Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Technologies

9An Approach to Understand Conservation Agriculture

Anwesha Dey, Shubhi Patel, and H.P. Singh

Department of Agricultural Economics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

CONTENTS

1. 9.1 Introduction
2. 9.2 Definition
3. 9.3 Principles of Conservation Agriculture
   1. 9.3.1 Minimum Tillage and Soil Disturbance
   2. 9.3.2 Permanent Soil Covers with Crop Residues and Live Mulches
   3. 9.3.3 Crop Rotation and Intercropping
4. 9.4 History of Conservation Agriculture
5. 9.5 How Conservation Agriculture is Beneficial?
   1. 9.5.1 Agronomic Advantages
   2. 9.5.2 Economic Advantages
   3. 9.5.3 Environmental Advantages
6. 9.6 Global Scenario of Conservation Agriculture
   1. 9.6.1 World
   2. 9.6.2 India
7. 9.7 Conventional vs Conservation Agriculture
8. 9.8 Different Types of Conservation Agriculture Practices
   1. 9.8.1 Zero Tillage/No Tillage
   2. 9.8.2 Minimum Tillage
   3. 9.8.3 Surface Seeding
   4. 9.8.4 Precision Farming
   5. 9.8.5 Bed Planting
      1. 9.8.5.1 Furrow Irrigated Raised Bed
   6. 9.8.6 Direct‐Seeded Rice
9. 9.9 Impact of Conservational Agriculture on Crop Production
10. 9.10 Future Prospect of Conservation Agriculture in India
11. 9.11 Challenges and Constraints in Conservation Agriculture
12. 9.12 Conclusion and Policy Implications
13. References

9.1 Introduction

The current cropping system dominated by intensive tillage, monoculture, and injudicious use of chemicals has jeopardized the future agricultural production potential. The global population is estimated to rise from 7.7 billion in 2019 to 9.7 billion ...