thresholds.
Before intervening with a chemical, positively identify the pest species and learn
about its life cycle and ecology. Implement cultural practices that alter the
cropping system and surrounding habitat to make life more difficult for the pest
and easier for its natural enemies.
Use pesticides as the last resort, when biological and cultural controls have failed
to keep pest populations below economically damaging levels. If you have to use
chemicals, seek out the least-toxic pesticide that will control the pest.
 Maximize Biodiversity on the Farm

Use hedgerows, insectary plants, cover crops, and

water reservoirs to attract and support populations of
beneficial insects, bats, and birds.
Abandon monocropping in favor of crop rotations,
intercropping, and companion planting.
Plant a percentage of your land in trees and other
perennial crops in permanent plantings or long-term
rotations.
Manage pastures to support a diverse selection of
forage plants.
Plant off-season cover crops.
Know Your Markets, Protect Your Profits,
and Add Value to Your Products

Diversify enterprises.

Market outside the commodity supply chains

and corporate vertical integrators.
Emphasize direct marketing and premium
specialty markets.
Consider forming a cooperative with other
farmers.
Add value through on-farm processing.

Precipitation/2nd International Conference on

Agricultural and Rural Development in SEA 12-
13 Nov 2014 Makati Shangri-La
Rainfall

Theme:

Strengthening Resilience, Equity and

Integration in ASEAN Food and Agriculture
Systems
Resilience connotes sustainabilty
Equity-inclusive growth, inclusive
development
Integration-trend toward
borderless economies, ASEAN
economic community
 Major Topics Discussed
Productivity improvement
Inclusive value chains
Sustainability and poverty reduction- five form of
assets-human, financial, natural, physical and
social
Food security and food safety
Institutions and governance
Regional cooperation and integration
South Asia faces complex challenges amid
emerging opportunities
Development must be well rounded and
inclusive
Research findings and new
knowledge/innovation should be used to
benefit the people
thank you
5AGRI 31 Lecture 15