CIMMYT International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center

CONSERVATION AGRICULTUREBASED CROP MANAGEMENT FOR GRAVITY IRRIGATED CROP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN MEXICO
Ken Sayre Consulting Agronomist with the CIMMYT Conservation Agriculture-Based Crop Management

Probably the Most Crucial Problem Facing Many Parts of the World is the Crisis Associated with the Use of Water Resources for Agriculture

Percent of total water resource used for agriculture in different parts of the world
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
ld ri ca ic a ic a i ca si a op e n ia SA in a dia Ir a n i co U C h In or f er er ex e r A E ur c e a W A M O A m h A m l Am he T r th u t tra o N So C en

% Water U se for A griculture

Factors Associated with the Use of Water Resources for Irrigation

In Many countries, Especially in China, West, Central and

South Asia, Food Security is Largely Based on Crop Production from Irrigated Areas In Most Cases, the Efficiency of Water Resources Used for Irrigation is very low. The Competition for the Use of Water Resources for Other Purposes is Continually Increasing

Agriculture Will Lose this Competition to Continue to Other

Competing Uses (Industry, Potable Water, Recreation etc) in Most Situations Therefore, to Maintain or Increase the Level of Crop Production in Irrigated Production Systems, Major Increases in the Efficiency of Irrigation Water Use Must Occur and CAbased Crop Management Can Make Striking Contributions

Yaqui Valley, State of Sonora, Mexico

Gravity Irrigated Wheat-based Crop Production Systems

Cd. Obregn Irrigated 39 m

Location of the Main CIMMYT Experiment Station for Irrigated Wheat-based Production Systems in Northwest Mexico

Mexico
Mexico City

CIMMYT Headquarters El Batn

Summary of weather variables during the wheat growing season at the CIMMYT Experiment Station in the Yaqui Valley in Northwest Mexico (period covered 1973-1996).
Months for the wheat Growth Cycle Average Min. Max. Average total total total min. max. rainfall rainfall rainfall temp temp. -----------------------------------------------------------------(mm (mm) (mm) C C 49 0 320 10 26

Dec.-April

YAQUI VALLEY EXPERIENCE UNTIL ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, FARMERS PLANTED CROPS INCLUDING WHEAT ON THE FLAT WITH CONVENTIONAL TILLAGE AND FLOOD IRRIGATION

THIRTY YEARS AGO, PLANTING ON THE FLAT WITH FLOOD IRRIGATION WAS THE COMMON PRACTICE IN THE YAQUI VALLEY, ESPECIALLY FOR WHEAT

YAQUI VALLEY EXPERIENCE HOWEVER, STARTING ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, FARMERS BEGAN TO SEED ALL CROPS ON RAISED BEDS WITH FURROW IRRRIGATION

Previous versus the Current Irrigation System in Northwest Mexico

Before - Flood Irrigation in Basins Now - Furrow Irrigation

Early wheat emergence, 3 rows wheat/bed; bed width = 80 cm

Mexico Conventionaltilled bed planted wheat, 2 rows wheat/bed; bed width = 75 cm, 30 cm between rows

Wheat in beds at maturity Variety trial in farmer field

HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH FARMERS HAVE TAKEN THE FIRST STEP AND HAVE ADOPTED BED PLANTING FOR WHEAT WITH FURROW IRRIGATION THEY ARE STILL USING EXTENSIVE TILLAGE AND SOME FARMERS ARE STILL BURNING OF CROP RESIDUES

SOME CONTINUED BURNING OF CROP RESIDUES

Conventional land preparation

Raised Bed Formation with Conventional Till

Farmer bed planter for conventional till seeding

THE FARMERS GIVE SEVERAL REASONS SUPPORTING THE CHANGE FROM FLOODIRRIGATED, FLAT PLANTING TO FURROW-IRRIGATED, RAISED BED PLANTING

Advantages of Raised Bed Planting Systems

Furrow Irrigation Used with Raised Bed Planting Improves the efficiency of irrigation water management compared to flood irrigation

Furrow Irrigation Can Save 20-30% of Irrigation Water

Total amount of water applied to Barley (m3 /ha) with flood irrigation in basins, furrow irrigation for wide beds and furrow irrigation for narrow beds in the Bajio of Central Mexico in 2003 (3 irrigations and 2004 (4 irrigations)
9500 8500 7582 7500 6500
Total Applied Irrigation Water (m3/ha)

