Minimum Soil Disturbance Research Articles

Pulses as a Key Component in Conservation Agriculture: Impacts on Soil Health and Sustainability

Intensive agriculture poses several challenges such as soil degradation, reduced soil organic matter, and increased soil nutrient imbalances including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, zinc, iron, and manganese deficiencies and nutrient toxicities (Tiwari KN, 2002). It also contributes to degradation of groundwater quality, declining groundwater levels (Humphreys E et al, 2010), and issues like sodicity and salinization (Tiwari VM et al, 2009), resulting in reduced crop productivity. Many of these limitations can be addressed by adopting conservation agriculture, which supports sustainable productivity while safeguarding natural resources (Sharma AR et al, 2012). Pulses are particularly beneficial in conservation agriculture as they align well with its principles: diversified crop rotations, minimum soil disturbance and continuous soil cover. They serve as a resource-conserving technology that mitigates the adverse impacts of modern agricultural practices.

Addressing Climate Change: The Role of Agriculture in Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Agriculture is a cornerstone of global food security, which is significantly affected by climate change, primarily driven by human activities that increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Accounting for approximately 13% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions, agricultural practices-such as livestock rearing, rice cultivation and synthetic fertilizer use which contribute substantially to global warming. Emissions from nitrous oxide (N₂O), methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) exacerbate this issue, with N₂O being particularly concerning due to its high global warming potential. Mitigation strategies within the agricultural sector are essential, including improved nutrient management, the use of nitrification inhibitors and innovative fertilizer application technologies. Organic farming demonstrates lower N₂O emissions compared to conventional practices, emphasizing the importance of sustainable agricultural methods. Additionally, conservation tillage and practices like zero-tillage help reduce CO₂ emissions by minimizing soil disturbance and enhancing carbon sequestration. Biochar application further supports soil health and GHG reduction by enhancing carbon storage. To mitigate methane emissions from rice fields, reduced tillage and the introduction of electron acceptors can effectively inhibit methanogenesis. As CO₂ constitutes about 72% of total GHG emissions, agricultural practices that increase soil organic carbon (SOC) are critical for effective carbon sequestration. Overall, the agricultural sector holds significant potential for GHG mitigation, with studies suggesting that 89% of the mitigation potential can be achieved through carbon sequestration. Therefore, adopting these strategies is crucial not only for reducing emissions but also for ensuring sustainable agricultural productivity in the face of climate change challenges.

Potential of conservation agriculture practice in climate change adaptation and mitigation in Ethiopia: a review

Land degradation is a major problem in Ethiopia, as it contributes to climate change by releasing greenhouse gases (GHG) and slowing carbon sequestration rates. The objective of this review was to assess the role of conservation agriculture (CA) in climate change adaptation and mitigation in Ethiopia. The critical review method processes for identifying and synthesizing peer-reviewed research and review articles, reports, proceedings, and book chapters were followed, with materials obtained from relevant search engines. The findings of the various reports revealed that minimum tillage assists in soil moisture conservation when compared to conventional tillage. Conservation tillage maintains crop residue, reduces soil temperature significantly, and increases nutrient buildup in the surface soil layer, all of which lead to higher crop growth and production thus help as adaptation to climate change. Furthermore, agriculture and other land uses significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions; nevertheless, conservation agricultural methods improve soil organic carbon (SOC), soil aggregation, and carbon in aggregate, as well as soil health that contribute to climate changing mitigation. Several studies found that soil health indicators such as soil aggregation, soil organic carbon storage, soil enzymes, and microbial biomass improved under conservation tillage practices, potentially improving the carbon-nitrogen cycle, soil stability, and overall crop productivity. In terms of climate adaptation and mitigation, CA is one of the non-substitutable choices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Crop diversity, increased nitrogen consumption efficiency, crop rotation, improved soil carbon sequestration methods; crop residue retention, minimum soil disturbance, manure incorporation, and integrated farming systems are all important factors in minimizing GHG emissions. Moreover, factors impeding CA adoption include a lack of appropriate equipment and machinery, weed control methods, the use of crop residue for fuel wood and animal feed, a lack of awareness about the benefits of CA on soil health and sustainability, and a lack of government technical and financial support for smallholder farmers. Adoption and scaling up of CA practices are critical for ensuring a sustainable development goal and resilient future. Thus, relevant stakeholders should consider the aforementioned considerations while promoting the technology on a large scale through integration with enhanced technology.

