Effects Of Conservation Agriculture Research Articles

Effect of conservation agriculture on soil fungal diversity in rice-wheat-greengram cropping system in eastern Indo-Gangetic plains of South Asia.

Conservation agriculture (CA) is emerging as an eco-friendly and sustainable approach to food production in South Asia. CA, characterized by reduced tillage, soil surface cover through retaining crop residue or raising cover crops, and crop diversification, enhances crop production and soil fertility. Fungal communities in the soil play a crucial role in nutrient recycling, crop growth, and agro-ecosystem stability, particularly in agricultural crop fields. This study investigates the impact of seven combinations of tillage and crop residue management practices of agricultural production systems, including various tillage and crop residue management practices, on soil fungal diversity. Using the Illumina MiSeq platform, fungal diversity associated with soil was analysed. The results show that the partial CA-based (pCA) production systems had the highest number of unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) (948 OTUs) while the conventional production system had the lowest number (665 OTUs). The major fungal phyla identified in the topsoil (0-15 cm) were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota, with their abundance varying across different tillage-cum-crop establishment (TCE) methods. Phylum Ascomycota was dominant in CA-based management treatments (94.9±0.62), followed by the partial CA (pCA)-based treatments (91.0 ± 0.37). Therefore, CA-based production systems play a crucial role in shaping soil fungal diversity, highlighting their significance for sustainable agricultural production.

Conservation agriculture improves soil health and sustains crop yields after long-term warming

Climate warming threatens global food security by exacerbating pressures on degraded soils under intensive crop production. Conservation agriculture is promoted as a sustainable solution that improves soil health and sustains crop yields in a changing climate, but these benefits may be affected by long-term warming. Here, we investigate the effects of conservation agriculture compared to conventional agriculture on 17 soil properties, microbial diversity and crop yields, during eight-years’ experimental warming. An overall positive effect of warming on soil health over time under conservation agriculture is characterized by linear increases in soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon. Warming-triggered shifts in microbial biomass carbon and fungal diversity (saprogen richness) are directly linked to a 9.3% increase in wheat yields over eight years, but only under conservation agriculture. Overall, conservation agriculture results in an average 21% increase in soil health and supports similar levels of crop production after long-term warming compared to conventional agriculture. Our work provides insights into the potential benefits of conservation agriculture for long-term sustainable food production because improved soil health improves resilience to the effects of climate warming.

The role of conservation agriculture in enhancing biodiversity and common beans productivity

Conservation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes is vital for maintaining ecosystem stability and resilience. Conservation agriculture, a sustainable farming approach that involves minimum tillage and reduced use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and growth promoters, has gained attention as a potential strategy to enhance biodiversity and reduce production costs. This study investigated the role of conservation agriculture in enhancing biodiversity and common bean productivity in Tanzania. The study compared plots practicing conservation agriculture (minimum tillage and reduced agrochemical use) with those using conventional farming methods. Biodiversity metrics, that is, earthworm populations, bird species richness, bird nest abundance, bird species diversity, bee visitation rates, and bean yield were assessed. The results showed significant positive effects of conservation agriculture on biodiversity, emphasizing its potential role in promoting sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and household improvement due to reduced production costs and increased yield per unit area. Earthworms per meter square observed to increase from 12 in the non-conservation plots to 34 in the conservation plots, which is likely to improve nutrient cycling and productivity. Furthermore, conservation plots had a higher number of bird species flying around (36−76) compared with 14–32 in non-conservation plots (4000 m2) at 50 % bean flowering. The number of bird nests observed in the two plots during bean harvesting varied significantly (P<0.05), where the number of bird nests observed in 4000 m2 of non-conservation plots ranged from 14 to 36, compared to 12–62 in conservation plots. High bird nest numbers in conservation plots indicated higher bird habitat quality in conservation plots than in non-conservation plots. Bees as chief pollinators, bees visiting conservation plots during 50 % flowering per square meter ranged from 5 to 11, compared to 2–6 in non-conservation plots. Bee visitation to bean flowers has a significant influence on productivity, as it influences pollen transfer and fertilization. Common beans yield among plots ranged 0.9 tons/ha to 1.4 tons/ha in conservation plots compared to 0.35–1.01 tons/ha, in non-conservation plots. Land use conservation contributes considerably to economic growth through increased productivity and reduced production costs, where the production cost is reduced by 50 % in conservation plots compared with non-conservation plots. However, the present study was conducted in a single location with smallholder farmers; hence, further experiments over larger areas and longer time periods are needed for a more robust conclusion.

