Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - March 2026

This paper describes a way to map accurately the area and fields in Belgium that practice CA management. They point out that monitoring of CA adoption is usually dependent on farmer declarations or field inspections that are not very accurate. In this paper 247 fields using CA in 2020-2021 were used to develop a classification model for predicting CA by combining remote sensing and census data. The census data provided the data for annual crops and cereals in the rotation. The paper explains what remote sensing was used to measure the extent of soil cover, soil disturbance, to construct a classification model distinguishing fields under conservation from those under conventional practices. Their results showed 15.5 % (2875 fields) out of 18,516 cropland fields can be classified as conservation agriculture. These fields tend to adopt non-inversion tillage and have diverse crop rotations.

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 paper starts out by saying that in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) tillage and burning of residues is mostly used that causes soil erosion. Maize is also the major crop in smallholder diets. They used the APSIM model to simulate the productivity and protein yield of a variety of intercropping systems involving three crops (maize, cowpea and pigeonpea) under full CA practice relative to conventional tillage (CV) with the same intercropping system. The baseline scenario used daily climate data from 1997-2015 in Northern Mozambique. The results are given in the paper but the Authors conclude that "although under the CA system, there were ng declines in grain yields nevertheless, protein yields and overall productivity remained consistently higher under the CA system.

This paper looks at the rice-wheat system in Eastern India where smallholder farmers are using excessive water and nitrogen with soil degradation. They used field studies and a crop simulation model to assess resilience, viability, and sustainability of this cropping system under CA with different irrigation methods and nitrogen rates. They had 4 treatments from the puddled transplanted rice (PTR) and zero-tilled wheat (ZTW) with flood irrigation to direct seeded rice (DSR) fb ZTW with sub-surface drip irrigation and 75% and 100% recommended N and a N control plot. The DNDC model accurately predicted soil mineral N. DSR-ZTW with drip irrigation  enhanced sustainability and productivity compared to PTR-ZTW and reduced methane emissions by 70-80%. This system also provided the highest system yield, lowered water losses and improved N use efficiency, and reduced GHG emissions. 

This study examined types of adaptation strategies implemented by males/male-headed households and females/female-headed households and how these influence food security.They used a household food insecurity Access Prevalence (HFIAP) and a probit model to assess food security and adaptation strategies. They collected data from 521 household in Kenya and 1,049 adults. Many of these respondents mentioned reduced and less predictable rainfall resulting in longer droughts that affected productivity. The respondents used three adaptation strategies to  address the above problems: CA (69%), changes in planting dates (49%) and planting drought tolerant crops and varieties (47%). More male dominated households that female used all 3 strategies. Access to credit, non-farm income, types of crops grown, and weather perception variables were the important determinants of adaptation. They conclude that the three strategies worked to increase food security for male dominated households but not female dominated households who are more susceptible to climate change and suggest policies are needed to help female headed families.

This paper collected data from 89 experimental sites globally and 10 from China. Their study evaluated potentially mineralizable carbon (PMC) using first-order kinetic fitting, and specific PMC (SPMC, PMC/SOC) to elucidate patterns of SOC mineralization under CA and its moderation by climatic, environmental, and soil factors. The paper describes the detailed results. They proposed a conceptual model highlighting nonlinear relationship between stable SOC pool and SOC, emphasizing how the relationship between C sequestration and emission reduction can be optimized under crop rotation. They also suggested future research look into microbial pathways in SOC mineralizationand their role in balancing mineralization and sequestration.

This paper from Germany looks at crop rotation and cover crops on SOC and N content on yields. This 10 year dataset  from 6 locations in Germany was used to calibrate the DSSAT model. They then used a 4-year crop rotation with and without legume cover crops at the research sites with a no CC as a check. Results showed that business as usual (BAU) and no CC treatments had lower (SON) and SOC than with CC's included in the rotation. Legume CC's also did better than non-legume CC's although the latter had less N leaching. winter wheat and oilseed rape crops yields were better with cover crop rotations. Crop rotation with CCs significantly increased water productivity of cereal crops, but did not produce higher yield of winter and spring barley or silage maize compared with BAU unless only legume CCs were used in certain areas that are vulnerable to N losses. 

This paper from the US used an integrated energy-economy-land-climate model to assess the global land, trade, and emissions impacts of an adoption of domestic no-till farming and cover cropping practices based on carbon pricing. They found that adoption of these practices depends on which aspects of terrestrial carbon are valued. For example valuing afforestation comes at the expense of agricultural production. In contrast, a policy valuing soil carbon in agricultural systems specifically indicates strong adoption of no-till and cover cropping for key crops. They conclude that "adoption of no-till and cover cropping practices in the US could increase the terrestrial carbon sink with limited effects on crop availability for food and fodder markets." The paper ends with suggestions for further research.

