Conservation Agriculture in the Andean Highlands: Promise and Precautions

Alwang, Jeffrey; Norton, George W.; Barrera, Víctor Hugo; Botello, Rubén

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-33584-6_3

Cited by 7 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In the Illangama, Ecuador's National Institute of Agricultural Research (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias; INIAP) jointly with the National Secretariat for Higher Education, Science and Technology (Secretaría Nacional de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación; SENESCYT), and the Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management‐ Collaborative Research Support Program (SANREM CRSP) funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), as well as USDA‐ARS‐Soil Management and Sugar Beet Research Unit (SMSBRU), Virginia Tech, and Penn State led a research program on conservation agriculture practices and conservation agriculture production systems. Preliminary results showed the potential for improvement of several production systems prevailing in the area (Alwang et al, 2013; Barrera et al, 2012; Barrowclough et al, 2016; Delgado et al, 2019; Escudero et al, 2014; Gallagher et al, 2017; Monar et al, 2013).…”

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Conservation Agriculture Increases Yields and Economic Returns of Potato, Forage, and Grain Systems of the Andes

et al. 2019

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Physical and environmental vulnerability analysis conducted for the Illangama watershed located in Ecuador's Andean highlands, shows deteriorated soil quality and declining crop productivity. These problems are caused by soil erosion in steep slopes and inappropriate soil management practices. Research projects conducted from 2011 to 2014 adopted and examined the feasibility of conservation agriculture practices for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), oat (Avena sativa L.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), bean (Vicia faba L.), and a mixture of pastures (annual ryegrass [Lolium multiflorum Lam.], perennial ryegrass [L. perenne L.], orchardgrass [Dactylis glomerata L.], white clover[Trifolium repens L.], and red clover [T. pratense L.]). The practices included surface water deviation ditches, reduced tillage, residue retention, and application of N, all within an improved rotation. The study examined crop yields and economic returns in an effort to identify the best practices. Results indicate that crop productivity and net (of cost of production) benefits of the system were increased as much as 25 and 24%, respectively, using a feasible conservation agriculture system compared to conventional practices. This study shows that conservation agriculture increases yields and saves on production costs due to less tillage. We also found that N fertilization with these conservation agriculture practices increases yields and net returns. This study concludes that conservation agriculture practices are good alternatives for these high‐altitude Andean soils. The practices should be promoted among Andean producers to increase the productivity and sustainability of their potato–grain–pasture systems. Core Ideas The Andean region of Ecuador is critical for the country's food security. Cultivation of high‐slope mountainous agriculture is accelerating erosion. Conservation agriculture is an attractive management alternative. Implementation of reduced tillage could contribute to higher net income for farmers. These practices could benefit nearly 200,000 Ecuadorean farms.

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Conservation Agriculture Increases Yields and Economic Returns of Potato, Forage, and Grain Systems of the Andes

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“…Todos los sitios se hallan referidos en la Figura 2. estudios atacameños. Arqueología y Antropología Surandinas 2021, 67: e4206 y erosión permanente del mismo, favoreciendo más bien su salud, fertilidad y productividad agrícola (Alwang et al, 2013).…”

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Agriculturización: La alquimia de un paisaje precolombino Kañari en la cuenca alta del río Chanchán, Andes del Ecuador

2021

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Aunque la importancia de la agricultura como factor clave del desarrollo económico de los pueblos y territorios andinos ha sido ampliamente reconocida a nivel mundial, han sido escasos los intentos por evaluar su importancia histórica en la construcción de los paisajes agrarios precolombinos en los Andes del Ecuador. En este artículo se presentan los primeros resultados del análisis de los paisajes agrarios Kañari en la cuenca alta del Chanchán, mostrando una larga trayectoria histórica que se extendió por casi 2000 años desde el Período Formativo Tardío (543-381 cal AC) hasta la fase final del Período de Integración (1386-1438 cal DC). Los sistemas de agrocultivo extensivos e intensivos (campos permanentes y terrazas) actuaron como un agente transformador del espacio, imprimiendo una firma cultural agro-sacralizada con la configuración de tres tipos de paisajes: doméstico, social y sagrado. La agriculturización de estos paisajes muestra cómo la intensificación de la agricultura bajo un modelo de progresión unilineal no significa generalmente un retroceso natural de los procesos ecosistémicos, a causa de la intervención humana para la producción de sus cultivos. La elasticidad de los agroecosistemas Kañaris prehispánicos pudo ser sostenida ante los procesos históricos de la agriculturización durante toda su trayectoria histórica.

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“…In Ecuador and Bolivia, cover crops do not have a similar economic value to cash crops such as potato, corn, bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), fava bean (Vicia faba L.), and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd. ), so they have to be established off-season (Alwang et al, 2013). Delgado et al (2019) and Barrera et al (2019) found that there was enough moisture for the establishment of an oat (Avena sativa L.)-vetch (Vicia sativa L.) mix planted right after harvest of the cash crop.…”

Section: Potential To Use Soil and Water Conservation For Climate Change Adaptation In The Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation agriculture can help the South American Andean region achieve food security

Barrera

Delgado

Alwang³

2021

Agronomy Journal

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The Andean region of Ecuador is dominated by small-scale agriculture on steep slopes vulnerable to erosion, soil degradation, and subsequent productivity loss. Soil erosion rates exceed the average rate of soil formation by 9-286 times, making current agricultural practices in the region unsustainable, and threatening to increase food insecurity. The projected effects of a changing climate vary across the Andean region, with higher precipitation and erosion rates projected for some areas. However, even in areas where the precipitation rates are expected to be lower, the projected erosion rates will still be unsustainable. Research on conservation agriculture (CA) practices conducted from 2008 to 2017 in the highlands of Ecuador suggests that yields and cost savings ultimately make several CA production systems profitable compared to conventional practices. In the very short term, large gains did not emerge, and the best that could be said about CA is that it did not reduce productivity. Over the medium term, improvements in soil health (lower erosion) led to higher profitability that made the practices more profitable than conventional practices over the entire rotation. However, adoption of these alternatives by local producers, even in research areas, is low. Lack of public or private agricultural extension contributes to slow diffusion of new technology and best management practices in the region. There is a need to develop improved communication with local farmers to more effectively relay how CA protects the soil, mitigates degradation, and provides a means to achieve food security and avoid a humanitarian crisis. GLOBAL CHALLENGES TO FOOD SECURITY 1.1Climate change and intensive agriculture could increase erosion rates, potentially catalyzing a regional catastrophe in the Andes One of the greatest challenges facing the Andean region of South America is how to mitigate potential impacts of Abbreviations: CA, conservation agriculture;

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Conservation Agriculture in the Andean Highlands: Promise and Precautions

Cited by 7 publications

References 14 publications

Conservation Agriculture Increases Yields and Economic Returns of Potato, Forage, and Grain Systems of the Andes

Conservation Agriculture Increases Yields and Economic Returns of Potato, Forage, and Grain Systems of the Andes

Agriculturización: La alquimia de un paisaje precolombino Kañari en la cuenca alta del río Chanchán, Andes del Ecuador

Conservation agriculture can help the South American Andean region achieve food security

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