Prescribed medication order and communication skills.pptx
Impact of Climate Change on Pulse Production & it’s Mitigation Strategies
1. Impact of Climate Change on Pulse Production
& it’s Mitigation Strategies
Speaker:-
Anurag Bera
M.Sc (Ag)
3rd Semester
Advisory Committee:
Prof. Rajib Nath (Chairman)
Prof. Dhananjoy Dutta
Prof. Bikas Chandra Patra
Prof. Susanta Kumar De
Seminar committee:
Prof. Dhananjoy Dutta (Leader)
Prof. Swapan Kr. Mukhopadhyay
Dr. Sibajee Banerjee
Department of Agronomy
Faculty of Agriculture
Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya
Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal.
Course No.-AGRON- 649 (SEMINAR 1) Date- 08/12/2020
2. Outline of Presentation
INTRODUCTION
CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIO
IMPORTANCE OF PULSE CROPS
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF PULSE CROPS
CLIMATIC CONSTRAINTS IN PULSE PRODUCTION
BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESS ARISE IN THE CHANGING CLIMATE
MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO COMBAT CLIMATIC HAZARDS
CONCLUSION
3. Introduction
Climate change is one of the highly “discussed word” over last
decades primarily as it has direct impact on food production and
food security.
Change in the statistical distribution of weather pattern is
posing a major impact on Agricultural crops particularly on
rainfed crops including Pulses.
4. Introduction
Unusual increase in temperature during the growth period especially at
the time of flowering and pod formation results forced maturity and poor
yield of Pulse crops.
Aberration of rainfall pattern correlated with humidity and associative
impacts facilitate pest- disease infestation and other abiotic stresses like
drought, flood, high salinity, soil acidification, waterlogging etc.
To meet these emerging challenges of climate change, there is an urgent
need for developing policy framework for implementing approaches for
mitigation and adaptation to combat adverse impacts of climate change.
5. • Climate change is any significant long-term change in the expected patterns of
average weather of a region (or the whole Earth) over a period of time.
• Apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards the term ‘Climate Change’
has emerged as a major talking point for the environmental scientist.
• Excessive increase in anthropogenic activities such as industrialization,
urbanization, deforestation, mechanized agriculture, change in land use pattern
etc. led to the change in climate over the regions.
6. Serious impact of Climate Change
• Temperature will continue to rise
• More droughts and Heat waves
• Change in Rainfall Pattern
• More frequent Cyclone with high
strength.
• Increasing Pest and Pathogens
• Water Scarcity and contaminating
water supply
7. • Climate change scenarios include higher temperatures, changes in
precipitation and higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
• Increased concentration of greenhouse gases like Carbon-di-oxide(CO2),
Water vapour, Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), HFCs, SF6 which can
entrap solar radiation, are major responsible for elevating Global
temperature.
• According to IPCC (2007), the average surface temperature of the earth
increased progressively by approximately 0.7 degree C over the last 50
years.
8. Projected Scenario of change in temperature due to global warming by 2100
(Source- IPCC, 2007)
9. • Based on the projections of IPCC, the mean temperature in India is projected to
increase up to 1.7⁰C in Kharif (July-October) and upto 3.2⁰C in Rabi (November-
March) while rainfall during Rabi season is expected to be increased by 10%
within 2070.
• During our independence, annual per capita water availability was 6042 cubic
meter, which can be reduced to only 1140 cubic meter by the end of 2050 which
shows a chronic water stress yet to be seen in the upcoming days.
• Probability of 10–40 % loss in crop productivity in India expected by 2080–2100 is
attributed to increase in temperature, variable rainfall and its time of occurrence
and decrease in irrigated water supplies.
10. Pulses are the main source of protein for
vegetarian population and are traditionally
recognized as an indispensable constituent of
human diet.
The protein content of pulses are twice that of
cereals (20-25%) and equal to that of animal
protein.
Being a Food legume, Pulses can fix atmospheric
nitrogen thereby improve soil nutrient status and
also can fit easily in any Cropping system.
