Case studies on soil biodiversity and ecosystem management
Country, region and land use |
Case study/actors |
Problem to be solved (objective) |
Actions |
Outcomes |
Lessons learned and comments |
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Assessment, monitoring |
Adaptive management |
Capacity building |
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1. Burkina Faso |
Integrated management of termites and organic mulch |
Restore soils in order to extend arable lands and increase productivity. (To manage termites and local organic matter in order to rehabilitate crusted soils). |
Monitoring is robust and easy to use and interpret by farmers. |
Technology innovation. |
Technique needs to be tested by farmers. |
Severely crusted soils were restored. |
Soil structure degradation results from eradicating native soil organisms
(termites). |
2. Egypt |
Biodynamic agriculture for reclamation and cotton production |
Reclaiming desert land for agriculture due to lack of fertile and productive soil, with a market-focused process to enhance value of products. |
|
Organic matter management and compost preparation using agricultural waste and animal manure. |
Training on organic farming and compost preparation from small scale to large industrial systems. |
2 200 ha of biodynamically certified desert margins in the Nile Valley. The organic cotton was intercropped successfully with basil and lemon grass. |
Importance of micro-organisms for developing soil fertility. Organic farming in desert margins is considered black gold, i.e. high-value market focus is important. |
3. Brazil |
Symbiotic N fixation in the common bean crop |
Improve low bean crop yields on N-poor tropical soils through N-fixing soil bacteria. (Effect of rhizobia on bean cultivars/biodiversity of Rhizobium). |
Select efficient rhizobia strains from local bean production sites. |
Use of Phaseolus. vulgaris cultivars from the Meso-American and Andean pools as trap hosts |
Needs further development. |
Common beans inoculated with competitively superior, native rhizobia produced high yields in N-poor tropical soils. |
Superior strains of rhizobia can be selected from the diversity of native
soil bacteria with no need for genetic modifications. |
4. Brazil |
No-tillage (NT) agriculture benefits soil macrofauna |
Restore and maintain soil fertility on severely eroded agricultural lands. |
Compare NT vs. conventional tillage (CT) practices for conserving soil
macrofauna. |
NT and crop rotation systems are keys to integrated soil fertility management. |
Some attempts were made to raise awareness. |
Millions of hectares of NT for cereal production with cover crops. |
NT can help re-establish a diversified soil biological activity after
CT disturbances |
5. Brazil |
Use of vermicompost to reduce Al toxicity |
Low fertile soils for vegetable production. (Reduction of Al toxicity). |
Earthworm inoculation and chicken manure to process sawdust waste. |
Vegetable production in peri-urban areas. |
Despite excellent results, adoption of the technology failed. |
Al toxicity was reduced significantly (exch. Al from 85 to 45 percent), and CEC improved. |
Adoption of technology failed due to inadequate extension and communication strategies. |
6. Cuba |
Biofertilizers (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF and Rhizobium bacteria)
for mixed agriculture |
Productivity and yield decline in agricultural soils, plus economic constraints
and lack of fertilizers. |
Application of AMF in on-farm trials with different soil types to determine effectiveness of infection. |
Use of AMF inoculants in different crops and soils to combat yield decline. |
Practical research conducted with farmers. Capacity enhanced through agro-ecological fairs, education and extension. |
Successful adoption of AMF inoculants by farmers (no data). |
Improved organic matter management is central to the functioning of the technology. |
7. India |
Managing earthworms and organic matter can improve crop and soil productivity |
Restoring soil fertility and increasing yields in tea plantations Search
for a practical, economic and conservation-minded solution to soil degradation. |
Tea prunings and other organic materials are trenched with earthworms. |
Use of soil fauna and local organic matter to increase tea production. |
Dissemination of technology to other areas and countries for large-scale implementation. |
Use of soil fauna and local organic matter improved soil organic matter and structure; hence tea production was increased and maintained. Bio-organic fertilization (FBO) technique ensures positive response of up to 50% enhancement in production. A patent has been deposited. |
Renewal of soil fertility in sites of intensive agriculture is possible. FBO needs the regular attention of trained personnel. Interdisciplinarity led to the outstanding results observed. Local assimilation of this technology is low due to deep-rooted tradition of conventional technologies. More effective promotion and adoption are needed. |
8. Australia |
Management practices to improve soil health and reduce effects of detrimental
soil biota associated with yield decline of sugar cane |
Soil compaction and yield decline under intensive tillage of sugar cane. |
Monitoring of better and more sustainable practices for improvement of soil fertility and structure. |
Adapt practices to improve crop growth and soil health. |
Demonstration trials are tools to facilitate this process. |
Increased soil organic matter and CEC led to higher activity of beneficial
organisms and reduction of detrimental effects. |
Unsustainable practices in agro-industry can be transformed into sustainable
and productive systems. |
9. Bhutan |
Methods for assessment of soil health and quality |
Lack of tools for measuring soil health that can be adopted and used
by farmers. |
The overall soil biological activity is measured through soil respiration (O2 uptake and CO2 production). |
A tool for management decisions. |
An educational tool that needs further development. |
