Climate Smart Staple Crop Production Model in China's Main Grain Production Areas

1. Case Background

In order to adapt to climate change and ensure global food security, the United Nations has put forward the concept and practical ways of developing climate-smart agriculture. Aiming at improving agricultural productivity, adapting to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, climate-smart agriculture is the new direction for agricultural transformation and development in the future. In 2014, as part of the fifth resources replenishment (GEF-5), "Climate Smart Staple Crop Production Project" has been launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project lasts for 5 years. Focusing on the three staple crop production systems of rice paddies, wheat and corn, a 100,000 mu of demonstration area has been established in Huaiyuan County, Anhui Province and Ye County, Henan Province. Great efforts have been made to integrate and demonstrate key technologies for emission reduction and carbon increase in wheat-rice paddies and wheat-corn production, apply and make innovation in supporting policies, improve public knowledge, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production, increase soil organic carbon content, and improve the adaptation of crop production to adapt to climate change.

2. Successful Practices of Demonstration Areas

1． Technical demonstration and application

Firstly, the technologies of chemical fertilizer reduction, fertilizer deep application, emission reduction and efficiency enhancement have been adopted. This technology mainly includes the following 3 aspects: (1) Precise formula and balanced fertilization; (2) Mechanized and highly efficient fertilizer deep application technology; (3) Reduction fertilization. Precise formula and balanced fertilization mean to comprehensively analyze the fertility measurement of farmland topsoil soil samples and the investigation on farmers' production. Based on the fertilizer demand at each stage, soil fertility and fertilizer effect of different crops, a comprehensive fertilization scheme is proposed to directly reduce the application of chemical fertilizer and farmland greenhouse gas emission, and indirectly reduce the fertilizer production and transportation on the premise of ensuring the stability of grain yield. Mechanized and highly efficient fertilizer deep application technology mainly applies fertilizer through rotary tillage and deep tillage. The fertilizer is applied 20-25cm deep, which can increase the utilization rate of chemical fertilizer by about 10%. Reduced fertilization: the application amount has been reduced from 50 kg/mu to 40 kg/mu, but the unit yield increases, and emission reduction and efficiency have been realized.

Secondly, pesticide reduction application technology. Aiming at the problems of farmers in the project area, such as lack of pest diagnosis methods, insufficient knowledge about scientific use of pesticides and backward pesticide application tools, the project has carried out the application demonstration of precise pesticide application technology and unified control technology. Based on the prediction for pests and diseases, the project provides UAV and advanced electrostatic sprayers to improve pesticide utilization and reduce pesticide use.

Thirdly, conservation tillage and carbon fixation technology. Conservation tillage measures shall be adopted to minimize interference to soil and provide soil organic matter. Less tillage and rotary tillage have been applied to wheat and straw mulching and no tillage have been adopted for corns, so as to increase the content of soil organic matter and improve the capacity of soil carbon fixation. At the same time, the cultivated land is equipped with a large number of sensing equipment, which can measure the soil temperature, humidity and water content, accurately observe the soil’s water content and decide whether less tillage or no tillage is needed.

At the same time, straw returning and conservation tillage technology can better improve soil organic matter and reduce carbon sequestration. The agricultural machinery, such as straw crusher and combine harvester, can crush straw and return it to the field after rotary tillage so as to reduce the pressure on resources and environment, improve soil structure, increase soil organic matters and carbon content, and realize carbon sequestration and emission reduction. In the project area of Ye County, Henan Province, 50,000 mu of cultivated land has been basically returned to the field, and the content of soil organic matter has been greatly improved.

Fourthly, land leveling and optimized irrigation technology. In view of some problems, such as scattered land, unleveled land and shortage of supporting facilities of farmland and water conservancy facilities, the task force has coordinated the use of large agricultural machinery, such as bulldozers, land levelers and laser leveling instrument to carry out land leveling, which will greatly facilitate farming, sowing, fertilization, spraying and harvesting. The demonstration and application of optimized irrigation technology has been adopted. Ye County, Henan Province, has adopted a new irrigation system and implemented the fertigation, increasing the utilization rate of irrigation water and fertilizer by 50%. Therefore, the water consumption is saved, irrigation energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission are reduced, and fertilizer utilization rate is improved. Under the condition of meeting the requirements of irrigation, drainage and wind prevention, the irrigation efficiency is improved, the irrigation water is saved, and the water and soil resources are better preserved. 

