Conservation agriculture is a set of agricultural practices that works to build healthy soil, manage water resources, and prevent soil erosion.
It takes a holistic approach to farming, with producers deploying a number of different agricultural practices that work together to benefit both crop productivity and the surrounding natural environment.
Primary principles of conservation agriculture include:
- Minimizing soil disturbance. This includes using no-till or minimum-till methods to plant and control weeds without plowing the soil. Keeping the soil undisturbed helps increase soil organic matter, preserves soil structure, improves water retention, and reduces soil erosion.
- Maintaining soil cover at all times. This includes planting cover crops to cover the soil between seasons, leaving leftover residues like leaves and stalks in the field after harvesting, and putting down mulch where available. Covering the soil increases soil organic matter, limits erosion and nutrient run-off, and helps the soil retain moisture, which enables farmers to be more resilient in times of drought.
- Planting a diverse range of crops. This may include using crop rotation, or planting different crops in alternating seasons, or intercropping, which involves planting multiple crops in an orderly manner in the same field during the same season. Crop diversification benefits soil fertility and soil structure and is linked to higher yields. It can also help stop the spread of pests and diseases.
In addition to these three primary practices, there are also a number of further practices that farmers can take to integrate conservation agriculture into every aspect of their operation.
These practices include:
- Applying soil nutrients conscientiously, prioritizing the use of both inorganic and organic compost and farmyard manure. Fertilizers should be applied after taking into account plant needs and soil status.
- Using precision with crop protection products, especially through Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. Insecticides and fungicides should be used judiciously only when pests appear to cause economic damage.
- Managing water resources through efficient irrigation practices, including irrigation scheduling. Drought-tolerant crop varieties should be used as much as possible.
- Integrating crops and livestock on the farm can help diversify farmers’ incomes and sources of nutrition, in addition to providing manure as natural fertilizer.
- Minimizing environmental impacts, through the proper handling and disposal of domestic and farm waste and composting it for use as organic inputs such as manure and compost.
Farmers who implement conservation agricultural practices over the long term may see numerous positive impacts, including improved soil health, healthier natural environments, lower farm costs due to reduced labor and input use, higher and sustainable crop yields – and ultimately better livelihoods.