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SvenSven--Erik JacobsenErik Jacobsen

University of Western AustraliaCrawley, Australia, 18 August 2009

Climate proof cropping systems and the potential for under-utilized species in a Mediterranean climate

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Content

Introduction of UCPH and LIFEMain problems

GlobalMediterranean

Possible solutionsImproved cropping systemsNew technologies New genetic material

Role of SWUP-MED

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Main problems Global

Water (1.5 bill. lack drinking water)Energy (2 bill.)Health (40 mill. AIDS, 1 mill. malaria/y)Agriculture (shortage of food)Biodiversity (loss)

UN – Priority areas

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Most important adverse factor in agriculture globally

Largest water user: agriculture 67%, industry 19%, municipal 9%

5000 deaths/day due to lack of clean drinking water

Salinity

Childrens education

UNDP: Without policy changes 2025 67% of world pop. suffer from water shortage/safe drinking water. Today 20% (1.5 bill.).

Water

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Mediterranean

Drier conditionsIncreasing temperatureGreater variabilityClimate change

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Mediterranean zone

Arid and semi-arid zones comprise approximately 40% of the world land surface.

The Mediterranean environment is characterized by cold, wet winters, and hot, dry summers

Fig. 1. Map of the five regions with Mediterranean-type climate (red). For the Mediterranean Basin, the yellow area corresponds to the Mediterranean–steppe domain (mean annual rainfall 100-400 mm) according to Le Houerou (1997) (Joffre & Rambal, 2002).

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Possible solutions for creating climate-proof cropping systems in the Mediterranean region

1. Improved cropping systems2. New technologies 3. New genetic material

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www.swup-med.dk

SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME, THEME 2[Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology]Call FP7-KBBE-2007-1: Annual food crops with improved tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses

Grant agreement for: Small Collaborative Project

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Main objective

Improve food production by creating climate-proof cropping systems under multiple stresses:

Optimize crop rotations and use of crop species and cultivars of wheat, grain legumes and new crops (potentially high value food cash crops),

in a rainfed system with supplemental deficit irrigation usingmarginal-quality water and harvested rainwater.

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WP0

Pro

ject

man

agem

ent

Newclimate proof food crops

Sustainable field applicability

Research synthesis in dialogue with

food sector

WP6 Modelling water crop and soil management

WP7Guidelines, recommendations

and dissemination

WP1 Farming systems under multiple abioticstresses

WP3 Sustainable agronomic intervention

against multiple abiotic stresses

WP2 Selection and adaptation of climate proof

crops

New

tr

aits

New

cr

ops

Dro

ught

stre

ss

Sal

init

yst

ress

WP5 Socio-economics and local policies

impact

WP4Environmental impact

New

cro

psan

d tr

aits

Mar

gina

l qu

alit

yw

ater

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Farming systems

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Crop rotations

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Aynokas

Reducing evaporation from the soil surface

MulchingEarly sowingCultivars with rapid early growthPlant population and spacingApplication of fertilizerMixed cropsCrop rotation

Increasing total water supply

Cultivars with deep root systemsIncrease infiltration and reduce runoffWeed controlFallowingApplication of fertilizer Rain harvesting Irrigation

1. Improved cropping systems

Cultural practices. Reduce evaporation and increase water supply

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Waru warusCochas

Canchas

Plains

2.1 Ancient systems developed to enable crop production in an extreme climate

2. New technologies

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Slopes

Andenes

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Irrigation is based on the calculation of ET: ETo=Evapotranspiration of well watered mowed grass [FAO Penman-Monteith eq.

(Allen et al., 1998)] multiplied by the crop coefficient (Kc). Evapotranspiration of the crop, ETc= ETo x Kc

2.2 Irrigation. Supplemental and deficit irrigation may reduce water use without reducing crop yield. A special form of deficit irrigation is alternate irrigation, often termed partial root zone drying, i.e. irrigating half of the root zone in turn.

Kc varies with the season

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Irrigated land

Irrigated land (c. 20%) produce 1/3 of world food50% of irrigated land is affected by salinization

Hillel 2000:Salinity Management for Sustainable Irrigation: The World Bank, Washington, D.C.

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Potential water savings in irrigated agriculture(EU Water Saving Potential, 2007)

Infrastructure (conveyance efficiency): 10-25%Field application efficiency: 15-60% Irrigation practices (30%)Use of more drought-resistant crops (up to 50%)Reuse of treated sewage effluent (around 10%)

The potential water savings in the irrigation sector wouldamount to 40% of the current agricultural volume abstracted.

