K Sayre - Introduction to Conservation Agriculture - CSISA CA Course

8/3/2019 K Sayre - Introduction to Conservation Agriculture - CSISA CA Course

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Ken SayreAgronomist - Conservation Agriculture-Based CropManagement

Conservation Agriculture-BasedCrop Management

Principles, Focus, andAchievements


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THERE HAVE BEEN SINCERE EFFORTS TODEVELOP MORE SUSTAINABLE CROP

PRODUCTION STATEGIES FOR MORE THAN50 YEARS

These efforts have been referred to by variousnames including

Conservation Tillage

Sustainable Crop Management Technologies

Resource Conserving TechnologiesResource Conserving Technologies(RCTs) is a Very Commonly Used in South

Asia in Association with A Sustainable

Production Systems


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But Many

Institutions/Organizations andPeople Today Use the TermsConservation Agriculture orConservation Agriculture-Base Crop Management

Technologies to Define orDescribe Efforts to Improve

Sustainability


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Examples of general kinds of RCTs

New, higher yielding varieties with goodquality and resistances/tolerances todiseases and insects

Laser leveling to improve irrigation wateruse efficiency

A new fertilizer management practice thatprovides more yield for less fertilizer

A more efficient irrigation system thatsaves irrigation water (drip irrigation forexample) but maintains or increases cropyields


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Examples of Conservation Agriculture-Based RCTs

A new seeder that allows planting intocrop residue with minimal or zero tillage

Development of crop varieties that aresuitable for zero till seeding

Methods to apply nitrogen fertilizerefficiently into crop residues retained onthe soil surface


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Useful Conservation Agriculture-based Technologies are RCTs

but not all RCTsare Compatible with

Conservation Agriculture


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Contrasting Systems to Seed Wheat after RiceWith a Single Pass of an Implement in India

Rotovator Seeder Not CA-based Turbo-Happy Zero Till Seeder

Yes it is CA-Based


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Conservation AgricultureIs Not a Separate Scientific Discipline

Requiring a Separate Department orInstitute

Conservation Agriculture-based CropManagement Involves

A Set of Defined Principles that Can be Used

by All Agronomists/Crop Managers to BetterInsure the Development of Sustainable CropManagement Practices for Diverse Cropping

Systems


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Main Motivations to Develop ConservationAgriculture-Based Crop Management

Technologies

Stabilize/Reverse Widespread Soil Degradation toEnhance Sustainable Use of Natural Resources inAgriculture

Enhance Water Use Efficiency for both Rainfedand Irrigated Crop Production Systems

Increase Crop Productivity through IncreasingTime and External Input Use Efficiency

Provide Opportunities to Adapt to and/orAmeliorate the Effects of Climate Change

Reduce Production Costs for Farmers and

Improve Family Livelihoods


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There are Four Basic Principles thatProvide the Foundation for the

Development of SuitableConservation Agriculture-basedCrop Management Technologies


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CA Principle One

Develop Seeding Systems that AllowMajor Reductions in tillage

GoalDetermine the appropriate,

minimal level of tillage for a defined

cropping system with zero tillseeding systems as a potential goal.


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CA Emphasizes Dramatic Tillage Reductions

Conventional Till System CA-based, Permanent Raised Beds

R d d/Z Till R i th D l t


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Reduced/Zero Tillage Requires the Developmentand Delivery of Appropriate CA-based Seeders

India Zero Till Drill Bangladesh Strip Till drill


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Comparison of Tillage/Seeding of Cottonin for the Irrigated Cotton/Wheat System

in UzbekistanSeeding in Raised Beds with Tillage Seeding on Permanent Raised Beds


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CA Principle Two

Retention of adequate and rationallevelsof crop residues on the soil surface

Ultimate GoalRetain adequate levels ofcrop residue on the soil surface toreduce soil erosion, improve soil

parameters and enhance crop/waterproductivity


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Effect of Tillage with No Residue Retention onSoil Erosion Caused by Water Runoff

Tillage/No Surface Residues Soil Erosion by Runoff Water


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Effect of Tillage with No Residue Retention onSoil Erosion Caused by Wind

Tillage/No Surface ResiduesSoil Erosion by Wind


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Planting Zero Till Rainfed Wheat afterMaize with Full Residue Retention Rainfed Area

in the Central Highlands of Mexico (900mm/year)

Maize Residue Management Zero Till Wheat Seeding in MaizeResidue


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Extensive tillage combined with inadequate cropresidue retention on the soil surface can lead to

extreme water loss by runoff and evaporation

Conventional Tilled Raised Bedswith Residues Incorporated

Perm. Raised Beds with ResidueRetained on the Surface

Eff t f till g d id t ti th il


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Effect of tillage and residue retention on the soilsurface for rainfed maize in the Central Highlands of

