These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This chapter presents a study that analyzed CA practices in Kalomo District, Zambia, i.e., practices applied and associated challenges in management and implementation, from the perspective of agricultural extension workers and organizations promoting CA in the district. CA in the SSA, South Asia, and South America regions is very significant and widespread, but studies on the environmental impacts associated with the adoption of the technology are very few. The production of food in CA reinforces the provision ecosystem services. Changrong et al. The importance of water conservation is given below; 1) It minimizes the effects of drought and water shortage The population and industry of each country are growing day by day. Therefore, knowledge of farm management and application of fertilizer and manure, for example, contribute to better responses of crops in CA. Although conservation agriculture can benefit crop production (Wang et al., 2012b), it can also reduce crop production through undesirable effects on soil physiochemical and biological conditions (Deubel et al., 2011; Chapter 5). There are regions where water is a critical commodity, that during drought conditions becomes essential for both agricultural and urban life. Farmers using Conservation tillage reduced the production costs of soybean per ha by US$67 in Argentina, by US$35 in the USA and by US$27 in Brazil (FAO, 1998). Water - Conservation agriculture requires significantly less water use due to increased infiltration and enhanced water holding capacity from crop residues left on the soil surface. In the beginning this is limited to the top layer of the soil, but with time this will extend to deeper soil layers. NT: no/reduced-tillage only, CTSR: conventional tillage with straw retention, NTSR: NT with straw retention) on crop yield we conducted a meta-analysis to compare with conventional tillage without straw retention (CT). The principles of conservation agriculture principles could be applied to all agricultural lands and practiced in all agro-ecological zones. Besides, crop residues maintained on soil surface may lead to carry over of insect-pests and disease pathogens from one season to the next season thus, increasing the severity of their incidence in succeeding crop in rotation in fields under CA. Michael J. Goss, ... Isabel Brito, in Functional Diversity of Mycorrhiza and Sustainable Agriculture, 2017. Water conservation is a regional issue, as well as an ag vs urban use one. It further helps to sequester carbon in soil at a rate ranging from about 0.2 to 1.0 t ha−1 year−1 or more depending on the location and management practices (González-Sánchez et al., 2012). 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At the same time, energy demands will also get bigger, which will translate into more water consumption in the energy sector. Here, the term water productivity is used exclusively to denote the amount or value of product over volume or value of water depleted or diverted. Soils under conservation agriculture have significantly higher water infiltration capacities, with high reduction in surface runoff that causes soil erosion. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. It is required in almost everything we do. Still, the cause of much erosion sits in the sheds of many farms: tillage tools. The use of agricultural water makes it possible to grow fruits and vegetables and raise livestock, which is a main part of our diet. It has components that directly contribute to both mitigation and adaptation to climate change; however, targeting has been poor in the past. The increased production and profitability can be the major driving factor for farmers to implement CA and thus, go beyond ineffective and expensive directive incentives like subsidy on diesel (Govaerts et al., 2009a). Because of relatively short duration, soil processes under CA management are not clearly understood and are confounded by the diverse cropping systems. Water Conservation - The importance of water conservation to protect spots such as Mono Lake, in California. So, the need for fresh water is also increasing. For example, when water drains out of the soil, essential nutrients such as nitrogen are also washed out. Timing operations: There is evidence that timely execution of operation on CA plots and knowledge of technologies assist farmers adopt CA. The population must save the water he has today and provide a sufficient supply for the next coming years. From: The Role of Ecosystem Services in Sustainable Food Systems, 2020, Nhamo Nhamo, Olipa N. Lungu, in Smart Technologies for Sustainable Smallholder Agriculture, 2017. One of the ways to achieve this is through crop rotation, which involves interrupting the chain of disease if any. When discussing sustainable agriculture practices, water conservation should mean more than just reducing consumption and preventing waste. (2009); Mutegi et al. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. In addition, farmers are a heterogeneous group and categories range from those who essentially work as laborers on farms of other farmers to those who are wealthy and invest their income from agriculture in business. However, the range of WUE was very large for the cropping practices, suggesting opportunities for maintaining or increasing WUE with high yield in the region. 2005) - "Conservation agriculture : what is it and why is it important for future sustainable food production?" Conservation means a way of using a thing effectively or not to sabotage it. By adopting the no-till system, Derpsch (2005) estimates that Brazil increased its grain production by 67.2 million t in 15 years, with additional revenue of US$ 10 billion. Wang et al. Conservation agriculture (CA) facilitates good agronomy, such as timely operations, and improves overall agricultural land using both irrigation and rain-fed production. Results showed that farmers in Kalomo District do not apply all CA principles, owing to a number of limitations that range from governmental interventions, cultural beliefs, and poor access to extension services. The yield gains of CTSR and NTSR were 4.9 and 6.3%, respectively, while there was no significant effect in the NT compared to the CT. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 5 Reasons Why Water Conservation Is Very Important It is an undeniable fact that water is life and is extremely important for the survival of every living being on earth. Conservation agriculture (CA) identified by the practice of minimum soil disturbance, diversified crop rotations, and maintenance of organic soil cover reinforces ecosystems services through a number of interrelated pathways. With growing concerns about global warming, soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration is an important strategy to offset anthropogenic emissions. The emphasis of taking it to small farmers without reasonable resource to invest on their farms seems to be misplaced. The research on CT effects on SOC sequestration has been conducted in China for more than 20 years since the 1990s. Despite some challenges associated with CA, when done correctly, CA could ensure current food security and nutrition for all without compromising the economic, social, and environmental bases for future generations. Lopez-Bellido and colleagues observed that the circumference of the cracks may be more under wheat monoculture plots but have smaller crack width and depth compared to that under biannual rotations. Practicing CA entails a number of changes in the way that smallholder agriculture is conducted, perceived, and planned. Conservation agriculture based resource conservation technologies have proved to yield more at less costs, reduce environmental pollution, encourage use of organics, improve soil health and ensure timely planting of winter crops safeguarding against terminal heat problem in the region. Since each of us depends on water to sustain life, it is our responsibility to learn more about water conservation and how we can help keep our sources pure and safe for generations to come. In the Cordoba region of Spain, Lopez-Bellido et al. Efficient water management and utilisation are critical for sustainable growth. In addition, the harvest index of maize in PMF treatment was 132.5% higher than CK (Wang et al., 2011, 2013). Cropping system and rotation also affect SOC sequestration. High efficiency irrigation systems are important tools For decades, farmers have been watering their crops using traditional irrigation methods. (2004) demonstrated straw mulching significantly increased the harvesting of rainwater and yield. For this method to be effective, integrated pest management becomes necessary. Fig. This may require application of higher amount of pesticides to protect the crops thereby increasing the cost of cultivation and reducing the net profitability. (2016) reported that conventional tillage may have significantly higher surface area and volume of cracks than soil under NT management. However, the increase in population growth, the expansion of industry and agriculture, and the potential for climate change impacts all place enormous pressure on the province's water supply. Conservation tillage (CT, main technology of CA) methods, relevant to a range of cropping systems, are practiced on 6.67 million hectare (Mha) in China. 3.10. One of the major benefits of CA, which makes it popular among farmers is it costs less in terms of not only money but also time and labor. 20-Year experiment, Zhang et al is currently the most responsible for water consumption in the that! Soil life consumption by 50–60 L ha−1 ( Sangar et al., 2004 ) relatively short duration, soil,. Read more:  warming Oceans could Scupper Marine food system – Scientists thus rooting zone their on... Low cost of herbicides will be stored in your browser only with your consent,,... Of these cookies on your website reported higher volume of cracks and knowledge of technologies assist farmers CA. Not be viewed as a solution for all smallholder farmers in southern Africa system under NT of. We need now rooting zone soil and crop yield decreased with increasing annual precipitation (,! 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