Adaptation of Mixed Crop– Livestock Systems in Asia

Adaptation of Mixed Crop– 10 Livestock Systems in Asia Fujiang Hou State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, China College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, China 10.1 Introduction duction and other components and eco- regions of farming systems, especially Th e mixed farming system combining crop between plant and livestock, fi ve types of and livestock production, which usually is mixed crop–livestock systems have been based on the interaction of arable crops such identifi ed in Asia: farming systems based on as forage crop, grain crop and oil crop, rangeland; farming systems based on grain rangeland, woodland and livestock, is the crops; farming systems based on crop/ dominant agricultural system of the world. pasture rotations; agrosilvopastoral systems; It produces about half of the world’s food and farming systems based on ponds (Fig. (Herrero et al., 2010) and makes the largest 10.1). contribution to the food supply of humans. Th e production system uses 90% of the total cropland, feeds 70% of sheep and goats and 10.2.1 Farming systems based on produces 88.5% of beef, 88% of milk, 61% rangeland of pork and 26% of poultry meat (Seré and Steinfeld, 1996; Blackburn, 1998). Th is type of production system is operated Approximately 84% of the total agricultural in the arid area (annual mean precipitation population is involved in the operation of below 250 mm) of north-west China, central mixed farming systems in developing Asia and west Asia, of which the dominant countries (Blackburn, 1998). As one of the landscape is the Gobi desert; some of the biggest developing areas, the situation in semi-arid area (between 250 mm and Asia is similar (Hou et al., 2009). 500 mm annual mean precipitation), of which the dominant vegetation is steppe; the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and northern 10.2 The Current Situation of Mixed Russia, of which the dominant vegetation is Crop–Livestock Systems in Asia tundra, alpine steppe or alpine meadow (Fig. 10.1). Th ere is about 1900 × 104 km2 of Farming system evolution is the outcome of rangeland, which occupies 45% of the total social, abiotic and biotic factors and their land area in Asia. At a regional level, typical interactions (Ren, 1985). Various mixed landscapes are coupled agroecosystems crop–livestock systems exist due to the being made up of mountain, desert and diversity of culture, environment, plants, oasis. Rivers originating in the mountain animals and microbes, economic activities areas integrate three ecosystems of and the rich history of agricultural pro- mountain, oasis and desert by supplying duction in diff erent countries. In terms of water and carrying the ingredients for life, the interactions between livestock pro- while the desert supplies the existent © CAB International 2014. Climate Change Impact and Adaptation in Agricultural Systems 155 (eds J. Fuhrer & P. Gregory) 156 Chapter 10 Legend Farming systems based on rangeland Classically mixed farming systems based on grain crops Farming systems based on crop/pasture rotation Agrosilvopastoral systems Farming systems based on ponds Fig. 10.1. Sketch map of mixed crop–livestock systems in Asia. background of oasis and mountain (Hou and and produce approximately 60% of the wool Li, 2001). Cropland appeared over 2000 and cashmere and 33% of the total milk and years ago, fi rst in natural oases, and mutton produced in China (Nan, 2005). In expanded rapidly through the cultivation of arid areas of China, the main crops are the rangeland (including saline meadows, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), wheat which are distributed sporadically in desert (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays region) and the establishment of irrigation L.), which account for 31%, 20% and 14% facilities both in desert and mountain of total croplands, respectively. Lucerne regions (Hou and Li, 2001). Mountain, (Medicago sativa L.) originates from Iran, has desert and oasis account for 43%, 53% and been planted for over 2000 years and is the 4%, respectively, of the total land area in the dominant forage crop in this kind of farming Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of system. Th e main livestock in arid areas are China (Hou, 2007), and most of the sheep, goats, cattle and camels. In semi-arid croplands are located in oases. Th is kind of areas of China, maize is planted in about spatial pattern is common to many arid one-third of the croplands, while the planted regions and some semi-arid regions of the area of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and world. On the whole, as a result of drought, wheat is 13% and 7%, respectively. Th e main high elevation and cold, there is over 95% of livestock are sheep, dairy cattle, goats and rangeland in desert, tundra and alpine areas, beef cattle. In the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and the forage crop area is less than 10% of the main crops are