12. Area and Production of Major Pulses of India in the year 2017-18
Pulse Crop Area (Million ha) Production (Million tonne
Pigeon Pea 4.43 4.25
Blackgram 5.44 3.56
Greengram 4.26 2.01
Chickpea 10.56 11.23
Lentil 1.55 1.61
Kharif Pulses 14.08 9.34
Rabi Pulses 15.91 15.89
Total Pulses 29.99 25.23
Source : DES, Ministry of Agriculture & FW(DAC & FW), GOI, 2017-18
13. Current availability and Future Targets
Current Population of India ~1.21 Billion
Expected Population by 2050 ~1.69 billion
Current per capita Pulse availability 42 g/capita/day
ICMR recommendation 52 g/capita/day
Present demand(@52g/capita/day) ~28 MT
Present production (2019-20) ~23.01 MT
26.43
29.43
32
39
0
10
20
30
40
50
2022 2025 2030 2050
Future Target (MT)
Source : DES, Ministry of
Agriculture & FW(DAC & FW),
GOI
14. Recent Scenario of Pulse Production in India
• India’s domestic Pulse production had been in the
range of 14-18 MT till 2015-16. Since then, several
new policy intervention, technological advancement
uplifted it’s annual average production, takes it
beyond 23 MT.
• In 2017-18,our country achieved highest ever annual
Pulse production ever. But beyond that year, the
growth is downward.
• If we take a peer review, we can observe several
cyclone (e.g. Fani, Bulbul, Amphan), untimely rainfall
in Rabi season occurred in those consecutive years of
2018-19, 2019-20.
16.47
23.13
25.42
23.22 23.01
2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
Pulse Production(MT)
15. Crop Sowing Time Seed Rate
(Kg/ha)
Spacing Fertilizer Irrigation
Chickpea
Mid Nov- Mid Dec
60 (Normal)
80-100
(Paira Cropping)
30cm ×10cm
30:60:60 (N-P-K)
Foliar spray of 2% urea twice
at flower initiation and
10days thereafter
• Foliar spray of
Micronutrients (Boron
,Zn, Mo) also beneficial
One at pre-
sowing and one
at Flowering
stage.
Additional at Pod
development
stage (if needed)
Lentil
Last week of Oct –
Mid Nov
30-40
60
(Paira cropping)
30cm ×10cm
20:40:40 (N-P-K)
Foliar spray of 2% urea twice
at 45 and 60 DAS
• Foliar spray of
Micronutrients (Boron
,Zn, Mo) also beneficial
One at pre-
sowing and one
at Flowering
stage.
Additional at Pod
development
stage (if needed)
16. Crop Sowing Time Seed Rate
(Kg/ha)
Spacing Fertilizer Irrigation
Pigeon Pea
Last week of June
to First fortnight of
July
10-12
(Med. duration)
12-15
(Short duration)
60-75 cm× 15-
20cm
25-30 : 40-50 : 30 (N-P-K)
In medium black and sandy
loam soil, 20 kg S/ha at basal
is recommended.
• Foliar spray of
Micronutrients (Boron
,Zn, Mo) also beneficial
Branching,
Flowering and
Pod filling are
critical stages for
irrigation.
Field Pea Last week of Oct –
Mid Nov
60-70
90-100
(Paira cropping)
30cm × 10cm
20:40:40 (N-P-K)
Foliar spray of 2% urea twice
at flower initiation and
10days thereafter
• Foliar spray of
Micronutrients (Boron
,Zn, Mo) also beneficial
One at pre-
sowing and one
at Flowering
stage.
Additional at Pod
development
stage (if needed)
17. • Shift in monsoon and erratic rainfall causes delayed sowing of Kharif Crops (e.g.
late transplanting in Kharif Rice), for which the sowing of Rabi crops also get
delayed.
• Delayed sown crop undergoes terminal heat and drought stress during it’s
phenological growth period which cause forced maturity without even
completing the vegetative growth properly that ultimately hampers Crop yield.
• Increasing post-monsoon rainfall during the month of January and February act
as detrimental factor for Rabi pulses particularly, during it’s reproductive period.
