A number of reports mentioned decrease in yield and biomass production as a result of zero tillage and mulch treatment as compared to conventional farmer practice while soil organic matter build-up is very little over the years. How a Scientist working on Conservation Agriculture will convince a farmer to adopt these practices?
The best way to demonstrate the advantages of mulch and no till is to develop a long term collaborative trial with sizable strips which are replicated to be able to determine long term effects and to show these effects in farmer field days.
All calcareous sodic soils need first a reclamation package which will reduce pH and ESP. Thereafter the effect of mulching and ZT can be seen. This has been the story in the North-western part of the IGP, India after a long term experiment with rice as the first crop and wheat thereafter.
Good answer Dr. Pal. I agree that in sodic soils, the very first thing is reclamation which involve deep ploughing, amendment (Ca) and irrigation with good quality irrigation water, then it comes for conservation agriculture. But for normal Alkaline soils, as Dr. Hepperly said, although it is useful and very sustainable to adopt conservation agriculture. But the actual problem is that to demonstrate and convince farmers over this technology seems difficult as for a few years declining yield and very little Carbon and nutrient build-up (soil health) may disappoint farming community. Even in initial 2 to 3 years response of applied fertilizers alongwith mulch treatments and zero tillage is liitle negative specially in case of N fertilizers.
Fortunately Indian farmers are convinced about the success of the reclamation technology advocated by ICAR-CSSRI, Karnal, India and have been following this technology with gypsum subsidy since mid seventies and getting good economic returns.
Before Joining research Dept. I served in Agriculture Extension Dept. Punjab, for 3 years. I have seen farmers adopting one or two components of Conservation Agriculture system. Some in rice area sowing of wheat using Zero Tillage drill, some with regular crop rotation practice, some green manuring and mulching. But inspite of all campaign it was very difficult to convince farmers to adopt this system fully along with cattle raring specially farmers with small living holdings to sustain their family income.
Yes, it was difficult to convince the farmers at the initial stage because they were marginal farmers. Therefore this technology was pushed through lab-to land programme of the ICAR. So the economic burden was less for farmers.
We have been debating a lot on conservation agriculture. Tillage(zero or minimum,), crop rotation, weed control are very crucial in conservation agriculture. The main thing required is field knowledge and innovation. As pointed out by Dr.Hepperly, one has to practice it on farm in research station and demonstrate in farmers field.As mentioned by me innovation is needed in selecting tillage equipment to suite to soil conditions, generate sufficient residues, find out suitable herbicide, proper manure and fertilizer application (appropriate method for application/placement within the guidelines of conservation agriculture)
When people are trying to demonstrate an innovative agricultural practice it is good to identify the lead farmers in an area who are dynamic and open to testing ideas on their farms. More advancement can be made by concentrating on leading and innovators than to start with the whole group. Once a farmer has gotten success and is a respected farmer many practices spread by looking over the fence and word of mouth.
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