Weed management in organic dryland wheat production in the Pacific Northwest

AbstractGrowth in demand for organic small grains has increased interest in producing certified organic crops in the semiarid US Pacific Northwest. The region is well‐suited for small grain production, and there is a strong market for organic food products on the US West Coast. However, many growers encounter significant and persistent challenges with weed management, particularly management of perennial weeds such as Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.] and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), but also common winter and spring annual grass weeds including cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) and wild oat (Avena fatua L.). Coupled with the need to minimize soil disturbance, weed management can become nearly intractable and production limiting. From 2004 to 2024, several short and intermediate studies have been conducted to assess weed control tactics and crop rotation effects on weed management. Lessons learned include incorporating alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) into rotations for suppression of field bindweed, or alfalfa and winter triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) for suppression of Canada thistle. Optimization of cultural inputs, particularly seeding rate, are critical for each crop in rotation. Animal integration and new crops such as quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) are alternatives to conventional crops and potentially profitable. Incorporation of precision mechanical and chemical systems is feasible in narrow‐row cereals, and when combined with crop rotation, it could reduce or eliminate the need for repeated transitions back to convention production for organic growers.

Laser Weeding Technology in Cropping Systems: A Comprehensive Review

Weed infestations pose significant challenges to global crop production, demanding effective and sustainable weed control methods. Traditional approaches, such as chemical herbicides, mechanical tillage, and plastic mulches, are not only associated with environmental concerns but also face challenges like herbicide resistance, soil health, erosion, moisture content, and organic matter depletion. Thermal methods like flaming, streaming, and hot foam distribution are emerging weed control technologies along with directed energy systems of electrical and laser weeding. This paper conducts a comprehensive review of laser weeding technology, comparing it with conventional methods and highlighting its potential environmental benefits. Laser weeding, known for its precision and targeted energy delivery, emerges as a promising alternative to conventional control methods. This review explores various laser weeding platforms, discussing their features, applications, and limitations, with a focus on critical areas for improvement, including dwell time reduction, automated navigation, energy efficiency, affordability, and safety standards. Comparative analyses underscore the advantages of laser weeding, such as reduced environmental impact, minimized soil disturbance, and the potential for sustainable agriculture. This paper concludes by outlining key areas for future research and development to enhance the effectiveness, accessibility, and affordability of laser weeding technology. In summary, laser weeding presents a transformative solution for weed control, aligning with the principles of sustainable and environmentally conscious agriculture, and addressing the limitations of traditional methods.

Conservation agriculture compared to conventional tillage improves the trade-off between ground-dwelling arthropod trophic groups for natural pest regulation in cotton cropping systems

Conservation agriculture is an innovative approach based on minimal soil disturbance, soil cover with crop residues, and crop rotation, which increases the biodiversity of soil macrofauna thus contributing to nutrient cycling and soil aggregation. In addition, macrofaunal abundance may play a role at regulating insect pest populations. The study aims to predict the effects of soil management practices (conventional tillage and conservation agriculture) on the abundance of soil macrofauna and herbivore predation in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) based cropping systems. We conducted a field experiment with a randomized complete block comprising two treatments, Conventional Tillage (CT) and Conservation Agriculture (CA), and six replications in a cotton-maize rotation system from 2020 to 2023. Soil monoliths and pitfall traps were installed in both treatments to collect ground-dwelling arthropods, to analyse the influence of soil management practices on their abundance, their trophic groups, and the rate of pest predation by generalist predators. Pest predation rates were assessed using artificial caterpillars made from plasticine. The results showed significant positive effects of soil management practices on herbivory rate, herbivore abundance, predator abundance, omnivore-predator abundance and pest predation rate. The average herbivory rate was 9.8 % in the conservation agriculture plots and 11.6 % in the conventional tillage plots. Overall, the predation rate was 58.9 % in the conservation agriculture plots and 21.8 % in the conventional tillage plots. The abundance of predators and of omnivore-predators were significantly higher in conservation agriculture than in conventional tillage. These findings suggest that conservation agriculture practices improve soil macrofauna and pest regulation, with potential benefits on soil quality and sustainability in cotton cropping systems.

