Scaling Up Site-Specific BMP Management for Global Impact Harold F. Reetz, Jr. Ph.D., CPAg, CCA

Transcription

1 Scaling Up Site-Specific BMP Management for Global Impact Harold F. Reetz, Jr. Ph.D., CPAg, CCA International Plant Nutrition Institute Foundation for Agronomic Research Monticello, Illinois

2 BMPs are Site-Specific BMPs are site-specific. Precision farming technology helps farmers and their advisers implement 4R nutrient stewardship...for better management and better crops. Precision technology helps adapt BMPs to the local soils, climate, and culture anywhere in the world. Precision management does not always mean satellites and computers. It means learning the unique details of your fields and managing to make the best use of your unique resources.

3 Growing Population Means Growing Need for Food, Feed, Fiber, and Fuel from Crop Production Global Population Density (2007)

4 Arable Land---Top 20 Countries

5 Maize production (Percent of total tonnes produced in 2007) Sub-Saharan Africa (50% or more), 3.3 All other, 14.8 Italy, 1.3 Canada, 1.3 Indonesia, 1.6 France, 1.7 India, 2.1 United States of America, 42.3 Argentina, 2.8 Mexico, 2.9 Brazil, 6.6 China, 19.4 FAO, 2008

6 Corn Production

7 Global maize production trends Harvested area (million ha) Harvested area 0.94 million ha yr -1 Yield 63 kg ha -1 yr Yield (tonnes/ha) Year FAO, 2008

8 The Global Production Challenge Double 2007 grain production by 2030

9 Corn Yield Trend & Need Corn yield, bu/a y = 1.829x r 2 = %/yr 1.8 bu/a/yr for 43 years Breaking the 1.8 barrier will require our best agronomic science + best agronomic management

10 Sources of Increased Yield Potential? Edgerton, M. D Increasing Crop Productivity to Meet Global Needs for Feed, Food, and Fuel. Plant Physiology:149, pp

11 Site-Specific Management Systems Site-Specific management systems offer farmers and their advisers the best tools for adapting best management practices to their farming operations.

12 Consider the Whole System Precision farming technology helps to systematically include all components to define the best fertilizer management system. The real power of precision technology is in using GIS analysis to determine the interactions among data layers. use with research results make better-informed, sitespecific decisions.

13 Right Nutrient Management Precision farming and the various component technologies of precision farming are essential to Right management to the 4R System for Fertilizer BMPs. Right Source Right Rate Right Place Right Time

14 The Global Framework for 4R Nutrient Management with Performance Indicators See for more information

15 Right Source Ensure a balanced supply of ALL essential nutrients, considering soil-supplied, commercial fertilizer, and manure sources, and considering characteristics of specific products, to meet daily plant needs throughout the growing season. Tools Regular scouting of fields to monitor for deficiencies Plant analysis in-season to check plant nutrient status Modeling of crop growth and nutrient needs Placement choices may affect best source choice Slow-release fertilizer products; additives ESN, Agrotain, Nutri-Sphere, etc.

16 Right Rate Assess soil nutrient supply and plant demand. Tools Soil testing and plant analysis Remote sensing Yield monitor data GIS mapping and analysis ArcGIS, FarmWorks, GeoAgro, etc. Data integration and interpretation; modeling Hybrid-Maize; Maize-N GIS analysis Grid or zone sampling Field level nutrient budget and GIS analysis Variable-rate application

17 Right Time Assess dynamics of crop uptake, soil supply, and logistics of field operations. Determine timing of nutrient loss risks. Tools Plant and soil analysis With GPS, GIS, VRT application Nutrient sensing Soil sensors --- ph, K, organic matter, etc. Greenseeker SPAD, Cardy meter, color charts Weather monitoring Simulation models Integrated remote sensing and GIS analysis

18 Right Place Recognize root-soil dynamics. Manage spatial variability within the field to meet site-specific crop needs and to limit potential losses from the field. Tools Models GIS database and maps Digital soil survey RTK guidance and placement systems

19 Interactions are Important The right source, rate, time, and place are interdependent considerations in selecting the proper management for any individual site. The 4Rs interact---they work together for best management. Variable application of fluid lime recreates the ph map in this Illinois field.

20 Ecological Intensification Ecological Intensification (EI) defines a production system that satisfies the anticipated increase in food demand while meeting acceptable standards for environmental quality. Cassman, K.G Ecological intensification of cereal production systems: Yield potential, soil quality, and precision agriculture. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 96:

21 IPNI Programs North America Eastern Europe and Central Asia China Northern Latin America Latin America Southern Cone Brazil (Africa) India Southeast Asia Australia ~30 Ph.D. scientists in 10 program areas

22 IPNI Global Maize Centers

23 Better Management Fits All Farms The principles of improving management---moving toward BMP systems--- apply to all size farms and cultures. The cumulative effects can have global impact---economic, social, and environmental.

24 Building a Local Management Database

25 Global Maize Project Core Objectives Core Objective 1 To create a global research and extension network, focused on narrowing the maize yield gap, with capacity built over time. Global network of research sites & scientists Global network of producers & their advisers Core Objective 2 To identify local factors comprising Ecological Intensification practices. Core Objective 3 To conduct a global, coordinated assessment of the gap between current average farming practices and EI management Core Objective 4 To use EI practices and nutrient management decision support tools, to improve yields and resource use efficiency Core Objective 5 To curate the project data to ensure its availability and utility for future scientific investigations. Required for long-term assessment of the management systems.

26 Define the Yield Gap What is the gap between our current on-farm maize yields and the yields that are possible in our environment? What steps are necessary to narrow this yield gap increasing yields to that level which is agronomically possible, yet ecologically responsible? The YIELD GAP and the steps to narrow it will be sitespecific.