Fifthly, the technology for optimizing the climate smart crops. Single - factor field has been set up to compare and analyze the comprehensive effects of different varieties. New varieties and planting patterns, which are conducive to local crop yield increase, water and fertilizer efficiency, farmland carbon increase and emission reduction, have been selected, and new varieties adapted to climate change have been promoted in a large area. In experimental field of Huaiyuan City, Anhui Province, white wheat has been replaced red wheat, because red wheat is more resilient to risk, not prone to germinate, and more suitable for the local climate with relatively more rainfalls in harvest season. In order to adapt to climate change, Ye County of Henan Province has changed from the original spring variety to half-winter variety, because spring varieties are easy to be damaged by the cold of late spring while half-winter varieties have higher tolerance toward coldness. At the same time, non-tillage technology, crop of rotation wheat-maize and wheat-rice and eco-planting and breeding model can improve the content of organic carbon in the soil and improve the diversity of farmland ecosystem.

Sixthly, eco-planting and breeding model and farmland carbon sequestration and emission reduction technology. The eco-planting and breeding models include the cultivation of rice-loach and rice-duck. The original planting model of wheat-rice paddies or wheat-corn has been gradually evolved into an eco-planting and breeding model. In particular, duck breeding in paddy field is very successful. Duck manure provides natural organic fertilizer. Also, they can also help weed and remove pests, which is conducive to the prevention and control of diseases, insects and grass, reducing the cost and improving the quality of rice paddies. The price of Wanfu rice cultivated together with ducks has increased from 2 yuan/kg to 5-6 yuan/kg, up to 8 yuan/kg. Carbon sequestration, emission reduction, quality improvement and efficiency enhancement have been realized.

Another method is to reduce emissions and increase efficiency through crop intercropping. The crops in Ye County, Henan Province, are generally harvested twice a year. Now, through corn-watermelon, peanut-sweet potato intercropping, three harvests a year can be achieved, realizing a net increase of income of 600 yuan/mu. Through non-tillage technology of wheat and corn, the mechanical operation cost can be reduced by 100-120 yuan/mu. At the same time, it can also increase soil organic matter and improve soil structure.

Seventhly, ecological interception technology. Through the construction of various facilities and the ecological belts, the nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients in pollutants are reused to reduce the inflow to water bodies. 

Returning nutrients to the field and recycling help reduce the content of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in rural sewage and improve the ecological environment. For example, Liulou Village, Huaiyuan County has built a ditch in the field to intercept the sewage and purify water. The ecological ditch is about 1,450m long and is composed of three tributaries and a main drainage ditch. It is responsible for removing nitrogen and phosphorus in about 150 mu of paddy field. After the "fertilizer" is discharged from the farmland flows into the ditch, the ditch removes nitrogen and phosphorus in the water body through iris, water lily and other aquatic plants, purifies the water body, creates a beautiful pastoral ecological environment and further improves the rural environment for local residents.

2. Actions taken by the government

Firstly, the government put more efforts in publicity, technical demonstration and training to enable farmers to accept and adapt to the climate smart production concepts and models. Through technical demonstration and various trainings, farmers' production model, cognition, farming experience and value judgment have been changed, so that farmers can actively adapt to climate change and creatively accept the climate smart agricultural production model.

Secondly, the government have timely coordinated and fully issued agricultural subsidies to provide economic guarantee for farmers to change their production models. Subsidies include special subsidies for comprehensive utilization of crop straws, and crushing and returning of crop straws to the field, such as wheat, rice and corn. Also, it has provided agricultural support and protection subsidies, such as those for the purchase of agricultural machinery.

Thirdly, the water-saving irrigation system has been improved. The government has adopted and improved irrigation systems and equipment, saved water consumption and supported land leveling so as to greatly improve irrigation efficiency.

