Enabling smallholder farmers to sustainably improve their food, energy and water nexus while achieving environmental and economic benefits. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gathala, Mahesh K.; Laing, Alison M.; Tiwari, T.P.; Timsina, J.; Islam, Md. S.; Chowdhury, A.K.; Chattopadhyay, C.; Singh, A.K.; Bhatt, B.P.; Shrestha, R.; Barma, N.C.D.; Rana, D.S.; Jackson, Tamara M.; Gerard, B.
• Is Part Of: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. Volume 120(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Cropping systems -- South Asia -- Energy efficiency -- Water efficiency -- Conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification -- Meta-analysis; ACIAR Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research -- AUD Australian dollar -- ANOVA Analysis of variance -- BAU Bihar Agricultural University -- CASI Conservation agricultural-based sustainable intensification -- CO2 Carbon dioxide -- CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization -- CT Conventional tillage -- CU Curtain University -- DSR Direct seeded rice -- DoA Nepal Department of Agriculture-Nepal -- DoA WB Department of Agriculture-West Bengal -- DFAT Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade -- EGP Eastern Gangetic Plains -- Em Energy manual -- Ef Energy fertilizer -- Ei Energy input -- EP Energy productivity -- Ha hectare -- ICAR-RCER Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Research Complex for Eastern Region -- iDE International Development Enterprises -- IFPRI International Food Policy Research Institute -- IWMI International Water Management Institute -- Kg Kilogram -- Mg Mega kilogram -- NARC Nepal Agricultural Research Council -- PTR Puddled transplanted rice -- RL Rice-lentil -- RM Rice-maize -- RR Rice-Rice -- RW Rice-wheat -- RWJ Rice-wheat-jute -- RWMb Rice-wheat-mungbean -- SREY System rice equivalent yield -- SRFSI Sustainable and Resilient Farming Systems Intensification -- SDIP Sustainable Development Investment Portfolio -- TEU Total energy use -- UBKV Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya -- UPTR Unpuddled transplanted rice -- UQ University of Queensland -- ZT Zero tillage; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.109645
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-0321

Abstract

Abstract: Traditional cropping practices in the Eastern Gangetic Plains, South Asia, are resource intensive, requiring large inputs of water, energy and human labor. They are also inefficient, with relatively low productivity for the inputs used although the climate, soil and water resources of the region indicate that greater productivity is achievable. In on-farm experiments conducted across three countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal) we compared the performance of traditional and improved management practices to understand which better facilitated the production of food-grain crops while reducing energy and water demands, thus improving the sustainability of cropping system energy requirements. Benefits of improved over traditional management practices included increases of up to 10% in crop grain yields; up to 19% in water productivity; up to 26% in energy productivity; and reductions of up to 50% in labor. These metrics combined to reduce the cost of production under improved management by up to 22% and to increase gross margins by up to 100% (although in most instances gross margins increased by 12–32%). CO2 -equivalent emissions reduced by 10%–17% compared to traditional practices. The principles behind the improved management practices, which we demonstrate improve the food-energy-water nexus while concurrently promoting more sustainable use of energy resources, are applicable across smallholder farming systems throughout South Asia and in many emerging-economy countries. These improvements to traditional management practices combined with our approach of supporting farmers through the implementation of new methods has widespread applications and the potential to assist many countries transitioning to low-energy, sustainable food production. Highlights: CASI crop management practices evaluated on 436 participatory on-farm trials. CASI practices are sustainable and improve yield productivity by up to 10%. CASI reduced energy use up to 11% and improved energy productivity up to 18%. CASI reduced CO2 -equivalent emissions by up to 12%. Benefits observed for 6 common cropping systems: apply in many developing countries.