Peter MotavalliPeter MotavalliDept. of Soil, Environ. and Atmos. Sci.Dept. of Soil, Environ. and Atmos. Sci.

University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriEmail: motavallip@missouri.eduEmail: motavallip@missouri.edu

SOILS AND CLIMATE:SOILS AND CLIMATE: CONSEQUENCES CONSEQUENCES

AND POTENTIAL ADAPTATIONAND POTENTIAL ADAPTATION

CLIMATE CHANGECLIMATE CHANGE

• The region will experience temperature The region will experience temperature increases of up to 6increases of up to 6CC by the end of the by the end of the century (Bradley et al., 2006, IPCC, century (Bradley et al., 2006, IPCC, 2007).2007).

• A consequence of global climate A consequence of global climate change has and will be a higher change has and will be a higher incidence of extreme weather events incidence of extreme weather events (Haylock et al., 2006; Thibeault et al., (Haylock et al., 2006; Thibeault et al., 2008).2008).

• The Altiplano region’s climate is The Altiplano region’s climate is characterized by high diurnal characterized by high diurnal temperature variations, frost risks, low temperature variations, frost risks, low and irregular precipitation and high and irregular precipitation and high risks of drought during the growing risks of drought during the growing season (Garcia et al., 2007).season (Garcia et al., 2007).

CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR SOIL RESOURCESFOR SOIL RESOURCES

• Lower or excessive soil water content Lower or excessive soil water content during critical periods of the growing during critical periods of the growing season (season (high temp., high rainfall events)high temp., high rainfall events)

• Increased soil organic matter lossIncreased soil organic matter loss(high temp.)(high temp.)

• Increased soil erosion Increased soil erosion (high rainfall events (high rainfall events with lack of cover)with lack of cover)

• Change in cropping systems with possible Change in cropping systems with possible subsequent deleterious effects on soil subsequent deleterious effects on soil properties properties (delay in early season rains, (delay in early season rains, frost incidence, higher temperature)frost incidence, higher temperature)

• Increased landslides and mudflows - Increased landslides and mudflows - (high (high rainfall events)rainfall events) (Adapted from IPCC, 2007) (Adapted from IPCC, 2007)

• Provides soil nutrients and enhances soil Provides soil nutrients and enhances soil nutrient availability over several growing nutrient availability over several growing seasons.seasons.

• Improves soil physical, chemical and Improves soil physical, chemical and biological properties for plant growth.biological properties for plant growth.

• Buffers changes in soil properties due to Buffers changes in soil properties due to disturbance or variation in other disturbance or variation in other environmental factors (e.g. climate).environmental factors (e.g. climate).

• Reduces environmental contamination and Reduces environmental contamination and soil loss.soil loss.

• Possibly reduces need for external inputs and Possibly reduces need for external inputs and enhances internal recycling when crop enhances internal recycling when crop residues and/or organic soil amendments are residues and/or organic soil amendments are applied. applied.

SOIL ORGANIC MATTER FUNCTIONSSOIL ORGANIC MATTER FUNCTIONS

IMPORTANCE OF IMPORTANCE OF SOIL ORGANIC SOIL ORGANIC CARBON (SOC)CARBON (SOC)

AltiplanoAltiplano

A.A.B.B.

C. AncoraimesC. Ancoraimes D. UmalaD. Umala

LakeLakeTiticacaTiticaca AncoraimesAncoraimes

UmalaUmala

ChinchayaChinchaya

KellhuiriKellhuiri

San JosSan Joséé de Llanga de Llanga

San Juan CercaSan Juan Cerca

Vinto CoopaniVinto Coopani

ChojChojňňapataapata

CohaniCohani

KarkapataKarkapata

CalahuancaneCalahuancane

Lake TiticacaLake Titicaca

La PazLa Paz

SANREM STUDY AREA IN BOLIVIASANREM STUDY AREA IN BOLIVIA

STUDY AREA IN BOLIVIASTUDY AREA IN BOLIVIA

ºC yr-1

Average annual rainfall(mm yr-1)

Garcia and Seth (in prep.)Garcia and Seth (in prep.)

COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS OF SOIL RESOURCES COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS OF SOIL RESOURCES

AND SOIL-RELATED PROBLEMSAND SOIL-RELATED PROBLEMS

• Soil-related problems are only one of several Soil-related problems are only one of several factors limiting crop production.factors limiting crop production.

• Soil management problems identified were:Soil management problems identified were:

Low soil quality and soil fertilityLow soil quality and soil fertility((low soil nutrient content, high clay content and stoniness)low soil nutrient content, high clay content and stoniness)

Excessive water and wind-induced soil erosionExcessive water and wind-induced soil erosion Insufficient soil moisture due to lower rainfallInsufficient soil moisture due to lower rainfall Inadequate soil management practicesInadequate soil management practices

((Inappropriate tractor tillage practices, lack of a suitable crop Inappropriate tractor tillage practices, lack of a suitable crop rotation strategy, insufficient soil fertility inputs, and rotation strategy, insufficient soil fertility inputs, and overgrazing by sheep)overgrazing by sheep)

CHANGES IN SOIL MANAGEMENT PRACTICESCHANGES IN SOIL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

(Yucra and Gilles, unpublished)

20 years ago in Chinchaya20 years ago in Chinchaya PresentPresent

CHANGES IN SOIL CHANGES IN SOIL MANAGEMENT PRACTICESMANAGEMENT PRACTICES

• Increase in production of some cash crops Increase in production of some cash crops (e.g. onion) and other income-generating (e.g. onion) and other income-generating activities (e.g. dairy production, day labor)activities (e.g. dairy production, day labor)

• Decrease in the length of the fallow period in Decrease in the length of the fallow period in the crop rotation.the crop rotation.

