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CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN
SOUTH AFRICA
PROGRESS, CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIES
Hendrik Smith, CA Facilitator, Grain SA
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WHAT ARE THE ‘SIGNALS’
FROM MOTHER EARTH?
WHY DO WE NEED CONSERVATION
AGRICULTURE?
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Average soil
loss under
cultivated,
annual crops:
13 ton/ha/yr
(Le Roux et al., 2008)
Actual Water Erosion Rate in South Africa
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Wind erosion
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The State of South Africa’s
Biodiversity (SANBI, 2013)
Map legend:Critically endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Least threatened
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Hazardous agricultural chemicals (WRC, 2016 – human health)
Dabrowski, J.M. (2015) Development of pesticide use maps for South Africa. South African Journal of Science. 111: 1-7.
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Climate Change
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Lal, 2010
Climate Change
Bohn, 1978
“The predicted rate of CO2 production from soil cultivation exceeded the
CO2 from fossil fuels until
the 1960s.”
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In: Swanepoel et al. 2016
46% SOC
lost due to
cultivation
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Abatement potential of carbon (C) sequestration
in agricultural sector (McKinsey and Company, 2009)
Carbon sequestration in the terrestrial biosphere is relatively cost-effective and has numerous
co-benefits. Technological options have been widely proven, and are immediately available
for wide-scale applications in diverse eco-regions. It is important to identify policies that
promote the adoption of appropriate technologies by land managers in developed and
developing countries.
(Pg, billions metric tons C.)
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Objective: to improve soil health
(rehabilitate degraded soils)
To initiate No-tillage on a dead soil, which is low in
organic matter as well as low in micro- and
macrobiological activity, will lead to lower yields
than in conventional tillage systems.
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Carbon Footprint Case study: Western Cape Grain Industry
14
Residue
carbon
stocks
CO2e
Virgin land
clearing
CO2e
Pure N, P & K
Compost
Lime
Pesticides
Etc.
CO2
N2O
Diesel
Petrol
Etc.
CO2
Other GHG’s
Eskom / Grid
Renewable
CO2
Other GHG’s
Farm / Crop
DetailsElectricity
Direct /
Indirect Fuel
Fertiliser &
Agro-Chem
Land Use
Change
Boundary Start Boundary End
Hectares
Ton Grain
Etc.
Crop
Residues
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Western Cape Results:
Current scenario, hotspots 15
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Western Cape Results:
Carbon Footprint, Future ideal CA scenario
Significant decline in GHG emissions from current to
future CA farming regimes in Wintergrain region.
16
36% decline
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From Solutions to Conventions Source COP 17 Land Day
Desertification
UNCCDReduced primary
production and nutrient
cycling
Reduced carbon
reserves and
increased CO2
emissions
Reduced
carbon
sequestration
into above- and
below- ground
carbon
reservesReduced soil
conservation
Reduced structural
diversity of vegetation
cover and diversity of
microbial species in soil
crust
Decreased plant
and soil
organisms
species
diversity
Increase in extreme
events (floods,
droughts, fires)
Increases and
reductions in
species
abundances
Change in community
structure and
diversity
Loss of nutrients
and soil moisture
Biodiversity loss
CBD
Climate
change
UNFCCC
Soil erosion
In green : major components of biodiversity involved in the
linkages
Bolded : major sources impacted by biodiversity losses
“Despite policies originating
from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit,
the state of the global
environment has continued to
deteriorate.”
(Howes et al., 2017)
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SOME KEY ISSUES
AROUND THE PRINCIPLES
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Principles
• Minimum soil disturbance
• Diversity, including plants/crops and animals
• Permanent organic soil cover –Mulching
• Maximise living roots
• Integrated soil fertility and acidity management
• Integrated weed management
• Integrated pest and disease management
• Integration of animals
It creates
consciousness of
how nature works
and how to mimic it
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95 per cent of terrestrial diversity is within the soil itself
Awareness and Recognition
of soil as a vital living ecosystem that sustains
plants, animals and humans
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Minimum mechanical soil
disturbance:
The downward spiral of soil degradation (in cropland)
Every time you plough the soil is
aerated and the microbial activity
spikes with the resultant break down
of SOM, releasing CO2 and NH3 into
the atmosphere with the loss of SOC
and organic N.
Every time you plough the soil
critical amounts of soil water is
lost through evaporation.
