Soil management practices and benefits in Conservation Agriculture systems

Abstract

Nowadays it is well accepted and emonstrated, mostly in the pioneercountries, that CA adoption delivers several important environmental benefits; furthermore, due to the preservation of the soil fertility, crop yields are well sustained. However, such results derive from the correct and concomitant application of all three CA principles and despite the occurring of some critical aspects, for example weed management, the use of non-selective herbicides as well as the diffusion of some diseases, the newly available knowledge and technical improvements make it easier to adopt CA even in border line situations. Besides, it emerges that, also from economic point of view, CA systems are profitable, especially over a longer period of time, provided there exists an adequate technical level of understanding by farmers and technicians. Nevertheless, in some important agricultural countries CA still remains confined to a very small surface and its scarce adoption is principally to be found in an inadequate participatory technology innovation system, mental barriers of the farmers and the lack of technical preparation.