*Global CA-CoP* *CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF* *for sustainable agriculture, land use and ecosystem management* Dear Subscribers, Please see herebelow the February 2022 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 URL: http://www.act-africa.org/ URL: https://ecaf.org/ URL: http://www.caa-ap.org/ ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Peter Hobbs <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2022 at 14:26 Subject: February 2022 CA Scoopit Research Update. To: Amir Kassam <[log in to unmask]> Dear Amir: Here is our February 2022 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 - February 2022] <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag> Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - February 2022 <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> Conservation agriculture practices drive maize yield by regulating soil nutrient availability, arbuscular mycorrhizas, and plant nutrient uptake <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129856359/2022/01/31/conservation-agriculture-practices-drive-maize-yield-by-regulating-soil-nutrient-availability-arbuscular-mycorrhizas-and-plant-nutrient-uptake> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S037842902100349X> - Today, 12:03 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129856359/2022/01/31/conservation-agriculture-practices-drive-maize-yield-by-regulating-soil-nutrient-availability-arbuscular-mycorrhizas-and-plant-nutrient-uptake> Mhlanga, B., Pellegrino, E. & Thierfelder, C. 2022. Field Crops Research. 277 108403. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129856359/2022/01/31/conservation-agriculture-practices-drive-maize-yield-by-regulating-soil-nutrient-availability-arbuscular-mycorrhizas-and-plant-nutrient-uptake> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2021.108403 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This paper used two 6-year experiments on two soils, a sandy and a clay soil to better understand the drivers of maize yields comparing CT with CA. Soil chemical parameters, total plant nutrient uptake, rate of crop residue decomposition, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization of maize roots were assessed. Soil chemical properties only differed at the sandy soil location with the mulched systems under no-tillage plus mulch (NT) resulting in increased soil organic carbon levels, total nitrogen, and soil available phosphorus as compared to conventional tillage with no mulch or rotation (CT). NT and rotation resulted in highest AM fungal root colonization rate of maize at the clay soil location. The authors recommend a more holistic approach to cropping system assessment that includes a higher number of abiotic and biotic determinants. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129856359/2022/01/31/conservation-agriculture-practices-drive-maize-yield-by-regulating-soil-nutrient-availability-arbuscular-mycorrhizas-and-plant-nutrient-uptake> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129856359?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129856359?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129856359?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129856359> Can C-budget of natural capital be restored through conservation agriculture in a tropical and subtropical environment? <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129856018/2022/01/31/can-c-budget-of-natural-capital-be-restored-through-conservation-agriculture-in-a-tropical-and-subtropical-environment> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0269749122000318> - Today, 10:46 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129856018/2022/01/31/can-c-budget-of-natural-capital-be-restored-through-conservation-agriculture-in-a-tropical-and-subtropical-environment> Sa, J.C.de Moraes, Lal, R., Briedis, C., Ferreira, A.de O., Tivet, F., Inagaki, T.M., Goncalves, D.R.P., Canalli, L.B., dos Santos, J.B. & Romaniw, J. 2022. Environmental Pollution. 298. 118817. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129856018/2022/01/31/can-c-budget-of-natural-capital-be-restored-through-conservation-agriculture-in-a-tropical-and-subtropical-environment> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118817 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: The objectives of this study were to: i) assess the C-budget of land use change for two contrasting climatic environments, ii) estimate the C turnover time of the natural capital through no-till cropping systems, and iii) determine the C pathway from soil under native vegetation to no-till cropping systems. Three types of land use were used: a) undisturbed soil under native vegetation as a check; b) degraded soil through continuous tillage; and c) soil under continuous no-till cropping system with residue mulch. They conclude that no-till cropping systems with residue mulch can help recover natural capital. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129856018/2022/01/31/can-c-budget-of-natural-capital-be-restored-through-conservation-agriculture-in-a-tropical-and-subtropical-environment> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129856018?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129856018?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129856018?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129856018> Energy budgeting and carbon footprints of three tillage systems in maize-wheat sequence of north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129852836/2022/01/31/energy-budgeting-and-carbon-footprints-of-three-tillage-systems-in-maize-wheat-sequence-of-north-western-indo-gangetic-plains> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0360544221009105> - Today, 10:07 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129852836/2022/01/31/energy-budgeting-and-carbon-footprints-of-three-tillage-systems-in-maize-wheat-sequence-of-north-western-indo-gangetic-plains> Nisar, S., Benbi, D.K. & Toor, A.S. 2021. Energy. 