Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - April 2026

This report from CIMMYT, Mexico looked at yield and economics of wheat and maize in a 21 year old experiment comparing these two crops on conventional tilled beds to permanent beds with varying residue levels. They also added tied ridges in the furrows to see if they could offset the negative effects of removal or crop residues. Permanent bed planting (PBP+R) plus residue showed better yields compared to the CT beds. PBP plus full residue also yielded better than partial residue but partial residue with tied ridges had equal yields to PBP plus full residue. But treatments with partial residue and tied ridges results in higher net returns because of the value of residue for animal feed, although this is contingent on the market for residues. 

This 2-year on-station experiment from IARI, India looked at the impact of conventional (CT), CA and Organic (OA) on pigeonpea grown in a PP-wheat system. CA 1, 2 and 3 were on permanent narrow beds (PNB), broad beds (PBB) and flat (PFB), respectively. All 3 CA treatments performed better better than CT and OA for several parameters. CA2 had greater plant height and dry matter accumulation in both years. All CA treatments had better nodulation, nitrogen fixation and soil health. Yields were better in the 3 CA treatments with CA2 to highest compared to CT and OA. Cost of cultivation was a little higher in CA treatments than CT but gross returns were higher. They conclude that "CA enhances pigeonpea productivity and farmers' income in the upper and middle Gangetic plains of India.

This review assesses the effect of CA management on soil biological, chemical and physical properties. Results show that CA improves soil structure, enhances soil organic carbon sequestration, promotes microbial activity, increases water-use efficiency, and reduces erosion and nutrient losses. The paper also reports on environmental, economic, and social benefits of CA that include biodiversity conservation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved yields, and increased food system resilience. They also look at the the socioeconomic conditions, institutional frameworks, and policy interventions that shape CA adoption and impact and the CA research gaps and future of CA directions.

This study examined CA practices in a maize-wheat system in India using a 2-year field study with 15 treatment combinations. Their results showed that No-tillage (NT) with residue retention (+R) and phosphorus dose (34.4 kg P ha⁻¹) produced the highest (8.17 t ha⁻¹) maize equivalent yield, system productivity, and net economic return. NT + R also significantly enhanced soil organic carbon, water-stable aggregates, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activities. In contrast, phosphorus application with microbial inoculants under NT without residue (-R) yielded the highest energy use efficiency. They conclude that "integrating CA-practices and optimal phosphorus management enhances system productivity, profitability, and soil sustainability."

This paper describes conservation agriculture (CA) as a way of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The authors suggest that "CA can prove to be a viable option for meeting the targets of the sustainable agenda. This practice supports environmental, social and economic justice, which creates a holistic developmental route that supports the burgeoning population." CA also reduces production costs that favors farmer adoption. However the paper concludes that "while CA demonstrates significant benefits across scales, its adoption remains constrained by socioeconomic factors and limited mechanization in the smallholder context. Advancing CA requires a multidisciplinary, participatory research paradigm coupled with policy support, institutional support and capacity building for farmers. 

This article from NW Vietnam looks at how CA practices (CAPs) can be adopted to overcome the problems associated with conventional agriculture in this region that has resulted in soil degradation because of intensive tillage and intensive use of chemical fertilizers without adding organic matter. They surveyed 400 maize-farming households. Their analysis shows "that the joint adoption of CAPs is facilitated by education of the household heads, total farmland area, farmers’ access to credit, interactions with extension agents, training on CAPs, proximity to cooperatives, participation in farmers' groups, and plot-specific characteristics." Adoption of CAPs leads to better maize yields and net incomes, especially when all aspects of CA are adopted.  

Nepal agriculture is challenged by environmental degradation, labor shortages, and increasing feminization of farming as a result of male outmigration. CA offers a solution but adoption needs to increase. This paper examines issues related to adoption CA as more women become empowered in agriculture. The surveyed 383 farmers across 3 Districts and found that 73% of respondents were willing to adopt CA because of climate concerns, economic incentives and market access. They believe that CA enhances sustainability, resilience, and income are also more likely to engage, while market dissatisfaction presents a challenge. Getting subsidies is associated with adoption of CA. Barriers for women include household responsibilities, lack of education and training, and limited financial access. They conclude that targeted policies, institutional support, and market-based incentives are essential for increasing adoption by women farmers. 

This interesting article from Japan looks at a solar powered mower integrated into a NT system that reduces GHG emissions. This study evaluates NT and intercropping with solar-powered machinery in organic cherry tomato production. They compared two tillage methods (NT} and rotary tillage (RT)] and two cropping patterns [cherry tomato/peanut intercropping (TP) and monocropping (M)]. Solar-powered robotic mowers replaced conventional mowers in NT to enhance environmental benefits. They assessed the results by crop yield, energy efficiency, carbon footprint, and profitability. They conclude that "NT-TP's potential to enhance yield, energy efficiency, and profitability while reducing the carbon footprint, makes it a sustainable management system for organic farming. 

