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ECO-INTENSIFICATION – THE SCIENCE OF ORGANIC FARMING – A GUIDE TO CLIMATE REGULATION & RESILIENCE
Andreas Gattinger
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Contents
What is eco-intensification?Soil management in organic agriculture and its climate relevanceAnimal husbandry in organic agriculture and its climate relevanceConclusions
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The four basic principles of organic agriculture, endorsed by IFOAM, September 2005
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Eco-functional intensification?
Higher degree of organization of farms, knowledge-based farming and food systems.More complex and less industrialised farming systems (e.g. agro-forestry).Improved land and resource use efficiency.Improved management of soil fertility, water, biodiversity, genetic diversity, energy and nutrients.Improved use of resilience, self-regulation and self-healing in farming systems and animal herds.Adaptation of crop and animal breeding programs to organic and low-input systems.Novel and improved therapies against pests and diseases in crop and livestock.
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Built-up of soil fertility
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Recycle and produce on-farm nutrients
Global potential to produce 140 million tons of nitrogen on cropland (Badgley et al., 2007)
Global potential to use 160 million tons of nitrogen (and other nutrients) from livestock manure more efficiently on cropland (calculated on the basis of 18.3 billion farm animals/FAO)
Soil cultivation eliminates weeds and helps to keep the precious moisture in the soil.
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Intensification through ecological support functions
Fotos: Eric Wyss, Lukas Pfiffner
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Health promoting agents from plants against endo-parasites of livestock (especially sheep and pig)
Heckendorn et al., 2006; Marley et al., 2003; Hansen et al., 2006
Cichorium intybus Onobrychis viciifolia
Making best use of nature‘s pharmacy
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Breeding smartly
Walter Schmidt, 2009
Maize: Mechanical resistance against the European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)
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Organic farming – managing and using natural ressources/ecosystem services
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Contents
What is eco-intensification?Soil management in organic agriculture and its climate relevanceAnimal husbandry in organic agriculture and its climate relevanceConclusions
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Increased SOM or Corg-contents (Gerhardt, 1997; Clark et al.,
1998; Brown et al., 2000; Pulleman et al., 2003; Pimentel et al., 2005; Marriott & Wander, 2006)
Ranging from 10 to 60 % (average 28 %, Soil Association, 2009).
Improved biological properties of soils (e.g. microbial biomass, microbial enzyme activities, abundance of earthworms, abundance of soil-dwelling insects): Gerhardt, 1997; Siegrist et al., 1998; Hansen et al., 2001; Mäder et al., 2002; Pulleman et al., 2003; Fließbach et al., 2007, Pfiffner, L. and Luka, H., 2002.
Ranging from 40 to 120 %.
Overall sustainability parameters of organically managed soils
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Increased aggregate stability (Gerhardt, 1997; Siegrist et al., 1998; Brown et al., 2000; Maeder et al., 2002; Pulleman et al., 2003; Williams & Petticrew, 2009).
Increased water holding capacity, higher water content in soil (Brown et al., 2000; Lotter et al., 2003; Pimentel et al., 2005)
Improved infiltration rate of water (Lotter et al., 2003; Pimentel et al., 2005; Zeiger & Fohrer, 2009).
e.g. Rodale experiment in Pennsylvania + 17 % in both organic systems (livestock manure and green manure) compared to conventional system.
