Biodiversity and the quest for sustainable rice production systems

Professorial Chair Lecture

professorial Chair Lecture

Place

Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, U.P. Los Banos

Date

6-29-2000

Abstract

Biodiversity plays an important role in sustaining key functions of agroecosystems. The present rice cultivation system, however undermines biodiversity and the services it provides. 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. Our challenge now is to use our knowledge in genetics and population biology to introduce functional biodiversity into modem agriculture to meet the urgent need for sustainable high yielding production systems. Strategies to increase diversity in rice agroecosystem include conservation and use of as wide a range of variation within the species, diversity-enhancing agricultural practices such as polycultures, multistorey agriculture or agroforestry and management of biodiversity within or around the ricefields and varietal diversification. An appropriate mix of traditional and modern agriculture can make agricultural systems highly productive while maintaining biodiversity.

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section

Call Number

PL

Pages/Collation

18 leaves

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