Conservation Tillage Practices and Their Role in Sustainable Farming Systems

Conservation tillage practices have become increasingly recognized as crucial strategies in the effort to achieve sustainable farming systems. These practices, which include methods such as notill, striptill, mulchtill, and ridgetill, aim to minimize soil disturbance, thereby promoting a range of environmental, economic, and agronomic benefits. This review article delves into the different types of conservation tillage practices, elaborating on their specific techniques, advantages, and potential drawbacks. It examines how these practices influence soil health by enhancing soil structure, increasing organic matter, and fostering biodiversity. Furthermore, the article discusses the impact of conservation tillage on crop productivity, highlighting both the yield benefits and the challenges related to pest and weed management. The role of conservation tillage in mitigating environmental issues such as soil erosion, water conservation, and greenhouse gas emissions is also explored in depth. Through a synthesis of recent research findings and case studies, this article provides a thorough analysis of the contributions of conservation tillage to sustainable agriculture. It also offers practical recommendations for farmers, policymakers, and researchers to optimize the adoption and effectiveness of conservation tillage practices, ultimately aiming to support a transition towards more resilient and sustainable farming systems.

Prospects and Issues in the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in India

Conservation agriculture involves practices such as crop rotations, minimal soil disturbance, and maintaining permanent soil cover through crop residues or cover crops. Despite various challenges to its widespread adoption, India has made significant progress over the past two decades in developing, refining, and promoting conservation-based agricultural technologies. Notable advancements have been made in the Indo-Gangetic plains, especially in the adoption of no-till wheat within the rice-wheat cropping system. Advocates of conservation agriculture understand the trade-offs but recognize that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. These methods offer potential advantages including reduced production costs, improved water and nutrient conservation, increased crop diversity and yields, and more efficient resource utilization.

Study on the influence of cap connection mode on the deformation of all-steel spiral anchor

Abstract Spiral anchors find widespread use across diverse projects, including residential, commercial, street lamp poles, photovoltaic systems, and transmission tower infrastructure, due to their simple structure, convenient construction, high degree of mechanization, and minimal soil disturbance. All-steel spiral anchors offer notable advantages in terms of ease and environmental friendliness. To bolster their utilization in power transmission engineering applications, based on the application requirements of the spiral anchor foundation of the Weifang Guanting transmission tower, the influence of the connection method of the bearing platform on the deformation of the all-steel spiral anchor is studied. The results show that both the welding and bolt connection methods can meet the required stiffness of the project.

Management of maize-legume conservation agriculture systems rather than varietal choice fosters human nutrition in Malawi

Malawi smallholder farmers are facing climate-induced challenges that have increased food and nutrition insecurity in the country, thus sustainable intensification practices has been widely recommended. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of cropping systems with improved varieties on total system productivity and nutrition under different environments. The study involved on-farm experiments in ten communities in Central and Southern Malawi, incrementally established from 2005/2006 to 2018/2019 cropping seasons. Each community had six demonstration plots with three main treatments: conventional ploughing (CP): sole maize grown on seasonally constructed ridges and furrows; no-tillage (NT): sole maize grown on retained ridges with minimum soil disturbance and residue retained; and Conservation agriculture (CA): maize intercropped either cowpea, pigeon pea or groundnut on retained ridges as in NT. Our results show that total system nutrition was higher in CA treatments than NT and CP. The yields of maize were at least 800 kg ha−1 higher in CA and NT than CP despite the variety that was grown. Legume yields were also higher under CA and NT than CP. High protein yield was observed in CA systems (at least 100 kg ha−1 higher than CP) where maize and legume intercrops were rotated with grain legumes. Our results show nutrients and energy gains in CA and NT systems that can be invested in practices that increases the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change. Conservation agriculture and NT systems have more influence on productivity of smallholder farms, despite the genotypes used (hybrids or OPVs).

