INTENT OF WEBSITE
The website intends to provide a basic, user-friendly tool to:
- Demonstrate the potential of Conservation Agriculture (CA) principles to, when applied to cropping systems, facilitate sequestration of soil organic carbon (SOC).
- Create awareness and improve understanding, among farmers and other app users, of options to improve soil carbon sequestration in summer grain production regions and resulting potential of CA farming systems to sequester SOC.
The website allows users to select a production region from a drop-down menu to access a worksheet that show the effects of farming systems, crop rotation, tillage, agronomic and forage practices, and inclusion of cover crops on the potential to sequester SOC.
DISCLAIMER
The study team aimed to develop a tool that is informative and creates awareness of the potential of CA farming systems to sequester SOC in various summer grain production regions of South Africa. The website is intended for comparison of the effects of cropping systems, and tillage, agronomic and forage practices on SOC sequestration for use by a wide group.
The SOC sequestration represented on this website is based on detailed numerical modelling that used region-specific, readily available data to create worked examples. Calibration of the crop growth and soil organic matter model components is discussed in the numerical modelling webpage.
The website is not intended to replace the need for professional advice related to applying CA to individual farms, or to conduct detailed analyses or modelling for the specific conditions (climate, soils, farming system and practices) of a farm. While reasonable efforts were made to ensure that the contents of the website are correct, the Maize Trust, ASSET Research and Terrasim CC do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of information made available in this website. The study team shall not be held liable for any loss or damage that may, directly or indirectly, result from persons using, or relying on the contents of this website.
Citation
Any part or data from this website must be referenced as: Terrasim, Asset Research and Maize Trust, 2021. Demonstrating the Potential of Conservation Agriculture Crop Farming Systems to Sequester Soil Organic Carbon for the Summer Rainfall Grain Production Regions of South Africa. September 2021. Date of access.
Acknowledgements
Maize Trust of South Africa for financial support to develop of the website.
The project leader, Dr Hendrik Smith, for his support and motivation.
Weane and Hardus Bodenstein from WHB Assisting for technical support in the development of the website.