Conservation Agriculture Research Updates - April 2026

This paper looks at biological soil quality in the IGP of India in rice-based cropping looking at tillage and residue management. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of seasonal variation on enzyme activity and assessing biological soil quality (BSQ) under conservation agriculture (CA)-based rice-mustard cropping. They collected soil samples in the 9th year from two soil depths and looked at biological attributes. They found that the CA-based NT systems with rice-mungbean-mustard with residues had the best biological attributes and recommend this system in India

This paper from India looked at the long term effect of various CA practices on infiltration of water using modeling. Treatments included a check (CT), Permanent narrow beds (PNB) and wide beds (PBB) with and without residue (+R) and NT. The initial and cumulative infiltration rates were highest in the PBB+R treatment and lowest in CT. Bed planting with residue was better than BP without residue that was better than NT without residue. After checking the model performance, it was found that simple empirical Kostiakov (1932) infiltration model represented the infiltration rate and time relationship in a better way and characterized the best fit with the experimentally observed field infiltration data.

This study looked at 5 years of maize-wheat with 8 different integrated crop management (ICM) modules. ICM1&2-ˈbusiness-as-usualˈ (conventional flatbed maize and wheat, ICM3&4-conventional raised bed (CTRB) maize and wheat without residues, ICM5&6-conservation agriculture (CA)-based zero-till (ZT) flatbed maize and wheat with the residues, and ICM7&8- CA-based ZT raised bed maize and wheat with the residues. The authors concludes that the adoption of the CA-based residue retained ICMs in the MWR could sustain the crop yields, enhance farm profits, save water and improve soil properties of the north-western plans of India.

This discussion paper looks at the issue of land intensification or extensification through land sparing or or land sharing on biodiversity. The latter model and the issue of biodiversity is mainly driven by conservation ecologists, but this paper presents other issues overlooked by this simple either/or model from an agricultural scientist viewpoint who have practical experience of farming in many global farming systems. The authors raise two major limitations of this model above. that there are synergies between agriculture and biodiversity  that are often overlooked; and metrics that may be more important to farmers that are strongly associated with positive biodiversity outcomes. They conclude that what is needed is working together to identify viable solutions that increase yields and help with biodiversity conservation.

This was a field experiment under CA in a maize-wheat system in the Indian Punjab that also looked at sub-surface drip irrigation and nitrogen doses. There were a number of treatments with residue retained or removed, N0, N120 and N 150, permanent beds (PB) with furrow irrigation and sub-surface drip irrigation, and conventional tillage. They conclude that maize yields were higher under CA+ plots as compared to CA alone (PBWR-Furrow-N120) and CT (CTWOR-Furrow-N120). The grain N content remained statistically similar across all the N management plots, but in case of total N uptake, PB with surface drip + N150 plots dominated due to higher biomass. It also recorded the highest maize yields.

This paper looks at the issues of weeds and nutrient immobilization in CA systems in India in the maize-wheat system. For weed control they looked at using Sesbania brown manuring followed by post-emergent herbicides in maize and a herbicide tank mix in the following wheat that gave minimal weed infestation and the highest maize and wheat yields. For nitrogen the best treatment was half applied basal and the rest as guided by an Optical crop sensor, resulted in saving 56 and 59 kg N ha−1 in the maize–wheat system, respectively, over 100% N application as farmers’ fertilizer practice. There was also a significant interactive effect of weed management and N-use on economic maize and wheat yields. 