18. Table 1: Favorable sowing window of pulses in different locations of India and
reduction in yield with delayed sowing beyond favorable window
Crop
Location of
study
Optimum
sowing date
Favorable sowing
time window
Reduction
yield(%)
Lathyrus West Bengal 16th
November
Third week of
November
12–38
Lentil West Bengal 10th
November
First ten days of
November
12
West Bengal 15th
November
First fortnight of
November
55
Eastern Uttar
Pradesh
20th October Last fortnight of
October
8–10
Chickpea West Bengal 20th
November
Within third week
of November
17.5
Source: Maji, S. et al,(2019)
19. Abitoic Stress
• Abiotic stresses are those that depend
on the interaction between crop and it’s
physical and chemical environment.
• Rainfall distribution, temperature rise
from February onwards, drought, heavy
rainfall at the time of harvesting are
considered as abiotic factors that are
responsible for the less Pulse production.
• The short winter window of the lower
Gangetic plains aggravates the
debilitating effects of late sowing-
related heat stress.
Crop Abiotic stress
Chickpea Terminal heat,
drought,salinity
Pigeon pea Waterlogging, cold
Mungbean and
Urdbean
Waterlogging, heat,
drought, salinity
Lentil Drought, heat,
Water logging
Field pea Waterlogging, drought,
heat
Table 2: Different abiotic stress for different pulse
crops
Source: IIPR-ICAR country report, 2016
20. The effect of high temperature and
water deficit
• High temperature and water deficit decrease net photosynthesis during the
period of the constraint, resulting in a reduction of plant growth rate.
• Final seed number and final seed weight depend on plant growth rate during the
flowering period and the seed filling period, respectively. Thus, high temperature
and water deficit indirectly affect seed number and seed weight.(Guilioni et al.
2003; Pellissier et al. 2007).
• Increasing temperature above 23°C results in a decrease in the rate of N
remobilization from vegetative parts to growing seeds. Eventually, temperature
variations can also affect seed N2 concentration, one of the main criteria
determining the quality of grain legume. (Pellissier et al. 2007; Ito et al. 2009)
21. The effect of high temperature and
water deficit
• Pulses are “ wonderful gift ” of nature for all living being, natural
resources and environment. They have the ability to fix atmospheric
N2 through symbiosis with soil bacteria (Rhizobia) hosted in specific
root organs called nodules.
• But, the process of symbiotic N2 fixation is highly sensitive to
environmental stresses, especially to temperature, water, salinity,
sodicity, acidity, and nutrient disorders.
• Climate change may affect symbiotic fixation either directly by
impairing Rhizobia survival, Rhizobia competitiveness, nodule
formation, growth, or activity, or indirectly by modifying carbon
supply to nodules.
22. Table 3. Effect of terminal drought stress on reproductive function, physiology,
growth, and yield of pulses
Crop Growth stages Effect
%
Reduction
yield
Chickpea Flowering onward Reduced net photosynthesis,
decreased rate and duration of
seed growth
52–72
Lentil Beginning of
podding onward
Reduced leaf area, flower number,
pod and seed number; increased
seed abortion
70
Lathyrus First flowering
to 100 days after sowing
Flower, ovule, and pod abortion;
Reduced pollen viability and
germination
87
Source: Maji, S. et al,(2019)
23. Table 4: Consequences of changed weather parameters on the yield of major pulses
Source : Dubey et al.,(2011)
24. Biotic Stress
• Pulses are prone to major insect-pest and diseases. They cause considerable
damage if proper control measures are not taken.
• Sudden rise in temperature or aberration in normal weather condition make the
Pulse crops susceptible to several biotic stress, viz disease and insect pests.
Crop Diseases Insect pests
Chickpea Fusarium wilt and collar rot Pod borer and cut worm
Lentil Collar rot, wilt, Stemphylium
blight, rust
Pod borer
Pea Rust and wilt Pod borer, stem borer, leaf
miner, and cut worm
Lathyrus Rust Pod borer, aphid, thrips
Green gram and
Black gram
YVM , Cercospora leaf spot,
Powdery and downy mildew
Pod borer
25. Pod borer in chick pea Collar rot in lentil field
YMV of green gram Rust of pea
26. Fusarium wilt of Chick pea Powdery mildew of Green gram
Ascochyta Blight of Chick pea Sterility mosaic of Pigeon pea
27. Weed infestation
• Pulses have slow vegetative growth in the early stages and are poor
competitors to weeds. Weeds are emerging as a major threat in the
pulse cultivation due to their favourable climatic change.
