Improving the productivity and sustainability of rainfed farming systems for the western Loess Plateau of Gansu Province

CIM/1999/094: Improving the productivity and sustainability of rainfed farming systems for the western Loess Plateau of Gansu Province

China

University of Adelaide, Australia

Dr William Bellotti
Phone: 08 8303 7728
Fax: 08 8303 7979
Email: william.bellotti@adelaide.edu.au

• NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australia
• Gansu Grassland Ecological Research Institute, China
• Gansu Agricultural University, China
• CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Australia

$1,572,660

01/01/2001 - 31/12/2004

01/01/2005 - 31/12/2006

Dr Paul Fox

On China's Loess Plateau a unique combination of slope, soil type, rainfall intensity, and inappropriate agricultural practices has resulted in some of the worst soil erosion in the world. The dominant farming system is a winter wheat monoculture that includes a three-month fallow during the high intensity summer rainfall season. The high rate of erosion is the major cause of heavy sedimentation of the Yellow River. Conservation tillage has much to offer in reducing soil erosion and increasing crop productivity. Replacement of summer fallow with either short season legume crops, or developing rotations around perennial forage crops such as lucerne, also has great potential to reduce erosion and increase whole rotation productivity.

In Australia some farmers using conservation tillage complain of poor vigour of crops. One contributing factor to this is the changed spectrum of disease organisms that can develop in response to changes in tillage and stubble management. There is also strong interest in the use of legumes in cropping systems. Developments in system simulation provide a new and powerful tool for analysis and interpretation of rotation experiments and rotations practised on farm

Through this project research is working to alleviate poverty in some of the poorest areas in China by introducing conservation tillage. This will also protect land and water resources through conservation tillage and legume-cereal rotations.

The project will primarily involve research and capacity building activities. There will also be some demonstration activity associated with on-farm experimental sites. The capacity building component will include improving field experimental methodology, implementing participatory action research (PAR) approaches to farming system research, and training a group of scientists in the use of agricultural system simulation computer software

In China, the research will focus on two contrasting locations, Dingxi and Xifeng. Dingxi County has a drier climate (400mm annual rainfall) with spring wheat as the dominant crop. Xifeng County receives high rainfall (550mm) and winter wheat accounts for 80% of the arable land area. The two locations also differ in common crop rotations and level of income.

Development of conservation tillage cropping systems
Field trials in Dingxi will compare methods of establishment of wheat in rotation with canola or field pea. Different methods of cultivation and stubble treatment will be tested. In Australia, existing trials will be extended to identify the pathogenic constraints causing reduced early growth under direct drilling. A range of crop rotations, incorporating different tillage and stubble options will be examined at sites including Wagga Wagga and Condobolin.

Development of legume-cereal crop rotations
In China local farmer groups will be consulted in the early stages of research planning and will also be encouraged to participate in the ongoing research. Key crops to be studied include winter wheat, spring wheat, corn, sorghum, soybean and lucerne. In the second year experiments will be established to compare fallow wheat culture with legume-wheat rotations.

Analyse current and proposed new farming systems with the aid of system simulation models
The agricultural system simulation research will use software (APSIM) which has been partially developed in previous ACIAR funded research. The use of these system simulation models will seek to quantify risk and present research results in ways that will assist farmer decision making.

Outcomes for this project are currently being prepared