Compendium of deliverables of the conservation agriculture course 2008
This book is the result of the hard work of 8 CIMMYT trainees who participated in the visiting scientist 2008 Conservation Agriculture Course: "Laying the groundwork for sustainable and productive cropping systems". During 5 weeks, the scientists received and intense training program that combined mentoring and problem solving approaches. Each participant had to define a clear research objective for the period of stay. The scientists participated actively in the ongoing cropping systems management activities of the CIMMYT Mexico-based Cropping Systems Management team at both the experimental stations, located near to Mexico City at El Batan and Toluca, and in nearby farmers' fields. Emphasis was given to conservation agriculture and resource conserving technologies: conventional and reduced till permanent bed planting for both irrigated and rain-fed conditions, using alternative crop residue management strategies. Wheat, maize, barley and dry beans were the crops under study. Strong focus was placed on the importance of interdisciplinary approaches. Breeders helped to provide a better understanding of the nature of crop management by genotype interactions. Similarly, plant pathologists were involved in order to better understand disease interactions with the new tillage and crop residue management practices. An economist shed light on the complex system interactions and market chain development related to conservation agriculture, just to mention some of the numerous interactions of several CIMMYT scientists. Upon completion of the program, the participants presented their plans to initiate activities in their home countries to do research on and to extend to farmers the new technologies encountered in the program. They developed the necessary skills for trial management and plant and soil monitoring as influenced by management practices. The main objectives of the program were: To enhance understanding of the use and application of the conservation agriculture planting technologies and relevant agriculture implements (with emphasis on planters/planter modifications) for irrigated and rain-fed wheat and maize production systems. To encourage and develop participants' ability to synthesize and use the information and knowledge related to conservation agriculture technologies (seeding methodologies in the different planting systems, irrigation water management, crop nutrient management, weed control strategies, and the importance of crop residue management). To increase participants' knowledge of (long-term) trial planning and management. To develop ski lls for monitoring soil and plant parameters as they relate to cropping management systems, as well as their influence on physical, chemical and biological soil quality, their effect on climate change adaptation and mitigation, and their impact on water and nutrient lise efficiency. To foster positive attitudinal changes, such as improved confidence, increased motivation, and heightened appreciation of the benefits of team work and interdisciplinary research. To create a minimum level of proficiency in order to generate scientifically-sound hypotheses, determine data collection strategies, and interpret data and summarize them into scientifically-sound conclusions and recommendations. In order to achieve the last objective each participant has chosen a clear deliverable to work on during the 5 week course. Some scientists analyzed and summarized data they brought from their home country, others reviewed a specific theme of interest related to conservation agriculture. Some of the papers, in collaboration with and with follow up from the CIMMYT scientists, will be presented to national and international scientific journals.
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Book biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
CIMMYT
2008
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| Subjects: | AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, CROP ROTATION, TILLAGE OPTIONS, WEED CONTROL, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10883/549 |
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| Summary: | This book is the result of the hard work of 8 CIMMYT trainees who participated in the visiting scientist 2008 Conservation Agriculture Course: "Laying the groundwork for sustainable and productive cropping systems". During 5 weeks, the scientists received and intense training program that combined mentoring and problem solving approaches. Each participant had to define a clear research objective for the period of stay. The scientists participated actively in the ongoing cropping systems management activities of the CIMMYT Mexico-based Cropping Systems Management team at both the experimental stations, located near to Mexico City at El Batan and Toluca, and in nearby farmers' fields. Emphasis was given to conservation agriculture and resource conserving technologies: conventional and reduced till permanent bed planting for both irrigated and rain-fed conditions, using alternative crop residue management strategies. Wheat, maize, barley and dry beans were the crops under study. Strong focus was placed on the importance of interdisciplinary approaches. Breeders helped to provide a better understanding of the nature of crop management by genotype interactions. Similarly, plant pathologists were involved in order to better understand disease interactions with the new tillage and crop residue management practices. An economist shed light on the complex system interactions and market chain development related to conservation agriculture, just to mention some of the numerous interactions of several CIMMYT scientists. Upon completion of the program, the participants presented their plans to initiate activities in their home countries to do research on and to extend to farmers the new technologies encountered in the program. They developed the necessary skills for trial management and plant and soil monitoring as influenced by management practices. The main objectives of the program were: To enhance understanding of the use and application of the conservation agriculture planting technologies and relevant agriculture implements (with emphasis on planters/planter modifications) for irrigated and rain-fed wheat and maize production systems. To encourage and develop participants' ability to synthesize and use the information and knowledge related to conservation agriculture technologies (seeding methodologies in the different planting systems, irrigation water management, crop nutrient management, weed control strategies, and the importance of crop residue management). To increase participants' knowledge of (long-term) trial planning and management. To develop ski lls for monitoring soil and plant parameters as they relate to cropping management systems, as well as their influence on physical, chemical and biological soil quality, their effect on climate change adaptation and mitigation, and their impact on water and nutrient lise efficiency. To foster positive attitudinal changes, such as improved confidence, increased motivation, and heightened appreciation of the benefits of team work and interdisciplinary research. To create a minimum level of proficiency in order to generate scientifically-sound hypotheses, determine data collection strategies, and interpret data and summarize them into scientifically-sound conclusions and recommendations. In order to achieve the last objective each participant has chosen a clear deliverable to work on during the 5 week course. Some scientists analyzed and summarized data they brought from their home country, others reviewed a specific theme of interest related to conservation agriculture. Some of the papers, in collaboration with and with follow up from the CIMMYT scientists, will be presented to national and international scientific journals. |
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