Global CA-CoP CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

for sustainable production intensification and land management


Dear Subscribers,

Please see herebelow the latest Scoops on Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - March 2017, from Peter Hobbs at Cornell University.

Amir Kassam

Moderator

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URL:
www.fao.org/ag/ca


Inline image 1
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Peter Hobbs <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, Mar 6, 2017 at 9:31 PM
Subject: FW: Latest Scoops on Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - March 2017
To: Amir Kassam <[log in to unmask]>


Dear Amir: This is the latest, March, 2017 CA Research Updates. Can you send out to all your members of your listserve? Thanks Peter

 

You can also review on-line at http://www.scoop.it/t/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag 

 

Subject: Latest Scoops on Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - March 2017

 

onservation Agriculture Research Updates - March 2017

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This study aimed to determine if aspects of CA, namely tillage and mulching with manure and fertiliser application, improved soil mineral N release, plant N uptake and maize yields in cropping systems on poor soils in semi-arid Matobo, Zimbabwe. Tillage (animal-drawn ploughing and ripping) was the main plot treatment and residue application was the sub plot treatment with two levels (100% residues removed or retained after harvest). There were 5 fertility amendments. The CA principles of minimum soil disturbance and maintenance of a permanent mulch cover resulted in reduced soil mineral N availability for crop uptake and poor maize yields. Nutrient inputs through mineral fertilisers and manure are key to ensuring production in such infertile, sandy soils which predominate in semi-arid regions of southern Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The paper suggests that recent studies have shown that previous estimates of SOC storage under NT seem to be overestimated due to shallow sampling and improper SOC accounting. They used meta-analysis of 95 comparisons of CT and NT from 57 sites covering various cropping systems in China. The results revealed that compared to CT, adopting NT led to SOC accumulation in the upper 20 cm layer and SOC depletion in the 30–40 cm layer. Further analysis suggested that the effect of NT on SOC storage was significant with residue retained‎, double cropping systems, and in the coarse textured soils. We conclude that although NT was an effective agronomy option for soil conservation in China, the potential for mitigation climate change through increased SOC sequestration by NT should not be amplified.

 

 

 




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