rapeseed (Brassica napus the cropland in oasis areas (Ren et al., 1995; L.), hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. Hou, 2000). Farming systems are supported nudum Hook.f.) and wheat, for which the by water from rivers rising in mountain planted areas occupy 26%, 22% and 20%, areas (Ren et al., 1999). respectively. Th e main livestock are yak (Bos Mixed farming systems based on grunniens) and Tibetan sheep. Th e sown rangeland feed about 35% of the sheep, pasture area accounts for only about 0.2% of horses and donkeys in the whole of China rangeland in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Adaptation of Mixed Crop–Livestock Systems in Asia 157 1% in the arid area and 0.2% in the semi- and the third highest yield of soybean, which arid area (Hou et al., 2008). In the tundra is next only to North (USA and Canada) and area of eastern Russia, rye (Secale cereale L.), South America (Brazil and Argentina). With oat (Avena sativa L.), triticale (Triticale abundant and high-quality grain and straw hexaploide Lart.) and sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris resources, this type of agricultural system L.) are planted as forage crops in small areas, seldom grows forage crops but feeds 34% of and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) is one of cattle, 47% of goats, 26% of sheep, 42% of the dominant livestock. donkeys and generates 58% of beef and 50% In this type of agricultural system, crop, of milk production in China (Hou et al., rangeland and livestock interact with each 2008). And nearly 80% of buff alo is fed in other in the following fi ve ways: (i) livestock India (A.K. Roy, 2013, unpublished). Inter- graze rangeland throughout the year; (ii) action between crop production and live- livestock often graze fallow cropland and stock production occurs mainly in four ways stubble cropland after harvesting the crop; (Wang and Zhou, 2007; Hou et al., 2009): (i) (iii) livestock supply draft power and manure crop residues and grain are fed to livestock for crop production; (iv) crop residues and throughout the year; (ii) livestock supply forage crops are provided to livestock mostly manure and draft power for some crop in the cold season; and (v) in an abundant production in the extensive systems of the rainfall year, herbage is harvested in the developing regions, although there is an rangeland and then made into hay to feed increasing level of mechanization in in - animals in the cold season, which is one of tensive crop production systems; (iii) live- the prevalent utilization ways in native stock graze fallow cropland, stubble cropland meadow. Th ere is a net fl ow of nutrient and sparse rangeland; (iv) they also elements from rangeland to cropland in two sometimes graze small grain crops such as ways: fi rst, livestock graze rangeland during wheat, barley and rye, which in these areas the daytime and stay overnight on fallow have been prevalent as multi-purpose crops cropland; or, second, more prevalent in Asia, (ground cover, energy, grain, forage, and so livestock excrement is collected, after the on) for a long time. Th e incorporation of animals have grazed rangeland during the small grain crops into grazing systems can day and have stayed overnight in pens, overcome the feed gap of early spring and which is then applied to cropland. Th is winter which commonly occurs in this type extensive type of agricultural system has a of farming system, and also provides the high ecological effi ciency as a result of low opportunity to exchange nutrient elements inputs. A high ratio of rangeland to cropland between diff erent components of the farm- such as in the farming–pastoral ecotone in ing system. northern China (e.g. Z.B. Nan, 2007, un - published results) leads to intensive fer - tilization of cropland. 10.2.3 Farming systems based on crop/ pasture rotation 10.2.2 Classically mixed farming systems Th is type of mixed system exists mainly in based on grain crops the transition zone between the nomadic and cropping areas and between the nomadic Th is kind of farming system is located in the and forest areas in Asia. Th ey are part of the plains and oases of temperate and sub- Eurasian steppe and have relatively suffi cient tropical Asia, where crop production is rainfall and heat, and have therefore been possible owing to favourable conditions of cultivated for crop production for a long water (rainfall or irrigation), temperature time. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), maize, and soil (Fig. 10.1). It is one of the most some small grains such as oat (Avena dominant regions for maize, wheat, cotton chinensis (Fisch. ex Roem. et Schult.) Metzg.), and soybean production in the world because foxtail millet (Tetaria italic L.), broom millet of the high yields of maize, cotton and wheat (Panicum miliaceum L.) and legume crops 158 Chapter 10 such as soybean, pea and bean are the main interact: (i) livestock graze in the forests; (ii) crops in the region.

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