Biological Management Of Soil Ecosystems For Sustainable Agriculture

This publication contains the proceedings of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA)/FAO International Technical Workshop on Biological Management of Soil Ecosystems for Sustainable Agriculture, which was held at EMBRAPA-Soybean headquarters in Londrina, Brazil, from 24 to 27 June 2002. The report includes a review of current understanding and knowledge of the biological management of soil ecosystems through a set of case studies from different production systems and socio-economic conditions, in the areas of indicators and assessment of soil health, adaptive management and innovative technologies. A general discussion and review of lessons learned leading to the main recommendations and further steps for the implementation of an International Soil Biodiversity Initiative are also presented. The financial support was provided through the agricultural biodiversity component of the FAO-Netherlands Partnership Programme.

Objectives and context of the Londrina Workshop; Soil biodiversity, agriculture, sustainable management and farmer context; Workshop process and objectives; Review of knowledge and issues through case studies an soil biodiversity, ecosystems management and sustainable agriculture; Indicators for assessment and monitoring of soil health; Case 1 - Bioindicators of soil health: their use by the sugar-cane industry in Australia; Case 2- Participatory assessment of macrofaunal functional groups for rehabilitation and improved productivity of pastures, cropland and horticulture; Case 3 - Methods for assessment of soil health or quality focusing on a case in Bhutan; Adptive management for enhanced soil productivity and restoration; Case 4 - Adptive management and technology innovation in Mindanao, Philippines; Case 5 - Biodynamics agriculture for reclamation and cotton production in Egypt; Case 6 - Biofertilizers - arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium bacteria - for mixed agriculture in Cuba; Case 7 - No-till agriculture for smallholder cropping in Brazil; Case 8 - A case for the Transition of a renowned coffee growing area; Case 9 - Selection of legumes that produce beneficial plant flavonoids for various functions; Case 10 - Integrated pest management and biomass management for managing Helicoverpa armigera (pod borer) and enhanced productivity in Asia; Case 11 - Plant parasitic nematodes associated with common bean: an integrated management approach in Kenya; Case 12 - Role of termites in the soil rehabiliation process in Burkina Faso; Case 13 - Use of vermicompost with a focus on tea plantations in India; Case 14 - Use of vermicompost to reduce soil Al toxicity in Brazil; Case 5 - Conservation and sustainable use of soil biodiversity; Case 16 - Adaptive management for redeveloping traditional ecosystems; Capacity building for integrated soil biological and ecosystem management; Case 17 - Capacity building tools and methods for improving knowledge and skillsin biological management of soil fertility by farming communities; Case 18 - The global Environment Fund (GEF) - TSBF BGBD Network project on the conversation and sustainable management of below-ground biodivesrity; Case 19 - The organic resources database; Case 20 - Use of farmer field schools for soil productivity improvement (FFS-SPI); Case 21 - The african conservation tillage network; Research and innovation in soil biological understanding and application; Case 22 - Innovative methods for monitoring soil biological activity and pest-pathogen interactions; Case 23 - Soil biological activity and C sequestration with a focus on no-tillage systems in Brazil; Case 24 - CGIAR Challenge Programme on Biological Nitrogen Fixation (CP-BNF); Case 25 - Soil and water conservation research in Burkina Faso; Workshop discussions and finding on improving understanding and management of soil biodiversity and ecosystems for productive and sustainable agriculture; Soil biodivesity understanding, status and trends; Development and adpatation of productive and sustainable agricultural management practices; Sharing experiences and lessons learned and identification of gaps and priorities; Soil resilience and risk alleviation; Strategy and actions for implementing the soil biodiversity iniative; Guiding principles and objectives; Strategic framework on soil biodiversity and agro-ecosystem management; Framework for action as a basis for the further development of the soil biodiversity initiative; Objective 1 - Sharing of knowledge and information and awareness raising; Objective 2 - Capacity building for the development and transfer of knowledge of soil biodiversity and ecosystem management into farmers' practices; Objective 3 - Strengthening collaboration among actors and institutions and maisntreaming soil biodiversity and biological management into agricultural and land management and rehabilitation programmes; Workshop agenda; Workshop participants and contact details; Working group composition and guidin questions; Matrix of case studies on soil biodiversity and ecosystem management; Ongoing activities and potential collaborative actions; Indicative outline for case studies on agricultural biological divesrity and checklist for their analysis; The ecosystem approach and adptive management.

It is becoming more relevant to explore soil biological processes in terms of their contribution to soil fertility. This book presents a comprehensive scientific overview of the components and processes that underpin the biological characteristics of soil fertility. It highlights the enormous diversity of life in soil and the resulting effects that management of land can have on the contribution of this diverse community to soil fertility in an agricultural context.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are one of multiple causes of soil-related sub-optimal crop performance. This book integrates soil health and sustainable agriculture with nematode ecology and suppressive services provided by the soil food web to provide holistic solutions. Biological control is an important component of all nematode management programmes, and with a particular focus on integrated soil biology management, this book describes tools available to farmers to enhance the activity of natural enemies, and utilize soil biological processes to reduce losses from nematodes.

Agricultural ecology, or agroecology, deals in general with the structure and function of agroecosystems at different levels of resolution. In this text/reference, the authors describe in terms of agroecology the tropical environments of sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin and Central America, focusing on production and management systems unique to each region.

Global agriculture is now at the crossroads. The Green Revolution of the last century is losing momentum. Rates of growth in food production are now declining, with land and water resources becoming scarcer, while world population continues to grow. We need to continue to identify and share the knowledge that will support successful and sustainable agriculture systems. These depend crucially on soil. Gaining international attention, Dr. Uphoff’s efforts to promote and develop sustainable agriculture was recently featured in the N.Y. Times Led by Norman Uphoff, internationally renowned for his proactive approach to world hunger, this volume brings together 102 experts representing 28 nations and multiple disciplines to report on achievements in sustainable soil-system management. While accepting some continuing role for chemical and other external inputs, this book presents ways in which crops can be produced cost effectively in greater abundance with lessened dependence on the exogenous resources that have driven the expansion of agriculture in the past. Including the work of both researchers and practitioners, this important volume — · Explores soil systems in a variety of climate conditions · Discusses the importance of symbiotic relationships between plants and soil organisms, looking at crops as integral and interdependent participants in ecosystems · Seeks to reduce the distance between scientific research and technical practice · Examines related considerations such as pest and disease control, climate change, fertility restoration, and uses of monitoring and modeling With 50 self-contained chapters, this work provides researchers, practitioners, and policy makers with a comprehensive understanding of the science and steps needed to utilize soil systems for the long-term benefit of humankind. For information on the SRI, System of Rice Intensification being developed by Uphoff and others, go to http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/