Revision as of 08:38, 6 May 2013 by
***** (***** | *****)Conservation Agriculture (CA) aims at increasing soil productivity and profitability of farming while protecting resources against degradation. Three underlying principles characterise CA-cropping systems:
- minimal or no-tillage of soils
- permanent cover of soils with plant residues (Seeds are sown directly into the soil under the residue layer)
- crop rotation
While the combination of these three main characteristics is common to all CA- approaches, there is a great variety of different forms, which have been developed through adapting to different agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions. Smallholder farming in the tropics and subtropics are such adaptations. CA can be applied in both, rain-fed and irrigation agriculture. Effective use of water, and protection of soils from run-off water and erosion, as well as the capacity to raise or maintain higher levels of soil organic carbon (sequestration of carbon) than in conventional tillage cropping systems, makes CA a strategic choice in terms of sustainable land-use, as a mitigation measure for climate change and also for agriculture water management.
