Lecture 10.

Conservation Agriculture
Strategies in Agriculture

In India, due to increased population, the demand for food production has increased
and it has put pressure on land to get more output from the same field. This has resulted in
over exploitation of natural resources, resulting in the water table having gone down in some
places. In some places, water tables have gone up and the salts have leached above the soil
surface. The excess application of chemicals have polluted the ground water and burning of
farm residues to clear the fields for sowing in the next crop. This practice has resulted in
environmental pollution and CHGs. Such practice has prompted the adoption of CA, a term
resulting as an offshoot of CT studies for promoting use of zero till drills and reduced tillage.
Excessive tillage causes the soil to become denser and compacted, increases run off
and soil erosion and reduces organic content due to burning of crop residues. It also leads to
droughts becoming more severe and soil becoming less fertile and less responsive to
fertilizer. To address to these concerns, it was necessary to achieve sustainable production
systems when the basic principles of good farming practices are applied. The terminology
adopted for such systems by FAO, ECAF and other organizations is CA. Many definitions of
CA have been given as a result of many researches. Some of these definitions are stated
below.
CA refers to the system of raising crops without tilling the soil while retaining the
crop residues on the soil surface. Land preparation through precision land levelling and bed
and furrow configuration for sowing crops further enables improved resource management.
CA aims to achieve sustainable and profitable agriculture and subsequently, at improved
livelihoods of farmers through the application of three CA principles; minimal soil
disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation.
CA aims to conserve, improve and make more efficient use of natural resources by
practicing integrated management of available soil, water and biological resources combined
with external inputs. It contributes to environmental conservation as well as to enhanced and
sustained agricultural production. It can also be referred to as resource efficient/resource
effective agriculture
CA can also be defined as a range of soil management practices that minimize effects
on composition, structure and natural biodiversity and reduce erosion and degradation. Such
practices may include precise land levelling by laser leveller to save water, direct sowing or
drilling/no-tillage/reduced tillage/tillage for timely sowing, surface incorporation of crop
residues and establishment of annual and perennial crops to add organic matter to the soil and
avoid burning of straw, thus, pollution is reduced. This is also enhanced through the use of a
straw combine followed by bailer to collect the straw lying in the field. The soil is thus
protected from rainfall erosion and water runoff; the soil aggregates, organic matter and
fertility level naturally increase; soil compaction is reduced and use of fossil fuels and GHG
emissions are also reduced. Further, less contamination of surface water occurs, and water
retention and storage is enhanced allowing for recharging of aquifers.
CA can be seen as a new way forward, for conserving resources and enhancing
productivity to achieve goals of sustainable agriculture, which demands a strong knowledge
base and a combination of institutional and technological innovation. It is being perceived by
practioners as a valid tool for sustainable land management. Hence, it is being promoted
world over including IGP.
CA allows for the management of soil and water for agricultural production without
excessively disturbing them. Presently, CA has assumed importance in view of the
widespread degradation of natural resources leading to increased cost of production,
unsustainable resource use, environmental pollution and health of ecosystems. Therefore, it is
very important that CA practices are adopted in different agro-ecological regions without
delay. Governments worldwide started giving incentives to the farmers to practice CA and
some even formulated conservation policies. Various conservation tillage practices such as
zero tillage, minimum tillage, reduced tillage, ridges and furrow method, broad bed and
furrow and raised and sunken beds of different widths have been evaluated in different types
of soils to reduce land preparation operations and to save energy.
CA has the potential to emerge as an effective strategy in response to the increasing
concerns of serious and widespread natural resources degradation and environmental
pollution, which accompanied the adoption and promotion of green revolution technologies
since the early 1970s. The key challenge today is to adopt strategies that will address the twin
concerns of maintaining and enhancing the integrity of natural resources and improved
productivity; while improvement of natural resources takes a lead as it forms the very basis
for long-term sustained productivity. CA practices in different agro-ecological regions,
identifying the technological, socio-economic policy and institutional constraints, defining
agenda for research and development, and identifying institutional mechanisms for promoting
the strengthened participation of a range of stakeholders as a means of seeking a way
forward.
There should be strong linkages between resource degradation and poverty and that
CA must be considered a route to sustainable development. Globally, CA systems are being
adopted in over 80 million ha largely in rainfed areas. The countries where the system is
being adopted and promoted extensively include US, Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand,
Australia, Argentina, Canada, South Asia, China, etc. South Asian countries practice CA
technologies in the irrigated Indo-Gangetic plains where rice-wheat cropping system
dominates. CA systems have not yet taken roots in other major agro-ecological regions, like
rainfed, semi-arid tropics, the arid regions or the mountainous agro-ecosystems in India.
