• Authors:
    • Wollenberg, L.
    • Agrawal, A.
    • Newton, P.
  • Source: Global Environmental Change
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: The rapid expansion of the production of agricultural commodities such as beef, cocoa, palm oil, rubber and soybean is associated with high rates of deforestation in tropical forest landscapes. Many state, civil society and market sector actors are engaged in developing and implementing innovative interventions that aim to enhance the sustainability of commodity supply chains by affecting where and how agricultural production occurs, particularly in relation to forests. These interventions - in the form of novel or moderated institutions and policies, incentives, or information and technology - can influence producers directly or achieve their impacts indirectly by influencing consumer, retailer and processor decisions. However, the evidence base for assessing the impacts of these interventions in reducing the negative impacts of commodity agriculture production in tropical forest landscapes remains limited, and there has been little comparative analysis across commodities, cases, and countries. Further, there is little consensus of the governance mechanisms and institutional arrangements that best support such interventions. We develop a framework for analyzing commodity supply chain interventions by different actors across multiple contexts. The framework can be used to comparatively analyze interventions and their impacts on commodity production with respect to the spatial and temporal scales over which they operate, the groups of supply chain actors they affect, and the combinations of mechanisms upon which they depend. We find that the roles of actors in influencing agricultural production depends on their position and influence within the supply chain; that complementary institutions, incentives and information are often combined; and that multi-stakeholder collaborations between different groups of actors are common. We discuss how the framework can be used to characterize different interventions using a common language and structure, to aid planning and analysis of interventions, and to facilitate the evaluation of interventions with respect to their structure and outcomes. Studying the collective experience of multiple interventions across commodities and spatial contexts is necessary to generate more systematic understandings of the impacts of commodity supply chain interventions in forest-agriculture landscapes.
  • Authors:
    • Ramos-Espinoza, G.
    • Beer, J.
    • Flores-Macias, A.
    • Harmand, J.
    • Payan-Zelaya, F.
    • de Leon Gonzalez, F.
  • Source: Agroforestry Systems
  • Volume: 87
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: To investigate the effects of microbial inocula and Erythrina poeppigiana pruning residues on soil K, NO3-, and NH4+ concentrations, a greenhouse trial, a field experiment in an organic farm, and three in vitro tests were conducted. Under controlled conditions, weak, temporary effects (10 %) on maize seedling growth were observed on poor soils (taken from the 10-20 cm layer) in the first 2 weeks after application. Positive effects of pruning residue applications on soil K levels (0.09 cmol kg(-1), on average) were detected in both the field and greenhouse study. However, significant effects due to the addition of microbial inocula on soil K concentrations were not detected in the field; thus, microbial applications were ineffective at enhancing nutrient availability under field conditions. In contrast, in the in vitro experiments, CO2 production was 31 % greater than that of untreated soil on the 8th and 15th days of incubation. These results highlight the importance of adding tree pruning residues to support coffee-plant nutrition. Experimental outcome data could be valuable for further studies focused on microbial application dosage and timing.
  • Authors:
    • Verchot, L.
    • Angelsen, A.
    • Herold, M.
    • Wijaya, A.
    • Ainembabazi, J. H.
    • Romijn, E.
    • Murdiyarso, D.
  • Source: Environmental Science & Policy
  • Volume: 33
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: Developing countries participating in the mitigation mechanism of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+), need to determine a national forest reference emission level (REL) as part of their national monitoring system, which serves as a benchmark to measure the impact of their REDD+ actions. Using data from Indonesia, we show that the choice of a forest definition can have a large impact on estimates of deforestation and forest degradation areas, on assessment of drivers of deforestation and on the development of a REL. The total area of deforestation between 2000 and 2009 was 4.9 million ha when using the FAO definition, 18% higher when using a 'natural forest definition' and 27% higher when using the national definition. Using the national and natural forest definitions, large areas (>50%) were classified as shrubland after deforestation. We used regression models to predict future deforestation. Deforestation was much better predicted than degradation (R-2 of 0.81 vs. 0.52), with the natural forest definition giving the best prediction. Apart from historical deforestation and initial forest cover, gross domestic product and human population were important predictors of future deforestation in Indonesia. Degradation processes were less well modeled and predictions relied on estimates of historical degradation and forest cover.
