Biodiversity and the quest for sustainable rice production systems
2001
Borromeo, T.H. (Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Dept. of Agronomy)
Biodiversity plays an important role in sustaining key functions of agro-ecosystems. The present rice cultivation system, however, undermines biodiversity and the services it provides. Large-scale planting of modern high-yielding varieties (HYVs) has displaced traditional varieties, resulting in the loss of genetic resources. There is a high degree of genetic uniformity with HYVs; it is ironic that modern cultivars,products of germplasm diversity, have become the major threat to diversity. Loss of biodiversity can make crops vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stresses. Rice production systems must consider not only increased yield but the conservation of biodiversity as well. Strategies to introduce functional biodiversity into modern agriculture to meet the urgent need for sustainable production systems are necessary. Foremost are strategies to increase diversity in the rice agro-ecosystem. This includes conservation and use of as wide a range as possible of variation within the species, diversity-enhancing agricultural practices such as polycultures, multi-storey agriculture or agroforestry, management of biodiversity within or around the ricefields, and varietal diversification. An appropriate mix of traditional and modern agriculture can make agricultural system highly productive while maintaining biodiversity
Показать больше [+] Меньше [-]Ключевые слова АГРОВОК
Библиографическая информация
Эту запись предоставил University of the Philippines at Los Baños