This is an interesting paper from France uses drones (UAV's) with remote sensing to produce images that can be used to assess the impact of different and temperature distribution and compare NDVI and MTVI2 dynamics as a function of their illuminance. They can do a good job of separating vegetation, no-vegetation, shade, and sun. The paper presents data from two adjacent maize plots that have used conventional (CT) and conservation (CA) agriculture practices. The non-vegetated areas had increased NVDI values as a result of the crop residues in CA plots.

The objective of this Indian study  was to calibrate the CERES-Maize model to simulate crop growth, yield, and nitrogen dynamics in a long‐term conservation agriculture (CA) based maize system. It also compared. contrasting tillage practices and nitrogen fertilizer on maize yields. For calibration there were 4 nitrogen treatments: N0, N150, Green seeker-based N, and Urea Super granules @150N (USG). The two tillage treatments were no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT). The study concludes that the DSSAT‐CERES‐Maize model accurately assessed the impacts of tillage and nitrogen management practices on maize crop’s growth, yield, and soil nitrogen dynamics. 

This paper that includes authors from many European countries as part of the European Joint Programme for SOIL that identified 12 main soil challenges in Europe. This paper assesses the potential of various soil improving practices in terms of adoption, socio-technical barriers to adoption, and biophysical limits. 53 soil improving practices were identified. They used CA as an example they found several factors that hinder adoption including knowledge, adequate machinery, financial risks, and farming traditions. Using a models they estimated that 54% of arable land in Europe is suitable for cover cropping. They conclude that in order for soil challenges to be resolves, socio-technical and biophysical constraints to adoption need to be overcome.

This article used the agro-hydrological Daisy model to look at degradation and leaching of pesticides under CA and conventional scenarios. Using a Daisy soil column they took measurements of topsoil, mulch and a realistic subsoil and tested against published experimental data pesticide fate in laboratory soil columns. Results showed no systematic difference in pesticide leaching from the topsoil between CA and CT, but pesticide degradation and sorption were significantly different; degradation in the mulch and uppermost soil surface layer (0–3.5 cm) was larger in CA while degradation was larger in CT when considering the whole topsoil (0–30 cm). 

This paper looks at SOC in topsoil under conventional and CA management. To assess the spatial and temporal dynamics of SOC at the regional scale, the “Scorpan-SSPFe” (soil spatial prediction function with spatially autocorrelated errors) approach to predictive modeling and mapping of soil, based on the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model was performed. They used a Geographic Information System (GIS) and Google Earth Engine (GEE) environment to calculate the percentage distribution for each SOC level, altitude, and slope class and their combination. 80 environmental variables and 250 soil samples were used. The Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) predictions obtained were better in CA (3.96 g/kg) than CM (5.65 g/kg) with a percentage RMSE difference of 30 %. Predicted SOC obtained by GWR ranged from 4.06 to 35.60 g/kg for CA and from 5.00 to 29.99 g/kg for CM. 

This interesting paper reviews through 150 peer-reviewed studies published from 2013-2024 the impacts of rotation and cover crops, the former an important pillar of CA and the latter a valuable addition to CA for weed control and providing surface mulch when it is possible to include. They identified papers that identified impacts by monitoring and modeling. Results show that rotation can increase yields, enhance soil moisture retention, fertility and mitigate pest, weed, and disease pressures while improving environmental sustainability. The paper also reviews modeling frameworks to simulate rotation practices. The paper discusses agricultural effects, environmental and soil health impacts, modeling and monitoring approaches, and limitations and future research directions. They conclude that "these insights provide actionable guidance for farmers, extension agents, and policymakers to design more resilient and sustainable cropping systems tailored to local environmental and economic conditions."

This research looked at long-term adoption of residue retention on soil-water and temperature for wheat grown under CA in both a field experiment and crop model simulation using the APSIM (Agriculture Production System Simulator) model. Two tillage practices were NT + Residue retention (NT+R) and CT with residue incorporation (CT+R). The results indicated that the model accurately simulated crop phenology, leaf area index, above ground biomass, and grain yield under both tillage treatments. Soil water content, transpiration and drainage were higher in NT+R compared to CT+R. Evaporation and soil temperature were higher in CT+R. The authors were happy with the APSIM model for identifying the effect of tillage and residue on wheat yield components. 

This paper from China compares the Agricultural Eco-Efficiency (AEE) between conventional tillage (CT) and conservation tillage (CA = no-till plus residue mulch) 2000-2020 using various models. Their results overall show that the AEE under conservation tillage is greater than under CT with both systems exhibiting an initial decline followed by an increase over time. However, there was differences between provinces because of contrasting tillage systems an d trends over time. They conclude "The long-term evolution of AEE in individual provinces is shaped by a combination of geospatial patterns, initial conditions, and other influencing factors. These findings provide valuable insights for policy formulation, the dissemination of conservation tillage, and the advancement of sustainable agricultural."

