Agrobiodiversity Management

Course Code: ECO 411; By: Ram Kumar Shrestha

Biodiversity
 Biodiversity
Biodiversity: W.G. Rosen in 1985
Variation in the forms of life
Genetic/Species/Ecosystem

BIODIVERSITY refers to the variety of life, and

includes all living things (plants, animals and micro-
organisms) and their unique characteristics.

Spatial /Temporal basis (climatic and edalphic factors)

Natural selection puts in pressure on each individual.
Biodiversity higher intropical region  because of high
Primary productivity, faster life cycle, climatic suitability
BIODIVERSITY HOT SPOTS
 Nepal’s contribution to the global diversity

Birds Reptiles Butterflies Fishes Flowering Mammals

2.6% Plants
9.3% 1.6% 2.2% 2.6%
4.6%
 Ecosystem Diversity

It can mean the variety of habitats,

living communities and ecological
processes in an ecosystem.

Species Diversity

It can mean the variety of

speciesin a given area.

Genetic Diversity

It can mean the diversity of genetic

characteristics within a species.
 Agrobiodiversity
Subset of biodiversity that directly or indirectly engaged in
the key functions of agricultural ecosystem.
Agricultural biodiversity is indeed fundamental for resilience
and adaptation to change.
Includes:.
The diversity of genetic resources(varieties, breeds,
whether cultivated, reared or wild) used directly or
indirectly for food and agriculture;
The diversity of species that support production (soil
biota, pollinators, predators, etc.) and those in the wider
environment that support agroecosystems (agricultural,
pastoral, forest and aquatic)
The diversity of the agroecosystems themselves.
The variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms that
are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture, including crops,
livestock, forestry and fisheries. It comprises the diversity of genetic
resources (varieties, breeds) and species used for food, fodder, fibre,
fuel and pharmaceuticals. It also includes the diversity of non-harvested
species that support production (soil micro-organisms, predators,
pollinators), and those in the wider environment that support agro-
ecosystems (agricultural, pastoral, forest and aquatic) as well as the
diversity of the agro-ecosystems.

FAO, 1999
 Mixed Agro-ecosystem
Biodiversity Crop Species and varieties
Livestock and Fish Species
Agro Biodiversity Plant Animal Germ Plasma
Soil organism in cultivated area
Wild species of cultivated crops
Wild species of farm animas
Biocontrols agent
Local knowledge

Source: Adopted from website of FAO

3.5 billion years of evolution
Domestication:10,000 years ago, fire-stick farming.
Dogs and ships are thought to be domesticated first
among other animals.
9500 BCE that the eight so-called founder crops of
agriculture appear: first emmer and einkorn wheat, then
hulled barley, peas, lentils, bitter vetch, chick peas and
flax.
 Farmers managing
genes

Farmers
managing
species

Farmers
managing
ecosystems
 Features of AB

Human interference and management

Introduction of novel material
Economic consideration
Industrial agriculture, reduced diversity (crop
diversity is now held ex-situ)
Associated knowledge is integral part of Agro
biodiversity
 Importance of AB

 Ensure the production of Goods (food, fibre, fuel,

fodder, medicine)
 Maintain other ecosystem services
 Allowadaptation to changing conditions - including
climate change
 Sustain rural peoples' livelihoods
 The role of Agrobiodiversity
 Increase productivity, food security, and economic returns
 Make farming systems more stable, robust, and sustainable
 Contribute to sound pest and disease management
 Conserve soil and increase natural soil fertility and health
 Contribute to sustainable intensification
 Diversify products and income opportunities
 Help maximize effective use of resources and the environment
 Reduce dependency on external inputs
 Improve human nutrition and provide sources of medicines and
vitamins, and
 Conserve ecosystem structure and stability of species diversity.

Adapted from Thrupp, 1997

 Spectrum of agrobiodiversity
• Cultivated crop species and farmers
varieties
• Domesticated livestock species and
breeds
Biodiversity
• Fish
• Micro-organism
• Insect species
• Semi-wild flora and fauna of
Agro biodiversity
agricultural importance
• Related wild species of cultivated
crops and recently domesticated
species
• Adaptation of agriculture diversity to
ecosystems
• Indigenous knowledge skill and
technique associated with diversity
 1. Plant genetic resources:
 Most important components of agro-biodiversity.

 Include primitive forms of cultivated plant

species and landraces, modern cultivars, obsolete
cultivars, breeding lines and genetic stocks,
weedy types and related wild species (IPGRI
1993).