Table 5 : Major Weed flora associated with Pulses
Kharif Pulses Rabi Pulses
Cyperus rotundus Chenopodium album
Amaranthus viridis Fumaria parviflora
Commelina benghalensis Spilanthes paniculata
Euphorbia hirta Argemone mexicana
Portulaca oleracea Melilotus alba
Digera arvensis Physalis minima
Source: Prasad (2012)
29. MITIGATION STRATEGIES TOCOMBAT CLIMATIC HAZARDS
• The emerging negative impacts of climatic and environmental changes will put
pressure on productivity and production of field crops particularly pulses
because they are more sensitive to fluctuations due to climate change and
associated factors.
• In such situation, there is a need to develop and implement adaptation and
mitigation strategies to alleviate the consequences of climatic changes and
climatic variability.
• The impact of climate change is complex and no single strategy will address the
issue adequately. A combination technology and policy related interventions are
required to cope up with this hazards. (Venkateswarlu and Shankar, 2009).
30. A. Breeding Strategies
Development of Climate resilient crop varieties can be a potential solution to
combat against climatic hazards. Varieties having high osmotic adjustment are
developed.
ICAR-IIPR have identified such varieties which possess high osmotic adjustment.
These varieties can be grown in the regions where climatic hazards are very
frequent.
Pigeon Pea TGT 501, Bennur Local, RVK 275, ICP
1673, Bahar, GRG 815
Blackgram PKG- U03, GP-15, IPU 90-32, IPU 06-12
Greengram Ganga-8, HUM 1, ML5
Source : Basu et al., 2016
31. Breeding Strategies
Identification of heat tolerant genotypes of pulses have a greater scope in mitigating climate
change situation in future. Recently ICARDA is targeting to produce lentil genotypes having
characteristics such as rapid phonological development, prolonged flowering and pod
development, more WUE, higher harvest index etc. to tolerate terminal heat stress.
Development of pulse varieties tolerant to different adverse conditions like salinity, alkalinity,
acidity, drought and other biotic stress like pest and disease infestation is highly recommended.
e.g.
• Sweta (ICCV 2), Bharti (ICCV 10), Pusa Chamatkar of Chick pea are resistant to wilt.
• VL Masoor 4, HUL 57, Noori (IPL 81) of Lentil are resistant to rust and wilt both.
• Karnal Chana 1 of Chickpea is salinity tolerant.
• ICP 7035, ICP 8862 are resistant to sterility mosaic disease of Pigeon pea.
• Narendra Mung 1 of Greengram, Pant G186 of Chickpea are tolerant to Heat Stress.
32. Breeding Strategies
Pulses are considered to be highly sensitive to photo thermo-periods. Sensitivity
to photo- and thermo-periods is the major factor responsible for high Genotype ×
Environment (G × E) interaction, and yield instability of major pulses across
different environments.
Therefore, development of photo-and thermo-insensitive genotypes had been
the primary requirement to address the climate risk.
Pulse Crops Photo –thermo- insensitive
Chickpea ICCV 92944, ICCV 96029, ICCV 96030
Black gram IPU-99-89, IPU 94-1, BGP-247
Pigeon pea ICPL-90011
Source : Basu et al.,(2016)
33. B. Agronomic Strategies
1. Adoption of diversification practice :
Diversification of farming is an effective approach to reduce the risk associated
with farming in unpredictable environments. It is very much essential in dryland
condition where crop failure is very frequent.
Crop diversification through mixed cropping and intercropping are very
promising approach that will create efficient resource utilization and enhances
cropping intensities.
Alternative land use system through agroforestry system, alley cropping, ley
farming etc can utilize the resources in better way and stabilizing pulse
production.
34. Agronomic Strategies
2. Fallow and conservation tillage :
The fallow system is designed to conserve soil moisture. It has
other advantages like improved availability of soil nutrients and
the eradication of certain soil-borne pests. Increasing storage of
soil moisture by the fallow system with or without conservation
tillage is standard agricultural practice in dry land farming.
