More research on variable landscapes required

Glacier FarmMedia – The variation of farmland and the practices needed to restore it mean more research needs to be done on the landscape, not just in uniform plots, says one soil scientist.

“Almost all of the scientific information on which we base our understanding has been generated on near-level, non-eroded landscapes,” said David Lobb.

Lobb is a professor with the University of Manitoba’s department of soil science. He spoke during the university’s Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture Conference on March 18.

Why it matters: Farmers rely on agriculture research that fits with the variability of their farms. 

Using images from Google Earth, Lobb showed the relatively uniform plots at the Swift Current, Sask., Research and Development Centre. By comparison, cropland in the area shows lower crop growth visible on higher ground, and more growth in the lower places.

There’s variability despite decades of conservation tillage, Lobb said.

Research plots are necessary, and ideal landscapes are often best for that research, Lobb said, but how does that research extend to farms that encompass fields, fencelines, tree lines, farmyards, roads and drainage?

“It makes sense to view the farm as a whole landscape with each facet of that landscape having different requirements and risks for production, and all facets being integrated in one complex management operation,” Lobb said.

One area where viewing a farm as a whole landscape can help is in improving soil health.

Interest in soil health will continue to grow, Lobb said, “particularly in the next few years in Canada with the new federal climate change initiative supported by the on-farm climate action fund.”

Improving soil organic carbon is a key means to improving soil health, increasing crop production and profitability, and also sequestering carbon.

One way to increase soil organic carbon is to grow higher biomass crops in rotation or to grow cover crops, however, where soil is already poor, these won’t be as effective, said Lobb.

Moving soil back onto eroded hilltops can bring soil organic carbon back to where it’s needed. Breeding and selecting crops more suited to variable or degraded landscapes are other potential solutions.

Whatever practice farmers use, efforts should be targeted within the landscape to make the best use of limited resources, said Lobb — e.g. focusing manure application on eroded hilltops.

Government programs need to take a similar approach, Lobb added — hence the need for landscape-based research that can help pair land types with management practices that best suit.

Lobb said Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Living Labs Initiative shows great promise as landscape-based research.

The initiative sees researchers test practices and technology on farms and other “real-life” contexts, AAFC’s website says. That way, researchers and farmers can test at the scale and in the environment the practice or technology would be adopted.

– This article was originally published at the Manitoba Co-operator.