This study analyses and compares the economic indicators of conservation reduced tillage (CT) widely practiced in Central Europe with those of conventional ploughing tillage (PT) assessing the effects of CT compared to PT on yields and profitability from 2004-2023. The study covered 83 ha in 10 paired plots (from year 13 onwards, 76 ha in 9 paired plots), including extreme weather conditions and 6 crops. During the transitional period, profit under CT decreased by an average of 11.9% compared with PT, but subsequent periods indicated positive results, 2.3% increase in gross income and 13% higher profit. Over 20 years, material costs for CT plots were 1.9% higher and operating costs were 9.8% lower compared with PT. Their results suggest shifting to reduced tillage is worth it. It would be interesting to have seen the profits if the CA system was used in this comparison. 

This paper starts by saying challenges from climate change require new eco-friendly systems to make farming economic with social dimensions compatible with the environment plus ecosystem resilience. The suggest that CA can help by increasing C-sequestration in soils and plants. This research looks into the benefits of improved SOC when using CA in Portugal from the INFOSOLO legacy database was analyzed through statistical methodologies and machine-learning approaches. 

This 4-year study in the Lower Mississippi Delta on farm size plots compared soybean yield and soil health benefits comparing CT with NT. Both plots were under maize for 11 years prior to growing soybeans using CT and NT soil management for each plot. Results showed that NT compared to CT, in the 0-20 cm layer, increased soil bulk density (rho), total nitrogen (TN), and soil organic carbon (C) but field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) decreased in the 10 cm below the soil surface under NT. Yields of soybeans over the 4 years were similar for CT and NT plots. But NT resulted in less expenses without affecting soybean yields.

This paper from Uganda looks at the adoption of sustainable agricultural intensification practices (SAIPs) recommended for smallholder farmers.320 maize farmers were interviewed in 2 Districts. Results showed that improved maize varieties, conservation tillage, legume intercrop, integrated soil fertility management (ISFM), and integrated pest management (IPM) were adopted by 58, 36, 44, 52, and 56% of the farmers. Institutional factors were significant predictors of adoption. Socioeconomic factors only positively influenced adoption intensity for SAIPs. Two policy recommendations were to strengthen agricultural extension and promote the use of village level credit services to enhance adoption.

Wheat has seen remarkable productivity gains in NW India through increased input use and intensive cultivation. But soil degradation indicates that this essential food security region of India is becoming less economic and sustainable. This paper looks at data from 3928 wheat fields and used to assess multiple sustainability indicators including yield gaps N-use efficiency, profitability, and GHG emissions. Stochastic frontier analysis was combined with simulated potential yield (Yp) data to identify the causes of wheat yield gaps in the region The most important management practices governing the field classification included the crop establishment method used for the previous rice crop, the number of tillage operations, residue retention, and the N fertilizer rate for wheat.

Agriculture in Moldova in Europe is affected by climate change, market issues and costlier input costs. This paper looks at the a comparison of CA and conventional methods in regards to economic efficiency of their main field crops: wheat, barley, maize, rapeseed, and sunflowers. Their results have significant benefits for CA in terms of profits and better use of natural resources. They collected data from 25 suitable farms from 2020-2024 and the results show CA improves profits, reduces fuel use and mechanical operations resulting in lower costs, better yield stability when drought is an issue. They conclude that the adoption of CA by farmers would help farmers address climate risks and improve their efficiency in use of natural resources in this country.

This article from China looks at the impact of adoption of CA on income. They surveyed 922 households in 5 provinces in 2023. The income effects vary by the adoption status of different CA practices. Farmer time allocation affects CA technologies adoption. Farm work is the main mediating variable, while off-farm work plays a moderating role between the yield effect and income. They write "The complex technology adoption chain inhibits farmers from increasing production and income, while the farmers' jobs in the non-agricultural sector have reduced this impact to a certain extent." They suggest that policies need to enhance technical training for farmers, improve markets, and provide more mechanized services in order to increase adoption.

This 10-year study from India compared 2 conventional tilled (CT) puddled transplanted rice followed by either CT wheat or NT wheat with 6 different NT Direct seeded (DSR) rice followed by NT wheat treatments. Details can be found in the abstract or full paper since two treatments also used Sesbania (brown manure) in the system and 2 used an additional mung bean crop. A summary of the results showed that the NT wheat treatments were better than the CT wheat but CT rice had a higher yield than DSR rice. The overall rice-wheat system also was better than the traditional system despite the lower rice yield. Soil fertility, SOC, soil health, GHG emissions, and profitability were better in the CA systems compared to the CT one. The recommended that more research is needed to control weeds, nutrient needs and water management to improve the DSR treatment.

This paper presents the results of a study to look at CA performance of a cassava-legume cropping system in terms of yield, nutrition, and economics in Northern Zambia. They used a mother and baby trial setup  with 6 cropping systems that combined tillage (flat and bed planting) and legume intercrops (common beans and groundnut) compared to sole cassava. They measured root yield, legume yield, protein yield, energy and economic returns. See the paper for more details, but 3 treatments were planted on the flat under no-till and 3 treatments planted on hand hoed ridges (traditional system for cassava). Results showed cassava planted on the flat especially with legume intercrops under CA did not compromise cassava yield and significantly enhanced legume grain, protein, and energy yields. Economic analyses revealed higher net benefits and return to inputs in flat-planted intercrops, though labour costs were also higher.

