Beyond conservation agriculture.


Autoria(s): GILLER, K. E.; ANDERSSON, J. A.; CORBEELS, M.; KIRKEGAARD, J.; MORTENSEN, D.; ERENSTEIN, O.; VANLAUWE, B.
Contribuinte(s)

MARC CORBEELS, CPAC E CIRAD.

Data(s)

25/08/2016

25/08/2016

2015

23/08/2016

Resumo

ABSTRACT: Global support for Conservation Agriculture (CA) as a pathway to Sustainable Intensification is strong. CA revolves around three principles: no-till (or minimal soil disturbance), soil cover, and crop rotation. The benefits arising from the ease of crop management, energy/cost/time savings, and soil and water conservation led to widespread adoption of CA, particularly on large farms in the Americas and Australia, where farmers harness the tools of modern science: highly-sophisticated machines, potent agrochemicals, and biotechnology. Over the past 10 years CA has been promoted among smallholder farmers in the (sub-) tropics, often with disappointing results. Growing evidence challenges the claims that CA increases crop yields and builds-up soil carbon although increased stability of crop yields in dry climates is evident. Our analyses suggest pragmatic adoption on larger mechanized farms, and limited uptake of CA by smallholder farmers in developing countries. We propose a rigorous, context-sensitive approach based on Systems Agronomy to analyze and explore sustainable intensification options, including the potential of CA. There is an urgent need to move beyond dogma and prescriptive approaches to provide soil and crop management options for farmers to enable the Sustainable Intensification of agriculture.

2015

Identificador

35498

http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/handle/doc/1051465

Idioma(s)

en

Publicador

Frontiers in Plant Science, v. 6, article 870, October 2015.

Relação

Embrapa Cerrados - Artigo em periódico indexado (ALICE)

Palavras-Chave #Sustainable intensification #Intensificação sustentável #Climate smart agriculture #Agricultura de clima inteligente #Erosão #Legume #Sistemas agrícolas #Soil erosion #Legumes #Systems agronomy
Tipo

Artigo em periódico indexado (ALICE)