Patrick S. Michael
Department of Agriculture, PNG University of Technology

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Current Evidence and Future Projections: a Comparative Analysis of the Impacts of Climate Change on Critical Climate-Sensitive Areas of Papua New Guinea Patrick S. Michael
SAINS TANAH - Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology Vol 16, No 2 (2019): December
Publisher : Universitas Sebelas Maret

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | Full PDF (1816.299 KB) | DOI: 10.20961/stjssa.v16i2.35712

Abstract

Climate change is a global concern arising from spatial or temporal changes in precipitation, temperature and greenhouse gases. The impacts of this on critical climate-sensitive areas are largely on land, marine resources, forestry and agriculture, and their biodiversity and ecosystems. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), the mainstay (85%) of the rural people is on land and agriculture, compared to resources obtained from the marine areas and forest. Productivity on land depends on climatic factors and a compromised climate affects land, which in turn affects forestry, agriculture and the marine environment (resources and ecosystems). Because of this, a lot of resources have been invested in climate change to understand the impacts; however, much is yet to be achieved, especially in the developing nations. In PNG, understanding the types of changes in climate that will be experienced is important to be resilient, to mitigate and to adapt. In this review, the potential impact of global climate change on climate of PNG and the impact of the new (future) climate on land, marine and forest resources and their biodiversity and ecosystems are analyzed. Moreover, the impacts on crop agriculture are discussed. Analysis of available data shows that the temporal and spatial changes in precipitation and temperature projections of the future climate are within current optimum crop production ranges, at least up to 2090. Since most staple and plantation crops in PNG are C3 plants, an increase in CO2 levels will have a fertilizing effect on productivity. The plastic effects on certain crops may benefit some farmers as temperature, precipitation and CO2 levels change.
Soil fertility status and sweet potato cultivation in composted mounds under humid lowland tropical climatic conditions Patrick S. Michael
SAINS TANAH - Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology Vol 17, No 2 (2020): December
Publisher : Universitas Sebelas Maret

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.20961/stjssa.v17i2.43426

Abstract

The importance of organic matter addition in composted mounds in terms of nutrients status, nutrient uptake, and environmental impact under different climatic conditions need to be studied. This study was conducted to assess the importance of Cogon grass materials addition as organic matter in composted mounds used for sweet potato cultivation on selected sandy loam soil properties under humid lowland, tropical climatic conditions. A replicated trial with four treatments with or without organic matter or sweet potato plants was set in a completely randomized design. After 6 months, soil samples were collected from two profiles in each treatment and analyzed for selected soil physiochemical properties. Data collected from each profile was pooled, averages taken, and statistically analyzed. The results showed organic matter addition increased water holding capacity and electrical conductivity, lowered soil bulk density, pH, and soil organic carbon content. Cultivation of sweet potato in soil with or without organic matter amendment, in general, depleted nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium contents and increased phosphorous availability. This study showed the addition of Cogon grass materials as organic matter in composted mounds has implications for the production of sweet potato in sandy loam soil in the tropics.
Agriculture versus climate change – A narrow staple-based rural livelihood of Papua New Guinea is a threat to survival under climate change Patrick S. Michael
SAINS TANAH - Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology Vol 17, No 1 (2020): June
Publisher : Universitas Sebelas Maret

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | Full PDF (564.316 KB) | DOI: 10.20961/stjssa.v17i1.41545

Abstract

This paper presents a synthesis related to the assessment of climate change and its impacts on productivity of staple crops in Papua New Guinea (PNG), paying close attention to the change in population in the next 80 years. As much as the changes in the climatic and environmental factors will affect agriculture, evidence available in the literature show increase in global and local population will put additional pressure on agriculture by competing with available land and other resources that support agricultural productivity. The developing and underdeveloped countries are considered to be largely vulnerable as more than 85% of the people depend on subsistence agriculture for rural livelihood. This synthesis showed more than 60–85% of the rural people in PNG depend on sweet potato, banana, Colocasia taro, and greater yam. Projection of the population showed there will be 22–31 million people by 2100 and will depend on narrow staple-based subsistence agriculture. The population projected means the density will be 42 people per km2, putting more pressure on limited land available. When that happens, PNG will not be prepared to mitigate, be resilient and adapt because of poor infrastructure, no development plans and lack of post-harvest technologies for loss management of the staples, most of which are root and tuber crops.
Sweet potato is a strategic root crop in Oceania: A synthesis of the past research and future direction Patrick S. Michael; Topas M. Peter
SAINS TANAH - Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology Vol 20, No 1 (2023): June
Publisher : Universitas Sebelas Maret

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.20961/stjssa.v20i1.66319

Abstract

Sweet potato is an important food, industrial, and pharmaceutical crop worldwide and highly adapted to adverse ranges of agroclimatic conditions, making it one of the strategic crops under climate change. Despite the importance, sustainable crop production continues to be an issue because of the pressure put on land, the decline in soil fertility, the buildup of pests and diseases, and no standardized production practices. Production is highly mechanized in temperate regions, whereas, in the tropics, it is still a subsistence crop confined to subsistence farming systems. These issues are compounded by a lack of generically and agronomically improved genotypes adapted to wider agroecological zones with adaptive tolerance to existing and new stresses. In the recent past, significant progress has been made worldwide; however, the outcomes tend to be locality-specific, and cannot be extrapolated, needing decentralization of the current approaches. This review points out that the crop is a critical strategic crop in the Oceania region because of its ability to grow under adverse ranges of agroclimatic conditions and can produce a reasonable yield. The paper continues to emphasize the current trends in emerging modern technology that can be used to efficiently improve and enhance traits of agronomic importance and wider adaptivity. In addition, land use plans, farming systems, and cultural production practices need to be changed for sustainable production. The need for these is further strengthened by pointing out alternative strategies, e.g., using organic matter as a relatively cheap and readily available source of soil nutrients compared to inorganic fertilizers.