Effect of adoption of conservation agriculture on household food security of smallholder maize farmers in Ghana

This cross-sectional study set out to examine the effect of conservation agriculture (CA) adoption on the food security of smallholder maize farmers in the Adansi Akrofuom District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Using the multistage sampling technique, 400 small-scale farmers who have been introduced to CA were selected. The findings of the study show that crop rotation, row planting, fertilizer application, improved seeds and cover cropping were the CA practices often implemented by the farmers. Age of the farmer, household size, years of education, religion, access to extension, frequency of group visits, and the area under CA cultivation were significant predictors of farmers' adoption of CA practices. Implementation of CA practices has a significant effect on household level of food security. There was an agreement among the farmers that access to credit is the greatest challenge they face in using CA practices. The paper proposes that efforts towards the continuous and high adoption of CA practices must be given more attention since they can affect farmers’ household food security.

The Effect of Conservation Agriculture on Some Soil Water Properties Using a Dual Automatic Soil Infiltro-Moisturemeter Device

The Effect of Conservation Agriculture on Some Soil Water Properties Using a Dual Automatic Soil Infiltro-Moisturemeter Device

Tillage and mulching effects on carbon stabilization in physical and chemical pools of soil organic matter in a coarse textured soil

Characterization of soil organic carbon (SOC) in terms of size, storage inside aggregates and chemical recalcitrance is vital to understand mechanisms of its stabilization and to devise climate smart agricultural management practices. Tillage and residue retention are known to influence carbon (C) storage within soil aggregates and its accumulation as particulate organic matter as well as organomineral complexes. However, the effect of tillage and crop residue retention on C stabilization in coarse textured soils through various mechanisms is not well understood. We studied the effect of conservation agriculture involving no tillage with surface residue mulch (NTM) in maize-wheat sequence on particulate (POC) and mineral associated organic C (MinOC), C storage within aggregates and acid non-hydrolysable C (NHC) in a sandy loam soil. Compared to conventional tillage without residue retention (CTM0), the NTM improved SOC stocks by 23% in top 15-cm soil and significantly increased coarse POC (∼92 to 284%) and fine POC (67 to 123%) with relatively little effect on MinOC. This indicated that MinOC had relatively small contribution towards SOC stabilization in coarse textured sandy loam soils with limited potential to form organomineral complexes. The results further showed that the effects of NTM were brought about by improved aggregate stability and C preservation inside macroaggregates of size >1 mm. Furthermore, greater amount of SOC (2.64 g C kg−1) and macroaggregate associated C (0.35–0.59 g C kg−1) occurred in recalcitrant forms (NHC) under NTM compared to conventional (CT) and deep tillage (DT). The NTM also impacted the belowground C input through improved root length density (RLD) and development of fibrous roots expressed as specific root length (SRL), which influenced SOC build-up and stabilization. It is concluded that compared to the existing practice of CTM0, the conservation agriculture involving NT with residue retention leads to SOC sequestration in coarse textured soils. Its large scale adoption, besides helping in climate change mitigation will lead to soil health improvement.

