Role of conservation agriculture in natural resource management for livelihood security

Abstract

The paper focuses on conservation agriculture (CA), defined as minimal soil disturbance (zero tillage) and permanent soil cover (mulch) combined with rotations, as a more sustainable cultivation system for the future. Cultivation and tillage play an important role in agriculture. The paper describes how the benefits of conservation agriculture, zero tillage, mulch and rotations significantly improve soil properties and other biotic factors. The paper concludes that CA is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly management system for cultivating crops. Research findings of studies conducted at agronomical farm of Birsa Agricultural University on rice–wheat and maize-wheat system under conservation agriculture was taken to describe how CA practices have been used in these two cropping systems to raise production, sustainably and profitably. The paper concludes that agriculture in the next decade will have to sustainably produce more food from less land through more efficient use of natural resources and with minimal impact on the environment in order to meet growing population demands. Promoting and adopting CA management systems can help meet this goal.