Conservation tillage is basically meant for minimized tillage
operations(Zero tillage, Minimum tillage, Mulching etc) to
conserve soil structure and to maintain ground cover by mulch,
such as stubble. These practises enhance more water infiltration
by reducing runoff.
In areas with high rainfall raised bed planting are very good
option.
35. Agronomic Strategies
3. Maintaining adequate soil organic matter :
Under changing climatic scenario, the soil organic carbon (SOC) has
been reducing continuously. Agricultural practises that enhance soil
organic carbon must be followed to reduce green house gas
emission(GHGs) and increase carbon sequestration in soil.
The addition of soil organic carbon improves soil physical, chemical and
biological environment. Pulses have lower fertilizer requirement as they
fix nitrogen hence helps in lowering green house gas emissions.
36. Agronomic Strategies
4. Improved crop-specific practices:
Agronomic practices such as tillage, sowing time, planting method, ridge-planting of
kharif / rainy-season pulses, crop geometry, plant population, nutrient and water
management, seed treatment, weed management and plant protection have major
impact on pulse productivity.
Crop-specific agronomic practices hold tremendous scope to raise pulse productivity
potential in water-stress region under changing climatic conditions.
For example, typical practices involves incorporation of the fertilizers in furrows below
the seed as limited soil-moisture restricts nutrients availability to plants. Further,
judicious use of organic and inorganic fertilizers inputs improves moisture-holding
capacity of soil and increase drought tolerance.
37. Agronomic Strategies
5. Water Harvesting and Supplemental irrigation :-
Pulses are mainly confined to rainfed areas, leading to sub-optimal productivity levels.
Therefore, water harvesting mainly in this areas are essential to supply irrigation at least
during critical stages of the crop.
Micro-irrigation like drip or sprinkler irrigation during flowering period enhances
productivity in Pulses.
38. Agronomic Strategies
5. Mitigating strategies by using microbial inoculant :-
• The implication of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to conflict the harmful effects of
ecological stresses and enhance plant growth and productivity by direct and indirect mechanisms has
been reported by several researchers.
• According to Grover et al. , certain microbial types may mitigate the impact of soil drought through
production of exopolysaccharates, proline, indoleacetic acid, induction of resistance genes and increased
circulation of water in the plant and the synthesis of ACC deaminase.
• Many microbial inoculants produce an enzyme called ACC deaminase which induce longer roots which
might be helpful in the uptake of relatively more water from deep soil under drought stress conditions,
thus increasing water use efficiency of the plants under drought conditions.
• Such bacterial strain which helps in this regard belong to the genera of Azotobactor, Bacillus,
Pseudomonas and Azospirillum.
39. Agronomic Strategies
5. Mitigating strategies by using microbial inoculant :-
Fig. - Mechanisms of plant
growth promotion by
rhizobacteria
(Adapted from Ahemad and
Kibret)
40. C. Government Policy and intervention
• Climate changes are occurring globally and many countries have either
documented the changes or predicted them through climate modeling. Based on
these changes and predictions, respective governments of several countries have
already initiated policy decisions to combat influence of climate change.
• To confront the likely adverse effects of climate change, government of India in
the year 2008 introduced legislative amendment to overcome the impact of
climate change on agriculture and allied activities.
• Realizing the veritable challenge to arable land due to climate change, Indian
Council of Agricultural Research in the year 2010–2011 launched a project
entitled National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA).
41. Government Policy and intervention
• The NICRA is planned to be a multi-disciplinary project
with the main objective for evolving climateresilient
agricultural technologies. Two important components of
NICRA are as follows:
Plan and implement strategic research on adaptation
and mitigation.
Demonstrate climate coping technologies on farmers’
fields to combat adverse impacts of climatic variability.
42. Government Policy and intervention
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), launched on
launched on 18 February 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi is an insurance service for farmers for their yields. It was
formulated in line with One Nation–One Scheme theme by
replacing earlier existing insurance schemes.
• Major objectives are-
a) To provide a comprehensive insurance cover against failure
of the crop thus helping in stabilising the income of the
farmers.
b) Encouraging farmers to adopt innovative and modern
agricultural practices.