AgEvidence: a dataset to explore agro-ecological effects of conservation agriculture

Conservation agriculture (CA) is a set of principles thought to be able to enhance crop productivity while minimizing impacts on the environment. The evidence base for CA can be challenging to synthesize because it encompasses many different practices and social and agroecological outcomes. To facilitate synthesis of CA evidence we have created a dataset organizing 218 response variables from five common categories of CA: cover crops, tillage management, pest management, nutrient management, and crop diversification. These data cover the Midwestern United States (U.S.) from 1980–2020. The dataset is also summarized and visualized on the AgEvidence website, which enables users to interactively explore, filter, and download data. We hope this dataset will help a wide variety of stakeholders, including researchers, policy makers, advocacy groups, and growers access the evidence needed to make informed and impactful decisions about how to produce food with less negative environmental impact.

Assessing the long‐term effects of conservation agriculture on cotton production in Northeast Louisiana using the denitrification–decomposition model

AbstractConservation agriculture (CA) aims to sustain agricultural production, soil, and environmental health in agroecosystems and has been promoted throughout the United States. The adoption of CA in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) systems provides both agronomic and environmental benefits. Yet, there is limited information on the long‐term effects of CA practices on crop yield and adaptation strategies. An integrated CA system, that is, cover crops with no‐tillage (NT) instead of conventional agriculture, was implemented in the long‐term field experiments and assessed with an integrated biogeochemical model. Using the denitrification–decomposition model, this study estimated the effects of four different cover crops, for example, native grass (NG), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), on cotton yield under four different nitrogen (N) levels (e.g., 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N/ha) and estimated responses on carbon (C) sequestration, and ecosystem functionality over a 10‐year study. The NT‐NG 50 N was used as a calibration dataset to accurately estimate the cotton lint yield with a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 21% and model efficiency of 0.3. The calibration data validated the effects of hairy vetch, winter wheat, and crimson clover under the NT‐50 N with NRMSE of 24%, 21%, and 25%, respectively. According to the scenario analysis, the 50 kg N/ha application with a single‐irrigation event (10‐cm depth) was most beneficial for maximizing the cotton yield with cover crop incorporation at the NT system over the long term. The effects of increasing cover crop biomass (i.e., double seed rate) on C content, regardless of N application rates, varied based on the relationship between the main and cover crop species. Besides, the furrow plow tillage system provided efficient C sequestration. The proposed approach stands to provide agricultural and environmental sustainability with the implementation of cover crop or crop residue incorporation instead of increased N application, seed rates, and irrigation events under NT practices.

Effect of conservation agriculture on soil organic carbon, soil physical properties and yield of different cropping systems in Vertisols of central India

Intensive agriculture coupled with mechanization has become a threat to agricultural sustainability and hence, novel changes like conservation agriculture or regenerative agriculture are required to achieve desirable productivity and upkeep of natural assets. Around the world, conservation agriculture (CA), is gaining acceptance as an innovative and sustainable farming method that can improve the health of the soil, reduce the effect of climate change, enhance organic carbon in the soil, and increase agricultural production. The present research study examined the impact of conservation agriculture in the form of no-tillage on soil organic carbon (SOC), aggregate stability, soil penetration resistance (SPR), and yield of different cropping systems in terms of soybean grain equivalent yield (SGEY). The study was carried out in the Vertisols of central India during the kharif season (July-October) and rabi season (November-April) of 2022-23 on the existing long-term CRP-CA research project at the research farm of the ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, (M.P.), India, initiated way back in 2010. The field experiment was set up using a factorial randomized block design with two tillage systems, no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), and three cropping systems, namely, soybean-wheat, maize-gram, and maizewheat with four replications. Results revealed that CA-based NT plots have significantly higher SOC (0.93%), mean weight diameter (1.29 mm), and water-stable aggregate (82.12%) compared to the CT plots on the surface soil (0-10 cm). Tillage had no significant impact on the surface of the soil (0-15 cm) to soil penetration resistance, but in lower depths (15- 30 and 30-45 cm), SPR was significantly higher in CT compared to NT. The crop yield of NT in terms of SGEY (34.74 quintal ha-1) is significantly higher than CT (32.28 quintal ha-1). Thus, in the present era, CA techniques could be promoted as sustainable farming methods to increase agricultural yields and the physical health of the soil.