  • Authors:
    • Aronsson, A. K. S.
    • Svanes, E.
  • Source: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue: 8
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: Bananas are one of the highest selling fruits worldwide, and for several countries, bananas are an important export commodity. However, very little is known about banana's contribution to global warming. The aims of this work were to study the greenhouse gas emissions of bananas from cradle to retail and cradle to grave and to assess the potential of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions along the value chain. Carbon footprint methodology based on ISO-DIS 14067 was used to assess GHG emissions from 1 kg of bananas produced at two plantations in Costa Rica including transport by cargo ship to Norway. Several methodological issues are not clearly addressed in ISO 14067 or the LCA standards 14040 and ISO 14044 underpinning 14067. Examples are allocation, allocation in recycling, representativity and system borders. Methodological choices in this study have been made based on other standards, such as the GHG Protocol Products Standard. The results indicate that bananas had a carbon footprint (CF) on the same level as other tropical fruits and that the contribution from the primary production stage was low. However, the methodology used in this study and the other comparative studies was not necessarily identical; hence, no definitive conclusions can be drawn. Overseas transport and primary production were the main contributors to the total GHG emissions. Including the consumer stage resulted in a 34 % rise in CF, mainly due to high wastage. The main potential reductions of GHG emissions were identified at the primary production, within the overseas transport stage and at the consumer. The carbon footprint of bananas from cradle to retail was 1.37 kg CO2 per kilogram banana. GHG emissions from transport and primary production could be significantly reduced, which could theoretically give a reduction of as much as 44 % of the total cradle-to-retail CF. The methodology was important for the end result. The choice of system boundaries gives very different results depending on which life cycle stages and which unit processes are included. Allocation issues were also important, both in recycling and in other processes such as transport and storage. The main uncertainties of the CF result are connected to N2O emissions from agriculture, methane emissions from landfills, use of secondary data and variability in the primary production data. Thus, there is a need for an internationally agreed calculation method for bananas and other food products if CFs are to be used for comparative purposes.
  • Authors:
    • Didik, I.
    • Purwanto, B. H.
    • Wijanarko, A.
    • Dja'far, S.
  • Source: Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue: 11
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: This research aims to study the kinetics of N mineralization by using double-pool kinetics models on degradated soils in the cultivation of monoculture cassava as a result of providing organic matter of legume and non-legume. Incubation experiments were conducted in the laboratory at a constant temperature. The treatment was by giving nonlegume and legume biomass on Ultisol in which cassava has been planted there with different lengths of time. In this research, to estimate the parameters of the mineralized N and the rate of mineralization (k), double-pool kinetics equation was used. Mean while, the relationship between the parameters of N mineralization with nutrient uptake was investigated by conducting a pot experiment in a greenhouse. The results showed that the application of organic matter derived from groundnut produced higher mineralization. The N mineralization of soil that has been planted by cassava less than ten years was higher than it was on soil that has been planted by cassava more than 30 years. The total amount of N released on soil that has been planted by cassava less than 10 years reached 1086 mg kg -1. Whereas, the total amount of N released on soil already planted with cassava more than 30 years was 783 mg kg -1. Potential value of N (N0) and the mineralization rate coefficient (k) were higher in organic matter with a low ratio of C:N and on more fertile soil.
  • Authors:
    • Harun, M. H.
