Conservation agriculture promotes sustainable farming methods to ensure soil health and prevent land overuse. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations outlines strategies such as reducing tillage, planting cover crops, minimizing herbicide use, crop rotation, and land reservations to encourage a natural ecosystem.
Conservation agriculture, also known as CA, is a form of agriculture intended to ensure soil health, promote sustainable agriculture, and prevent harmful land overuse. Gaining popularity in the 21st century, conservation agriculture aims to help farmers keep the land healthy and productive by maintaining sustainable farming methods. There are several strategies for ensuring the continued health and fertility of the earth through conservation agriculture, many of which are outlined in the guidelines of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
One of the most important principles that forms the backbone of CA is to reduce soil damage by discouraging tillage. In the tillage process, the soil is turned by hand or machine in an attempt to bring nutrients to the surface as the seeds are planted. While this may benefit current crops in the short term, many scientists suggest it leads to long-term degradation of soil, eventually rendering it unusable. By refraining from tillage, soil organic matter can actually benefit as crop fragments form a protective mulch on the soil.
A second important factor in conservation agriculture is the planting of cover crops. Whenever possible, these crops prevent soil erosion by protecting the topsoil from wind, sun, and rain. Cover crops also provide nutrients to organisms in the soil, which in turn feed the crops. While the United Nations CA guidelines recognize that some pesticide applications may be necessary for commercial crops, farmers are also recommended to minimize herbicide use to protect the natural biodiversity of soils and the environment local. By protecting the soil and ensuring a healthy and thriving biosystem, many experts believe that crops are more likely to thrive.
The third principle heralded by the United Nations guidelines for conservation agriculture concerns crop rotation. Repeatedly planting the same land with the same crop can lead to depletion of nutrients in the soil. By cycling crops that need different nutrients through the same field, the soil has time to rest and replenish its nutrient reserves.
Some CA organizations also promote land reservations to encourage the growth of a natural ecosystem. By keeping some land clear of agricultural activity, the surrounding farmland will have a fair balance of native wildlife, insects and plants. While saving the earth is not a viable option in many cases, some experts suggest that proper conservation efforts such as land reserves will help convert agricultural activities from environmentally destructive to environmentally conscious.
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