Conservation agriculture's impact on total and labile organic carbon pools in calcareous and non-calcareous floodplain soils under a sub-tropical rice-based system.

To evaluate the effects of conservation agriculture (CA) on SOC pools and their lability, field experiments (2015-2020) were conducted on contrasting soils under subtropical climates. The experiment on non-calcareous soils, was comprised of tillage (minimum [MT] vs. conventional [CT]) in main plots, cropping systems (Wheat [Triticum aestivum]-Aus and Aman rice [Oryza sativa L.], WRR; Lentil [Lens culinaris]-Aus and Aman rice, LRR; and Mustard [Brassica nigra]- Boro and Aman rice, MRR) in the sub-plots, and crop residue (with or without 20% residue) in the sub-sub plots. The experiment on calcareous soils, was comprised of tillage (strip-till, ST; no-till, NT; and CT) and crop residue (high residue, HR at 50% by height vs. low residue, LR at 15%). Results showed that the MT had higher SOC contents by 18.8% than the CT in non-calcareous soils. Likewise, SOC was 12.5% and 6.7% higher in the NT and ST, respectively, than in the CT in calcareous soils. Significantly higher particulate organic (POC), permanganate oxidizable (POXC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were observed in the MT, NT, and ST than in the CT at both locations. Reduced tillage with residue retention under LRR had a higher SOC, including labile C pools compared to WRR and MRR systems. Similarly, carbon management index (1.2-1.5 and 1.0-1.2) in both soils had significant positive correlations with SOC lability via POXC, POC, and MBC pools, indicating a SOC sequestration potential. In conclusion, our results showed positive effects of CA on SOC and its lability across soils.

Functional groups and mineralization kinetics of soil organic matter under contrasting hydro‐thermal regimes under conservation agriculture‐based rice–wheat system in eastern Indo‐Gangetic Plains

AbstractSoil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration is important to counteract anthropogenic climate change at the global level. Studying the effect of conservation agriculture (CA) on SOC dynamics in the presence of two distinctively different hydro‐thermal regimes across the year in rice–wheat (RW) systems in eastern Indo‐Gangetic Plains (E‐IGP) is of topical interest. The stabilization mechanism of soil organic matter (SOM), and its effect on C mineralization kinetics in these conditions is not well understood. We collected soil samples from six combinations of CA and conventional farming in an ongoing experiment at CIMMYT‐Borlaug Institute for South Asia, Bihar, India. CA enhanced SOC, specifically labile C, while decreasing mineral N, as a result of encapsulation/assimilation in aggregates/microbial biomass. Humic acids registered characteristic Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) peaks at 3200–3600 cm−1, 2920–2930 cm−1, 1645–1655 cm−1 and 1220–1240 cm−1, and displayed lesser degree of humification, aromaticity and redox status under CA. SOC and N mineralization were studied in two different hydro‐thermal regimes pertaining to rice (submergence, 35°C; SM35) and wheat (field capacity, 25°C; FC25) growing periods of E‐IGP. SM35 displayed temperature‐mediated higher decay of SOC. Decay constants of C mineralization were lesser under CA compared with CT. CA promoted higher SOM stability, evidenced by lower decay rates of SOC and N, attributed to (1) better protection of SOM in well‐aggregated soil structure and (2) an excess supply of fresh crop residues ensuring higher rate of SOM formation than its decay. Practising CA in E‐IGP is imperative towards C‐neutral agriculture, especially in the impending global warming scenario.