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Direct planting in crop residues
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Good germination on good crop residue cover
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Permanent organic soil cover
Functions:- Protects and improves soil- Food for micro-organisms- Control soil temperature- Suppresses weeds- Improves soil water balance
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Soil erosion dramatically decreases with increasing surfacecover. Note: FP = fall plough, FC = fall chisel, NT = no-till; circles = corn, no circles = soybeans.
Generation of adequate biomass
(>6 t/ha/yr dry matter) is crucial.
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North West Province, South Africa
Sunflower - Sunflower Summer cover crops
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Main functions of crop rotations and associations:- Provide quantity and quality (diversity) of
biomass (dry matter, shading or ground cover) for weed, pest and erosion control
- Produce a positive residual fertilizer effect on following cash crops
- Provide food and fodder- Positive impact on biodiversity- Diversity of food sources for microorganisms
Diversified cropping
Diversified cropping takes over the role of ploughing, fertilisers, pesticides & herbicides.
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Crop rotation
At least 3 crops!
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Intercropping
Achieving diversity in row-crops
Planting alternating rows of maize and beans, or growing a cover crop in between the cereal rows.
This means growing two or more crops in the same field at the same time.
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Intercropping
Mixed intercropping
Row intercropping
Strip cropping
Delayed or relay cropping
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Intercropping – examples in SA
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COVER CROPS
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1 Black oats; Hawer (swart); Avena strigosa (70kg/ha)
2 Oats; Hawer; Avena sativa (70kg/ha)
3 Rye; Rog; Secale cereal (70kg/ha)
4 Radish; Radys; Raphanus sativus (5-6kg/ha)
5 Korog; Triticale hexaploied (70kg/ha)
6 Grazing vetches; Weiwieke; Vicia dasycarpa (25kg/ha)
7 Mixture (V. dasycarpa + A. strigosa + R. sativus)
1 Dolichos; Slingerboon; Lab-lab purpereus (25kg/ha)
2 Mays; Mielies; Zea mays; high density
3 Cowpea; Akkerboon; Vicna unguiculata (70kg/ha)
4 Velvetbean; Fluweelboon; Mucuna pruriens (70kg/ha)
5 Sunflower Sonneblom; Helianthus annuus (25kg/ha high density)
6 Sorghum; Sorghum bicolor (25kg/ha high density)
7 Pearl millet; Babala; Pennisetum glaucum (25kg/ha high density)
8 Soybean; Soyaboon; Glycine max (25kg/ha high density)
9 Mixture (S. bicolor + L. purpereus + C. juncea)
10 Sunhennop; Sonhennop; Crotalaria juncea (50kg/ha)
Summer
annuals:
Planting
date: Nov –
Dec after
rain
Winter
annuals:
Planting
date: Mid
Feb after
rain event
COVER CROP OPTIONS
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Cover Crops –
warm season
Cover Crops – cool
season
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Multi-specie (9) Cover Crops – warm season(Water table sandy soils, Kroonstad, Jan 2016)
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Cover crops, Vrede, Free State
Multi-specie (4) Cover Crops – cool season(Clay soils, Vrede, Free State)
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Smallholders - high density intercropping systems
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Large seeds:
Dolichos
Cowpea
Maize
Soya
Small seeds:
Sunhennop
Millet
Forage sorghum
Canola
Radish
Grazing vetch
Cover Crops – management and
integration with local systems
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Cover Crops – management and
integration with local systems
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Integrating livestock into crop systemsThe goal is to mimic natural grazing systems (in which wild grazers move
in large herds) that will improve soil function.