This paper analyzed the effects straw mulch (SM) on NH3 and N20 emissions and leaching and runoff N losses versus non-mulching. Results showed that soil N20 emissions increased with SM but N leaching and runoff was reduced compared to no mulch. Soil nitrate, dissolved organic N, and microbial biomass N increased significantly after SM adoption. A long-term SM regime (duration>5 years) or SM combined with a low N application rate or straw application rate can reduce N runoff while avoiding the stimulation of NH3 volatilisation and N2O emissions. 

This paper used the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator Model (APSIM) to evaluate how different tillage methods and straw return practices affect maize yields and SOC under future climate scenarios in China. They had 3 tillage methods, conventional (CT), rotary (RT) and no-tillage (NT) and 2 residue treatments , with and without. The model showed that under climate change scenarios NT showed the highest yield and SOC in the 0-20 cm soil layer with or without residue.  For different straw return methods, SOC decreases when the straw is removed but increases when the straw is returned in both scenarios. They conclude NT and residue management can mitigate long-term climate change impacts on maize yields and soil health

This interesting article develops a conservation agriculture appraisal index (CAAI) as a standardized conceptual framework with defined thresholds that indicates the intensity and frequency of use of each CA core principle. This index was then applied to 100 farms in 4 wheat growing regions, with and without livestock and including rainfed and irrigated systems in Australia and Mexico to quantify CA adoption. CAAI score is the sum of the scores of each core principle, accounting for the percentage of the farm area and cropping season where CA is applied based on semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and farm visits. Results show higher adoption in Australia than Mexico. No adoption of CA occurred when one of the core principles consistently scored zero within a year.

This paper does a social network analysis about CA agro-ecological efficiency (CAEE) in China from 2000 to 2020. They used a couple of models  to construct a correlation matrix that was used to explore the influencing factors. The overall result was that the CAEE in China is high and the spatial correlation network showed good connectivity and accessibility. The paper recommends the government should consider the correlation between different provinces in the process of promoting conservation agriculture, and guide the marginal provinces to better integrate into the network by smoothing the circulation of production factors. The government should also formulate regional CAEE improvement strategies with consideration of local conditions, so as to realize the long-term, effective and coordinated development of conservation agriculture in different provinces

This study from Tanzania looks at farmer strategies for adaptation to climate change. They surveyed 330 smallholder farmers. It was found that farmers have a number of strategies but the following 4 were key ones: drought resistant varieties, early maturing ones, resistant livestock breeds and conservation agriculture, with farmers choosing more then just one. The paper also categorizes the samples into 4 groups taht you can find in the paper. The conclude that these factors need to be considered in any policy decisions to ensure better adoption and adaptation strategies.

This paper from China looks at service providers as a way to promote CA. It identifies the stakeholders of normative Conservation Agriculture technology adoption behavior and the relationship between agricultural machinery service organizations, farmers and agriculture-related governments. They developed a unique evolutionary game model to evaluate the decision making characteristics of tripartite behavior and simulate the evolution trend of stakeholder behavior. They suggest that agriculture Governments, service providers and farmers can develop stable strategies. The study lays a foundation for countermeasures and suggestions to further promote farmers’ implementation of Conservation Agriculture technology.

This paper describes an integrated 10-year CA cotton experiment in Louisiana, USA, using cover crops plus NT instead of conventional tillage (CT) that was assessed cotton yield using a biogeochemical denitrification-decomposition model. 4 cover crops were used: hairy vetch, winter wheat, native grass (NG) and crimson clover. It also had 4 nitrogen levels (0, 50, 100, 150 kg N/ha). They also estimated carbon sequestration and ecosystem functionality. Their results using the scenario analysis showed that 50kg N and a single irrigation was most beneficial for maximizing the cotton yield with cover crop incorporation in the NT system over long term. They conclude that implementation of a cover crop or crop residue system instead of increased N application, seed rates, and irrigation events under NT practices would be beneficial.

This article from China looks at disc coulters as effective tools for managing maize residues in CA. A maize residue interaction model was developed and validated against field test results. Experiments looked at and disc and tilt angle for wavy, notched and plain disc coulters. Four measures included draft force (FD), soil disturbance area (ASoil), flat residue-cutting efficiency (RFC) and standing residue cutting efficiency (RSC). Increasing disc angle had a significant positive effect on FD and Asoil while resulting in higher RFC and RSC. The optimal angle of the three disc types were determined and reported in this paper. The wavy disk was suggested as the preferred choice.  since it had higher RFC and RSC values.

This article looks at the factors that influence the adoption of conservation tillage in South Dakota. They surveyed 486 commodity crop farming operations. A modified application of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) including controls for socioeconomic and demographic indicators is used to understand farmers’ current usage of CT. Results show that three constructs of the TPB—attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control—are positively and significantly correlated with the adoption of CT. Binary logistic regression models also show that attitude and perceived behavioral control are related to farmers’ likelihood of adopting CT. Farm size and farmers’ level of education were also positively associated with CT adoption.