Intensification of grassland and forage use: Driving forces and constraints

Crop and Pasture Science

Volumn 65, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 524-537

  Oenema, Oene ^a   De Klein, Cecile ^b   Alfaro, Marta ^c  

^a WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY   (Netherlands)

^b INVERMAY AGRICULTURAL CENTRE   (New Zealand)

^c Agricultural Research Institute   (Chile)

Author keywords

dairy farms; GHG emissions; nitrogen; resource use; technological progress; yield gap

Indexed keywords

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION; BIODIVERSITY; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; FORAGE; GRASSLAND; NITROGEN; RESOURCE USE; SURFACE AREA; SUSTAINABILITY;

CHILE; NETHERLANDS; NEW ZEALAND;

EID: 84903543537     PISSN: 18360947     EISSN: 18365795     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1071/CP14001     Document Type: Conference Paper

References (67)

1. Alexandratos N, Bruinsma J (2012) World agriculture towards 2030/2050. The 2012 revision. ESA Working Paper No. 12-03. FAO, Rome.
2. Alfaro M, Salazar F (2005) Ganadería y contaminación difusa, implicancias para el sur de Chile. Agricultura Técnica 65, 330-340.
3. Alfaro M, Salazar F (2007) Phosphorus losses in surface runoff on a volcanic soil. Soil Use and Management 23, 323-327. doi:10.1111/j.1475-2743. 2007.00086.x
4. Alfaro M, Salazar F, Iraira S, Teuber N, Villarroel D, Ramírez L (2008) Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium losses in a grazing system with different stocking rates in a volcanic soil. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research 68, 146-155. doi:10.4067/S0718-58392008000200004
5. Beukes PC, Gregorini P, Romera AJ (2011) Estimating greenhouse gas emissions from New Zealand dairy systems using a mechanistic whole farm model and inventory methodology. Animal Feed Science and Technology 166-167, 708-720. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2011.04.050
6. Bieleman J (2008) 'Farmers in The Netherlands. History of agriculture 1500-2000. (Boom: Meppel, The Netherlands
7. Bos JFFP, Smit AL, Schröder JJ (2013) Is agricultural intensification in The Netherlands running to its limits? NJAS-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 66, 65-73. doi:10.1016/j.njas.2013.06.001
8. Breeman G, Termeer CJAM, van Lieshout M (2013) Decision making on mega stables: Understanding and preventing citizens' distrust. NJAS-Wageningen Journal of Life Science 66, 39-47. doi:10.1016/j.njas.2013.05.004
9. Cassman KG (1999) Ecological intensification of cereal production systems: Yield potential, soil quality and precision agriculture. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 96, 5952-5959. doi:10.1073/pnas.96.11.5952 (Pubitemid 29256601
10. Consorcio Lechero (2012) Macrozonas lecheras de Chile e indicadores prediales. Consorcio Lechero, Osorno, Chili. Available at: Www.consorciolechero. cl/chile/pags/macrozonas.php (accessed 22 October 2012).
11. de Klein CAM, Eckard RJ (2008) Targeted technologies for nitrous oxide abatement from animal agriculture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 14-20. doi:10.1071/EA07217
12. de Klein CAM, Monaghan RM (2011) The effect of farm and catchment management on nitrogen transformations and N2O losses from pastoral systems-can we offset the effects of future intensification? Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 3, 396-406. doi:10.1016/j.cosust.2011.08.002
13. de Klein CAM, Eckard RJ, Van der Weerden TJ (2010) Nitrous oxide emissions from the nitrogen cycle in livestock agriculture: Estimations and mitigations. In 'Nitrous oxide and climate change'. (Ed. KA Smith) pp. 107-142. (Earthscan: London
14. de Wit CT (1992) Resource use efficiency in agriculture. Agricultural Systems 40, 125-151. doi:10.1016/0308-521X(92)90018-J
15. Diamond J (2005) 'Collapse. How societies choose to fail or survive. (Allen Lane, Penguin Group: London
16. Escudey M, Galindo G, Förster J, Briceño M, Diaz P, Chang A (2001) Chemical forms of phosphorus of volcanic ash derived soils in Chile. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 32, 601-616. doi:10.1081/CSS-100103895 (Pubitemid 32661631
17. Evans LT (1993) 'Crop evolution, adaptation and yield. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK
18. Evenson RE, Gollin D (2003) Assessing the impact of the green revolution, 1960 to 2000. Science 300, 758-762. doi:10.1126/science.1078710 (Pubitemid 36532102
19. FAO (2010) 'Greenhouse gas emissions from the dairy sector. A life cycle assessment. (FAO: Rome
20. FAOSTAT (2013) Database of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. FAO, Rome. Available at: Http://faostat.fao.org/ (accessed December 2013).
21. FIA (2008) 'Agenda de Innovación para la Cadena de Valor Láctea 2008-2018. (Fundación para la Innovación Agraria, Ograma Impresores: Santiago, Chili