• Reduction in planting of early season crops Reduction in planting of early season crops (e.g., fava beans and quinoa) due to early (e.g., fava beans and quinoa) due to early season rainfall uncertainty.season rainfall uncertainty.

• Greater tractor use for tillage in lower Greater tractor use for tillage in lower elevation communities.elevation communities.

• Loss of native species (e.g., th’ola) that have Loss of native species (e.g., th’ola) that have multiple uses to restore soil fertility during multiple uses to restore soil fertility during fallow period and are a fuel source. fallow period and are a fuel source.

CONSEQUENCES CONSEQUENCES AND SOME AND SOME EXAMPLES OF EXAMPLES OF ADAPTATION TO ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGECHANGE

ADAPTATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGEADAPTATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

• Andean farmers have developed several Andean farmers have developed several strategies to adapt to climate extremes strategies to adapt to climate extremes including use of genetic diversity and including use of genetic diversity and knowledge of differential impacts of knowledge of differential impacts of climate events among their soil resources.climate events among their soil resources.

• Adaptation strategies for climate change Adaptation strategies for climate change may also address the effects of other may also address the effects of other factors affecting soil degradation (e.g., factors affecting soil degradation (e.g., socioeconomic changes)socioeconomic changes)

• Successful adaptation strategies will Successful adaptation strategies will require community participation and require community participation and address the limited availability of address the limited availability of resources.resources.

ADAPTATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGEADAPTATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

• Possible adaptations include:Possible adaptations include:

Soil water conservation measures to Soil water conservation measures to capture and reduce soil moisture losscapture and reduce soil moisture loss

Soil conservation measures to reduce Soil conservation measures to reduce soil erosion and landslidessoil erosion and landslides

Improved irrigation methods (e.g., deficit Improved irrigation methods (e.g., deficit irrigation)irrigation)

Use of alternative multipurpose plants Use of alternative multipurpose plants for forage, soil fertility and groundcoverfor forage, soil fertility and groundcover

ADAPTATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGEADAPTATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

• Possible adaptations (continued):Possible adaptations (continued):

Alternative soil preparation practices Alternative soil preparation practices (e.g., conservation tillage)(e.g., conservation tillage)

Alternative crop species and varieties Alternative crop species and varieties that are short season and drought- and that are short season and drought- and frost resistantfrost resistant

Increased soil fertility inputs including Increased soil fertility inputs including use of alternative organic amendmentsuse of alternative organic amendments

Improved crop residue managementImproved crop residue management Maintenance of genetic diversityMaintenance of genetic diversity

ADAPTATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGEADAPTATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

• Focus of research effort is to develop Focus of research effort is to develop practices to increase soil organic matter practices to increase soil organic matter as a means to improve agricultural as a means to improve agricultural sustainability and productivity and buffer sustainability and productivity and buffer against the impacts of climate change. against the impacts of climate change.

Possible strategies for the Altiplano Possible strategies for the Altiplano include:include: Improved use of organic soil amendments Improved use of organic soil amendments

and chemical fertilizersand chemical fertilizers Better management of crop residuesBetter management of crop residues Use of green manuresUse of green manures Development of managed fallow systems Development of managed fallow systems

with multipurpose plants (i.e., for forage, with multipurpose plants (i.e., for forage, soil fertility and erosion control) soil fertility and erosion control)

Reduced tillage practicesReduced tillage practices

KNOWLEDGE GAPSKNOWLEDGE GAPS

• Insufficient inventory of soil resources in the region for Insufficient inventory of soil resources in the region for improved land use management and for evaluation of improved land use management and for evaluation of climate change impactsclimate change impacts

• Limited understanding of the direct and indirect effects of Limited understanding of the direct and indirect effects of climate change on soil processes (e.g., carbon and climate change on soil processes (e.g., carbon and nutrient cycling), soil quality, and soil management in the nutrient cycling), soil quality, and soil management in the region.region.

• Limited development and evaluation of adaptive soil Limited development and evaluation of adaptive soil management practices for climate change which include management practices for climate change which include community participation and assessment to improve community participation and assessment to improve adoption. adoption.

• Need to assess the long-term impacts of climate change Need to assess the long-term impacts of climate change in the region using soil simulation models which in the region using soil simulation models which incorporate parameters and climate change scenarios incorporate parameters and climate change scenarios developed for the region. developed for the region.

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!GRACIAS!GRACIAS!