This study evaluated eight integrated crop management (ICM) systems in the rice-wheat systems of NW India where direct seeded rice followed by NT wheat are seen. The various ICM's evaluated were ICM1&2- conventional transplanted rice fb flatbed wheat (check), ICM3&4- conventional direct seeded rice (DSR) fb furrow irrigated raised bed wheat without residues, ICM5&6- conservation agriculture (CA)-based modules [zero tilled (ZT) DSR and ZT wheat] with the wheat and rice residues, and ICM7&8- CA-based modules (ZTDSR and ZT wheat) with wheat, mungbean and rice residues. They conclude that it is important to to have adequate input integration and adoption of CA based ICM's, especially ICM 7&8, improved the soil carbon dynamics, crop yields, farm profits, and provided water savings 

This article is included since rice residue burning in parts of India has become a major issue affecting air quality, human health, soil nutrient and biodiversity loss. Once a wealth, the straw has become a waste subjected to burning due to technical, structural, institutional, and socioeconomic challenges. This paper describes multiple alternate uses of this biomass instead of burning including its use in CA management. The economic and environmental gains and losses of alternate straw management options were estimated and shown to be economic and provide an environmental gain and give a key insight to policy makers to tackle this complex issue of straw-burning.

This study looks at Pearl Millet (PM) and mustard (IM), two important dryland crops in India, with the objective to improve the soil quality, productivity of the system and make it more profitable by shifting from traditional to an innovative conservation agriculture (CA) farming system. The study was conducted on a rainy season PM based system with four dry winter season crops, IM and three legume crops- chickpea (CP), fieldpea (FP) and lentil (L) under two methods of land levelling viz. conventional (CLL) and precision laser-assisted land levelling (PLL), and three tillage and seed sowing (TSS) methods- conventional tillage (CT), zero tillage (ZT) and permanent raised broad bed- furrow (PBBF). They conclude that the TSS method with PBBF in conjunction PLL system was more productive and economically profitable, and would improve soil quality and save resources.

This interesting paper looks at the use of digital tools to allow farmers to access mechanization using the Uber model. This service provider provision for smallholder farmers was compared in India and Nigeria. How does it work in practice? And what is its potential to reduce the transaction costs of tractor service provision, both for tractor owners and for smallholders who use tractor services? For the empirical analysis, a mixed-methods approach was applied involving approximately 400 respondents and comprising net-maps (a participatory mapping tool), focus group discussions, interviews with tractor owners and other stakeholders, and a survey among farmers. Overall, the paper shows that Uber for tractors is a pioneering concept, but investment in enabling conditions, such as digital literacy and network coverage, is required to harness the full potential of such digital innovations for smallholder farmers in the developing world.

This study assessed the changes in soil quality indicators and their influence on crop productivity through crop residue (CR) retention and potassium (K) management under a zero tillage maize-wheat cropping system in India. The treatments consisted of 4 residue levels and 5 K levels. Both residue and K increased root-associated parameters.  Changes in soil aggregate stability, available nutrient status, soil organic carbon (SOC) mass, SOC stock, microbial activities, plant nutrient uptake, and biomass yield were found significant with residue and K under zero-tillage.

Burning of rice residues in the rice-wheat system especially in NW India is causing severe air pollution. Since the use of new locally produced seed drills that can plant into loose straw provides one solution to this problem, this paper was included. The objectives of this paper are to estimate the crop residue burning and emissions from crop residue burning, to recommend interventions in crop residue management and to propose a crop residue management-bioeconomy model incorporating strategies to sustainably manage the crop residues through interventions that enable waste valorization, food and nutritional security, farmers’ livelihood and sustainable agricultural production system. This paper provides some alternative ways to eliminate residue burning. that can provide lessons for other regions with similar problems.

This study was chosen because it had peanuts growing under CA. This study evaluated the effects of different CA practices on soil moisture, soil fertility, yield, and profitability of peanut systems. Treatments consisted of four tillage practices (conventional tillage [CT], minimum tillage [MT], zero tillage [ZT], and rotary tillage [RT]); two residue management practices (residue removal [NR] and residue retention [RR]), and two intercropping systems peanut+pigeonpea [PP] and peanut+cotton [PC]. Minimum tillage and residue management practice RR improved soil moisture content, soil porosity, soil organic C, nutrient status (mainly at 0–15 cm), and soil enzymatic activities and decreased soil temperature variation and soil penetration resistance. Among the cropping systems, PP was found more productive and profitable as compared to PC. 

