Introduction to SANREM / SMARTS Project A University of Hawaii/OUAT Collaboration, March 2011 prepared by Jacqueline Halbrendt, MS J. Halbrendt, T. Idol, C. Chan-Halbrendt, C. Lai Dept of Natural Resources & Environmental Management.

Project Goals Increase food production Introduce economical solutions Improve farm health Improve soil conditions

Traditional Agriculture Local crop varieties Oxen plowing Broadcast planting Low fertilizer inputs No soil cover after harvest

Soil Erosion Poor soil nutrients Impacts of Traditional Agriculture: Low inputs and lack of soil cover

Impacts of Traditional Agriculture: Broadcast planting Competition for resources Broadcast Planting

Alternatives to traditional agriculture Increased inputs of fertilizer and manure Improved varieties Crop rotation MaizeFallowMaizeFallow

Challenges of alternatives to traditional agriculture Requires high capital for seeds, inputs, and equipment Large land area required for crop rotation Manure

Introduction to CAPS Three parts:

Minimum Tillage Reduced disturbance to soil: Increases soil nutrients Increases water absorption into soil Improves soil conditions for better crop yields

Minimum Tillage

Minimum Tillage: Short term Negative Positive Increased water absorption Decreased labor for land preparation Decreased yields from competition Increased labor for planting and weeding

Minimum Tillage: Long term Negative Positive Increased water absorption Improved soil nutrients Increased income Increased Crop Yields Reduced erosion

Intercropping Planting of beans or legumes with maize: Improves soil nutrients Increases soil cover Improves water absorption Decreases erosion

Intercropping: Short term Negative Positive Improved household nutrition from beans Increased income from beans Additional yield of beans Decreased labor for weeding Cost of beans Increased labor for planting Increased water absorption

Intercropping: Long Term Negative Positive Improved soil nutrients Improved household nutrition Increased income from maize & beans Increased maize yields Improved water absorption

Continuous Soil Cover Use of a cover crop or crop residues after harvest helps to: Control weeds Improve soil nutrients Increase water conservation Decrease erosion

Negative Positive Cost of additional herding Cost of cover crop seed Increased labor for cover crop planting Continuous Soil Cover: Short Term

Continuous Soil Cover: Long Term Negative Positive Decreased erosion Improved soil conditions Increased income Increased crop yields

CAPS as a Production System

Overall effect of CAPS Negative Positive Decreased erosion Improved soil conditions Improved household nutrition Increased income Increased labor Increased yields