229. 120661. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129852836/2022/01/31/energy-budgeting-and-carbon-footprints-of-three-tillage-systems-in-maize-wheat-sequence-of-north-western-indo-gangetic-plains> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.120661 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This study looks at 3 tillage scenarios, conventional (CT), moldboard (DT) and no-tillage (NT) with and without straw mulch, on energy, yield and GHG emissions in a maize-wheat system in NW India. No-tillage with straw mulch reduced energy use compared to CT and DT. Although grain yield and net energy gain was higher under DT with mulch (DTM) than NTM, yet latter resulted in significantly higher energy productivity and energy use efficiency. Minimal GHG emissions without yield penalty was achieved by adopting NT with mulching. CT without residues was the least efficient management practice. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129852836/2022/01/31/energy-budgeting-and-carbon-footprints-of-three-tillage-systems-in-maize-wheat-sequence-of-north-western-indo-gangetic-plains> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129852836?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129852836?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129852836?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129852836> Extension services as key determining factor for adoption of minimum tillage practice in Kenya: A plot level analysis. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129822844/2022/01/29/extension-services-as-key-determining-factor-for-adoption-of-minimum-tillage-practice-in-kenya-a-plot-level-analysis> From onlinelibrary.wiley.com <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pa.2724> - January 29, 7:22 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129822844/2022/01/29/extension-services-as-key-determining-factor-for-adoption-of-minimum-tillage-practice-in-kenya-a-plot-level-analysis> Jena, P.R. 2021. Journal of Public Affairs. Article number e2774. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129822844/2022/01/29/extension-services-as-key-determining-factor-for-adoption-of-minimum-tillage-practice-in-kenya-a-plot-level-analysis> https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2724 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This paper looks at the determining factors that influence the adoption of reduced tillage by smallholder farmers in Kenya. The data comes from 300 random selected households of maize dominated farming systems. 437 plot level analysis using Probit regression estimates the decision model.Access to extension information is the key determinant. Household labor availability, land allocated for maize crop, and plot-level characteristics such as soil type, plot size, and intercropping practice followed on the plot are also found to have influenced adoption. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129822844/2022/01/29/extension-services-as-key-determining-factor-for-adoption-of-minimum-tillage-practice-in-kenya-a-plot-level-analysis> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129822844?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129822844?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129822844?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129822844> Conservation agriculture for food security and climate resilience in Nepal. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129772011/2022/01/27/conservation-agriculture-for-food-security-and-climate-resilience-in-nepal> From acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com <https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/agj2.20830> - January 27, 12:06 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129772011/2022/01/27/conservation-agriculture-for-food-security-and-climate-resilience-in-nepal> Joshi, D., Ghimire, R., Kharel, T., Mishra, U. & Clay, S.A. 2021. Agronomy Journal. 113 (6) 4484-4493. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129772011/2022/01/27/conservation-agriculture-for-food-security-and-climate-resilience-in-nepal> https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20830 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This paper reviews existing literature and provides an overview of farming practices in Nepal, highlights near-term challenges associated with climate change and food security, and discusses the role of CA as a climate-smart strategy to minimize soil degradation and improve food security. Change are needed because of changes in climate -- decreasing precipitation and increases in average temperature. Techniques reviewed include crop diversification, crop rotation, cover crops and minimum tillage, all of which can reduce soil degradation. In addition, increasing crop residue retention can result in greater C sequestration and crop yield and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129772011/2022/01/27/conservation-agriculture-for-food-security-and-climate-resilience-in-nepal> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129772011?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129772011?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129772011?