 Finite and vulnerable to losses due to

introduction of new crop varieties in agriculture,
growing urbanization, natural hazards, etc
 Stemming loss
• Threatened by “genetic
erosion”,
• Genes found in the
farmers’ varieties are
not all contained in the
modern variety
 Germplasm
conservation
• In gene banks
• Maintain the integrity
• Highest standard over
prolonged periods of
time
 Nepal: the hot spot
• Out of 200 vegetable species
50 species are in cultivation
• 71 wild relative of fruits under
42 genera.
• Possibility of domesticating
those
• Wild apple (Mallus spp) locally
known as `Edimayal' and
`Surkhilo' are indigenous to
Karnali zone.
• Alu bakhara and Okhar
growing wild
 Some wild species of domesticated
BOTANICAL NAME
cereals COMMON ENGLISH NAME

Oryza nivara Sharma et Shastry Wild rice

O. rufipogon Griff. Wild rice
O. officinalis Wall. ex Watt. Wild rice
O. granulata Nees et Arn. ex. Watt. Wild rice
O. sativa f. spontanea Roschev. Wild rice (weedy rice)
Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. Crab grass/Wild finger millet

Fagopyrum dibotrys (D. Don) Hara Wild buckwheat

F. cymosum (Trev.) Heisn. Wild buckwheat
F. megacarpum Hara Wild buckwheat
Rumex nepalensis Spreng. Wild spinach
R. hastasus D. Don. Wild spinach
Abelmoschus moschatus Moench. Wild okra
Colocassia antiquorum Schott. Wild colocasia
Amaranthus viridis L. Pigweed (without thorn)
A. spinosus L. Pigweed (with thorn)
A. blitum L. Pigweed
Fumaria vaillanti Loisel. (F. paviflora Lam.) Wild carrot
Allium wallichii Kunth. Wild garlic
A. hypsistum Stearn Wild garlic
Saccharum beghalensis Retz. (S. arundinaceum Hook. f.) Wild sugarcane

S. longisetosum (Anderss.) Narayanswami ex Bor Wild sugarcane

S. spontaneum L. Wild sugarcane

S. munja L. Wild sugarcane
S. edule Sao. Wild sugarcane
N. plumbaginifolia Viviani Wild tobacco
Citrus medica L. Narayani
Pyrus pashia Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don Wild pear
Malus baccata (L.) Borkh. Wild apple
 Distinctive features of PGRFA
(1) Satisfying basic human needs
(2) Makes countries interdependent.
(3) Developed over long periods of time
(4) Embedded in indigenous knowledge
and culture
(5) Human use is a fundamental
condition
(6) The interaction between
environment, genetic resources and
management practices
 Animal genetic resources and
their relative
Domestic Animal Diversity
• Industrial livestock production and also increasingly livestock
production in mixed crop-livestock systems uses limited
breeds.
• extinction of some local livestock breeds.
• Maintenance of the genetic diversity of livestock is
important because:
 Demand for milk ,egg, meat
increasing

 species and breeds renowned

for these more traditional
products and services
(camels, donkeys, horses,
buffalo, elephants, llama's,
yak, wool sheep, etc) are at
the loosing end, also in the
resource driven farming
systems.

 Replaced by exotic ones for

higher return in short time.

 Some included in breeding

program.

 Uses marginal system

 Some terminologies
 Breed not at risk> 1000(breeding female) and 20 Male and pure
breed female is close to 100%.

 Endangered breed: female 100-1000, male 5-20 . 100 population.

100+(increasing ): pure breed female 80%(+);1000+(decreasing)
PBF<80%

 Critical breed: BF<100 or BM<=5, Pop>100, PBF<80%.

 Extinct: not possible to create breed population (semen, oocytes

or embryo).

 Maintained:
 Critical maintained breed
 Endangered maintained breed
 maintained by an active public conservation programme or within
a commercial or research facility.
 Why conservation??????
 Adaptation in changing condition(remember: more
diversity=more adaptibility).

 Remember the investment done over the generation

to develop these.

 Opportunity to develop and expand livestock center.

 Global issue.

 New economic opportunities towards sustainability.

