CROP SCI UNIT VII

• Sustainable Crop Production


  Agricultural production in such a way that does not impose any harm to environment, biodiversity, and quality of agricultural crops
• Sustainable Crop Production


  • Increases the ability of the system to maintain stable levels of food production and quality for long term without increasing the demand and requirements of agricultural chemical inputs to control the system
• Goals of Sustainable Crop Production


  • Long term supply of quality food
  • Keeping the soil alive with organic matter
  • Integrated pest management
  • Reduction in usage of pesticides
  • Protecting biodiversity
  • Food safety and food quality
  • Improving nutrient quality
• Integrated Pest Management


  1. To avoid the potential harmful effects of conventional pesticides

  2. Integrated pest management approaches can be implied which not only control the pests but also reduce the amount of pesticides used
• Agricultural Biodiversity


  • A valued source which can be used to increase productivity of crops
  • Sustainable and secured food production is attributed to agricultural biodiversity
• Soil Fertility


  • Soil infertility is the major constraint which limits the yield of crop worldwide
  • Maintenance of the quality of soil can also reduce many problems like degradation of land
• Components that largely depend on physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil


  • Soil Fertility
• Soil Fertility


  1. Application of organic fertilizers further increased the quantity of nutrients in soil and enhance the physical/microbial characteristics of the soil

  2. Soils which are low in nitrogen can be treated with crop rotation technique to enhance nitrogen concentrations in a sustainable system

  3. Organic waste is considered to be organic treasure because it can be recycled into organic fertilizers through composting
• Conventional agriculture


  Source of three primary greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide
• Sustainable agriculture


  • Acts as a sink for carbon dioxide because it sequesters it and uses it as organic matter in soil
  • Leads to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions
• The total GHG emissions in the Philippines amount to 101 megatons (Mt) of CO2 equivalent
• One-fourth of these emissions are attributable to the agricultural sector, where rice cultivation contributes 63% to the total agricultural GHG emissions
• Organic farming


  • A sustainable farming system and is considered to be a potent solution for loss of biodiversity and degradation of the environment
  • Has a greater impact for long-term sustainability
  • Emits a low number of greenhouse gases
  • Can reduce total water, energy, and greenhouse gases involved in food production
• Republic Act No. 10068 (Organic Agriculture Act of 2010) provides for the development and promotion of organic agriculture in the Philippines
• Organic agriculture


  • Includes all agricultural systems that promote the ecologically sound, socially acceptable, economically viable and technically feasible production of food and fibers
  • Reduces external inputs by refraining from the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and pharmaceuticals
  • Does not include genetically modified organisms
• Creation of National Organic Agricultural Program

  Promotion and commercialization of organic farming practices, cultivation and adoption of production and processing methods, continuing research and upgrading, capacity building of stakeholders
• Initial fund of 50 Million for the Organic Agriculture Program
• The DA shall thereafter allocate the amount of at least 2% of its annual budget for the implementation of the Organic Agriculture Programs
• Benefits of Sustainable Crop Production


  • Ensures the conservation as well as enhancement of agro-biodiversity for maintaining the security of food
  • Associated with a decrease in rate of soil and nutrient loss, increase in levels of microorganisms in the soil, and reduction of amount of chemicals which leach into water table
  • Environmentally stable and sustainable
  • Increases quality of foods
  • Ensures food security
  • Socially acceptable and impactful for small and large farms
  • Low chances of contamination of the final product with toxic substances
  • Economically feasible as it uses low number of chemicals and produces high yields, uses less water resources, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and utilizes biological pesticides and multiple cropping techniques
  • Ecologically viable as it preserves biodiversity and reduces use of agrochemicals, leading to environmental sustainability
• Specialized Farming Practices in Sustainable Crop Production

  • Aquaponics
  • Agroforestry
  • Permaculture
  • Rooftop farms and other urban agriculture
  • Agroecology
  • Regenerative Farming
• Aquaponics


  Fish and aquatic plants are grown together in tanks, where the fish waste nourishes the plants and the plants clean the water
• Agroforestry


  Integrates trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming, for the benefit of all species in the system
• Permaculture


  A farming philosophy that integrates landscape and people according to holistic principles, generally more appropriate for gardens than production farming
• Rooftop farms and other urban agriculture


  Agriculture that brings food production closer to communities by growing on city rooftops, in small backyard plots and in vacant lots
• Agroecology


  The application of ecological concepts to the design and management of sustainable agro-ecosystems – farming in cooperation with nature
• Regenerative Farming


  A farming philosophy and set of methods that go beyond organic by aiming to regenerate the air, soil, water, local environments and communities, usually including a philosophy of fairness and humane treatment to both people and animals
• It provide for the development and promotion of organic agriculture in the Philippines

  Republic Act No. 10068