Sustainable Intensification: A Case Study Based on a Farm in Lucas Do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Mono cropping in tropical regions favors the decrease in soil organic matter (SOM), microorganism biodiversity and soil quality, which in turn results in soil compaction and an increase in soil-borne diseases. Some studies in the tropical region of Brazil have shown that mono cropping decreased soil microbe biomass by 70% when compared to soil under the natural vegetation of the Cerrado. Nematode population tends to increase with mono cropping and this is presently one of the main concerns for farmers in the region. As a result, with time, mono cropping negatively influences crop yield and profitability. This lead to a very difficult situation two decades ago at the Capuaba farm in Lucas do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Continuing the same mono cropping management would probably have resulted in the owner selling the operation. By completely changing their management to include crop rotation along the years and intercropping of up to six different winter crop species with different root systems (legumes, grasses, crucifers, poligonacea, asteraceae) in the same area at the same time, the farm is now a great example of success and sustainability. This diversity is essential to the success of this type of farm management in the tropics of Brazil. In general, SOM, microorganisms, nutrient cycling and soil quality have improved significantly. For example, fodder turnip is able to recycle high amounts of nitrogen and potassium from deeper soil layers (around 175 and 350 kg ha^-1, respectively). As a result, the cost of fertilizer used in the farm has decreased by around 25% in most recent years. Constant surveys point out that the Capuaba farm is presently one of the most profitable in the region. This farm is an example of how a change in management towards more crop diversity favors farming in the medium to long run.