1. Ing. Agr. Agustín Bianchini
No-Till in Argentina
Ing. Agr. Agustín Bianchini
No-Till Farmer’s
Argentinean Association

2. 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)

3. 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)

4. No-Till area evolution for wheat, corn,
and soybean – 2002
Source: AAPRESID

6. 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

7. 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

8. Actual and Potential Yield for Advanced Technology Farmers

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

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

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

13. Physical Degradation

14. 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)

15. The Soil in No-Till

16. 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

20. The fauna action in the pore generation

21. 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)

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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 10 20
Depth (cm) 30 40
The highest proportion of the MO increase comes from the labile fractions 50 60 70
Source: Moraes Sá

25. Source: C. Belloso

26. 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

27. 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)

28. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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

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

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

36. NPS NP
Santa Fe, Argentina

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

39. 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.

40. I – Context Analysis 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”.
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

41. II– 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

42. II– The no-till system Benefits, beyond the farmer
Better soils
Less competition for drinkable water (strategic resource)
Higher water quality (lower erosion and contamination risk)
Better atmosphere, positive impact in the climate change
Lower pressure on more fragile areas (by an increase in yields)
Possibility of producing in more fragile areas without the known risks of Conventional Tillage (CT).
BENEFITS TANGIBLE FOR THE SOCIETY (EXTERNALITY)
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

43. III– Productive and environmental quality management system in CA (QMS/CA)
Objectives:
- To provide tools for a professional agronomical management, by the ordered registry of information and the analysis of the soil quality and efficiency indicators.
- To show to the rest of the society how are the production processes and its impact on the environment, allowing to capture the value of the positive externality that the CA makes in it.
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

44. III– Productive and environmental quality management system in CA (QMS/CA)
Components:
- Principles & Criteria:
- RTRS, RSB, ISGA, RTSPO, FSC, FAO
- Management indicators:
- in the soil
- resource use efficiency
- Good Agricultural Practices Protocol (GAP’s)
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

45. Certified Agriculture
It is the production alternative that better combines the interests – many times confronted – of reaching a production:
Economically viable for farmers.
Environmentally sustainable.
Socially accepted.
Energetically efficient.
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

46. Thank you!!!! bianchini@aapresid.org.ar www.aapresid.org.ar/english
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

49. III– Productive and environmental quality management system in CA (QMS/CA) Indicators: why?
Because they allow to access confident management information, with scientific basis.
To be able to observe quanti and qualitative recent changes in the management and its impact in the system.
To allow to integrate physical, chemical and biological properties and to interpret complex processes.
Because they allow to clarify processes: “ecological traceability” (Viglizzo).
Because they are tools to certify products and processes, and also to create brands (Viglizzo).
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

50. Agronomical Management Indicators
PHYSICAL (R. Gil/A.M. Lupi)
Texture
Bulk Density
Total Porosity
Aireation Porosity
Water Infiltration
Crop Residue Cover
CHEMICAL (F. García/A. Bianchini)
Phosphorus
Sulphur
Salinity/Sodicity(CE/PSI) pH
CARBON (R. Gil/A.M. Lupi)
Soil Carbon Dynamics
1.a. Direct Indicators:
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

51. Entrance and DistributionCC
0.2u
PMP
structure
Entrance and Distribution
Macropores
texture
Water Storage
Micropores
Gil, 2005

52. Agronomical Management Indicators
1.b. Indirect indicators:
- Crop rotation diversity and intensity.
Nutrient balance (N, P, S).
Fosil energy use (Agro-Eco-Index).
Water use (Agro-Eco-Index).
 1.c. Resource use efficiency:
- Water use efficiency (Agro-Eco-Index).
- Energy use efficiency (Agro-Eco-Index).
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

53. Agronomical Management Indicators
Sources Used:
FAO, ISGA, FCAA, USB, RTRS, RSB, RSPO, Rain Forest Alliance
National & international research studies
 Peer review:
J.L. Arzeno (INTA Salta), N. Darwich (Consultor Privado), M. Díaz-Zorita (FAUBA-Nitragin), M. Ferrari (INTA Pergamino), J. Galantini (UN del Sur), V. Gudelj (INTA Marcos Juárez), E. Jobbagy (UN San Luis), M. Puente (Lab. GEA San Luis), C. Quintero (UN Entre Ríos).
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

54. III– Productive and environmental quality management system in CA (QMS/CA) GAP’s
Why?
Because there are scientific fundamentals that correlate soil health indicator values with agronomical practices
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

55. NO-TILLAGE is a synonym of crop residue
GAP 1: No Tillage (residue cover)
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.
NO-TILLAGE is a synonym of crop residue

56. GAP 2: Crop rotation: Diversity and intensity
Coronel Suarez , Buenos Aires, Argentina
Federico Roveda (2007)

57. GAP 3: Balanced fertilization
NPS
Control

58. GAP 4: Integrated pest, weed and disease management.
Including the correct agrochemical management and its containers

59. GAP 5:
Efficient and responsible management of agrochemicals

60. GAP 6: Cattle production