Overall sustainability parameters of organically managed
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DOK trial: Soil aggregate stabilityDOK trial: Soil aggregate stability
Mäder et al. 2002, Science
Bio dynamic
Conventional/ IPM
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Soil aggregate stability, infiltration rate
Biodynamic with composted manure
IP with mineral fertilizers
Fo
tos:
Fli
essb
ach
No
v. 2
002
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Parameter Unit Organic farming
Integrated farming (IP)
with FYM
Organic in % of IP
Nutrient input kg Ntotal ha-1 yr-1 101 157 64 %
kg Nmin ha-1 yr-1 34 112 30 %
kg P ha-1 yr-1 25 40 62 %
kg K ha-1 yr-1 162 254 64 %
Pesticides applied kg ha-1 yr-1 1.5 42 4 %
Fuel use l ha-1 yr-1 808 924 87 %
Total yield output for 28 years % 83 100 83 %
Soil microbial biomass „output“ tons ha-1 40 24 167 %
Mäder, Fliessbach, Dubois, Fried, Niggli (2002), Science 296
Resource use efficiency (DOK trial, 28 years)
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Carbon sequestration in long term experiments
Field trial Components compared Carbon gains (+) or losses (-)
kg ha-1 yr-1
DOK experiment, CH Organic, FYM composted + 42
(Mäder, et al. 2002; Organic, FYM fresh -123
Fliessbach et al., 2007) IP, FYM, mineral fertilizer -84
Running since 1977 IP, mineral fertilizer -207
SADP, USA, (Teasdale, et al., Organic, no till + 810 resp + 1783
2007), 1994 to 2002 Conventional, no till 0Rodale FST, USA, (Hepperly, et Organic, FYM 1218
al., 2006; Pimentel, et al., 2006), Organic, legume based 857
Running since 1981 Conventional 217
Scheyern Experimental Farm (Munich University)
Organic + 180
(Rühling, et al. 2005), since1990 Conventional - 120
Frick reduced tillage experiment Organic, ploughing 0
(Berner, et al., 2008), since 2002 Organic, reduced tillage 879
Niggli, U., Fließbach, A., Hepperly, P. and Scialabba, N., 2009. ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/ai781e/ai781e.pdf
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Carbon sequestration in long term experiments
Field trial Components compared Carbon gains (+) or losses (-)
kg ha-1 yr-1
DOK experiment, CH Organic, FYM composted + 42
(Mäder, et al. 2002; Organic, FYM fresh -123
Fliessbach et al., 2007) IP, FYM, mineral fertilizer -84
Running since 1977 IP, mineral fertilizer -207
SADP, USA, (Teasdale, et al., Organic, no till + 810 resp + 1783
2007), 1994 to 2002 Conventional, no till 0Rodale FST, USA, (Hepperly, et Organic, FYM 1218
al., 2006; Pimentel, et al., 2006), Organic, legume based 857
Running since 1981 Conventional 217
Scheyern Experimental Farm (Munich University)
Organic + 180
(Rühling, et al. 2005), since1990 Conventional - 120
Frick reduced tillage experiment Organic, ploughing 0
(Berner, et al., 2008), since 2002 Organic, reduced tillage 879
Average difference between the best organic
and the conventional treatments: 590 kg
carbon ( 2.2 t CO2) per hectare and year.
Niggli, U., Fließbach, A., Hepperly, P. and Scialabba, N., 2009. ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/ai781e/ai781e.pdf
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Contents
What is eco-intensification?Soil management in organic agriculture and its climate relevanceAnimal husbandry in organic agriculture and its climate relevanceConclusions
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Integration of livestock: Improved management of livestock manure and on-farm production of nitrogen
Global potential to produce 140 million tons of nitrogen on cropland (Badgley et al., 2007)
Global potential to use 160 million tons of nitrogen (and other nutrients) from livestock manure more efficiently on cropland (calculated on the basis of 18.3 billion farm animals/FAO)
Soil cultivation eliminates weeds and helps to keep the precious moisture in the soil.
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Dec
reas
ing
par
ticl
e si
zeInfluence of soil texture and livestock integration on
soil organic matter
Capriel, 2006
(n = 1276)
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Sources of GHGE in animal production
Feed production (on farm))
Feed production (import including LUC)
Buildings, technique
Bedding, Manure
Metabolic emissions (enteric fermentation)
GHGE (kgCO2-eq) per kg milk for eight Dairy production systems in Austria (Hörtenhuber et al., 2010)
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Enteric fermentation and methane
Focus of discussion according to organic cowsHigh milk yield requires concentrates rich diets
Low-fibre diets decrease ruminal methane production
Intensive High-output dairy production as climate protector??
