*Global CA-CoP* *CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE* *for sustainable agriculture, land use and ecosystem management* Dear Subscribers, Please see herebelow the June 2021 Cornell Conservation Agriculture Newsletter. Thank you Professor 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: Mon, 31 May 2021 at 19:07 Subject: June 2021 Cornell CA newsletter To: Amir Kassam <[log in to unmask]> Dear Amir: Here is our June 2021 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. 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. Many thanks for helping to distribute this. Peter [image: Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - June 2021] <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag> Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - June 2021 <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> The crucial role of mulch to enhance the stability and resilience of cropping systems in southern Africa. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082555/2021/05/29/the-crucial-role-of-mulch-to-enhance-the-stability-and-resilience-of-cropping-systems-in-southern-africa> From link.springer.com <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13593-021-00687-y> - Today, 7:52 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082555/2021/05/29/the-crucial-role-of-mulch-to-enhance-the-stability-and-resilience-of-cropping-systems-in-southern-africa> Mhlanga, B., Ercoli, L., Pellegrino, E., Onofri, A., & Thierfelder, C. 2021. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 41. Article number 29. https://doi-org/10.1007/s13593-021-00687-y <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082555/2021/05/29/the-crucial-role-of-mulch-to-enhance-the-stability-and-resilience-of-cropping-systems-in-southern-africa> *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: Farmers adopting CA in Southern Africa have rarely fully implemented all its components, resulting in different combinations of no-tillage, crop rotation, and permanent soil cover being practiced, thus resulting in variable yield responses depending on climatic and soil conditions. This study used 8 locations in Southern Africa to evaluate how partial and full implementation of these components affected crop yield and yield stability compared with conventional tillage alone or combined with mulching and/or crop rotation. Across different environments, the addition of crop rotation and mulch to no-tillage increased maize grain by 6%, and the same practices added to conventional tillage led to 13% yield increase. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis allowed clarifying that mulch added to no-tillage gives stable yields on sandy soil with high rainfall. Similarly, mulch added to conventional tillage gives stable yield on sandy soil, but under low rainfall. The paper highlighted the crucial role of mulch to enhance the stability and resilience of cropping systems in southern Africa. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082555/2021/05/29/the-crucial-role-of-mulch-to-enhance-the-stability-and-resilience-of-cropping-systems-in-southern-africa> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125082555?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125082555?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125082555?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125082555> Tillage, green manure and residue management accelerate soil carbon pools and hydrolytic enzymatic activities for conservation agriculture based rice-wheat systems. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080615/2021/05/29/tillage-green-manure-and-residue-management-accelerate-soil-carbon-pools-and-hydrolytic-enzymatic-activities-for-conservation-agriculture-based-rice-wheat-systems> From www.tandfonline.com <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00103624.2020.1862147> - Today, 2:47 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080615/2021/05/29/tillage-green-manure-and-residue-management-accelerate-soil-carbon-pools-and-hydrolytic-enzymatic-activities-for-conservation-agriculture-based-rice-wheat-systems> Sharma, S., Saikia, R., Thind, H.S., Singh, Y. & Jat, M.L. 2021. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 52 (5) 470-486. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080615/2021/05/29/tillage-green-manure-and-residue-management-accelerate-soil-carbon-pools-and-hydrolytic-enzymatic-activities-for-conservation-agriculture-based-rice-wheat-systems> https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2020.1862147 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This paper studied the effects of tillage, crop residues, and green manure on soil carbon pools and hydrolytic enzyme activity in a sandy loam after five cycles of the rice-wheat system (RWS). Four main plot rice treatments included (1) puddled transplanted rice (PTR) with no wheat straw, (2) PTR with 25% wheat stubbles (12–15 cm long) retained, (3) PTR with no wheat straw plus GM, and (4) PTR with 25% wheat stubbles plus GM. Three subplots treatments in wheat were (1) conventional tillage with rice straw removed, (2) zero tillage (ZT) with rice straw removed, and (3) ZT with 100% rice straw retained as a surface mulch. The results showed that PTR with wheat stubbles retained plus GM and ZT wheat with rice straw retained (ZTWRS100) significantly increased all the carbon pools and hydrolytic enzymes except phenol oxidase and peroxidase activities. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080615/2021/05/29/tillage-green-manure-and-residue-management-accelerate-soil-carbon-pools-and-hydrolytic-enzymatic-activities-for-conservation-agriculture-based-rice-wheat-systems> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125080615?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125080615?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125080615?