  • Source: Oil Palm Bulletin
  • Issue: 65
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Measurements of actual greenhouse gases (GHG) like CO 2, CH 4 and N 2O emissions from tropical peatlands in Malaysia are needed to understand the role of peatlands as carbon sequesters (sink) or source when establishing oil palm plantations on tropical peatland. Long-term eddy covariance (EC) measurements, together with carefully focused ecological measurements of meteorological and flux data, can potentially identify the relevant climatic factors and partition of the net GHG flux from the whole ecosystem into contributions from the various major components, and quantify the effects of climatic variations on seasonal and annual net uptake of CO 2. Direct measurements of CO 2 flux using the EC method involving air temperature, precipitation, windspeed, vapour pressure deficit (VPD), net radiation, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) fluxes, sensible heat flux, latent heat and net ecosystem CO 2 exchange (NEE), can define the magnitude of net CO 2 fluxes and net ecosystem production on time scales ranging from hourly to seasonal, annual and inter-annual, for comparing intact and converted forest ecosystems into oil palm plantations. These observations are capable of elucidating the relationships between net CO 2 sequestration and underlying environmental and ecosystem parameters, on time scales long enough to be highly relevant to climate issues. Therefore, the flux measurements provide unique fundamental mechanistic, process and environmental data for evaluating ecosystem models, and for assessing the role of terrestrial ecosystems in the global carbon balance. A sequence of actions are needed for a successful EC experimental set-up, data collection and processing, such as design of the experiment, implementation and data processing. A multi-disciplinary, fully integrated and focused study team is needed for each site in order to obtain the full suite of observations, and to acquire an understanding of the underlying processes through the correct data collection, processing and interpretation. Some problems are anticipated during installation of an EC system on peatland, such as peat subsidence, varying peat depths and low bulk density as a result of the existence of a water table. The tower design should not obstruct air flow and affect the instruments' sensors. The tower should be suitably placed at the study site so that the useful footprint from all winds is maximised. Instruments should be placed at a maximum height that still allows for a useful footprint. The maintenance plan should include periodic sensor cleaning and replacement, a calibration schedule, planned replacement of damaged cables and other repairs to the instrument system. Direct measurements of GHG such as CO 2, CH 4 and N 2O fluxes from tropical peatlands in Malaysia can be done using the EC method, which must be supported by the chamber method to measure the influence of soil respiration on GHG emission and uptake rate from peatland converted to oil palm plantation. A suitable tower design with a strong tower foundation support can minimise damage to the study site. Together with a strict maintenance programme implemented during the duration of the study can ensure the successful collection of good data.
  • Authors:
    • Healey, J.
    • Attarzadeh, N.
    • Soto, G.
    • Haggar, J.
    • Edwards-Jones, G.
    • Noponen, M.
  • Source: Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment
  • Volume: 151
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Coffee plays a key role in sustaining millions of livelihoods around the world. Understanding GHG emissions from coffee supply chains is important in evaluating options for climate change mitigation within the sector. We use data from two long-term coffee agroforestry experiments in Costa Rica and Nicaragua to calculate carbon footprints (CF) for coffee and identify emission hotspots within different management systems, levels of inputs and shade types. Management system and input level were the main cause of variation in CFs. Carbon footprints for 1 kg of fresh coffee cherries were between 0.26 and 0.67 kgCO(2)e for conventional and 0.12 and 0.52 kgCO(2)e for organic management systems. The main contributor to GHG emissions for all management systems was the inputs of organic and inorganic nitrogen. Nitrous oxide emissions from pruning inputs contributed between 7% and 42% of CFs. However, these estimates were strongly influenced by the choice of emission factor used in the calculations. Research is required to develop emission factors that account for different qualities and management of nitrogen inputs to enable effective calculation of the CF from different management strategies, and especially from the pruning and organic inputs managed in agroforestry systems. As such, effective climate change mitigation strategies can only be developed from site-specific studies which utilise accurate accounting and regional-specific emission factors. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Potvin, C.
    • Codjia, C.
    • Pelletier, J.
  • Source: Global Change Biology
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue: 12
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) requires developing countries to quantify greenhouse gas emissions and removals from forests in a manner that is robust, transparent, and as accurate as possible. Although shifting cultivation is a dominant practice in several developing countries, there is still very limited information available on how to monitor this land-use practice for REDD+ as little is known about the areas of shifting cultivation or the net carbon balance. In this study, we propose and test a methodology to monitor the effect of the shifting cultivation on above-ground carbon stocks. We combine multiyear remote sensing information, taken from a 12-year period, with an in-depth community forest carbon stock inventory in Palo Seco Forest Reserve, western Panama. Using remote sensing, we were able to separate four forest classes expressing different forest-use intensity and time-since-intervention, which demonstrate expected trends in above-ground carbon stocks. The addition of different interventions observed over time is shown to be a good predictor, with remote sensing variables explaining 64.2% of the variation in forest carbon stocks in cultivated landscapes. Multitemporal and multispectral medium-resolution satellite imagery is shown to be adequate for tracking land-use dynamics of the agriculture-fallow cycle. The results also indicate that, over time, shifting cultivation has a transitory effect on forest carbon stocks in the study area. This is due to the rapid recovery of forest carbon stocks, which results in limited net emissions. Finally, community participation yielded important additional benefits to measuring carbon stocks, including transparency and the valorization of local knowledge for biodiversity monitoring. Our study provides important inputs regarding shifting cultivation, which should be taken into consideration when national forest monitoring systems are created, given the context of REDD+ safeguards.
