Impacts of Climate Change on Water Qualityand Quantity in Agriculture and possible
Adaptations in Atlantic Canada
Caroline Pagé and Jean-Louis Daigle
CWRA 55th Annual Conference, Winnipeg, June 11-14, 2002
Presenter: G. Fairchild, Eastern Canada Soil and Water Conservation Centre
•• Partners :Partners :
– PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration,Agriculture & Agri-food Canada)
– CCA (Canadian Cattlemen’s Association)
– CFA (Canadian Federation of Agriculture)
– SCC (Soil Conservation Council of Canada)
– ECSWCC (Eastern Canada Soil and WaterConservation Centre)
Climate Change Awareness in AgriculturePartnership Project
•• Objectives :Objectives :
1)1) Increase awarenessIncrease awareness
2) 2) National networkingNational networking
3) 3) Identify and promote BMPIdentify and promote BMP
Predictions for Atlantic Canada
http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/english/issues/what is/maps graphs.shtml
Predictions for Atlantic Canada
http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/english/issues/what_is/maps_graphs.shtml
A. Bootsma1, S. Gameda1 and D. W. McKenny2. (2001). Adaptation ofagricultural production to climate change in Atlantic Canada. 1AAFC. 2CFS
A. Bootsma1, S. Gameda1 and D. W. McKenny2. (2001). Adaptation ofagricultural production to climate change in Atlantic Canada. 1AAFC. 2CFS
R. De Jong1, K. Y. Li1, A. Bootsma1, T. Huffman1, G. Roloff1 and S. Gameda2. (2002).
Crop yield and variability under climate change and adaptation crop management scenarios.
1AAFC. 2Univ. Fed. de Parana
Modelled 30-yr means for potatoes @ 2 x CO 22
( EPIC & CGCM1+A1 )
location planting date growing season temperature stress water stress
(Day of year) ------------------------------------------- days ---------------------------------------
historic 2xCO 2 2 historic 2xCO 2 2 historic 2xCO 22 historic 2xCO 2 2
Fredericton 127 116 125 140 12 14 7 20
Charlottetown 139 119 120 139 13 15 0 0
R. De Jong1, K. Y. Li1, A. Bootsma1, T. Huffman1, G. Roloff1 and S. Gameda2. (2002).
Crop yield and variability under climate change and adaptation crop management scenarios.
1AAFC. 2Univ. Fed. de Parana
Modelled 30-yr means for potato yields @ 2 x CO 22
( EPIC & CGCM1+A1 )
location baselinescenario
( Mg ha -1-1 )
2 x CO 22scenario ( Mg ha -1-1 )
mean std dev mean std dev
Fredericton 7.92 0.75 8.89* 0.97
Charlottetown 6.76 0.66 8.33* 0.69
* Significantly different at the 0.05 probability level
Possible Atlantic C lim ate Change Considerations
• increasing climate variability• droughts, floods, irrigation, water quantity concerns ?
• increased frequency of intense rainfall events• more soil erosion, runoff, water quality concerns ?
• warmer winters
• earlier & larger runoff ?
• growing season and temperature increase• crop varieties, species, yield ?• over-wintering, cold-hardening ?
Weather conditions
High Intensity rainstorms
NW NB farm - 40 mm intense rainfallduring 15 min
Soil conditions
• Dense, compactslowlypermeablesubsoils
• Poorly structuredsurface soils
• Shallow soilmaterials overbedrock
Water Quality concerns are related to:
Excess Soil Erosion and Runoff
Soil Compaction
Loss of Organic Matter
Loss of Crop Productivity
Loss of Available Soil-Water
M a n y A tla n tic s o ils s h o w s erio u s so il e ro s io n an d d e g rad a tio n
Estimated annual on-farm cost $10-12million in NB potato belt alone
Soil Erosion & Degradation
It is estimated that 60-70% PEI &NB potato land experiencesexcessive soil loss as a result offarming undulated slopes
Sedim ent in farm runoff after very heavy showers (NW NB)
Black Brook6,000 t / yr ?