 Biotechnology.
 Indigenous and exotic livestock
genotypes in Nepal
AGROCLIMATIC INTRODUCED
ALTITUDE (m) LIVESTOCK INDIGENOUS GENOTYPES
REGION GENOTYPES
Cattle Yak, Lulu
Trans-Himalaya/High
>2,500 Goat Chyangra
Himalaya
Sheep Bhyanglung, Baruwal
Brown Swiss
crossed with Yak
Cattle Yak, Kirko
(experimental
basis)
High Mountains 2,200-4,000 Goat Sinhal
Merino, Polworth,
Ramboullett,
Sheep Dhorel, Baruwal
Border Liceister,
Romney Marsh
Jersey, Holstein,
Cattle Hill cattle, Achhame, Khaila
Brown Swiss
Murrah crossed
Buffalo Lime, Gaddi
with Lime
Jamunapari,
Goat Khari
Barberi , Kiko
Mid-hills 800– 2,400 Merino, Polworth,
Ramboullett,
Sheep Kage, Baruwal
Border Liceister,
Romney Marsh
Pig Chwanche
New Hampshire,
Poultry Sakini
Austrolorp
Jersey, Holstein,
Cattle Hill cattle, Achhame
Brownswiss
Murrah crossed
Buffalo Parkote
with Parkote
Jamunapari,
Goat Khari
Barberi
Lower Hills/ Siwalik
300–1,500 Polworth,
Hills
Ramboullett,
Sheep Kage
Border Liceister,
 AQUATIC GENETIC
RESOURCES

• Aquatic Diversity:
Underwater and
Unexplored
• Food security
• 40 million tonnes of fish per
year will be required to
meet global demand by
2030
• the opportunities that fish
genetic diversity has to offer
remain largely unrealized
and unexplored.
 Blue revolution in the 21st century
 Domestication begun 12,000 years ago.

 90 percent of aquatic species presently in

culture have only been domesticated since
the beginning of the twentieth century.

 236 species of fish and aquatic

invertebrates and plants are farmed around
the world, many only domesticated in the
last 25 years.
 In 2000, the world landed 95m tonnes of
wild fish, with a first-sale value of $81
billion, according to the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

 Constraints: lack of information, inadequate

resources, lack of global policy and
management approach.
 SOIL FLORA AND FAUNA
DIVERSITY FOR SOIL FERTILITY
MANAGEMENT
 Soil micro fauna
 have body length >1cm
(Dunger, 1964; Wallwork,
1970);

 have body width >2mm

(Swift et al., 1979);

 are visible to the naked

eye (Kevan, 1968);

 have 90% or more of their

specimens visible to the
naked eye (Eggleton et al.,
2000).
 The Soil Flora (or Garden)
• Macroflora: Vascular plants, Mosses, etc.
• Microflora: Bacteria, Actinomycetes, Fungi, Algae
 Algae
 Autotrops and eukaryotic.

 Active and abudant in wet soils.

 producing a substantial amount of

organic matter

 certain algae excrete polysaccharides

that have very favorable effects on
soil aggregation. 

 Symbiosis : lichens colonizes bare

rocks and deserts
 Fungi
• important role in the
decomposition of various
organic substances (cellulose,
hemicellulose, lignin)

• form symbiotic relationships

with plants (mycorrhizae)

• act as pathogens

• major role in humus formation

and aggregate stabilization
 Actinomycetes
• decomposition of soil organic
matter and the mineralization of
nutrients.

• actinomycetes produce antibiotic

compounds (streptomycin) and
geomycin )(also potato scab)