Quantifying the adoption of conservation agriculture: Development and application of the Conservation Agriculture Appraisal Index

CONTEXTEstimates of conservation agriculture (CA) adoption vary worldwide because of a lack of a standardized methodology to quantify the simultaneous utilization of its core principles of minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil organic cover and crop diversification. Comparisons of CA adoption among farms across regions requires estimation of the farm area and cropping season where CA principles are applied. OBJECTIVETo develop the Conservation Agriculture Appraisal Index (CAAI) as a standardized conceptual framework with defined thresholds that indicates the intensity and frequency of use of each CA core principle. CAAI was subsequently applied to quantify CA adoption on farms across four wheat (triticum aestivum) growing regions, both with and without livestock, including dryland and irrigated systems in Australia and Mexico, respectively. METHODSCAAI is a continuous scoring system that estimates the intensity and frequency of application of the core principles and their concurrent utilization to assess the extent of CA adoption. CAAI score is the sum of the scores of each core principle, accounting for the percentage of the farm area and cropping season where CA is applied. CAAI emerged from semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and farm visits that captured underlying patterns of CA use in regional-specific contexts. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSCAAI assessed annual CA adoption on 100 farms in four wheat growing regions with different environments and farming systems. The adoption of CA was higher in Australia than Mexico, where partial adoption was more prevalent, especially for summer crops. ‘No adoption’ of CA occurred when one of the core principles consistently scored zero within a year. SIGNIFICANCEThe CAAI can be used as a benchmarking research tool at the farm level to standardize units for comparisons and identify levels of CA adoption by farm area and cropping seasons between and across regions.

The role of agroecological systems in cation interaction and aggregate formation in drylands of northeastern Brazil

Agroecological production systems are used in dryland agroecosystems. Therefore, it is necessary to verify their contributions, especially with regard to the functionality of soil attributes. From this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of soil use and management on the structural, hydraulic, and chemical attributes of a Haplic Cambisol in the Apodi Plateau, RN, Brazil. The experimental design adopted was completely randomized, with treatments distributed in a 5×3 factorial arrangement corresponding to five sampling locations (fruit farming, horticulture, agroecological, intercropping of Zea mays and Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp), and three soil layers (0.00-0.10, 0.10-0.20, and 0.20-0.30 m), in addition to the correlation matrix and principal component analysis as multivariate statistical techniques. The parameters evaluated included soil pH, nutrient levels (available P, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+), total organic carbon, soil density, total porosity, field capacity, permanent wilting point, available water, aggregation, aggregate stability, weighted mean diameter of aggregates, and the content of organic matter, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in different soil aggregate classes. The study concluded that continuous soil use practices such as intercropping Z. mays and V. unguiculata and horticulture significantly reduce nutrient availability, organic carbon content, moisture, and soil aggregation. However, areas under agroecological management and fruit cultivation, which involve minimal soil disturbance, promote the improvement of these properties.

The Contribution of Conservation Agriculture on Environmental Protection in Rwanda

