Conservation Agriculture and Soil Organic Carbon: Principles, Processes, Practices and Policy Options
Intensive agriculture causes land degradation and other environmental problems, such as pollution, soil erosion, fertility loss, biodiversity decline, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which exacerbate climate change. Sustainable agricultural practices, such as reduced tillage, growing cover crops...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Soil Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/7/1/17 |
| _version_ | 1797609022842470400 |
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| author | Rosa Francaviglia María Almagro José Luis Vicente-Vicente |
| author_facet | Rosa Francaviglia María Almagro José Luis Vicente-Vicente |
| author_sort | Rosa Francaviglia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Intensive agriculture causes land degradation and other environmental problems, such as pollution, soil erosion, fertility loss, biodiversity decline, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which exacerbate climate change. Sustainable agricultural practices, such as reduced tillage, growing cover crops, and implementing crop residue retention measures, have been proposed as cost-effective solutions that can address land degradation, food security, and climate change mitigation and adaptation by enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in soils and its associated co-benefits. In this regard, extensive research has demonstrated that conservation agriculture (CA) improves soil physical, chemical, and biological properties that are crucial for maintaining soil health and increasing agroecosystem resilience to global change. However, despite the research that has been undertaken to implement the three principles of CA (minimum mechanical soil disturbance, permanent soil organic cover with crop residues and/or cover crops, and crop diversification) worldwide, there are still many technical and socio-economic barriers that restrict their adoption. In this review, we gather current knowledge on the potential agronomic, environmental, and socio-economic benefits and drawbacks of implementing CA principles and present the current agro-environmental policy frameworks. Research needs are identified, and more stringent policy measures are urgently encouraged to achieve climate change mitigation targets. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:54:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-df650852c82e45c2ae8dd481e2b0fb6d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-8789 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:54:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Soil Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-df650852c82e45c2ae8dd481e2b0fb6d2023-11-17T13:52:57ZengMDPI AGSoil Systems2571-87892023-02-01711710.3390/soilsystems7010017Conservation Agriculture and Soil Organic Carbon: Principles, Processes, Practices and Policy OptionsRosa Francaviglia0María Almagro1José Luis Vicente-Vicente2CREA, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 00184 Rome, ItalyIFAPA, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training, Camino de Purchil s/n, 18004 Granada, SpainZALF, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, 15374 Müncheberg, GermanyIntensive agriculture causes land degradation and other environmental problems, such as pollution, soil erosion, fertility loss, biodiversity decline, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which exacerbate climate change. Sustainable agricultural practices, such as reduced tillage, growing cover crops, and implementing crop residue retention measures, have been proposed as cost-effective solutions that can address land degradation, food security, and climate change mitigation and adaptation by enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in soils and its associated co-benefits. In this regard, extensive research has demonstrated that conservation agriculture (CA) improves soil physical, chemical, and biological properties that are crucial for maintaining soil health and increasing agroecosystem resilience to global change. However, despite the research that has been undertaken to implement the three principles of CA (minimum mechanical soil disturbance, permanent soil organic cover with crop residues and/or cover crops, and crop diversification) worldwide, there are still many technical and socio-economic barriers that restrict their adoption. In this review, we gather current knowledge on the potential agronomic, environmental, and socio-economic benefits and drawbacks of implementing CA principles and present the current agro-environmental policy frameworks. Research needs are identified, and more stringent policy measures are urgently encouraged to achieve climate change mitigation targets.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/7/1/17reduced tillagepermanent soil covercrop diversificationsoil and water conservationecosystem servicescarbon sequestration |
| spellingShingle | Rosa Francaviglia María Almagro José Luis Vicente-Vicente Conservation Agriculture and Soil Organic Carbon: Principles, Processes, Practices and Policy Options Soil Systems reduced tillage permanent soil cover crop diversification soil and water conservation ecosystem services carbon sequestration |
| title | Conservation Agriculture and Soil Organic Carbon: Principles, Processes, Practices and Policy Options |
| title_full | Conservation Agriculture and Soil Organic Carbon: Principles, Processes, Practices and Policy Options |
| title_fullStr | Conservation Agriculture and Soil Organic Carbon: Principles, Processes, Practices and Policy Options |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conservation Agriculture and Soil Organic Carbon: Principles, Processes, Practices and Policy Options |
| title_short | Conservation Agriculture and Soil Organic Carbon: Principles, Processes, Practices and Policy Options |
| title_sort | conservation agriculture and soil organic carbon principles processes practices and policy options |
| topic | reduced tillage permanent soil cover crop diversification soil and water conservation ecosystem services carbon sequestration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/7/1/17 |
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