Mexico (450 to 550mm rainfall)Conv. Tillage, All Residues Removed

Zero till All Residues Removed

Zero Till, All Residues Retained

Z Till R i f d Wh t


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Zero Till Rainfed WheatRemoved versus Retained Residues

Zero Till Residues Removed Zero Till Residues Retained


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Some Issues Related to Residue RetentionRainfed Maize in the Hills of Ningxia

CA- Zero Till with Full Residue

Retention

CA- Combining Zero Till and Plastic

Mulch


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CA Emphasizes Diversified and Economical


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CA Emphasizes Diversified and EconomicalCrop Rotation Options for Rainfed Conditions

Rainfed Zero Till Wheat Rainfed Alfalfa on Perm. Beds

Rainfed Zero Till Maize Rainfed Beans on Perm. Beds

CA E h i Di ifi d d E i l


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CA Emphasizes Diversified and EconomicalCrop Rotation Options for Irrigated Conditions

Irrigated Soybean on Perm. Beds Irrigated Canola on Perm. Beds

Irrigated Chickpea on Perm. Beds Irrigated Cotton on Perm Beds

Effect of Rotation on Wheat Yields (averaged over three years) for Wheat


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7500

7600

7700

7800

7900

8000

8100

Wheat-Fallow;

Perm Beds; All

Residues

Retained

Wheat-Maize:

Perm Beds; All

Residue

Retained

Wheat-Fallow-

Maize-Sorghum;

Perm Beds; All

ResidueRetained

Wheat-Maize-

Chickpea-Maize;

Perm Beds; All

ResidueRetained

GrainYield(kg/ha)

Effect of Rotation on Wheat Yields (averaged over three years) for Wheat

Produced with Furrow Irrigated Permanent Raised Beds the Yaqui Valley,

Sonora in Northwest Mexico

LSD (0.05) = 194 kg/ha)

h i h i i l


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These First Three CA Principleswhen Properly Used Enhance

Sustainable Soil Management

PhysicalSoil Quality

ChemicalSoil Quality

BiologicalSoil Quality

SoilOrganic

Matter


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CA Principle Four

Farmers must perceive the potential for

imminent, improved economicbenefits from the Adoption of CA-

based crop management technologies

Comparisons of Rainfed Wheat Yields and Economic


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Comparison of average rainfed wheat yields forthe most common farmer practice versus the

best CA-based practice (1996 to 2005)

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

5500

6000

6500

GranYiedkh

Farmer

Practice-

Continuous

Wheat,

Convention

al Till,

Residues

ImprovedPractice;

Maize-

Wheat; Zero

Till;

Residues

Retained

Comparison average economic returns forrainfed wheat for the most common farmerpractice versus the best CA-based practice

from 1996 to 2005 (Mexican Pesos)

(500)

-

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

ReturnsAbovVarableCoss Farmer

Practice-

ContinuousWheat,

Conventional

Till, Residues

RemovedImproved

Practice;

Maize-Wheat;

Zero T ill;

Residues

Retained

Comparisons of Rainfed Wheat Yields and EconomicBenefits of CA-based Crop Management versus the

Common, Conventional Farmer Practice in the

Central Highlands of Mexico (550mm Rainfall)

B d k l d b t


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Based on our knowledge aboutwidespread soil degradation, it is

difficult to understand why allagronomists do not base their cropmanagement efforts on the Principles of

Conservation AgricultureContinuing to focus mainly onfine-tuningexisting conventional, tillage-

based crop production systems willlikely only lead to small increments in

crop productivity with continuing

attrition of the natural resource base


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The Basic principles of ConservationAgriculture Provide the Foundation

to Manage Different ProductionSystems in a Sustainable Way

Butthese underlying CA principles arenot site specific and can be applied

to essentially all crop productionsystems with the development ofspecific crop management practices

for each specific system


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Development of Appropriate Crop ManagementTechnologies Based on the Foundation of the FourBasic Principles of Conservation Agriculture

Appropriate

Fertilizer

Management

Selection of

Appropriate

Cultivars

Appropriate

Irrigation

Management

Appropriate

Weed Control

PracticesAppropriateCrop Residue

Management

AppropriatePest andDisease

Management

Appropriate

Seeders/otherImplements

The Foundation for the Development of AppropriateCrop Production Systems Based on the Principlesof Conservation Agriculture