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129772011> Soil organic carbon accumulation and carbon dioxide emissions during a 6-year study in irrigated continuous maize under two tillage systems in semiarid Mediterranean conditions <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769904/2022/01/27/soil-organic-carbon-accumulation-and-carbon-dioxide-emissions-during-a-6-year-study-in-irrigated-continuous-maize-under-two-tillage-systems-in-semiarid-mediterranean-conditions> From doi.org <https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2021191-16260> - January 27, 11:43 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769904/2022/01/27/soil-organic-carbon-accumulation-and-carbon-dioxide-emissions-during-a-6-year-study-in-irrigated-continuous-maize-under-two-tillage-systems-in-semiarid-mediterranean-conditions> Dachraoui, M. & Sombrero, A. 2021. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research. 19 (1) e1102 14 pages. Open Access <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769904/2022/01/27/soil-organic-carbon-accumulation-and-carbon-dioxide-emissions-during-a-6-year-study-in-irrigated-continuous-maize-under-two-tillage-systems-in-semiarid-mediterranean-conditions> https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2021191-16260 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This article published in Spain looks at CT vs NT systems on SOC, CO2 emissions and their relation to soil temperature and yield of maize from 2011-2017. The SOC stock of the top 30 cm soil layers was 13% greater under NT than CT. Short-term CO2 emissions were significantly higher under CT immediately after tillage while under the NT system, soil CO2 fluxes were low and stable during this study period. They conclude that NT systems increase SOC accumulation in the topsoil layer, reduce CO2 emissions without decreasing maize grain yield and minimize the impact on climate change compared to the CT system. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769904/2022/01/27/soil-organic-carbon-accumulation-and-carbon-dioxide-emissions-during-a-6-year-study-in-irrigated-continuous-maize-under-two-tillage-systems-in-semiarid-mediterranean-conditions> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129769904?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129769904?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129769904?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129769904> Significant soil degradation is associated with intensive vegetable cropping in a subtropical area: a case study in southwestern China <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769795/2022/01/27/significant-soil-degradation-is-associated-with-intensive-vegetable-cropping-in-a-subtropical-area-a-case-study-in-southwestern-china> From soil.copernicus.org <https://soil.copernicus.org/articles/7/333/2021/> - January 27, 11:19 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769795/2022/01/27/significant-soil-degradation-is-associated-with-intensive-vegetable-cropping-in-a-subtropical-area-a-case-study-in-southwestern-china> Lu, M., Powlson, D.S., Liang, Y., Chadwick, D.R., Long, S., Liu, D. & Chen, X. 2021. Soil. 7 (2) 333-346. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769795/2022/01/27/significant-soil-degradation-is-associated-with-intensive-vegetable-cropping-in-a-subtropical-area-a-case-study-in-southwestern-china> https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-333-2021 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This paper looks at the conversion of land use for paddy rice to oilseed rape to vegetables on land degradation in China based on soil chemical properties measure by soil analysis and farmer interviews. In the vegetable cropping system, fertilizer application often exceeds the crop demand or levels recommended that lowers crop use efficiency for nutrients. In the vegetable cropping system studied, SOC, C stock, TN, and N stock were decreased significantly due to low organic inputs from crop residues and high tillage frequency. They conclude that use of CA practices and integrated soil-crop management help recover degraded soils and improve vegetable productivity. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769795/2022/01/27/significant-soil-degradation-is-associated-with-intensive-vegetable-cropping-in-a-subtropical-area-a-case-study-in-southwestern-china> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129769795?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129769795?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129769795?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129769795> Strip Tillage and Crop Residue Retention Decrease the Size but Increase the Diversity of the Weed Seed Bank under Intensive Rice-Based Crop Rotations in Bangladesh <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129736793/2022/01/26/strip-tillage-and-crop-residue-retention-decrease-the-size-but-increase-the-diversity-of-the-weed-seed-bank-under-intensive-rice-based-crop-rotations-in-bangladesh> From www.mdpi.com <https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/6/1164> - January 26, 2:46 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129736793/2022/01/26/strip-tillage-and-crop-residue-retention-decrease-the-size-but-increase-the-diversity-of-the-weed-seed-bank-under-intensive-rice-based-crop-rotations-in-bangladesh> Hossain, Md.M., Begum, M., Hashem, A., Rahman, Md.M., Ahmed, S., Hassan, M.M., Javed, T., Shabbir, R., Hadifa, A., Sabagh, A.E.L & Bell, R.W. 2021. Agronomy-Basel. 11 (6) 1164. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129736793/2022/01/26/strip-tillage-and-crop-residue-retention-decrease-the-size-but-increase-the-diversity-of-the-weed-seed-bank-under-intensive-rice-based-crop-rotations-in-bangladesh> https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061164 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This article looks at the issue of weeds and the weed seed bank when converting from CT to CA in Bangladesh intensive rice-based systems. Two rotations were studied: wheat-mungbean-winter rice and monsoon rice-mustard-winter rice. Strip tillage plus residues was compared with CT and no residues. The weed seed bank was determined at several depths. After 2 years, ST+residue had a lower emerged weed count from the weed seed bank. Overall, ST plus 50% residue had a more diverse seed bank than CT without mulch. The majority of weed seeds were amassed in the 0-5 cm soil depth of the ST, while most of them were accumulated in the 10-15 cm layer of the CT. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129736793/2022/01/26/strip-tillage-and-crop-residue-retention-decrease-the-size-but-increase-the-diversity-of-the-weed-seed-bank-under-intensive-rice-based-crop-rotations-in-bangladesh> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129736793?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129736793?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129736793?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129736793> Driving crop yield, soil organic C pools, and soil biodiversity with selected winter cover crops under no-till <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129853940/2022/01/31/driving-crop-yield-soil-organic-c-pools-and-soil-biodiversity-with-selected-winter-cover-crops-under-no-till> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0167198721003561> - Today, 10:57 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129853940/2022/01/31/driving-crop-yield-soil-organic-c-pools-and-soil-biodiversity-with-selected-winter-cover-crops-under-no-till> Fiorini, A., Remelli, S., Boselli, R., Mantovi, P., Ardenti, F., Trevisan, M., Menta, C. & Tabaglio, V. 2022. Soil and Tillage Research. 217. 105283. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129853940/2022/01/31/driving-crop-yield-soil-organic-c-pools-and-soil-biodiversity-with-selected-winter-cover-crops-under-no-till> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105283 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This 3-year field study in Italy examined how selected cover crops affect yield performance in a maize - soybean under NT, and assessed the effects of CCs on inputs to the soil carbon and nitrogen, soil organic C (SOC) and pools, as well as microarthropods and earthworms abundance and diversity. Grain yield during the initial 2-yr period was on average reduced with CCs by 1–23% in maize, and 1–33% in soybean. This effect was less evident with CC residues having low C:N ratio. Thereafter, CCs had no effect on maize yield in the third year. Soil organic C and pools over a 3-yr application were limited to the topmost 5 cm of soil, and the biomass input with CC residue and its C:N ratio are crucial for boosting soil C cycling. Results on soil fauna showed that different groups or species need different time for showing effects but many became effective after 3-years. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129853940/2022/01/31/driving-crop-yield-soil-organic-c-pools-and-soil-biodiversity-with-selected-winter-cover-crops-under-no-till> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129853940?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129853940?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129853940?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129853940> Sparing or sharing land? Views from agricultural scientists <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129854610/2022/01/31/sparing-or-sharing-land-views-from-agricultural-scientists> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0006320721002196> - Today, 10:34 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129854610/2022/01/31/sparing-or-sharing-land-views-from-agricultural-scientists> Baudron, F., Govaerts, B., Verhultz, N., McDonald, A. Gerard, B. 2021. Biological Conservation. 259. 109167. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129854610/2022/01/31/sparing-or-sharing-land-views-from-agricultural-scientists> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109167 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This discussion paper looks at the issue of land intensification or extensification through land sparing or or land sharing on biodiversity. The latter model and the issue of biodiversity is mainly driven by conservation ecologists, but this paper presents other issues overlooked by this simple either/or model from an agricultural scientist viewpoint who have practical experience of farming in many global farming systems. The authors raise two major limitations of this model above. that there are synergies between agriculture and biodiversity that are often overlooked; and metrics that may be more important to farmers that are strongly associated with positive biodiversity outcomes. They conclude that what is needed is working together to identify viable solutions that increase yields and help with biodiversity conservation. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129854610/2022/01/31/sparing-or-sharing-land-views-from-agricultural-scientists> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129854610?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129854610?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129854610?