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125080615> Effect of conservation agriculture practices on soil quality, productivity, and profitability of peanut-based system of Saurashtra, India. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080584/2021/05/29/effect-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-on-soil-quality-productivity-and-profitability-of-peanut-based-system-of-saurashtra-india> From doi.org <https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20534> - Today, 2:28 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080584/2021/05/29/effect-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-on-soil-quality-productivity-and-profitability-of-peanut-based-system-of-saurashtra-india> Jat, R.A., Reddy, K.K., Choudhary, R.R., Rawal, S., Thumber, B., Misal, N., Zala, P.V. & Mathukia, R.K. 2021. Agronomy Journal. 113 (2). 2102-2117. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080584/2021/05/29/effect-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-on-soil-quality-productivity-and-profitability-of-peanut-based-system-of-saurashtra-india> https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20534 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This study was chosen because it had peanuts growing under CA. This study evaluated the effects of different CA practices on soil moisture, soil fertility, yield, and profitability of peanut systems. Treatments consisted of four tillage practices (conventional tillage [CT], minimum tillage [MT], zero tillage [ZT], and rotary tillage [RT]); two residue management practices (residue removal [NR] and residue retention [RR]), and two intercropping systems peanut+pigeonpea [PP] and peanut+cotton [PC]. Minimum tillage and residue management practice RR improved soil moisture content, soil porosity, soil organic C, nutrient status (mainly at 0–15 cm), and soil enzymatic activities and decreased soil temperature variation and soil penetration resistance. Among the cropping systems, PP was found more productive and profitable as compared to PC. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080584/2021/05/29/effect-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-on-soil-quality-productivity-and-profitability-of-peanut-based-system-of-saurashtra-india> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125080584?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125080584?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125080584?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125080584> How much is enough? How multi-season exposure to demonstrations affects the use of conservation farming practices in Mozambique. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125079810/2021/05/29/how-much-is-enough-how-multi-season-exposure-to-demonstrations-affects-the-use-of-conservation-farming-practices-in-mozambique> From link.springer.com <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-020-01106-0> - Today, 11:07 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125079810/2021/05/29/how-much-is-enough-how-multi-season-exposure-to-demonstrations-affects-the-use-of-conservation-farming-practices-in-mozambique> Khainga, D.N., Marenya, P.P. & da Luz Quinhentos. M. 2021. Environment, Development and Sustainability. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125079810/2021/05/29/how-much-is-enough-how-multi-season-exposure-to-demonstrations-affects-the-use-of-conservation-farming-practices-in-mozambique> https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-01106-0 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This paper looks at various methods for scaling new agricultural uses .practices and technologies and assess their effectiveness. They collected data from 875 smallholder farmers. in central Mozambique. They used a continuous treatment model within the framework of a generalized propensity score matching to empirically assess the effectiveness of community-based extension activities in fostering the adoption of a set of conservation tillage practices . The results show that controlling for socio-demographic factors such as gender of decision maker, land size and access to government services, the area under conservation tillage doubled when respondents had been exposed to targeted extension activities for at least six seasons, from a baseline exposure of two seasons. The study offers an important first step in making an empirical case for multi-year investments in extension activities. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125079810/2021/05/29/how-much-is-enough-how-multi-season-exposure-to-demonstrations-affects-the-use-of-conservation-farming-practices-in-mozambique> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125079810?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125079810?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125079810?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125079810> Modified strip tillage blades for two-wheel tractor seed drills improves maize crop establishment under conservation agriculture. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080060/2021/05/29/modified-strip-tillage-blades-for-two-wheel-tractor-seed-drills-improves-maize-crop-establishment-under-conservation-agriculture> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352728521000038?via%3Dihub&key=4ab505cbb4341ed5ed992ecb66aebda169a10cae> - Today, 10:48 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080060/2021/05/29/modified-strip-tillage-blades-for-two-wheel-tractor-seed-drills-improves-maize-crop-establishment-under-conservation-agriculture> Hoque, M.A., Gathala, M.K., Hossain, M.M., Ziauddin, A.T.M. & Krupnik, T. 2021. Development Engineering. 6. Article number 1000061. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080060/2021/05/29/modified-strip-tillage-blades-for-two-wheel-tractor-seed-drills-improves-maize-crop-establishment-under-conservation-agriculture> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.deveng.2021.100061 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This paper from Bangladesh looks at blade design and rotational speed for a two wheel tractor (2WT) to establish maize by strip-tillage. PTO's, power operated tillers, that can be attached 2WTs are becoming popular in this country. They conducted experiments for 2 years on loam and clay soils. Four blades designed with varying tip angles and five levels of rotational speed were compared with commercially available C-shaped blades sold with 2WTs. Torque and power requirements for strip tillage decreased with decreasing blade tip angle and rotational speed. The best combination of blade design and rotational speed was found with a 15° blade tip angle at 320 RPM on both soil types. Machinery operators will require educational efforts to learn how to fine-tune RPM to improve crop establishment and achieve more sustainable crop establishment systems. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080060/2021/05/29/modified-strip-tillage-blades-for-two-wheel-tractor-seed-drills-improves-maize-crop-establishment-under-conservation-agriculture> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125080060?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125080060?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125080060?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125080060> Application of residue, inorganic fertilizer and lime affect phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms and microbial biomass under different tillage and cropping systems in a Ferralsol. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125067208/2021/05/28/application-of-residue-inorganic-fertilizer-and-lime-affect-phosphorus-solubilizing-microorganisms-and-microbial-biomass-under-different-tillage-and-cropping-systems-in-a-ferralsol> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706121000367?via%3Dihub&key=6c8cc86e698bb1a1d5eca8b86154985fde058a91> - May 28, 9:52 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125067208/2021/05/28/application-of-residue-inorganic-fertilizer-and-lime-affect-phosphorus-solubilizing-microorganisms-and-microbial-biomass-under-different-tillage-and-cropping-systems-in-a-ferralsol> Bolo, P., Kihara, J., Mucheru-Muna, M., Njeru, E.M., Kinyua, M. & Sommer, R. 2021. Geoderma. 390. Article number 114962 <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125067208/2021/05/28/application-of-residue-inorganic-fertilizer-and-lime-affect-phosphorus-solubilizing-microorganisms-and-microbial-biomass-under-different-tillage-and-cropping-systems-in-a-ferralsol> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.114962 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This study looked at various treatments that affect P availability and P-solubilizing microbes (PSMs) in a 15 year long term, CA agronomic trial in Western Kenya. They selected 8 treatments for comparisons. Reduced tillage significantly (P < 0.05) increased microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) and abundance of different PSMs relative to conventional tillage, though the results were not consistent for some species. Residue addition significantly increased maize grain yield, MBP and abundance of different PSMs compared to systems without residue addition. Some PSM strains were significantly more abundant in maize and soybean intercropping systems compared to rotation, and vice versa. They conclude that not only the agronomic inputs applied but also tillage and cropping systems employed can variably affect the soil microbial populations. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125067208/2021/05/28/application-of-residue-inorganic-fertilizer-and-lime-affect-phosphorus-solubilizing-microorganisms-and-microbial-biomass-under-different-tillage-and-cropping-systems-in-a-ferralsol> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125067208?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125067208?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125067208?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125067208> Cover cropping increased phosphorus stocks in surface sandy Ultisols under long‐term conservation and conventional tillage <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125024596/2021/05/26/cover-cropping-increased-phosphorus-stocks-in-surface-sandy-ultisols-under-long-term-conservation-and-conventional-tillage> From acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com <https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/agj2.20227> - May 26, 7:55 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125024596/2021/05/26/cover-cropping-increased-phosphorus-stocks-in-surface-sandy-ultisols-under-long-term-conservation-and-conventional-tillage> Ye, R., Parajuli, B., Ducey, T.F., Novak, J.M., Bauer, P.J. & Szogi, A.A. 2020. Agronomy Journal. 112 (4) 3163-3173. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125024596/2021/05/26/cover-cropping-increased-phosphorus-stocks-in-surface-sandy-ultisols-under-long-term-conservation-and-conventional-tillage> https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20227 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This paper looked at P fractions where long term (40 year) CA and residue return and 4 year integration of cover cropping that improved soil organic matter. Conservation tillage increased KCl-extractable inorganic P (KCl-Pi) stocks in top soils (0-5 cm) when compared to conventional tillage, but had no effects on other pools at both 0-5 and 5-15 cm depths. Cover cropping caused significant accumulations of NaOH-extractable organic P (NaOH-Po) in top soils (0-5 cm). Neither conservation tillage nor cover crop changed the contributions of the chemically defined pools to soil total P. Conservation tillage improved P availability potentially through its effects on microbial activities, whereas cover cropping increased P stocks and availability by promoting Po accumulations. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125024596/2021/05/26/cover-cropping-increased-phosphorus-stocks-in-surface-sandy-ultisols-under-long-term-conservation-and-conventional-tillage> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125024596?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125024596?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125024596?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125024596> Agricultural mechanization in Africa: Myths, realities and an emerging research agenda <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125023497/2021/05/26/agricultural-mechanization-in-africa-myths-realities-and-an-emerging-research-agenda> May 26, 6:08 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125023497/2021/05/26/agricultural-mechanization-in-africa-myths-realities-and-an-emerging-research-agenda> Daum, T. & Birner, R. 2020. Global Food Security - Agriculture Policy Economics and Environment. 26. Article Number 100393 <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125023497/2021/05/26/agricultural-mechanization-in-africa-myths-realities-and-an-emerging-research-agenda> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100393 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This paper is not about CA but is interesting because the issue of mechanization in Africa contested. This paper examines nine propositions that relate to this topic. Many are not supported by evidence. This paper proposes there should be a research agenda to resolve controversies and support evidence-based policies for sustainable and inclusive agricultural mechanization. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125023497/2021/05/26/agricultural-mechanization-in-africa-myths-realities-and-an-emerging-research-agenda> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125023497?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125023497?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125023497?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125023497> Earthworm Inoculation Improves Upland Rice Crop Yield and other Agrosystem Services in Madagascar. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080868/2021/05/29/earthworm-inoculation-improves-upland-rice-crop-yield-and-other-agrosystem-services-in-madagascar> From www.mdpi.com <https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/1/60> - Today, 7:31 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080868/2021/05/29/earthworm-inoculation-improves-upland-rice-crop-yield-and-other-agrosystem-services-in-madagascar> Ratsiatosika, O., Razafindrakoto, M., Rabenarivo, M., Becquer, T., Bernard, L., Trap, J. & Blanchart, E. 2021. Agriculture (Switzerland) 11 (1) 60. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080868/2021/05/29/earthworm-inoculation-improves-upland-rice-crop-yield-and-other-agrosystem-services-in-madagascar> https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010060 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This study looked at the effects of earthworm inoculation and cropping systems on upland rice systems over a four-year period in the Highlands of Madagascar. Each year endogeic earthworms were inoculated or not inoculated on three cropping systems; CA, and traditional tillage with and without worms. Soil and plant properties were measured the first 3 years and soil biological properties the 4th year. Earthworm inoculation increased their density 3-fold. Earthworm density in the CA system was higher than either of the CT systems. Earthworm inoculation had positive effects on soil macroaggregation (+43%), aboveground biomass (+27%), rice grain yield (+45%), and N grain amount (+43%). <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125080868/2021/05/29/earthworm-inoculation-improves-upland-rice-crop-yield-and-other-agrosystem-services-in-madagascar> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125080868?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125080868?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125080868?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125080868> Productivity, soil health, and carbon management index of Indian Himalayan intensified maize-based cropping systems under live mulch based conservation tillage practices. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082293/2021/05/29/productivity-soil-health-and-carbon-management-index-of-indian-himalayan-intensified-maize-based-cropping-systems-under-live-mulch-based-conservation-tillage-practices> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378429021000265?via%3Dihub&key=b055c0cac87d4453e769221114a7f23ff3392c24> - Today, 2:38 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082293/2021/05/29/productivity-soil-health-and-carbon-management-index-of-indian-himalayan-intensified-maize-based-cropping-systems-under-live-mulch-based-conservation-tillage-practices> Yadav, G.S., Babu, S., Das, A., Datta, M., Mohapatra, K.P., Singh, R., Singh, V.K., Rathore, S.S. & Chakraborty M. 2021. Field Crops Research. 264. Article number 108080. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082293/2021/05/29/productivity-soil-health-and-carbon-management-index-of-indian-himalayan-intensified-maize-based-cropping-systems-under-live-mulch-based-conservation-tillage-practices> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2021.108080 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: The study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the inclusion of intensified leguminous live mulch systems can improve system productivity, carbon management index (CMI), and soil health in rainfed systems. Two cropping systems viz, summer maize-rainy season maize-lentil (SM-RM-L); and summer maize-rainy season maize-mustard (SM-RM-Ma) and five tillage and mulching practices 1) no-till (NT); 2) NT with live mulch (NT-LM); 3) reduced tillage (RT); 4) RT with live mulch (RT-LM); and 5) conventional tillage (CT) were tested. The study concluded a positive role of LM based conservation tillage practices in improving soil properties, carbon management indices, and productivity of maize-based cropping systems in the eastern Indian Himalayas. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082293/2021/05/29/productivity-soil-health-and-carbon-management-index-of-indian-himalayan-intensified-maize-based-cropping-systems-under-live-mulch-based-conservation-tillage-practices> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125082293?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125082293?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125082293?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125082293> Mechanical and biological chiseling impacts on soil organic C stocks, root growth, and crop yield in a long-term no-till system. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082253/2021/05/29/mechanical-and-biological-chiseling-impacts-on-soil-organic-c-stocks-root-growth-and-crop-yield-in-a-long-term-no-till-system> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198721000635?via%3Dihub&key=d10250f08673f0431439bf76a2c5dfd6e3863c98> - Today, 2:15 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082253/2021/05/29/mechanical-and-biological-chiseling-impacts-on-soil-organic-c-stocks-root-growth-and-crop-yield-in-a-long-term-no-till-system> Inagaki, T.M., Sa, J.C.deM., Tormena, C.A., Dranski, A., Muchalak, A., Briedis, C., Ferreira, A.deO., Giarola, N.F.B. & Silva, A.P. 2021. Soil and Tillage Research. 211. Article number 104993. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082253/2021/05/29/mechanical-and-biological-chiseling-impacts-on-soil-organic-c-stocks-root-growth-and-crop-yield-in-a-long-term-no-till-system> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.104993 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: Soils under NT in Brazil have been chiseled to correct compaction. This paper hypothesizes that use of crops with deep roots in the rotation could be an alternative to mechanical chiseling. The objective in this study was to evaluate changes in SOC stocks, root development, and crop yield over time caused by mechanical and biological chiseling in a long-term no-till system (18 years). The treatments were 1) No-till cover crop (NT-CC). 2) No-till Mechanical Chiseling (NT-MC) and 3) No-till Biological Chiseling (NT-BC). Compared to NT-CC, the use of NT-MC depleted the SOC stocks by -0.41 Mg ha−1 year−1 and raises concerns about this practice. NT-MC also depleted proxies for microbial- related C pools such as hot-water and permanganate extractable C. However, the results demonstrated that the use of radish as an intercrop for alleviating soil compaction was a good alternative to replace mechanical chiseling in compacted NT fields due to its superior performance in increasing SOC stocks, promoting higher root development, and crop yield. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125082253/2021/05/29/mechanical-and-biological-chiseling-impacts-on-soil-organic-c-stocks-root-growth-and-crop-yield-in-a-long-term-no-till-system> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125082253?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125082253?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125082253?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125082253> Bio-tillage: A new perspective for sustainable agriculture. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125079792/2021/05/29/bio-tillage-a-new-perspective-for-sustainable-agriculture> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198720306267?via%3Dihub&key=0d6f286914e6af5d6a63feb1ded7c8165523b4d3> - Today, 10:57 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125079792/2021/05/29/bio-tillage-a-new-perspective-for-sustainable-agriculture> Zhang, Z. & Peng, X. 2021. Soil and Tillage Research. 206. Article Number 104844. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125079792/2021/05/29/bio-tillage-a-new-perspective-for-sustainable-agriculture> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2020.104844 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This paper looks at the concept of biological tillage that they define as "improving soil structure with plant roots". They use cover crops with thick and deep roots planted timely and using a roller-crimper to eliminate them later on. An effective bio-tillage cover crop should have thick and deep roots with rapid root growth rates, rapid decomposition of remnant roots, and good adaption to climate and soil constraints. More research is needed on biotillage in a CA situation. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125079792/2021/05/29/bio-tillage-a-new-perspective-for-sustainable-agriculture> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125079792?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125079792?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125079792?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125079792> Evaluation of runoff and soil erosion under conventional tillage and no-till management: A case study in northeast Italy <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125070057/2021/05/28/evaluation-of-runoff-and-soil-erosion-under-conventional-tillage-and-no-till-management-a-case-study-in-northeast-italy> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816220305221?via%3Dihub&key=bae36c03d871271280155491e40e2e8bc7788984> - May 28, 1:51 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125070057/2021/05/28/evaluation-of-runoff-and-soil-erosion-under-conventional-tillage-and-no-till-management-a-case-study-in-northeast-italy> Carretta, L., Tarolli, P., Cardinali, A., Nasta, P., Romano, N. & Masin, R. 2021. Catena. 197. Article number 104972. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125070057/2021/05/28/evaluation-of-runoff-and-soil-erosion-under-conventional-tillage-and-no-till-management-a-case-study-in-northeast-italy> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2020.104972 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This study aimed at analyzing runoff and soil erosion in a non-tilled field in comparison with a tilled field during the transition period from CT to CA in Italy. Runoff water volume was measured at each rainfall event, and the amount of sediment was quantified by drying the runoff samples. Two indices, runoff reduction benefits (RRB) and sediment reduction benefits (SRB), were computed. NT practices resulted in reductions of over 50% in runoff volumes and 50% to 95% in sediment losses. The average sediment concentration in NT was only 47% of CT. It would have been interesting to add with and without residue to see if this made a difference. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125070057/2021/05/28/evaluation-of-runoff-and-soil-erosion-under-conventional-tillage-and-no-till-management-a-case-study-in-northeast-italy> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125070057?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125070057?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125070057?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125070057> Adoption of conservation agriculture-based tillage practices in the rice-maize systems in Bangladesh <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125065322/2021/05/28/adoption-of-conservation-agriculture-based-tillage-practices-in-the-rice-maize-systems-in-bangladesh> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/articleSelectSinglePerm?Redirect=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452292921000114?via%3Dihub&key=5e7cda91fa42f960d0b7e7c5cd8d84d3c561e2b2> - May 28, 9:37 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125065322/2021/05/28/adoption-of-conservation-agriculture-based-tillage-practices-in-the-rice-maize-systems-in-bangladesh> Akter, S., Gathala, M.K., Timsina, J., Islam, S., Rahman, M., Hassan, M.K. & Ghosh, A.K. 2021. World Development Perspectives. 21. Article Number 100292 <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125065322/2021/05/28/adoption-of-conservation-agriculture-based-tillage-practices-in-the-rice-maize-systems-in-bangladesh> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wdp.2021.100297 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This study looked at CA based tillage with zero, minimum and strip-till tillage in farmer fields for a rice-maize system in Bangladesh run for 5 years. They compared participating versus non-participating farmers conducted by household surveys for 606 farmers. During five years of the trial period, participatory and non-participatory farmers respectively adopted CA-Ts in 12% and 3% of annual cropped areas with overall adoption of 6.6%. Variations in adoption existed between locations, cropping systems, and seasons. Yields either remained unchanged or were higher in the CA-T practices compared to farmers’ practices. Access to critical inputs, knowledge dissemination, capacity building and cropping season influenced the diffusion of CA-T practices. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125065322/2021/05/28/adoption-of-conservation-agriculture-based-tillage-practices-in-the-rice-maize-systems-in-bangladesh> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125065322?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125065322?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125065322?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125065322> A Strip-Till One-Pass System as a Component of Conservation Agriculture <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125023609/2021/05/26/a-strip-till-one-pass-system-as-a-component-of-conservation-agriculture> From www.mdpi.com <https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/12/2015> - May 26, 7:44 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125023609/2021/05/26/a-strip-till-one-pass-system-as-a-component-of-conservation-agriculture> Jaskulska, I., Romaneckas, K., Jaskulski, D. & Wojewdzkio, P. 2020. Agronomy-Basel. 10 (12) 2015. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125023609/2021/05/26/a-strip-till-one-pass-system-as-a-component-of-conservation-agriculture> https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10122015 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This study evaluated a strip-till-one-pass (ST-OP) system on the management of plant residues, soil properties, inputs, and emissions of CA compared to conventional tillage (Ct) with a plough and reduced non-ploughing tillage (RT). As compared with CT, the ST-OP system increased the stability of soil aggregates of 0.25-2.0 mm diameter by 12.7%, glomalin content by 0.08 g.kg(-1), weight of earthworms five-fold, bacteria and fungi counts, and moisture content in the soil. It also decreased soil loss by 2.57-6.36 tons labour input by 114-152 min.ha, fuel consumption by 35.9-45.8 l., and CO2 emissions by 98.7-125.9 kg.per ha per year. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4125023609/2021/05/26/a-strip-till-one-pass-system-as-a-component-of-conservation-agriculture> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4125023609?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4125023609?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4125023609?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4125023609> ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the CA-Cop-L list, click the following link: &*TICKET_URL(CA-Cop-L,SIGNOFF);