This is an interesting article that looks at custom hiring centers (CHC) for mechanization in Nepal and South Asia (India and China). The paper reports that there has been minimal reliable reporting or evidence on the success of their efforts. Yet, there is very good reason to believe that with refined backstopping and informed selection, CHCs can be successfully used to provide mechanization access for underserved geographical areas and their communities. The paper ends with recommendations, observations and considerations for policy and agricultural development professionals and the existing CHC's management committees (MCs) around establishing and/or the improving CHCs and their management.

This field experiment evaluated energy budgeting, carbon footprints (CF) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from rice-wheat cropping systems under long-term tillage and residue management practices in NW India. There were 3 tillage treatments; CT, RT and NT, with and without residue retention. Energy consumption ranged from 51.87 GJ ha−1 (ZT-R) to 64.91 GJ ha−1 (CT + R) and irrigation water was the major energy intensive input (41–44%) followed by chemical fertilizer (32–40%). Overall, switching from CT–R to ZT + R lowered energy consumption (19%), GHG emission (16%) and carbon footprint (78%), making it the best-bet option for climate change mitigation and global warming related environmental protection.

This article looks at the effect of 10 years of CA on soil quality under cropping scenarios in NW India. Sc1-transplanted puddled rice (TPR) followed by conventional tilled broadcasted wheat (CT-wheat) with residue removal (farmer practice); Sc2-TPR rice followed ZT wheat and ZT-mung bean with partial residue retention; Sc3-direct seeded rice (DSR) followed by ZT-wheat and ZT-mung bean with full residue retention; Sc4-DSR is replaced by ZT-maize followed by ZT-wheat and ZT-mung bean Sc5 was Sc3 with sub surface drip irrigation (SSDI) and; and Sc6 was Sc4 + SSDI. The results show that CA based maize-wheat-mung bean cropping system should be recommended for better soil quality and yield sustainability.

This study looks at 3 tillage scenarios, conventional (CT), moldboard (DT) and no-tillage (NT) with and without straw mulch, on energy, yield and GHG emissions in a maize-wheat system in NW India. No-tillage with straw mulch reduced energy use compared to CT and DT. Although grain yield and net energy gain was higher under DT with mulch (DTM) than NTM, yet latter resulted in significantly higher energy productivity and energy use efficiency. Minimal GHG emissions without yield penalty was achieved by adopting NT with mulching. CT without residues was the least efficient management practice.

In the IGP rice-wheat system farmers are adopting NT wheat but there is limited data on the effect of CA on soil aggregation and enzyme activity. This paper investigated the effects of direct seeded rice (DSR)-NTW, DSR-NTW with brown manuring (BM) or mungbean (Vigna radiata) residue retention (MBR) with rice residue retention (RR) on soil aggregation, glomalin content and soil enzymatic activities after four years under an irrigated rice–wheat system. DSR + MBR-ZTW + RR-ZTMB treatment resulted in an improved soil microbial environment after four years of rice–wheat cropping in the IGP. The enhanced soil properties were mainly due to residue retention of crop residues, zero tillage (NT) in two crops (in the first three years) and triple ZT (in the fourth year), and growing of a legume crop in the conventional rice-wheat system in the IGP.

This 7-year field experiment using the rice-wheat cropping system in Haryana, India looked at weed management issues in this system. Weed infestation was more intensified and diversified in direct seeded rice (DSR) than puddled transplanted rice (PTR), and even eliminating puddling in rice-induced more infestation of Phalaris minor in succeeding wheat crop. Residue retention in zero-till (ZT) DSR and rotating conventional till (CT) DSR with PTR reduced weed pressure compared to continuous DSR. Root knot and plant parasitic nematodes were less in DSR than PTR but reverse was true for saprozoic nematodes in DSR and ZT situations. There was also improvement in soil health under ZTDSR/MTR (higher OC, N, P and K, and lower bulk density) compared to PTR. 

