Post on 06-Aug-2015
transcript
Practical Sustainability What’s in it for you? Dr Nigel Davies – Manufacturing and Sustainability Director
GHG Emissions Reduction from Crops Government View Nitrogen measurement and use
• 40% farms have no nitrogen management plan (26% by area) • Highest N emissions from soils is where N application is high
or soils warm and wet • Use of nitrification inhibitors – cost effective?
Precision Farming • 22% use GPs; 20% use soil mapping for nitrogen • 50% of farmers say GPS is too expensive
Plant Breeding • Greater influence of root soil interaction • Breeding for nitrification inhibition in spring barley (JHI)
GHG Emissions Reduction from Crops Government View
Soil Organic Carbon • No- or reduced-till can increase soil organic carbon? Latest
studies suggests it is the same but redistributed differently • Soil C storage too risky due to potential run-off and risk of
subsequent nitrous emissions
Policy / Legislation • Roadmap of voluntary measures • Sustainable Intensification support • Possible legislation planning in 2016 for 2028-2032
“Our farmers are making an important commitment to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and we will continue to support them to achieve this … I expect the partner organisations to show clear leadership as industry works to meet this challenge.” Sir James Paice, 2012
10cm
6m drill on a 24m tramline
Manual No
guidance
Medium SF2/HP 10cm
+/- 5cm
RTK +/- 2cm
Effective drill
width m 5.75 5.9 5.98
Effective
tramlines m 23 23.6 23.92
Overlap
% 4 1.6 0.33
2cm
25cm
A Tape Measure Saves GHG and Money
Slide courtesy of Ian Beecher-Jones
2cm
25cm
Does it make a supply chain saving?
Data courtesy of Ian Beecher-Jones: Figures adapted from HGCA Research Review 71 – page 27 Report authors: Stuart Knight, Paul Miller & Jim Orson
SF: StarFire is a wide-area differential GPS developed by John Deere's NavCom and precision farming groups
RTK: Real Time Kinematic
Carbon Footprint: Scopes 1-3
Fuel 17%
N2O from
Soil 35%
N fertiliser
48%
Difference between models
6%
.. becoming a ‘low carbon grower’ should not add cost to the production of malting barley …
Use of abated nitrogen fertiliser
Precision farming techniques that result in more efficient use of/reduction of inputs
Use of Green compost to comply with PAS100 ** to improve soil structure/reduce the inorganic fertiliser used
Use of alternative fertilisers that comply with PAS110**
Nitrogen fixing cover crops
Adherence to Conservation Grade/LEAF protocols to improve biodiversity
Compliance with the SAI Platform Protocol
To qualify as ‘low carbon’ growers must adhere to at least TWO of the following*
** No onions or other products known to taint grain are permitted
* In addition to completing a carbon footprint form
300
290
280
270
260
250
Which areas have the greatest impact? YIELD
+20%
300
TRACTOR HOURS -20%
CAN – 20%
LOW CARBON CAN
264
253
205
240
230
220
190
180
170
160
150
210
200
CA
RB
ON
FOO
TPR
INT O
F MA
LTING
BA
RLEY
kg C
O2
eq
Base level
301kg CO2 eq/tonne
Choice of Fertiliser Matters
Urea-based fertilisers generate more carbon footprint than solid ammonium nitrate. BUT …… Urea in production has the lowest carbon emission. So control of emissions in soil e.g urease inhibitors can change the balance
Cost effective Choices?
Urease inhibitor – why? If Urea applied when it is dry can lose 30% effective N in 72h
Nitrification inhibitor – why? Prevents loss of ammonium to nitrate which is easily leached
Farmer Sustainability Group meetings What has been discussed so far
Topics identified • Cover Crops • Compost Use • Water Use • Precision Farming • External certification
Issues: • Implications of low carbon barley
supply contract • Emphasise this will not cost
farmers more • Must not disadvantage us in
securing the quality and quantity of barley we procure
• Report back to our farmers about how low carbon barley production can be achieved
LEARN: Chosen specialist topic : You will learn something new
Future Farmer Sustainability Group meetings What You Should Expect
SHARE: Experiences of applying different sustainable options
IMPROVE: You must be enabled to improve your ability to implement sustainable farming practices