22. Flysjö A (2012) Greenhouse gas emissions in milk and dairy product chains improving the carbon footprint of dairy products. PhD Thesis, Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Denmark.
23. Galloway JN, Townsend AR, Erisman JW, Bekunda M, Cai Z, Freney JR, Martinelli LA, Seitzinger SP, Sutton MA (2008) Transformation of the nitrogen cycle: Recent trends, questions, and potential solutions. Science 320, 889-892. doi:10.1126/science.1136674 (Pubitemid 351929578
24. Garnett T, Godfray C (2012) 'Sustainable intensification in agriculture. Navigating a course through competing food system priorities. (Food Climate Research Network and the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food, University of Oxford: Oxford, UK
25. Glover JD, Culman SW, DuPont ST, Broussard W, Young L, Mangan ME, Mai JG, Crews TE, DeHaan LR, Buckley DH, Ferris H, Turner RE, Reynolds HL, Wyse DL (2010) Harvested perennial grasslands provide ecological benchmarks for agricultural sustainability. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 137, 3-12. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2009.11.001
26. Godfray HCJ, Beddington JR, Crute IR, Haddad L, Lawrence D, Muir JF, Pretty J, Robinson S, Thomas SM, Toulmin C (2010) Food security: The challenge of feeding 9 billion people. Science 327, 812-818. doi:10.1126/science.1185383
27. INE (2012) Resultados del Censo Agropecuario 2007. Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas, Santiago, Chili. Available at: Www.ine.cl/canales/chile- estadistico/censos-Agropecuarios/censo-Agropecuario-07.php (accessed 22 October 2012).
28. Lassaletta L, Billen G, Grizzetti B, Garnier J, Leach AM, Galloway JN (2014) Food and feed trade as a driver in the global nitrogen cycle: 50-years trends. Biogeochemistry 118, 225-241. doi:10.1007/s10533-013-9923-4
29. LEI/CBS (2012) 'Agricultural Statistics 2011. (Wageningen University LEI and Statistics Netherlands: The Hague
30. Lesschen JP, van den Berg M, Westhoek HJ, Witzke HP, Oenema O (2011) Greenhouse gas emission profiles of European livestock sectors. Animal Feed Science and Technology 166-167, 16-28. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2011.04.058
31. Lobell DB, Cassman KG, Field CB (2009) Crop yield gaps: Their importance, magnitudes, and causes. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 334, X.
32. MacDonald D, Crabtree RR, Wiesinger G, Dax T, Stamou N, Fleury P, Gutierrez Lazpita J, Gibon A (2000) Agricultural abandonment in mountain areas of Europe: Environmental consequences and policy response. Journal of Environmental Management 59, 47-69. doi:10.1006/jema.1999.0335 (Pubitemid 32586711
33. Mazoyer M, Roudart L (2006) 'A history of world agriculture: From the Neolithic Age to the current crisis. (Earthscan: London
34. McDermott JJ, Staal SJ, Freeman HA, Herrero M, Versteeg JA (2010) Sustaining intensification of smallholder livestock systems in the tropics. Livestock Science 130, 95-109. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2010.02.014
35. McGilloway DA (Ed.) (2005) 'Grassland-A global resource. (Wageningen Academic Publishers: Wageningen
36. Menzi H, Oenema O, Burtun C, Shipin O, Gerber P, Robinson T, Franceshini G (2010). Impacts of intensive livestock production and manure management on the environment. In 'Livestock in a changing landscape: Drivers, consequences and responses'. (Eds H Steinfeld, H Mooney, F Schneider, LE Neville) (Island Press: Washington, DC
37. Monaghan RM, Hedley MJ, Di HJ, McDowell RW, Cameron KC, Ledgard SF (2007) Nutrient management in New Zealand pastures-recent developments and future issues. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 50, 181-201. doi:10.1080/00288230709510290 (Pubitemid 47122392
38. Monaghan R, de Klein C, Muirhead R (2008) Prioritisation of farm scale remediation efforts for reducing contaminant losses to waterways: A case study of New Zealand dairy farming. Journal of Environmental Management 87, 609-622. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.07.017
39. Mueller ND, Gerber JS, Johnston M, Ray DK, Ramankutty N, Foley JA (2012) Closing yield gaps through nutrient and water management. Nature 490, 254-257. doi:10.1038/nature11420
40. Murphy JJ (Ed.) (2005) 'Utilisation of grazed grass in temperate animal systems. (Wageningen Academic Publishers: Wageningen
41. New Zealand Dairy Statistics (2012) New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2011-12. Dairy NewZealand, Hamilton,NewZealand. Available at: Www.dairynz. co.nz/file/fileid/45159
42. Núñez P, Demanet R, Misselbrook T, Alfaro M, Mora M (2010) Nitrogen losses under different cattle grazing frequencies and intensities in a volcanic soil of southern Chile. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research 70, 237-250. doi:10.4067/S0718-58392010000200007
43. Oenema J, Aarts HFM, Bussink DW, Geerts RHEM, van Middelkoop JC, van Middelaar J, Reijs JW, Oenema O (2012) Variations in grassland yield in practice and their possible implications for phosphate application limits. WOT Document 287. Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
