Capability of conservation agriculture for preservation of organic carbon and succeeding effect on soil properties and productivity- a review

Abstract

ABSTRACT A significant surge in population and soil degradation are global calls for adopting a sustainable agriculture to keep pace production in agricultural-lands which becomes inconsistent and where value of production resource-base degenerate. One of major indicators of agricultural system’s potential is its capability to maintain SOC, because of its significance in sustaining the soil properties and subsequently productivity. This review looks into published literature over two decades for evaluating the effect of tillage in conservation agriculture (CA) on its capability to preserve SOC and overall impacts on soil properties. In-zones where soil and climate are conducive for biomass and the effects on productivity are desirable, CA may result in SOC accrual, which may often be followed by improved soil properties and crop productivity relative to conventional. Nevertheless, in environments not well adapted for CA implementation, considering agronomic, agro-ecological complications, CA may be unsuitable. These may apparently be the reason for observed SOC variability under CA worldwide. Several findings garnered in the 174 publications on CA, demonstrated that zero tillage (ZT) with residue-retention (R) is significant for enhancement of SOC and subsequently, overall soil properties and crop yield. Thus, ZT+R can be recommended to sustain yield and biodiversity, based on this review.