Unconsidered critical elementsImport of soybeans and other feed crops from overseas (LUC)
Breed characteristics (Holstein: milk and not beef)
Animal Health > Replacement rate > Rearing intensity
LONGEVITY
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Concentrates in cattle nutrition
30% of crop production for animal feeding Not an appropriate diet for ruminantsCompetition to human nutritionImported feed crops in CH: 0.8 Mio. tons/a Organic feed crops import:
Grains 70% Protein carrier (soy) 98%
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Increasing efficiency of production
Conventional approachIntensification of production
Genetic improvement (more product units per animal)
Changing ruminal metamolism by additives and modified diets
Sustainable approach includingPhysiological improvement of milk yield curves
Animal welfare aspects
Integrated herd health management
Optimized (not maximized) reproduction parameters
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Feed no Food – Grass and Roughage rather than concentrates for dairy cows
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Feed no Food: Objectives
Forage based milk production conceptsReduction of concentrates to a minimumConsideration of animal needsLocal feed production as far as possibleOptimizing feeding managementEvaluation of roughage based cow typeEffects on health, welfare and fertilityImplementation of herd health programmesEffects on product qualityModeling economic impactModeling GHG emissions
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Exemplary LCA in 4 model farms
Farm Valley 1 Valley 2 Mountain 1 Mountain 2
No of cows 32 62 17 12
Av. Milk yield 6800 kg 6450 kg 5500 kg 5000 kg
Ration Silage No silage No silage Silage
Concentrates <10% <10% free <5%
Barn type Freestall Freestall StanchionFreestall Stanchion
Feed production Intensive grassland
Intensive grassland
Extensive grassland
Extensive grassland
Alpine grazing No No Yes Yes
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Preliminary results (GHGE models)
Intensive 1 Intensive 2 Extensive 1 Extensive 21
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2
2.2
ZERO current 10% Conc 30% Conc
Valley 1(<10% Conc.)
Tota
l kg
CO
2-e
q/kg
milk
Valley 2(<5% Conc.,
no silage)
Mountain 2(<5% Conc.)
Mountain 1(concentrates free)
Scenarios (assuming constant energy content)
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Animal health and climate protection
General health improvement and longevity
Udder health improvement
Fertility improvement
Rearing management
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Health, Longevity and climate protection
Ø CH Increasing longevity
Mean Lactation No 3.3 4.3 5.3
Replacement rate per year ~30% ~23% ~19%
„Unproductive“ days due to rearing* 277/cow 212/cow
(-23%)173/cow(-38%)
Replacement strongly depends on animal health
Replacement intensity increases rearing days per farm
Health improvement reduces culling rate
Prolongation of LNo by 1 lactation leads to 23% less „unproductive“ days
Milk yield optimum during 6th lactation!
* Age at 1st calving: 30 m
Lno 1Lno 2
Lno 3Lno 4
Lno 5Lno 6
Lno 7Lno 8
Lno 9Lno 10
4000
4500
5000
5500
6000
6500
7000
7500
Impact of replacement intensity on „unproductive days“ during rearing period
Milk yield (kg/cow) per 305 days by lactation number (data of FiBL project „pro-Q“)
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Fertiliy and climate protection
Fertilty of heifersAge at first calving in CH: 30 mon
Optimum: 24 to 28 mon?
Fertility of cowsInfertility the most important culling reason
Reducing periods of low milk yield
Increasing number of calves for beef production
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Lactation curves depending on fertility
subfertile cows (days to conception: >150d)
fertile cows (days to conception <100 days)
dry
drydry
t
Date of conception
Milk yield difference after 5 years: +5000 kg
dry dry
dry dry dry
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Udder health and climate protection
Milk loss by clinical mastitis5 to 10 days by delivery stop
10+ days by reconvalescence
Milk loss per day by increased Somatic Cell Count (SCC)
10 to 20%
High culling rates due to udder health
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Contents
What is eco-intensification?Soil management in organic agriculture and its climate relevanceAnimal husbandry in organic agriculture and its climate relevanceConclusions
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Eco-intensification as a climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy has the following benefits:
Increased carbon sequestration in soils. Reduced energy consumption.Reduced nitrogen inputs and resultant reduction in emissions of nitrous oxide. Avoidance of burning of crop residues. Better soil quality and soil fertility with resultant reduced soil erosion and increased water retention capacity. Diversified management systems with resultant lower risks.Higher species diversity on farms and fields – more resilient.
Soil-plant systems
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Livestock play an integral role in organic farming systems
can utilize roughage on grasslands that are not suited to other types of agricultural uses: high C stocks under permanent grassland and high aboveground diversity!
No competition between feeding ruminants and human nutrition.
Animal health has a significant impact on GHGE
Health improvement is leading to longevity increase
Improved udder health minimizes milk losses
Optimized fertility increases cumulative milk yield
Need for herd health improvement programmes
Animal welfare aspects are of highest priority
Robust animals for improved lifetime performance
Livestock systems
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Thank you very much for your attention!