8962

6119
2 0 0 3

5500 4500 3500 2500 1500 500 -500

Flood

2 0 0 4

6043 5197
2 0 0 3 2 0 0 4

4178
2 0 0 3 2 0 0 4

Wide Beds 1.6m (6 rows)

Narrow Beds 0.80m (2 rows)

Dammer Dyker for Irrigation for Conventiuonal Tilled Raised Beds

Frontal Advance Irrigation System Modified for Raised Bed Planting System Using the Dammer Dyker

Frontal Advance Sprinkle Irrigation System

Raised Beds can be Irrigated by Drip Irrigation Systems

Advantages of Raised Bed Planting Systems

New Methods and Options for Weed Control in Small Grain Crops Like Wheat

USE OF PRE-SEEDING IRRIGATION FOR WEED CONTROL

Mechanical Weed Control Options

erbicide esticid e application in bed planted wheat

Many Small Farmers in Bangladesh Indicate that Hand Weeding is Much Easier with Bed Planting, Especially for Small Grain Crops Like Wheat

Many Farmers in Bangladesh Indicate that there is Less Rodent Damage when Crops like Wheat are Planted on Raised Beds (See Owl Perches Below)

Advantages Raised Bed Planting Systems

Can reduce seed rate and still maintain high yield Usually reduces crop lodging compared to conventional planting systems.

EFFECT OF PLANTING METHOD ON WHEAT GRAIN YIELDS

PLANTING METHOD SEED RATE CONVENTIONAL PLANTING 12O kg/ha BED PLANTING 100 kg/ha BED PLANTING 50 kg/ha

-----------------------YIELD (kg/ha)-----------------------GENOTYPE________________________________________________________ 7 CERROS 66 8273 8281 7756 YECORA 70 8177 7688 7434 CIANO 79 8059 7805 7993 SERI 82 9671 9393 8948 OASIS 86 9749 8676 8742 SUPER KAUZ 9763 8644 8581

BAVIACORA 92

9767

9796

9698

WEAVER 9741 9391 9255 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MEAN 9150a 8709b 8803b Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different by LSD (0.05)
The planting method by cultivar interaction was significant at the 0.05 level and the interaction LSD (0.05) was 375 kg/ ha ____________________________________________________________________________

Effect of planting method and seed rate on the performance of Effect of planting method and seed rate on the performance of Baviacora 92 and the best modified yield component bread wheat Baviacora 92 and the best yield component bread wheat genotypes tested at CIANO, Cd. Obregon during the 2001/02 cycle genotypes tested at CIANO, Cd. Obregon during the 2001/02 cycle
9,500 9,000 8,500 8,000
7,723

Baviacora 92 Baviacora 92 LSD (0.05) = 585 kg/ha LSD (0.05) = 585 kg/ha
8,609 8,268 8,115 7,905 8,115 7,902 7,982 7,855 8,233 8,544 8,153

Grain yield (kg/ha at 12% H2O) Grain yield (kg/ha at 12% H2O)

VEE/CMH77A.917// VEE/CMH77A.917// VEE/6 VEE/6 /CMH79A.955/4/AG /CMH79A.955/4/AG A/3/4 A/3/4 *SN64/CN067//INIA *SN64/CN067//INIA 66/5/NAC 66/5/NAC

7,500 7,000 6,500

Seed rate:: 35 kg/ha 70 kg/ha 105 kg/ha Seed rate Planting Flat planted Planting Flat planted method:: method

35 kg/ha

70 kg/ha

105 kg/ha

Bed planted Bed planted

Lodging Flat planting on the left and bed planting on the right

Advantages of Raised Bed Planting Systems

Provides ready field access for:
New opportunities for timely fertilizer placement especially post emerge N applications Facilitates other post-emerge field operations

BAND APPLICATION OF NITROGEN WITH BED PLANTING

8200 Grain yield (kg/ha) 8000 7800 7600 7400 7200 7000 6800 6600
Basal 1st node stage Boot stage

LSD (0.05) = 303 kg/ha 7,847 7,641 7,472 7,223 7,199

225 0 0

0 225 0

75 150 0

75 75 75

0 150 75

N application (kg N/ha)