• transitional between fungi and

bacteria

• active in regarding more resistant

organic compounds.
 Bacteria
• most diverse group of soil
organisms.
• Upto 20,000 different
species/gm soil.
• Adapt in extreme
environment.
• decomposition of dead
matter.
• Mineralization of N and S.
• Nitrogen fixation.
 Cyano bacteria
• Blue green algae
• N fixation (Anabaena) in rice
paddies.
• Break down OM.
 Annelida
• Segmented worms.
• Earthworm
(especially those
from genera
Lumbicids).
• original tillers of soil
rooting
environment
• Improves infilteration
 Arthopoda
• Many arthropods prey on
disease-causing
pests(e.g. tiger beetle,
mantid)
• shape soil structure
• front line in
decomposition of organic
matter
• shred plant residues
• Important in forest, no
till land where soil is
minimum disturbed.
 Protozoa
• They are either bacterivores or
fungivores
• protozoa have lower N
requirements than many bacteria
• they excrete excess N obtained
from the consumption of bacteria
as ammonia (inorganic N).
• Hence protozoa (together with
nematodes) are important in
enhancing mineralization in soil
by releasing the N taken up by
bacteria.
• Lots of human and animal
disease(water borne)
 Nematodes
• Thread worms.
• Microfauna
• Some are plant
parasites that infest
roots
• some are predators that
feed on other
nematodes or bacteria,
fungi, and protozoa.
• Soil compaction reduces
the number.
 Plant root / Soil / Microbial
Interactions
Beneficial
• Symbiotic associations such as that found with
Rhizobia (N2 fixing bacteria, ex. legumes)
• Fungi-mycorrhizal associations: important for water
and P uptake; also improves soil structure
• Earthworm channels: improve permeability and
aeration
Deleterious
• Agrobacterium (bacteria) cause gall formation in plants
• Fungi causing soil-borne plant rot diseases
• Rhizoctonia and Pythium (involved with replant
disease)
 Species of ecosystem
services :different insects
• Pollination (80% by insects)
• Decomposition and nutrient cycling(dung
beetles, flies, carrion beetles, millipedes,
cockroaches, ants termites.)
• Food for wildlife
• Predators,parasitoids and parasites(ladybird
beetles, lacewings, parasite wasps)
• Disease
 …..Importance to human
• Medicines
 Genetics: fruit flies, Madagascar hissing
cockroaches
 Bioprospecting
 Insects pollinate the rosy periwinkle plant which
was an important drug to treat childhood
leukemia
 Sources of bioluminescent chemicals used in
medical diagnostics
• Basic research
• Food agriculture
 Pollination of human
crops
 Biological control
 Commercial products
• Aesthetics
 Silkworm
• Silk
• Food
 Boiled pupa salted and
fried with chilly
 Boiled and snacked to
make beondegi.(Korea)
 Roasted pupa (China)
 Astronauts proposed
space food.
 Chinese medicine
 Aesthetics
 Honey bee

• Pollination
• Honey
• Bee wax
• Pollen:the gold dust of
nature (health
supplement: protein
source)
• Propolis (bee glue from
balsam, resin and tree
saps): health supplement
and cosmetics
 Butterflies
• Nepal has 11 of 15 families.
• You never know with Nepal
butterflies
• The total diversity of butterfly
reported so far comprises
about 650 species out of 20000
species found in the world.
• All these species are
categorized under 11 families
of the existing 15 families in
the world.
• About 29 species and
subspecies have been found
endemic to the country.
 Why butterflies and moths
are important?
• Intrinsic: valuable and are worthy of
conservation in their own right, highly diverse.
• Aesthetic: natural heritage
• Educational: fascinating life cycle, wing
pattern, migration
• Scientific value: pest control, evolution,
population dynamics.
• Ecosystem: healthy, indicator, food chain
• Health value: enjoy, walking, medicinal
• Economic value: ecotourism, antibiotics
Figure . Impacts of farm management and landscape management on
the flow of ecosystem
 Water Pest Pollination
Nutrient Climate
Soils control
cycling

Domestic
Crop animals
genetic and
species
AGRICULTURE
diversity Meat, grains, vegetables, fruits, seeds, fibers,
fuels
Healthy ecosystems
Farmscapes, recreation, biodiversity

Provisioning services Regulating services

Supporting services Cultural services
 Water
Ground- Pest Pollinatio
Fertilizers Nutrient water Climate Pesticide Honey
Soils control n bees
cycling pumping s

Commercial Mechanization
varieties in
Domestic
Crop Feed lots
animals
monoculture
genetic and
species
AGRICULTURE
diversity Meat, grains, vegetables, fruits, seeds, fibers,
fuels
Healthyeutrophication,
EXTERNALITIES: ecosystems pollution; salinization; soil erosion and
compaction, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, human health issues
Farmscapes, recreation, biodiversity
Monoculture landscapes

Provisioning services Regulating services

Supporting services Cultural services
 (1) Mexico-
Guatemala, (2)
Peru-Ecuador-
Bolivia, (2A)
Southern Chile,
(2B) Southern
Brazil, (3)
Mediterranean,
(4) Middle East,
(5) Ethiopia, (6)
Central Asia, (7)
Indo-Burma, (7A)
Siam-Malaya-
Java, (8) China.
Chinese center: Buckwheat, velvet bean
Indian center: 1) Indo-malayan center 2) Hindustan
center of origin
 Central Asiatic center : Chickpea Mug bean, Flax
Near eastern center: Lentil, Rye
Mediterranean center: Drum wheat, Pea, Lupine
South American center: Common bean, starchy Maize
Mexican center: Maize, Lima Bean
Abyssinian Center: Perl millet, Cowpea
Source: Zhang et al., 2006
Ecosystem services
 Some Facts
• Since 1900, 75% of crop genetic diversity has
been lost-HYV
• 30% of livestock breed are about to lost
• 75% Food comes from 12 plants
• Rice Maize & Wheat contribute 60% Calorie
demand

Source: FAO, 1999b

 Agricultural pests
 Agricultural pests include plant pathogens (e.g. fungi, oomycetes,
bacteria, viruses, nematodes), weeds, arthropods (primarily insects
and mites), molluscs (slugs and snails) and a small number of
vertebrates.
 inevitable part of agriculture.
 occur largely because agricultural systems (‘agro-ecosystems’) are
simplified, less stable modifications of natural ecosystems.

agricultural land disrupts the ecological forces that regulate potential

pest species in natural ecosystems: these include physicochemical
conditions, food availability, predation, and competition.