While the basic principles, which form the foundation of CA practices, i.e., no-tillage and
surface managed residues are well understood, adoption of these practices under varying
situations is the key challenge. Issues related to technology needs and inputs management
addresses some of these basic issues for transition to CA.
The technological challenges related to development, standardization and adoption of
farm machinery for seeding with minimum soil disturbance, developing crop harvesting and
management systems with residues maintained on soil surface and developing and
continuously improving site specific crop, soil and pest management strategies will optimize
benefits from the new system.
Emphasis needs to be given to enhancing livelihood opportunities rather than
increasing yields. CA marks an evolutionary change through a process of learning that offers
the opportunity and a means to achieving policy goals. CA has to offer a way to address
broader livelihood issues. The new institutional arrangements must be based on a good
understanding of the features that distinguish the principles and practices of CA from the
conventional research and development approach. Institutional mechanisms are required to
ensure that CA is seen as a concept beyond agriculture. Institutionalizing the role of research,
extension and farmers in such a way that the partnership among these stakeholders might be
strengthened right from the beginning of the project, helps build up a sense of enabling
ownership among them. CA must aim at broad livelihood strategies and move towards
forming conservation villages with appropriate agribusiness strategies to increase
employment in areas where it is adopted. However, caution must be taken to avoid blanket
adoption of CA just every where. It should be site specific and need-based. CA is now
considered a route to sustainable agriculture. Spread of CA, therefore will call for a greatly
strengthened research and linked development efforts. CA requires a new way of thinking
from all concerned, Along with this “new way of thinking agriculture”, there is already
enough technical and agronomic evidence that could positively influence farmers
contemplating the adoption of CA principles.
It is estimated that about 2 billion ha. in the world is affected by various forms of land
degradation which include water erosion (1.1 billion), wind erosion (0.55 billion), chemical
degradation (0.24 billion) and physical soil degradation (0.08 billion). According to latest
estimates using global assessment of soil degradation, about 188 m. ha or 57 per cent of land
is potentially exposed to various degradation forces, of which water erosion constitutes a
major section of 148.9 m. ha or 45 per cent; and the remaining 38.9 m ha or 12 per cent suffer
from wind erosion; 13.8 m ha or 4.2 per cent for chemical degradation; 11.6 m ha or: 3.6 per
cent for physical degradation.
The major factors responsible for large-scale degradation are deforestation,
unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction, shifting cultivation, overgrazing, non
adoption of adequate soil conservation measures, improper crop rotation, indiscriminate use
of agrochemicals such as pesticides, improper planning and management of irrigation system
and extraction of groundwater in excess of the recharged capacity.
Since land and water will be shrinking resources for agriculture, there is no option in
the future except to produce more food and other agricultural commodities from less per
capita arable land and irrigation water. In other words, the need for more food has to be met
through higher yields, per unit of land, water, energy and time. Hence, there is need to evolve
a scientifically-based land use system, a sound CA policy, and mission-oriented programme.
According to the National Agriculture Policy, India must achieve a growth rate of 3-4
per cent per annum in the agricultural sector, and food grain production of 400 m.t. by 2020.
The question is: how can this target and growth rate be achieved? This can only be achieved
through mechanization, use of efficient machines and developing agronomic practices suited
to agricultural machines and following CA.

Advantages of CA
- Reduces labour, time and fuel costs
- Reduces overall cost of operation
- Reduced use of fossil fuel leads to less environmental pollution
- Reduces soil compaction due to less trafficability
- More yields in dry years
- Savings in water
- Less soil erosion
- Less environmental pollution, carbon sequestration (green house effect)
- Less bleaching of chemicals and solid nutrients into ground water
- Less pollution of water
- Increased crop intensity
- Recharge of aquifers due to better infiltration
Disadvantages of CA
- Formation of hard pan below soil surface due to zero tillage and requires use of sub-soiler to
break hard pan after 5-7 years
- Need to control weeds by using herbicides thus increasing cost
- Not suitable to all crop rotation systems
- May result in soil borne pests and pathogens in transition stage
- High cost of machinery such as laser land leveller, zero-till drill, strip till drill, raised bed
planter, straw cutter cum incorporator, straw combine, straw baler, biomass digesters
- May also result in low yields
Scope of CA

Conservation agriculture has emerged as a new paradigm

to achieve goals of sustainable agricultural production17.
It is a major step towards transition to sustainable agriculture.
The term CA refers to the system of raising crops
without tilling the soil while retaining crop residues on
the soil surface. The key elements which characterize CA
include:
· minimum soil disturbance by adopting no-tillage and
minimum traffic for agricultural operations,
· leave and manage the crop residues on the soil surface,
and
· adopt spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotations
to derive maximum benefits from inputs and minimize
adverse environmental impacts.
Combining the above elements with improved land-shaping
(e.g. through laser aided levelling, planting crops on beds,
etc.) further enhances the opportunities for improved resource
management. In conventional systems, while soil
tillage is a necessary requirement to produce a crop, tillage
does not form a part of this strategy in CA. Intensive tillage
in conventional systems causes gradual decline in soil
organic matter content through accelerated oxidation, resulting
in reduced capacity of the soil to regulate water and
nutrient supplies to plants. Burning of crop residues, a
common practice in many areas (e.g. rice–wheat cropping
system) further causes pollution, GHG emission and loss
of valuable plant nutrients. When crop residues are retained
on the soil surface in combination with no tillage, it initiates
processes that lead to improved soil quality and overall
resource enhancement.
Benefits of CA are several fold. Direct benefits to farmers
include reduced cost of cultivation through savings in labour,
time and farm power, and improved use efficiency
resulting in reduced use of inputs. More importantly, CA
practices reduce resource degradation. Gradual decomposition
of surface residues improves soil organic matter status,
biological activity and diversity and contributes to overall
improvement in soil quality. CA is a way to reverse the
processes of degradation inherent in conventional agricultural
practices involving intensive cultivation, burning and/or removal of crop residues, etc. CA
leads to sustainable
improvements in efficient use of water and nutrients by
improving nutrient balance and availability, infiltration
and retention by the soil, reducing water loss due to
evaporation and improving the quality and availability of
ground and surface water.
Conservation agriculture success world over
Conservation agriculture has emerged as an effective strategy
 to achieve goals of sustainable agriculture worldwide. It
has the potential to address increasing concerns of serious
and widespread problems of natural resource degradation
and environmental pollution, while enhancing system
productivity. According to current estimates, CA systems
are being adopted in some 80 million ha, largely in rainfed
areas and the area is expanding rapidly18. USA has
pioneered research and development efforts and currently
CA is being practised in more than 18 million ha of land.
Other countries where CA practices are being widely
adopted include Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Canada.
In many countries of Latin America, CA systems are finding
rapid acceptance by farmers. Many countries have now
policy decision to promote CA. In Europe, France and
Spain, CA was being adopted in about 1 m ha area under
annual crops. In Europe, the European Conservation Agriculture
Federation, a regional lobby group uniting national
associations in UK, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and
Spain, has been founded. CA is also being adopted to
varying extents in countries of Southeast Asia, viz. Japan,
Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, etc. A unique
feature which has triggered widespread adoption of CA
systems in many countries is the community-led initiative
strongly supported by R&D organizations rather than as a
result of the usual research-extension system efforts19.
Conservation agriculture in India
In India, efforts to adopt and promote resource conservation
technologies have been underway for nearly a decade,
but it is only in the past 4–5 years that technologies are
finding acceptance by the farmers. This effort has been
spearheaded by Rice–Wheat Consortium for Indo-Gangetic
Plains, a CGIAR ecoregional initiative involving several
CG centres and the National Agricultural Research Systems
of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Concerns about
stagnating productivity, increasing production costs, declining
resource quality, declining water tables and increasing
environmental problems are the major forcing factors to
look for alternative technologies, particularly in the northwest
region encompassing Punjab, Haryana and western
Uttar Pradesh (UP)20. In the eastern region covering eastern
UP, Bihar and West Bengal, developing and promoting
strategies to overcome constraints for continued low
cropping system productivity have been the chief concern. The primary focus of developing
and promoting CA practices
has been the development and adoption of zero tillage
cum fertilizer drill for sowing wheat crop in rice–wheat
system. Other interventions being tested and promoted include
raised-bed planting system, laser-aided land-levelling
equipment, residue management alternatives, alternatives
to rice–wheat cropping system in relation to CA technologies,
 etc. The area planted with wheat adopting zero-tillage
drill has been rapidly increasing21. It is speculated that
over the past few years, adoption of zero-tillage has expanded
to cover about 1 m ha. The rapid adoption and spread of zero
tillage is attributed to benefits resulting from reduction in
cost production, reduced incidence of weeds and therefore
savings on account of weedicide costs, savings in water
and nutrients and environmental benefits.