Climate Change Impacts on water quality
in Atlantic Canada
Increased risks of soil erosion & impacts of agriculturalrunoff containing sediments, N, P, pesticides & bacteria
Need for more Soil & Water Conservation systems ?
Site 22
Site 20
AAFC Study - Effectiveness of Terracing SystemsNW NB on NSCP SQEP Benchmark sites 20/22
Cross-slope cultivation,diversion terraces, grassedwaterways
Up & down - slopecultivation, no terraces
Site 22
Site 22
0 25
50
75 100
125
150 175
200
225
mm
Crg(90) Pa(91) Pa(92) C(93) Pa(94) Moy (90-94)
Terrasse Sens de la pente
Runoff (mm)
0 2 4 6 8
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
t/ha
Crg(90) Pa(91) Pa(92) C(93) Pa(94) Moy (90-94)
Terrasse Sens de la pente
Soil loss (t/ha)
terraced terracedUp & down slope Up & down slope
AAFC Study - Effectiveness of Terracing SystemsNW NB on NSCP SQEP Benchmark sites 20/22
Soil and Water Conservation Systems
Runoff & soil loss were greatly reduced on site with soil and waterconservation system. Terraces and grassed waterways veryeffective.
Soil Management & Conservation
Sheet & rill soil erosion are being addressed by:
1. Better Crop Rotation2. Strip cropping3. Winter cover crops4. Conservation tillage5. Green manures6. Residue management7. Mulching
1,2 3
4 3 & 5
766
8. Cross-slope & contour cropping9. Diversion terraces & grassed waterways10. Sub-surface drainage, subsoiling & 4x4 tractors11. Straw cover, mulches
8,98
9 10 11
rill & gully soil erosion (steeper fields) by:
• Cross-slope & contour cropping• Diversion terraces & grassed waterways• Crop rotation• Residue management
Some progress, with 20,000 acres in each of PEI & NB nowprotected with site-specific, appropriate combinations of:
Increased moisture deficits & frequency of localized drought
IrrigationWater storage
Climate change impacts on water quantity
in Atlantic Canada
% Distribution of irrigated land in Canada
from: The Health of our Water. (2000). Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Man (3 )
Sask (11 )
Ont/Que (12 )
Alta (60 )Atlantic (1 )
BC (13 )
IRRIGATION ACREAGE BY PROVINCE(acres)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
1996 1999
NB
PEI
NS
Feasible W ater Sou rcin g O p tions in M aritim es
• dugouts (maritimes high rainfall and runoff)
• Common infrastructures & reservoirs systems (lacking in
maritimes)
• Small dams & storage ponds
• By-pass ponds
• Rivers and lakes
• Groundwater (important in PEI)
Integrated Soil and Water Management & Irrigation
• Soil suitability criteria
• Integrated land management
• Water sourcing options
• Irrigation feasibility
• Best Management Practices
If we encourage irrigation in the maritmes, we need:
Integrated Soil and Water Management & Irrigation
• In the maritimes, with our rainfall, conserving the water in thesoil is extremely important in producing high quality crops andpreserving the environment.
• This includes measures taken to:
• increase soil WHC
• improve soil drainage
• reduce runoff
• reduce evaporative losses
Water content at FC and PWP versus OM content
Hudson. 1994. J. Soil and Water Cons.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Percentage OM by weight
0
10
20
30
40
50Percentage water by volume
FC
PWP
AWC 16.6 20.3
Green Manure Crop
Economics of BMPs in agriculture for climate change ?
• S & W Conservation BMPs
• for water quality & quantity
• GHG emission reduction BMPs
• crop adaptation
We will need:
• cost/benefit evaluations
• demo farms & sites
• programs to support adaptation to CC
• what is fit to new APF ?
Conclusion: Impacts of Climate Change on Water Quality andQuantity in Agriculture and possible Adaptations in Atlantic Canada