43. Conclusion
Climate is the primary determinant of agricultural productivity with direct impact on food
production across the globe. Agriculture sector is the most sensitive sector to the climate changes
because the climate of a region/country determines the nature and characteristics of vegetation and
crops.
Pulse production programme was brought to centre stage owing their importance from nutrition
point of view and it’s role in economy of our country.
Though pulse are tolerant to heat and drought stress and requires very little soil moisture to grow
and give good amount of yield ; inadequate and erratic rainfall, unexpected high temperature at
reproductive stage are posing threat to pulse production.By the adoption of recommended
management practices, agriculture contributes not only to soil and water conservation, but also for
enhancing the amount of soil organic carbon in soil and mitigating CO2 emission effects on climate
change.
Adoption of proper mitigation strategies in field will definitely contribute in stabilization of yield of
Pulse crops in near future.
44. References
Aggarwal PK, Joshi PK, Ingram JSI, Gupta PK (2004) Adapting food systems of the Indo-Gangetic plains to global
environmental change: key information needs to improve policy formulation. Environ Sci Policy 7:487–498.
Agrawal, S.K. (2017). Effects of heat stress on physiology and reproductive biology of chickpea and lentil.
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/6324
Agrawal, S.K. (2017). Effects of heat stress on physiology and reproductive biology of chickpea and lentil.
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/6324
Anonymous (2019). Enhancing food and nutritional security and improved livelihood through intensification of
rice fallow system with pulse crop in south Asia (Bangladesh, India and Nepal); Annual Report 2018-19.
Implemented by Directorate of Research, BCKV, Kalyani, Nadia.
Basu, P.S., Ali, M., Chaturvedi, S.K. (2009). Terminal heat stress adversely affects chickpea productivity in
Northern India – Strategies to improve thermotolerance in the crop under climate change. In: Panigrahy, S.,
Shankar, S.R., Parihar, J.S. (eds) ISPRS Archives XXXVIII-8/W3 workshop proceedings: Impact of climate
change on agriculture. International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, New Delhi, pp. 189–193
Basu PS, Singh U, Kumar A, Praharaj CS, Shivran RK. Climate change and its mitigation strategies in pulses
production. Indian Journal of Agronomy. 2016; 61(4):71-82.
Nalia A., Ghosh A., Hasim Reja M., Nath R. Pulse Production strategies under changing climate scenario. Book :
Environmental change and impact on Biological systems. Lenin Media Private Limited, Delhi, India. 2020.
45. References
Basu PS, Ali M, Chaturvedi SK. Terminal heat stress adversely affects chickpea productivity in northern India:
strategies to improve thermo tolerance in the crop under climate change. (In) Proceedings of Workshop on
Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture, held at Indian Space Research Organization, Ahmedabad, 17–18
December 2009.
Berg A, de Noblet- Ducoudre N, Sultan B, Lengaigne N, Guimberteau M. Projections of climate change impacts
on potential crop productivity over tropical regions Agric For Meteorol. 2013; 170:89-102.
FAO. Climate change and food security: risks and responses. Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, 2016.
IPCC. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth
Assessment Report of the IPCC. IN: Solomon S,Qin D, Manning M, Chen Z, Marquis M, Averyt KB, Tignor M,
Miller HL(eds). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2007, 996.
Pathak H, Aggarwal PK and Singh SD (2012) Climate change impact, adaptation and mitigation in agriculture:
methodology for assessment and applications. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, pp 302
Saxena NP (1987) Screening for adaptation to drought: case studies with chickpea and pigeon pea. In:
Adaptation of chickpea and abiotic stresses. Proceedings of consultants’ workshop, ICRISAT center, India.
ICRISAT, 19–21 Dec 1984, pp 63–76.
46. Members of the Advisory Committee
Sl. No Name of the teacher Discipline Advisory
Committee
1 Prof. Rajib Nath Agronomy Chairman
2 Prof. Dhananjoy Dutta Agronomy Member
3 Prof. Susanta Kumar De Soil and Water
Conservation
Member
4 Prof. Bikas Chandra Patra Agronomy Member