Purpose: The study aimed to assess the contribution of Conservation agriculture on Environmental protection in Rwanda: case of Kayonza District. Materials and Methods: The study reviewed different studies related to Conservation agriculture and Environmental protection and used qualitative and quantitative approaches. The Data were collected using a questionnaire and face-to-face interview on Sample composed by 404 Respondents from Kayonza district. The data collected and analyzed by using Distributive statistics. Findings: The study indicated that CA techniques are contributing in environmental protection and there is a relationship between adopting Conservation Agriculture (CA) techniques and environmental protection. The decrease in organic matter content and high soil erosion are affecting soil fertility and health and one of the main causes of global warming is also intensive chemical fertilization of agricultural crops. In contrast, CA techniques combine minimum soil disturbance, mulching, water holding capacity, reduce soil compaction, reduce soil erosion and improve soil fertility and application of organic fertilizers and re use of crop residues, Study have shown that farmers who adopt CA experience the improvement and there improve. The study underscores the importance of adopting CA techniques to reduce the cost and protect environment. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: By adopting CA practices, farmers can contribute to the protection of natural resources, conservation of biodiversity, and mitigation of climate change while maintaining agricultural productivity by promoting sustainable land management practices that conserve soil, water, and biodiversity, mitigate climate change impacts, and reduce environmental degradation associated with conventional agricultural practices. But not all small holder farmers involved in implementing all CA techniques due to different factors, NGOs and Government can collaborate to develop subsidies, grants, and funding programs specifically aimed to promote conservation agriculture. By adopting CA techniques, agriculture in the next decade will have to sustainably produce more food from less land through more efficient use of natural resources and with minimal impact on the environment in order to meet growing population demands.

Conservation Agriculture is a Sustainable Approach for Future

Conservation agriculture (CA) embodies a forward-looking and sustainable approach to cultivation. It is characterized by a farming system that prioritizes sustainability through practices such as minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining permanent soil cover, and implementing crop rotations. The overarching goal is to preserve soil health and enhance productivity. This method emphasizes the optimization of natural resources, the reduction of inputs, and the enhancement of nutrient utilization efficiency. The primary focus of this review article around conservation agriculture (CA), characterized by revolutionary practices involving minimal soil disturbance (no-till, NT) and the maintenance of continuous soil cover (mulch). Agriculture heavily relies on cultivation and tillage practices. The review first explores the advantages of conventional cultivation techniques before the introduction of conservation tillage (CT), a method that originated in response to the American dust bowl of the 1930s. Subsequently, the review delves into the benefits of CA, considered an improvement over CT. The incorporation of no-till (NT), mulching, and related innovations significantly enhances soil qualities and various biotic factors within the framework of CA. Nevertheless, the promotion of Conservation Agriculture (CA) technologies encounters several challenges. These include the absence of suitable seeders tailored for small-scale farmers, conflicts between the use of CA and livestock feeding for crop residues, the practice of burning crop residues, a scarcity of skilled manpower, and the challenge of overcoming traditional attitudes towards tillage. Drawbacks of conservation agriculture encompass factors such as limited adoption, insufficient knowledge and skills, reliance on herbicides, and initial investment costs, among others.

Integrating Technology and Agriculture with Advanced Machinery

Abstract: Agricultural technologies are rapidly evolving towards a new paradigm – Integrating Technology. Within this paradigm, digitalization, automation and artificial intelligence play a major role in crop production, including weeding and pest control. This evolution presents both challenges and opportunities, such as leapfrogging from manual and animal-driven technologies to automated and mechanized equipment in developing countries and closing the digital divide. Traditional agricultural mechanization, characterized by the use of tractors and engine power, will be matched and even surpassed by automated equipment and robotics and the precision they can provide in farm operations. Conservation agriculture (CA) is an approach that involves crop diversification, permanent soil cover and minimal soil disturbance (e.g. limited tillage). CA increases soil structure and soil organic matter, promotes rich microbial diversity, retains water and nutrients, and better manages pests and diseases, making agricultural soils more productive and resilient to changes in climate. However, it requires specialized equipment – for example, for direct drilling of crop seed into the soil at the right depth and sowing density. Agricultural robotics can support these environmentally sustainable practices, by allowing spot weeding and precision management of nutrients, pests, diseases and weeds through mechanical removal or spot application of chemicals. Agricultural robots will also be able to substitute arduous labour, especially when there is limited availability, thus increasing social sustainability. The development of Integrating Technology will create new opportunities that can attract youth and entrepreneurs into the sector, tackling some of the causes for rural–urban migration and contributing to the economic component of sustainability.