27 Matching the Tools with the Needs With a combination of tools and data that are a part of precision farming technology, farmers can identify and implement the true best management practices for their operations.

28 Better Technology Better Data The data underlying the site-specific decision making process have been made possible through a series of developments in technology combining GIS, sensors, record-keeping, and monitoring of various parameters.

29 On-Farm Plots Compare how maize yield changes when exposed to: All nutrients at ample levels All nutrients at ample levels except one, which is omitted (application rate equals zero) Omissions can be made for several nutrients Use crop response as a measure of soil fertility Answer the questions: Which nutrients are most limiting in the soil? What is the contribution of each nutrient to the crop yield?

30 Variable-rate application: ---Right rate; Right place K soil test map of Illinois field 90 acres (36.5 ha) Yield Goals: Corn bu/a = 12,548 kg/ha Soybeans bu/a = 4,033 kg/ha 13% needed no K 30% needed maintenance rate 47% needed higher (build-up) K rate

31 Managing K Variability Field Average Soil test: 170 ppm Total Applied: None Site-Specific Soil Test Range: ppm Total K Applied: lb K (4550 kg K)

32 On-Farm Research -Building a local database K -Fine-tuning Application Map recommendations Plot Rate 1 Plot Rate 2

33 Are Our Soil Test Goals Adequate for High Yield Systems? 38 bu/a (2.3 T/ha) more corn!!

34 Remote Sensing for Crop Conditions Potential uses--- Stress detection Pest problems Nutrient deficiencies Drainage repairs

35 Long-Term Research -- Morrow Plots, etc. NEW RECORD YIELD bu/a Long-term studies are an important scientific resource that should be protected and used. The Morrow Plots, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois USA. Second oldest experimental field in the world, established in 1876.

36 Decision Support Site-specific, precision farming technologies employed in fertilizer management decisions make it possible to consider stakeholder interests, along with agronomic, economic, and resource factors in selecting the practices to be used. Practice Source of facts Technology Used Hybrid/Variety Selection Seeding rates Fertilizer rates Local comparison trials On-farm evaluation University/industry trials University/industry recommendations On-farm trials Official recommendations Current research On-farm strip trials; omission plots In-season measurement Yield monitor GIS Records Planter monitor GIS/GPS; Variable-rate planter GIS records GPS-referenced soil tests Crop sensors; soil sensors (?) Variable-rate applicator Yield monitor

37 Magnitude of maize response (kg ha -1 ) Responses from: Global region 1 Global region 2 Global region 3 Global region 4 Global region 5 Global region 6 Global region 7 Soil test level (ppm)

38 Decision Support Systems To fully realize the value of these databases, whether generated on the farm or obtained from other sources, decision-support tools must be employed.

39 Hybrid-Maize Model A user friendly simulation model developed for on-farm use site specific attainable yields & N needs

40 Hybrid-Maize Simulations

41 Soil survey data Previous crop Management & Physical Factors Hybrid planted Fertilizer Rate Map Yield Map Analysis Tools Profit Map Projected Actual

42 Fundamental Principles

43 Moving Toward Higher Yields 370 bu/a (23 T/ha) Corn ---Herman Warsaw, Illinois bu/a (10.3 T/ha) Soybeans ---Kip Cullers, Missouri 2007 High yields require working with the details to fine-tune management practices.

44 Integrating Data from Precision Ag Precision Agriculture tools include more than equipment. The real power of precision ag is in decision support --- integrating data, models, GIS maps, etc., to support betterinformed management decisions.

45 Scaling Trends---Opposing Forces Scaling up State and regional recommendations for nutrient management Large-area hybrid/variety adaptation Labor savings Broader market base Scaling down Local recommendations Site-specific management Locally adapted genotypes More intensive management More data required Reduced economies of scale

46 Field Scale to Global Scale ---One Field at a Time Adopting this approach at the field scale helps contribute to the outcome of providing sustainable cropping systems at state, regional, national, and even global scales. Sitespecific management applied at the local scale throughout the world creates aggregated benefits at the global scale. As more farmers adopt better practices through sitespecific management and better-informed decisionmaking on each field, the larger-scale results can be realized for agriculture and society in general, locally and globally.

47 The Concept Fits Small Farms.or Large Farms In some cases, each field may be a management zone. The tools used may be different, but the site-specific management concept still fits.

48 or Small Fields within Big Fields North Texas PacMan Storage??

49 Information Management The information component covers a variety of records, measurements, and observations which help to interpret the results and guide decisions. Soil survey---digitized if possible Yield history---data and GIS maps Weather data Current season for modeling Past seasons for historic evaluation Soil test and fertilizer application---data and GIS maps Production practice records Scouting reports Plant analysis Harvest data Yield, moisture, test weight, quality Data storage, backups, analysis

50 Global Maize Research & Education Network Global Maize Network????

51 Data Curation

52 Global Maize Information Network IPNI Global Maize Data Network

53 The CREA movement today More than 196 groups 18 regions more than 1832 members 180 technical advisers More than hectares devoted to farming In different activities, CREA members produce 6 to 20 % of Domestic Production.

54 The most productive land is already being used. Potential for increased yield? Can more marginal land be improved, or should it be kept out of production. Higher yields improve efficiency.

55 Think Systems Management Right management requires thinking about how all of the components, and the decisions to be made about managing the crop, interact to produce the final product. A System considers all component practices, the data (information), and the results---agronomic responses (such as yield), economic evaluation, and environmental consequences of the management decisions.

56 Thank you! Harold F. Reetz, Jr. Ph.D., CPAg, CCA International Plant Nutrition Institute Foundation for Agronomic Research 107 S. State St., Monticello, IL Phone: