*Global CA-CoP* *CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE* *for sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management* Dear Subscribers, Please see the November 15th 2020 Conservation Agriculture Scoopit Research Update from Cornell. Thank you Professor Peter Hobbs for sharing. *Amir Kassam * *Moderator* *Global CA-CoP* e-mail: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.fao.org/conservation-agriculture ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Peter Hobbs <[log in to unmask]> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2020 at 15:33 Subject: November 15th Cornell CA newsletter To: Amir Kassam <[log in to unmask]> Dear Amir: Here is our November 15th 2020 Conservation Agriculture Scoopit Research Update. You can also view online at https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?curate=true&null Can you send this out to people who get your listserv material? The hard copy is below. Many thanks for helping to distribute this. Peter An easier link to see all the research papers on CA is as follows: https://www.zotero.org/groups/348525/cornell_conservation_agriculture/collections/KGBFX8BX Also, visit our main website at http://soilhealth.org for news and other CA information. Please use this link since we had to move our web site to a new server and this links takes you to the CA web site. [image: Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - November 15, 2020] <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag> Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - November 15, 2020 <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag> by Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org) <https://www.scoop.it/u/conservation-ag> Powered by [image: Scoop.it] <https://www.scoop.it> Soil health and the revolutionary potential of Conservation Agriculture <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121759923/2020/11/13/soil-health-and-the-revolutionary-potential-of-conservation-agriculture> From doi.org <https://doi.org/%2010.1016/B978-0-12-816410-5.00011-6> - Today, 3:58 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121759923/2020/11/13/soil-health-and-the-revolutionary-potential-of-conservation-agriculture> Montgomery, D.R. 2021. In: Rethinking Food and Agriculture. Eds. Kassam, A. & Kassam, L. Woodhead Publishing. Elsevier. Cambridge, UK. Chapter 11. 219-229. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121759923/2020/11/13/soil-health-and-the-revolutionary-potential-of-conservation-agriculture> https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816410-5.00011-6 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This is a link to Chapter 11 of the book entitled "Rethinking Food and Agriculture" mentioned in the Scoopit newsletter. This renowned soil scientist looks at CA as a way to reverse soil degradation as a result of erosion, loss of soil organic matter, pH changes and disruption of soil life resulting from conventional agricultural practices including tillage. He suggests that CA can help reverse the problem of soil degradation that has plagued societies throughout history. Doing so would contribute to addressing the problems of sustainably feeding the world, increasing soil-based carbon sequestration, and reducing off-farm water pollution. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121759923/2020/11/13/soil-health-and-the-revolutionary-potential-of-conservation-agriculture> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121759923?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121759923?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121759923?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121759923> Changing agricultural stubble burning practices in the Indo-Gangetic plains: is the Happy Seeder a profitable alternative? <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758982/2020/11/13/changing-agricultural-stubble-burning-practices-in-the-indo-gangetic-plains-is-the-happy-seeder-a-profitable-alternative> From www.tandfonline.com <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14735903.2020.1834277> - Today, 3:29 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758982/2020/11/13/changing-agricultural-stubble-burning-practices-in-the-indo-gangetic-plains-is-the-happy-seeder-a-profitable-alternative> Keil, A., Krishnapriya, P.P., Mitra, A., Jat, M., Sidhu, H.S., Krishna, V.V. & Shyamsundar, P. 2020. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. 24 pages. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758982/2020/11/13/changing-agricultural-stubble-burning-practices-in-the-indo-gangetic-plains-is-the-happy-seeder-a-profitable-alternative> https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2020.1834277 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This study examines different tillage practices to provide urgently needed empirical evidence on how profitable it is for farmers to adopt no-burn technologies after rice harvest in NW India. The paper analyses the cost of rice residue management and wheat sowing under conventional-tillage and zero-tillage, and identify factors influencing the adoption of sowing wheat directly into large amounts of crop residue using the Happy Seeder (HS) (a seed drill made locally) and quantify its impact on wheat yields and –production costs. They conclude that benefits of HS use combined with its societal benefits of reducing air pollution and enhancing agricultural sustainability justify policy support for its large-scale diffusion, to be supplemented by a stricter enforcement of the ban on residue burning. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758982/2020/11/13/changing-agricultural-stubble-burning-practices-in-the-indo-gangetic-plains-is-the-happy-seeder-a-profitable-alternative> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121758982?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121758982?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121758982?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121758982> Adoption by adaptation: moving from Conservation Agriculture to conservation practices <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121760025/2020/11/13/adoption-by-adaptation-moving-from-conservation-agriculture-to-conservation-practices> From www.tandfonline.com <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14735903.2020.1785734> - Today, 3:05 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121760025/2020/11/13/adoption-by-adaptation-moving-from-conservation-agriculture-to-conservation-practices> Rodenburg, J., Buchi, L. & Haggar, J. 2020. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121760025/2020/11/13/adoption-by-adaptation-moving-from-conservation-agriculture-to-conservation-practices> https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2020.1785734 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This study reviews the literature on benefits, trade-offs, adoption and adaptation of CA in sub-Saharan Africa. They suggest that while CA can improve soils and sustain crop yields, benefits are inconsistent and there are trade-offs with crop residue use, weeds and insect pests, labour demands and short-term yield penalties. They suggest CA adoption in SSA could be improved by focusing the promotion of CA to environments where it best fits, or by facilitating smallholders’ adaptation of the practices of CA to respond to their conditions and constraints. They propose to move from Conservation Agriculture to Conservation Practices by: (A) identifying and overcoming locally important CA trade-offs through adaptations and complementary practices, and (B) finding farm-specific optimal combinations of practices in terms of feasibility and benefits. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121760025/2020/11/13/adoption-by-adaptation-moving-from-conservation-agriculture-to-conservation-practices> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121760025?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121760025?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121760025?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121760025> Innovative Pro-Smallholder Farmers’ Permanent Mulch for Better Soil Quality and Food Security Under Conservation Agriculture <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758881/2020/11/13/innovative-pro-smallholder-farmers-permanent-mulch-for-better-soil-quality-and-food-security-under-conservation-agriculture> From www.mdpi.com <https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/4/605> - Today, 2:44 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758881/2020/11/13/innovative-pro-smallholder-farmers-permanent-mulch-for-better-soil-quality-and-food-security-under-conservation-agriculture> Mglolzeli, S., Nciizah, A.D., Wakindiki, I.I.C. & Mudau, F.N. 2020. Agronomy. 10 (4) article number 605. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758881/2020/11/13/innovative-pro-smallholder-farmers-permanent-mulch-for-better-soil-quality-and-food-security-under-conservation-agriculture> https://doi.org/10.3390/AGRONOMY10040605 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This study looks at the feasibility of using "Agrimats" - mulching materials that are manufactured using cheap or freely available organic waste materials including forestry waste and grasses that allow a permanent soil cover. This study aims to advocate permanent soil cover using agrimat as an innovative pro-smallholder farmer technology to improve soil quality for better food security. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758881/2020/11/13/innovative-pro-smallholder-farmers-permanent-mulch-for-better-soil-quality-and-food-security-under-conservation-agriculture> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121758881?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121758881?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121758881?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121758881> Identifying the drivers and predicting the outcome of conservation agriculture globally <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121757930/2020/11/13/identifying-the-drivers-and-predicting-the-outcome-of-conservation-agriculture-globally> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X18312186?via%3Dihub&key=cbdf5833012146619046d10cf03c2ea375c73025> - Today, 2:22 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121757930/2020/11/13/identifying-the-drivers-and-predicting-the-outcome-of-conservation-agriculture-globally> Laborde, J.P., Wortmann, C.S., Blanco-Canqui, H., Baigorria, G.A. & Lindquist, J.L. 2020. Agricultural Systems. 177. Article number 102692. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121757930/2020/11/13/identifying-the-drivers-and-predicting-the-outcome-of-conservation-agriculture-globally> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2019.102692 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This analysis applied machine-learning techniques to a wealth of published data to create a predictive model of the agronomic outcome of CA relative to conventional practice (CP) based on 21 variables. Results showed that over-yielding of CA relative to CP was driven by a complex of climate, soil, geographic and management variables, and cannot be predicted accurately from precipitation amount or aridity index alone. Success of CA greatly increases with mean air temperature from 20°C and with duration of CA for up to 13years. They suggest that predictive models can be used as an important tool by policy-makers and funding organizations to target financial resources to those regions where CA adoption will have the greatest impact on productivity. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121757930/2020/11/13/identifying-the-drivers-and-predicting-the-outcome-of-conservation-agriculture-globally> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121757930?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121757930?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121757930?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121757930> Eliciting experts’ tacit models for the interpretation of soil information, an example from the evaluation of potential benefits from conservation agriculture. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725989/2020/11/11/eliciting-experts-tacit-models-for-the-interpretation-of-soil-information-an-example-from-the-evaluation-of-potential-benefits-from-conservation-agriculture> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001670611933006X?via%3Dihub&key=7c376127be7ea72213db6a62780f94f06571c825> - November 11, 3:41 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725989/2020/11/11/eliciting-experts-tacit-models-for-the-interpretation-of-soil-information-an-example-from-the-evaluation-of-potential-benefits-from-conservation-agriculture> Chabala, L.M., Chimungu, J.G., Lark, R.M., Mtambanengwe, F., Nalivata, P.C., Phiri, E. & Sakala, G.M. 2020. Geoderma. 376. Article number 114545 <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725989/2020/11/11/eliciting-experts-tacit-models-for-the-interpretation-of-soil-information-an-example-from-the-evaluation-of-potential-benefits-from-conservation-agriculture> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114545 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: Mixed groups of scientists including soil scientists, agronomists, agricultural economists and other environmental scientists, facilitated by experienced senior researchers, were presented with multiple subsets each of three states, and asked to rank the states in each subset with respect to expected yield improvement under CA in South Africa. The results revealed two contrasting groups of conceptual assumptions. One group broadly expected larger absolute yield improvements from conservation agriculture in settings where water is most likely to be limiting and the carbon status of the soil is poor. By contrast, the other group expected larger improvements where water was less likely to be limiting. Modelling the ranking process, could be of more general interest for the elicitation of expert opinion about complex soil, crop and environmental systems. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725989/2020/11/11/eliciting-experts-tacit-models-for-the-interpretation-of-soil-information-an-example-from-the-evaluation-of-potential-benefits-from-conservation-agriculture> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121725989?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121725989?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121725989?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121725989> Similar specific mineralization rates of organic carbon and nitrogen in incubated soils under contrasted arable cropping systems <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725925/2020/11/11/similar-specific-mineralization-rates-of-organic-carbon-and-nitrogen-in-incubated-soils-under-contrasted-arable-cropping-systems> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198720304943?via%3Dihub&key=10983c24ce32a1dd3984e73c21df1a920bfc6723> - November 11, 2:52 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725925/2020/11/11/similar-specific-mineralization-rates-of-organic-carbon-and-nitrogen-in-incubated-soils-under-contrasted-arable-cropping-systems> Autret, B., Guillier, H., Pouteau, V., Mary, B. & Chenu, C. 2020. Soil and Tillage Research. 204. Article number 104712. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725925/2020/11/11/similar-specific-mineralization-rates-of-organic-carbon-and-nitrogen-in-incubated-soils-under-contrasted-arable-cropping-systems> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2020.104712 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This study compared SOC and SON mineralization rates in the long-term experiment of La Cage (France) under conventional (CON), low input (LI), conservation agriculture (CA) or organic (ORG) management. Disturbed soil samples from the 0−27 cm soil layer of all treatments were laboratory incubated for four months, while undisturbed CON and CA soil cores were incubated to account for tillage effects. They conclude that the increased SOC stocks observed in CA and ORG treatments suggest that increased biomass returns to soil or changes in microbial physiology may be the main drivers of SOC storage. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725925/2020/11/11/similar-specific-mineralization-rates-of-organic-carbon-and-nitrogen-in-incubated-soils-under-contrasted-arable-cropping-systems> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121725925?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121725925?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121725925?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121725925> Social inclusion increases with time for zero-tillage wheat in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725896/2020/11/11/social-inclusion-increases-with-time-for-zero-tillage-wheat-in-the-eastern-indo-gangetic-plains> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X19301585?via%3Dihub&key=5ac3c50d8d44c1d1c51aafba72daa72f1095efc0> - November 11, 2:30 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725896/2020/11/11/social-inclusion-increases-with-time-for-zero-tillage-wheat-in-the-eastern-indo-gangetic-plains> Keil, A., Mitra, A., Srivastava, A.K. & McDonald, A. 2019. World Development. 123. Article number 104582. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725896/2020/11/11/social-inclusion-increases-with-time-for-zero-tillage-wheat-in-the-eastern-indo-gangetic-plains> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.06.006 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This study explores the social inclusiveness of zero-tillage (ZT) wheat adoption in Bihar, India. ZT is a proven technology for enhancing wheat productivity while boosting profitability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the densely populated Indo-Gangetic Plains. With an average landholding size of 0.39 ha, most farmers in Bihar depend on custom-hiring services to access the technology. They use a panel dataset from 961 wheat-growing households that spans a six-year period to analyze ZT adoption dynamics over time while accounting for the role of social networks and access to service provision. They find that as awareness of the technology increased the service economy expanded. Land fragmentation replaced total landholding size as a significant adoption determinant, which also affected the quality of ZT services received. Hence, farmers with small but contiguous landholdings appear to have gained a significant degree of access over time. We conclude that early-stage assessments may be misleading, and that private sector-based service provision can contribute to socially inclusive development outcomes as markets mature. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121725896/2020/11/11/social-inclusion-increases-with-time-for-zero-tillage-wheat-in-the-eastern-indo-gangetic-plains> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121725896?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121725896?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121725896?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121725896> Rethinking Food and Agriculture - 1st Edition <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121759000/2020/11/13/rethinking-food-and-agriculture-1st-edition> From www.elsevier.com <https://www.elsevier.com/books/rethinking-food-and-agriculture/kassam/978-0-12-816410-5> - Today, 3:43 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121759000/2020/11/13/rethinking-food-and-agriculture-1st-edition> Kassam, A. & Kassam, L. (Eds.) 2020. Rethinking Food and Agriculture: New Ways Forward. Available at: <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121759000/2020/11/13/rethinking-food-and-agriculture-1st-edition> https://inclusiveresponsibility.earth/ *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This new book invites authors to write chapters with wide views on how agriculture should move forward in the future. By doing so it uncovers some of the key historical, ethical, economic, social, cultural, political, and structural drivers and root causes of unsustainability, degradation of the agricultural environment, destruction of nature, short-comings in science and knowledge systems, inequality, hunger and food insecurity, and disharmony. It reviews efforts towards ‘sustainable development’, and reassesses whether these efforts have been implemented with adequate responsibility, acceptable societal and environmental costs and optimal engagement to secure sustainability, equity and justice. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121759000/2020/11/13/rethinking-food-and-agriculture-1st-edition> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121759000?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121759000?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121759000?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121759000> Participatory multicriteria assessment of maize cropping systems in the context of family farmers in the Brazilian Cerrado <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758949/2020/11/13/participatory-multicriteria-assessment-of-maize-cropping-systems-in-the-context-of-family-farmers-in-the-brazilian-cerrado> From www.tandfonline.com <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14735903.2020.1788253> - Today, 3:16 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758949/2020/11/13/participatory-multicriteria-assessment-of-maize-cropping-systems-in-the-context-of-family-farmers-in-the-brazilian-cerrado> Xavier, J.H.V., Gomes, M.C., Anjos, F.S.D., Scopel, E., Silva, F.A.M.D. & Corbeels, M. 2020. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. 18 (5) 410-426. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758949/2020/11/13/participatory-multicriteria-assessment-of-maize-cropping-systems-in-the-context-of-family-farmers-in-the-brazilian-cerrado> https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2020.1788253 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: The objective of this study was to evaluate CA cropping systems for rainfed maize as an alternative to the traditional tillage-based cropping systems (CT) in the context of family farms, using a multi-criteria model that represents the point of view of farmers in Brazil. Farmers considered several aspects for evaluating the cropping systems, using five criteria (with sub-criteria): (a) costs; (b) yield; (c) labour; (d) human health and environment; and (e) production risks. Considering all criteria, CA was better appraised than CT. However, a new local policy measure that subsidizes the hiring of mechanized tillage services overturns this outcome, indicating the importance of exogenous factors. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758949/2020/11/13/participatory-multicriteria-assessment-of-maize-cropping-systems-in-the-context-of-family-farmers-in-the-brazilian-cerrado> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121758949?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121758949?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121758949?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121758949> Effects of conservation agriculture practices on soil quality indicators: a case-study in a wheat-based cropping systems of Mediterranean areas. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758907/2020/11/13/effects-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-on-soil-quality-indicators-a-case-study-in-a-wheat-based-cropping-systems-of-mediterranean-areas> From doi.org <https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2020.1779571> - Today, 2:55 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758907/2020/11/13/effects-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-on-soil-quality-indicators-a-case-study-in-a-wheat-based-cropping-systems-of-mediterranean-areas> Stagnari, F., Pagnani, G., Galieni, A., D'Egidio, S., Matteucci, F. & Pisante, M. 2020. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758907/2020/11/13/effects-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-on-soil-quality-indicators-a-case-study-in-a-wheat-based-cropping-systems-of-mediterranean-areas> https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2020.1779571 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This study, reported the results obtained during a 2-year field experiment of a 7-year experiment started in 2010–2011, combining two tillage practices (Conventional Tillage (CT) and Zero Tillage (ZT)) with two crop sequences (Wheat monocropping (WW) and Wheat-Faba bean (WF)) in Italy. Soil Quality (SQ) was monitored through the selection of some chemical, physical, and biological indicators measured by both visual–Visual Soil Assessment (VSA)–and standard field or laboratory measurements. They conclude that under dry Mediterranean areas, ZT practices, especially when combined with the other conservation principles (i.e., crop rotation), ameliorate several SQ indicators already even after a 7-year period of adoption, allowing a positive trend for soil preservation. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758907/2020/11/13/effects-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-on-soil-quality-indicators-a-case-study-in-a-wheat-based-cropping-systems-of-mediterranean-areas> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121758907?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121758907?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121758907?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121758907> Scaling agricultural mechanization services in smallholder farming systems: Case studies from sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758863/2020/11/13/scaling-agricultural-mechanization-services-in-smallholder-farming-systems-case-studies-from-sub-saharan-africa-south-asia-and-latin-america> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X18314914?via%3Dihub&key=55999ef7366fece24aa945353593d87a10dd1e52> - Today, 2:36 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758863/2020/11/13/scaling-agricultural-mechanization-services-in-smallholder-farming-systems-case-studies-from-sub-saharan-africa-south-asia-and-latin-america> Loon, J.V., Woltering, L., Krupnik, T.J., Baudron, F., Boa, M. & Govaerts, B. 2020. Agricultural Systems. 180. Article number 102792. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758863/2020/11/13/scaling-agricultural-mechanization-services-in-smallholder-farming-systems-case-studies-from-sub-saharan-africa-south-asia-and-latin-america> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.102792 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This study looks at looks at adoption of mechanization of appropriate equipment for resource poor farmers cultivating small and scattered plots using service providers. This paper uses the Scaling Scan tool to assess three project case studies designed to scale different Mechanization Service Provider Models (MSPMs) in Mexico, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh. It provides a useful framework to assess the gap between international lessons learned on scaling captured in forty tactical questions over ten “scaling ingredients” as perceived by stakeholders involved in the projects, as well as private sector actors and government employees. Their results have important implications for similar development interventions aimed at increasing smallholder access to mechanization services at scale. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121758863/2020/11/13/scaling-agricultural-mechanization-services-in-smallholder-farming-systems-case-studies-from-sub-saharan-africa-south-asia-and-latin-america> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121758863?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121758863?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121758863?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121758863> Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Establishment Techniques and Their Implications for Soil Properties, Global Warming Potential Mitigation and Crop Yields <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121757904/2020/11/13/rice-oryza-sativa-l-establishment-techniques-and-their-implications-for-soil-properties-global-warming-potential-mitigation-and-crop-yields> From www.mdpi.com <https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/6/888> - Today, 2:12 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121757904/2020/11/13/rice-oryza-sativa-l-establishment-techniques-and-their-implications-for-soil-properties-global-warming-potential-mitigation-and-crop-yields> Khairul Alam, Md., Bell, R.W., Hasanuzzaman, M., Salahin, N., Rashid, N.H., Akter, N., Akhter, S., Islam, M.S., Islam, S., Naznin, S., Anik, M.F.A., Mosiur Rahman, Md., Saif, H.B., Alam, M.J. & Khatun, F. 2020. Agronomy. 10: (6) Article number 10060888. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121757904/2020/11/13/rice-oryza-sativa-l-establishment-techniques-and-their-implications-for-soil-properties-global-warming-potential-mitigation-and-crop-yields> https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10060888 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This paper looks at ways to minimize the negative affects of continuous puddled rice transplanting by looking at alternative ways to establish rice and their effects on soil health, crop productivity, resource saving and global warming mitigation potential. Innovations in machinery especially for smallholder farms have supported the adoption of the new establishment techniques. They conclude that no single rice establishment technology is superior to others in all circumstances, rather a range of effective technologies that can be applied to different agro-climates, demography and farm typologies. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121757904/2020/11/13/rice-oryza-sativa-l-establishment-techniques-and-their-implications-for-soil-properties-global-warming-potential-mitigation-and-crop-yields> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121757904?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121757904?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121757904?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121757904> Weed control and rice yield stability studies across diverse tillage and crop establishment systems under on-farm environments <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121724977/2020/11/11/weed-control-and-rice-yield-stability-studies-across-diverse-tillage-and-crop-establishment-systems-under-on-farm-environments> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198720305110?via%3Dihub&key=e6b2cefa9e4df8335ae961bbfad1a99ef2b4457f> - November 11, 3:03 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121724977/2020/11/11/weed-control-and-rice-yield-stability-studies-across-diverse-tillage-and-crop-establishment-systems-under-on-farm-environments> Bana, R.S., Singh, D., Nain, M.S., Kumar, H., Kumar, V. & Sepat, S. 2020. Soil and Tillage Research. 204. Article number 104729. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121724977/2020/11/11/weed-control-and-rice-yield-stability-studies-across-diverse-tillage-and-crop-establishment-systems-under-on-farm-environments> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2020.104729 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This study used On-Farm adaptive trials to find out the effect of different crop establishment and weed management practices on yield stability and weed dynamics over the years in Haryana, India. Results showed that DSR with residue (DSRR) coupled with two different herbicides resulted in rice grain yield (5.38 t ha-1 and 5.33 t ha-1, respectively) statistically at par with transplanted rice (TPR)with the two herbicides. The study highlights that, under north-western Indo-Gangetic plains, if the weeds are managed properly, DSRR can be adopted without significant yield reduction during initial years and has comparable yields to TPR. DSRR also saves labor and reduces water use and improves soil fertility in the long-term. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121724977/2020/11/11/weed-control-and-rice-yield-stability-studies-across-diverse-tillage-and-crop-establishment-systems-under-on-farm-environments> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121724977?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121724977?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121724977?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121724977> High-resolution morphologic characterization of conservation agriculture <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121726708/2020/11/11/high-resolution-morphologic-characterization-of-conservation-agriculture> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816218303503?via%3Dihub&key=11fe9e14519f355096006c20c2170deb330df641> - November 11, 2:39 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121726708/2020/11/11/high-resolution-morphologic-characterization-of-conservation-agriculture> Tarolli, P., Cavalli, M. & Masin, R. 2019. Catena. 172: 846-856. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121726708/2020/11/11/high-resolution-morphologic-characterization-of-conservation-agriculture> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2018.08.026 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*s insight: This paper explores the effectiveness of high-resolution topography in characterizing no-tillage (NT) versus conventional tillage (T) surface morphology in order to better understand the hydro-geomorphic processes associated with these crop systems in a clay loam soil in Italy. Surfaces in the NT plots were rougher, had more pronounced slopes and curvatures, sediments with a widespread connection to the plot boundaries, had more irregular flow paths, and had a higher water storage potential due to surface concavities. The NT surface morphology significantly reduces surface runoff, sediment transport, and the off-site movement of agricultural chemicals. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4121726708/2020/11/11/high-resolution-morphologic-characterization-of-conservation-agriculture> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4121726708?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4121726708?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4121726708?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4121726708> ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the CA-Cop-L list, click the following link: &*TICKET_URL(CA-Cop-L,SIGNOFF);