Bayburdi: El Niño Is Not a License for Reckless Optimism in Agriculture
Tabriz – The head of the Agricultural Research Center of East Azerbaijan said El Niño is not a license for reckless optimism, and harnessing rainfall requires scientific management.
Referring to the possible consequences of the El Nino phenomenon on the climatic conditions and the agricultural sector, Ahmad Baybordi said in an interview with the Mehr reporter: "The possible increase in autumn rains can be an opportunity to strengthen the soil moisture reserve and improve the conditions for growing autumn crops, but using this opportunity depends on decision-making based on meteorological data, scientific management and preparation to deal with the dangers caused by heavy rains."
Stating that the occurrence of El Nino does not mean definite and abundant rainfall in all regions of the country, he added: This phenomenon can affect the patterns of atmospheric circulation, precipitation and temperature in different regions of the world, but it is not possible to make a decision about increasing the production of agricultural products or changing the cultivation plans based only on the forecast of a rainy season.
The head of East Azarbaijan Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center noted: In evaluating the effect of rainfall on agriculture, not only the amount of rainfall is important, but also the time and place of rainfall, its intensity and distribution, the amount of water infiltration in the soil, temperature conditions and the possibility of runoff management also play a role in determining the final result.
546 thousand hectares of the province's lands are under fall cultivation
Pointing to the importance of rainfed cultivation in East Azerbaijan, Baybordi said: for the crop year 1405-1406, the cultivation of autumn crops is predicted in about 546 thousand hectares of the province's lands, of which nearly 488 thousand hectares are dedicated to rainfed cultivation.
Emphasizing the importance of soil moisture management in the production of rainfed crops, especially wheat and barley, he said: if proper rainfall conditions are met, it is possible to improve the establishment of seedlings, increase the soil moisture reserve and provide better conditions for the initial growth of autumn crops.
The head of East Azerbaijan Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center continued: Despite this, farmers should determine the planting time based on the actual amount of moisture in the seed bed, temperature conditions and short-term weather forecasts and avoid making decisions based solely on general forecasts or rumors.
He considered the timely preparation of land, provision of seeds, and preparation of agricultural tools to be measures that can increase the readiness of farmers to use weather conditions properly.
Conservation agriculture is a solution to increase rainfall productivity
Pointing to the role of scientific methods in preserving soil and water resources, Baybordi said: using certified seeds and cultivars adapted to the climatic conditions of each region, observing the principles of conservation agriculture, reducing unnecessary tillage and preserving plant residues are among the measures that can increase water penetration in the soil and help reduce evaporation and soil erosion.
He stated that heavy and irregular rains can bring damages in addition to possible opportunities, and added: soil erosion, floods, waterlogging of fields and gardens, and damage to agricultural infrastructure are among the risks that threaten the agricultural sector if there is no adequate preparation.
The head of East Azerbaijan Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center listed the cleaning of drainage paths, preventing the accumulation of water in fields and around the roots of trees, basic management of runoff and avoiding the traffic of heavy machinery in saturated soils as necessary preventive measures.
He also emphasized the necessity of using chemical fertilizers based on the soil test results and said: Fertilization should be done according to the needs of the plant and the conditions of the field in order to increase the productivity of agricultural inputs and prevent the loss of nutrients due to heavy rains.
The preparation of gardeners to deal with the consequences of heavy rains
Pointing to the sensitivity of gardens in East Azerbaijan, especially apple, grape and stone fruit orchards, Baybordi said: Before heavy rains occur, gardeners should check the water exit routes and garden drains, and after the rains, they should monitor the condition of the roots and crowns of trees and possible signs of disease.
He also said about the necessity of preparation of the greenhouse owners: the strength of the structures, the condition of the greenhouse cover, the water disposal routes and the functioning of the heating and ventilation systems should be checked before the rain; Because increasing the humidity of the environment in case of improper ventilation can provide the conditions for the spread of some plant diseases.
The head of East Azarbaijan Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center added: In livestock and poultry farming units, it is important to protect livestock and poultry housing against water intrusion, proper storage of fodder and feed, provision of safe drinking water and compliance with veterinary health guidelines, and it can reduce the vulnerability of these units against climatic fluctuations.
Emphasizing the need to protect pastures, he noted: the increase in vegetation after rain should not lead to premature and irregular livestock grazing; Because improper exploitation can damage vegetation and soil resources.
Increasing rainfall alone will not revive Lake Urmia
In another part of his speech, referring to the conditions of the catchment area of Lake Urmia, Baybordi stated: A possible increase in rainfall can help improve soil moisture, strengthen surface flows, and increase water reserves, but it alone does not guarantee the sustainable restoration of Lake Urmia.
He listed the management of water consumption in the agricultural sector, preventing the uncontrolled development of water-bearing crops, protecting the underground water resources and ensuring the environmental rights of the lake as the priorities of this watershed.
The head of East Azerbaijan Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center emphasized: If the rainfall conditions are favorable, this opportunity should be used to strengthen water reserves, reduce the pressure on aquifers and increase the stability of the watershed, rather than turning the increase in rainfall into a license to harvest more water or create new consumption obligations.
The necessity of coordinating devices and providing regional recommendations
Emphasizing the role of scientific centers and executive bodies in managing the consequences of climate change, Baybordi said: continuous cooperation between agricultural research centers, the Agricultural Jihad Organization, the General Directorate of Meteorology, natural resources, the regional water company and crisis management is necessary so that meteorological forecasts become practical and timely recommendations for farmers.
Referring to the differences in the climatic conditions of East Azerbaijan cities, he added: cold and mountainous regions such as Sarab, Ahar and Warzghan are different from warmer regions such as the middle and parts of the south of the province in terms of climatic conditions; Therefore, it is not possible to provide the same version for all regions and technical recommendations should be tailored to the conditions of each county and type of product.
The head of East Azerbaijan Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Training Center continued: Farmers should know when to plant, irrigate, fertilize and harvest based on soil moisture and reliable forecasts and under what conditions it is necessary to postpone field operations.
sustainable productivity; Success criteria in rainfall management
At the end, by emphasizing that El Nino should not be an excuse for unplanned optimism in the agricultural sector, Baybordi said: the future of agriculture should not be tied to climate optimism, but scientific forecasts should be turned into executive decisions so that the water opportunity is used in the best way in the rainy years and the food security and farmers' livelihoods are less damaged in the low rainy years.
He emphasized: success in agricultural management is not only limited to increasing production in rainy years; Rather, the main goal should be to achieve the highest sustainable productivity from every millimeter of rainfall, protect soil and water resources, and increase the resilience of the agricultural sector against climate fluctuations.