  • Authors:
    • Sjoegersten, S.
    • Hardy, I. C. W.
    • Choy, A. W. K.
    • Townsend, T. J.
    • Smith, D. R.
  • Source: GCB Bioenergy
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Oil palm plantations cover similar to 14.6 similar to million similar to ha worldwide and the total area under cultivation is expected to increase during the 21st century . Indonesia and Malaysia together account for 87% of global palm oil production and the combined harvested area in these countries has expanded by 6.5 similar to million similar to ha since 1990. Despite this, soil C cycling in oil palm systems is not well quantified but such information is needed for C budget inventories. We quantified soil C storage (root biomass, soil organic matter (SOM) and microbial biomass) and losses [potential soil respiration (Rs) and soil surface CO2 flux (Fs)] in mineral soils from an oil palm plantation chronosequence (1134 similar to years since planting) in Selangor, Malaysia. There were no significant effects of plantation age on SOM, microbial biomass, Rs or Fs, implying soil C was in dynamic equilibrium over the chronosequence. However, there was a significant increase in root biomass with plantation age, indicating a short-term C sink. Across the chronosequence, Rs was driven by soil moisture, soil particle size, root biomass and soil microbial biomass N but not microbial biomass C. This suggests that the nutrient status of the microbial community may be of equal or greater importance for soil CO2 losses than substrate availability and also raises particular concerns regarding the addition of nitrogenous fertilizer, i.e. increased yields will be associated with increased soil CO2 emissions. To fully assess the impact of oil palm plantations on soil C storage, initial soil C losses following land conversion (e.g. from native forest or other previous plantations) must be accounted for. If initial soil C losses are large, our data show that there is no accumulation of stable C in the soil as the plantation matures and hence the conversion to oil palm would probably represent a net loss of soil C.
  • Authors:
    • Fernando, L. K.
    • Banuwa, I. S.
    • Buchari, H.
    • Utomo, M.
    • Saleh, R.
  • Source: Journal of Tropical Soils
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Although agriculture is a victim of environmental risk due to global warming, but ironically it also contributes to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. The objective of this experiment was to determine the influence of long-term conservation tillage and N fertilization on soil carbon storage and CO2 emission in corn-soybean rotation system. A factorial experiment was arranged in a randomized completely block design with four replications. The first factor was tillage systems namely intensive tillage (IT), minimum tillage (MT) and no-tillage (NT). While the second factor was N fertilization with rate of 0, 100 and 200 kg N ha -1 applied for corn, and 0, 25, and 50 kg N ha -1 for soybean production. Samples of soil organic carbon (SOC) after 23 year of cropping were taken at depths of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-20 cm, while CO2 emission measurements were taken in corn season (2009) and soybean season (2010). Analysis of variance and means test (HSD 0.05) were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System package. At 0-5 cm depth, SOC under NT combined with 200 kg N ha -1 fertilization was 46.1% higher than that of NT with no N fertilization, while at depth of 5-10 cm SOC under MT was 26.2% higher than NT and 13.9% higher than IT. Throughout the corn and soybean seasons, CO2-C emissions from IT were higher than those of MT and NT, while CO2-C emissions from 200 kg N ha -1 rate were higher than those of 0 kg N ha -1 and 100 kg N ha -1 rates. With any N rate treatments, MT and NT could reduce CO2-C emission to 65.2%-67.6% and to 75.4%-87.6% as much of IT, respectively. While in soybean season, MT and NT could reduce CO2-C emission to 17.6%-46.7% and 42.0%-74.3% as much of IT, respectively. Prior to generative soybean growth, N fertilization with rate of 50 kg N ha -1 could reduce CO2-C emission to 32.2%-37.2% as much of 0 and 25 kg N ha -1 rates.