Early effects of conservation agriculture on soil organic carbon dynamics of Mollisols in Cambodia

AbstractCambodia has faced drastic agrarian changes over the last twenty years with a rapid and massive transformation of the uplands from forest into arable land. Soil quality depletion is one of the main drivers of the resulting decline in crop productivity and increasing production costs in the uplands of Battambang province. The objective of the study was to assess the early effects of conventional plough‐based (20 cm) management (CT) and two conservation agriculture‐based (CA) cropping systems (the use of a single—CAS vs. multiple cover crop species—CAM) on a maize monocropping system using three soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions on Mollisols in Battambang province. SOC content, permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) and soil CO2 basal respiration through SituResp® were recorded at a depth of 0–10 cm. Twelve sampling periods were used over the growth period of the cover crops and during the maize cycle. POXC and SituResp® were highly sensitive to management practices with, across the 12 sampling periods, higher values (p &lt; .05) under CA than CT, with an average increase of 6% and from 20% to 23%, respectively. No difference was observed in SOC content between the practices in our sampling periods. Seasonal variations were observed in both POXC and SituResp®. POXC underwent larger fluctuations following critical weather events than SituResp®. This study showed that POXC and SituResp® were rapidly sensitive to changes in agricultural management practices. POXC and SituResp® are largely influenced by seasonality and could help clarify the impact of weather patterns on soil C dynamics.

Residual effects of herbicides on weed interference and productivity in wheat (Triticum aestivum) under a conservation agriculture-based onion (Allium cepa)–wheat cropping system

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to evaluate the effects of conservation agriculture (CA) and carryover weed management on weed interference and crop productivity of wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend Fiori &amp; Poal] in an onion (Allium cepa L.)–wheat system. Three conventional and conservation tillage and 7 weed-management treatments were laid out in a split-plot design, with 3 replications. The CA-based zero-till raised-bed system with residue retention (ZTRB + R) resulted in significant reduction in total weed density and biomass compared to conventional till flat bed (CTFB), which led to higher weed control efficiency (11%), grain (4.02 t/ha) and straw yield (4.24 t/ha), and net returns 46000 `/ha in the year 2016–17. The zero-till flat bed with residue (ZTFB + R) and ZTRB + R led to an increase in wheat grain yield by 5.1 and 3.6%, and net returns by 28 and 18% than CTFB respectively. Among the herbicidal treatments, the pendimethalin followed by (fb) ethoxysulfuron resulted in the highest reduction in weed density (29 and 34%) and weed dry weight (55 and 56%) in both years, and the pendimethalin fb quizalofop was comparable with it in these regards. The pendimethalin fb quizalofop- or ethoxysulfuron- treated plots provided higher wheat grain yield (4.24 t/ha), net returns 49000 `/ha and net benefit: cost (B: C) in the year 2016–17. The pendimethalin fb ethoxysulfuron had higher residual effect on weeds in wheat but inflicted severe phytotoxicity to onion in previous season that reduced onion yield significantly. Therefore, the pendimethalin fb quizalofop application to onion is most preferred considering onion and wheat crops safety and may be adopted under zero-till raised-bed for higher productivity and profitability in onion–wheat cropping system.

Effects of conservation agriculture on carbon mineralization: A global meta-analysis

Soil carbon (C) sequestration, as an important means of mitigating climate change, is influenced by C mineralization. No-till (NT) and residue retention (RR) developed rapidly due to their soil C sequestration function. However, their effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization are still controversial, with positive and negative effects under NT and unclear effects on mineralization ratios under RR reported, which hinders the ability to predict SOC sequestration efficiency, SOC stabilization and CO2 emissions. Therefore, a global meta-analysis based on 132 peer-reviewed papers was used to investigate the effects of NT and RR on absolute mineralizable carbon (AMC) and specific mineralizable carbon (AMC per unit SOC, SMC) in laboratory incubation studies. The results showed that NT significantly increased AMC in surface (0–5 cm) and subsoil (> 20 cm) where it had been practiced over the long-term (>15 years), without crop rotation, and in alkaline soils (pH >7.8) compared to conventional tillage. RR generally increased AMC, and its negative effect on SMC was significant in soils with a high input of N fertilizer (> 300 kg N/ha) and sandy soils compared to residue removal. NT significantly reduced SMC in neutral and acidic soils (pH < 7.8), or compared to chisel plow or rotary tillage. Furthermore, RR and NT generally improved soil indicators except ammonium nitrogen and bulk density, and RR improved most of them significantly. The correlation analysis revealed that the change in AMC was significantly positively correlated with the indicators related to C/N, while SMC was significantly negatively correlated with SOC concentration. In general, both NT and RR significantly increased AMC, while SMC increased significantly with RR only, and NT+RR significantly decreased SMC. When combined with other measures, e.g. N application with RR, and applied in combination, NT and RR can increase SOC while decreasing its mineralization, thus improving the sequestration of C.

