No-Till in Argentina Agustín Bianchini abianchini@okandu.com.ar

World Total = 95 million ha Latin America = 47 million ha No-Till Expansion World Total = 95 million ha Latin America = 47 million ha Argentina = 20 million ha In the world No tillage has increased slowly but, in some countries, it has been adopted quickly, like in WA and South America. Despite such a slow increase, these 95 million hectares spread all over the globe, probe that as Dr. Shirley Phillips said “The only limit to No Till is in your mind”. Source: Derpsch – AAPRESID (2006)

No-Till evolution in Argentina (1977-2005) As the figure shows, No till in Argentina has developed since AAPRESID’s foundation at a very rapid rate, even before GMO crops adoption. Two years ago, there was already almost 20 million hectares under NT, that represent about 70% of the total cropped area. Source: AAPRESID (2005)

No-till area evolution: 1977 to 2009 Source: Aapresid Area (hectares)

East to West Soils Silt-clay loam to sandy Rainfall 1000 to 500 mm OM 5% to less 1.5% Growing season 270 days (N) to 180 (S) No snow

SH NH Winter Soil in Spring Profitable crops Farming size Capital Available Farmer Target Dry Wet & Snowy Cool-Warm Cold Summer Summer Big Small Low High Reduce Maximize costs & production risks

® greater stability and yield increase No-Till Adoption Benefits ® greater stability and yield increase ® increase in cropped area ® lower production costs

WHAT HAPPENED WITH SOYBEAN? The decade of innovations No-Till Maturity Group IV Round-Up Ready

NT CT Energy requirement Capital investment Labor Training (knowledge) Less More Less More MORE Less

Physical Degradation

P Availability in the Pampas Region Darwich, 1980, 1993 and 1999 Area I : Low (< 10 ppm) Area II : Medium (10-20 ppm) Area III : Adequate (> 20 ppm)

The Soil in No-Till

Key Concept 1 In no-till the function of the roots and the macro and meso fauna plays an important role in the macropore regeneration

The fauna action in the pore generation

What to do to maintain the macroporosity? Do not disturbe the continuity of the pore network (ocasional tillage effect) Alternate root systems to generate macropores in all the soil profile Maintain a stable structure in the first inches of the soil profile (residue cover) Generate favorable conditions for the meso and macrofauna developement (stable environment, C adition)

Key Concept 2 “In no-till the tillage layer does not exist, in its place there is another layer enriched with organic residues, modifying the soil organic matter dynamics and the nutrient cycles” Moraes Sa, 1993

OM is a key component in NT Moraes Sa, 1993 The soil organic matter is considered the most important simple indicator to define the soil quality Larson & Pierce, 1991 OM is a key component in NT Moraes Sa, 1993

Organic N in a no-till field and conventional tillage after 10 years mg N 100g-1 dry soil 50 100 150 200 250 300 CT NT 4 8 Depth (in.) 12 16 The highest proportion of the OM increase comes from the labile fractions 20 24 28 Source: Moraes Sá

Source: C. Belloso

Management to increase soil organic Carbon Paustian, 1997 Reduce or eliminate tillage Rotations with corn, grain sorghum, pastures Include permanent gramineae and legumes Increase time of soil covered with vegetation Increase production and return residue to the soil No Till Crop Rotation Diversity Intensity Fertilization

Key Concept 3 In no-till we make a more efficient use of the water as we increase infiltration, decrease run-off and evaporation losses, and improve the water retention (water storage)

NO-TILLAGE is a synonym of crop residue What is no-till? It is basically a production system in which we harvest a crop, we spread the crop residues on the soil surface, and after that we plant the following crop. So there is no tillage operation under this system.

Under CT, there is a bare soil that receives the direct impact of the raindrop, so when the drop hits the soil, it destroys the soil surface structure and aggregates. This process limits the water infiltration, and soon we start to have water runoff with the results that we can see in this picture.

Under NT the rain drop hits the crop residue or straw, it does not affect the soil structure, and we have a higher water infiltration. As a result, we have cleaner rivers, streams and lakes.

What to do to improve the rainfall water use efficiency? Cover the soil with crop residues in an homogeneous and durable way Maintain a stable structure , mainly in the first inches on the soil profile

Key Concept 4 Balanced fertilization (crop nutrition) and adequate crop rotation are two of the most important practices for the no-till system

Fertilization of the rotation Balanced fertilization Higher yield response in the rotation Nutrient residual effects Balance inmovilization-release Soil biological activity

NPS NP Santa Fe, Argentina

Crop Rotation Planned and ordered crop sequence with the objective: Maximize productivity, minimize risks, and preserve the involved resources.

Crop Rotation: Advantages Diversification of productive risks Inhibitory effect on pathogens Interruption of weed and insect cycles Chemical fertility: nutrient balance Biological activity and diversity Improves soil physical conditions (structure and porosity) Intensification: use the stored water in NT.

The dilemma “The humanity faces today a dilemma with no apparent solution, between the ghost of the lack of food for an increasing demand in quantity and quality, or a destruction of the natural resources needed to produce them”.

The no-till system Consequences - 96% less soil erosion. 66% less fuel use. Maintenance or improvement of the organic matter. Higher water use efficiency. Increase in soil fertility. Lower production costs. Higher production stability and higher yield potential. TANGIBLE BENEFITS FOR THE FARMER Certified Agriculture The evolution of NT

The no-till system Benefits, beyond the farmer Better soils, higher capability to produce food and energy. Less competition for drinkable water (strategic resource). Higher water quality (lower erosion and contamination risk). GHG emissions reduction, positive impact on climate change. Less pressure on HCV and fragile areas (by production increase). Possibility of producing in degraded and/or fragile lands without the known risks of conventional tillage. BENEFITS TANGIBLE FOR THE SOCIETY (EXTERNALITY) Certified Agriculture The evolution of NT

Food companies working on sustainability www.saiplatform.org

Input companies, farm associations, NGOs, working on sustainability Field to Market www.fieldtomarket.org

The Challenge To develop an alternative that combines the interests – many times confronted – of reaching a production: Economically viable for farmers. Environmentally sustainable. Socially accepted. Energetically efficient.

No-Till in Argentina Agustín Bianchini abianchini@okandu.com.ar