Effect of application timing of 225 kg N/ha on the average grain yield of six durum wheat genotypes planted on beds at CIANO/Obregon for the 1996/97, 1997/98 and 1998/99 crop cycles

13.8
LSD (0.05) = 0.4% 13.6

13.6 % Grain protein 13.4 13.2 13.0 12.8 12.6 12.4

Basal 1st node stage Boot stage 225 0 0 0 225 0 75 150 0 75 75 75 0 150 75
12.9 13.3 13.1 13.3

N application (kg N/ha)

Effect of application timing of 225 kg N/ha on the average grain protein content of six durum wheat genotypes planted on beds at CIANO/Obregon for the 1996/97 and 1997/98 crop cycles

Narrow Tractor Tires are feasible for raised beds

Wheat in beds Field access for new management opportunities

THE NEXT STEP PERMANENT RAISED BED PLANTING WHY DO IT? OPPORTUNITIES TO RETAIN CROP
RESIDUES ON THE SOIL SURFACE INSTEAD OF BURNING MARKED REDUCTIONS IN TILLAGE DRAMATIC REDUCTIONS IN CROP TURNAROUND TIME ENHANCE SOIL QUALITY PARAMETERS REDUCE PRODUCTION COSTS

Suitable crop residue management of crop following harvest to achieve uniform distribution is a must. Made easy if combine has an attached straw chopper

Achieve Uniform Straw Distribution

Chopping and distribution of wheat straw residues by chopping wheat straw after harvest

Partial removal of wheat straw for fodder if economically feasible prior to bed reformation

Furrow irrigation for wheat with retained maize residues with permanent raised beds

ADOPTION OF NEW IRRIGATION PRACTICES WITH PERMANENT BED PLANTING

Use of Drip Irrigation with Permanent Raised Beds

Multi-Crop/Multi-Use Prototype CA Implement - Mexico

Planting Wheat and banding basal fertilizer Configured for Maize Planting

Side-dress banded N application for Wheat

Side-dress banded N application for Maize

Multi-Crop/Multi-Use Implement Planting Soybeans on Permanent Beds after Wheat

MAIZE PLANTED ON PERMANENT BEDS AFTER WHEAT

Soybean planted on permanent raised beds after wheat

MEXICO IRRIGATED CHICKPEA ON PERMANENT RAISED BEDS AFTER MAIZE

Tori planted on irrigated permanent rainsed beds

Sesbania planted for green manure on permanent raised beds after wheat

Chopping maize straw after harvest

Reshaping Permanent Raised Beds and Banding Basal Fertilizer before Pre-seeding Irrigation

Planting wheat on permanent raised beds after maize with multi-crop/multi-use implement

Planting wheat on irrigated permanent beds after maize with smaller-scale seeders

Wheat planted on permanent raised beds after maize

WHEAT ON PERMANENT RAISED BEDS AFTER SOYBEAN (less retained residue)

Wheat Planted on Permanent Bed Later Stage

With Raised Beds and Appropriate Implement, No more Broadcasting of Post-emerge N Fertilizer

Applying banded side-dress nitrogen to permanent bedplanted wheat; beds allow easy field access

Tillage and N Fertilizer Management Effect on Wheat Yield Averaged over 2006 and 2007 {LSD (0,05)= 909 kg/ha
6000 0N 5500 180 N Basal Broadcast 180 N Basal in Furrow 180 N Basal Banded in Row 60 N + 120N Broadcast 4000 60 N + 120N in Furrow 60 N + 120 N Banded in Row 120 N + 60 N in Furrow 120 N + 60 N Banded in Row 2500

5000

Yield (kg/ha)

4500

3500

3000

Perm Beds

Conv Till Beds

Permanent bed-planted wheat during grain-fill

EFFECT OF RESIDUE RETENTION AND ZERO TILL SEEDING ON TOP OF PERMANENT BEDS

Effect of tillage and residue management over fifteen years on wheat grain yields with optimum management in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico
8500 8000 7500
Grain Yield (kg/ha)

7000 6500 6000 5500 5000 4500 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Year of Harvest
Conventional till beds - residues incorporated Perm anent beds - residues burned