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Irrigationtechniques

Micro irrigation in an orchard

Furrow irrigation of tomato

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Deficit irrigationAlternate Root Drying (ARD) is a deficit irrigation strategy, where plants are irrigated alternately in different zones of the root system, so that part of the root system is temporarily exposed to water deficit which may produce chemical signals closing stomata and modifying growth and herebyimproving WUE.

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ARD-treatment in potatoes

Treatments: No 1 starting at 25 mm def, 2-3-4-5 at 10 mm deficit

1. Control sprinkler 100 % of Eta 4. Normal line1&2 same time, 33 % of Eta

2 Normal line1&2 same time, 66 % of Eta 5. ARD line1–line2 alt., 33 % of Eta

3. ARD line1–line2 alt., 66 % of Eta

12

Drip lines

Seed tuber

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ABA signalling

Moderate soi l drying

1 [ABA] root1 Ψ root

2 [ABA], pH xylem

1

2

Severe soi l drying

4 Ψ root

4 ABA root

5 ABA, pH xylem

3 [ABA] leaf =,

3 Ψ lea f =

3 gs Amax =,

3

3

3 Leaf expansion

6 Ψ leaf

6

6 [ABA] leaf

6 gs and Amax

6 Leaf expansion

5

4

Transpirat ion streamin xylem

Assimilates stream inphloem

ABA re-circulation

and [NO3-] xylem and [NO3

-] xylem

Root:shoot ratio

1 Rooting depth

Root:shoot rat io

3 [N]leaf =, 6 [N] leaf

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Preliminary conclusion on the main advantage of alternate irrigation ARD

Higher N-recovery: Several investigations report on higher N-recovery from the soil

under ARD than under DI.Maize field experiment, furrow irrigation (Kirda et al. 2005,. FCR, 93,

132-141; Skinner et al. 1999. Plant Soil 210, 11-20).Potatoes, PRD with drip lines (Danish experiments: Liu et al. 2005a,b;

2006a,b; 2007; 2008; Shahnazari et al., 2007, 2008).

Reasons• More mass flow with high [NO3] from nutrient rich top

soil (Bahrun et al. 2002 J. Ex. Bot.53,251-63 )• The drying and rewetting by PRD induces more new

roots causing higher uptake rate (Mingo et al. 2004. Funct. Plant Biol. 31, 971-978).

• Increase root hydraulic conductivity (more aquaporins) (Matre et al., 2002. Plant Physiol. 130, 2101-10.

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Effect of ARD on water use, WUE and fruit quality(no or minor reduction in yield)

Shahnazari et al., 2006

143I70Potato

Dorji et al., 2004166I50Hot pepper

Dry et al., 2000152I50Grapevine

Clancy, 1999145n.m.55Pear

Kirda et al., 2004163I50Tomato

Tang et al., 2005134I*70Cotton

Ref.WUE, % of FI

Fruitquality

Water use, % of FI

Plant

I=improvement of quality; n.m.=not measured

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2.3 Water harvestingWater harvesting is the process of storing precipitation for beneficial use. Microcatchment water harvesting techniques are contour ridges, semicircular bunds, and small runoff basins. Macro-catchment systems are characterized by having runoff water collected from relatively large catchments.

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Collecting rain water from greenhouses

Rooftop

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Aleppo, Syria

Collecting rain water from field:Small terraces, Inner Mongolia

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Macro-catchment

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Treated wastewater

2.4 Marginal-quality water such as treated wastewater is a potential resource of water and plant nutrients (N and P) and organic matter, which contribute to soil fert ility. Wastewater treatment is characterized by a high cost and technical skills required for operation and maintenance.

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Study site Qweik River in peri-urban area of Aleppo, Syria

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2.5 Desalination or use of saline water, may be used untreated for some tolerant crops, whereas desalination may provide clean water, after a costly process.

Reverse Osmosis Water Purifiers

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2.6 Other techniquesTransport

• PipelinesGreat Man-Made River project, LibyaTurkey-Middle EastChina south to northIndia South Asian water grid• BagsMediterranean

Virtual• Food transport

Replace meat• Estimates of water used to produce:

Wheat 1300 l/kgRice 3400 l/kgBeef 15500 l/kg

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3. New genetic material

Stress tolerant varietiesDrought tolerant and other abiotic stress traits should be identified in breeding programmes using advanced physiological and biochemical screening tools

New crops

QuinoaAmaranth

Lupin

.