This paper from Rwanda looks at the low yields of maize, a critical staple crop in this country. The study evaluates the agronomic and economic results of CA compared to conventional systems (CT) by interviewing 222 farms in dry areas of Eastern Rwanda. They found that CA farmers incurred higher total production costs, particularly for fertilizers, seeds, weeding, and irrigation, while CT farmers had significantly higher land preparation costs. But CA achieved 40% higher net profit, 20% higher maize yields, and higher P use efficiency compared to CT. They identified irrigation frequency, seed rate, and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application as key determinants of maize yield using CA compared to CT. 

This paper from New Zealand starts by saying soil health decline is a major constraint to achieving higher yields and looks at the interaction of tillage, legumes and nitrogen on reversing declines in SH for a cotton-wheat on a bed planting system. There were two tillage systems; NT and Conventional tillage (CT). Three legumes: soybean, mungbean, and mash bean. 2 nitrogen levels. Results showed that the best treatment for soil organic matter and microbial population (improved soil health) was cotton + mungbean-wheat with NT and the recommended N and a significant increase in wheat yield compared to CT treatments. 

This paper indicates that CA adoption in India is mostly in the irrigated IndoGangetic Plains and typically uses agrochemicals. This study explores the adoption of CA in a rainfed area of Central India  where farms are organic and look at the factors that led to adoption. Results showed that the variables that were important were farmers’ age, household size (a proxy for labour), extension frequency, farmer’s initiative-taking ability, farming experience, and market accessibility. The majority (90%) of the adopters indicated improvements in soil health, reduction in water use, and increases in yields and quality. They also indicated (80%) that CA led to lower costs, and higher incomes. However, biomass was an issue since farmers use the residues for cattle feed. The conclude that "To scale CA and produce food sustainably in rainfed areas, it is necessary to initiate supporting policy and institutional interventions that would improve extension, biomass production, and availability within the farming system.

Crop residue is crucial in CA management to improve soil health and increase yields. This paper from India looks at a residue cleaning system (T1) to help overcome the challenges of residues left after combine harvesting and included design, development and field testing. They first tested the equipment in a soil bin before testing in a field trial consisting of a wheat-greengram-maize cropping pattern and comparing with the Happy Seeder (T2) (an earlier equipment used for sowing into crop residue). T1 and T2 had similar yields but T1 required less energy although it slightly higher carbon emissions. They concluded that T1 had lower B/C ratio compared to T2 but increasing the number of rows in the T1 treatment could enhance field capacity, potentially reducing carbon emissions and improving economic returns.

This paper from Bihar, Eastern India, looks at raised bed planting (RBP) for smallholder maize farmers. They evaluated this management system for 4 rabi (winter) seasons and compared with conventional flat planting (FP). They looked at yield, profitability, water use efficiency (WUE), and nutrient use efficiency (NUE). Maize yields were much higher under RBP than FP but also more profitable with higher net returns, better WUE and NUE. Farmers need to be motivated to adopt this system for Rabi maize. 

This paper from NW Cambodia compares use of conventional tillage (CT) with CA in maize cultivation looking at soil health, agronomic, and economic differences. The experiment was set up in 2020 comparing CT and CA with one cover crop (CAS) and CA with a mix of three cover crops (CAM). Soil health was assessed using a Biofunctool. Soil health (SH) was positively increased under CA. However, in the 1st year CA. had lower plant density and suggested that there was a need to improve NT sowing methods. This problem resulted in no significant differences in maize yield between the 3 treatments. Gross value added under CA was 12.7% less than CT in 2021, it surpassed CT by 43% in the second year.

This paper quantifies the Ecosystem Services from 13 years of using CA practices in a maize-wheat system in India. The treatments were conventional tillage (CT), zero tillage with planting on flat land with residue (ZR + R), permanent broad beds with residue (PBB + R), permanent narrow beds with residue (PNB + R). The CA-based practices recorded higher value of provisioning ES values as compared to CT. The highest economic value of regulating ES was observed under PBB + R, which was 61% higher than that of CT. PBB + R is a better management alternative for better TES while ensuring higher crop productivity than CT. The results can be used to formulate the payment for ecosystem scheme by policy makers.

This paper on Africa highlights and discusses the current problems which include soil erosion, desertification, nutrient imbalances, acidity, salinization, deforestation, and soil compaction. The second part looks at the problems of soil and agricultural productivity and  human health, which resulted in loss of fertile land and biodiversity, increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, nutrient depletion, loss of ecosystem services, malnutrition, and other human health issues. The third part proffers potential solutions to tackle soil degradation in Africa. They conclude that iintegrated approaches that promote sustainable soil management, such as conservation agriculture, crop rotation, agroforestry, afforestation, organic farming, and community engagement, would have a significant impact in resolving the menace of soil degradation.