Conservation Agriculture as a Sustainable System for Soil Health: A Review

• Published in: Soil systems Vol. 6; no. 4; p. 87
• Main Authors: Cárceles Rodríguez, Belén, Durán-Zuazo, Víctor Hugo, Soriano Rodríguez, Miguel, García-Tejero, Iván F., Gálvez Ruiz, Baltasar, Cuadros Tavira, Simón
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Agricultural conservation; agricultural conservation practice; Agricultural development; Agricultural ecosystems; Agricultural industry; Agricultural management; Agricultural practices; Agricultural production; Agriculture; agroecosystems; Biodiversity; Biological properties; Carbon content; Carbon sequestration; Climate change; Conservation; conservation agriculture; Conservation practices; Crops; Developing countries; Ecosystem services; Emissions; Environmental economics; Farms; Food security; Food supply; indicators; Intensive farming; LDCs; Nutrient content; Organic matter; Productivity; Salinization; Security management; soil; Soil compaction; Soil conservation; Soil degradation; soil ecosystems; Soil erosion; Soil fertility; soil health; Soil organic matter; Soil properties; Soil quality; Soils; Soils, Salts in; Sustainability; Sustainable agriculture; Sustainable development; Water erosion; Water shortages; Canada; Zambia; California; Ethiopia; Spain; India
• ISSN: 2571-8789; 2571-8789
• DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems6040087

Soil health is a term used to describe the general state or quality of soil, and in an agroecosystem, soil health can be defined as the ability of the soil to respond to agricultural practices in a way that sustainably supports both agricultural production and the provision of other ecosystem services. Conventional agricultural practices cause deterioration in soil quality, increasing its compaction, water erosion, and salinization and decreasing soil organic matter, nutrient content, and soil biodiversity, which negatively influences the productivity and long-term sustainability of the soil. Currently, there are many evidences throughout the world that demonstrate the capability of conservation agriculture (CA) as a sustainable system to overcome these adverse effects on soil health, to avoid soil degradation and to ensure food security. CA has multiple beneficial effects on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. In addition, CA can reduce the negative impacts of conventional agricultural practices on soil health while conserving the production and provision of soil ecosystem services. Today, agricultural development is facing unprecedented challenges, and CA plays a significant role in the sustainability of intensive agriculture. This review will discuss the impact of conservation agricultural practices on soil health and their role in agricultural sustainability.