Photos by Barenbrug
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Photos by Barenbrug
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ProfitabilityC-sequestration
& biodiversityRisk
High value fodder highly productive livestock
Quality application of ALL CA principles
Sustainable, regenerative, profitable crop-livestock systems
Example: Diverse Crop-Livestock System
Maize + WCC Maize + WCC Soya + WCC SCC + WCC Soya + WCC
3 3441 1 2 2
2
3
122 2
33 34
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CA AND ECONOMICS
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Global Maize Input Costs(BFAP, 2017)
$57
$67 $66
$111
$81
$92 $95
$75 $78
$97
$84
$67
$97
$107 $110
$90 $90
$-
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
`8-1
4
`8-1
4
`8-1
4
`8-1
4
`12
-13
`12
-13
`9-1
4
`8-1
4
`8-1
4
`12
-14
`12
-13
`8-1
4
`9-1
4
`12
-14
`11
-14
`8-1
4
`8-1
4
ZN SBA WBA PR ALS AV BS PO ND INC INS IA NW EFS NFS WFS NC
Argentina Brazil France RussiaUkraine USA South Africa
US$ p
er
ton
maiz
e p
rod
uce
d
Seeds Nitrogen PhosphorusPotash Pesticides Crop InsuranceContractor Diesel Total establishment costInternational sample average
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Real agricultural prices declining (BFAP, 2017)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
1900
1905
1910
1915
1920
1925
19
30
1935
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
19
95
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
USD
/ton
ne
USD
/ton
ne
Wheat Rice Maize Veg Oil (right axis)
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A modelling case study showed a very large monetary benefit of adopting commercial CA
systems, illustrating improved viability of maize production, as a result of cost reduction owing
to lower input use, increases in yields, less emission into the environment and carbon
sequestration. From De Wit et al. (2015)
Financial Viability of South African
Maize Farmers – long term view
Saves 60% on
maintenance
cost
60% less
fuel
save
about
70% on
labour
Lower
input costs
Lower C-
footprint
Higher
stable
yields
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CA trial results in South Africa
…supporting international data
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Commercial farming
Treatments:• Crop density (pop & row width)• Rotations• Tine vs Disc• Cultivars• Cover crops• Livestock integration
Up to 16
on-farm
trial sites
per project
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Photos by Barenbrug
Crop diversity and livestock integrationPositive
impact on soil health
Positive impact on biodiversity
Higher, stable yields
and profitability
High net C-sequestration
rate
High water use
efficiency
Mitigate and adapt to climate
change
Effective management
of weeds, pests and diseases
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Comparison between local and Argentinian row widths and plant population densities Plant density effect on yields
Less crop residues
Less roots
More weeds
Lower Higher
Quicker build-up of mulch
More roots
Less weeds
Cultivar choices
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Smallholder Trials - Treatments (KwaZulu-Natal & Eastern Cape):• Crops and Cultivars• Rotations• Cover crops• Intercropping• Implements• Agro-chemicals
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Smallholder Trial summaries - 4 seasons
Bergville EC, SKZN
Season 2013 2014 2015 2016 2013 2014 2015 2016
No of villages 3 9 11 17 4 10 8 8
No of trial
participants28 83 73 212 23 16 43 54
Area planted (trials) -
ha2,8 7,2 5,9 13,5 0,36 0,3 0,37 1,18
Average yield maize
(t/ha)3,74 3,63 4,12 5,03 0,95 0,7 1,37 2,52
Min and max yield
maize (t/ha)2-4,3 1-6,7 0,6-7,4 0,3-11,7 0,3-1,7 0,3-1,8 0,5-4,4 1,1-5,2
Actual amount of
maize pp233kg 576kg 654kg 487kg 15kg 64kg 125kg 161kg
Rand replacement
value (maizemeal)R 1 600 R 4 500 R5 500 R4 800 R103 R 500 R1 000 R1 600
Average yield beans
(t/ha)1,24 0,26 0,79 1,05 1,26 0,34 0,69 1,28
Trial summaries over 4 seasons: Bergville and Matatiele
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3-4 years: Reduced need for herbicide - no spraying on trial plots this season
Increased soil organic matter, reduced fertilizer requirements - No basal fertilizer applied- only top dressing
Reduced runoff and erosion
Increased yields and diversity
Bergville - Case studyMphumelele Hlongwane- Ezibomvini
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Scaling up of farming operation
(smallholders)
Area of their land used: from > 0.1 ha to 1-2.5 ha
Non commercial smallholders
Semi commercial smallholders
Commercial smallholders in
loose value chains
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• Soil Structure
• Soil porosity
• Soil colour
• Number and colour of
soil mottles
• Earthworm counts and
other soil fauna
• Soil cover at planting
• Crop cover at 6-8 weeks
• Soil depth
• Run-off and erosion
• Micro-organisms
• Roots
Start to
analyse your
soil’s
BIOLOGY
Use appropriate indicators
Not only YIELD, but
also Profitability,
nutrition,
biodiversity, etc.
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A REVIEW OF CONSERVATION
AGRICULTURE RESEARCH IN
SOUTH AFRICA
Corrie Swanepoel, Lourens Swanepoel and Hendrik Smith, 2017. South African Journal of Plant and Soil
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Number of CA research outputs
(not popular publications)
Corrie Swanepoel, Lourens Swanepoel and Hendrik Smith, 2017.
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Trends in the number of CA research
outputs over time (not popular publications)
Corrie Swanepoel, Lourens Swanepoel and Hendrik Smith, 2017.
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Distribution of research sites in South Africa
Bubble size
indicates effort
where the larger
bubbles
represent more
outputs per site
Corrie Swanepoel, Lourens Swanepoel and Hendrik Smith, 2017.