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New crops: Why is quinoa outstanding?

Nutritional value

Cultivation

High protein qualityHigh protein content (12-20%)High vitamin content (A, B2, E)High mineral content (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn)

Drought resistantFrost resistantSalt tolerantRustic

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Quinoa outside South America

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).

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Fig. 1. Selectivity curve for weed harrowing 7 May 2007 (two leaf stage) CSC (crop soil cover) is crop cover due to weed harrowing, and WC (weed control) is effect of the treatment.

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Crop physiology

Jacobsen et al., 2009

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Leaves

Reduced turgor -> reduced grow thABA stomatal closure

Reduced transpiration&Photosynthesis

gene responses metabolic acclimation

Increased leaf abscision

Drying soil

cell drought signaling / ABA productionRoots: sense drying soilgene responses osmotic adjustment -> turgor maintenance

Water uptake

Chemical signals (ABA and others)Xylem pH Changes in nutrient uptake Reduced assimilate transport

Reproductive structures

reduced spikelet numbers (e.g. in w heat)

reduced pollen fertility

failure of pollination

increased abortion:

ovary abortion

zygotic abortion

carbohydrate partitioning

Water deficit affects the whole plant organism on several levels

Background

decreased C-assimilation

carbohydrate partitioning

LeavesReprod. Structures/seeds/fruitsStemRoots

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Invertases are regulated in a tissue-specific manner

Drought

Leaves Reproductive organs (ovaries, seeds etc.)

INVERTASES INVERTASES

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Obvious differences

At stage of bud formation after 1 month irrigating with salt solution up to 95% WHC (14 days 250 mM NaCl and 10 days with 450 mM NaCl) to build up salinity levels in the soil

Utusaya

Control Salt treated

Danish

Control Salt treated

Salt treatment with 250 mM (14 d) and 450 mM (10d)

43

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Salt treatment with 250 mM (14 d) and 450 mM (10d)

44

Although Danish cultivar takes up less salt, stomatal conductance is more affected than in Utusaya. LWP is not more affected in Utusaya than in Danish => Utusaya does probably not accumulate salt in the leaves (at least not in the younger leaves).

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Utusaya Danish

Experiment No. 2

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Conclusions so far

- Flame treatment cannot be used- Hoeing efficient- Weed harrowing promising- Quinoa has good ability for growth after covering- 50% of the crop covered results in 15% plant reduction- Up to 80% control of weeds- Uses ABA as a tool for adapting to drought- Improved growth with 150 mM salt

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The Great Quinoa Day - Saison

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Other properties

• Easy to prepare• Quicker than rice

• Taste good• Alternative to rice, bulgur, couscous

• For instance in ”risotto” and salads• Alternative protein source

• Replace meat in pates and”frikadeller”• For bakery

• Improve nutritional value and taste of the traditional wheat bread• Starch of good quality

• Thicken vegetable soups and pates• Exotic• Story telling• Beautiful

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DevelopmentDevelopment ofof highhigh qualityquality and and highhigh status status productsproductsfor for thethe EuropeanEuropean consumerconsumer: :

VegetariansVegetarians, , womenwomen, , coeliacscoeliacs, , elderlyelderly, gourmets , gourmets and and all all whowho likelike tastytasty and and healthyhealthy foodfood

TRENDS OF TIME:TRENDS OF TIME:EcologyEcology VegetarianVegetarian productsproducts

HealthHealth BMIBMISlowSlow foodfood Fast Fast foodfood

Fair Fair tradetrade

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Water saving techniques

Improved yield under drought

Long-term effort

Improved varieties

Any sourceWUE +10%Breeding

Clean water source

SalinisationDirect useBrackish-and seawater

Extra sourceSaline water

Nutrient-rich water source

Contamination of soil and groundwater

Chemical, biological

Urban, industrial

Extra sourceTreated wastewater

Run-off water saved for the crops

Macro-catchment

Canals, reservoir

RainExtra sourceWater harvesting

Maintain yield, improve quality

SalinisationSurface, furrow, sprinkler, drip

Marginal-quality (treated wastewater, saline water)

20-50% of irrigation (20-100 mm)

Supplemental/deficit irrigation

BenefitProblemTechnologyWater source

Water savingWater saving technique

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www.swup-med.dk

SvenSven--Erik Erik JacobsenJacobsenseja@life.ku.dkseja@life.ku.dk

Christian R. Jensencrj@life.ku.dkcrj@life.ku.dk

Fulai Liufl@life.ku.dkfl@life.ku.dk