MarkedReductionsIn Tillage

Retention ofAdequate,RationalLevels ofResidues onthe Soil

EconomicallyViable

Diversificationof CropRotations

FarmerPerception of

Imminent,ImprovedEconomicBenefits

Other Relevant

Components of

Crop

Management

Assessment of

Relevant Socio-Economic

Factors

Appropriate

Harvesting

Methods


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The principles that support CA-

based crop management are not sitespecific and can be applied to

essentially all crop production

systems by identifying the requisitecomponent technologies of crop

management needed for eachcropping system

Th i i l f CA h


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The principles of CA have anextremely wide application

Rainfed and irrigated conditions

Sea level to at least 3000 masl

Soils with 84% clay (Brazil) to 94% sand(Zimbabwe)

Equator to 60oN (Finland)

Wide range of crops: Wheat, Maize, Rice,Cotton, Soybeans, Sunflower, Tobaccoetc. etc. even Potatoes and Cassava.

Current Status of CA based Crop


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Current Status of CA-based CropManagement Activities

CA-based crop management technologieswere introduced to farmer fields forcommercial production over 50 years ago

Today there are over 100 million hectaresunder CAbasedzero till seeding systems.

The area under CA-basedreduced or minimum

till seeding systemsis still much larger

Over 90% of area under CA is located in fivecountries

Estimated Area under CA-based zero-till seeding systems in


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Estimated Area under CA basedzero till seedingsystems indifferent countries in 2005Country ha

USA 25.304.000

Brazil 23.600.000

Argentina 18.269.000

Canada 12.522.000

Australia 9.000.000

Rest of the SouthAmerica

3.035.000

Indo-Gangetic-Plains

2.800.000(mainly India)

Europe 450.000Africa 400.000

China 500.000

Other Countries(rough estimate) 1.000.000

Total 96.880.000

Characteristics of Most Farmers Who


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Characteristics of Most Farmers WhoHave Adopted CA-based Crop

Management Technologies CA has been adopted mainly in large commercial

farms using heavy tractors and large-scale

machinery/seeders

More than 96% of the area involves non-irrigated,rainfed farming with minimal CA adoption for

irrigated crop production systems Minimal adoption of CA in developing countries

particularly by small and medium-scale farmers

C S l f C ti A i lt i th


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Common Scale for Conservation Agriculture in the

Australia, USA, Canada and South America

Simultaneous Harvesting of Triticale Baling


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Simultaneous Harvesting of Triticale, BalingPart of the Straw, and Removing Bales of

Straw in Hidalgo, Mexico

Immediate Seeding of Maize after Triticale


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Immediate Seeding of Maize after TriticaleHarvest in Hidalgo, Mexico


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Typical Countryside Scene in Bangladesh

that is Similar in Many Developing Countries

Three Main Constraints to the


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Three Main Constraints to theAdoption of Conservation Agriculture-

based Crop Management by Farmersin Developing Countries:

First Constraint - Lack of appropriateseeders, especially for small and

medium-scale farmers


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Solution CA-based Seeders in India

Original Widely Used Zero Till drill Multi-Crop Zero Till Drill

Zero Till Seeder for High Residues Levels Planter for Permanent Raised Beds

Solution CA based Planters in China


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Solution CA-based Planters in China

Solution CA-based Seeders for Use by


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Solution

CA based Seeders for Use bySmall Scale Farmers in Bangladesh

Raised Bed Seeder PTOs Seeder as Strip Till Seeder

Zero Till Seeder Strip Till Seeder

Testing the New Chinese Strip Till


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Testing the New Chinese Strip TillDrill for 2-Wheel Tractors in Mexico

Small-Scale CA-based Seeders


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Small Scale CA based SeedersChinese Hand Planter Indian Rolling Punch Seeder


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U f R id f C ki F l


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Use of Residues for Cooking Fuel

Many Farmers Burn Crop Residue


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Many Farmers Burn Crop Residue

Burning Rice Straw in North India Burning Maize Straw in North China


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The Crop Residue

Management Quandary In many rainfed crop productionsystems, low yields result in TOO LITTLE

RESIDUE to satisfy all demands

Many irrigated crop production systems,

however, generate TOO MUCH RESIDUEto readily manage when is all retained onthe surface of the field

Solution For low crop residue situations,


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p ,balance the retention of some residue for the soilwith the the rest used for livestock feed/fuel etc

Partial Retention versus Full Retention

Solution

For High Residue Production Situations


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Find Alternative, Economic Uses for Residuesand/or Develop CA-based Seeders for High Levels of

Crop ResiduesBut Crop Residue Burning Must not be an Option

Effect of Rotation, Tillage and Residue Management of Average Rainfed M aize


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Yields from 1997 to 2009 at El Batan in the Central Highlands of Mexico

(Mean Annual Rainfall = 550 mm)