A method to account for diversity of practices in Conservation Agriculture

Conservation Agriculture (CA) is actively promoted as an alternative farming system that combines environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Three pillars define CA: (i) minimum mechanical soil disturbance, (ii) permanent soil organic cover, and (iii) species diversification. The local context, constraints, and needs of the farmers influence the translation of the pillars into practices. Currently, there is no method for categorizing this diversity of CA practices, which hampers impact assessment, understanding of farmer choices and pathways, stakeholder communication, and policymaking. This paper presents a systematic method to identify and categorize the diversity of CA practices at the regional level, anchored in the three pillars and based on practices implemented by CA farmers. The classification method is grounded on the intersection of an archetypal analysis and a hierarchical clustering analysis. This method was used to study CA practices in Wallonia, Belgium, based on a survey of practices in a sample of 48 farmers. Combining the two clustering methods increases the proportion of classified farmers while allowing for the distinction between three CA-types with extreme and salient practices, and two intermediate CA-types comprising farmers whose practices fall between these references. The study reveals that three explanatory factors influence the implementation of CA practices in Wallonia: (i) the proportion of tillage-intensive crops and (ii) temporary grasslands in the crop sequence, and (iii) the organic certification. These factors lead to trade-offs that hinder the three pillars of CA from being fully implemented simultaneously. This new classification method can be replicated in other regions where CA is practiced, by adapting input variables according to context and local knowledge.

Long-Term Effects of Different Tillage Systems and Their Impact on Soil Properties and Crop Yields

The scientific aim of this article is to elucidate the effects of various tillage practices on soil properties and crop yields; additionally, it seeks to highlight the significant potential of specific farming systems in enhancing soil organic carbon, thereby positively influencing CO2 emissions from soil. In the experimental station of Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas District, Lithuania (54°52′50″ N and 23°49′41″ E), a long-term field experiment has been established since 1999, and studies have been conducted since 2003. The soil of the experimental site is classified as Epieutric Endocalcaric Planosol (Endoclayic, Episiltic, Aric, Drainic, Endoraptic, Uterquic), according to the World Reference Base (WRB, 2022). Two primary factors were assessed. Factor A incorporated practices of straw removal versus straw chopping and spreading, while Factor B evaluated a spectrum of tillage techniques: conventional deep plowing and two no-tillage practices, one of which involved cover crops. The findings from this long-term study highlight a significant increase in SOC stocks across all treatments over the 20-year period. Notably, the no-tillage practices, coupled with the spreading of chopped straw, demonstrated the most substantial growth in SOC levels, particularly in the top 0–10 cm soil layer. This trend underscores the effectiveness of minimizing soil disturbance and incorporating organic matter in boosting SOC stocks. The different tillage systems influence CO2 emissions from soil. Initially, direct sowing into uncultivated land, both with and without cover crops, led to a notable reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional plowing. However, this effect was found to vary over the growth cycle of the plant, highlighting the dynamic interaction between tillage practices, soil properties, and environmental conditions. Collaborative research efforts that involve farmers, scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders are crucial for the development of holistic, practical, scalable solutions that enhance the sustainability and productivity of agricultural systems. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable agriculture, providing insights for farmers, agronomists, and policymakers in their quest to promote environmentally sound and productive agricultural systems.