Thus, growing crops in monoculture provides a concentrated food

resource that allows pest populations to achieve far higher
densities than they would in natural environments.  
 1. Weed Definitions
• A plant out of place or growing where it is
not wanted– Blatchley (1912)
• Weeds are plants adapted to manmade
habitats and interfering there with human
activities - Holzner (1978)
• Weeds are plants organisms adapted to
human disturbance and definition needs not
be confined to plants– Harlan (1995)
 Some terminologies
• Agrestl Weeds
• Ruderal Weeds
• Alien Species
• Invasive species
 Agroforstry resources
Local name Scientific name Uses

Fodder
Badahar Artocarpus lakoocha Fodder, fuel, fruit
Bhatmase Flemingia congesta Fodder, fuel, soil conservation
Dabdabe Garuga Pinnata Fodder, fuel
Ipil Ipil Leucaena spp. Fodder, fuel, soil conservation
Kabro Ficus lacor Fodder, fuel, soil conservation, pickle Fodder, fuel, fruit
Khanyu Ficus semicordata Fodder, fuel
Khasreto Ficus hispida Fodder, fuel, sericulture
Kimbu Morus alba Fodder, fuel, pickle
Koiralo Bauhinia variegata Fodder, fuel, food
Rahar Cajanus cajan Fodder, fuel
Kutmero Litsea monopetala Fodder, fuel
Tanki Bauhinia purpurea

Fuelwood/Timber trees
Bakaino Melia azedarach Timber, fuel, fodder, medicinal Timber, fuel, fodder
Sal Shorea robusta Timber, fuel
Sissoo Dalbergia sissoo

Fruit trees
Amba Psidium guajava Fruit, fuel
Amp Mangifera indica Fruit, fuel
Anar Punica granatum Fruit, fuel
Aru Prunus persica Fruit, fuel
Bhui-katahar Ananus sativus Fruit, soil conservation
Kagati Citrus aurantifolia Fruit, fuel
Kera Musa sapientum Fruit
Lichi Litchi chinensis Fruit, fuel
Mewa Carica papaya Fruit
Naspati Prunus communis Fruit, fuel
Nibuwa Citrus lemon Fruit, fuel
Rukh-katahar Artocarpus integrifolia Fruit, fuel, fodder
 Some species of
Agroforestry
• Khair: Soil conservation
• Babul: Soil conservation
• Bel :wind breaker
• Siris : shade for plantation crops
• Uttis: Nitrogen fixation
• Cashew : soil conservation
• Neem : Medicinal plant
• For more information and images
 Why genetic diversity of tree
matters
• Foundation of forests
• Source of food, fuel and livelihood
• Resistant to pollution and climate
change
• DNA can be used to track down
illegal lodging
• Sustainability
 Research and
development in ABD
 Participatory research:
innovative participatory
approaches

 Community
based participatory research
Community based conservation program
Community-based biodiversity management
Farmers participatory crop
improvement: PVS, PPB.
 Marketing approach to
agricultural biodiversity: new
and exotic crops
 National Agriculture Genetic
Resource Center (Genebank)
• Establishment: 2010
• Now has 9552 accessions
• Khumaltar, KTM

• Website: narc.gov.np/org/gene_bank.php
•
Just add diversity: home
gardens
 Agrobiodiversity: wise
insurance: cross breeding of
local varieties case of Begnas
 Involved organizations:
IPGRI, LIBIRD,IDRC, NARC
Local NGOs; Paribartan Nepal, Seed Nepal, Machhapuchre Bikas
sanstha
And
Farmers register a first:
Pokhreli JethoBudo.
Conservation and enhancement
of agricultural biodiversity.
 Farmer Seed Network
F10 F9

F5 F8
F3 F1

F4 F6
F2

F7
 Agrobiodiversity for
sustainable agriculture
IN WHAT FUTURE WE WILL BE
LIVING?

WITH OR
WITH
We do not inherit earth from our ancestors, we have
just borrowed it from our children - Native
American Proverb