Mineral Fertilizer Use and the Environment International Fertilizer Industry Association United Nations Environment Programme

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10. Integrated systems
l’environnement” is gaining widespread support.
“Integrated farming” takes systematic and
simultaneous account of the environmental
aspects, the quality of the produce and the
profitability of the farm. Its aim is to develop an
agriculture which is sustainable but which
corresponds to the farmers’ needs and to society’s
expectations. Soil and water resources and
biodiversity are respected. Fertilization and crop
protection techniques which minimize adverse
environmental impacts are adopted. Animal
health and well-being, management of effluents
and waste, optimal use of water resources and
erosion control are all taken into account.
“Alternative farming” has ideological undertones
whereas “integrated farming” aims to make
optimum use of the best known techniques.
A. Leake (1999), of the CWS Farms Group in
the UK, has stated “Integrated farming is a recent
development but is already showing promise in its
ability to deliver high yielding crops, cost effectively
with reduced environmental impact. Such a system
offers a real alternative for European agriculture
compared to conventional high input systems and
organic low output farming”.
10.2. Land planning
There are examples in certain regions of the EU
and elsewhere, particularly in water catchment
areas, of successful co-operation between farmers,
water authorities and agricultural advisory
services which have enabled local environmental
targets to be achieved. “Landcare” in Australia is
an example of a successful land management
programme. There are comparable programmes
in certain other countries, such as Brazil, India,
South Africa....
R.N. Prasad. (1997) stated “The ultimate goals or
the ends of sustainable agriculture are to develop
farming systems that are productive and profitable,
conserve the natural resource base, protect the
environment and enhance health and safety in the
long run. Traditional agricultural systems that met
the test of sustainability in the past have not been
able to respond adequately to today’s growth in
demand for agricultural commodities required by the
current population pressures of humankind and
animals and rapidly declining resources of good
quality arable land and water resources.
The basic principles of soil management for
sustainable agricultural systems are:
•
Replenish nutrients removed
•
Maintain the physical condition
•
No build-up of weeds, pests and diseases
•
No increase in soil acidity or toxic elements
•
Soil erosion must be controlled to be equal or less
than the rate of soil genesis”.