44. Parry MAJ, Hawkesford MJ (2010) Food security: Increasing yield and improving resource use efficiency. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 69, 592-600. doi:10.1017/S0029665110003836
45. PollanM(2006) 'The omnivore's dilemma: A natural history of four meals. (Penguin Press: London
46. RIVM (2014) Agricultural practice and water quality at grassland farms under derogation. Results for 2012 within the framework of the derogation monitoring network. RIVM Report 680717037/2014. Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
47. Sachs JD (2008) 'Common wealth. Economics for a crowded planet. (The Penguin Press: New York
48. Sagoff M (2003) The plaza and the pendulum: Two concepts of ecological science. Biology and Philosophy 18, 529-552. doi:10.1023/A:1025566804906 (Pubitemid 37269231
49. Salazar F, Martínez-Lagos J, Alfaro M, Misselbrook T (2012) Low nitrogen leaching losses following a high rate of dairy slurry and urea application to pasture on a volcanic soil in Southern Chile. Agriculture, Ecosystems &Environment 160, 23-28. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2012.04.018
50. Salazar F, Martínez-Lagos J, Alfaro M, Misselbrook T (2012) Ammonia emissions from urea application to permanent pasture on a volcanic soil. Atmospheric Environment 61, 395-399. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.07.085
51. Scheffer M (2009) 'Critical transitions in nature and society. Princeton Studies in Complexity. (Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ, USA
52. Scholten MCT, De Boer IJM, Gremmen B, Lokhorst C (2013) Livestock farming with care: Towards sustainable production of animal-source food. NJAS-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 66, 3-5. doi:10.1016/j.njas.2013.05.009
53. Slewinski TL (2012) Non-structural carbohydrate partitioning in grass stems: A target to increase yield stability, stress tolerance, and biofuel production. Journal of Experimental Botany 63, 4647-4670. doi:10.1093/jxb/ers124
54. Smeets PJAM (2009) Expedition Agroparken. PhD Thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
55. Smil V (2000) 'Feeding the world. A challenge for the twenty-first century. (MIT Press: Cambridge, MA, USA
56. Steinfeld H, Gerber P, Wassenaar T, Castel V, Rosales M, de Haan C (2006) 'Livestock's long shadow: Environmental issues and options. (Food and Agriculture Organization: Rome
57. Steinfeld H, Mooney H, Schneider F, Neville LE (Eds) (2010) 'Livestock in a changing landscape: Drivers, consequences and responses. (Island Press: Washington, DC
58. Suttie JM, Reynolds SG, Batello C (Eds) (2005) 'Grassland of the world. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series, No. 34. (FAO: Rome
59. Taube F, Gierus M, Loges R, Schönbach P (2014) Grassland and globalization-challenges for north-west European grass and forage research. Grass and Forage Science 69, 2-16. doi:10.1111/gfs.12043
60. Tilman D, Cassman KG, Matson PA, Naylor R, Polasky S (2002) Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices. Nature 418, 671-677. doi:10.1038/nature01014
61. van de Ven GWJ, de Ridder N, van Keulen H, van Ittersum MK (2003) Concepts in production ecology for analysis and design of animal and plant-Animal production systems. Agricultural Systems 76, 507-525. doi:10.1016/S0308-521X(02)00110-5 (Pubitemid 36317457
62. Van der Ploeg JD (2009) 'The new peasantries. Struggles for autonomy and sustainability in an era of empire and globalization. (Earthscan: London
63. Van Groenigen JW, Velthof GL, Oenema O, Van Groenigen KJ, Van Kessel C (2010) Towards an agronomic assessment of N2O emissions: A case study for arable crops. European Journal of Soil Science 61, 903-913. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2389. 2009.01217.x
64. van Ittersum MK, Rabbinge R (1997) Concepts in production ecology for analysis and quantification of agricultural input-output combinations. Field Crops Research 52, 197-208. doi:10.1016/S0378-4290(97)00037-3 (Pubitemid 27307304
65. Vellinga TV, André G (1999) Sixty years of Dutch N fertiliser experiments, an overview of the effects of soil type, fertiliser input, management and developments in time. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 47, 215-241.
66. Vistoso E, Alfaro M, Saggar S, Salazar F (2012) Effect of nitrogen inhibitors on nitrous oxide emissions and pasture growth following an autumn application in a volcanic soil. Chilean Journal Agricultural Research 72, 133-139. doi:10.4067/S0718-58392012000100021
67. Westhoek H, Lesschen JP, Rood T, Wagner S, De Marco A, Murphy-Bokern D, Leip A, van Grinsven H, Sutton MA, Oenema O (2014) Food choices, health and environment: Effects of cutting Europe's meat and dairy intake. Global Environmental Change, in press. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.02.004.