Fourthly, the government has transformed and built high-standard farmland and green, high-yield and efficient facilities. The project area has invested a lot of funds in the construction of high-standard farmland and actively carried out green, high-yield and efficient construction projects, which has greatly improved the agricultural production conditions and the ability of farmland to resist and reduce disasters, and has improved the agricultural production efficiency.

The project has carried out "spraying the combined chemicals and preventing three situations" and pilots and demonstration of pesticide reduction. The project area allocates special funds, uses advanced plant protection machinery, such as UAV and self-propelled sprayer, to control diseases and pests, and carries out pesticide reduction pilots and demonstration for wheat, rice and other crops, so as to increase the control and prevention and reduce farmers' work.

In addition, the project also has led the screening and demonstration of wheat-rice and wheat-corn new technology and new model, explored the rice-duck cultivation demonstration base, carried out many technical training and services, dispatched task forces for inspection and evaluation, installed power transformers and conducted other activities or measures to ensure the implementation of the project.

3. Achievements and Experience

1. Achievements

Through the implementation of project 5, the core indicators of the project have been steadily realized. By the end of 2019, the grain output in the project area has increased, with an average increase of 5.5-6.9% for wheat, 2.1-17.2% for summer maize, 4.5-8.5% for rice paddies, about 10% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer per unit area, more than 15% reduction in pesticide consumption, and 10% increase in soil organic carbon content. It has realized carbon fixation and emission reduction of 132,200 tons of carbon dioxide, exceeding the expected target of the project by 65,000 tons. The project monitoring and evaluation report shows that the technical activities carried out in the project area, such as soil testing and formulated fertilization, conservation tillage, returning straws to the field and water-saving irrigation, have played an important role in increasing crop yield, carbon sequestration and emission reduction.

At the same time, the project has formulated relevant technical regulations and subsidy systems, improved farmers' scientific and technological awareness and field management, established a production model with resource utilization efficiency, affordable cost, emission reduction and carbon sequestration, enhanced the adaptability of crop production to climate change, promoted the energy conservation and emission reduction in China's agricultural production. In this way, the "win-win" effect of food security, adaptability to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions have been achieved. In conclusion, the climate smart agricultural production model can achieve the effects of "carbon sequestration, emission reduction, stable grain production and income increase".

2. Experience and insights

Climate smart projects have played a good demonstration driving role in the local area. It strengthens farmers' awareness of environmental protection, realizes the integration of agricultural green technologies, and effectively promotes the green and quality development of local agriculture.

By implementing the project in two areas, the pilot of climate smart agriculture has achieved results in emission reduction and carbon sequestration, water-saving irrigation, popularization of new concepts and technologies, innovation in planting patterns, promotion of new varieties, etc. At the same time, it has also cultivated the ability of farmers to actively adapt to climate change and carry out green production, and improved the income of farmers and the environment.

Despite good results, the project also faces great pressure in project management. It is necessary to strengthen agricultural scientific and technological innovation and organization management, highlight the dominant position of farmers and improve the cooperation mechanism among different parties, so as to better promote the application, demonstration and promotion of climate smart agriculture in China.

About the author: ZHENG Haixia, Agricultural Information Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

References:

1.Office of Climate Smart Staple Crop Production Project. Carbon Sequestration, Emission Reduction, Stable Grain Production and Income Increase- Climate Smart Agriculture, a New Path of China's Agricultural Green Development, Farmers Daily 2020-09-18, http://www.farmer.com.cn/2020/09/18/wap_99859530.html

2.Yexian County, Henan Province, Successful Model and Technologies of Climate Smart Agriculture, https://xw.qq.com/cmsid/20200928V0GEU500?f=newdc

3.The 2020 International Symposium on Climate Smart Agriculture in Beijing: the Production Fruitful Results Achieved in the Project of Climate Smart Staple Crops, http://www.moa.gov.cn/xw/bmdt/202009/t20200922_6352773.htm

4. The Successful Completion of the Arrangement Conference on “Climate Smart Staple Crop Production Project”, https://www.sohu.com/a/391740705_120058493