Beneficial effects of conservation agriculture on earthworm and Collembola communities in Northern France

Beneficial effects of conservation agriculture on earthworm and Collembola communities in Northern France

Root exudation processes induce the utilization of microbial-derived components by rhizoplane microbiota under conservation agriculture

Root-associated microbiota play an essential role in maintaining the soil-plant-microbial interactions of ecosystems, especially within conservation agriculture systems. However, the effects of conservation agriculture on the plant host, particularly the root system niche, and how it shapes microbiota remains unknown. This study investigated the effects of ridge-furrow plastic film mulch (RFPM), a widely adopted conservation agricultural practice, on root system morphological traits, root exudation processes, the rhizoplane microbiota, and their connections. The results showed that compared with conventional planting, RFPM enhanced root growth, altered root exudate profiles, and changed the rhizoplane microbiota. In particular, root exudation was closely linked to the assembly (relative abundance of bins with a significant phylogenetic signal = 0.17–0.46), structure (explaining 20% of the total variations), and functions (r2 = 0.56–0.73) of the rhizoplane microbiota. It also induced an increase in the proportion of homogeneous selection, with the proportion of deterministic process, which including non-random and niche-based mechanisms, increasing to 46.32% under RFPM; in comparison, the proportion under conventional planting was 40.93%–41.34%. The rhizoplane amino sugar contents under RFPM were 14.33%–31.63% lower than treatments, suggesting the microbial substrate utilization changed according to root exudates, resulting in the utilization of more microbial-derived components. Moreover, the increased amounts of phenolic acids under RFPM coincided with the abundances of microbial type II secretion system and lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis genes. A reconstructed bacterial genome confirmed the existence of microbes that could utilize microbial necromass and phenolic acid. Our results revealed that RFPM causes changes in the rhizoplane microbiota, affecting microbial substrate utilization and physiological adaptation, and highlights the role of root exudation in mediating colonization of rhizoplane-root system niches by the root-associated microbiota in response to conservation agricultural practices.

Impact of Ten Years Conservation Tillage in Organic Farming on Soil Physical Properties in a Loess Soil—Northern Hesse, Germany

In conservation agriculture, conservation tillage potentially influences the physical, chemical, and biological quality of the soil. Although the effects of conservation agriculture on the soil’s physical properties have been studied in conventional management systems, studies on organic farming systems, especially concerning long-term changes, are scarce. This study summarizes the results of physical and mechanical soil parameters obtained over the initial 10 years of different conservation management treatments (plowing versus reduced tillage with and without compost application) in an organic field trial conducted in central Germany. Moreover, as a research objective, the effects of soil conservation measures on soil’s physical quality were evaluated. Differences in the soil’s physical quality during treatments were mainly detected in the topsoil. At a depth of 0.10–0.24 m, the total porosity and air capacity were lower, and the bulk density was higher in the reduced-tillage systems, compared to those of the plowed treatments. Additionally, the soil’s mechanical stability (precompression stress) was higher at a depth of 0.10 m for reduced-tillage systems combined with compost application. In addition, the soil’s aggregate stability was enhanced in the reduced-tillage systems (higher mean weight diameter, as determined via wet sieving). Overall, the reduced-tillage treatments did not exceed the critical physical values of the soil, nor affect the functionality of the soil (saturated hydraulic conductivity), thereby demonstrating its feasibility as a sustainable technique for organic farming. Future studies should include measures to ameliorate compaction zones in reduced-tillage treatments, e.g., by applying subsoiling techniques in combination with deep-rooting crops to prevent limited rooting space resulting from the high mechanical impedance, especially under dry soil conditions.

