Instant Insights: Conservation Tillage in Agriculture

Dr Gottlieb Basch is a Full Professor in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Évora, Portugal. He is President of the European Conservation Agriculture Federation and has contributed to a number of EIP AGRI Focus Groups, EU Horizon and other research projects on more sustainable methods of crop cultivation.

Chapter 1 - Conservation tillage in organic farming: Maike Krauss and Paul Mäder, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland; Joséphine Peigné, ISARA-Lyon, France; and Julia Cooper, Newcastle University, UK; 1 Introduction 2 Main benefits of conservation tillage 3 Main challenges of conservation tillage 4 Future trends 5 Conclusion 6 Where to look for further information 7 References
Chapter 2 - The role of no or minimum mechanical soil disturbance in Conservation Agriculture systems: Theodor Friedrich, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Italy; 1 Introduction 2 Effects of soil tillage and tillage implements on the soil 3 Minimizing soil disturbance in farming 4 Conclusion 5 Where to look for further information 6 References
Chapter 3 - Soil management practices and benefits in Conservation Agriculture systems: Michele Pisante, University of Teramo, Italy; Angelica Galieni, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics and Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Italy; Gottlieb Basch, University of Évora, Portugal; Theodor Friedrich, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Italy; and Fabio Stagnari, University of Teramo, Italy; 1 Introduction 2 The principles of CA 3 Environmental benefits and ecosystem services 4 Economic benefits 5 Future trends 6 Conclusion 7 Where to look for further information 8 References
Chapter 4 - Zero-tillage cultivation of maize: Wade E. Thomason, Bee Khim Chim and Mark S. Reiter, Virginia Tech University, USA; 1 Introduction 2 History of zero-tillage maize cultivation 3 Advantages of zero-tillage maize production: reduced soil erosion 4 Advantages of zero-tillage maize production: reduced nutrient losses 5 Advantages of zero-tillage maize production: water infiltration and use, economics and soil organic matter 6 Potential disadvantages of zero-tillage maize production 7 Success with zero-tillage maize production 8 The future of zero-tillage maize production 9 Where to look for further information 10 References
Chapter 5 - Conservation tillage for sustainable wheat intensification: the example of South Asia: Vijesh Krishna, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Germany; Alwin Keil, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), India; Sreejith Aravindakshan, Wageningen University, The Netherlands; and Mukesh Meena, Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, India; 1 Introduction 2 Factors affecting the diffusion of CT wheat in South Asia 3 Recent evidence of the agronomic and economic impacts of CT wheat in South Asia 4 Constraints to the diffusion of CT practices in wheat in South Asia 5 Recent developments in CT wheat 6 Concluding remarks 7 Where to look for further information 8 Acknowledgements 9 References