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129854610> Crop performance and nitrogen use-efficiency in maize under conservation agriculture coupled with sub-surface drip fertigation <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129828807/2022/01/30/crop-performance-and-nitrogen-use-efficiency-in-maize-under-conservation-agriculture-coupled-with-sub-surface-drip-fertigation> January 30, 12:21 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129828807/2022/01/30/crop-performance-and-nitrogen-use-efficiency-in-maize-under-conservation-agriculture-coupled-with-sub-surface-drip-fertigation> Patra, K., Parihar, C.M., Nayak, H.S., Rana, B., Singh, V.K., Krishnan, P., Pandey, R., Mandal, B.N., Rathi, N., Meena, B.R., Singh, L.K., Singh, H.S. & Jat, M.L. 2021. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129828807/2022/01/30/crop-performance-and-nitrogen-use-efficiency-in-maize-under-conservation-agriculture-coupled-with-sub-surface-drip-fertigation> http://epubs.icar.org.in/ejournal/index.php/IJAgS/article/view/112544 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This was a field experiment under CA in a maize-wheat system in the Indian Punjab that also looked at sub-surface drip irrigation and nitrogen doses. There were a number of treatments with residue retained or removed, N0, N120 and N 150, permanent beds (PB) with furrow irrigation and sub-surface drip irrigation, and conventional tillage. They conclude that maize yields were higher under CA+ plots as compared to CA alone (PBWR-Furrow-N120) and CT (CTWOR-Furrow-N120). The grain N content remained statistically similar across all the N management plots, but in case of total N uptake, PB with surface drip + N150 plots dominated due to higher biomass. It also recorded the highest maize yields. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129828807/2022/01/30/crop-performance-and-nitrogen-use-efficiency-in-maize-under-conservation-agriculture-coupled-with-sub-surface-drip-fertigation> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129828807?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129828807?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129828807?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129828807> Application of innovation platforms to catalyse adoption of conservation agriculture practices in South Asia. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129821846/2022/01/29/application-of-innovation-platforms-to-catalyse-adoption-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-in-south-asia> From www.tandfonline.com <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14735903.2021.1945853> - January 29, 4:19 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129821846/2022/01/29/application-of-innovation-platforms-to-catalyse-adoption-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-in-south-asia> Brown, P.R., Anwar, M., Hossain, Md.S., Islam, R., Siddique, Md.N., Rashid, Md.M., Datt, R., Kumar, R., Kumar, S., Pradhan, K., Das, K.K., Dhar, T., Bhattacharya, P.M., Sapkota, B., Thapa Magar, D.B., Adhikari, S.P., Rola-Rubzen, M.F., Murray-Prior, R., Cummins, J., Maharjan, S., Gathala, M.K., Brown, B. & Tiwari, T.P. 2021. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. On-line. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129821846/2022/01/29/application-of-innovation-platforms-to-catalyse-adoption-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-in-south-asia> https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2021.1945853 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: The report examines the utility of innovation platforms to improve the adoption of CA practices in South Asia and generate opportunities for rural micro-entrepreneurship in areas with high rates of poverty, small farm sizes and complex labour markets. The identified 37 villages in Nepal, Bangladesh and Eastern India with smallholder farmers and input and output suppliers. IPs were effective in developing trust in communities, among stakeholders, empowering rural youth and women through direct engagement. Ensuring strong ownership was key. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129821846/2022/01/29/application-of-innovation-platforms-to-catalyse-adoption-of-conservation-agriculture-practices-in-south-asia> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129821846?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129821846?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129821846?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129821846> Soil aggregation, glomalin and enzyme activities under conservation tilled rice-wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129771331/2022/01/27/soil-aggregation-glomalin-and-enzyme-activities-under-conservation-tilled-rice-wheat-system-in-the-indo-gangetic-plains> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0167198721003457> - January 27, 11:58 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129771331/2022/01/27/soil-aggregation-glomalin-and-enzyme-activities-under-conservation-tilled-rice-wheat-system-in-the-indo-gangetic-plains> Singh, G., Bhattacharyya, R., Dhaked, B.S. & Das, T.K. 2022. Soil and Tillage Research. 217. Article number 105272. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129771331/2022/01/27/soil-aggregation-glomalin-and-enzyme-activities-under-conservation-tilled-rice-wheat-system-in-the-indo-gangetic-plains> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105272 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: In the IGP rice-wheat system farmers are adopting NT wheat but there is limited data on the effect of CA on soil aggregation and enzyme activity. This paper investigated the effects of direct seeded rice (DSR)-NTW, DSR-NTW with brown manuring (BM) or mungbean (Vigna radiata) residue retention (MBR) with rice residue retention (RR) on soil aggregation, glomalin content and soil enzymatic activities after four years under an irrigated rice–wheat system. DSR + MBR-ZTW + RR-ZTMB treatment resulted in an improved soil microbial environment after four years of rice–wheat cropping in the IGP. The enhanced soil properties were mainly due to residue retention of crop residues, zero tillage (NT) in two crops (in the first three years) and triple ZT (in the fourth year), and growing of a legume crop in the conventional rice-wheat system in the IGP. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129771331/2022/01/27/soil-aggregation-glomalin-and-enzyme-activities-under-conservation-tilled-rice-wheat-system-in-the-indo-gangetic-plains> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129771331?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129771331?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129771331?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129771331> Conservation tillage regulates the assembly, network structure and ecological function of the soil bacterial community in black soils <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769846/2022/01/27/conservation-tillage-regulates-the-assembly-network-structure-and-ecological-function-of-the-soil-bacterial-community-in-black-soils> From link.springer.com <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11104-021-05219-x> - January 27, 11:30 AM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769846/2022/01/27/conservation-tillage-regulates-the-assembly-network-structure-and-ecological-function-of-the-soil-bacterial-community-in-black-soils> Liu, Z., Gu, H., Liang, A., Li, L., Yao, Q., Xu, Y., Liu, J., Jin, J., Liu, X. & Wang, G. 2022. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769846/2022/01/27/conservation-tillage-regulates-the-assembly-network-structure-and-ecological-function-of-the-soil-bacterial-community-in-black-soils> https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05219-x *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This article looks at the influence of different tillage practices on soil microbial communities. They investigated the bacterial community structures and assembly in bulk and rhizosphere soils of soybeans grown under traditional tillage (moldboard plow, MP) and two conservation tillage practices, namely, no-tillage (NT) and ridge tillage (RT). The latter two reduced tillage systems increased the relative abundances of nitrifying bacteria and the nitrogen-fixing bacteria of but decreased the abundance of carbon-degrading bacteria. NT and RT resulted in a more stable bacterial network structure and a lower homogenizing dispersal value. They conclude that conservation tillage practices might help soil carbon sequestration, while stimulating nitrogen fixation and nitrification. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129769846/2022/01/27/conservation-tillage-regulates-the-assembly-network-structure-and-ecological-function-of-the-soil-bacterial-community-in-black-soils> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129769846?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129769846?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129769846?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129769846> Microbial biomass carbon and enzyme activities as influenced by tillage, crop rotation and residue management in a sweet sorghum cropping system in marginal soils of South Africa <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129736894/2022/01/26/microbial-biomass-carbon-and-enzyme-activities-as-influenced-by-tillage-crop-rotation-and-residue-management-in-a-sweet-sorghum-cropping-system-in-marginal-soils-of-south-africa> From linkinghub.elsevier.com <https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2405844020323562> - January 26, 3:40 PM <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129736894/2022/01/26/microbial-biomass-carbon-and-enzyme-activities-as-influenced-by-tillage-crop-rotation-and-residue-management-in-a-sweet-sorghum-cropping-system-in-marginal-soils-of-south-africa> Malobane, M.E., Nciizah, A.D., Nyambo, P., Mudau, F.N. & Wakindiki, I.I.C. Heliyon. 6 (11) e05513. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129736894/2022/01/26/microbial-biomass-carbon-and-enzyme-activities-as-influenced-by-tillage-crop-rotation-and-residue-management-in-a-sweet-sorghum-cropping-system-in-marginal-soils-of-south-africa> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05513 *Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)*'s insight: This paper looks at sustainable and appropriate practices for sweet sorghum smallholder farmers in South Africa and their affect on microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and enzymes. They compare CT with NT, various rotations and residue management. Tillage x rotation x residue interactions influenced MBC. They conclude that Soil biological indicators were higher under NT and 30% residue retention respectively. NT + sorghum-vetch-sorghum rotation +30% residue was a better treatment combination to enhance soil quality under bioenergy sweet sorghum in South African marginal soils. <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag/p/4129736894/2022/01/26/microbial-biomass-carbon-and-enzyme-activities-as-influenced-by-tillage-crop-rotation-and-residue-management-in-a-sweet-sorghum-cropping-system-in-marginal-soils-of-south-africa> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/twitter/4129736894?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/facebook/4129736894?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/share/post/linkedin/4129736894?forceAnonymous=1> <https://www.scoop.it/topic/conservation-agriculture-by-conservation-ag?rescoopPostId=4129736894> ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the CA-Cop-L list, click the following link: &*TICKET_URL(CA-Cop-L,SIGNOFF);