A regionally-adapted implementation of conservation agriculture delivers rapid improvements to soil properties associated with crop yield stability.

ABSTRACT: Climate models predict increasing weather variability, with negative consequences for crop production. Conservation agriculture (CA) may enhance climate resilience by generating certain soil improvements. However, the rate at which these improvements accrue is unclear, and some evidence suggests CA can lower yields relative to conventional systems unless all three CA elements are implemented: reduced tillage, sustained soil cover, and crop rotational diversity. These cost-benefit issues are important considerations for potential adopters of CA. Given that CA can be implemented across a wide variety of regions and cropping systems, more detailed and mechanistic understanding is required on whether and how regionally-adapted CA can improve soil properties while minimizing potential negative

SUBMITTER: Williams A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5981580 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature