EHSA Final Seminar Christine Jakobsson Ecosystem Health & Sustainable Agriculture Project Sustainable Plant Production EHSA Final Seminar Christine Jakobsson

Sustainable plant and animal production is a system which preserves the basis of life of future generations.

Environmental sustainability-phosphorus

Environmental sustainability-Nitrogen

Feeding regims

C. Jakobsson 4/03

Advisory service Plant nutrient balance calculation Crop production plan including manure Livestock density Manure storage capacity Green land – catch crops Methods of cultivation, e.g. Spreaders Soil tillage technology – to create a good seed bed Pest & diseases – prognosis & warning Minimize use of resources for optimal result C. Jakobsson 11/08

Livestock Density To ensure that manure is not produced in excess to the amount of arable land on the farm, a balance must exist between the amount of animals on the farm and the amount of land available for spreading manure. The maximum amount of animals has been precised with consideration taken to the amount of P and N in manure and a crops normal requirements and removal of plant nutrients. The limiting factor is P, with a maximum amount of approximately 22 kg P per hectare. As the amount of manure per area will be moderate, the risk of nutrient leaching of both N and P will be smaller. More reliable figures when using P contents in manure for calculations instead of N, as P losses in the stable & during storage are almost non-existing.

Manure - plant nutrient perspective We know how we should handle manure but we do not handle the nitrogen in manure in an optimal way WHY? Varför gör vi inte som vi ska?

Important to minimize nitrogen losses in all steps

The size of ammonia emissions during storage of manure depend on: the ammonia nitrogen content of the manure, slurry or urine temperature dry matter content pH-level air humidity length of storage period the size of the manure surface air movement over the manure surface stirring C.Jakobsson 5/99

Plant nutrients - Current legislation affecting the agricultural sector in Sweden Summary Livestock density: according to P contents of manure (22 kg P/ha) Manure storage: storage capacity, covering of urine and slurry pits, filling beneath the cover Application of manure: ban, new requirements, incorporation (within 4 hours after land application when spreading on bare soils, 3 counties in southern Sweden), spreading techniques when spreading in a growing crops (Bandspreading technique, Injectors, diluted slurry, irrigation) Application of fertilisers: nitrogen application according to the crops requirements, ban on winter spreading Winter-green land: 60 resp. 50%

5 6 7 8 . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +3.20 m 0,00 m . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , , , , . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . , , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. . . . . ., . . . . . . . . -2.50 m 11 m 14 m . . . . .. .. … . . .. . .. . .. 2 1 3 4

Manure spreading Spread as much as the crop needs of P, 20-30 tonnes manure or slurry per hectare If needed, add N fertiliser Spread preferably to a growing crop or before sowing Spread evenly & incorporate as soon as possible Leave a protective zone where manure is not spread, when applying manure on land situated by ditches, rivers, lakes & wells (5-10 m) Do not spread on land that is flooded during some period of the year

The vision of conventional and organic agriculture Both conventional and organic agriculture highlights the importance of A sustainable use of non-renewable resources Satisfying social conditions Good animal welfare High environmental standards

Key factors in organic agriculture to successful production Local soil fertility Respecting natural capacity of plants, animals, humans and the landscape Dramatic reduction of chemo-synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and pharmaceuticals IFOAM

Development of organic agriculture in Sweden The number of farmers which change their production to organic farming has increased every year. The dominating crops are ley and cereals which are cultivated on 90% of the area. It has been easier to convert crop production to organic farming than animal husbandry.

N-leaching during conventional and organic cultivation Switch over. discharge (mm) N ( mg/L) 4,9 5,3 Avrinningen under 74/89 uppgick i medeltal till 220 mm/år och motsvarande för perioden 91/06 var 241 mm OBSERVERA! I översta figuren för Flinkesta (nederbörd och avrinning) visar den första stapeln för ned./avr. året 73/74, medan i de fyra undre figurerna (N och P, konc och trp) visar första koncentrations”punkt” och transportstapel året 74/75. Vidare visar den stapel eller punkt som befinner sig rakt över det lite längre decenniestrecket året 79/80, 89/90 resp. 99/00. Decennieårtalet i figuren (1970, 1980 resp. 1990) står alltså angivet mitt i decenniet. Grödor på Flinkesta obs-fält: År Årets gröda Under vintern därefter 1972 Träda Höstvete 1973 Höstvete Plöjd 1:a sep 1974 Vårraps Höstvete 1975 Höstvete Plöjd 1:a okt 1976 Vårkorn ? plöjd ? 1977 Havre med vallinsådd Vallinsådd 1978 Vall I Vall 1979 Vall II Vall 1980 Vall III med vallbrott 18 nov Trol. plöjd 1981 Vårkorn Plöjd 29:e okt 1982 Blandsäd: Havre-Ärter Höstvete 1983 Höstvete Plöjd 19:e okt 1984 Blandsäd: Havre-Ärter Plöjd 7:e nov 1985 Vårkorn med vallinsådd Vallinsådd 1986 Vall I Vall 1987 Vall II Vall 1988 Vall III Vall Fältet omställt till alternativ drift våren 1989 1989 Vall IV med vallbr. ca 15 juli Höstvete 1990 Höstvete Plöjd 3:e okt 1991 Havre med insådd Vallinsådd 1992 Vall I Vall 1993 Vall II Vall / Plöjd 1994 Vall III / Vårkorn Plöjd 28:e okt 1995 Havre med vallinsådd Vallinsådd 1996 Vall I Vall 1997 Vall II med vallbrott ca 1 aug Höstrybs 1998 Höstrybs Höstvete 1999 Höstvete Plöjd 26:e okt 2000 Ärter Höstvete 2001 Höstvete med vallinsådd Vallinsådd 2002 Vall I Vall 2003 Vall II med vallbrott ca 1 aug Höstvete 2004 Höstvete med vallinsådd Vallinsådd 2005 Vall I Vall 2006 Vall II Vall N (kg/ha) 12,7 10,8 Conventional 74/89 Organic 91/06 Johansson & Gustafson Ekenäs

Animal husbandry in organic agriculture It has been easiest to convert production of beef and milk to organic production. It has been more difficult to convert production of pork, chicken and eggs to organic production. Beef and milk production. Not so large differences between conventional and organic production systems concerning crop production and animal husbandry. Organic milk production has is for a successful farmer more profitable than conventional. Organic production of fattening pigs, chickens and eggs has been difficult to expand as much as the consumers demands. Mainly because the organic production system differs so much from the conventional. Then the farmers needs a lot of education and as knowledge and experiences are lacking education has been difficult. Also, the income for the farmer in these systems is and has been more insecure.

Environmental sustainability N & P Heavy metals Pesticides Radionuclides Soil compaction Diseases due to poor crops rotations CLEAN SOIL – CLEAN WATER – CLEAN AIR

Healthy plants and high production – prognosis and warning – reduced use of pesticides

Some conclusions Optimal management and use of resources e.g. manure, fertilisers, as well as pest and disesase control programs are key components in sustainable plant production A good crop is the best guarantee to minimise nutrient losses A good seed bed is important- soil tillage Important to have a balance between the amount of animals on the land and the production of fodder – livestock density to minimise nutrient losses Organic farming not always better than conventional

Thank you for your attention and interest!