International Journal of Environmental Studies · 2018 · 790 citations · 23 references
AgricultureAgronomyCrop SciencesConservation AgricultureCrop DiversificationCropping SystemsAgricultural Land ManagementConservation Agriculture AdoptionIntegrated Crop ManagementLand UseAgricultural Land ConservationCropland Expansion EffectsExpansionIntegrated Crop SystemsMulch Cover
Conservation Agriculture is defined by three core principles—minimal soil disturbance, biomass mulch cover, and crop diversification—alongside complementary integrated management practices. In 2015/16, Conservation Agriculture covered about 180 million hectares—12.5 % of global cropland—representing a 69 % rise since 2008/09, with adoption in 78 countries and an average annual expansion of 10.5 million hectares, most extensive in the Americas, Australia/New Zealand, Asia, Russia/Ukraine, Europe, and Africa.
Conservation Agriculture (CA) comprises the practical application of three interlinked principles, namely: no or minimum mechanical soil disturbance, biomass mulch soil cover and crop species diversification, in conjunction with other complementary good agricultural practices of integrated crop and production management. In 2015/16, CA was practised globally on about 180 M ha of cropland, corresponding to about 12.5% of the total global cropland. In 2008/09, the spread of CA was reported to be about 106 M ha. This change constitutes an increase of some 69% globally since 2008/09. In 2015/16, CA adoption was reported by 78 countries, an increase in adoption by 42 more countries since 2008/09, respectively. The average annual rate of global expansion of CA cropland area since 2008/2009 has been some 10.5 M ha. The largest extents of adoption are in South and North America, followed by Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Russia and Ukraine, Europe and Africa.
23
Conservation agriculture in the dry Mediterranean climate
Amir Kassam, Theodor Friedrich, Rolf Derpsch et al. · Field Crops Research · 2012 · 279 citations · Full text