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Mz-Mz - Conv Till

- All Residues

Removed

(Farmer

Practice)

Mz-Mz - Zero Till

- All Residues

Removed

Mz-Mz - Zero Till

- All Residues

Retained

Mz-Wh - Zero Till

- All Residues

Retained

Mz-Wh - Zero Till

- 50% of

Residues

Retained

Mz-Wh - Zero Till

- All Residues

Removed

Rotation - Tillage - Residue Management

GrainYi

eld(kg/ha)

LSD (0.05) = 239 kg/ha

Effect of Rotation, Tillage and Residue Management on Average


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Rainfed Wheat Grain Yields from 1997 to 2009 at El Batan in the

Central Highlands of Mexico (Mean Annual Rainfall = 550mm)

3000

3500

40004500

5000

5500

6000

6500

Wh-Wh - ConvTill - All

Residues

Removed

(Farmer

Practice)

Wh-Wh - ZeroTill - All

Residues

Removed

Wh-Wh - ZeroTill - All

Residues

Retained

Wh-Mz - ZeroTill - All

Residues

Retained

Wh-Mz - ZeroTill - 50% of

Residues

Retained

Wh-Mz - ZeroTill - All

Residues

Removed

Rotation - Tillage - Residue M anagement

GrainY

ield(kg/ha) LSD (0.05) = 235 kg/ha

Effect of tillage/crop residue management on grain yield of


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irrigated wheat over fourteen years (from 1993 to 2006) at CIANO,

Cd. Obregon

5600

5800

6000

6200

6400

6600

6800

7000

7200

Conventional till

bed

Wh Res - Incorp All

Mz Res - Incorp All;

Farmer Practice

Permanent bed

Wh Res - Burn All

Mz Res - Burn All

Permanent bed

Wh Res - Remove

70%

Mz Res - Remove

70%

Permanent bed

Wh Res - Retain All

Mz Res - Retain All

Grain

Yie

ld

(kg/ha)

Third Constraint

Need to Change


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d Co st a t

eed to C a geMind Set of Farmers, Scientists and

Policy Makers Most of crop management experiences and

education are based on conventional tillage

based production systems Changing minds to accept crop

management practices based on the

principles of Conservation Agriculture isperhaps the biggest constraint

Many times, farmers are more ready to

change their mind set than scientists


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Conservation Agriculture:

Examples of CA and CAImplements from Different

Developing Countries

Irrigated Bed Planted Wheat in


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gSoutheast Turkey

Bed Planter Turkey


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Bed Planter - Turkey


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Zero till Direct Seeded Rice in India


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Zero till, Direct Seeded Rice in IndiaBihar Haryana

Comparison on Conventional Puddled, Transplanted


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Rice vesus Direct Seeded, Unpuddled Rice in Bihar

INDIA


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INDIAMaize on Permanent Beds after Rice

INDIA WHEAT ON RAISED


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INDIA WHEAT ON RAISEDBEDS

INDIA

Comparison of Barley Planting inH


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Haryana

PLANTED FLATFLOOD IRRIGATION PLANT ON RAISED BEDSFURROW IRRIGATION

BANGLADESH-WHEAT ON BEDS


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BANGLADESH WHEAT ON BEDS

BANGLADESH - BED MAKER


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FOR 2-WHEEL TRACTOR

BANGLADESH

PLANTING MAIZE WITH


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2 WHEEL TRACTOR

Bangladesh - Planting Rice on


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g gRaised Beds

Direct seeded bed planted rice Transplanted rice on permanent beds

Making and Seeding on Permanent Raised


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Beds in Bangladesh


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WHEATBED

PLANTINGIN CHINA

Chinese Bed Planter


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China Bed Planter for 3 Beds


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China Bed Planter for 3 Beds

Wheat on Permanent Raised


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Beds in Sichuan, China

China Nonghaha Strip Till Seeder


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China Nonghaha Strip Till Seeder

Winter Wheat Planted with the


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Nonghaha Strip Till Seeder

Strip-till Seeding of Wheat after Rice


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p gin Sichuan, China

With 2-Wheel Tractor With 4-Wheel Tractor

PAKISTAN BED PLANTER


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PAKISTAN BED PLANTER

WHEAT BED PLANTING IN


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PAKISTAN

IRANIAN BED PLANTER


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IRANIAN BED PLANTER

IRAN

IRRIGATED WHEAT ON BEDS


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Wheat on Permanent Raised Beds


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after Soybean in Kazakhstan


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WHEAT ON PERMANENT RAISEDBEDS IN KAZAKHSTAN


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BEDS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Thanks

K Sayre - Introduction to Conservation Agriculture - CSISA CA Course

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