BASH, G.

DERPSCH, R.

FREITAS, P. L. de

FRIEDRICH, T.

GIUPPONI, L.

GONZÁLEZ SANCHEZ, E. J.

KASSAN, A.

LANDERS, J. N.

RASS, G.

TABAGLIO, V.

Repository Open Access to Scientific Information from Embrapa

Geophysical Research AbstractsVol. 15, EGU2013-11756-4, 2013EGU General Assembly 2013© Author(s) 2013. CC Attribution 3.0 License.Effects of Zero Tillage (No-Till) Conservation Agriculture on soil physicaland biological properties and their contributions to sustainabilityJohn N. Landers (1), Gerard Rass (2), Pedro L. de Freitas (3), Gottlieb Basch (4), Emilio J. González Sanchez (5),Vincenzo Tabaglio (6), Amir Kassan (7), Rolf Derpsch (8), Theodor Friedrich (9), and Luca Giupponi (6)(1) Zero Tillage Consultant, O.B.E., Hon. Director Zero Tillage Farm Association, Brasilia, DF, Brazil, (2) APAD, FrenchNo-Till Farmers Association & IAD, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, (3) Tropical Soil Management Specialist, Embrapa:Soil Research Centre, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, (4) ICAAM-Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas,University of Évora. Portugal, (5) Dpto. Ingeniería Rural – AEAC.SV, Universidad de Córdoba -Spain, (6) Institute ofAgronomy, Plant Physiology & Field Crops, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy, (7) School of Agriculture,Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom, (8) Freelance Consultant, Asunción,Paraguay, (9) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations, Rome, ItalyNot cultivating soil, rotating crops over the years, and leaving crop residues on the surface in the practice of zerotillage/conservation agriculture (ZT/CA) reverses the historically accelerating degradation of soil organic matter(SOM) and soil structure, while increasing soil biological activity by a factor of 2 to 4. The results of this aremany: (a) not cultivating reduces soil compaction, leaving old root holes to facilitate internal drainage, averts thepulverization of soil aggregates and formation of pans, reduces draft power for planting and gives shelter, winterfood and nesting sites for fauna, (b) crop residues on the surface practically eliminate wind and water erosion,reduce soil moisture loss through the mulch effect, slow spring warm-up (possibly offset by a lower specific heatdemand with less water retention in surface soil) and act as a reserve of organically-compounded nutrients (asthey decompose to humus), (c) more SOM means higher available water and nutrient retention, higher biologicalactivity year round (enhancing biological controls), higher levels of water-stable aggregates and a positive carbonsink in incremental SOM. The positive impacts for society are: (i) more and cheaper food, (ii) reduced flood anddrought-induced famine risks, (iii) a positive carbon sink in SOM and possible reductions in NO2 emissions, (iv)cleaner water and greater aquifer recharge due to reduced runoff, (v) cleaner air through effective elimination ofdust as a product of cultivation (vi) less water pollution and greater aquifer recharge from reduced rainfall runoff,(vii) farm diesel consumption halved, (viii) reduced demand for (tropical) de-forestation, by permitting cropexpansion on steeper lands, (ix) increased wildlife populations (skylarks, plovers, partridge and peccaries) and (x)an improved conservation mindset in farmers. It is notable that, in spite of successful practitioners in all Europeancountries, mainstream adoption is still to come: Europe′s ZT/CA area is 1.35 million hectares, while the worldarea is now some 125 million and growing at a rate of 7 million hectares per year. More scientific measurementsof the benefits of this system are required, both to assist adoption and to trigger policy measures. In the EEC,CAP reform (greening) needs to consider making environmental services payments for these social benefits sincea reduction in single farm payments is ineluctable and carbon footprint reduction is of the essence, in the faceof constantly-rising fuel prices and the need to cut GHG emissions. Therefore, as the principal farm tool whichoffers an effective and immediate solution towards positive changes in soil quality, productivity and sustainability,ZT/CA adoption needs financial incentives, which have high economic and environmental returns to society.

Effects of zero tillage (no-till) conservation agriculture on soil physical and biological properties and their contributions to sustainability.

Effects of zero tillage (no-till) conservation agriculture on soil physical and biological properties and their contributions to sustainability.

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