Strategy for The Transition Towards Conservation Agriculture Practices in Rice Cultivation Systems in Cuba

Abstract

Cuban agriculture to achieve the sustainability of agricultural systems needs to initiate a transition process towards conservation agriculture practices, which implies a change in production systems and the technologies they use. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is considered a staple food for more than half of the world's population. However, the adverse effects of climate change, together with soil degradation and the scarcity of irrigation water threaten the sustainability of rice production under irrigated conditions [1, 2]. Intensive tillage practices have been shown to increase environmental pollution, deteriorate the soil and involve high water consumption [3, 4]. Therefore, conservation agriculture (CA) practices have been recommended to conserve resources and increase ecosystem services [2, 5]. The CA is an agricultural system that is characterized by the interrelation of three fundamental principles: to keep the soil permanently covered with crop residues or plant covers at least 30%, a minimum disturbance of the land and diversification of the species cultivated in rotation [6]. Some 140 thousand hectares of rice are planted in Cuba [7-9]. However, the low yields obtained require the importation of 400,000 tons of rice annually. A roadmap for the transition towards CA practices was recently adopted as the country's policy. But the current conditions of rice soils (characterized by low organic matter content, compaction and poor drainage), subjected to intensive (traditional) tillage practices for long periods of time (between 30 and 50 years), put at risk the implementation of the basic principles of CA and its adoption as an accepted practice by farmers.