Earthworms as soil health indicators in no-tillage agroecosystems

No-tillage (NT) and no-tillage systems (NTS) are widely used conservation agriculture practices in Brazil, and in the state of Paraná, nearly 80% of annual crops are cultivated using these methods. Compared with NT, NTS sites permanently include: minimum soil disturbance, soil cover (straw and living vegetation) and crop rotation and diversification with cover crops. These practices often increase earthworm populations, that can be used to indicate soil health. Herein, we review soil health classification of NT sites, and the species found in Paraná state. We compiled information from 130 sites with NT or NTS, located in 29 counties, of which 93 had biomass and 91 had species richness data, aiming to compare NT with NTS sites, and the effect of the age of these practices on earthworm populations. Overall, 29 earthworm species were recorded, of which 17 were native, including many new to science. Mean abundance and biomass in NT + NTS were 104 ind m−2 and 2.5 g m−2, respectively, and richness 2.5 species per site. Abundance was significantly higher in NT than NTS in the initial phase of adoption, and both abundance and biomass decreased with increasing age of NT. Earthworm abundance and species richness were positively correlated with clayey soils and phosphorus content, while higher biomass was associated with soil carbon content and pH. A new classification system was proposed, with the categories poor (<50 ind. m−2, 1 species), moderate (≥50 to <100 ind m−2, 2 species), good (≥100 to <150 ind m−2, 3 species), very good (≥150 to 200 ind m−2, 4 species) and excellent (≥200 ind m−2, ≥5 species) soil health, using earthworm abundance and species richness, respectively. Most of the sites sampled showed poor or moderate soil health, with few displaying very good or excellent health, indicating the need for improved management practices, in order to promote earthworm populations and their potential benefits to soil fertility and plant production.

Identifying the best tillage system to maintain soil properties and crop yields after Conservation Reserve Program grassland conversion

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a United.States of Americae government program that provides financial incentives to transition marginal croplands to permanent grass cover to conserve soil and water. Few studies have evaluated the best tillage system that maintains soil properties when converting CRP back to cropland. Our objective was to determine how converting CRP to cropland under different tillage practices after three years affects soil C (carbon) stocks, physical and chemical properties, and winter wheat (Triticum aestivium L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) grain yields after 4 yr. We also reviewed literature on the topic to compare previous results against our findings. This experiment was conducted in Sidney, NE, USA on CRP that was converted to production farmland through four tillage practices no-till (NT), disk-sweep (DS), plow-sweep (PS) and deep plow-sweep (DPS) in 2017 and planted to a wheat-corn-fallow rotation. Organic C stock was reduced by 6% in PS and 15% in DPS compared to CRP in the 0–10 cm depth but not in the 0–60 cm. Tillage practice did not affect grain yields in our study but had inconsistent effects according to previous literature. In the upper 10 cm, wet aggregate stability was reduced by 41% in DS, 51% in PS, and 58% in DPS, dry aggregate stability was reduced by 66% in NT, 71% in DS, 74% in PS and 77% in DPS, and plant available water was reduced by 45% in NT, 50% in DS, 39% in PS and 43% in DPS treatment relative to CRP. However, treatments had no effect on cumulative infiltration rate and bulk density. The use of DS or NT when converting CRP to cropland caused the least negative impacts on soil properties when CRP was converted to cropland in our study and in previous studies reported in the literature. Minimizing soil disturbance by reduced or no tillage maintained relevant soil properties 3 yr after CRP conversion to cropland.

Nature's laws of declining soil productivity and Conservation Agriculture

Soils are critical for agriculture and natural ecosystems and need protection, and adherence to nature's principles. The objective of this work is to understand how nature manages resources and describe management of the 'living soil’ and its soil productivity and use nature's laws as guidelines for the management. These guidelines provide the foundation of modern Conservation Agriculture (CA) systems characterised by three principles: continuous no or minimum soil disturbance, permanent biomass soil cover, and biodiversity in crop rotations, all of which form the basis for the protection against degradation and for sustaining productivity. Historically, soil tillage was considered a necessary component of agriculture, but it is the root cause of soil degradation. Tillage-based agriculture with bare soils and poor cropping diversity violates nature's laws of soil productivity. Reasons for soil tillage are primarily for short-term convenience of farm management. The negative impacts of tillage on soil health and function may appear inconsequential. However, their cumulative effects over time result in major soil degradation and loss in productivity. Tillage in any form and intensity destroys soil biological, physical, chemical, and hydrological properties. Mechanical tillage is not experienced in natural ecosystems. In CA systems, natural conditions are emulated offering similar productivity, economic and environmental benefits to both large and small landowners globally. In 2018/19, CA was practiced on more than 205 million hectares across more than 100 countries. The impacts of climate change and tillage on food production and environmental degradation require the application of nature-based solutions as Conservation Agriculture.