Permanent beds - 70% residues removed

Permanent beds - residues retained

Effect of tillage/crop residue management on grain yield of wheat over fourteen years (from 1993 to 2006) at CIANO, Cd. Obregon
7200 7000 Grain Y ield (kg/ha) 6800 6600 6400 6200 6000 5800 5600
Conventional till Permanent bed bed Wh Res - Burn All Wh Res - Incorp All Mz Res - Burn All Mz Res - Incorp All Permanent bed Permanent bed Wh Res - Remove Wh Res - Retain All 70% Mz Res - Retain All Mz Res - Remove 70%

Observations on the effects of tillage and residue management for permanent raised beds on:
Soil Chemical Parameters Soil Physical Parameters Soil Biological Parameters Weed and Disease Incidences

Effect of tillage and crop residue management on % organic matter for soil samples (0-15 cm) taken in 2002 for a long-term trial initiated in 1993 at CIANO, Cd Obregon, Sonora
1.50 1.45
LSD (0.05) = 0.15% LSD (0.05) = 0.15% Conventional till beds; Conventional till beds; straw incorporated straw incorporated Permanent beds; Permanent beds; straw burned straw burned

1.43

% Organic matter % Organic matter

1.40 1.35 1.30 1.25 1.20 1.15 1.10 1.23 1.32 1.31

Permanent beds; Permanent beds; aprox. 60-70% straw aprox. 60-70% straw removed for fodder removed for fodder Permanent beds; Permanent beds; straw retained straw retained

Effect of tillage and crop residue management on Na content for soil samples (0-15 cm) taken in 2002 for a long-term trial initiated in 1993 at CIANO, Cd Obregon, Sonora
650 600
Na content (ppm) Na content (ppm)
LSD (0.05) = 53 ppm LSD (0.05) = 53 ppm Conventional till beds; Conventional till beds; straw incorporated straw incorporated Permanent beds; Permanent beds; straw burned straw burned Permanent beds; Permanent beds; aprox. 60-70% straw aprox. 60-70% straw removed for fodder removed for fodder

600 564

550 500 450 400

474 448

Permanent beds; Permanent beds; straw retained straw retained

Effect of tillage and crop residue management on soil wet aggregates (Mean Weight Diameter) for soil samples (0-10cm) taken in 2004 for a longterm trial initiated in 1993 at CIANO, Cd Obregon, Sonora 2.000 Soil Wet Aggregates (MWD) LSD (0.05) = 0.333 1.800 1.600 1.421 1.400 1.262 1.200 1.000 Conventional till beds; straw incorporated Permanent beds; straw burned Permanent beds; aprox. 60-70% straw removed for fodder Permanent beds; straw retained 1.121 1.957

Effect of tillage and crop residue management on soil microbial biomass C content for soil samples (0-15 cm) taken in 2002 for a long-term trial initiated in 1993 at CIANO, Cd Obregon, Sonora
Soil microbial biomass C content mg C/kg soil Soil microbial biomass C content mg C/kg soil

650 LSD (0.05) = 133 mg C/kg soil LSD (0.05) = 133 mg C/kg soil 600 588 600

Conventional till beds; Conventional till beds; straw incorporated straw incorporated Permanent beds; straw Permanent beds; straw burned burned Permanent beds; Permanent beds; aprox. 60-70% straw aprox. 60-70% straw removed for fodder removed for fodder Permanent beds; straw Permanent beds; straw retained retained

550

500 464 450 465

400

Control of Nutsedge with Halosulfuron

Without Halosulfuron With Halosulfuron

Khorezm Region in the Aral Sea Basin in Western Uzbekistan

Furrow Irrigated Cotton/wheat based production system with good yields Nearly all irrigation water from canal system; poor drainage/high water table; severe salinity and soil degradation Some farmers have livestock do there is demand for wheat straw for fodder and cotton sticks for fuel Our focus has been to introduce permanent raised beds with residue retention for the Cotton/Winter Wheat-Summer Crop (maize, sorghum, sunflower, mung bean)- 3 crops in 2 years

Cotton planted with conventional till versus permanent raised beds (both with furrow irrigation) in Uzbekistan

Cotton Planted on Permanent Raised Beds in Uzbekistan

Relay Planting Wheat into Standing Cotton on Permanent Raised Beds

Relay Planting Wheat into Cotton Relay Planted Wheat in Cotton

Wheat Relay Planted into Cotton on Permanent Raised Beds in Uzbekistan

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