A tool for management decisions and for raising awareness of farmers about the living nature of soil. |
Usefulness of a simple and easy-to-use method for farmers. Simple methods can be used for decision management. |
10. Ecuador |
Capacity building tools and methods used to improve knowledge and skills
of farming communities in biological management of soil fertility |
Lack of consideration of soil biological issues in agricultural education. |
Field work for identification of problems in farming systems. |
Group work interaction to achieve a multiscale impact. |
Training of trainers on soil ecology. |
Important contribution to development of sustainable agricultural practices in several regions of Ecuador. |
A multiscale impact can be achieved through participation of all farmers. |
11. E Uganda, NW Tanzania: banana, maize beans, ground nuts (1
500-1 800 mm rainfall) |
Use of FFSs for SPI |
SPI with a focus on soil biological management. |
Identification of best practices for each site and farming system. |
Conservation agriculture approaches, no-till, organic matter and soil biological management for successful adoption by farmers. |
Training of trainers, guidelines and manuals on SPI are being developed. |
Curriculum development and training materials are being developed. |
A farmer-driven approach based on participatory research is expected to lead to wider adoption. |
12. Colombia |
Soil macrofauna communities in a range of land use systems of the Colombian Llanos Students, researchers, institutions, NARs |
Understanding the role of earthworms in different soil processes; clarification of their beneficial activities. Biology and ecology of earthworm species. |
Assessment and monitoring of soil macrofauna communities along gradient of agricultural intensification (inventory of organisms and their functions across a range of land uses). Typology of biogenic structures - responsible species and physico-chemical properties. |
Adaptive management of soil-crop system and practices. Linkages between specific soil organisms management and effects on soil processes. |
Further development of tools for farmers use and interpretation is needed. |
A CIAT-edited book in English and Spanish (forthcoming) compiling the
most significant achievements. Inventory of soil macrofauna, including
abundance, diversity and their specific ecologies. |
Knowledge of biology and ecology of earthworms is a key to further address the impact of soil macrofauna on ecosystem functioning. |
13. Philippines |
Adaptive management and technology innovation Universities, NARs, Institutions, DGIS net and FAO IPM facility. |
Lack of research on the technology innovation process for integrated crop-soil management. Ineffective information sharing on soil-crop management practices between private and public sectors. |
A biodiversity research programme conducted along a landscape gradient (from uplands to the coast) |
Interactions among partners with complementary roles lead to agro-ecological innovation and impact. |
Rural people rely on variety and variability and are involved actively
in the management process. |
No results yet. |
Agro-ecological innovations emerged from interactions among partners with complementary roles. Change is achieved, driven by non-satisfied needs of farmers. |
14. Tropical worldwide |
Participatory assessment of macrofauna functional groups for rehabilitation
and improved productivity of pasture, cropland and horticulture |
Lack of a global assessment of soil macrofauna communities in the tropical region (To conduct an in-depth study on the composition of soil macrofauna communities in different agro-ecosystems and their functions) |
Tools and standard methods to assess and quantify soil macrofauna groups. |
Effect of earthworms on plant growth and physico-chemical properties of soils. |
Perception, beliefs and use of earthworms in different sites of tropical
farming systems. |
A macrofauna database with more than 1 000 sites sampled. |
Participatory approach to collect and identify soil macrofauna groups. |
15. Tropical intercountry |
The GEF-funded project on the conservation and sustainable management of below-ground biodiversity (2002-07) Students, farmers, researchers, NARs, CGIAR centres. |
Identify critical thresholds for loss of functions in soil. |
Inventory of organisms and their functions across a range of land uses. |
Valuation of ecosystem services provided by soil biota (from bacteria to macrofauna). |
Capacity building and information sharing (FAO). |
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A set of globally accepted standard methods for evaluation of BGBD. Valuable data on types of management practices and soil biota composition. |
16. South Africa |
Selection of legumes that produce beneficial plant flavonoids for various functions. |
Weed suppression and control of pathogens and pests. |
Selection of legumes |
IPM strategies developed to overcome declining productivity. |
|
Flavonoids promote microbial growth and induce nod genes in root
nodule bacteria. |
Antibiotics provided by root exudates can control insect pests and suppress
weeds such as Striga. |
17. Asia |
IPM and biomass management for armyworm control and enhanced productivity |
Control of armyworm |
Seeding the soil with natural allies including beneficial micro-organisms. |
IPM strategies developed to enhance plant productivity |
|
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Increasing soluble N and free protein amino acids in plant tissues lead
to pest damage by armyworm and other pests. |
18. Kenya |
Plant parasitic nematodes associated with common bean: an integrated management approach in Kenya |
To avoid yield losses up to 60% due to nematode infection. |
Effectiveness of organic amendments for nematode suppression |
Integrated management approach. |
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Chicken manure was the most effective amendment for nematode suppression. |
The potential of organic amendments to suppress root-knot nematodes and
reduce yield losses in bean production. |