Review on the Mutual effects of Conservation Agriculture and Integrated Pest Management on Pest and Disease Control in Agriculture

Review on the Mutual effects of Conservation Agriculture and Integrated Pest Management on Pest and Disease Control in Agriculture

Review on the Mutual effects of Conservation Agriculture and Integrated Pest Management on Pest and Disease Control in Agriculture

Crop pests and pathogens have caused a serious significant yield loss of more than 40% in major crops worldwide in recent years. It is projected that many important crop producing countries will be fully saturated with pests and pathogens in next few years. Endevours to control pests using conventional methods have failed to achieve the goals of sustainable yield in agriculture. This is due to negative effects associated with the used modern agriculture inputs to control insect pests and pathogens. The failure to supply enough food to feed the growing population calls for identifying appropriate method that will sustain yield without harming the environment, human and other organisms. This review used online materials to identify the advantages of combined integrated pest management (IPM) and conservation agriculture (CA) in the agricultural crop production. The benefits farmers accrue as the result of combined appropriate IPM and CA management strategies includes; reduced production cost, slower development of resistance to chemicals. Achieving long term pest, pathogens and weeds control, reduce risks due to pesticides or herbicides use, reduction of emergence of cultivar resistant breaking species/isolates/tribes/strains, ultimately improves yield. Others are low labour requirement, increase water conservation, fertility increase and reduced land degradation. The job that is yet to be done is research on appropriate IPM and CA for specific crops is needed. It is concluded that the appropriate solutions will depend on the effective promotion, monitoring and evaluation of changes in farming practices. This calls for stakeholders including researchers, scientists, political class, the government and farmers come together to discuss issues and lay down laws and regulation that will help the implementation of IPM and CA to rescue the world vulnerable community and the environment.

Conservation tillage and residue management improve soil health and crop productivity—Evidence from a rice-maize cropping system in Bangladesh

The rice-maize (R-M) system is rapidly expanding in Bangladesh due to its greater suitability for diverse soil types and environments. The present conventional method of cultivating puddled transplanted rice and maize is input-intensive, decreases soil health through intense ploughing, and ultimately reduces farm profitability. There is a need to investigate alternatives. Accordingly, we conducted a replicated 2-year (2020–2021) field study to investigate the effects of conservation agriculture (CA) based tillage and crop establishment (TCE) techniques and residue management practices on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil along with crop productivity and the profitability of rice-maize systems in the sandy loam soil of Northwest Bangladesh. Two TCE techniques Puddled transplanted rice (PTR) followed by Conventional tillage maize (CTM) and strip tillage direct-seeded rice (STDSR) followed by strip-tilled maize (STM) were assigned to the main plots and different percentages of crop residue retention (0, 25, and 50% by height) were allocated to the subplots. Results showed that a reduction in bulk density (BD), soil penetration resistance (SPR), and increased soil porosity were associated with STDSR/STM-based scenarios (strip tillage coupled with 25 and 50% residue retention). The soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, such as dissolved organic C (DOC), light and heavy particulate organic matter C (POM-C), MAOM, and microbial biomass C (MBC) levels in the 0–10 cm layer under ST based treatments were 95, 8, 6, 2 and 45% greater, respectively, compared to CT with no residue treatment. When compared to the CT treatment, the DOC, light POM-C, heavy POM-C, and MAOM in the 10–20 cm layer with ST treatment were 8, 34, 25, 4 and 37% higher, respectively. Residue retention in ST increased average rice, maize, and system yields by 9.2, 14.0, and 14.12%, respectively, when compared to CT. The system gross margin and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) were $1,515 ha−1 and 1.90 under conventional tillage to $1,696 ha−1 and 2.15 under strip-tillage practices. Thus, our study suggests that CA could be an appropriate practice for sustaining soil fertility and crop yield under R-M systems in light-textured soils or other similar soils in Bangladesh.