This seven years study was done to study the effects of different tillage practices and residue levels on weed shift, diversity and crop yields. Results show that annual weed species were dominant in conventional tillage (CT) and reduced tillage (RT), whereas a shift towards perennials was observed in zero tillage (ZT). CT recorded lower weed densities after 7 years. A shift in dicot weed species with higher weed density and biomass and a small decrease in monocot weeds was observed in ZT. The anchored residues 10 and 30 cm, recorded lower monocots and total weed count over no residue. They conclude that integrated weed management (combination of herbicide and removal of chance weeds) are efficient strategies to minimise the weed infestation in CA and these methods not only reduce the over reliance on herbicides but also improve the productivity of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.), castor (Ricinus communis).

This study looks at residue management in CA systems on the black cotton soils (vertisols) of India. Retention of soybean and wheat residues in black soils under a no-till system is important to protect the land from degradation. The main objective of this study was to test the effect of different levels of soybean and wheat residue retention on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of black soil. Four levels of soybean and wheat residue retention (no residue, 30, 60, and 90%) on soil properties was evaluated. Soil organic carbon (C) significantly increased from 0.67 to 1.0% in 5 years through 90% residue retention. Retention of 90% soybean and wheat residues (7.0 and 13.8 t ha, respectively) significantly improved the physical, chemical, and biological properties of black soil in 5 years, therefore protected the soil from degradation.

This study was undertaken on CA-based sustainable intensification of Indian mustard for enhancing input efficiencies, farm profitability and sustainability. Permanent beds with residue retention (PB + R) improved mustard equivalent yield (11.4%) and system grain yield (10.6%) compared with conventional tillage without residue (CT − R). Maize–mustard rotation (Mz–M) increased system grain yield (142.9%) as well as mustard equivalent yield (60.7%) compared with fallow-mustard (F-M). They conclude that CA-based Mz–M system should be promoted in traditional rainfed fallow-mustard areas to improve farm production and income and help make the country self-sufficient in edible oils.

This paper concerns issues of weeds in direct seeded rice (DSR) rather than no-till rice, but had some interesting results. They suggest that DSR can save water, labor, energy, reduce GHG's and improve soil properties so would be an important management system for rice in the future. However, weed control is essential to achieve high yield and resource efficiencies. Herbicides are one solution, but efficacy is influenced by weed species present. This study evaluated pre- and post-emergent herbicides on weeds, crops, economics, water productivity and nutrient efficiencies. Results showed treatments reduced weeds by 68-84% compared to an unweeded control. Net returns were also positive and even better than a weed free control. They concluded that integrating herbicide use with brown manuring and hand weeding was the best practice. In the brown manuring treatment, Sesbania aculeata was broadcast in the rows between the line sown rice, with this legume killed using 2,4 D after 28 days after seeding.

This study looks at the data from a long-term trial in Eastern India with 4 treatments: Traditional rice-wheat (TA), Full CA (fCA), and two partial CA's, pCA1 and pCA2 that differ in crop establishment methods, cropping system and crop residue management. Soil health parameters were measured in the 11th year of the experiment. The results revealed a beneficial effect of CA and 46 and 40% increase in SOC concentration and stock, respectively, under fCA over TA in the 0–7.5-cm soil layer. The effect of partial CA (pCA1 and pCA2) was variable, but an increasing trend was always observed under pCA compared to TA. The yield of rice in CA was comparable to or higher than in TA, whereas the system rice equivalent yield was always higher (38–53%) under CA than under the conventional practices. They conclude that CA can be promoted for sustainability of a rice–wheat system due to higher productivity (38–53%).

The study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the inclusion of intensified leguminous live mulch systems can improve system productivity, carbon management index (CMI), and soil health in rainfed systems. Two cropping systems viz, summer maize-rainy season maize-lentil (SM-RM-L); and summer maize-rainy season maize-mustard (SM-RM-Ma) and five tillage and mulching practices 1) no-till (NT); 2) NT with live mulch (NT-LM); 3) reduced tillage (RT); 4) RT with live mulch (RT-LM); and 5) conventional tillage (CT) were tested. The study concluded a positive role of LM based conservation tillage practices in improving soil properties, carbon management indices, and productivity of maize-based cropping systems in the eastern Indian Himalayas.