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CA ADOPTION – ARE WE
APPLYING ALL THE
PRINCIPLES?
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Percentage Adoption by Province
ProvinceNo-Till
Planter
CA
(2 crops)
CA
(3 crops)
CA - 2 crops
& No-till
CA - 3 crops
& No-till
Free State 23.4% 24.8% 11.7% 8.0% 6.6%
Western Cape 75.7% 41.7% 29.1% 35.9% 27.2%
North West 35.5% 24.2% 6.5% 16.1% 4.8%
Mpumalanga 57.1% 51.4% 2.9% 37.1% 2.9%
Northern Cape 31.6% 15.8% 10.5% 10.5% 5.3%
KwaZulu-Natal 75.0% 66.7% 16.7% 50.0% 8.3%
Limpopo 37.5% 37.5% 12.5% 25.0% 0.0%
Gauteng 100.0% 66.7% 0.0% 66.7% 0.0%
Eastern Cape 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Findlater, 2015
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Stage 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Typ
e o
f fa
rmin
g sy
ste
m
Conv.
tillage
Min. or
reduced
tillage
Conv. no
tillage (NT)
(Direct
seeding
equipment
using tines).
Production
system lacks
adequate soil
cover and
sound crop
rotations.
High use of
external
inputs
Conv. zero
tillage (ZT)
(Direct
seeding
equipment
using discs).
Production
system lacks
adequate soil
cover and
sound crop
rotations.
High use of
external
inputs
CAHEI
(NT or ZT
using high
quantities of
external
artificial inputs
(i.e. fertilizer,
herbicides,
pesticides).
Production
system has
adequate soil
cover and
sound crop
rotations.
CALEI
(NT or ZT
using low
quantities of
external
artificial
inputs (i.e.
fertilizer,
herbicides,
pesticides).
Production
system has
adequate soil
cover and
sound crop
rotations.
Organic CA
(ZT using no
external
artificial
inputs (i.e.
fertilizer,
herbicides,
pesticides).
Production
system has
adequate
soil cover
and sound
crop
rotations.
Sustainability gradient
Grain Farming Systems Typology in SA
(from Blignaut et al., 2015)
89 % adoption11%
adop-
tion
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CA IMPLEMENTATION –
FROM GOAL TO IMPACT
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CA is driven by innovative farmers and groups
Hlongwane &
Madondo, KZNJack Human,
WC
Gabe brown,
ND
Izak Dreyer,
Vrede
Anth Muirhead, KZN
Hannes Otto, NWP MphumeleleHlongwane- Bergville
Danie Slabbert,
Reitz
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Agricultural Innovation System
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CA Farmer Innovation ProgrammeKey Strategic Objectives (KSO’s)
Farmer-centred
Innovation System
Awareness & Access to Info
Incentives and Market Based Mechanisms
On-farm, farmer-led Research
Education and Training
The overall goal is
the mainstreaming
of Conservation
Agriculture to and
through farmers to
ensure, sustain and
improve national
and household food
security and income.(to ALL grain producers)
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New Farmer-centered CA
Innovation Systems Research areas
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Facilitate continuous learning and adaptation
Use every opportunity to
maximise interaction and learning WITH
farmers and stakeholders
Innovation Platforms
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CA Policy Development: FAO – DAFF – ARCPOLICY OPTIONS [MEASURES PROMOTING CA USE]
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CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
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Limited research on:
Soil cover
Cover crops
Soil biology
Soil water
Livestock integration
Economics
GHG emissions (C-footprint)
Value adding with regenerative / CA certification
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Research and Development needed …
… to accelerate CA mainstreaming and adoption
in various agro-ecological zones, which needs to
focus on immediate impacts, but
with a long-term view of
continuous adaptation of CA principles
in local farming conditions
through systems research approaches
either through farmer-led, or on-station trials
Creating and enabling environment i.e. Policies (incentives)
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“Green Wall”
Need to rigorously and continuously investigate
& improve CA systems, e.g. more diversification
… to mitigate
and adapt
against land
degradation,
desertification
and climate
change
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“I invite everyone here to swallow the alarm clock!.”
Christiana Figueres, former executive secretary of the UN
FCCC, under whom the Paris agreement was signed
“More than ever our wellbeing, climate, and future
lies in our soils, and in your hands”Walter Jehne
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THANK YOU
Grain SA Conservation Agriculture
http://www.grainsa.co.za/grain-research/conservation-agriculture