Adopting CA
systems further offers opportunities for achieving greater
crop diversification. Crop sequences/rotations and agroforesting
systems, when adopted in appropriate spatial and temporal
patterns, can further enhance natural ecological
processes which contribute to system resilience and reduced
vulnerability to yield, thus reducing disease and
pest problems. Zero-tillage when combined with appropriate
surface-managed crop residues sets in processes
whereby slow decomposition of residues results in structural
improvement of soil and increased recycling and availability
of plant nutrients. Surface residues are also expected to
improve soil moisture regime, improve biological activity
and provide a more favourable environment for growth.
These processes, however, are slow and results are expected
only with time.
In India, CA is a new concept and its roots are only
now beginning to find ground. Globally, CA is being
considered a route to sustainable agriculture and offers
opportunities for moving to the next phase in Indian agriculture.
Transition to CA will not be easy
Conservation agriculture offers an opportunity and a mission
to move into the next phase in Indian agriculture in
the specific context. It is a challenge for all stakeholders,
the scientific community, farmers, extension agencies and
industry to understand the opportunities, and calls for
strategies different from those we have adopted over the
past decades in conventional agriculture. The biggest
challenge is to overcome the past mindset according to
which agriculture is nearly synonymous with the practice
of cultivating the soil. CA paradigm will call for an innovation
systems perspective to deal with diverse, flexible
and context-specific needs of technologies and their management
for specific locations. An innovation systems perspective
involves understanding of the organizations and
individuals responsible for generation, diffusion, adaptation,
use of knowledge of socio-economic significance and the
institutional context that governs the way these interactions and processes take place. R&D
for CA thus will
need innovative features to address the challenges. Some
of them include.
Technological challenges
 The CA system constitutes a major departure from the past
ways of doing things. This implies that the whole range
of practices, including planting and harvesting, water and
nutrient management, disease and pest control, etc. need to
be evolved, evaluated and matched in the context of new
systems. The key challenge relates to development, standardization
and adoption of farm machinery for seeding
with minimum soil disturbance; developing crop harvesting
and management systems with residues maintained on soil
surface and developing and continuously improving sitespecific
crops, soil and pest management strategies that
will optimize benefits from the new systems.
Technology adoption
Strategies to promote CA will call for moving away from
the conventional compartmentalized and hierarchical arrangements
of research that generates and perfects technologies,
extension that delivers it and farmers who
passively adopt it. There will be need to bring all the involved
stakeholders on a common platform to conceive
end-to-end strategies. Institutionalizing the role of research,
extension and farmers in such a way that the partnership
among these stakeholders is strengthened right from the
beginning, enabling a sense of ownership among them.
Long-term perspective
Conservation agriculture practices, e.g. no tillage and surface-
managed crop residues set in processes which initiate
changes in soil physical, chemical and biological
properties, which in turn affect crop yields. Understanding
the dynamics of these changes and interactions among
physical, chemical and biological phases is basic to developing
improved soil-water and nutrient management
strategies. Similarly, understanding the dynamics of qualitative
and quantitative changes in soil biodiversity, disease
causing organisms, including weeds in relation to altered
management practices is fundamental to evolving control
measures with minimum use of environmentally harmful
chemicals.
Site specificity
Adaptive strategies for CA will be highly site-specific, yet learning across the sites
will be a powerful way in
understanding why certain technologies or practices are
effective in a set of situations and not effective in another set. This learning process will
accelerate building a
knowledge base for sustainable resource management.
Developing and promoting a networking to share information
amongst farmers, scientists and other stakeholders
would be critical in advancing the spread and continued
upgradation of CA systems. Understanding the diversity
and context-specific nature of processes would be important
in learning and changing for the better.
CA implies a radical change from traditional agriculture.
There is need for policy analysis to understand how conservation
technologies integrate with other technologies,
policy instruments and institutional arrangements that
promote or deter CA23. Accelerated development and adoption
of CA technologies will call for greatly strengthened
monitoring and evaluation along with policy research.
Understanding constraints in adoption and putting in place
appropriate incentives for adopting CA systems will be
important.