“Climate Smart Agriculture” carbon financing project in Xundian is funded by Blue Moon Foundation. The 2 year project with start 1.1.2015 is implemented through the Farmers’ Clubs model. It covers 400 households in 2 administrative villages and advocates community initiated “Climate-Smart Agriculture”.

80 households in Changjiaba, Jinfa and Nuojixin Village were involved in the SRI methane reduction pilot sub project in 2015. 124 mu of rice were planted using this method. Because the flooding of this year inundated the pilot fields, the rice yield was decreased by 49% compared to 2014. The project staff compared the SRI method with the traditional method of planting rice. Theoretically it was presumed that the yield could be increased by 25% by using SRI method. Farmers saw the benefits of using SRI method from the rice plants and their improved roots and increased numbers of tillers in the pilot field. They accept new methods and new technology because the potential yield increase is persuasive to farmers.  

In the morning of November 18, a project conclusion meeting for adjusting water supply in SRI fields and carbon reduction measurement was held in Yunnan Academy of Scientific and Technical Information. Sheng Xia, Xiang Songjun and project director Siri Holmebakk from PMO, and Sunnuo Zhuma, Yuan Ruifu from HPP Kunming office participated in the meeting. Representatives from CDM Center of Yunnan Academy of Scientific and Technical Information were Wang Xiaoli, Gu Jianlong, Wang Xiang and Feng Xin. During the meeting, on behalf of CDM Center, Gu Jianlong presented the conclusion report on carbon deduction measurement by the project. The SRI method had reduced 33.3 tons CO2e on 124.5 mu or 4.01 tons CO2e / hectare. The meeting also discussed issues of emission reduction measurement work for next year.

Another discussion point was the role of chemical fertilizer. Chemical fertilizer plays an important role in agricultural production. International and national fertilizer experts advise in general that fertilizer application on crops can increase yield by 40%-60% when the other production factors remain unchanged. But part of the fertilizer contents would change in the soil. According to feedback from Xundian research data, the fertilizer used by farmers was mainly urea, ammonium bicarbonate, superphosphate and compound fertilizer of rice. Because the project promoted intercropping methods (intercropping of corn and bean)，the overall chemical fertilizer application could be reduced by around 11% compared to last year.

Urea hydrolysis products go to two directions, including emission of ammonia and processes of nitrification-denitrification. As per recent research, ammonia is pollution to the air. It’s indirect impact is larger than its direct impact to atmospheric warming. The reduction of urea application in 2015 compared to 2014 leads to reduction of greenhouse gases by 29.4 tons CO2e.

Ammonium bicarbonate is a kind of carbonate. It contains around 17.7 nitrogen, which can be used as nitrogen fertilizer. Since it can disappear after being decomposed into NH3, CO2 and H2o, it is also called air fertilizer. No greenhouse gases are generated from volatilization of nitrogen. Volatilization loss of CO2 is generated in the meantime. The reduction of ammonium bicarbonate application in 2015 from 2014 leads to reduction of greenhouse gases by 0.09t tons CO2e. 

The main components of superphosphate are monocalcium phosphate and gypsum. It does not contain greenhouse gas. When it is decomposed and volatilized, no greenhouse gases is generated either. The compound fertilizer of rice has complicated components. So far, no literature about reduction of greenhouse gases from reduction of the fertilizer application is found.

The Xundian project indicates the importance of environmental friendly agriculture. It reaches the goal of being environmental friendly. More important is that it conveys to the farmers the scientific benefit and environment protection theory of climate-smart agriculture through pilot fields. The farmers have the responsibility of realizing their importance in this world. They could realize their value by scientific and smart methods. In the meantime, let’s support these farmers to protect our soil, water and air in a better way. 



 Measuring yields and collecting data

This project is supported by Blue Moon Fund