Conservation Agriculture
SR Padma*
Department of Agricultural Extension, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India
*Corresponding Author: SR Padma, Department of Agricultural Extension, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India.
Published: May 26, 2023
Abstract
A farming method known as Conservation Agriculture (CA) can restore degraded soils while preventing the loss of arable land. It encourages the preservation of a stable soil cover, little soil disturbance, and plant species diversity. It improves biodiversity and ground-level natural biological processes that help boost the efficiency with which water and nutrients are used and support improved and sustained crop output.
With regionally modified practises, CA concepts are generally applicable to all agricultural landscapes and land uses. External inputs like agrochemicals and plant nutrients of mineral or organic origin are applied optimally and in ways and quantities that do not interfere with or disrupt the biological processes. Soil interventions, such as mechanical soil disturbance, are reduced to an absolute minimum or avoided.
A good agronomic practise, such as timely operations, is made easier by CA, which also enhances overall land management for rainfed and irrigated crops. CA is a foundation for sustainable agricultural output intensification. It is complemented by other well-known good practises such the use of high-quality seeds and integrated pest, fertiliser, weed, and water management, among others. It expands the possibilities for integrating different production sectors, such as integrating crops and animals or incorporating trees and meadows into agricultural landscapes.